CHAPTER 18: CHAPTER 18: PRIVATE CAR

"What do you mean by that?"

"Smartie Wen!" The team leader stormed over, furiously yelling at Wen Siyuan, "Reporting us in front of the commune director? Are you so anxious for our Li Hua Team to do well? If it affects our chances of being named an advanced collective next year, can you take responsibility for that?"

"Team leader, I was just telling the truth. After all, if someone else exposes Lin Xiang’s ability to cook Western food..."

"Who would be bored enough to report that? Don’t you know it’s thanks to Lin Xiang that our Li Hua Team could get telephone lines even without being named an advanced collective? That’s something the town leader personally called to inform us! If the town leader minded this, she’d have been arrested long ago instead of you making a fool of yourself here!"

The team leader was extremely irritated.

It’s fortunate that Director Qian is sensible; otherwise, today’s mess caused by Wen Siyuan would have had a significantly negative impact on Li Hua Team.

"I think you have too much free time. From now on, you’re in charge of cleaning the pigsty!"

"No, team leader, I really did it out of good intentions, I..."

Before Wen Siyuan could finish his words, the team leader had already left in a huff.

Lin Xiang was still standing there, gloating as she looked at Wen Siyuan. "You, who have at least studied for a few years, how can you be so stupid? It’s not your fault that your brain can’t turn a corner, but it’s your problem when it affects the collective honor. Wen Siyuan, I’d advise you to be kind!"

After speaking, Lin Xiang hummed a little tune and headed home.

Yang Lihua was standing at the entrance of the team office, witnessing the whole incident with a complex mood.

When Wen Siyuan spotted Yang Lihua, he quickly trotted over. "Lihua, please ask Auntie to plead for me! Cleaning the pigsty is not a human task; it’s exhausting and smelly, not to mention the work points are few. If I really go to clean the pigsty, I will definitely owe the team grain this year! Lihua, I know you’re the best to me, please help me."

Yang Lihua silently looked at the pleading Wen Siyuan, not saying a word for a long time.

She suddenly realized that what Lin Xiang said to her today was not giving her high and mighty advice, but telling her as someone who’s been there — Wen Siyuan really isn’t worth it!

"What do you mean by cleaning the pigsty isn’t human work? If you can’t handle the hardship, just say it. Why step on others? If you weren’t so clueless and hadn’t complained in front of the commune leadership, the team leader wouldn’t have punished you!"

"Our Li Hua Team worked hard to qualify as an advanced collective. Do you know how much impact your seemingly reckless move can bring to Li Hua Team? Wen Siyuan, you’ve really let me down!"

"Lihua, you..."

"Lin Xiang was right, you’re just a parasite! A parasite living off others!" Yang Lihua scolded Wen Siyuan fiercely and stormed off.

The day after the phone was installed, Lin Xiang received a call from Secretary Wang.

"Mr. Lin, the foreign guests have decided to visit the textile factory again tomorrow. If you have time, please come to town and be an interpreter for the day."

"Sure, no problem, I’ll definitely be there on time tomorrow."

After hanging up the phone, Lin Xiang pondered over what Western dishes to prepare for the next day but noticed that several leaders from the team office were all staring at her with bright eyes.

Their gaze made Lin Xiang somewhat scared, as if she were some kind of coveted treasure.

"Team leader, why are you looking at me like that?"

"Nothing, nothing," the team leader chuckled. "Girl, at dawn tomorrow, I’ll send Sun to wait for you at your door and take you to town. We won’t let you be delayed!"

Sun’s ox cart was communal anyway, so the team leader’s arrangement didn’t disrupt anything.

Lin Xiang didn’t refuse the team leader’s offer; who wouldn’t want a ride, even if it’s just an ox cart?

When she got home, Lin Xiang began considering the menu for the next day.

After the simple interaction last time, Lin Xiang confirmed that the foreign guests’ tastes leaned more towards Italian Western food.

Except for the steak made last time, it’s better not to serve the same dishes again, as diverse dishes can better showcase the hospitality of Hua Country.

However, the ingredients and seasonings at the state-operated restaurant were limited, so planning the menu gave Lin Xiang a headache.

In the afternoon, just after Lin Yun finished work and got home, Lin Xiang rushed to him.

"Brother, can you help me out?"

Lin Yun placed the hoe in the corner, grabbed the rag with holes from the clothing rope, and wiped the sweat off his face. Hearing Lin Xiang, he didn’t pause his actions, "Go ahead."

"I received a call from the town to accompany the foreign guests tomorrow. I’ve drafted a menu that needs shrimp, can you catch some shrimp in the river for me?"

Feelings grow when you help and need each other time after time.

Of course, earlier "troubles" caused by the original owner don’t count.

Lin Xiang could also catch shrimp herself, but she always wanted to give Lin Yun the chance to be a good brother.

"Okay," Lin Yun responded, grabbing a wooden bucket and heading to the river.

It was already late autumn, and while the river hadn’t frozen over, the water was still icy cold. Yet Lin Yun acted as if he didn’t feel the chill at all, rolled his pants up, and waded into the water with bare legs.

There were plenty of shrimp in the river, but they were all river shrimp and quite small. Lin Yun was skilled at catching shrimp; as soon as he submerged the bucket and lifted it back up, he’d have nearly half a bucket of river shrimp.

Lin Xiang was walking a bit slowly and hadn’t gotten close to the river when she heard Liu Pei’s scream.

"Lin Yun! How can you get into the water in such cold weather? Get out of there right now!"

Get into the water?

Lin Xiang thought something was wrong and dashed towards the riverbank.

Sure enough, Lin Yun was standing in the river, bent over, catching shrimp.

"Brother, come out quickly! These shrimp are enough; any more and we won’t be able to finish them!"

"Okay."

Lin Yun responded, carrying the bucket out of the river, walking steadily as if untouched by the icy water.

When Liu Pei saw Lin Yun emerge, she hurriedly took out her handkerchief, intending to wipe Lin Yun’s wet legs, only to be avoided by Lin Yun.

"No need to trouble yourself, Smartie Liu, they’ll dry soon."

"It’s one thing if it’s hot in the summer, but winter is approaching soon. Last time you fell ill, and your body hasn’t fully recovered yet. What if you catch a cold and the chill gets inside you?"

Faced with Liu Pei’s concern, Lin Yun felt a bit uneasy.

"I’m fine."

Liu Pei then turned to Lin Xiang, who was jogging towards them, slightly frowning, with a hint of reproach in her tone, "Lin Xiang, you knew that Lin Yun hasn’t fully recovered from his illness, yet you let him go into the river for shrimp? If he ends up with a lingering illness, it could affect the rest of his life!"

Lin Xiang touched her nose, accepting Liu Pei’s reproach humbly.

The main issue was that she hadn’t expected Lin Yun to be so earnest that he’d actually go into the water to catch shrimp.