Chapter 66 Hard to Explain

"Uncle Zhang, here is my fare."
"Alrighty."
The others also consciously handed over their money, which was an old custom of the production team.
Seeing this, Zhou Yichen also took a five-cent coin out of his pocket and handed it over.
Who would have thought that Uncle Zhang's weathered face would instantly fall, and with a wave of his large hand, he pushed Zhou Yichen's hand directly back.
"Hey! Little Doctor Zhou, what are you doing!"
Uncle Zhang glared, feigning anger, "You saved this old man's life, and you still want to pay for a cart ride? Aren't you intentionally making me lose face?"
The other villagers on the cart all watched with smiles, finding it completely natural.
However, Zhou Yichen remained firm and handed the money over once again.
"Uncle Zhang, you can't look at it that way."
"You are driving the cart for our production team. This horse-drawn cart is public property of the team, and the fares collected must go into the public accounts to generate revenue for the team."
"Business is business."
"I cannot simply take advantage of the collective just because you hold me in high regard."
"This rule cannot be broken on my account."
His words were entirely reasonable and fair.
The smiles on the faces of the villagers, who had been chuckling just moments before, faded away, replaced by a deep, heartfelt admiration.
Just look at that! Look at Doctor Zhou's level of political consciousness!
Uncle Zhang was left completely speechless by his words.
He stared blankly at Zhou Yichen for a long moment before letting out a long sigh. With a mixture of helplessness and gratification, he finally accepted the five-cent coin.
"You kid..."
Uncle Zhang shook his head with emotion.
"You really are a man of principle!"
He carefully placed the coin into his purse, and his estimation of this young man rose a notch higher in his heart.
Talented, yet calm and unassuming; respectful of the rules and sensible.
A young man like this was bound to go far in the future!
With a sigh of admiration, Uncle Zhang cracked his whip in the air, producing a crisp snap.
"Giddy-up!"
The old horse neighed, lifted its hooves, and slowly pulled the creaking wagon toward Songling County.
The wheels rolled on, crushing the frosty morning dirt road.
The people on the cart shrank their necks against the cold wind, but the atmosphere had grown warm and lively because of the preceding scene.
"Doctor Zhou, what are you going to the county town to buy?"
Auntie Wang, who had been rubbing her hands together earlier, asked out of curiosity.
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone on the cart perked up their ears.
Zhou Yichen smiled without hiding anything.
This matter couldn't be kept secret anyway.
"Secretary Liang of the commune rewarded me with a bicycle ticket, so I'm thinking of heading to the county to buy one."
"A bicycle?"
A chorus of sharp intakes of breath echoed inside the cart.
In this era, a bicycle was an indisputable member of the "big three" luxury items, serving as a symbol of status and wealth.
"Goodness! That's a major purchase!"
"Doctor Zhou is truly capable. How long has he been here, and he's already buying a bicycle!"
Envious gazes, mixed with a hint of awe, converged uniformly on Zhou Yichen.
"As expected of someone from the city, they really have money," a sturdy fellow muttered quietly, unable to conceal the envy in his tone.
Hearing this, Zhou Yichen took no offense and simply explained warmly:
"Mostly for convenience."
"With a bicycle, whenever anyone in the village falls ill in the future, I can make house calls faster without delaying anything."
As soon as these words were spoken, the faint trace of sourness from earlier instantly vanished into thin air.
So it was for everyone's convenience!
The expressions of the people on the cart immediately shifted from envy to pure gratitude.
Just look at Doctor Zhou's civic-mindedness!
"Doctor Zhou thinks of everything!"
"Indeed, indeed, our Yangyang Brigade is truly blessed!"
The conversation naturally shifted elsewhere.
Zhou Yichen's gaze fell upon a woven willow basket by Auntie Wang's feet; it was tightly and sturdy woven.
"Auntie, your basket is woven so well."
Hearing this, Auntie Wang immediately beamed with enthusiasm, her face breaking into a wide smile.
"Oh, this is nothing. We country folk like to tinker with these things when we have free time."
Uncle Zhang, who was driving the cart, also turned his head back and grinned. "If Little Doctor Zhou is interested in this, I'll teach you later! I might not dare say much, but when it comes to weaving baskets and winnowing trays, this old man's craftsmanship is second to none in our team!"
