Chapter 20: Perhaps Not an Outsider in the Future

After standing up, they both looked in opposite directions, feeling a bit awkward about meeting each other's eyes.

"So, should we head back now, or walk a bit more?"

Su Yao didn't answer his question; instead, she walked further to the right and beckoned to Mu Xingjue. "Look, there's ginseng over there."

"Ginseng?"

"Yes, let's dig it up. Even if we can't sell it, we can soak it in wine or tea; it's good for your health." Su Yao began digging as she spoke.

Mu Xingjue joined in, and they both worked with extreme care to avoid damaging the delicate root hairs.

Once it was unearthed, Su Yao was thrilled. Mu Xingjue hesitated for a moment before speaking, "Educated Youth Su, could you sell this ginseng to me? I want to give it to the elders in my family."

Su Yao pushed the ginseng straight into Mu Xingjue’s hands. "Take it. Forget about buying or selling; it’s not even mine."

"That won't do. You found it, so it's yours. I'll pay you when we get back."

"No need. Just take it."

"How can I do that? That would be taking advantage of you. If not, you could send it back to your own family."

"I don't have any family." With that, Su Yao turned and started heading down the mountain.

Looking at the ginseng in his hand, Mu Xingjue hurried to catch up. "I'm sorry, did I say something wrong?"

"No." After a pause, Su Yao gave a brief summary of her situation. "So, I’m on my own now."

"That’s not true. You have me." He felt a bit embarrassed after saying this, so he quickly added, "And Ye Simin and Xu Xingyu."

"Hmm."

After descending the mountain, they gathered some wild vegetables. By the time they returned, it was noon. They had a quick meal, and then Mu Xingjue boiled water to slaughter a chicken, removing the feathers and innards.

Su Yao took over, blanching the chicken before stewing it in a pot with ginger, scallions, and rice wine.

Once it came to a boil, she let it simmer on low heat. After adding a couple more logs to the fire, she left it to cook while she washed the wild vegetables.

She then kneaded dough to make buns and dumplings; the two men had hearty appetites, so there was no worry about making too much.

Shortly after they finished, Xu Xingyu and Ye Simin returned.

"Yao Yao, we went to the post office today and saw a package and a letter for you, so we picked them up."

"My package and letter?" She thought she had no family left. Wang Qiuxia was locked up, Zhang Yuyue wouldn't send her anything, and as for that little fatty Zhang Yingjie, that was even less likely.

Su Yao checked the return address and realized who it was from. She quickly opened the letter and, upon learning that Wang Qiuxia and Zhang Ming had been executed, her eyes turned red. She had finally avenged the original owner's family; surely, the original owner could now rest in peace.

Su Yao took the package into her room and didn't emerge until it was time to cook dinner.

Mu Xingjue was concerned. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine. They've received their punishment, so I’ve avenged my family."

"I'm glad you're okay. By the way, here are these textbooks for you." Mu Xingjue handed her the high school textbooks that had been sent from his home.

"Thank you. How much do I owe you?" Su Yao flipped through the books. Receiving no answer, she looked up at Mu Xingjue.

"Then should I pay you for the ginseng?"

"That’s different. That was from the mountain and didn't cost me anything, but these were bought with money."

"I think they’re the same."

"Fine, let's call it even. Let's eat dinner."

Mu Xingjue watched Su Yao’s retreating back and smiled, revealing his two canine teeth. Call it even? They would never be even.

After dinner, the four of them sat in the courtyard chatting for a while before heading to bed.

Long after, Mu Xingjue stepped out, moving cautiously until he reached the cowshed and knocked on the door.

The door opened after a moment. "Xingjue, why are you here so late?"

"Grandfather, I brought you something."

"We still have some left; it's not good to leave too much out in case someone sees."

"That’s right, Xingjue. Your grandmother and I can't eat that much, so you should take it back."

"Grandfather, Grandmother, I didn't bring anything else. I know you have supplies, but I brought you some ginseng. I dug it up on the back mountain today. You can slice it and soak it in water to drink."

"Oh? You can identify ginseng? How did I not know that?" Ren Zhiming teased.

His grandson usually appeared cold, but he was the softest-hearted of them all; otherwise, he wouldn't have volunteered to come to the countryside to follow them.

"The Educated Youth Su who lives with us found it."

"And she just gave it to you?"

"I offered her money, but she wouldn't take it."

"That won't do. You must pay her; we cannot accept things for nothing."

"Exactly, we can't just take her things," Ren Zhiming and Deng Ruolan agreed.

"It's fine. Educated Youth Su is a very good person. She might not be an outsider in the future." Mu Xingjue felt a bit shy, but his voice was filled with joy.

"Oh? Judging by that expression, you’ve taken a liking to her? What does the girl look like? How old is she?"

"She's very beautiful. You'll be able to meet her later."

"Wait, you said Educated Youth Su? How many people with the surname Su are there where you live?" Thinking of what she had heard in the woods earlier, Deng Ruolan grew anxious.

The person her grandson liked must not come to any harm.

"There's only one with the surname Su. Why?"

Upon hearing there was only one, and that it was the person her grandson liked, Deng Ruolan hurriedly told him what she had overheard the other night. "A man named Jiang Guo and another, I heard them call her Educated Youth Yang—they are plotting against the person you like. I don't know what they're planning, but you must warn Educated Youth Su so she doesn't get hurt."

Mu Xingjue’s face turned terrifyingly dark. "I understand, Grandfather, Grandmother. Get some rest; I’m going now."

Back home, Mu Xingjue couldn't sleep. He finally drifted off near dawn, only to have a nightmare where Su Yao was harmed by Jiang Guo and forced to marry him, suffering abuse until she met a tragic end.

Mu Xingjue woke up in a cold sweat, even though the morning was still cool.

Unable to sleep, he got up and saw Su Yao cooking breakfast, so he went over to help. "Educated Youth Su, stay away from that Jiang Guo in the future. He’s not a good person."

"Jiang Guo? Oh, you mean that guy? I can tell he's no good. Don't worry, I know."

"He and that Educated Youth Yang are plotting against you. Be careful," Mu Xingjue warned.

"How do you know?"

"I went out last night and overheard them by accident. Watch yourself. If you need to go out at night, come get me, and I'll go with you."

"Alright."

The field work was mostly finished. The women continued weeding, while the men handled fertilization, and those willing could sign up to dig irrigation channels.

Mu Xingjue and Xu Xingyu both signed up, so they returned quite late every day. Su Yao and Ye Simin waited for them every evening to eat together.