Chapter 133: Isn't it perfectly normal for her to take leave?

Since Xu Lin possessed a discerning eye for quality, it was highly unlikely she would accept a jade pendant as payment, but a gift offered upon a first meeting was entirely different.

"A gift from an elder cannot be refused."

Under the gentle persuasion of the several elderly individuals, Xu Lin found herself in possession of a jade pendant and a jade bracelet, each piece exceptionally precious. Old Master Sun had arrived in such a rush that his family had not yet caught up with him, leaving him without any valuables on hand; he repeatedly promised to make it up to her when the opportunity arose.

Faced with their genuine kindness, Xu Lin felt it would be wrong to hold back any longer. After checking their pulses, she formulated an optimal treatment plan for the five of them. While she was unprepared to begin treatment immediately, she could certainly provide them with "Nourishing Pills."

Even with the clandestine care of their younger relatives, these elderly people had endured significant hardships, and their bodies were suffering from severe malnutrition. Combined with their harsh living environment and other factors, their health was in a precarious state.

As Xu Lin detailed her treatment plan, the five elders nodded repeatedly; she was indeed a formidable little prodigy of medicine. With such medical skills, it wouldn’t be long before people were lining up to curry favor with her.

Early the next morning, Xu Lin stepped out of her room feeling refreshed. Leaving the educated youth dormitory, she jogged all the way to the mountain summit. In the soft light of dawn, she practiced a set of boxing techniques. Once she had loosened her limbs, she happily began to absorb the wood-element energy, cultivating her innate ability.

When the first whistle blew, Xu Lin concluded her practice and jogged back to the dormitory, which was now bustling with activity. After exchanging greetings with the other youths as they washed up, she returned to her room to eat breakfast.

Once she was well-fed, the work whistle sounded. Xu Lin locked her door and joined the other educated youths to gather at the brigade headquarters.

On the way, Qian Li tugged at Xu Lin’s sleeve and whispered, "Du Yong was giving you such a fierce look earlier. You should be careful of him."

"Is that so?" Xu Lin glanced at Du Yong with indifference. Sure enough, he was.

*Heh.* Xu Lin sneered inwardly. Even if Du Yong wanted to cross her, he would need the capability to do so; she truly didn't give him a second thought.

Upon arriving at the headquarters, Erwa’s mother, who was waiting in line, spotted Xu Lin and immediately beckoned her over to join the queue. Xu Lin led the other youths over and stood behind her.

"Educated Youth Xu, have some of these." Erwa’s mother handed her a handful of peanuts. "Erwa’s grandmother sent these over. She asked me to thank you on her behalf. If it weren't for you..."

Whenever Erwa’s mother thought about how close she had come to losing her son, her eyes would redden. The mere thought was heart-wrenching. Her gratitude toward Xu Lin ran even deeper.

"You're too kind, Auntie. It was just a small effort," Xu Lin said, accepting the peanuts and eating them without the slightest hesitation.

Her ease made Erwa’s mother beam; she particularly liked this kind of "Educated Youth Xu," who seemed to have no distance between her and the locals. Other aunts and older women were just as lively, gathering around to chat, and soon Xu Lin became the center of the bustling crowd.

Qin Fang, walking alongside Su Liang, was burning with resentment at seeing Xu Lin so popular. When she looked at Su Liang, she found his attitude toward her had grown much colder than before—his eyes were actually drifting toward the group around Xu Lin.

*No, I absolutely cannot let Su Liang keep paying attention to Xu Lin. What if she manages to lure him away?*

Qin Fang lowered her eyes, the same problem she had pondered all night resurfacing: perhaps she really should marry Su Liang as soon as possible. Only when they were wed would he truly belong to her, and only then would she have the opportunity to leverage the Su family's influence to get things done.

"Brother Liang, I’d like to ask for leave to go to the commune and see if my family's remittance has arrived. Would you mind working alone today?" Fearing he might refuse, she grabbed his arm and shook it. "Once I withdraw the money, I’ll bring you back something delicious."

Su Liang, whose pockets were empty, felt his eyes light up at the mention of a remittance. The more money the Qin family sent, the better—it would relieve some of the pressure on him. It was just a pity the money hadn't arrived sooner; he hadn't had the funds to campaign for the position of brigade leader. But it didn't matter. If he wasn't the leader, so be it. As long as he remained a member of the Su family, he would eventually be able to return to the city.

Su Liang accepted reality quickly and agreed to Qin Fang's suggestion without much thought. *Not going to the commune is fine; if she doesn't go, she won't have the chance to make me spend money.*

With their own hidden agendas, the two quickly reached an agreement and went together to ask Wang Facai for leave. By the time Xu Lin noticed Qin Fang was missing, she was already on the road to the commune.

At the fields, Xu Lin’s task remained land reclamation—a job she was now quite proficient at. Han Hong dug the earth in front while Xu Lin picked up stones and roots behind him, setting aside any medicinal herbs she found to take back after work.

The two worked and rested in turns, appearing quite unremarkable. Han Hong leaned on his shovel to rest, his eyes scanning the surroundings. After a long moment, he suddenly asked, "Why don't I see Educated Youth Qin? Surely she hasn't taken leave again?"

"Isn't it normal for her to take leave?" Xu Lin countered. Han Hong found it difficult to respond. Her words were too reasonable; after all, who among the educated youths hadn't taken more leave than they had spent working since arriving in the countryside? It was just that only Qin Fang seemed capable of such behavior.

"You're quite right. It’s just rare to see only her taking leave." Han Hong’s gaze continued to wander, and before Xu Lin could reply, he spoke again.

"Educated Youth Du isn't here either. Could he have taken leave, too? That would be truly rare. Du Yong has never taken a single day of leave. Has the sun started rising in the west?"

"Perhaps he didn't get elected as brigade leader and took leave to heal from the blow," Xu Lin remarked, effectively ending the conversation.

Han Hong looked at her. It couldn't have been easy for the young girl to grow up; her tongue was far too good at offending people. But could Du Yong really be that devastated? That didn't seem right. He had seen Du Yong dutifully cooking breakfast that morning, then fawning over Qin Fang and Su Liang to serve them. Once they finished eating and wiped their mouths, Du Yong had even bustled about washing the pots and pans. He didn't look like someone who had been hit hard.

*Forget it, never mind. I'll ask later.*

Unfortunately, when they returned to the dormitory after work, Han Hong did not see Du Yong. Looking at the locked door, Han Hong fell into deep thought. *Was his fawning this morning just an act?*

Before Han Hong could figure it out, Su Liang began kicking his door in frustration. With Du Yong absent, there was no one to cook for him. After a tiring morning, he certainly wasn't going to go hungry at noon. Looking at Qin Fang's locked door, Su Liang regretted not going to the commune with her to get the money. *It’s just a withdrawal; why is she taking so long to get back?*

Resentment filled Su Liang as he returned to his room to lie down. He decided that if Qin Fang didn't return by noon, he wouldn't go to work in the afternoon either. He was tired and hungry, and he wouldn't lift a finger for anyone.

Xu Lin finished cooking her lunch and placed her medicine pot by the door, pulling out traditional Chinese herbs to add to it. In truth, she was only doing this for show; the actual medicinal preparation was completed within her inner space.

Huang Zishu saw Xu Lin brewing the medicine and walked over with a bright smile. "Educated Youth Xu, brewing some medicine?"

Xu Lin responded with a smile, "Yes. Is there something you need, Educated Youth Huang?"