A thought popped into Shen Man's mind: she really wanted to snatch the thing Lin Sisi was wearing around her neck right away.

But seeing that there was still a group of people around them, it was definitely not a good time to snatch Lin Sisi's thing.

Regardless of how these educated youths would view her, perhaps even considering her a robber, they might actually help Lin Sisi.

It must be done when she is alone with Lin Sisi.

She thought for a moment and then said, "Sisi, I think the weather is nice today. Let's go for a walk in the mountains this afternoon."

"Go up the mountain?"

Lin Sisi felt that staying at the educated youth settlement was indeed quite boring. The brigade leader had warned her not to wander around. She could go to the mountains, but she could stay in the village.

But even if she goes up the mountain, she won't go with Shen Man.

This guy had been eyeing her clothes covetously, so she wasn't going to go up the mountain with him. Even if she did go, she'd go with the other educated youth.

With other educated youth present, she figured Shen Man wouldn't dare to do anything to her.

“Going up the mountain is fine. But it’s very dangerous up there. There are so many wild animals. Winter hasn’t been over for long, and those beasts are already hungry. It would be very dangerous for us to go up now.”

Chen Lu's favorite thing to do is to go up the mountain to find wild produce. "We can ask the male educated youth to come up the mountain with us. By the way, we educated youth don't have much firewood. It's perfect that the male educated youth are going up the mountain to collect firewood. We can find some mushrooms, wild vegetables, or wild dried wood ear and dried silver ear fungus and other wild produce."

Shen Tengfei was the first to raise his hand, nodding vigorously to indicate his agreement.

"Me, me, me, me, me."

He hesitated for a long time, then said nothing.

Then he gestured a few times to Wang Qiang next to him, and after Wang Qiang understood, he immediately began to translate for the others.

“Shen, a educated youth, said that after we male educated youth finished chopping firewood, we would still have time to look for game. If we could catch wild rabbits or pheasants, we would improve our meals.”

“That’s a great idea, I totally agree, hehe.” Niu Kuncheng smiled.

“Of course I agree,” Xu Dazhi said.

The other educated youth also raised their hands to express their agreement.

Ever since the New Year's slaughter of the pig and the distribution of meat, these educated youths had not eaten meat at all. Their mouths were practically parched. When someone finally suggested hunting to improve their meals, how could they refuse?

Wang Qiang added, "No matter what we do on the mountain, we must guard against large animals getting close. Doing a good job of defense is the most important thing."

Yes, yes, yes.

Shen Man quickly asked Wang Qiang, "Wang Zhiqing, is it alright to go this afternoon?"

At this point, Wang Qiang hesitated.

"If we're going hunting, we need to prepare the hunting tools first. Today might not be an option, how about tomorrow? I've already asked the brigade leader, and spring plowing won't start for at least five days. We still have plenty of time."

Shen Man was somewhat disappointed. She subconsciously glanced at Lin Sisi's neck and could only endure it for a while longer.

After the educated youth finished their meal, the male educated youth went to prepare hunting tools with great enthusiasm. Everyone's face was full of excitement, as if the fragrant rabbit and pheasant meat had already appeared in front of them.

With nothing else to do, the female educated youth tended to the vegetable garden in the yard. As the weather warmed up, they were going to replant the vegetables. They would turn over the soil, let it dry for a few days to kill any insect eggs, and the sunlight would also make the soil looser.

A short while later, several male educated youths went out together to cut some sticks to make hunting tools.

Only female educated youth remained in the educated youth compound.

As Shen Man watched the male educated youth leave the educated youth settlement one by one, she also hoped that the female educated youth would leave as well, leaving only her and Lin Sisi. Then, she could make her move on Lin Sisi right now, without having to wait until tomorrow.

However, the female educated youths kept turning over the soil and no one went out.

She also had to help out, otherwise she wouldn't get any of the vegetables grown at the educated youth settlement.

Lin Sisi is no longer an educated youth and will no longer eat the vegetables grown here. She is the only one who doesn't have to work and sits on the stone idly, lost in thought.

After a while, she got bored and went back into the room alone, lying on the kang (a heated brick bed) and continuing to stare blankly.

He couldn't help but recall Shen Man's many unusual behaviors over the years.

Shen Man stared at the jewelry on these women with great longing, simply for the sake of appreciation.

She had already told Shen Man that she was wearing an ordinary key around her neck, but Shen Man was still staring at her neck. Could it be that Shen Man was also interested in an ordinary key?

What exactly is Shen Man's purpose?

By the way, Shen Man asked her what kind of jewelry she was wearing, which means that Shen Man is actually interested in jewelry.

Shen Man usually wears very ordinary clothes. She has never been envious of Tong Jiaojiao's beautiful clothes, but she is particularly interested in women's accessories.

Could it be that Shen Man is short of money and wants to take other people's jewelry to exchange for money?

If that's the case, why doesn't Shen Man just go out and rob people?

She pondered for a while but couldn't find any clues.

When the female educated youths got tired from working, they would sit down to drink water and rest.

Shen Man realized that Lin Sisi was alone in the dormitory, so she quickly went inside.

"Lin, the educated youth."

"Shen Zhiqing"

"Lin Zhiqing, I really envy you. You married a military officer and you don't have to do anything all day but still have money to spend. You're so lucky."

As she spoke, she walked over and sat down on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) in front of Lin Sisi.

His eyes couldn't help but glance at Lin Sisi's neck again.

Lin Sisi deliberately covered her neck with the blanket so that Shen Man couldn't see anything.

Lin Sisi was very happy to be praised by Shen Man. After all, who doesn't like to be praised?

Moreover, this has always been something she's been smug about.

So what if Gu Mingzhou doesn't like her? She's still a military officer's wife, and there will still be people who envy her.

She smiled and said, "I guess I'm just lucky. But Mingzhou and I have known each other since we were little. We grew up together and it was fate that we were able to become husband and wife."

Shen Man scoffed inwardly. Everyone knew that Gu Mingzhou was only so-so to her, but she felt that Gu Mingzhou treated Lin Qingyan better.

But in front of Lin Sisi, she still had to go along with Lin Sisi.

"Yes, yes, childhood sweethearts like you are the most enviable."

"Shen, you educated youth, what about you? Have you been dating any of the male comrades in our educated youth settlement, or anyone else? I bet quite a few people have been trying to set you up with dates."

“Some people have tried to set me up, but I’ve turned them all down.” Shen Man shook her head. “Finding a partner depends on fate. I haven’t met anyone I clicked with at our educated youth settlement, and I won’t consider the people in the village. I don’t know when I’ll meet my soulmate. There’s plenty of time, I’m not in a hurry.”