The tone of his voice was also very pleasant, soft and gentle, with the scholarly air of a scholar.

Seeing that Song Zhi also recognized him, he was not surprised, but just reached out and handed the basket over.

Song Zhi took it with some confusion. Following the other party's eye signal, he lifted the burlap covering it and found that it was a basket of fresh fruits and vegetables.

"Thank you for taking care of Dabao and the others. These fruits are a token of my appreciation."

Ran Qiu's family can't afford to eat anymore, so where do they get these fresh fruits and vegetables from?

Song Zhi suppressed the doubts in his heart and returned the basket of fruits.

"No need to thank me. I'm not taking care of them. They work for me, so I should pay them. You don't need to thank me specifically for this."

How could Song Zhi not know that he wanted to draw a clear line between themselves and her.

But Song Zhi wanted to recruit him, so of course she wouldn't let him repay the favor easily.

"Song Zhiqing paid them way too much. They're just a few kids playing around and can't do much work. So Song Zhiqing, please accept these fruits and vegetables. They're local specialties and they taste great."

Ran Qiu still smiled, but her attitude was very tough, and she stuffed the basket back into Song Zhi's hands.

Song Zhi could only refuse again.

At this time, the three little ones heard the noise and turned around to find that it was Ran Qiu who came.

They exclaimed in surprise, patted the mud off their hands, and ran towards Ran Qiu happily.

"Brother Qiu, why are you here?"

"Brother Qiu, your legs haven't healed yet. You can't walk such a long distance."

"Brother Qiu, please go home quickly. It's so cold outside."

They touched Ran Qiu's cold hands and tried to persuade her with concern.

Song Zhi looked at the three little guys surrounding Ran Qiu and constantly calling him brother, and noticed that Ran Qiu's eyes had become obviously softer when he saw the three of them again.

It was completely different from the gentleness he had shown her just now.

Whether it is true or false is particularly obvious at this moment.

He really cares for these three little guys.

Sure enough, her initial plan to start with these three little guys was correct.

"Come here and drink some water and rest for a while."

Song Zhi took out a military water bottle and poured a glass of water for each of them, then asked them to come over and rest.

"Thank you, sister!" The three little guys thanked her sweetly, then sat in a row beside her holding the cups of water she gave them.

She spread a piece of burlap on the ground and asked Ran Qiu to sit down as well.

"Teacher Qiu, please sit down and rest for a while."

Ran Qiu looked at Dabao and the others being so close to her without any expression. Her eyes darkened slightly, but she didn't say anything. She just found a stone opposite her and sat down on it.

Song Zhi had been observing his expression.

She could see that although Ran Qiu looked weak on the surface, she was actually suspicious by nature. She brought fruits here today to repay a favor and also to test him.

She naturally wouldn't underestimate him because of his weak appearance.

In his previous life, he was a gangster who killed people without blinking an eye. How could someone who could develop such a huge power be a simple person?

She now had to dispel his doubts before she could continue to approach them.

Otherwise, Song Zhi believed that she would not even be able to see the three little ones tomorrow.

"Actually, Teacher Qiu, you don't have to be so polite. I just arrived in the countryside and I don't know how to work at all. If it weren't for Dabao, Erbao, and Sanya helping me, I wouldn't be able to complete my daily tasks. Those clothes and food are just wages I voluntarily gave. In fact, for us, this is a mutually beneficial cooperation and a win-win situation."

She looked at Ran Qiu and said slowly.

"I didn't mean anything else."

Ran Qiu was stunned for a moment before smiling and thanking him.

"We still have to thank Song Zhiqing. You are such a good person. You don't mind their lack of strength and are willing to hire them to work. They all come from poor backgrounds. If they hadn't met a good person like Song Zhiqing who didn't despise them, this winter would have been difficult."

Song Zhi met his sincere gaze and smiled a little embarrassedly.

Ran Qiu is good-looking, especially her pair of sparkling peach blossom eyes, which are especially charming when she smiles.

Being looked at by his gentle and affectionate eyes, her heartbeat accelerated for a few seconds.

Song Zhi was stunned for a moment, then secretly shocked. She couldn't forget the true nature of this person. Gentleness was only on the surface.

How could a gangster who kills people without blinking an eye be someone who is easy to get along with?

Song Zhi's heart trembled, and she didn't dare to look into his eyes again.

Ran Qiu didn't try too much. After thanking them, he looked at the three little ones who were quietly listening to their conversation.

"Dabao, Erbao, and Sanya, the three of you must work hard and never let down Song Zhiqing's trust."

"Okay, we will work hard!" The three little guys responded in unison, put down their water cups and went to work in the fields.

Song Zhi's eyebrows jumped. She looked at Ran Qiu who was calm, and the string in her heart broke again.

Why does she always feel that there is something else behind Ran Qiu's words?

"I'm going back first. You guys should go home early after you finish your work."

Ran Qiu struggled to stand up. He rubbed the foreheads of the three little guys and said slowly, "Be careful when you work."

"good."

The three little ones nodded obediently.

Seeing that he was having difficulty walking, Song Zhi hurriedly said to Dabao, "Dabao, help Teacher Qiu go back."

"No need." Ran Qiu refused directly.

"Teacher Qiu, you have difficulty walking, and this place is probably not close to your home. Let Dabao take you back. That way the three of them can feel at ease. My work here is not urgent, so I don't need to waste some time."

Song Zhi insisted.

She glanced at the three little ones.

The three little guys' faces were full of worry. They knew very well how serious Ran Qiu's leg injury was. It took him several days to get better. Now he had come such a long way, and the three little guys were worried.

"Brother Qiu, I'm right. Let Dabao take you home." Dabao walked to his side, supported his arm, and advised him.

This time, Ran Qiu did not refuse, but thanked Song Zhi solemnly again.

After watching the two figures, one big and one small, leave, Song Zhi wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

It's so hard to get along with someone who seems to have eight hundred thoughts hidden behind the scenes.

Ran Qiu is really difficult to get along with.

Today was just a simple conversation, but her nerves were on edge, fearing that she would say something wrong and arouse his suspicion, thus ruining all her efforts.

She looked at the gradually disappearing figure and couldn't help but sigh. Fortunately, she didn't have any bad intentions towards the three little guys, otherwise they would probably not know how they died.

She remembered that the news reports had written that Ran Qiu was ruthless and anyone who offended him would be retaliated by having their entire family wiped out, leaving no one alive.

When Song Zhi thought of this, his mood became heavy again.

I don't know if Ran Qiu has dispelled his doubts about me.