When Chen Shuning returned, there were already quite a few people in the car, including Zhou Jihong.

Looking at the bamboo basket beside her, it was clear that she had made a great haul from this trip to the black market. As soon as Chen Shuning got into the car, Zhou Jihong excitedly grabbed Chen Shuning's hand and thanked him repeatedly, saying that she was grateful that Chen Shuning had led her to such a wonderful place.

Besides the educated youth, there were also many villagers on the bus. Although everyone knew that the educated youth often went to the black market to buy things, the villagers would also occasionally go there.

However, no one spoke out as openly as Zhou Jihong, making the atmosphere on the bus somewhat awkward for a moment.

Chen Shuning silently withdrew her hand, her face slightly flushed, and she gave an embarrassed smile, saying softly, "Zhou Zhiqing, you're too kind. Actually, many people know about that place."

Our village has limited resources. Although we don't need to buy grain every year, we still need to buy daily necessities such as oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar.

If not there, where else can we go?

Her voice carried a hint of helplessness, as if she felt sorry for the villagers' living conditions.

Chen Shuning's words put him on the same side as the villagers, and the aunties and older women on the bus felt a great sense of warmth upon hearing them.

They thought to themselves, "This young Chen is such a kind and good kid. Look at what he's saying, isn't that exactly the point?"

The farmers toil away all day, working themselves to the bone, but in the end, they have to sneak off to the black market and pay exorbitant prices just to buy some oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar.

Where can they go to seek justice? These words reveal the farmers' bitterness and helplessness, and also evoke deep sympathy for their arduous lives.

Zhou Jihong was angry because Chen Shuning and Gu Xinyi had left her behind, and she wanted to use these words to sow discord between Chen Shuning and the villagers.

Based on her interactions with the villagers during this period, she found that they were not only stingy but also very jealous. If they saw her eating well or dressing well, they would say a few sour things.

It was as soon as she got on the bus that several old ladies started talking about her new clothes.

Zhou Jihong never expected that her scheme would be thwarted by Chen Shuning with just a few words.

What was most infuriating was that after saying those words, Chen Shuning turned around and went to talk to the old ladies in the village, clearly showing that he didn't want to talk to her. This made Zhou Jihong feel a lump in her throat, unable to swallow it down, and extremely uncomfortable.

Through this incident, Chen Shuning openly stopped paying attention to Zhou Jihong and instead chatted enthusiastically with the village women.

Gu Xinyi returned quite late. As soon as she got on the bus, Grandpa Yang, who was driving, cracked his whip and started heading back.

As soon as they got in the car, Gu Xinyi mysteriously pulled Chen Shuning aside and whispered, "I was lucky enough to buy a really good piece of beef brisket today. How about we have beef brisket stew for dinner? Is it convenient for your partner? If not, we can come to your place to make it?"

Chen Shuning understood that Gu Xinyi was worried about He Chaoyang's injuries. To be honest, she was also afraid that He Chaoyang would get tired if he sat for too long. So she thought for a moment and replied, "It should be fine if you don't sit for long. Why don't you stay at your place? That way, Brother He can go back and rest if he gets tired."

I just happened to buy a lamb chop. Could you please make some braised lamb chops for me tonight?

As a food blogger, Gu Xinyi was not afraid of cooking and readily agreed: "Sure, I'll go back to the village and get another chicken to make chicken soup for your man. Your mutton isn't suitable for the wounded."

Chen Shuning was so focused on how long it had been since he'd had Gu Xinyi's braised lamb chops that he completely forgot that lamb was unsuitable for patients with external injuries.

She, as a daughter-in-law, was not as thoughtful as Gu Xinyi. She stuck out her tongue in embarrassment and said, "Okay, I'll go to the village and get a chicken later. You can take care of cooking."

The oxcart was only so big, and even if the two spoke softly, Zhou Jihong, who was sitting next to them, could hear their conversation. However, neither of them invited her to join them.

But she felt embarrassed to volunteer to participate in front of so many rural women, so she just glared angrily at Chen Shuning and Gu Xinyi.

However, the two of them tacitly ignored her.

When the oxcart returned to Qingshan Brigade, the coal trucks had already arrived. This time, the thin man who guarded the gate also came with the truck. In addition, the loaders and male educated youths brought from the black market were busy unloading the trucks outside the gate of the educated youth settlement.

He Chaoyang was also standing at the door, with baskets of coal already packed around him. Gao Hongyuan and the others were helping to carry the baskets to the backyard.

Chen Shuning was using the same bamboo baskets that Du Qianjin had used to deliver coal last year. They were easy to weigh and transport, so Chen Shuning's portion was the first to be unloaded.

Everyone else piled their wood in heaps to one side, and they would have to carry it to the woodshed basket by basket, which would be a slow process.

Seeing that He Chaoyang's complexion was not bad, Chen Shuning told him to continue watching, while she took the things she bought back into the house, delivered the lamb chops to Gu Xinyi, and then went to the village to exchange them for chickens.

Grandma Yang was the best at raising chickens in the village, so Chen Shuning didn't go to anyone else's house and went straight to Grandma Yang's.

When Chen Shuning returned to the educated youth compound, he was overjoyed, holding a chicken in his left hand and a chicken in his right.

As she walked, she thought to herself that their backyard had both beef and lamb chops, which was quite a feast. However, it wouldn't be right to just send a bowl of chicken to the front yard.

So Chen Shuning made up his mind to buy an extra chicken and give it to the people in the front yard so they could cook it themselves, which would also be a way of repaying everyone for helping them move the coal.

When she reached the gate, she didn't see He Chaoyang. The coal beside him was also gone; it seemed they had all been moved back.

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