CHAPTER 94: CHAPTER 94 WAITING ON CLODS OF EARTH

Yunyi noticed that the female educated youths each received one mu of land, while the male educated youths generally received one and a half mu. Naturally, she and Geng Erhong followed the crowd and also took one mu each.

The team leader made it clear: those who passed the inspector’s check could knock off work early. If the work was unfinished, they would have to labor in the dark. In short, the amount of work done determined the work points earned, and no one could even think of slacking off.

They started with the soybean fields that day. It wasn’t as stifling as the cornfields, but being constantly exposed to the sun, it was hard to bear for too long.

Among the new educated youths, aside from Yunyi, the others began to lag behind not long after they started working.

Bai Suli, in particular, was still making no progress by midday. She was heavily criticized by the patrolling team leader and ran off crying.

The village women watched Bai Suli run away. "Everyone else can work; she’s the only one acting so delicate. Haven’t we all endured the same sun?"

"Does she think she won’t have to work just because she ran off?"

"That Bai Zhiqing is quite pretty. Maybe someone will help her with her work after a while."

Those female educated youths who married village men often did so because they couldn’t handle the toil of the fields.

As Yunyi was working hard, she sensed someone approach from behind. "Chu Zhiqing, this sun is too fierce. Go rest under the tree; I’ll do your work for you."

Yunyi didn’t turn around, her hands never pausing. "I can do it myself. I don’t need anyone’s help."

Just then, from the field below, Feng Dazui stuck her hoe into the ground. "Well now, Lin Zi! Taken a fancy to the new Chu Zhiqing, have you?"

Feng Dazui was clearly enjoying herself but failed to notice the change in Yunyi’s expression.

Qiu Baolin touched his head. "Auntie, please don’t say such things. I just thought that since they’re new educated youths, they might not be used to the fieldwork yet, so I wanted to lend a hand."

Feng Dazui laughed heartily. "How could your auntie not know? That Chu Zhiqing is a real treasure. You’ve got a good eye, kid."

But she was too busy joking and didn’t see Yunyi squat down, tap the soil off some grass roots, and clench a clod of dirt in her hand.

Just as Yunyi stood up, her wrist flicked. The clod of dirt, as if it had eyes, flew over the heads of the people weeding between them and landed squarely in Feng Dazui’s open mouth.

Feng Dazui happened to be looking up, and the dirt clod shot straight down her throat, cutting off her laughter abruptly.

Everyone wondered why she had suddenly gone quiet. When they looked over, they saw her clutching her neck with one hand and digging into her mouth with the other, completely baffled by what she was doing.

Mao Qiaohua, Zhang Sizhu’s wife, who was closest to her, noticed something was wrong. "Chuanbei’s wife, what’s the matter with you?"

Seeing her face turn purple, Mao Qiaohua threw down her hoe and ran over. "Quick, quick! Something’s wrong with her! Someone go get her husband!"

Yunyi had acted so covertly that no one had noticed. Now, everyone was confused about what was happening to Feng Dazui.

Her husband, Gao Chuanbei, rushed over shortly afterward. "Wife, what’s wrong?"

People started chattering, explaining what had just happened, and soon a crowd gathered in that part of the field.

The Branch Secretary and the team leader also hurried over when they heard the commotion. "What’s everyone crowding around here for?"

Someone, clearly relishing the drama, quickly recounted the incident. While everyone was gathered around watching Feng Dazui’s predicament, Yunyi turned to Qiu Baolin, who was still standing behind her, and shot him a cold glare. "Scram."

Qiu Baolin was startled by Yunyi’s imposing aura. Combined with the shock from Feng Dazui’s incident, he no longer dared to stay. Picking up his hoe, he bolted.