Chapter 12: Lucky Star

Without a second thought, Jiang Bei took a swift step forward and wrapped She Yuqi in a firm embrace around the waist.

By the time She Yuqi came to her senses, she was already seated steadily on the earthen kang bed.

Xiaoxiao hurriedly followed behind, flustered as she poured a large cup of hot water for She Yuqi. “Sister, why are you coughing up blood? Wuwuwu, please don’t die!”

She Yuqi looked utterly bewildered. “???”

Jiang Bei’s expression turned serious as he said, “Let me take you to the commune health clinic to get checked out.”

Seeing the increasingly strange looks between the two of them, She Yuqi felt both amused and exasperated.

Then, pulling a small sachet of ketchup from her pocket, she shook it and said, “This isn’t blood. It’s ketchup made from tomatoes—it’s edible.”

No sooner had she spoken than Jiang Bei turned on his heel and left. Seeing that he seemed upset, She Yuqi quickly got up and chased after him.

Outside the courtyard, Jiang Bei was stopped by She Yuqi.

“It’s my fault, but you know how things were just now. After all, I did lay hands on someone. If I didn’t put on a bit of an act, no one would believe me.”

“Alright, I’ll treat you to a meal today, just to thank you for helping out.”

“No need,” Jiang Bei replied, sidestepping around her without looking back.

She Yuqi was at a loss—whether to follow or not. Eventually, she shouted loudly, “Tomorrow morning I’m heading to the county to sell eggs. I want to hire your ox cart.”

But there was no response. With his long legs, Jiang Bei disappeared in a few strides.

What’s wrong with this guy? Why is he so hard to get along with?

Meanwhile, when Qi Tian returned to the educated youth settlement, all those who once fawned over him or secretly admired him now rolled their eyes at him.

Infuriated, Qi Tian stomped his feet and left the settlement. Unable to stay, he went to the brigade’s cattle shed.

He paced around the cows’ behinds, the stench unbearable.

From time to time, the cows’ tails, splattered with dung, swished and hit his face. Qi Tian ended up with a mouthful of filth, nearly gagging.

Then, unexpectedly, an old cow suddenly kicked him.

Qi Tian’s body convulsed violently before he collapsed unconscious to the ground.

Fortunately, Hu Tao and Liu Xiaona came looking for him and discovered the scene; otherwise, Qi Tian might have frozen to death in the cattle shed.

...

On the other side, Han Xiangxiang was no better off. She ran back to Xiaohe Village overnight and went straight to Old Han’s house.

“Dad, Grandma, She Yuqi wants to kill me!”

“And she even made me lose face in front of Qi Tian, Grandma!”

“Oh, my dear granddaughter, what on earth happened?” The old lady Han hadn’t seen Han Xiangxiang in a long time.

Since Han Xiangxiang had claimed to fancy a young educated youth from Xiaogou Village, she had been finding all sorts of excuses to stay at the youth settlement there, sometimes not returning for a whole month.

This time, she came back crying and injured—she must have been bullied.

So Han Xiangxiang exaggerated how She Yuqi beat and insulted her.

The Han family was furious.

Han Jian slapped Li Ying across the face, scolding, “See? I told you she was a jinx to our family, but you wouldn’t believe me. Now Xiangxiang is bullied by your cursed daughter. What do you think should be done?”

“I’ll go there tomorrow...” Li Ying, dazed from the slap, felt both wronged and resentful toward She Yuqi.

Seeing this, Han Xiangxiang hurried to help Li Ying up. “Aunt Li, are you okay? Don’t blame Dad; he only hit you because he loves you. It’s just that my little sister went too far this time, and Dad was just standing up for me. He didn’t mean any harm.”

Li Ying was genuinely touched and the two embraced. Li Ying began to sob, while a flicker of pride and disgust flashed in Han Xiangxiang’s eyes.

...

“Sister, are you still going to the county to sell eggs?”

Xiaoxiao had gotten up early that day. She Yuqi was brushing her hair in front of the mirror when she heard this and smiled broadly. “Yes, and I’ll take you to the commune health clinic to dress the wound on your forehead.”

“Wow, Sister, I finally don’t have to be cooped up at home alone!”

Xiaoxiao was so happy she nearly jumped for joy.

