The two returned to the cowshed one after the other.
The atmosphere became awkward, and no one knew what to say.
Ning Yuan simply got up and went to wash up: "I'll go take a shower first."
She took her clothes and went to shower and bathe.
Rong Zhaonan watched her retreating figure, a slight smile playing on his lips, before getting up to retrieve the food from the table.
When Ning Yuan came out after showering, she saw Rong Zhaonan eating. While drying her hair, she asked in surprise, "You didn't have dinner?"
Rong Zhaonan held his bowl and casually shoveled the food into his rice bowl: "Hmm, I haven't eaten."
Ning Yuan was taken aback for a moment, then sat down apologetically: "I really didn't know that the old lady suddenly asked me to go and become her apprentice. I didn't have time to tell you, and I'm sorry for keeping you from having dinner."
Looking back now, when the old lady suddenly ran over and asked her to get something, it must have been because she had already discussed with Grandpa Tang about taking her on as a student.
Rong Zhaonan paused, holding the bowl. "It's alright, that's just how Grandma Xia is."
He tugged at the corner of his lips: "You don't need to talk to me so politely, it's not like you at all."
Ning Yuan was taken aback and muttered, "Are you being sarcastic? I'm usually very polite and courteous to people, unless someone is rude or impolite to me first."
Rong Zhaonan chuckled, his eyes flashing slightly behind his glasses: "Very good, keep it up."
Ning Yuan: "You're speaking like a leader..."
Okay, he did become a high-ranking leader later on.
She turned away and dried her hair by the window. She coughed lightly and said, "Um... no matter what Grandma Xia says in the future, just give her a perfunctory answer and don't take it seriously."
A night breeze blew in, carrying the scent of plants, and brushed against Ning Yuan's long, damp, seaweed-like hair.
The fresh, wild scent of her body, fresh from her bath, wafted onto Rong Zhaonan's nose.
Rong Zhaonan watched her retreating figure, suddenly becoming a little absent-minded: "Um, you mean our contraception?"
Ning Yuan blushed and quickly said, "Yes, but Grandma and Grandpa don't know. No matter what she says in the future, you don't need to argue. We haven't done anything. We're just business partners."
Rong Zhaonan lowered his long eyelashes, feeling inexplicably irritated: "Well, I didn't do anything."
He suddenly stood up, took the bowl, and went out of the house.
As they were talking, the man suddenly picked up his bowl and left without saying a word, leaving Ning Yuan somewhat puzzled.
"What's wrong? Why is this person so unpredictable?" she wondered.
Maybe all big shots are like this, their thoughts are hard to fathom.
...
In the days that followed, Ning Yuan went to Tang Lao's place to study almost six days a week.
Although Mr. Tang was a modern scholar who had returned from studying abroad, his teaching style was still somewhat old-fashioned.
No matter if Ning Yuan was distracted in class or did not do well in her studies, he liked to hit her palm with a small ruler.
However, the old man didn't hit her too hard, and Ning Yuan gritted her teeth and endured it, but she had fallen far behind in math, physics, and chemistry.
Her palms were swollen from being slapped, and she was memorizing formulas even while farming. Her weekly quizzes were constantly teetering on the brink of failure, and her progress was slow.
Her progress in Chinese, politics, history, and geography is far behind.
Old Tang was also quite helpless.
He spent two or three months tutoring Ning Yuan, and by the time the New Year came, she could score 70 points in English, which she had never studied before, but she barely passed her science subjects.
The old man slowly accepted that he had taught a terrible science student and had no choice but to give up on physics and chemistry and focus on mathematics, at least he couldn't be too bad at this compulsory subject.
There's nothing you can do about someone who excels only in one area.
Ning Yuan works during the day and studies overtime at night, always going to work with dark circles under her eyes.
On Sunday, she also needed to find an opportunity to go into town to deliver wild boar meat to Zhang Er at the county guesthouse, as well as the game that Rong Zhaonan had hunted in the mountains.
Chickens, rabbits, and even occasionally rare mountain products like yellow deer or wolves.
