Jun Jiuli and Qian Lingling prepared to lift Jin Moyu onto the ox cart when Jin Moyu coincidentally woke up.
"Xiao Li, what happened to me?"
Before Jun Jiuli could reply, Zhu Baizhou spoke first, "Comrade Jin, it's great that you're alright. You really scared me just now, you fainted."
"My head feels very dizzy, and my limbs are a bit weak," she said, putting on a pitiful appearance.
"It's okay. Sister, you can ride the ox cart now."
"Really?"
"Yes," Jun Jiuli briefly explained what happened. Jin Moyu looked at Zhu Baizhou with gratitude.
"Thank you so much, Comrade Zhu. You are such a kind person. I'll rest for a while to relieve my dizziness, and then I'll walk."
Praised by Jin Moyu, Zhu Baizhou put aside his earlier displeasure. He scratched his head and said,
"It's nothing. We are all educated youths sent to the countryside. It's only natural to help each other." He then shyly glanced at Jin Moyu a couple of times.
"Alright, let's talk on the way back. If we keep talking, when will we reach the village?" The village chief shook his tobacco pouch, saying with some displeasure.
The two fell silent and returned to their places.
The path was difficult to walk even with an empty body, let alone for Zhu Baizhou carrying two thick quilts and two bundles. He always lagged behind.
However, seeing the woman sitting on the ox cart, her brows relaxed and her appearance beautiful, he felt it was all worth it. What was a little hardship or fatigue for a man?
Qin Jingxuan, as one of the only two male educated youths, couldn't just stand by and do nothing. He also carried four bundles, panting from exhaustion.
Jun Jiuli secretly placed a lightness charm on Qian Lingling, so they walked without any burden, keeping pace with the village chief.
After two hours, Zhu Baizhou could no longer bear it. He signaled to Jin Moyu with his eyes several times, but Jin Moyu happened to avert his gaze. He had no choice but to state it directly.
"Comrade Jin, are you feeling any better?"
Jin Moyu lowered her head with some embarrassment and replied in a low voice, "I've rested for too long. I'm sorry, Comrade Zhu. I'll get down now." She then hurriedly got off the ox cart.
"It's nothing."
Though he said it was nothing, his legs ran faster than anyone else's. He was the first to throw his luggage back onto the ox cart. Qin Jingxuan also placed his bundles back on the ox cart.
However, his good impression of Jin Moyu had dropped significantly. This woman was very hypocritical, appearing gentle and kind. In reality, she was more cunning than anyone.
In her previous life, although the compensation was divided between Jin's two branches, the money left by Jin Dawang had been hidden by the original owner in advance.
Jin Moyu lived quite comfortably on the train. Later, when she couldn't walk, it was the original owner who supported her. She almost clung to the original owner.
However, the original owner never complained of hardship or fatigue, and few people paid attention to the two sisters. The current Jin Moyu was not so fortunate.
The sky had completely darkened when the group finally arrived at the entrance of the educated youth dormitory. Some educated youths inside were having dinner. The village chief had made prior arrangements, so there was food for the new arrivals.
"This is Qian Ye, and this is Wang Fang. They are both old educated youths who have been here for ten years. Ask them if you don't understand anything."
The group introduced themselves and greeted each other.
"After you move your luggage to the educated youth dormitory, go and eat. Get up early tomorrow, and I will arrange work for you."
The village chief finished speaking and looked at Qian Ye, who quickly replied.
"The village chief brought everyone's grain at noon. I will distribute it to everyone later. This grain is considered borrowed from the village and must be repaid with work points in the future."
"Understood," the five replied in unison.
After a period of busyness, they finally sat down at the dinner table. They were eating a cornmeal gruel, along with a basin of wild vegetables and a bowl of chili dipping sauce.
None of them had much appetite. After finishing, they helped clear the bowls and chopsticks and returned to their rooms to sort out their belongings.
Jun Jiuli brought back basins of water, wiping the bed boards clean. She secretly cast a dust clearing spell, neatly arranged her bedding, and placed her brought clothes and packages at the end of the bed.
After arranging her toiletries and shoes, she went to help Qian Lingling pack. The two had chatted along the way and had already become quite familiar friends.
Jin Moyu glanced over here unhappily, making Qian Lingling feel uneasy.
"Xiao Li, aren't you going to help your sister?"
"It's okay, my sister can manage on her own. It's you who needs my help. My sister is the kindest. She would be happy to see me helping others, wouldn't she, sister?"
"Yes, that's right. Our Xiao Li has grown up and is sensible. Sister is so happy."
The three of them worked until 10 PM before they could sleep. The room was less than 20 square meters. It was previously used to store things for other educated youths.
Three old wooden beds were placed, one right next to another. One had to walk past them one by one. The bed boards were made of long pieces of wood pieced together, and some parts would creak when one turned over.
However, all of them were too tired and slept soundly.
The next morning, they were woken up by the village's loudspeaker. It reminded people to wake up, as it was time to go to work.
After washing up and eating breakfast, an aunt came to lead Jun Jiuli and the other two to work.
"There are two jobs here, one needs two people to weed, and one needs one person to fertilize. The three of you can decide how to allocate yourselves."
Jin Moyu hesitated, letting her sister choose first. Jun Jiuli knew her intentions. So be it, hoping it would go as she wished.
Jun Jiuli and Qian Lingling both chose to weed. Jin Moyu was secretly happy, thinking fertilizing must be easier than weeding.
Xiaoli Village is located in the southwest of country H, with many mountains and hills. Xiaoli Village is entirely dry land, with no paddy fields. Therefore, the fields are planted with corn, potatoes, and various climbing beans.
Due to climate and soil issues, there is only one harvest per year. The corn in the fields is now half a person's height and needs weeding.
Jun Jiuli cast an isolation charm on Qian Lingling, as the corn leaves and bean leaves in the fields were very bothersome.
Xiaoli Village is poor and backward, and cannot afford fertilizer at all. The fertilizer used is manure. The pigs and cattle raised by the village, due to the cold weather here, have corn stalks thrown in for warmth and digestion every year, and dug out and piled up in the spring. They are now put to use.
Jin Moyu was handed a filthy dustpan and was a bit dazed. The aunt instructed her to use a rake to scoop manure into the dustpan and carry it to fertilize the corn, one by one. She also explained where to apply it.
Jin Moyu felt like she was going to break down. This was not how she imagined it! But she dared not make a fuss. This was only the first day of work. If she refused to do it, she didn't know how many bad rumors would spread immediately.
So she gritted her teeth and held her breath, accepting it. She wanted to ask the aunt for gloves. The aunt looked at her as if she were an idiot.
"Do you think this is the city, where you need gloves to work? Gloves are such precious things, how can you waste them like this? Grab them with your hands. This entire patch of land is yours today. If you don't finish, your work points will be deducted."
After speaking, the aunt ignored her and returned to her own work.
Tears streamed down Jin Moyu's face. She cried with great fragmentation. Unfortunately, there were no spectators around. After crying for a while and seeing no one comforting her, she silently cheered herself on in her heart.
Taking a few deep breaths, she lifted the dustpan. She was determined to work hard and earn work points. After all, if she didn't work hard, she wouldn't have food to eat. She understood the priorities.