She had been stuck inside all day long and was feeling restless.

Seeing her so pleased, She Yuqi felt a pang of guilt. A child that age really needed companionship, but her own time was too tight; most of her spare time was spent selling eggs to earn money.

After a simple breakfast, She Yuqi locked the door and left the yard with Xiaoxiao.

“Sister, hasn’t Brother Jiang Bei come to pick us up yet?”

Xiaoxiao clearly remembered what She Yuqi had said to Jiang Bei yesterday. She Yuqi glanced toward the opposite street corner but saw no sign of him and felt a bit disappointed.

Yet she quickly regained her composure and told Xiaoxiao, “Maybe Brother Jiang Bei is busy with something. I can ride the bike to take you to the county.”

Suddenly, Xiaoxiao pointed toward the village entrance and chirped, “Sister, look! Isn’t that Brother Jiang Bei? He seems to have been waiting for us there all along...”

“Ah?” She Yuqi had already pushed the bike out of the yard. Hearing this, she followed Xiaoxiao’s gaze.

In the distance, on an ox cart sat a boy with his arms crossed, dozing with his eyes closed.

Unlike before, the ox cart was much tidier, with many items gone. The once shabby wooden planks had been replaced with clean new boards, topped with a thick quilt—two layers more than last time. It was obvious he had prepared carefully.

She Yuqi took Xiaoxiao’s hand, smiling gently as they walked toward the village entrance.

At Jiang Bei’s ox cart, She Yuqi lifted Xiaoxiao up and settled her securely on the cart.

Jiang Bei opened his eyes, adjusted to the sunlight, and silently guided the ox cart forward.

Unconsciously, they seemed to have grown accustomed to this way of being together...

...

Arriving at Heishi in Pingyang County, She Yuqi stepped down from the ox cart with a basket of eggs in her right hand and Xiaoxiao by her left.

Without a word, She Yuqi slipped a yuan to Jiang Bei. He took it silently, tucked it away, and stood nearby watching her sell eggs.

He was so strikingly handsome that just sitting there drew the attention of many girls.

“Wow, his nose is so high!”

Jiang Bei frowned irritably at the noise that disturbed his nap. His frown exuded such an oppressive air that the girls who had been about to approach scattered in alarm.

“Oh, it’s you again, little girl! Selling eggs once more?”

Someone recognized She Yuqi. This time, she didn’t disguise herself as a boy, realizing it didn’t make much difference.

“How much are the eggs today?”

Su Wanyi answered with a cheerful smile, “Only two cents each.”

“So cheap?”

Passersby gathered to look at the eggs. An elderly gentleman holding his granddaughter’s hand watched as the little girl’s big eyes sparkled. “Wow, you’re so pretty! Can we be friends?”

“Thank you, you’re pretty too. But I don’t have time to make friends—I have to help my sister sell eggs.”

Xiaoxiao’s polite reply made Wang Ruoruo’s cheeks flush. She tugged her grandfather’s sleeve, “Grandpa, this big sister’s eggs are so cheap! Let’s buy some to take home.”

“Hmm, they really are good and cheap.”

Without hesitation, Ruoruo’s grandfather bought twenty eggs. Seeing this, others who had been hesitating also came forward to buy eggs.

She Yuqi had brought only one basket of eggs, and they all sold out!

She earned a full ten yuan!

Adding that to yesterday’s earnings, she now had fifty yuan in total!

This was truly thanks to Xiaoxiao. Watching Xiaoxiao playing happily with the granddaughter of the elderly man who had just bought eggs, She Yuqi couldn’t help but smile.

That little girl was truly her lucky star.

After Xiaoxiao said goodbye to Wang Ruoruo, She Yuqi took her to the commune health clinic to dress her forehead wound.

She had planned to buy some old hens, but by then the sun had already set. If they hurried back to Xiaogou Village, it would be past midnight.

There was no choice but to ride Jiang Bei’s ox cart back to Xiaogou Village.

More than an hour later, they arrived at Xiaogou Village, where night had already fallen.

After thanking Jiang Bei, they each went their own way.

In the courtyard stood three people, arguing heatedly, spitting flying everywhere. When She Yuqi recognized their faces, her expression instantly darkened further. Even Xiaoxiao was frightened and hid behind her, trembling uncontrollably.