CHAPTER 98: CHAPTER 98 THIS IS A FAVOR OTHERS CAN’T BEG FOR

The Team Leader didn’t say this to help Yunyi; he had his own plans.

The Branch Secretary hadn’t expected things to go so smoothly. He hadn’t even spoken yet, and the matter was already settled. "Hmm, that’s best. But I’m afraid we still have to ask for Chu Zhiqing’s own opinion."

The Team Leader folded the newspaper in his hands. "I’ll talk to her about this matter."

The Branch Secretary was somewhat surprised. However, thinking of Xu Wenchang’s nature—never acting without personal gain—he figured Xu Wenchang probably wanted to curry favor with Chu Zhiqing. Thus, the secretary didn’t take it to heart.

After all, Xu Wenchang had always been this way, personally handling any matter that offered a benefit.

When the Team Leader arrived at the edge of the fields, the commune members were working spiritedly in the soybean plots.

After initially struggling to adapt, Yunyi was now fully capable of handling the work.

She wore cotton yarn gloves, sweat flying as she toiled in the field, when she heard someone calling from the edge of the plot, "Chu Zhiqing, come over for a moment."

Yunyi turned to see it was the Team Leader, the one who had assigned tasks from the stone platform that morning. Her brows furrowed involuntarily.

Perhaps it was due to preconceived notions. During her time in Songling Village, she had heard many private complaints from the commune members about him, so her impression of him wasn’t very good.

Carrying her hoe, she walked to the edge of the field. "Team Leader, did you need me for something?"

The Team Leader sized her up. "Chu Zhiqing, I hear from others in the production team that you understand medicine?"

Being the perceptive person she was, Yunyi instantly understood his intentions. Nodding slightly, she said, "I know a little."

Seeing her calm expression, the Team Leader said, "You know the situation at the village clinic. Doctor Gong is seriously injured and probably won’t recover anytime soon. Plus, Xue Linfang, who was learning from him, just happens to be on leave."

"So I was thinking, since Chu Zhiqing knows medicine, why not fill in at the village clinic for a while? It would save you from working in the fields. What do you think, Chu Zhiqing?"

Yunyi could tell from the look in the Team Leader’s eyes that he wasn’t up to any good. Although it was just a temporary replacement, the prospect of not having to toil under the sun in the fields was something she could consider.

However, she disliked being manipulated. "Team Leader, I appreciate your kind intentions, but I only know a little. I’m afraid I wouldn’t be competent enough for this job. Besides, although the fieldwork is tiring, I’m adapting quite well."

The Team Leader hadn’t expected this Chu Zhiqing to be so unconventional. A flicker of displeasure crossed his face, but his tone remained unchanged. "Chu Zhiqing, this is a good opportunity that others can only dream of."

He’s losing his composure already, Yunyi thought.

"Team Leader," she said, "I don’t like being restricted. After all, working in the fields, how much or how little I do is my own affair; I decide. But if I went to the clinic, and if I received too many work points, people in the production team might be dissatisfied. If I received too few, I wouldn’t be happy myself. Plus, my time wouldn’t be my own."

The Team Leader made this trip hoping I would owe him a favor, but how could I let him have his way? I definitely don’t want him to use this to pressure me in the future. Besides, what I said isn’t wrong. I heard the villagers mention before that Doctor Gong earns ten work points a day, and that Xue Linfang, whom I haven’t met, earns eight work points a day for assisting him in the clinic. So, what about me? If I go to the clinic, how many work points will the Team Leader give me? I wouldn’t be willing if it were too few, but if it were too many, he himself probably wouldn’t agree. I naturally have to lay things out clearly first, lest they think I’m getting some huge advantage. If I don’t make it clear, who knows how many people will look at me unfavorably and jump out to cause trouble later on? After all, to the commune members, I’m an outsider.