CHAPTER 76: CHAPTER 76 THANK YOU FOR THE GUIDANCE

The man feared that the educated youth from the city wouldn’t understand matters of the fields. "Apart from cabbages and radishes, all the other crops are out of season. Even if seedlings sprout, you won’t have the chance to enjoy the vegetables before frost hits, and it would all have been for nothing."

Yunyi had not expected such consideration. "Thank you for the reminder, but I’m actually doing this for someone else. Before I came to the countryside, the auntie next door asked me to help her find some seeds to send back."

Although the man didn’t quite understand, he didn’t ask further. "Then just wait a moment."

Soon after, he brought out several paper packets from the house. "These are last year’s seeds, leftovers from what we didn’t use this year. Take them all."

What Yunyi had not anticipated was that the man had even marked the types on them for her.

Not being able to distinguish these seeds isn’t an issue. After all, in my past lives, I could plant in my space and have seen far too many types of seeds, she thought.

Yiyi opened them one by one and looked them over. She was very pleased. "Uncle, including the straw hats, how much is it in total?"

The man waved his hand. "You only need to pay for the straw hats. We always save seeds every year at home; we don’t lack these. Just take them."

I wouldn’t feel right taking advantage of their generosity, Yunyi thought. I should buy a few more woven bamboo trays from Yin the carpenter’s house later. I’ll get change then and bring the money back. Then she asked, "Uncle, do you know where I can buy a water jar?"

No sooner had she finished speaking than a woman came out of the house. "Jiashu, who has come?"

The man turned his head. "Huaihua, it’s the new educated youth in the village. She came to get some straw hats."

Qie Huaihua buttoned the last button of her clothes and came over. "My, this young lady looks so lovely and fresh! What’s your name?"

Yunyi gave the woman a gentle smile. "Auntie, my name is Chuyunyi."

Qie Huaihua’s face was all smiles. "Look at how pretty and delicate you are! Don’t stand outside in the sun; come inside."

Yunyi said from behind the stone wall, which was about half a person’s height, "Auntie, I won’t come in. I was actually hoping to ask you where I could buy a water jar."

Qie Huaihua walked over. "You’d have to go to the commune for that. But you’ll need to speak with the team’s cart driver; you won’t be able to bring it back alone."

Asking for more time off so soon after starting work wouldn’t be good,

Yunyi thought. Then she heard the woman say understandingly, "If you’re in a hurry to use it, go to the livestock farm and look for Old Lock. Ask her to help you bring it back."

Upon her arrival, Yunyi had heard about Old Lock. She was in charge of feeding the livestock and driving the cart for the brigade, commuting daily between the village and the county on an ox cart.

Yunyi smiled with gratitude. "Thank you for the advice, Auntie."

Qie Huaihua laughed heartily. "Oh, it’s nothing. You city folks are just sweet-talkers."

Yunyi glanced at the money in her hand. "Auntie, this money..."

Qie Huaihua looked at her husband. "Jiashu."

He must have no money on him, Qie Huaihua thought. He surely didn’t want to disturb my rest and must have made some excuse about not having small change for Chu Zhiqing.

Zhang Jiashu showed his pearly white teeth with a smile. In those days, older folks in the countryside considered eating and drinking the most important things. Consequently, hardly anyone thought about brushing their teeth. It seemed the Zhang Family had its own story too.

The man said in a gentle voice, "I didn’t want to disturb your rest, so I didn’t go inside to call you. Chu Zhiqing wanted three straw hats. We’ll charge her forty-five cents for them, just like we do with the other villagers."

Qie Huaihua gave her husband a sharp glance and took the five yuan. "It’s almost time for work anyway." Saying this, she turned and went back into the house.

From their interaction, it was clear that the couple had a good relationship.

Qie Huaihua came back out with four yuan and fifty-five cents and handed it to her. "Make sure you keep it safe."

Yunyi didn’t take it but pointed to the paper packets in her hand. "And the money for these seeds."

Qie Huaihua saw the packets and understood. "Hah, these are just our own leftover vegetable seeds. They’re not worth much. Just take them for your use; we can’t take money from you for these."