"That's right, Doctor Zhou, weaving isn't difficult; once your hands get used to it a few times, you'll know how," another uncle chimed in enthusiastically.
One spoke after another.
Several weathered farmers began explaining to Zhou Yichen how to select willow twigs, soak them, start the base, and finish the rim, using the most plain and down-to-earth language.
Zhou Yichen listened very attentively, nodding from time to time and asking a few crucial questions.
In his mind, an invisible stream of data quietly refreshed.
[Weaving Proficiency +1]
[Weaving Proficiency +1]
[Weaving Proficiency +2]
...
"If Little Doctor Zhou likes them, I'll bring a few over later! We have plenty at home!" Uncle Zhang said generously.
Zhou Yichen quickly waved his hand to decline.
"I appreciate Uncle Zhang's kind intentions. But I'll be living in the countryside for a long time, and I can't rely on everyone gifting me things for everything, or else I'd become a lazybones."
Seeing his firm attitude, Uncle Zhang didn't say anything more.
However, the old man had already made up his mind in his heart.
When he went over for acupuncture in the afternoon, no matter what, he had to bring a few newly woven winnowing trays that he had been reluctant to use and give them to Doctor Zhou.
This kid had too much of a thin skin.
The horse-drawn cart creaked, carrying the chatter and laughter of a cartload of people as it slowly made its way toward Songling County.
...
Meanwhile, in Yangyang Brigade.
The smoke from cooking fires had long since dispersed from Zhou Yichen's small courtyard.
Lin Xiaoyue pushed open the ajar courtyard gate hesitantly, peering inside.
The courtyard was quiet.
Just as she was about to call out, she caught sight of Jiang Xiaoman squatting by the kitchen door, washing bowls.
Lin Xiaoyue's eyes widened instantly.
She walked over quickly, her voice filled with suppressed shock.
"Xiaoman? You... are you really here?"
Jiang Xiaoman had just finished cleaning the pot and turned around at the sound, a smile appearing on her face when she saw who it was.
"Xiaoyue, you're here."
"You..." Lin Xiaoyue looked at her, then glanced at the tightly closed room door. Her pretty face flushed bright red, and she was so flustered she couldn't speak coherently. "Did you... really stay here last night?"
"Mhm." Jiang Xiaoman nodded openly and honestly.
Lin Xiaoyue drew a sharp breath, as if she had heard some earth-shattering secret.
She grabbed Jiang Xiaoman's hand, dragged her to the corner of the courtyard, lowered her voice, and asked anxiously:
"You and Doctor Zhou... the two of you... are you really together?"
Jiang Xiaoman was left between laughter and tears by her nervous demeanor.
"What nonsense are you talking about!"
She gave Lin Xiaoyue an exasperated glare.
"It's not what you're thinking."
"Then what is it?" Lin Xiaoyue pressed, her eyes practically screaming the words "I don't believe you."
Jiang Xiaoman sighed and had no choice but to explain yesterday's events all over again.
"... It's just that he helped me massage my shoulders, I was too exhausted, and I accidentally fell asleep. It's as simple as that."
After listening to her explanation, Lin Xiaoyue fell silent.
She looked at Jiang Xiaoman with eyes full of suspicion.
A young man and a young woman.
Sharing the same room.
And sleeping on the same brick-bed for an entire night.
She simply didn't believe it.
What massage, what accidentally falling asleep—that kind of story was only good for fooling a fool.
Seeing that Lin Xiaoyue remained silent, Jiang Xiaoman began to feel a little uneasy.
"Hey, why aren't you saying anything? Everything I said is true!"
Lin Xiaoyue shook her head, looking at her with an expression that said, "Stop trying to fool me."
"Xiaoman, we're good friends. Is there anything you can't tell me?"
"Just think about it, if word of this gets out, what will other people think? Who is going to believe that the two of you are innocent?"
Jiang Xiaoman was completely out of options.
She realized that she had practically jumped into the Yellow River; no matter how much she tried to wash herself clean, she couldn't clear her name.
She also knew this matter defied easy explanation.
Had she not been one of the parties involved, she probably wouldn't have believed it herself either.
She irritably grabbed her hair, wearing an expression of utter despair.
"Sigh, whatever!"
"Believe it or not, suit yourself!"