Chapter 13: Chapter 13: Giving Gifts, Returning the Bicycle to the Educated Youth Compound

After going through the original host’s memories once more, Gu Qinghuan suddenly came up with an idea.

After her grandfather finished eating, he urged her to hurry home, so she took the opportunity to grab the thermos and head back.

In reality, she found a secluded spot and slipped into her space.

She typed “vintage wristwatch” into the vending machine.

Instantly, a bunch of modern high-quality replicas appeared—so well-made they could easily pass for the real thing, and the key point was, they were cheap.

For around ten yuan, she could buy a high-end imitation watch.

Gu Qinghuan decisively ordered a men’s Titoni watch for 9.9 yuan, shipping included.

The next second, she picked up the watch from the vending slot. Even the packaging box was an exact replica, very retro.

After checking that everything was fine,

Gu Qinghuan took the watch and asked around for directions to the team leader’s house in Hexi Village.

The family had just finished eating and were chatting in the courtyard.

“Excuse me, is Team Leader Duan here?”

“Girl, what do you need from me?” Team Leader Duan got up and came to the gate.

Gu Qinghuan lowered her voice, “Uncle, could I have a word with you in private?”

Seeing this, Team Leader Duan quickly led her into the main room, looking like he was quite used to this sort of thing.

Gu Qinghuan remembered that the book had mentioned in passing that the production team leader of neighboring Hexi Village, because he’d been taking bribes for years, was eventually reported and lost his position—but that was a long time from now.

A county official is no match for the local boss. Right now, she urgently needed to get her grandparents out of heavy labor, so she had no choice but to take this approach.

Once inside the main room, Gu Qinghuan didn’t waste words. She took the watch box out of her pocket and handed it over.

Duan Shengfa opened the box and saw the brand-new Titoni watch. He was so shocked he froze.

Usually, the most he’d get was some rice or flour under the table—just a few cents’ worth.

He’d never received such an expensive gift before. A Titoni watch sold for over three hundred yuan at the department store.

He swallowed nervously, staring at Gu Qinghuan. “What do you want me to do? I’m not doing anything illegal, you know.”

Gu Qinghuan couldn’t help but laugh. “Uncle, look at me, I can’t even kill a chicken, let alone do anything illegal. I just have a favor to ask.

The three people in your village cowshed are my family. My mother just broke her arm, and my grandparents are old and frail. If they keep working like this, it’ll kill them.

You’re in charge of the Hexi team’s work assignments. I’d like to ask you to look after them, give them lighter work, and keep an eye on them.”

Duan Shengfa was no stranger to villagers giving him things in exchange for easier jobs or an extra work point or two. He was very experienced at this.

But this was the first time someone had come to him on behalf of people in the cowshed.

People in the cowshed were “stinking intellectuals”—getting involved with them could bring trouble. But that Titoni watch in his hand was hard to give up.

Even if he didn’t wear it himself, he could sell it for over two hundred yuan—worth years of hard work.

Thinking it over, the political climate had been improving these past two years, and struggle sessions were rare now. The higher-ups didn’t pay much attention to these people anymore—not even requiring thought reports.

Besides, no one was watching the cowshed every day.

He gritted his teeth. “Alright, I promise. Don’t worry, I, Duan Shengfa, love money, but if I take something, I’ll get the job done for you.”

“I trust you, Uncle. I’ll leave it to you.” Whether she trusted him or not, Gu Qinghuan had no other choice.

To put it bluntly, she was using money to buy her grandparents a lighter workload.

Duan Shengfa needed money, and she had it. Once things were settled, she’d benefit from his help in the future too. They were both smart people—no need to spell everything out.

Just as she was about to leave, Gu Qinghuan remembered something and turned back. “Uncle, there’s one more thing. My mother was pushed down the slope the other day. Could you help keep an ear out for who did it?

If you hear anything, please let me know. My name is Gu Qinghuan, I live in Xujiatun. If you help me find out, I’ll make sure to thank you generously.”

With that, she pulled out a handful of White Rabbit candies from her pocket. “If you don’t mind, these are for the kids at home.”

