Sorry, My Beloved Is The Motherland - Chapter 8.1 - Falling In Love Is Not As Good As Saving Lives

Ning Fu had no idea how complex her parents’ emotions were or how they were losing sleep over her actions.

She only knew that upon returning to the Livestock Station, she had been completely accepted as one of them and received a warm welcome.

—How much of that enthusiasm was for the daily necessities she and Cui Guofu brought back is another matter, but at least everyone felt a sense of pride that the Livestock Station had also contributed to the entire station.

—We have knowledge! We don’t keep it to ourselves!

Look, only the toughest places can cultivate the best educated youths!

There was even a bold young herdsman who secretly gave her a small handful of dried beef.

The next morning, while having breakfast, Ning Fu and Xu Cuicui enjoyed milk tea with fried rice and dried beef.

Xu Cuicui had gotten used to Ning Fu’s popularity at the Livestock Station, but she still made a few sour remarks about the gift Ning Fu received from the young herdsman. However, after downing a steaming bowl of salty milk tea and chewing on the flavorful and chewy dried beef, even the sharpest words were swallowed back down.

This city girl, an educated youth, had an inexplicable and consistent enthusiasm every day. Linking arms with Xu Cuicui as if they were sisters, she led her outside, leaving Xu Cuicui so startled that she kept stepping back.

She realized that she had become a paper tiger, unable to muster any authority in the face of Ning Fu’s smiling face.

—The main reason was that the previous incident was too embarrassing. Every time she tried to adopt the stance of a “teacher” from the poor and lower-middle peasants to scold Ning Fu, she would recall the night she hurriedly ran back to the yurt from the lecture and sprained her ankle—Ning Fu had smiled just like this then.

Ning Fu warmly said, “I went to the station, and the secretary gave me two jin of sweet potatoes! When we get back today, we can roast them.”

Xu Cuicui glared, about to say something, but Ning Fu had already pulled her to open the gate of the sheep pen, signaling her to keep an eye on things. Xu Cuicui had no choice but to swallow her words and bit her teeth hard.

She was furious!

However… Ning Fu wasn’t really a bad person. Even if she held those lectures to show off, it was because she truly had the skills. And even if… even if several young men at the Livestock Station secretly wrestled multiple times for the chance to give her dried beef, it was because she… was genuinely quite attractive.

Herding in winter was not easy; they had to find areas with less snow cover and stay close to water sources.

The two of them drove the flock of sheep a long way. Xu Cuicui didn’t say a word the entire time, her brows furrowed tightly as if she was struggling with some internal conflict.

Finally, when the sheep found a suitable spot and scattered to nibble on the tender shoots beneath the dry grass, Xu Cuicui spoke up, “Why… why don’t you read books?”

She had seen that in Ning Fu’s army-green shoulder bag, there were books. Two of them were high school mathematics, and now there were two new ones titled Chemistry.

The books had many notes but were still neat and clean.

Xu Cuicui had sneaked a few glances but didn’t understand them.

Ning Fu was momentarily taken aback, then curved her lips into a smile. “Now is the time to receive education from the poor and lower-middle peasants.”

Xu Cuicui straightened up immediately. “Consider yourself proactive.” She paused, then said proudly, “As your revolutionary comrade, it is my duty to help you continually improve! Memorize those books quickly! Don’t embarrass our Livestock Station!”

Ning Fu subtly raised an eyebrow.

—Xu Cuicui’s perception of her had shifted from “the city girl” to “revolutionary comrade.”

Progress indeed.

Xu Cuicui domineeringly pulled a book from Ning Fu’s shoulder bag, shoved it into her hand, and commanded, “You read, I’ll watch the sheep!”

Ning Fu smiled.

At this moment, there was less than a month left until the 1977 college entrance exam.

The original Ning Fu had already registered for the exam. However, in the original storyline, she did it merely to “stay in sync” with her beloved Gao Han, because Gao Han said he liked people who shared his ideals.

In reality, it was just a formality; the original Ning Fu had no real expectation of passing the exam.

In the end, both of them failed, while Liang Huixue got into university, likely thanks to the notes Ning Fu had painstakingly copied.

With less than thirty days left, she had to review five subjects: politics, Chinese, mathematics, English, and science. Although the original Ning Fu had registered, she had never seriously laid the groundwork.

With the attribute boost from the [Top of the Class] task phase, Ning Fu had almost turned into a learning machine, but she still had to meticulously plan her review time.

However, the system also had its requirements: she had to complete her tasks while doing her primary job well. Ning Fu had always been serious, responsible, and meticulous in completing her tasks.

She had no choice but to decline Xu Cuicui’s kind offer.

Seeing her ingratitude, Xu Cuicui stormed off in a huff, wishing she could stay far away from Ning Fu to avoid the frustration.

“Kindness taken as donkey’s liver and lungs—!”

T/N: The phrase “Kindness taken as donkey’s liver and lungs” (好心当成驴肝肺) is a Chinese idiom. It means that someone’s good intentions or kindness are misunderstood or unappreciated, often leading to resentment or anger.

Ning Fu was about to put the textbook back when she looked up and saw that Xu Cuicui, who had just been in front of her, had suddenly vanished!

Ning Fu didn’t bother with the chemistry textbook that fell to the ground and sprinted in the direction where Xu Cuicui had disappeared.