When She Stops Being Dramatic

"Wait for me here. I’ll go tell the others, and we can talk back at the base," Jiang Yihua said, then glanced again at the kids popping goat droppings into their mouths and made a firm decision.

After speaking to Chi Yun’er, he carried his things, walked a few more steps along the ridges of the field, and called out a greeting. Amidst everyone’s suggestive smiles, he shook his head helplessly and turned back.

The farm base wasn’t too far from there. The two walked in silence for about seven or eight minutes before they could faintly see the cluster of buildings.

Jiang Yihua couldn’t help but let out a low chuckle. "Chi, since you came all this way, you might as well say what’s on your mind. I’m not a fan of guessing games."

Chi Yun’er walked leisurely with her hands behind her back. The man beside her was a typical northern man—tall and brawny, with long legs. One of his steps could cover two or three of hers.

But now, to match her pace, he was taking small, shuffling steps, looking quite put-upon.

Chi Yun’er pursed her lips and smiled as well. "Oh, it’s nothing. Brother Zishu found a job for me, as an accountant at the brick factory next to the farm."

At this, she pouted aggrievedly. "I think he just can’t stand having me around and wants to send me far away."

"I was a little upset about it, so I came over. I wanted to ask you, Brother Hua, if the farm has any open beds. I’d like to live here. It would make commuting to work more convenient."

Jiang Yihua’s expression suddenly changed. He turned to look at Chi Yun’er. Her eyes were moist and bright, like a turquoise spring reflecting the whole world—pure and stripped of all artifice. They were like a mountain stream untouched by dust, free of any worry.

"Jiang Zishi told you to go to the brick factory?" he confirmed, grinding out each word.

The man had a handsome face, usually cool and severe. People said he was cold on the outside but warm on the inside. He typically presented a deadpan expression to the world, occasionally twitching a corner of his mouth into a perfunctory smile.

But with this barely concealed fury, the scar on his chin immediately became more prominent and menacing, like a ferocious beast about to pounce.

Chi Yun’er couldn’t help but take two steps back. Her downcast eyes held a look of confusion, but she nodded lightly and said in a small voice, "Brother Zishu said that after he marries Comrade Bian, he won’t be able to look after me properly. It’s fine for me to be idle at home for a day or two, but if it goes on for too long, everyone will start to talk."

"He said it’s better to find an easy job for myself now, rather than wait until I get slapped with a political label."

"I’m pretty smart, you know. While I might not be able to see the answer at a glance like Brother Hua, I can make an abacus clatter away without a single mistake!"

She lifted her chin proudly, then her expression turned slightly dejected. "If I hadn’t misunderstood Brother Zishu’s intentions, and if I were still in the Capital City, I might have been able to get into a hospital as a clerk at the registration and payment window, or run errands in the finance office..."

Chi Yun’er had thought about it for a long time on the way over, deciding to subtly probe Jiang Yihua’s attitude.

He lived on the farm, so he must have had some dealings with people from the brick factory. At the very least, he would have heard things about what went on there.

If he was in the same boat as Jiang Zishi, or if he was unwilling to help, he wouldn’t have much of a reaction to her words. At most, he’d offer congratulations, maybe even praise what a good job it was.

But if Jiang Yihua couldn’t stand by with a clear conscience and decided to stand up for her, that would be for the best!

Chi Yun’er had learned too many lessons in this regard. Failing to distinguish friend from foe could easily derail her well-laid escape plan.

From the look of it now, however, Jiang Yihua did not approve of Jiang Zishi’s actions.

’Does that make him a semi-ally?’

Chi Yun’er then proceeded to show off her own advantages, implying that her family background was respectable and that there was profit to be made by associating with her.

She didn’t think there was anything wrong with this. Even blood relatives would argue over benefits, let alone two people who were practically strangers.

Without mutual interests involved, relationships weren’t stable. That was just a fact of life.

It wasn’t scary being coveted by others; what was truly frightening was having nothing for others to covet.

Jiang Yihua’s jaw was tight, his narrowed eyes hiding a furious glint.

The brick factory was very close to the farm. Many of the educated youth couldn’t handle the high-intensity labor and secretly wanted to transfer to an easier, more respectable job.

There were too many educated youth on the farm, so a logistics job was out of the question. Thus, they set their sights on the brick factory.

The leaders at the brick factory were masters of evasion. As for the male educated youth, they would throw their money at the problem as if skipping stones on water, only for it to disappear without a single ripple. After realizing they were being played, they would swallow their anger and quietly go back to working in the fields.