She did this on purpose—to let Duan Shengfa know that if he could get things done, she had plenty more good stuff where that came from.

Duan Shengfa took the candies and hurriedly said, “Of course I don’t mind! Don’t worry, if I hear anything, I’ll let you know right away.”

This was White Rabbit candy—something only city folks could afford. What a treat!

“Great. By the way, my grandpa is still working in the fields. Could you…?”

“No problem, no problem. Let the old man rest. I’ll arrange for someone else to do it tomorrow.” Duan Shengfa was quick to agree.

“Thank you, Uncle.”

Gu Qinghuan rode her bike to the fields to pick up her grandfather.

“Girl, why are you back again? I’ll finish up soon and head home, you go on ahead.”

“Grandpa, I’ve already talked to Team Leader Duan. He promised to look after you and give you lighter work from now on. You don’t need to worry about the fieldwork—he’ll arrange for someone else to do it tomorrow,” Gu Qinghuan said quietly.

“Duan Shengfa? He never does anything without a benefit. Did he…” Zhong Weiqian looked anxiously at his granddaughter, afraid she’d done something foolish for his sake.

“Oh, Grandpa, it’s nothing like that. I gave him money.”

Zhong Weiqian breathed a sigh of relief. For a moment, he’d feared the worst—that his granddaughter had been taken advantage of. He broke out in a cold sweat.

Gu Qinghuan sent her grandfather back to the cowshed, leaving behind some noodles and canned food she’d prepared.

She didn’t dare leave too much, to avoid suspicion.

Once her grandfather was settled, she hurried home—there were still three mouths at home waiting for dinner.

Luckily, the roast chicken in her space was already done—she could serve it as soon as she got back.

She returned to the village almost in the dark, riding the bicycle straight to the Educated Youth Compound. She’d used it for a day—it was time to return it.

Honestly, after running around all day, she realized how essential the bike was.

The educated youths at the compound had already eaten. Some were washing up in the yard, others were tidying their laundry.

When Gu Qinghuan entered, everyone looked over curiously.

She pretended not to notice. The original host had always kept to herself and didn’t have any close friends.

Following her memory, she found Chen Jianghe’s sunny, handsome face and thanked him seriously, “Comrade Chen, I left in a hurry this morning and didn’t get to thank you in person. I asked Comrade Zhu to give you the money. Here’s your bike, I’ve finished using it and am returning it in perfect condition. Thank you.”

Chen Jianghe was the wealthiest among the educated youths—everyone usually tried to curry favor with him.

Gu Qinghuan had outstanding looks and carried herself with the grace of a well-bred lady. When she first arrived last year, she’d caught the eye of many male educated youths—Chen Jianghe being her number one suitor.

Because of this, Jiang Xue, who also liked Chen Jianghe, often targeted Gu Qinghuan.

Later, Gu Qinghuan ignored everyone, kept to herself, and focused on her work. No matter how hard the boys tried, none of them could win her over.

Only then did things finally settle down.

Now, Chen Jianghe clenched his fists, looking at Gu Qinghuan with a pained expression. He hated that he’d come back too late—when Gu Qinghuan desperately needed money for her mother’s treatment, he’d been away on family leave, only returning yesterday.

As soon as he got back, he heard the news—it was already too late, and there was nothing he could do. He was so upset he’d lost his appetite for days.

Maybe he didn’t like Gu Qinghuan as much as he thought—he just couldn’t accept that the girl he’d been chasing for so long had married a madman for a hundred yuan in medical fees.

“If there’s nothing else, I’ll head back now,” Gu Qinghuan said, ready to leave.

This Chen Jianghe, with his lovesick gaze, was just too much—she couldn’t bear to look.

Jiang Xue, standing nearby, glared so hard her eyes almost popped. This “stinking intellectual’s” brat—already married and still pestering Chen Jianghe!

Gu Qinghuan took a couple of steps, then suddenly remembered something."

"Chapter 14: Moving Rations and Eating Chicken Drumsticks