Cheng You, the moment she got her hands on her little treasure, counted the money inside. It wasn't much.
Li Yulan couldn't help but chuckle and handed her two large duck eggs.
"Did you hide these too?"
Cheng You grinned sheepishly. "I found them by the river, wild duck eggs. I brought these two back home, planning to..."
She trailed off, not finishing her sentence.
San Leng, seeing this, asked, "Sis, after so many days, why haven't you eaten them yet?"
"I never intended to eat them myself."
She was going to give them away.
Li Yulan thought for a moment. "Don't tell me it's for Qi Zhiqing?"
Two rosy clouds appeared on Cheng You's face, and she said a bit unnaturally, "He saved my life, so it's not too much to give them to him, is it?"
Li Yulan replied, "Shall I do it for you?"
The look of a young girl experiencing her first crush was utterly endearing.
Cheng You shook her head. "No, I'll give them to him myself."
"Alright, you give them yourself." Li Yulan didn't insist.
People were buying pork in twos and threes in the yard, and they didn't leave until evening.
Besides Wujing Village, people from other villages in the Yangshu Brigade also came to buy pork after hearing the news.
It was mainly because it was cheap, not even the offal was left.
However, Qi Chengyan left a good amount of streaky pork for Sixth Aunt's family, along with a large pork hock and the heart.
As for the money earned from selling the pork, he didn't take a single cent, giving it all to San Leng to share with Cheng You.
San Leng refused several times, but Qi Chengyan wouldn't accept the money back.
He had no choice but to go and discuss it with Cheng You.
Cheng You, however, said, "Then aren't we taking advantage? No, this money should at least be half Qi Zhiqing's."
Of a wild boar, after what Sixth Aunt's family kept, and some given away, the rest of the meat was sold.
Because it was sold cheaply, it only fetched a little over a hundred yuan.
In total, at least fifty yuan belonged to Qi Chengyan.
San Leng thought the same way. "But Brother Yan won't listen to me. Why don't you go talk to him yourself, sis?"
Cheng You secretly cleaned her wound with the condensation liquid. It had healed considerably now, at least it didn't hurt anymore.
She beckoned to San Leng. "I can't go out and see him like this. Can you call him out for me?"
San Leng naturally wouldn't refuse and turned to leave.
Qi Chengyan returned to the educated youth point, took a shower, and changed into clean clothes.
Even when he was on missions, he would always wash up and maintain his cleanliness if conditions allowed.
Those around him called him eccentric and overly fastidious.
Holding his dirty clothes, Sun Xiaowan walked up.
"Brother Chengyan, let me wash your clothes for you."
Qi Chengyan dodged her hand and calmly refused, "No need."
Sun Xiaowan bit her lip and watched him go to the side to wash his clothes.
Since she arrived in Wujing Village, Qi Chengyan had never looked at her with any expression other than indifference.
She touched her face, her eyes filled with a hint of melancholy.
She considered that while her looks might not compare to Cheng You's, she was at least better than the other village girls.
Furthermore, she was from Yancheng. A high school graduate, her background and education level were among the best in Wujing Village.
Yet, Qi Chengyan acted as if he were blind, completely unaware of her existence.
A moment later, San Leng walked in.
"Brother Yan!"
Qi Chengyan had just finished washing his clothes and was hanging them up.
San Leng didn't enter, waiting at the doorway.
After hanging his clothes, Qi Chengyan walked out. "What's up?"
San Leng lowered his voice and told him about Cheng You looking for him.
Normally, he would never have gone.
But now, worried about Cheng You's injury, he agreed.
Watching Qi Chengyan leave, Sun Xiaowan followed him out and asked San Leng, "Where are you going to find him? We're about to eat!"
San Leng glanced at her. "What's it to you."
Just as Sun Xiaowan was about to speak, San Leng ignored her, patted his butt, and left.
Meanwhile, Qi Chengyan arrived at the place where he had arranged to meet Cheng You.
After waiting for a while, he saw Cheng You's figure.
Cheng You took out fifty yuan and handed it over. "Qi Zhiqing, the wild boar was killed by you. This money should have all been yours. We've already taken advantage."
Qi Chengyan's eyes darkened slightly, and he didn't take it.
He asked in a low voice, "Why did you save me?"
Cheng You pouted. "Why? If it were the other way around, wouldn't you save me?"
Qi Chengyan paused for a moment. "That's different."
He had just showered, and there was a faint scent of soap on him, which was pleasant.
Water droplets slid from the tips of his hair, tracing his strong physique, and disappeared into his chest.
Cheng You bit her lip, her mind suddenly wandering.
"How is it different?"
Qi Chengyan didn't answer, saying calmly, "This money is rightfully yours. A life-saving grace is priceless."
Cheng You refused, directly grabbed his hand, and stuffed the money into his palm.
His broad palm formed a stark contrast with her small hand.
One was strong and powerful, with fine scars on it.
The other was delicate and soft, without a single callus.
The large and small hands impacted Qi Chengyan visually and tactilely.
Cheng You feigned composure as she withdrew her hand, but her earlobes were already red.
She hid her hands behind her back, suppressing her excitement, and said softly, "It was yours in the first place."
In reality, she was so nervous her fingers curled up.
Apart from Cheng Tianhua, this was the first time Cheng You had actively held a man's hand.
It was rough, not at all like her smooth, tender skin.
But it was broad and strong, giving a sense of security when held.
Qi Chengyan put the money in his pocket, his expression unreadable.
Cheng You suddenly took out two duck eggs from her pocket.
"I was going to give them to you earlier, but I never found the chance."
Li Yulan had helped her bring them from home, so she seized the opportunity to give them to him.
Qi Chengyan's hand seemed to move uncontrollably as he took the duck eggs.
"Is there anything else?"
His expression was as indifferent as ever, with no discernible emotion.
Cheng You pouted in dissatisfaction and mumbled, "Such a blockhead."
With that, she turned and left.
Qi Chengyan stood there, watching her walk away slowly.
Only when she was out of his sight did he lift his feet to leave.
Upon returning to the educated youth point, Sun Xiaowan immediately walked up.
Seeing him holding two duck eggs in his hand, she looked delighted.
"Such large duck eggs! Why don't we steam one for dinner tonight?"
Qi Chengyan ignored her and took the duck eggs directly into the room.
This indicated he had no intention of sharing the duck eggs with everyone.
Sun Xiaowan glared at the men's dormitory. "It's just a duck egg, why are you being so precious about it?"
Duan Liping couldn't help but advise, "Although we eat together, it's only because of the food rations. It doesn't mean we have to share everything good we get. Today, so much wild boar meat was given, and that was thanks to Qi Zhiqing, wasn't it? It's just two duck eggs, there's no need to make a fuss about it."
Sun Xiaowan pouted. "I didn't say anything."
Duan Liping said no more.
She didn't say anything, but it was all written on her face, almost implying he was stingy.