Shen Mu Ning and Zhang Jia Yang had been walking for about half an hour. Lin Si Qi was genuinely worried that they would suffer from heatstroke, seeing how sweaty they were. She had suffered from heatstroke when she first went to the countryside in her previous life, and it had been very unpleasant. So she thought of saying to Shen Mu Ning and Zhang Jia Yang, "Mu Ning, you and Zhang Jia Yang have been walking for so long, why don't you come up and sit down?"

It was around one or two o'clock in the afternoon, when the sun was at its strongest. Shen Mu Ning wasn't too tired from walking, but it was so hot that she was covered in sweat. Her clothes on her back were soaked with sweat, which was very uncomfortable.

"It's okay, I'm not tired, it's just too hot." Under the blazing sun, they walked on the unshaded road, with a ditch dug on both sides. The shade of trees was far away. There wasn't a shady place to rest, so how could they not be hot?

"Then you two come up and sit down too, we can switch places." Lin Siqi thought Shen Mu Ning was just being polite, after all, how could she not be tired after walking such a long way?

After Lin Siqi finished speaking, she discussed with Gu Chengyi: "Uncle Gu, do you think we could stop for a bit? Let us switch."

"Okay, I'll stop now." Gu Chengyi watched as Shen Mu Ning and Zhang Jia Yang walked for almost half an hour without complaining, and he began to feel a bit more favorably toward them: these two kids seemed to be in good health and didn't seem to have any ulterior motives; they were people he could continue to associate with. So he stopped the car on the spot so they could take turns.

Lin Siqi jumped off the car as soon as it came to a stop. She knew that working in the fields was much more tiring than walking. If she had her previous body, working in the fields and chopping firewood in the mountains wouldn't have been a problem. The key was that she was only 16 years old now, and her pampered body couldn't withstand the hardship of working in the fields. It was better to adapt little by little now. Otherwise, her body would be even less able to handle it when they started working.

He Xiaolan was stunned when she saw Lin Siqi jump off the oxcart so decisively. She had assumed that Lin Siqi's delicate physique and domineering personality would prevent her from getting off the oxcart and walking, which was why she had paired up with Lin Siqi. That way, they could ride the oxcart all the way to Xinshan Brigade. Unexpectedly, Lin Siqi not only didn't throw a tantrum, but also took the initiative to switch with Shen Muning and the others.

He Xiaolan didn't want to get out of the car and walk, so she looked at Shen Mu Ning with eager eyes and said hopefully, "Mu Ning, since you don't want to ride, then give me this opportunity, and I'll change it for you next time, okay?"

Although He Xiaolan's family was not as wealthy as Lin Siqi's, her parents both worked in factories, serving as the deputy director of production and the director of the Women's Federation at the Beijing Food Factory, respectively. Her aunt's family also worked within the system, which is why she was able to meet Lin Siqi.

Her family never skimped on her food or clothing so she could play with her aunt's children and Lin Siqi. She usually only needed to do some housework at home, so she really couldn't endure much hardship. Walking for two hours was something she had never even considered, and she was very reluctant to get off the bus.

But none of this has anything to do with Shen Muling. She thought that what happened in the morning would teach He Xiaolan a lesson, but she didn't expect He Xiaolan to be so shameless. She acted as if what happened in the morning didn't exist and even dared to ask her for help now.

"No, you get down now, let Zhang Jiayang and I go up." Shen Muling didn't give He Xiaolan any face at all. Even if Shen Muling herself wasn't tired, she wouldn't let He Xiaolan sit in the car. Now that she was letting her sit, He Xiaolan wouldn't remember any of Shen Muling's kindness.

Not only that, He Xiaolan will also constantly try to get Shen Mu Ning to give in to her in the future. If Shen Mu Ning stops giving in to her in the future, she will probably be resented.

Therefore, Shen Mu Ning would never open that door in the first place. Once she felt embarrassed to back down to others, what awaited her was usually not gratitude, but rather taking advantage of them.

He Xiaolan knew that it wouldn't work with Shen Muning, so she immediately changed her approach. She looked at Zhang Jiayang next to her, smiled, and said sweetly, "Jiayang, I've been in poor health since I was little, and I can't overexert myself. Could you let me sit in the car for a while longer?"

Zhang Jiayang had been enjoying the show from the sidelines when he suddenly found himself caught in the crossfire. Hearing He Xiaolan's tone, Zhang Jiayang shuddered and quickly shook his head, refusing, "Get down here! We're all from the city, everyone's tired after walking so far. You're the only one who's precious. Get down here so Shen Muling and I can go up. Don't waste everyone's time."

When Zhang Jiayang was in Beijing, he saw many women who wanted to climb up to him because of his family background. Those women were quite talented and resourceful, and at least they knew their limits when pursuing him, unlike He Xiaolan who was so direct.

He just didn't expect that He Xiaolan would actually set her sights on him, trying to make him pity her? Doesn't she even know what she looks like or what advantages she has? Does she really think he's one of those lecherous scoundrels who would dare to use such a low-level trick?

He Xiaolan never expected that her flirtatious glances would be directed at a blind man. The method that had always worked in her school days was now ineffective; this Zhang Jiayang showed absolutely no mercy. Left with no other choice, He Xiaolan reluctantly got off the oxcart.

Gu Chengyi observed for a while, and his dissatisfaction with He Xiaolan deepened. This person was obviously prone to causing trouble. He would have to tell his brother when he got back that this little girl was not well-behaved.

The group took turns twice along the way, and finally arrived at Xinshan Brigade when they were all covered in dust and looked disheveled.

Shen Mu Ning sat on the oxcart, looking into the distance. As far as the eye could see, Xinshan Brigade was surrounded by a semi-circular mountain, with even higher peaks rising behind it. A stream divided the village in two; on one side were lush green crops, and on the other were the houses built by the villagers.

The houses stretched from both sides of the road at the village entrance all the way to the foot of the mountain. Most of the houses were mud-walled, with only three or four households having built brick and tile houses, which looked quite impressive.

It was around three o'clock. The adults were all working in the fields, so when they arrived, only a few mischievous kids were still running around outside, unfazed by the heat. When they saw that more educated youth had come to their brigade, they all followed the oxcart to the educated youth settlement. Along the way, they curiously watched the educated youth and whispered among themselves, saying something unintelligible.

As Gu Chengyi walked toward the educated youth settlement, he introduced the village to them, explaining where the village's brigade leader and secretary lived, as well as the exact location of the brigade headquarters.

Upon arriving at the educated youth settlement, Gu Chengyi handed them over to an older educated youth named Zhu Yang and instructed him to settle them in: "Zhu Yang, these are the new educated youths. Please help them settle in. I'm going to put the oxcart back."

Zhu Yang first greeted Gu Chengyi: "Don't worry, Uncle Gu, I'll take care of them right away."