Sorry, My Beloved Is The Motherland - Chapter 4 - Winning Over The Supporting Female Character Is Better Than Dating

[Ding—Congratulations to the host for obtaining the title: Animal Affinity.]

[Title Description: Like a princess in a fairy tale, you will gain the favor of small animals. Naturally possessing animal affinity elements, this will help the male protagonist recognize your beauty and kindness, making it a powerful tool in a Mary Sue story.]

This achievement seemed a bit redundant. Her mission was to serve the country, so what use was animal affinity?

But since the system had given it… she might as well keep it!

Ning Fu had a penchant for collecting. Titles were something she could never have too many of!

As long as she didn’t equip the title, the effects described wouldn’t apply in reality, preventing her from looking like a Disney princess misplaced in a Chinese period drama.

By the time they had settled the ewe, Runa, and her first lamb, it was already night when Ning Fu and Xu Cuicui returned to the yurt.

Ning Fu began to organize her half-unpacked luggage.

The enamel mug printed with quotations was placed on the table. Xu Cuicui pulled over a stool with a bang and sat down heavily.

Two neatly arranged high school math books were placed in the upper right corner of the bare table. Xu Cuicui picked up her water cup and gulped down a large mugful, then slammed it back onto the table with a clang.

The newly sewn pillowcase, military green and clean, was placed on the somewhat empty bunk bed. In the lower right corner, a few small flowers were meticulously embroidered with dark green thread. Xu Cuicui suddenly stood up and stomped over to the stove, throwing a few pieces of cow dung into the nearly extinguished fire. She stared at the crackling red sparks as if she were burning the face of someone with a petty bourgeois demeanor.

It was clear that Xu Cuicui was angry and was gradually puffing up like a pufferfish.

Although Ning Fu lacked specific experience in winning over women, having achieved S-rank scores in no fewer than 50 supporting female character worlds, she was quite experienced in reading people.

She keenly sensed a hint of bluster behind Xu Cuicui’s robust physique and fierce demeanor, recognizing it as a facade of strength hiding inner frailty.

Such overt hostility did not warrant a response; it was best to wait for Xu Cuicui to express what she really wanted to say.

“I warn you, coming to the livestock station means undergoing labor education. Put away your spoiled and delicate airs. Don’t think that just because you can read and look good, you can do less work. If your attitude isn’t right, I’ll have you sweeping the sheep pen for a month!”

…Although she didn’t seem like a pampered young lady when she helped deliver the lamb, who knows? One must never let their guard down with these city folks; they’re the best at playing tricks.

Xu Cuicui prided herself on her background as a poor and lower-middle peasant. When it came to having the reddest heart, Xu Cuicui could proudly thump her chest and claim the top spot!

Ning Fu smiled sincerely, adopting a humble and teachable demeanor, “I understand. I’ll learn from you, Comrade Cuicui.”

The girl with two braided pigtails and rosy cheeks from the highland sun immediately jumped up, “Who allowed you to call me Cuicui?!”

“Alright, Comrade Xu Cuicui,” Ning Fu replied with a smile.

Ning Fu’s smile was very tolerant, like an adult dealing with a child throwing a tantrum. This left Xu Cuicui feeling stifled, her anger trapped in her chest.

It was as if a cotton cocoon was enveloping her, preventing her from lashing out even though she knew it would be futile. This female educated youth was too strange, cunning, soft yet domineering.

Ning Fu had just washed her face and applied a thin layer of snow cream.

At not yet eighteen, her skin looked soft and white. Even from a distance, Xu Cuicui seemed to catch a faint, elusive fragrance.

“Even though we call each other comrades, don’t think I really consider you a comrade, city-bred young lady,” she muttered under her breath.

She had heard that the snow cream was a brand from Shanghai, it was very sought after! The entire Tula Gaqi supply and marketing cooperative didn’t have such a round tin with jasmine flowers printed on it.

Xu Cuicui secretly spat in disdain.

Can a pretty face grow rice?!

With a sense of pride, she refused to even glance at the fragrant tin, heading straight to bed. She made a loud noise as she shook out her quilt.

Ning Fu silently curved her lips into a smile and slipped into bed.

