Chapter 12: The Deceived Girl in the 1970s: Fake vs. Real Daughter Story (12)

Fortunately, no one knew what Feng Qingqing was thinking—otherwise, they probably would’ve just laughed.

People in the countryside didn’t have such complicated thoughts. They helped people they knew.

As for whether the men were helping her just because she was good-looking? Well, Ye Xiaoxiao was also attractive. Besides, everyone knew she was in poor health, so no one would side with Feng Qingqing and force Xiaoxiao to give up her seat.

Seeing that the group was still delayed, the team leader finally lost his patience and shouted, “Have you made up your minds yet? If you want a ride, pay for it. Don’t waste everyone’s time!”

In the end, Lu Chuan couldn’t bear to see his beloved suffer, so he gave Xiaoxiao one dime (ten wen). Xiaoxiao gladly vacated her seat.

Li Wenli and Zhang Yumei didn’t want to walk either. They tried negotiating with the village aunties for a seat at three wen, but it was too late for that. After Xiaoxiao’s example, the going rate was now one dime—take it or leave it.

The two reluctantly forked over the money, and two aunties gave up their seats. The rest of the group walked. Not long after, even some of the older educated youths started wanting to ride. It was the harvest season, and people had brought back quite a few things from town.

They figured, we’ve walked halfway; now we can pay two wen to switch seats as the team leader originally said, right?

Sure, but the aunties weren’t about to pass up an easy profit.

The educated youths tried to get the team leader to intervene, but he just ignored them. They were the ones who drove up the price, so now they have to deal with it.

In the end, it cost each of them five wen to switch seats. The aunties were delighted. They’d essentially gotten a free round trip and made a tidy little profit.

…

Back in the village, Xiaoxiao rushed home to cook as she was starving.

She’d thought about walking ahead alone to save time, but that wouldn’t look good. It didn’t fit her “fragile and sickly” persona. So she trudged along with the rest.

Even though she had food, she hadn’t dared eat it on the road while others were hungry.

As soon as she got home, she couldn’t wait to pull out a meat bun and eat it. Thank goodness her storage space was time-stopped, so everything was still fresh, just like when she bought it.

After eating two buns, she finally felt alive again.

Xiaoxiao thought the educated youth compound’s issues had nothing to do with her anymore. But before she could even rest, she went out to fetch water—only to find several new educated youths standing outside her door.

After carrying the water inside, she asked, “You guys need something?”

Feng Qingqing said sweetly, “Comrade Ye Xiaoxiao, the educated youth compound is too crowded. Your house is quite spacious. Could I move in with you?”

“No,” Xiaoxiao answered flatly.

She rejected the idea outright. Was Feng Qingqing crazy? Why wouldn’t she leave her alone?

Feng Qingqing looked pitiful. “I heard your house is rented. I can split the rent with you—it’ll lighten your burden.”

Xiaoxiao said, “Not necessary. If you want to rent a house, I can recommend one. You know Zhang Jiabei, right? The old educated youth who married a local? She’s quite enthusiastic. When she heard I was living alone, she even invited me to live with her. Her family has an extra room. Her husband’s a soldier, and the only people in the house are her and her mother-in-law. It’d be convenient for you.”

This girl was seriously annoying. Xiaoxiao couldn’t deal with her anymore. She’d just let Zhang Jiabei handle her.

Feng Qingqing tried again, “Comrade Ye Xiaoxiao…”

That soft, aggrieved tone made Xiaoxiao want to punch something.

Lu Chuan, unable to stand seeing his beloved upset, said, “It’s not even your house. What right do you have to refuse? We’re going to the team leader!”

He grabbed Feng Qingqing and headed straight to the team leader’s house.

Xiaoxiao watched them go, the corners of her mouth curling into a smile. She silently praised her foresight—thank goodness she had bought the house outright.

Lu Ze turned back just in time to see the smile on her lips. She looked a little mischievous, but somehow, he found it… adorable. His heart skipped a beat.

“Brother Ze, what are you looking at?” Feng Qingqing asked.

She saw Lu Ze smiling while looking back. She followed his gaze, but Xiaoxiao had already gone back inside.

At the team leader’s house, Lu Chuan wasted no time. “Team Leader, we want to rent the house Ye Xiaoxiao is living in.”

The team leader: … That’s her house. You think you can just rent it because you want to?

“Then talk to her about it. What are you coming to me for?”

He didn’t understand these city kids. Did they expect him to go plead their case?

Lu Chuan: “She said no. We were hoping you could speak to her for us.”

Team leader: “If she said no, there’s nothing I can do. If you want to rent a place, find a different household.”

Lu Chuan: “But we like that house. Wasn’t it rented from the village? How much per month? We can pay more. Just rent it to us instead.”

Team leader: “She already bought it. The village no longer owns it.”

“What? She actually bought a house in the countryside?”

The team leader nodded. “Yeah. She said she’s got some sort of cleanliness disorder—what’s it called again? Anyway, she said she couldn’t live with other people, or she’d get sick. So she bought the place.”

“It’s called obsessive cleanliness,” Lu Ze added.

“Yeah, that’s it. You city folks sure are picky. Who in the countryside has anything like that?”

The team leader had never heard of such a thing.

Feng Qingqing: “Team Leader, is there really no way? I have that condition too. I’m not used to living with others.”

Lu Chuan looked at her, surprised. He hadn’t known she had that issue.

The others looked at her as well. They all knew she was lying, but no one called her out.

The team leader sighed. “You too? What’s with all you city girls? Got that kind of problem and still came down to the countryside? We rural folk dig our food out of the ground—we don’t have the luxury for that kind of fussiness. Does that mean you can’t do farm work either?”

His face darkened at the thought.

Feng Qingqing: So Ye Xiaoxiao really can’t do fieldwork? Her heart lifted. Time to perform well.

She smiled sweetly. “Team Leader, I just like being clean. But it won’t stop me from doing my part.”

“Really?”

She nodded. The team leader’s expression eased.

Seeing the change in his demeanor, Feng Qingqing was delighted. It looks like she’d played this move right. She said gently,

“Team Leader, is there really no way with that house? Do you know how much she paid for it? Can I buy it from her?”

For some reason, she just couldn’t stand Ye Xiaoxiao. Why should she be the pretty one? Why did she have that soft, delicate aura?

Don’t think she hadn’t noticed Lu Ze had looked at her several times.

Good thing Xiaoxiao didn’t know about this. Otherwise she’d have been seriously wronged.

The original host had a soft, innocent face—one that made people want to bully her. Xiaoxiao had never liked it.

Ever since she’d transmigrated, her own temperament had gradually softened that impression. Still, she hadn’t expected it would earn her someone’s hostility.

She really didn’t like that kind of frail, white-lotus look. Her previous appearance was more dignified and traditional, a look beloved by elders.

Still, even if she disliked it, she couldn’t change her face. At most, she could shift her demeanor.