Volume One, Chapter 18: Once Again, I Prowled My Target

The members volunteered to help dig the biogas pit without counting the labor by the hour. However, the team leader promised that those who helped would have priority access to the biogas later, and the personnel needed to manage the pit would also be chosen preferentially from among the helpers. Naturally, quite a few people went to lend a hand, especially since it was not yet the busy farming season and they had time to spare.

Although Liyun often dismissed Zhiyi’s seemingly fanciful ideas, deep down she had her doubts. Over the years, it seemed that nothing Zhiyi set her mind to had ever failed. After some thought, Liyun advised her mother, “Mom, why don’t we join in too? Let big brother dig a couple of shovelfuls just to show some effort; it won’t hurt us anyway.”

But Mrs. Shen, who had earlier spoken harshly, now felt embarrassed to go help. It was like slapping her own face. Unable to save face yet fearful that Zhiyi and the others might actually succeed in building the biogas pit, she vented her anger on Liyun.

“You stubborn girl! I let you study when you wanted to, but what about your job? You once promised to take me to eat city-grown grain and find a city job for your brother so our whole family could enjoy the good life in the city... Yet now, your brother is a teacher at the commune, and you’re just loafing around at home!”

After a scolding, Liyun ran off to find Zhiyi.

“Zhiyi! Is this your doing?” she called out.

Zhiyi was puzzled. “What do you mean my doing?”

“Isn’t it your third brother? That biogas pit was his idea, right?”

Liyun preferred to believe that their third brother had learned about it while working outside, rather than accept it was Zhiyi’s plan. After all, while her own failure was disappointing, the success of her rival was even more painful.

“You’re disgusting, Zhiyi! You take credit for your brother’s work!” Liyun spat before storming off angrily.

Zhiyi was left bewildered.

Second sister-in-law came out upon hearing the commotion and only saw Liyun’s retreating figure. Puzzled, she asked Zhiyi, “Little sister, did the eldest sister just bully you? Why did she come here?”

Zhiyi replied, “I don’t know either. She suddenly started saying strange things, stomped twice, and left. Maybe she just came to stomp her feet at me?”

Yang Huihui snorted, “She must be crazy.”

Zhiyi nodded in agreement, “Yeah, she’s really weird.”

Zhiyi didn’t dwell on this minor episode. She was busy preparing things for their third brother’s journey. After resting a few days, he had to go out driving again.

This time, it was the same route as last time, which put Zhiyi more at ease—not like last month when Zhiyuan ran the route for the first time and she was very worried.

The hot weather meant food would spoil quickly, so Zhiyi made some spicy meat sauce, diced radish, fried dried fish, and baked some biscuits for him to take along. Concerned he might get overheated, she also packed him a big bag of tea leaves.

Zhiyuan helped out nearby. Watching his sister fuss over him, he felt a deep comfort.

People say mothers worry when their children travel far, but here it was a brother worrying about his sister. Having a sister was truly a blessing.

After eating at home and taking the package from his sister, Zhiyuan prepared to leave.

Before going, he anxiously reminded Zhiyi, “Sister, keep away from that Song fellow. He’s not right for you. Later, I’ll find someone better for you. Also, try to ride the ox cart when going out, or wait until second brother finishes work so you can go home together. Don’t walk those roads alone, okay?”

Although Zhao Cheng had been sent to the northwest, Zhiyuan still felt uneasy. His sister was so pretty—what if some other scoundrel got ideas?

Zhiyi smiled, “Don’t worry, brother. Did you forget? I have a secret weapon.”

These past days, Zhiyuan had been restless. Worried that his driving might distract him, Zhiyi showed him the portable self-defense weapon she exchanged from the system.

Not only that, recalling Zhiyuan’s mention of someone stopping the vehicle before, she also exchanged an electric baton for him to carry while driving.

Zhiyuan didn’t ask where she got these things. Though he showed no expression, inwardly his feelings toward Song Huai Chuan improved slightly. It was, in a way, a fortunate misunderstanding.

Yet Zhiyuan still harbored suspicion and caution toward Song Huai Chuan. He suspected Song had ties to the Song family in the capital. He wasn’t fooled; he had even made inquiries at the police station.

Zhao Cheng had confessed that someone from the capital city was sent to ruin his sister’s reputation. And the only family they had conflicts with in the capital was the Song family.

Breaking off the engagement was one thing; now they tried to disgrace his sister. Offering a beating followed by a peace offering and expecting gratitude? Not a chance. He was already holding back by not beating them up himself.

What Zhiyuan did not know was that as soon as he left the house, Zhiyi promptly forgot his warnings.

Keeping her distance from Song Huai Chuan was impossible—she still planned to rack up points from him. These days, with Zhiyuan guarding her closely, she had no chance to earn points.

Now that the commune’s biogas pit was under construction, she couldn’t afford to fall behind. She needed to exchange for books related to biogas generator sets from the system.

Since they were making one, it had to be the biogas power station with the highest energy conversion efficiency and lowest pollution.

But where to find Song Huai Chuan next was another matter.

Zhiyi decided to try her luck in the mountains.

Unfortunately, luck was not on her side today; not only did she fail to spot him, she almost tumbled down the mountain from exhaustion.

Leaning against a tree to catch her breath, she thought to herself: It would be best if Song Huai Chuan never gets caught by her, or else one day she’d squeeze him dry.

Zhiyi returned home utterly exhausted. Seeing her, Yang Huihui couldn’t help but worry.

“Little sister, what’s wrong?”

Zhiyi waved her off, “Nothing, just wandering around, exercising.”

“Then rest quickly,” Yang Huihui urged, helping her sit down and pouring a glass of sweetened water.

Nearby, Li Xiuying rolled her eyes and sneered.

Big brother Shen noticed her attitude and scowled, “Have you fed the chickens in the backyard? Have you turned over the fields? Can you show some life in your eyes?”

Li Xiuying left grudgingly, harboring resentment. She didn’t understand why her husband was so protective of his little sister. Logically, he was the head of the family and should be the priority for work. Yet now, second and third brothers had jobs, and only her family was still scraping by on the land.

The in-laws favored the little sister; the little sister favored the second and third brothers, leaving her family isolated. Life was becoming unbearable.

Angry, Li Xiuying made a racket in the backyard.

In the front yard, Zhiyi ignored it all, calmly sipping her sweet water in small sips.

She thought: Her health really needed improvement; otherwise, forget about squeezing Song Huai Chuan dry, she might not even manage to push him over.

So she decided to start exercising—beginning with climbing mountains.

The next day, Zhiyi went out diligently again.

After three days of persistence, she finally spotted her target once more.