Zhang Er greatly admired Ning Yuan's boldness, especially after learning that she had a 'hunter' husband, and the price she offered was quite reasonable.
Ning Yuan would take the food that the guesthouse couldn't keep to the black market and sell it for money, grain coupons, meat coupons, and cloth coupons.
They were much better off financially and were considered wealthy in the village.
Of course, she didn't forget to visit the state-run restaurant where Sister Zhang worked every time she went to the city, and bring some local products for Sister Zhang.
When it comes to doing favors, you can't wait until someone needs it to do you a favor.
Besides, she was genuinely grateful to Sister Zhang for giving her a chance, even though they were complete strangers.
"What are you saying? I should be thanking you for helping my nephew solve a big problem. How could I let you send me something?"
When Sister Zhang received the things Ning Yuan brought, she said with a reproachful look.
She smiled and took Ning Yuan's things, put them under the counter, and then turned around and brought Ning Yuan a bowl of noodles piled high with scallions and minced meat.
Ning Yuan didn't stand on ceremony. She accepted the fragrant powder and said with a smile, "Then let's call this mutual assistance among the masses!"
There weren't many people eating in the afternoon, so Sister Zhang's favoritism towards her wasn't so noticeable.
As the two were talking, a tall figure suddenly entered through the door. He glanced at Ning Yuan's bowl and then raised his voice—
"Hey, Sister Zhang, why is there less minced meat every time I come to eat rice noodles? That's not fair!"
Sister Zhang turned her head and smiled at the person who came: "Officer Chen, this is my sister. She comes to see me from the countryside twice a month. Look how thin she is, so I have to take good care of her. You are a big cadre in Beijing, why are you arguing with a country girl about this?"
Ning Yuan looked in the direction of the sound and saw a tall man wearing dark green overalls and a hat.
This man has thick eyebrows and big eyes; he's clearly from the north.
The capital city...
Isn't that Rong Zhaonan's hometown?
"Hey, what high-ranking official from Beijing? I was just sent by my work unit to Beijing for a period of study, and now I've been transferred to work in our provincial capital."
When the tall man saw Ning Yuan looking at him, he sat down in front of her with a smile, carrying his bag: "Are you Sister Zhang's sister? I'm Chen Chen, an inspector from Ningnan, the provincial capital."
Ning Yuan was a little puzzled and wary of his overly familiar manner.
"Hello," she nodded politely, without saying anything more, and then lowered her head to eat her noodles.
There are plenty of examples on social media from my past life—many men use their fame to either commit fraud or take advantage of women for free.
Seeing her indifferent attitude, Chen Chen was not discouraged: "Little Sister Zhang, which township and village are you from?"
Ning Yuan glanced at him, said nothing, and continued eating with her head down.
Seeing this, Chen Chen seemed somewhat helpless: "I'm not a bad person. I'm responsible for going to the villages to inspect the work. Chatting with the local villagers is also part of my job. If you don't believe me, you can ask Sister Zhang."
As he spoke, he looked at Sister Zhang and said, "Sister, your little sister Zhang thinks I'm a bad guy. You have to help me clear things up."
Sister Zhang looked at Ning Yuan somewhat awkwardly, unsure of what to say for a moment: "Xiao Ning, this... Officer Chen shouldn't be a bad person..."
Chen Chen is indeed a very outgoing person; he's now genuinely calling Ning Yuan his own sister.
Seeing Sister Zhang's embarrassment, Ning Yuan put down her chopsticks and said calmly, "My surname is Ning. I am Sister Zhang's adopted sister. I was a sent-down youth and I am not a local. You can't really have any family matters to discuss with me."
After saying that, she nodded to Sister Zhang and said, "Sister, I'm leaving now."
Then, Ning Yuan turned around and left the shop with her basket on her back.
Chen Chen: "..."
Does he really look like a bad guy?
Okay, he was indeed the "bad guy" who was ordered by his boss to investigate his wife.
We can't let Ning Yuan leave like this!
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