AYLS – Chapter 97

Early in the morning, just as the roosters began to crow, Li Yan opened her eyes.

It had been a long time since she had slept this well.

Ever since she came here, she had suffered from insomnia, unable to fall asleep. All night long, she could only cry alone in the darkness. Only yesterday had she truly slept. Lying on the bed with her eyes closed, her soul felt completely empty and at ease.

Because of this good sleep, her body felt lighter than ever before.

Could labor really have such a magical effect, cleansing a person’s soul?

If Lin Qiao knew this, she would surely say, “You’re overthinking it. You’re just too tired.”

Glancing at her watch, Li Yan realized it was already late, so she quickly got out of bed to wash up.

She had arrived even earlier than yesterday. Lin Qiao and the others hadn’t started working yet, and here she was.

Seeing Li Yan come over, Lin Qiao and the others were quite surprised. After witnessing Li Yan’s tearful state yesterday and seeing her rush home at the end of work, they had thought she might not come today, or if she did, she would arrive very late, unwillingly.

But unexpectedly, she was so proactive.

Li Ermei smiled happily. Ah, now we have someone to boss around again.

“Comrade Li Yan, you’re here early. That’s great—this is the spirit of the working people! Come on, I’ll show you the ropes today and teach you all my experience.”

With a day of work under her belt, Li Yan still felt reluctant, but her working state looked much more reassuring now.

Lin Qiao felt comforted. She thought Li Yan didn’t seem too bad—at least her adaptability was decent.

She whispered to Su Weizhen, “See? She’s already getting used to it.”

Su Weizhen smiled. “We don’t know what exactly happened, but this development is good. Didn’t Sister Zhang say she hoped Li Yan would change her mindset through labor? Looks like it’s working a little.”

None of the three knew that Li Yan’s change wasn’t that complicated—she simply wanted to continue sleeping well.

That morning, Lin Qiao and the others had received a notice from Sister Zhang saying that the logistics department had approved their request. They were allowed to designate a small plot of land next to the chicken farm to grow chicken feed.

Upon hearing this news, Lin Qiao clapped her hands in joy. The group went to inspect the land. It wasn’t a large area and needed to be cleared since nothing had been planted there before.

But the advantage was that it was close to the chicken farm, making management convenient. No need to run back and forth.

Lin Qiao fantasized about planting lots of crops on that land. She was now curious to see whether Su Weizhen’s spatial grain could grow well here.

“We need to plant quickly. It’s already late to plant soybeans. We have to make the most of our time.”

Su Weizhen said, “We really don’t have the strength to clear new land. I’ll have Old Xu come by early after lunch.”

Lin Qiao said, “Gu Huayuan also said he wants to help.”

“Old Chen from my place doesn’t need to be asked—he has to come,” Li Ermei said, wearing a face that clearly said, I’m the biggest boss here.

Li Yan glanced at them but didn’t say anything.

Li Ermei asked, “Is your man coming?”

“…” Li Yan pressed her lips together.

Lin Qiao said, “Comrade Li Yan has already come here as a volunteer; that’s more than enough. She doesn’t need to bring anyone.”

“I’m just thinking more hands make lighter work,” Li Ermei muttered to herself. In her mind, Li Yan came to the chicken farm to raise chickens. Since that’s the case, she’ll likely stay in the same place anyway, so she’s no different from the rest of them.

Li Yan felt awkward and uncomfortable.

Before, she could have asked Zhang Tuo to come, but now he hadn’t checked on her for two days—not even a glance.

Although she didn’t believe Zhang Tuo no longer cared about her, she knew things weren’t the same as before.

Her pride wouldn’t allow her to reach out first.

At noon, after everyone finished their chores, they tried using hoes to work the land—but it was impossible to dig.

Li Ermei, being pregnant, couldn’t exert much strength, meaning the main workforce was gone. Lin Qiao and Li Yan couldn’t even lift a hoe. There was no hope there.

Su Weizhen could manage a few digs, but only a few before her arms ached.