The bed was large enough to sleep four people, with a clear demarcation between the two of them, a “38th parallel” wide enough for a person to lie down on.

T/N: The term “38th parallel” in this context is a metaphorical reference. The 38th parallel is a circle of latitude that is 38 degrees north of the Earth’s equatorial plane, famously known for dividing North and South Korea. Here, it symbolizes a clear and strict boundary between two people.

The yurt didn’t have a heated kang bed; it relied solely on the warmth from the stove. As soon as one lay down, it was hard to resist curling up into a ball and shivering—commonly known as trembling—to gain a bit of warmth.

Most people believe that physical proximity often stems from psychological closeness. However, from Ning Fu’s extensive experience in dealing with countless tsundere personalities, she knew that handling such individuals often required closing the physical distance to break through their somewhat prickly hearts.

Being a persistent “sticky candy” at the right time was a perfect strategy, and this approach had three key points—

First, be soft. Second, be resilient. Third, of course, be sweet.

Why would Ning Fu go to such lengths with Xu Cuicui?

It was simple: she preferred a pleasant and harmonious learning environment.

Ning Fu was not someone who would shy away from hardship, but when conditions allowed, she liked to make herself as comfortable and happy as possible, both physically and mentally.

In Tula Gaqi, aside from beginning to reverse the negative impressions left by the original host among the villagers and educated youths, Ning Fu also needed friends.

This is one of the key reasons why Ning Fu became a top salesperson.

In every world, she immerses herself in her own story. When the mission is completed, she does not allow herself to be remembered merely as a vague, empty shell.

The disastrous relationship that had mired the original host has ended, and now… let us begin to establish new connections.

The kerosene lamp in the room went out.

Ning Fu wrapped herself tightly in the quilt, taking a deep breath. Hmm, it smelled nice.

The next step—cross the Yalu River and go beyond the 38th parallel!

The weather was indeed very cold, and huddling together for warmth was only practical, not her fault.

Xu Cuicui woke up in the middle of the night, feeling warm all over. It was rare for her to sleep so soundly during the winter in the livestock station.

However… The weight on her body seemed a bit heavier than usual.

Xu Cuicui immediately saw the source of the weight—Ning Fu, who had originally been separated by a wide “38th parallel,” was now snugly pressed against her, with one arm firmly draped over her waist!

Apparently, Ning Fu’s movements in her sleep had been quite vigorous, causing most of her quilt to end up on Xu Cuicui. On the other side, Ning Fu’s shoulder, clad only in a thin layer of clothing, was exposed to the cold.

Xu Cuicui exhaled in frustration and annoyance, then forcefully pushed Ning Fu to the side.

Ning Fu’s arm landed on the bed with a “thud,” yet she remained sound asleep.

In the darkness, Xu Cuicui impatiently closed her eyes, trying to fall back asleep. After two or three seconds, her eyes snapped open again. She sat up even more irritably, rearranged the scattered quilt over Ning Fu, and then dramatically flopped back down.

Heavens, she knew that having this city-bred young lady sent here would turn into a persistent problem she couldn’t shake off! What re-education? This was more like coming to collect a debt!

Five minutes later, Xu Cuicui, in a fit of rage, pushed the “incorrigible” Ning Fu awake.

“I told you, don’t touch me while sleeping! Go back to your side!”

Xu Cuicui was furious, but the person she had pushed awake looked innocent and confused.

Ning Fu’s large, dark eyes were half-open from being woken up, “But squeezing together is warmer…” Ning Fu seemed completely oblivious to Xu Cuicui’s anger, eager to return to her dreams. “Before, you had to sleep alone and endure the cold, but now there are two of us…”

Her tone was sleepy, soft, and warm, making one feel relaxed.

Xu Cuicui was left speechless with frustration.

She couldn’t believe someone could talk in their sleep and still manage to be so infuriating!

Too tired to argue further with Ning Fu (though Xu Cuicui would never admit she was losing the verbal battle), Xu Cuicui simply gave Ning Fu a forceful shove.

Seemingly oblivious, Ning Fu, wrapped in her quilt, retreated back across the “38th parallel.”

