CHAPTER 82: CHAPTER 82: SKILLED AND CAPABLE

"Uncle and the others are busy today."

She pouted and complained, "I asked them to come with me today, but they said they had to pick up Mr. Wen and told me to come by myself."

"So you came by yourself?"

Ma Yong looked at her as if she were a fool, "Are you stupid? It’s just because I’m nice. If Big Mouth and her friends saw you, they’d surely gossip."

"It’s okay, the captain said if anyone dares to gossip, I can report them, and they’ll be punished by having to clean up the dung."

As soon as she said this, Ma Yong’s mind flashed with the piles of pig dung behind the pigsty, and he instantly felt his stomach churn.

That’s a harsh tactic.

But a well-deserved one.

"Why don’t I call Big Mouth to gossip a bit about you?"

He suggested eagerly, but Yi Chichi’s mouth twitched—he just didn’t want to clean up dung and hoped to find some laborers to ease his burden.

"Go tell the captain yourself."

She huffed, uncovered the pot, and started putting the herbs in order, while Ma Yong leaned over to take a look. The brown, strongly odorous bitter herbal juice inevitably reminded him of the medicine Uncle Yaozi once forced into his mouth, and he felt his stomach growing nauseous again.

"I’m leaving now. Hurry and finish up and head back."

This place can’t be stayed in any longer; it makes one nauseous.

"Not staying a bit longer?"

Yi Chichi enthusiastically invited him to stay, feeling completely at ease as if she were in her own home.

"Nope."

Fearing she might force him to stay longer, Ma Yong turned and dashed out. As he reached the door, he remembered something and zoomed back like a flash, "Girl, give me some of that sweet-tasting grass, my mouth is bitter."

As he spoke, he pointed to the licorice slices in the medicine pouch.

Yi Chichi handed him one piece, but Ma Yong found it too little and asked for a few more slices.

"Charge it!"

"Forget it, one piece is enough!"

Once he heard there’d be a charge, Ma Yong turned on his heels and left. Getting a sweet taste for free was a blessing, but paying for it would make it taste bitter.

Charging is impossible; he wasn’t sick after all, why would he need to pay?

"Uncle, come back; licorice isn’t expensive."

Yi Chichi teased him. Hearing this, Ma Yong dashed out like he was running from a ghost.

"Don’t even think about it..."

The wind carried his voice away.

Yi Chichi went to the half-open wooden window and looked out, seeing Ma Yong disappearing off like the wind, she exhaled a long sigh of relief and returned to the fire, "Finally, he’s gone."

The pretentious old man’s demeanor changed completely, sitting wide-legged back on a small stool, "You’re on pretty good terms with the team."

"Mostly because the captain and the others are good people, and also because I have skills."

At crucial moments, she could cover for Uncle Yaozi.

She also taught Liu Lan and the others some needlework, which helped her earn a good reputation.

Moreover, she got along well with the kids in the team.

Looking at the time, she said, "Grandpa, you and Mr. Song go soak your feet; it’s almost time for acupuncture."

Once that’s done, the medicine should be ready, and after they drink it, her tasks for the day will be done.

"Alright!"

Forty minutes later, Yi Chichi removed the silver needles for disinfection, then packed up to leave.

Qin Jiu was reluctant to see her go, following her around, "Auntie, can you not leave?"

"I can’t!"

Yi Chichi finished packing her medicine box, turned, and crouched to hold his shoulders, "Auntie’s got to hide well and take care of you in the future, be good and listen to the elders, okay?"

"... Okay!"

The response was reluctant.

Yi Chichi just laughed, "I’ll come see you whenever I get the chance, brighten up a bit, alright?"

"Okay!"

This time the response was cheerful, making Yi Chichi swallow back her words of advice.

"If I see you outside, I’ll pretend I don’t know you."

"Smart!"

She patted his head, "Auntie’s leaving now."

"We’ll see you off."

The elderly wanted to get up, but she quickly stopped them, "No need, I’ll go by myself."

Worried they might overthink it, she added, "At this time, most people are up already, it’s better to keep a low profile for now."

That makes sense.

So, with Qin Jiu’s reluctant gaze on her back, Yi Chichi bade farewell to the elders, carrying her medicine box as she left alone.

On the way back, she met several people. Seeing her coming from the far west with her medicine box, Uncle Da Niu asked puzzled, "Miss Yi, why are you coming from that direction?"

"Some folks in the barn aren’t feeling well, so I gave them acupuncture and medicine."

"Does the captain know?"

Aunt Ying Chun, who was just outside emptying water, overheard and asked with concern.

"He knows; the captain asked me to go over," she replied loudly, so everyone around could hear and understand why she had gone over so early.

"Chichi, can we come visit you later?"

Liu Lan asked with a cheerful smile.

"Sure, but don’t come alone, bring Hua Hua and the others along."

Considering the boys from the Youth Corps Courtyard, having more people means there’ll be no gossip, which otherwise could be quite bothersome.

"Alright!"

Talking and chatting all the way, they reached the Youth Corps Courtyard just as Wang Nan and the others were squatting at the door brushing their teeth. Seeing Yi Chichi return from outside, their eyes widened in surprise.

"When did you leave?"

"Around six o’clock."

Whoa, she’d been out for more than two hours already.

"Why so early?"

"Don’t mention it, the bed went cold at around five, and I couldn’t sleep or be bothered to light a fire again, so I went to the barn."

That’s how it was.

Bai Chen reminded, "Put an extra log in tonight to avoid waking up cold again."

"Okay."

She took off her medicine box, sat on a small stool, and took a deep breath, chatting casually, "What’s for breakfast?"

"I want eggs!"

Wu Yongfei blurted out, looking at her with hopeful eyes.

Yi Chichi spread her hands in response, "We’re out of eggs."

"... Then can I cook you some porridge?"

Porridge has a high glycemic index but doesn’t fill you up.

"Let’s have some noodle dumplings."

She suggested in a consulting tone.

Bai Chen and the others thought about it and found it agreeable.

"Sure."

So, each of the nine of them chipped in some flour, and Wu Yongfei made a pot of noodle dumplings.

Zhou Qiuyu and Qi Yang contributed two eggs they had for their baby, mixing them into the dough.

The resulting noodle dumplings were not only delicious but also filling, and after consuming the broth and dumplings, everyone felt warm all over.

After eating one’s fill, it’s easy to get lazy. With it being cold and no work to do, the group lounged on the heated brick bed, chatting idly while doing some crafts.

Not long after, Liu Lan and her friends’ voices came from outside the door.

"Chichi, we came to play with you guys."

Wang Nan was surprised, "Why are they here?"

"Met them on the way back."

Yi Chichi replied succinctly, and the group made a sound of realization. Putting on their shoes, they went out with her to welcome them inside.

No one came empty-handed; everyone carried a basket of sewing supplies.

The original balance of five males and four females on the brick bed became unbalanced with Liu Lan and her friends joining. To avoid suspicion and crowding, Bai Chen and the others got off the bed and laid straw mats on the floor, lighting a fire.

Instantly, the room was not only much brighter but also started to warm up.

Seeing some of the lads making matchboxes, Liu Xiaocao asked curiously, "Where did you guys get this job?"