CHAPTER 69: CHAPTER 69: WILD BRO GOES WITH THE FLOW

Today, Xu Qinghuan officially started work.

Except for the four female and one male educated youths still in the hospital, everyone else came to work.

"I heard the educated youth point got poisoned collectively last night. They said the person cooking didn’t cook the beans properly, causing all the educated youths to get sick!"

"Vomiting and diarrhea everywhere, they almost lost their lives. Several educated youths were sent to the county hospital; it was quite frightening!"

"If they were all poisoned, how can these educated youths even come to work?"

Xu Qinghuan followed her sisters and waited at the team headquarters for task assignments. The local villagers stood together in one group, while the educated youths stood separately, distinctly.

With nothing to do, she perked up her ears to listen to gossip and heard everyone discussing the poisoning incident at the educated youth point.

This was a big deal; there were no secrets in the production team, and by now, it had probably spread across the whole area.

The team leader also arrived, surprised to see Chen Dewen and the others, and asked, "Comrade Chen, how are you feeling? If you’re unwell, take a couple of days to rest. There’s no rush to get to work."

It wasn’t the busy farming season now where one had to work unless bedridden. They were only doing some field maintenance and land reclamation.

Chen Dewen replied, "I’m fine anyway, I can work."

If you don’t work, you don’t eat. Although Chen Dewen wasn’t relying on work points for food, being proactive was still beneficial for future prospects.

Like job recommendations or a referral to the Worker Peasant Soldier University.

Everyone had the same idea.

The team leader asked a few more people, and since they all said they were fine, he didn’t press further, merely advising, "Pay attention to your health, don’t push yourself too hard and cause any trouble."

Dai Yifeng laughed and said, "We have to thank Comrade Xu. Her medicine worked. Otherwise, we’d be like those in the hospital, bedridden for days."

With this, Xu Qinghuan became the center of attention.

"Comrade Xu, you can even treat illnesses!" The team leader’s wife had wanted to ask this for a long time. The team leader couldn’t get the story straight, leaving her quite curious.

Xu Qinghuan took it calmly, accustomed to living under public scrutiny in her past life, she had developed an unruffled demeanor. Smiling, she said, "Auntie, I’ve studied a bit. Things like headaches and fevers are no problem."

The crowd couldn’t discern whether she was being modest or if this was truly her only capability.

Chen Dewen added, "Anyway, it was Comrade Xu who saved our lives!"

"Right, right! Initially, there were suspicions that someone poisoned the educated youth point, which scared me to death. Who was smearing our production team’s reputation? If that got out, it would terrify people.

But Comrade Xu said it was because the beans weren’t cooked properly, and later, the county hospital’s doctors also said it was likely the cause. That’s when I felt relieved. We owe Comrade Xu gratitude!"

The team leader seized the opportunity to commend Xu Qinghuan and took the lead in applauding.

"Yes, thanks to Comrade Xu. Who’s spreading nonsense about poisoning? Who would harm the educated youths for no reason?"

The villagers were also indignant. If such rumors spread, what would become of the Shangjiang Team?

With a smile, Xu Qinghuan dealt with everything. Seeing that it wasn’t going to end, she became somewhat impatient, "Leader, as a doctor, I can’t possibly ignore someone in distress. It’s nothing much."

Jiang Xingye sat in the corner, on his habitual throne. After sitting there for a few times, no one dared to sit there anymore. Beside him were two hooligans who got along well with him.

When everyone applauded, Dong Youfu and Hu Hai sneered. But when they saw Brother Ye clapping and looking proud, they were both stunned.

They ended up joining the applause in confusion. Dong Youfu couldn’t help but ask, "Brother Ye, why are you clapping?"

Brother Ye used to despise educated youths the most. He resented male educated youths for not working hard and female educated youths for being shameless, willing to do anything for food. If a female educated youth tried to approach him, he’d run faster than a rabbit.

When did Brother Ye ever care about the educated youths!

Today, he actually applauded, clapping louder than anyone else.

"Just going with the flow!"

Jiang Xingye said and walked towards the team leader, who was calling him to choose between weeding or opening up new land.

Dong Youfu and Hu Hai were puzzled for a long time. When had Brother Ye ever done something so insipid as going with the flow!

But they couldn’t figure out why Brother Ye had changed.

Xu Qinghuan took a hoe and went weeding with the aunts. The team leader’s wife pulled her into their small group. Just as they were walking out of the team headquarters, Dai Yifeng called her.

Xu Qinghuan paused and let the aunts go ahead. A few aunts smiled knowingly, thinking of something.

Xu Qinghuan didn’t pay it much mind and asked, "Comrade Dai, what is it?"

Dai Yifeng handed her eighty cents, "This is the money for the treatment. We each contributed twenty cents. Although it’s not much, it’s our due."

Xu Qinghuan wasn’t coy and accepted it directly, placing it into her pocket and slipping it into her space.

All her valuables were kept in that space.

"Alright, if there’s anything else uncomfortable, you can come to me. I can treat any illness!" Xu Qinghuan took the opportunity to advertise herself.

With the herbs she picked from the mountain and a little stock from her space, she managed to earn eighty cents, easily enough to buy two pounds of grain, which was quite nice.

"I hope I won’t need to find you," Dai Yifeng laughed.

Jiang Xingye also picked up a hoe and just happened to see Xu Qinghuan chatting and laughing with a male educated youth. His eyes turned cold, and he turned his head to leave, carrying his hoe.

Dai Yifeng belonged to another team. He was going to dig trenches, so he and Xu Qinghuan parted ways and went in different directions.

Yu Xiaomin and Qiao Xinyu were not in the same team as her. Each followed their big team and left.

Xu Qinghuan suddenly didn’t know which way to go.

Just then, she saw Jiang Xingye walking ahead and hurried over, calling out, "Comrade Jiang... Jiang... Jiang!"

It wasn’t that she was out of breath, but she realized if she called out ’Brother Jiang,’ the turn-around rate would exceed 200%.

Jiang Xingye, although walking in front, was actually paying attention to the back. Hearing her hurried footsteps, he slowed down his long legs.

"Brother Jiang!" Xu Qinghuan called out softly, with a sweet smile on her face, like a peach blossom peeking out of a corner in spring. Her cheeks were fair and pink, and her doe eyes glistening, as if they could speak, making him feel parched.

Jiang Xingye’s Adam’s apple rolled, and his fingers by his side had the urge to caress her cheek, but he firmly restrained himself.

"I don’t know where my team is, Brother Jiang. Do you know where Auntie’s field is?" Xu Qinghuan asked frustratedly.

In fact, even if she had asked where the field was earlier, she still wouldn’t know the direction.

"Follow me!" Jiang Xingye said indifferently, walking slower than usual.

The field was on the west side of the team, and they needed to pass through the production team. As they passed the road leading to the back mountain, Xu Qinghuan met her previous little companions. Zhuangzi and the others were gathered with their baskets and surrounded Xu Qinghuan upon seeing her.

"Fairy sister, aren’t you coming with us to gather pigweed?" Zhuangzi was quite disappointed!