Xu Cuicui instinctively let out a sigh of relief.

She naively thought the battle was over.

Twenty minutes later, staring at the face so close to hers, Xu Cuicui felt a deep sense of helplessness.

Ning Fu had really gotten too close. Xu Cuicui could smell the intoxicating jasmine scent on her and could see that she was shivering from the cold after losing her quilt.

If the young lady caught a cold and couldn’t go to work tomorrow, it might even be blamed on her! Xu Cuicui thought angrily, then furiously turned over, leaving her cold and unfeeling back to the nearby Ning Fu.

In the darkness, Ning Fu’s lips curved into a smile.

The next morning, as soon as Xu Cuicui woke up, she was met with Ning Fu’s apologetic smile. “I’m sorry, Comrade Xu Cuicui. It was so cold last night, I didn’t notice and somehow ended up on your side.”

Xu Cuicui, not one to mince words, replied irritably, “Hurry up, we need to have a positive attitude towards labor!”

What she didn’t expect was that Ning Fu didn’t dawdle at all. Instead, she was already standing at the door of the station house before Xu Cuicui. “Shall we go together?”

Xu Cuicui angrily brushed past her, but not too forcefully.

Given Ning Fu’s small frame, if Xu Cuicui really took her seriously, Ning Fu wouldn’t be able to withstand even a single push!

Ning Fu’s main task in the livestock station was to jointly manage a small flock of sheep with Xu Cuicui.

Herding sheep in winter was no easy job. This winter, the snow was heavy and frequent, and the livestock station had consumed a significant amount of their feed reserves. So, whenever the weather was clear, they still had to drive the sheep out to graze on the remaining winter grass.

Shepherds needed to be diligent with their hands, eyes, legs, and mouths. They had to walk a lot, be hands-on, frequently call out to the sheep, and keep a close watch. They couldn’t let the sheep eat frostbitten grass or drink water with ice shards. They had to ensure that lambs didn’t fall behind and take extra care of pregnant ewes.

In this era of material scarcity, every sheep was an extremely valuable asset to the production team.

Although Xu Cuicui appeared to be very disdainful of Ning Fu, she still dutifully explained the precautions for herding sheep along the way.

Herding sheep was entirely new to Ning Fu. It was nothing like she had imagined—finding a sunny hillside and letting the sheep graze there. She and Xu Cuicui essentially performed the duties of sheepdogs, constantly on the move.

It seemed that the high school math textbook Ning Fu had brought along wouldn’t see the light of day.

Ning Fu had already read half of the book on her way to the livestock station, but that was far from enough.

It was now December 1977, and the news of the reinstatement of the national college entrance examination had just spread two months ago. After a decade of disruption, the current level of basic education was not high, but many people were eager and ready to seize the opportunity.

They sensed a turning point in their destinies from the announcement of the reinstated exams.

In the distance, a figure on horseback gradually approached.

Xu Cuicui took one look and knew who it was. “Chena is here with a message.”

As she spoke, the rider had already reached them. It was indeed the taciturn young herdsman they had seen in the sheep pen the previous night.

His full name was Muren Chena. Orphaned, he grew up on the grasslands, supported by the community. He was a good young man, known for his reliability and hard work, enduring any hardship without complaint, though he spoke little. The livestock station valued him highly, giving him the best horse to ride. Every spring, they relied on him to lead the herd to the best pastures and water sources.

There were also rumors that he had tamed wild horses and escaped from wolf packs.

It was Chena who first noticed that the ewe, Runa, was about to give birth and called his partner to fetch Xu Cuicui.

The livestock station was situated on the grasslands, and the herders had no fixed positions. The poor road conditions meant that the post office courier had to travel by car and horseback to reach them, taking at least half a day. Eventually, they decided to entrust the livestock station’s mail to Chena.

Ning Fu finally heard him speak, “Your letter.”

The letter was from Ning Fu’s parents.

She glanced at the envelope and then tucked it into her satchel.

Xu Cuicui caught sight of the math textbook in her bag.

“What did you bring?” Xu Cuicui, determined to find fault, was ready to give Ning Fu a good scolding!

Ning Fu smiled, but before she could respond, Muren Chena interrupted.

