Chapter 349: Life Back on Track

liking is simply wanting to lean against me, this big tree, for shade. I am your master, and the world will only say that a master like me is unworthy of teaching. They'll say I attacked my own stude...The two friends went to Lian Yi's place and told her about their encounter with Chen Jia Shu and how they had met Qian Jian Guo at the door.

Ripple on the kang table put fried peanuts, fried melon seeds, steamed chestnuts, called two people eating and talking.

"It's still better here, isn't it We have to plan what we eat at the educated youth point and also consider other people's faces. We don't even dare to eat alone if there's something good. It's more comfortable at home."

Zheng Xin was shelling peanuts while complaining.

Wang Xiufen smiled and didn't argue. It was indeed inconvenient at the educated youth point. They wanted to eat better, but they also had to consider the male educated youths' situations; otherwise, they would be accused of being unreasonable.

"This time, it's rare for Chan Ka-shui to be so generous and take money out to treat us to a meal."

After Zheng Xin finished complaining, she had moved on to the next topic.

He's not being generous, he's just being shrewd. As the saying goes, "You are soft in the mouth when you eat someone's food and short in the hand when you take someone's money." With his current state, he will inevitably need our care in the future, so this is him preparing ahead of time!

Otherwise, with his stingy nature, he wouldn't have been willing to spend five dollars. Back when Ripple got hurt, he only plucked a wild flower.

Wang Xiufen said ironically, she didn't look down on Chen JiaShu just because they were both educated youth, it was just a matter of face.

"Xiu Fen is right, you should stay away from him in the future. Don't let him trap you."

Liàn Yī ate the sweet and glutinous chestnut, reminding Zheng Xīn while doing so.

"Not that bad!"

Zheng Xin said.

Who knows! It's better to be careful!

Ripple said carelessly.

Chen Jia Shu was surprised and very unhappy to hear that you got married and left the educated youth point. He seemed as if you had done something wrong to him.

Wang Xiufen brought the topic back, mainly reminding Lianyi.

"This kind of person will never look for problems within themselves, they must be blaming me."

Even with his toes, one could guess Chen Jia Shu's dark psychology. Otherwise, he wouldn't have treated his former lover like that in his past life.

"I agree with you. You'd better stay away from the educated youth spot in the future. If there's anything, we'll come find you."

"Okay, I have no connection with him now. Besides, I'm a married woman and should keep my distance."

Ripple smiled, not taking Chen Jia Shu seriously at all.

After chatting for a while and reading for a while, Wang Xiufen and Zheng Xin hurried back to the educated youth point before dinner.

At this time, Zhao Jingcheng also returned. Over the past two days, he had followed Lianyi's arrangements and, taking advantage of the fact that there was no second snowfall, gradually bought back supplies.

He went out early this morning to a town farther away, buying some seafood dried goods, which made him return later.

"First, change your clothes and get rid of the chill. There's mutton soup left for you in the kitchen, and some flatbread is still warm in the pan. Eat first."

Ripple was doing her workbook and, seeing Zhao Jingcheng return, she immediately said.

This was something she had made after breakfast. Wang Xiufen and Zheng Xin each drank a bowl of mutton soup before they left, feeling like they'd gotten a great deal. They didn't want to eat any meat at all, saying that they felt warm all over and were very happy.

Zhao Jingcheng was already accustomed to following Lian Yi's orders. He placed the basket on his back outside the door, changed into a thin cotton padded jacket at home, went to the kitchen, and had two bowls of mutton soup with flatbread. He also gnawed on two pieces of lamb bone meat, burped contentedly, and washed all the pots and dishes.

He washed his face and brushed his teeth, brought in some hot water and entered the room. He let Ripples wash up while he reported on today's harvest.

“Although the town next door is far away, it’s bigger than ours and has more things. As the end of the year approached, there were quite a few convoys bringing food from the south. They all had private goods to sell at the market. I saw seaweed and thought you should like it, so I bought some.”

Saying that, he took the things out of the basket and placed them on the kang table for Lianyi to see.

Ripple is soaking her feet right now, looking at the things on the table. There are seaweed, laver sheets, jellyfish, and some dried sea squirts.

"These are all good, we can add two more dishes for the New Year, and store them in the cellar. Don't put these with mutton or beef, they have a strong smell. You should keep them separate in a corner of the cellar."

"Okay!"

"The gold bracelet you gave me, I sold it on the black market and got two hundred and thirty yuan. I bought some rationed food with fifty yuan, rice and white flour. The rest of the money is here."

Zhao Jingcheng honestly accounted for his expenses.

"Okay, you keep it. The household expenses will come from inside."

Liàn Yī directly said.

"After the captain's funeral is over, I still want to go up the mountain before the second snowfall."

Zhao Jingcheng thought for a moment and said.

What are you going to do

Ripple raised an eyebrow and asked.

Zhao Jingcheng pondered for a moment before speaking.

"I once found a patch of ginseng in the deep woods, some large and some small. At the time, I didn't have any tools with me, so I didn't dare to dig it up. I only tied a red string around one of them and planned to come back and take a closer look."

"Are you afraid of being discovered"

“I'm afraid of being ravaged by animals in the mountains.”

Zhao Jingcheng spoke honestly.

"Alright, since you're not at ease, go take a look. I won't stop you. If there's nothing wrong, come back quickly. Don't dig up all the ginseng. Dig out one with the shortest years for us to keep as a backup. Leave the rest untouched for now; they might be useful later."

"I understand! We won't keep it, and we can't reduce the medicinal properties of ginseng. That would be a waste."

Zhao Jingcheng understood the meaning of ripples and readily agreed.

The next day, after breakfast, Lian Yi put on a thick cotton coat and carried a basket, following Zhao Jingcheng towards Zhao Fendou's house.

"I already went to the captain's house two days ago and helped set up the funeral tent. You just go there as a formality this time, don't stay too long. I estimate they will bury him tomorrow."

Zhao Jingcheng slowed his pace, explaining to Lianyi as they walked.

"I understand."

Along the way, the two of them also met several people who went to express condolences. They would all take the initiative to greet each other:

"Jingcheng, would you take your wife to Zhao Captain's house"

"Well, let's go see Uncle and tell him about my marriage. That way he can leave with peace of mind."

Zhao Jingcheng said calmly.

"Yes, yes!"

When they reached Zhao Fendou's house, they found that the courtyard in front of the unfinished building was surrounded by people, and there were cries and shouts coming from inside.

Several people looked bewildered, quickening their pace to get a better look.

Li'an scanned the crowd with sharp eyes, immediately spotting Wang Xiufen and Zheng Xin. The two were shivering from the cold but remained rooted to their spot, clearly enjoying the spectacle.

"Jing Cheng, I'm going to ask them what's going on."

After finishing his words, he plunged into the crowd of women. Zhao Jingcheng then went to the other side with the men.

"Xiu Fen, Zheng Xin, what's going on here"

Rpples squeezed into the crowd and came to the two people's side, asking:

"Ripples, you're here!"

Turning around, the two saw Ripple armed to the teeth. After a nod of acknowledgement, they began to brief her on the situation.

"It was Pan Nuan Nuan's family who came to stir up trouble!" bio-company. Unfortunately, he only touched the edge of it before being called in for tea by Director Isaac, who warned him not to overstep his bounds and to focus on his own duties. He had to stop.B...