The villagers nearby couldn't help but laugh at the sight. Lin Yue's face turned bright red; she felt like a ridiculous clown. Chen Yu quickly came over and helped Lin Yue up. "Are you alright? It's normal to feel uncomfortable at first. Go upstairs and rest."
Lin Yue shook her head stubbornly. "I can do it." She picked up the hoe again and tried to imitate Chen Yu's movements, but the hoe seemed to be deliberately going against her and wouldn't obey her commands.
Just then, Aunt Liu passed by and, seeing Lin Yue's disheveled appearance, smiled and came over. "Chen family daughter-in-law, farm work can't be learned all at once. Don't rush, take your time." After saying that, she took the hoe from Lin Yue's hand and demonstrated the correct posture and way of using force.
Under Aunt Liu's guidance, Lin Yue gradually mastered some skills. Although her movements were still clumsy, she could at least swing the hoe. Her forehead was covered in sweat, and her clothes were soaked, but she didn't give up. Chen Yu looked at her, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes.
At noon, the workers stopped what they were doing and prepared to go home for lunch. Lin Yue followed Chen Yu home, both of them exhausted. Looking at her muddy hands and dirty clothes, Lin Yue gave a wry smile. She had never been so disheveled, but in the process, she gained a deeper understanding of the hardships of this era.
After a quick wash, Lin Yue and Chen Yu sat down at the table for lunch. Lunch was, as usual, cornbread and wild vegetable soup. Lin Yue felt her stomach starting to protest, but she ate silently. She knew this was their only source of food at the moment.
After lunch, Lin Yue and Chen Yu sat in the yard to rest. Lin Yue looked at every plant and tree in the yard, her mind filled with many thoughts. She had gained a new understanding of her husband, whom she had never met before; his diligence and simplicity filled her with admiration. Although she was still somewhat unaccustomed to this environment, she was trying her best to accept it.
"You must be exhausted today?" Chen Yu broke the silence.
Lin Yue shook her head. "It's alright, but I don't know anything, so I've embarrassed you."
Chen Yu smiled and said, "No, it's like this at the beginning. You've already tried your best."
They fell silent again. The afternoon sun was warm and serene, bathing them in its light, as if time itself had stood still. Lin Yue knew they still had a long way to go, both in adapting to this era and in getting to know each other. But she held a firm belief in her heart: she must find her own value in this unique time, and at the same time, protect the man she was slowly getting to know and the kind people of this village.
In the afternoon, Chen Yu had to go to a meeting at the educated youth settlement, so Lin Yue decided to stay home and tidy up the house. Looking at the messy room, she took a deep breath and began to work. She wiped the table clean, organized the worn-out dishes and chopsticks, and folded the bedding neatly. While tidying the wooden crates, she found some of Chen Yu's personal belongings: a few old books and some letters. She picked up a book, flipped through it, and noticed that the pages were yellowed and contained some notes Chen Yu had made. From these notes, she could tell that Chen Yu was a thoughtful and ambitious person.
She picked up another letter, from Chen Yu's family. It was filled with concern and encouragement, but also mentioned some of their difficulties. Lin Yue looked at the letter, a sense of感慨 (gan3 kai3, a complex feeling of mixed emotions, often including regret or sadness) welling up inside her. In this era, everyone has their own story and their own struggles, and she, too, would become a part of that story.
After tidying up the house, Lin Yue sat in the courtyard, contemplating her future. Her medical skills hadn't yet found a use here, but she knew that one day she would use her knowledge to help this village. At the same time, she was also thinking about how to better get along with Chen Yu. They were husband and wife, and although this relationship had come somewhat suddenly, she didn't want it to become awkward.
Just then, a commotion erupted at the door. Lin Yue got up and went over, seeing several villagers arguing at the gate. A young villager angrily said, "You can't do this! This is firewood for everyone; you can't take it all!" An older villager retorted, "Our family is large, and we use a lot of firewood. What's wrong with taking some?"
Lin Yue frowned; she knew this conflict stemmed from resource scarcity. In these difficult times, even a small amount of resources could spark a dispute. She stepped forward, attempting to mediate. "Everyone, stop arguing. Let's talk things out. We're all from the same village; why ruin our harmony over such a small amount of firewood?"
The villagers were surprised to see Lin Yue. They hadn't expected this city girl to meddle in their business. A young villager snorted, "Sister-in-law, you don't know, they often do this, bullying us just because they have more family members."
The older villagers looked at Lin Yue with some dissatisfaction, saying, "Chen family daughter-in-law, this is our business, don't interfere."
Lin Yue didn't back down. She smiled and said, "Uncle, I know everyone has their difficulties, but we are a group and should help each other. If you quarrel over this little bit of firewood today, how will you get along in the future? We can think of a way together to distribute these resources fairly."
The villagers fell into deep thought after hearing Lin Yue's words. At this moment, Aunt Liu also arrived. After understanding the situation, she smiled and said to Lin Yue, "The Chen family's daughter-in-law is right. We can't let this small matter ruin our harmony. How about this, let's renegotiate the distribution of firewood to ensure fairness and reasonableness."
With Aunt Liu and Lin Yue's mediation, the villagers finally calmed down and began discussing the distribution of firewood. Lin Yue watched them, a sense of relief washing over her. She knew that many similar problems needed to be solved in this village, and she was willing to do her part.
As dusk settled, Chen Yu returned from his meeting. He was somewhat surprised to see the scene in the courtyard. Lin Yue went over and told him what had happened. Chen Yu looked at Lin Yue, a hint of relief in his eyes, "You did a great job. This village needs someone to mediate these conflicts."
That night, Lin Yue lay in bed, reflecting on the day's events. She felt she was slowly integrating into the village, and although many difficulties and challenges remained, she was full of confidence. Looking at Chen Yu, who was already fast asleep beside her, a slight smile played on her lips. In this unfamiliar era, she had found a sense of warmth and belonging. She knew that tomorrow would be another day, and many more things awaited her to face and resolve.
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