“Comrade Ning Fu, could you give a talk tonight on how to deliver lambs?” Muren Chena believed that her method could be shared and promoted. He had reported it to the team leader, who had agreed.

Ning Fu’s first instinct was to refuse. After all, she wasn’t a professional; she merely had the natural advantage of her transmigration, and some of her experiences might not be entirely scientific or applicable.

Xu Cuicui, her attention diverted, immediately protested, “Chena, she just got lucky! How can you expect a city-bred young lady to teach us about delivering lambs and foals? That’s impossible!”

Before she could finish her objection, Ning Fu said, “Alright.”

Ning Fu suddenly realized that since the system required her to achieve her goals while doing her job well, educating everyone about animal husbandry should also count as part of her duties!

As for the lack of experience…

Half an hour later, Ning Fu spent thirty points in the system’s marketplace to exchange for access to CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure). With her current learning ability and memory, compiling useful information wouldn’t be a problem.

Oh, and she also discovered a new feature in the system’s marketplace. Although her points account was almost empty due to a transmigration bug, the marketplace actually allowed for credit!

With only a negative balance of 5 points in her account, Ning Fu still seemed quite cheerful. She brought the sheep back to the pen and went to check on the lamb and the ewe, Runa.

The gentle animal, as if understanding her, nuzzled Ning Fu’s hand with its head.

Standing at the doorway, Xu Cuicui tried to be sarcastic, “You wouldn’t really dare to give a lesson to everyone, would you? City-bred young lady, before coming here, have you ever seen a sheep? Have you ever ridden a horse?”

“If everyone follows your nonsense and it causes any losses, you’ll be the one getting criticized and punished!”

Seeing that Ning Fu remained unfazed, Xu Cuicui flung her hand in frustration and walked away.

Ning Fu’s evening “livestock delivery” class went ahead as planned.

At first, only a few people showed up out of curiosity. Despite the small audience, Ning Fu earnestly shared the information she had compiled.

The herders listened and found it quite interesting!

The materials Ning Fu had gathered were empirical studies on animal husbandry development, specifically addressing many practical issues from the 1970s and 1980s. It was exactly what the people here needed.

The next day, the attendance increased significantly.

By the third day, the team leader himself attended, sitting in the front row.

Almost every household in the livestock station sent their head of the family. The previously casual attitude was replaced with eager anticipation, each person determined to absorb as much information as possible, even if they couldn’t remember everything Ning Fu taught.

Cattle and sheep were the foundation of the grassland people’s livelihood, and horses were their soul. Knowing how to take good care of these treasures was what they pondered every day. Whoever taught them how to make their livestock grow strong and their horses run fast became a cherished figure in their hearts.

This city-bred female educated youth had knowledge, and the team leader had said that knowledge meant knowing how to work faster and better.

Thus, every evening after the knowledge seminar, Ning Fu enjoyed the pleasant notification sound from the system.

By the third night, she had already earned 40 points. In the short term, these three nights had improved the survival rate of newborn livestock in Tula Gaqi. In the long term, perhaps the entire body of knowledge and experience in animal husbandry had taken a small step forward.

This step meant a happier life for many people.

Xu Cuicui’s attitude remained icy over these days. She seemed to have never attended any of Ning Fu’s knowledge-sharing seminars. To demonstrate her resolute stance, she would launch into highly repetitive verbal attacks every time Ning Fu returned, declaring that she would never attend those so-called lectures.

After the third night’s seminar, Ning Fu returned to their yurt, but Xu Cuicui was not there.

A while later, there was a commotion outside the yurt. Muren Chena and the young man who had come to call them that day were helping Xu Cuicui back.

The young man helped Xu Cuicui onto the bed, instructing her to elevate her ankle and apply some medicine. He explained to Ning Fu, “Ah, who knows what Xu Cuicui was sneaking around doing. We all went to the seminar, but she insisted on taking a shortcut back. In the dark, she hurried and ended up stepping into a grass tuft and twisting her ankle.”

He turned to Xu Cuicui and said, “Why were you in such a hurry?! Wouldn’t it have been better to come back with Ning Fu after the seminar?!”