Hearing Jiang Rou say this, everyone remembered. Her strange attire today had indeed been eye-catching, but no one had expected it to have such a practical use and benefit. Seeing this, Feng Yu’s expression grew strained. She glared at Jiang Rou, muttering something under her breath that no one could quite make out.
The other educated youth, seeing this, silently returned to their bunks, and the atmosphere in the dormitory turned stifling once again. They were secretly considering whether to make protective gear like Jiang Rou’s; it might be ugly, but it was undeniably practical.
Wang Li watched the crowd’s reaction, feeling helpless. She knew Feng Yu was hot-headed and spoke without thinking, but she also knew she meant well, even if her methods were misguided. She sighed softly and said to the others, "Everyone has had a long day. Let’s get some rest. We can talk about this tomorrow; let’s all just calm down for now."
With that, Wang Li left the dormitory, leaving the others to their own thoughts. Jiang Rou lay on her bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. She knew Feng Yu had a prejudice against her, but she hadn’t expected it to be this severe. She made a silent vow to herself to work hard and strive to integrate into this community as soon as possible.
The next morning, just as the sun rose, the educated youth were forced out of bed to begin another day of labor. After the grueling work of the previous day, they woke up feeling sore and aching all over. Once again, they missed out on breakfast. The task for the day was to continue the rush-harvest of the ripened crops in the fields.
"Quick, someone! Someone has fainted!" Hearing the cries, everyone rushed toward the sound. Jiang Rou was lying on the ground, her face pale as paper, beads of sweat rolling down her forehead, her hands hanging limply at her sides.
Brigade Leader Li Qiang saw this and immediately shouted, "What are you all standing around for? Some of you girls, hurry and help her up! Zhang Kai, take a few strong lads, bring a stretcher, and get her to the village clinic!"
Soon, Zhang Kai and the others arrived with a makeshift stretcher. They carefully lifted Jiang Rou onto it and hurried toward the village’s only clinic.
At the clinic, the only doctor, Old Man Zheng, performed a brief examination and said, "This girl worked all day yesterday and kept going today. Her body is weak, and she’s suffering from severe physical exhaustion. She fainted because of it. Give her some glucose, let her have a good rest, and she’ll be fine."
Wang Li stayed by Jiang Rou’s bedside, her eyes full of concern. After a while, Jiang Rou slowly opened her eyes, looking dazed and weak. Seeing the concerned faces around her, a warmth welled up in her heart. She said softly, "I’m sorry to have worried everyone. I’m much better now. Thank you all."
Seeing she was awake, Brigade Leader Li Qiang said, "Good, as long as she’s awake. The rest of you, head back and get to work. Wang Li, you stay behind to look after her." The crowd slowly dispersed, returning to the fields to continue the harvest.
"Alright!" Wang Li agreed, all too happy to be excused from the field work. "But, Brigade Leader, what about my work points for today?"
"I'll give you eight points," Li Qiang replied.
Wang Li stayed at the clinic to keep Jiang Rou company. "Feeling any better?" she asked with concern. Jiang Rou nodded, a faint blush appearing on her cheeks. "Much better. It’s all thanks to everyone’s help. Sister Li, I’ve been a burden to you all."
Jiang Rou took a piece of candy from her storage, popped it into her mouth, and returned to the fields to continue working. Her predecessor had suffered from malnutrition since childhood. Even though she had improved her diet since transmigrating, the foundation of this body was still too frail. A sudden burst of intense exercise had been too much for her, and she had collapsed before she even realized what was happening. It seemed she would have to find a way to properly nourish and build up this body.
This was Beidahuang. Behind the village lay forests, which were home not only to wild animals but also to hidden treasures, such as wild ginseng. In an era before industrial pollution, wild ginseng and other potent medicinal herbs in the forest were not as rare as they would be in later generations. If she had the chance, she should try to get some. Jiang Rou was grateful for the late-night study sessions in her first year of college, where, out of boredom, she had read quite a few miscellaneous books, including one or two that introduced traditional Chinese medicinal herbs; at least she wouldn't be completely ignorant.
In the afternoon, several other educated youth tried to mimic Jiang Rou by pretending to faint in hopes of slacking off, but the Brigade Leader caught them and lectured them accordingly.
Over the next few days, everyone gradually adapted to the high intensity of the rush-harvest. Furthermore, after the town’s farm finished its own autumn harvest, they began dispatching tractors to help the various brigades. The work became easier than it had been at the start, and with the aid of the tractors, the speed of the harvest increased significantly.
The autumn harvest concluded successfully. The mountain of grain in the warehouse brought a beaming smile to Secretary Li’s face and bathed the entire village in joy. The educated youth and the villagers had completed this arduous task together, and the relationships between them had quietly shifted.
After the harvest, everyone was given five days of rest. On the first day, Jiang Rou decided to try her luck in the forest behind the village. Before leaving, she consulted the village elders about the precautions for entering the woods, learning that wolves often roamed deep in the forest and that she must never venture too far. When the others learned of her plans, some mocked her for being overconfident, while others admired her courage.
Early in the morning, Jiang Rou rose, packed a few essentials, and set off with a bamboo basket on her back. When Wang Li heard about it, she excitedly asked to tag along, and the two headed into the forest together.
As soon as they entered, the sounds of birds filled the air, and the scent was incredibly fresh. They walked along, keeping an eye on the ground and the surrounding flora. Jiang Rou and Wang Li carefully followed a small trail, the sunlight filtering through the canopy and casting dappled shadows on the forest floor.
Suddenly, Wang Li pointed forward and shouted excitedly, "Jiang Rou, look over there!"
In a damp clearing not far away, clusters of wild mushrooms grew in dense patches. They came in all shapes and sizes, some umbrella-shaped, others slightly curled, their surfaces beaded with morning dew and shimmering alluringly in the sunlight. They hurried over, crouching down to examine them closely. Thanks to the books Jiang Rou had read, they were able to confirm that these wild mushrooms were not only edible but also highly nutritious.
Wang Li said happily, "We're in for a treat!"
Just then, a "rustling" sound caught their attention. Following the sound, they saw a few tall chestnut trees. Ripe chestnuts had fallen from the branches, covering the ground in a thick "carpet." Jiang Rou and Wang Li quickly set their baskets down under the trees and began picking up the chestnuts. They chatted excitedly as they worked, occasionally getting hit on the head by a falling chestnut, which sent them into peals of laughter.
Before long, their baskets were brimming with wild mushrooms and chestnuts. Wang Li felt that coming here had been the right decision. Why hadn't she ever noticed these things before?