Cheng Tianhua felt the same way, but he didn't reply.
Song Yulian made her point and didn't continue to criticize Cheng You. Instead, she started talking about Cheng Tao.
"She always says she's the older sister and has to set an example. When she saw Cheng You going out to gather pig feed, she didn't want to be idle. She said she wanted to go with Cheng You to work. Otherwise, if everyone else is working and she's doing nothing, people will think you're biased."
Cheng Tianhua was very satisfied with Cheng Tao's thoughts, thinking it showed she was sensible.
"Gathering pig feed only requires one person. San Leng can handle it alone. Cheng You's small arms and legs can't do much work, so I arranged for her to go with San Leng. If we add Cheng Tao..."
That would truly invite criticism.
Song Yulian seized the opportunity to say, "I understand what you mean. It's not the busy farming season right now, so I was thinking of letting Cheng You go down to work and get some experience."
Cheng Tianhua hesitated. Harvesting rice was no small task, especially in the sweltering heat. It was grueling work.
Even he, a grown man, found it exhausting, let alone Cheng You.
Seeing his reluctance, Song Yulian quickly upped the ante, "I'm not being biased. It's just that old Zhao's family... Wang Hongxia is dissatisfied with Cheng You. It's not really about her defending the educated youth. It's because Cheng You is too pampered and doesn't know how to work."
"Since she's not satisfied, let's show our stance. How about letting Cheng You go to the fields to train for a few days? It's not for a long time, just for this period."
Cheng Tianhua nodded, finding her reasoning sound.
"I'll talk to Cheng You tomorrow."
Having achieved her goal, Song Yulian closed her eyes with satisfaction.
But when Cheng Tao heard the next day that Cheng Tianhua was also asking her to go gather pig feed, she was clearly not happy.
Compared to other girls in the village, she was relatively fair-skinned, but next to Cheng You, she looked dark.
If she went out to gather pig feed, she would definitely get even darker from the sun.
Thinking of this, she became unwilling.
Just as she was about to refuse, Song Yulian cut her off, "Are you satisfied now? Your father has arranged for you to gather pig feed, so you won't keep complaining about not being able to contribute to the family."
Faced with Cheng Tianhua's satisfied expression, Cheng Tao swallowed the words that were about to come out.
Cheng Tianhua then looked at Cheng You and said, "You'll go to the fields with them. It's harvest season these few days, so you can go and learn."
Hearing this, Cheng Tao immediately became happy.
Compared to working in the fields to harvest rice, gathering pig feed was much better.
At least it was less strenuous.
Cheng You didn't want to work in the fields. Although she wanted to earn work points, she was also afraid of hardship.
She actually accepted the reputation of being pampered, lazy, and greedy.
"I don't want to work in the fields. It's so hot, it will make me darker."
Cheng Tianhua's face darkened, showing his displeasure.
"Didn't you say yourself that you wanted to go out and earn work points? Now that I've arranged work for you, you're unwilling?"
"I am willing. I was doing the pig feed gathering before, wasn't I doing it well?"
To put it plainly, it was favoritism, wanting to give the easier task to Cheng Tao.
However, Cheng Tianhua was determined to temper Cheng You's temper.
He said, "From now on, all of you have to go out and earn work points. If you don't, you can wait to starve!"
This forced Cheng You to go to the fields to work.
Cheng Tao said with feigned concern, "Cheng You, you should be obedient and not make Dad angry."
Cheng You pouted, "You call Dad so smoothly. Have you forgotten your father from the old Yang family?"
Cheng Tao's face turned pale, her eyes filled with endless grievance as she looked at Cheng Tianhua.
She was his daughter. Now, calling him Dad earned her sarcasm.
Her gaze successfully evoked Cheng Tianhua's guilt.
He angrily reprimanded, "Cheng You, if you keep spouting nonsense, I'll beat you!"
Cheng You snorted, "As long as I earn work points, it's fine, right?"
She would always find a way to earn work points, but absolutely not by working in the fields.
As Cheng You walked out, she saw San Leng looking for her.
"Sister Cheng You, let's go gather pig feed."
Cheng You nudged towards Cheng Tao, "From now on, she'll be going with you to gather pig feed."
San Leng's face fell. "Why?"
"The great captain arranged it. There's no why. You do as he says."
San Leng grunted, muttering, "As expected, a stepmother means a stepfather."
"Never mind. Take her up the mountain to gather pig feed."
With that, Cheng You turned and left.
San Leng couldn't be bothered with Cheng Tao and turned to leave.
He walked quickly, as if being chased by a dog, let alone waiting.
Cheng You, on the other hand, went to Uncle Li's house.
Uncle Li was just putting on his carrying basket, preparing to go up the mountain to collect herbs.
Seeing her, he was a little surprised. "Why did you come here?"
"Uncle, do you have any work I can do here? The kind that earns work points."
Uncle Li replied, "Aren't you going to gather pig feed?"
"My dad gave my job to Cheng Tao, and I don't want to harvest rice."
Cheng You's directness made Uncle Li find her straightforward and cute.
She was just a bit lazy.
But if he were in his shoes, he wouldn't want to send his own daughter to work in the fields either.
"If you're willing, you can come up the mountain with me to collect herbs for a while, and help around the house with washing and drying."
Cheng You's eyes lit up, and she quickly agreed, "I can do it! Uncle Li, I've read the Hundred Herbs Compendium, and I recognize many herbs."
"Really? Then I'll test you later."
As he spoke, he found a carrying basket for Cheng You.
"Mother, I'm taking Cheng You to collect herbs. I've put breakfast on the table for you."
Old Mrs. Li replied, "Go ahead."
Cheng You carried her basket and trotted along behind Uncle Li, like a little shadow.
He first went to find Cheng Xianjing and said, "Cheng You will be collecting herbs with me these few days and helping me around the house. Remember to record her work points."
"Oh, are you planning to take her as an apprentice?"
Cheng Xianjing had a new respect for Cheng You.
Everyone in Wujing Village knew that Uncle Li was difficult to please and looked down on everyone. He still had no apprentices.
Uncle Li waved his hand, "What apprentice? She's just a little girl, she doesn't understand anything. I'm just taking her up the mountain for a walk. It's the busy farming season, and there are so many cases of headaches and fevers. Let her assist me."
Cheng Xianjing replied, "Alright, don't worry, I've noted it down."
Cheng You pouted at Uncle Li's retreating back, mumbling, "Although I can't treat illnesses, I really can recite the Hundred Herbs Compendium."
She could recite it backwards and forwards.
Uncle Li clearly didn't believe her. "Is that so? Then I'll test you now."
"Test me, test me. I'm sure I can answer it."
Uncle Li said, "Angelica dahurica."
Cheng You snorted, raised her chin bravely, and began to recite.
"Angelica dahurica, pungent, warm. Efficacy: dispels external cold, relieves wind-induced pain, opens nasal passages, dries dampness and stops leukorrhea, reduces swelling and expels pus. Primarily treats wind-cold common cold, headache..."
Uncle Li raised an eyebrow, surprised that she actually knew.