For the first time, Shuanzi found himself truly envious of Heidan. Everyone in the village used to look down on Heidan, yet here he was, getting to enjoy luxuries Shuanzi could only dream of.
Of course, Song Wei had no idea Shuanzi was having such thoughts. When she guessed the eggs were cooked, she took out three bowls and filled them up.
Each of them got three steaming, sweet eggs in syrup, with a big bowl of extra syrup on the side.
“Three whole eggs!” Shuanzi stared down at his bowl, wide-eyed, feeling like he was in a dream.
Heidan held his bowl close, gently blowing on the syrup to cool it. The eggs and syrup were still quite hot.
Song Wei gave hers a quick blow before diving in, savoring the warm sweetness with every bite. Nothing could beat the flavor of fresh, farm-raised eggs; they had a natural hint of sweetness, even without the sugar.
It was delicious.
The two kids blew on their bowls and ate eagerly, heads down, like little piglets at a feast.
When they’d finished, Shuanzi looked at Song Wei with teary eyes.
“Boss, if you ever need anything, you just let me know, alright? I’d do anything for you!”
He patted his chest, determined to show his loyalty.
“Tomorrow’s task? Leave it to me, Boss. Oh, and if you go up the mountain again, bring me along!”
Song Wei: …
This little guy sure has big plans.
At that, Heidan quickly nudged Shuanzi aside, clinging to Song Wei’s arm protectively, his eyes fixed on Shuanzi with a hint of warning.
“Sister Song is mine!” his expression said clearly.
Shuanzi grinned and sidled up to Heidan. “Hey, Heidan, don’t be like that. We’re best buds! I just wanna join in on the big plans!”
Song Wei laughed, tapping him on the head. “I think you’re just here for the food.”
Shuanzi chuckled, unbothered.
Once Shuanzi had left, Song Wei and Li Juan began working on processing the grapes. They couldn’t leave them out for too long, so it was best to get them into jam while they were fresh.
Meanwhile, Heidan spread the goji berries out on a woven tray, setting them out with other herbs to be dried the next day.
Then, he dutifully went off to feed the rabbits.
Soon, the smell of grape jam began to fill the room. Once it was ready, Song Wei carefully stored it in clay jars. A spoonful of jam on a steamed bun or flatbread would be a real treat!
The next day, Song Wei woke up early to train with Heidan, Li Juan, Gao Le, and Zhao Su. Gao Le and Zhao Su wailed, begging her to let them skip the session, only to get a few swift whacks with Song Wei’s wooden stick.
The other people at the dormitory, just starting their morning wash, looked at them like they were insane. Weren’t there enough chores already without adding this daily “boot camp”?
But Song Wei ignored the stares. “You two can barely keep your legs from shaking. Even Heidan has more strength than you.”
At the compliment, Heidan proudly squared his shoulders and held his stance with pride, like a little rooster.
“Okay, okay, we’re not as tough as Heidan,” Gao Le moaned, barely holding his stance. “But let us rest, Song Jie. I can’t stand anymore…”
Zhao Su nodded, whining, “Please! I’m gonna collapse.”
Song Wei just grinned. “Nope, keep going! Focus!”
At her command, Gao Le and Zhao Su immediately straightened up, fear overriding their exhaustion.
Song Wei’s hits hurt like nothing else.
The training lasted until the work bell rang. They’d worked up a real sweat, leaving them tired but refreshed. Then, Song Wei joined the others to go to work.
She wasn’t worried about Gao Le and Zhao Su; they never did much anyway. This time of year, they helped out the village’s neediest families (giving them money to do their work which is a win win), which the team leaders let slide as long as they weren’t too disruptive.
Meanwhile, Li Juan had her own task to carry out.
When Li Juan stopped by Jiang Xiaowan’s house, she found her home alone, blushing as she held a red wedding outfit in her arms. Just as she was admiring it, she heard someone knocking loudly on the door.
“Who is it?” Jiang Xiaowan called, setting the dress down and stepping out of her room.
Li Juan felt a mix of emotions as she saw Jiang Xiaowan. Though she wasn’t the village’s prettiest girl, Xiaowan had an innocent beauty. Raised by a doting family and educated through middle school, she had a certain grace that set her apart from the other girls in the village. Unlike Li Juan and the others, her work in the village was as a scorekeeper, and her life left her with far better skin than the girls who’d been toiling in the fields for years.
Why would Luo Yecheng do such a horrible thing?
“What do you want, Li Juan?” Jiang Xiaowan’s tone wasn’t warm, especially since Li Juan was friends with Song Wei, her supposed “rival.”
But Li Juan brushed it off. At least she hadn’t been sent away outright.
“Comrade Jiang Xiaowan, Luo Yecheng has a message for you.”
This was the cover story she and Song Wei had agreed on; she knew Jiang Xiaowan would never believe her if she spilled all of Luo Yecheng’s deceitful acts.
Love can make even the brightest people blind, and Jiang Xiaowan would undoubtedly believe Luo Yecheng over an outsider.
“Why did he send you?” Jiang Xiaowan asked, a little suspicious.
Though a bit nervous, Li Juan stuck to the script they’d practiced.
“Luo Yecheng said he’s too busy to come in person. He wants you to meet him at your usual spot to discuss some important things—probably about the wedding.”
At the mention of the wedding, Jiang Xiaowan’s face softened, and her doubts vanished.
“Alright, I’ll go meet him.”
Li Juan left, and Jiang Xiaowan quickly shut her door. After a quick check of her braids and clothes, she hurried off, cheeks flushed.
As she walked, she never noticed the small shadow trailing behind her.
The whole time, her mind was focused on Luo Yecheng.
Once Jiang Xiaowan reached the spot and waited, her little follower, Shuanzi, sprinted off to find Song Wei and let her know where Jiang Xiaowan was.
“She’s under the big jujube tree in the woods behind the Hill,” he reported.
“Perfect. Now go tell the others,” Song Wei said with a nod. She tossed her braids over her shoulder and headed to meet Jiang Xiaowan, looking like she was charging into battle.
The last thing Jiang Xiaowan expected was to see not her fiancé, but her “rival” arriving.
Her expression soured instantly, and she didn’t hide her feelings, rolling her eyes at Song Wei.
“What are you doing here?”
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