Li Ermei, holding her belly, looked down on them. “Honestly, you’re useless. We used to go repair the dam—now that was real work. You lot can’t even handle this.”

“If I weren’t pregnant, I could dig two plots of land myself.”

Su Weizhen and Lin Qiao pursed their lips, squinting at her. She was still panting.

Lin Qiao deliberately said, “Exactly, Ermei, you’re so capable. Keeping you at the chicken farm wastes your talent. You should join the land-clearing team so you can truly show your strength. Let’s tell Zhang’s wife again.”

Su Weizhen nodded with a smile, “Right, Ermei, you go clear the land.”

Li Ermei: “Can’t even brag… That’s mean!”

Seeing her lose the argument, the two of them laughed happily.

Li Yan stood on the side, watching them joke and play. She felt an inexplicable loneliness, as if she didn’t belong, excluded from the group—truly unable to squeeze in.

Meanwhile, Gu Huayuan went to find Xu Yuanzheng and Old Chen to ask if they would go clear the land at noon.

Xu Yuanzheng said they needed to wait for notice from the family; nothing had been finalized.

“It’s decided. I just asked the logistics office—Director Jiang approved it.”

Instructor Chen looked frustrated. “Tell me, aren’t these female comrades too restless? Just raising chickens isn’t enough; now it’s lawns, now it’s planting land…”

Xu Yuanzheng patted his shoulder. “Ah, Old Chen, that thinking won’t do. They’re raising chickens for the army, contributing to the unit. That’s worthy of our respect.”

“….” Instructor Chen felt embarrassed.

Gu Huayuan suggested that everyone go together at noon. It was just a small patch of land—they could finish in a few digs and still have lunch afterward.

He had even notified his wife, who would grab lunch from the cafeteria and just make do.

After all, planting couldn’t interfere with official duties.

Xu Yuanzheng nodded.

Instructor Chen said, “This newly cleared land isn’t easy to plant. It needs to rest. If they plant seeds now, will anything grow?”

“That’s their concern, not ours. As long as they’re happy, why should we care?” Gu Huayuan thought there was no need to worry at all. In truth, it didn’t take any army resources—it was just some entertainment for the female comrades.

Xu Yuanzheng agreed.

Instructor Chen felt out of place. “No, this kind of land is serious business. You’re taking it lightly?”

Gu Huayuan glanced at him. “Otherwise? Stop them and make them unhappy? It’s just a bit of effort; no need to make the female comrades upset over it.”

Xu Yuanzheng patted Instructor Chen’s shoulder. “Old Chen, you need to modernize your thinking.”

“I am modernizing! I’m wholeheartedly for the organization.”

“….”

Gu Huayuan and Xu Yuanzheng exchanged a look, thinking Old Chen was really a blockhead. Someone like him even found a wife—must’ve been pure luck.

Before they finished work, a young soldier who helped pass messages to Gu Huayuan came with word: since they were going to clear the land, the ladies said they could eat in the cafeteria. No need to go home for lunch.

At noon, the few wives ate together, making things easier.

During lunch, Gu Huayuan carried his lunch box and led the others to the cafeteria. They planned to eat and then go clear land later.

Just as they sat down, Zhang Tuo also arrived.

He still looked heavy-hearted.

He saw Gu Huayuan and joined the three of them. “Why are you eating in the cafeteria too?”

Instructor Chen, eating heartily, worried someone might think he was kicked out, quickly explained proudly, “I’m here on duty. I’m going to help the chicken farm clear land afterward, so eating here is convenient.”

Zhang Tuo assumed Li Yan wasn’t working at the chicken farm anymore, so he said nothing.

He chatted idly with Gu Huayuan, though beneath the surface, he still wanted to know about Li Yan at the compound.

After all, he couldn’t quite let go.

Gu Huayuan noticed and said, “You’ve been busy and haven’t come home. Comrade Li Yan is doing fine at the chicken farm.”

Instructor Chen immediately said, “Yes, she’s working with my Ermie. She’s helping to reduce the workload.”

