Song Jing Tang felt a touch of envy. Qi Cheng Yan, that blockhead, was truly fortunate.
It was difficult to find a woman as radiant as Cheng You even in the city.
However, if they were to marry, his family might not approve.
Song Jing Tang shook his head inwardly, realizing it wasn't his concern.
Cheng You ate in small bites. Soon, everyone at the educated youth point finished and prepared to go out for work.
Only Qi Cheng Yan remained behind to wait for her.
"Eat slowly."
Cheng You always ate slowly, afraid of burning her mouth and disliking food when it cooled. She was particularly picky.
"If you're busy, you can go ahead. I'll be fine alone. I'll go to Uncle Li's after I finish."
Qi Cheng Yan said softly, "Keep eating."
Cheng You ate like a little squirrel, her mouth puffing in and out. She was already eating as fast as she thought possible.
After an unknown amount of time, she finally finished the porridge in her bowl.
"I'm done," she announced.
Holding an empty bowl, she seemed to be seeking praise from Qi Cheng Yan.
Qi Cheng Yan grunted and raised his hand to gently wipe the corner of her mouth.
Cheng You looked down and saw that there were still grains of rice there, her face flushing crimson.
"I don't usually eat like this!"
Qi Cheng Yan wiped his hand and smiled faintly. "I know you don't. Let's go."
His tone sounded so perfunctory, it didn't sound like he believed her at all.
Cheng You mumbled, "I really don't usually eat like this."
This was too embarrassing.
Qi Cheng Yan had other things to do, so Cheng You had to go to Uncle Li's alone.
As soon as she entered, she saw Uncle Li with a grim expression.
"Uncle, why are you looking at me like that?" Cheng You asked innocently.
Uncle Li lowered his head in anger, revealing his bare scalp.
"Look at yourself!"
Cheng You's eyes widened in surprise. "Huh? Did the last few hairs fall out too?"
Those few hairs represented Uncle Li's last shred of stubbornness.
Uncle Li said angrily, "It's all because of your medicine!"
After taking her medicine, his scalp began to itch shortly thereafter.
When he woke up this morning, he found all his hair had fallen out. He was heartbroken.
He was truly bald now!
Cheng You suppressed a laugh. "It's okay, it's okay. Maybe they'll grow back later."
"Do you guarantee it?" Uncle Li asked, bristling.
Cheng You shrugged. "How can I guarantee that? I haven't used this kind of medicine myself."
He was the guinea pig because no one had ever used it before.
"Uncle, don't be angry. I added *Heshouwu* to it, so the effect won't be bad. Anyway, whether you had those few hairs or not, you're bald, so it doesn't make much difference."
Hearing this, Uncle Li became even angrier. He turned his back to her, clearly not wanting to speak to her.
Aunt Li smiled. "This girl, stop provoking him. If you make a medicine that can turn hair black tomorrow, I'll test it for you."
She wanted to be beautiful in her old age.
Cheng You smiled and coaxed her. "Okay, Grandma, I'll make a cracked heel cream for you, so your heels won't crack even when it's colder."
Aunt Li, like most farmers who worked the land, had rough, dry heels and fingers. Every winter, they would crack, causing pain that kept her awake.
The basic face creams sold at the commune were mostly a mixture of beeswax and base oil, with no other additives. They felt moisturizing but had no other effect, and cracked skin could only be endured.
Aunt Li touched her head. "Go ahead and get to work."
At her age, having this child to dote on her was enough.
Cheng You had planned to start researching today and had even gone to the commune to buy several jars of face cream for this purpose.
She first selected some medicinal ingredients and then shut herself in the pharmacy to work diligently.
Others only saw her living well with Uncle Li, unaware of how much she had studied at his place.
She used to think she was a diligent student at school, but now she realized she was nothing compared to Uncle Li.
Uncle Li appeared to be a rough man, but he actually possessed many books at home.
He said he had learned from his master, but his current achievements were entirely due to these books and notes.
Now that he had taken Cheng You under his wing, his main focus was having her read, and the rest was practice.
She was to gain experience through trial and error.
Most people would not have Cheng You's patience.
...
The next day, Cheng Tao asked Zhao Yun Lin to take Cheng Tian Hua to the commune to meet the deputy director.
The purchase of cigarettes and alcohol had been based on Cheng Tao's advice.
Why could Cheng Tao accurately state Deputy Director Qian's preferred brands of cigarettes and alcohol?
She had merely recalled a passage from a book.
Deputy Director Qian was not a good person, but he was a benefactor on Zhao Yun Lin's path to success.
Every beginning was difficult, and Deputy Director Qian was the one who helped Zhao Yun Lin get started.
As expected, when Deputy Director Qian saw the gifts brought by Cheng Tian Hua and Zhao Yun Lin, his expression softened.
To have found out his preferences showed they had put in considerable effort.
"Yun Lin, how's everything going at the supply and marketing cooperative?"
Zhao Yun Lin replied respectfully, "Thanks to you, Uncle, everything is going smoothly. I will certainly not bring shame upon you."
Deputy Director Qian patted his round belly and chuckled, "You flatter me. And who is this..."
"This is my father-in-law. He is the production team leader of Wujing Village in Yangshu Brigade."
Deputy Director Qian nodded with a smile. He naturally paid little attention to a mere production team leader.
However, a meeting and a gift deserved some courtesy.
Although Cheng Tian Hua had served at the grassroots level for many years, he was adept at navigating social situations and spoke flattering words so subtly that they felt like a spring breeze.
Deputy Director Qian, at least, listened with pleasure. They chatted, drank a few cups of tea, and were even invited to stay for a meal before leaving.
However, they dared not truly stay for a meal. Cheng Tian Hua smiled and said, "We must eat, of course. If Director Qian graces us with his presence, I will come to the commune another day, and we brothers can have a few drinks."
"Certainly! Then I will await your visit!"
As they walked out of the commune, Zhao Yun Lin couldn't help but marvel that Cheng Tian Hua could remain a production team leader for so many years for a reason.
"Dad, you must seize this opportunity. I think Deputy Director Qian got along very well with you."
Cheng Tian Hua smiled without comment.
It wasn't that they got along well, but rather that Deputy Director Qian was pleased with his compliments.
"You understand him better. He's reached this position, and many people must send him gifts. He surely wouldn't care about our small tokens. So, what do you think he lacks?"
Zhao Yun Lin thought for a moment. "Lacks what... Perhaps he lacks a wife."
He chuckled. Everyone knew Deputy Director Qian was in his forties but was a bachelor.
However, he hadn't always been unmarried. His first wife had passed away long ago.
His first wife was a second-time bride who brought two sons with her.
After his wife died, he raised these two sons as if they were his own.
Everyone praised him for it.
But strangely, from then on, he never remarried, choosing to live alone with these two children.