Hearing this, Zhang Tuo’s eyes lit up. “Really?”

Xu Yuanzheng nodded as well. “Yes. Aren’t you being too inattentive to your wife? You didn’t even know about this. No matter how busy you are, you should come home and check on her.”

Zhang Tuo felt bitter in his heart, but there was no way he could talk about his family matters with outsiders.

“I’ll head back once I’m done.”

After finishing his meal, Instructor Chen casually asked, “We’re going to help clear the wasteland at the chicken farm. Are you coming?”

Zhang Tuo: “…Uh, isn’t that… a bit too much?”

Instructor Chen said, “What’s wrong with working? We’re all going to help our wives.”

“…Alright then, I’ll chip in too.”

Seeing him agree so quickly, Instructor Chen felt a bit off, “Aren’t you going to ask what you’ll be doing?”

Zhang Tuo asked, “Does it really matter?”

“…” Now it was Instructor Chen’s turn to be speechless.

These guys really would do anything for their wives.

Not afraid of spoiling them too much.

Especially his Ermie, who was already high-maintenance enough… Ah, whatever, if everyone’s doing it, it shouldn’t be too wrong.

After finishing the meal, the four of them set off together.

Lin Qiao and the others ate at Lin Qiao’s home, with Li Yan present as well. Since they were all working together, it wouldn’t do to exclude anyone.

Su Weizhen cooked, while Lin Qiao and Ermie helped wash the vegetables.

Li Yan just sat there, doing nothing.

Ermie frowned. She couldn’t just eat for free.

Li Yan looked at her hands, now already dirty, and felt conflicted. Finally, hurt by Ermie’s scornful gaze, she took a deep breath, “My hands aren’t clean.”

“Excuse! What’s not clean about them? They’re whiter than mine.” Ermie’s disdain deepened; she thought Li Yan was just being lazy, “Don’t even know how to make an excuse properly.”

Lin Qiao also felt she didn’t want to work.

In her heart, she silently looked down on Li Yan, and a little of that disdain showed on her face.

She thought, if it weren’t for Gu Huayuan’s sake, she would’ve joined Ermie in despising her. Even lazier than her.

Although she did less housework now, she usually helped Gu Huayuan out.

Later she must tell Gu Huayuan that she was actually very diligent. Comrade Li Yan didn’t even want to help, and was making excuses.

Perhaps because the two women’s disapproving looks were too piercing, Li Yan clenched her fists, her eyes reddening, and gritted her teeth as she went over to help wash and trim the vegetables.

Touching the food with her dirty hands made her feel indescribably disgusted, with a hint of secret sarcasm.

She had once looked down on Comrade Lin Qiao and Ermie for using their chicken-farm hands to cook. Now, it was finally her turn.

The more she thought about it, the more she realized how unpredictable life was. Her fate had changed so drastically that it was almost unbearable. Tears slipped down uncontrollably. This silent weeping had a certain tragic beauty.

Unfortunately, the only onlookers were the utterly unromantic Ermie and Lin Qiao.

Seeing her shed tears over some work, they stared wide-eyed and stuck out their tongues in surprise.

Was it really necessary?

Goodness, so lazy, so lazy.

At lunch, Lin Qiao and the other two ate heartily, while Li Yan struggled to pick up her chopsticks in front of a table full of food she couldn’t choose from.

They were all chicken farmers and had cooked the meal themselves.

All this food…

She took a bite, forcing it down, then another, forcing it down again.

Lin Qiao and the others were much more cheerful, occasionally even squabbling over a piece of egg.

Lin Qiao, touched, said, “I really want to eat the meals Zhenzhen makes every day. My Gu Huayuan’s cooking is terrible!”

Ermie scoffed, “Still complaining? Just be grateful someone’s cooking. I love Old Chen’s food. But if Su Weizhen is willing to cook, I’d love that even more.”

Su Weizhen: “…Hearing you say that, I don’t even want to cook anymore.”

Lin Qiao and Ermie: “….”