"Grandma, these are the wild duck eggs I found in the mountains, they're the best for nutrition. You and Grandpa should each have one a day, and when they're all eaten, your granddaughter will go up the mountain to pick more for you."
A flicker of shock passed through Grandma Xu's eyes; wild creatures were hard to find in the mountains, let alone wild duck eggs.
And that girl had been spoiled on ordinary days; she hardly did any work. It was doubtful those duck eggs were found by her.
Grandma Xu didn't believe it but couldn't refuse a gift from her granddaughter.
"Just leave them here."
"Grandma, is Grandpa not at home?"
"He's gone out, it's just me at home. What do you need?" Grandma Xu asked helplessly, knowing the girl wouldn't visit without a reason.
Xu Ying chuckled, "If you weren't my Grandma, you would've understood me with just a glance.
Grandma, I want to take a trip to the county to see if I can find some work. My brain is starting to rust from staying at home all the time."
It wasn't just rusting; otherwise, why would she have taken a fancy to Dong Wenzhong's pretty-boy face?
Grandma Xu adjusted her glasses, urging her to get to the point.
"I want to ride the bicycle!" Xu Ying blinked her eyes.
Grandma Xu, unable to watch, pointed towards the backyard.
Xu Ying immediately ran to the backyard and soon came out pushing a bicycle: "Grandma, I will buy you something to eat when I come back."
After saying that, she rode off on the bicycle, speeding away.
Xu Ying arrived at the county and started to wander around with her bicycle.
The county was several times larger than their Yushan Commune and was surrounded by several factories.
Xu Ying planned to visit the Department Store first and then check out the nearby factories.
She rode her bike towards the Department Store, taking a shortcut she remembered that was narrow but convenient.
Before reaching the Department Store, as she turned a corner and passed an alley, she saw a man and a woman in an argument.
"Zhang Debao, what are you trying to do? I've already told you we're not right for each other," the woman said, her face filled with panic as she saw the man's smile twist into something deformed, a chill rising in her heart.
"Gu Fuying, I truly like you. My heart is as clear as the sun and moon, please give me a chance," the man's smile sent shivers down one's spine.
Gu Fuying felt a wave of fear that gave her goosebumps. She saw a chance to escape on a small path behind the man, but she didn't expect that he had been keeping a close watch on her.
The moment Gu Fuying charged towards him, he opened his arms wide.
"Get out of the way." Xu Ying said, kicking the man right on his buttocks.
Gu Fuying dodged to one side, and the man fell face-first to the ground.
He wailed in pain, "Who, which little wretch dares to kick me?"
Xu Ying didn't just kick him, she gave another hard kick to his back, "Bullying a woman, what kind of skill is that?"
After saying that, she stepped on the man's hand and twisted hard. With his hands causing trouble, what was the use of keeping them?
Gu Fuying was somewhat scared by the violent scene, but afterwards, she looked at Xu Ying with gratitude, "Miss, thank you."
Xu Ying waved her hand and frowned, "In the future, don't walk alone in these dark corners. It's too dangerous."
Gu Fuying wanted to point out that Xu Ying was also walking there, but remembering her swift action, she silently closed her mouth.
She looked at Xu Ying with admiration, "Sister, you seem young, I didn't expect you to know martial arts, so impressive!"
When praised, Xu Ying's lips curled into a smile. It was necessary; after all, she hadn't chopped up zombies for years in the apocalypse for nothing.
But she had to be modest on the surface, "Ah, it's just a little skirmish."
"My name is Gu Fuying, what's yours?" Gu Fuying asked, clinging to Xu Ying after coming out.
"I'm Xu Ying."
"Your name is so pleasant to hear, just like how pretty you are!"
Xu Ying's corners of her mouth curved up.
Gu Fuying continued, "I work at the Supply and Marketing Co-operative. You can come and visit me when you're free. Oh, where is your family from?"
Gu Fuying was like a chatterbox, never stopping talking.
Xu Ying answered each question in turn.
Hearing that Xu Ying wanted to go to the Supply and Marketing Co-operative, she smiled broadly, "Let's go. I'm familiar with the place. I can take you there and you might even buy some flawed goods on the cheap."
Hearing this, Xu Ying raised her eyebrows – what a deal.
The so-called flawed goods at the Supply and Marketing Co-operative were actually not much different from the regular ones. There might be minor imperfections that caused them to be deemed flawed, but they didn't affect functionality at all.
"Yingying, what brings you to the county?" Fuying asked curiously.
"I thought I'd look around to see if I could find some work," Xu Ying said.
Upon hearing this, Fuying's eyes widened and she patted her chest, saying, "Leave it to me, Yingying. My parents know a lot of people. I'll ask them to help you out."
Xu Ying shook her head – she had just met Gu Fuying and didn't know her well enough to have her find a job on her behalf.
Besides, jobs were hard to come by these days; you needed connections and money.
"Thank you, but I'll look on my own." The two of them talked as they arrived at the Supply and Marketing Co-operative.
After they went in, Fuying began to ask her what she needed.
Xu Ying wanted a few insulated flasks and a flashlight, if possible.
Autumn was coming, and the weather was starting to turn chilly. Having a hot water flask at home would mean having hot water to drink, and a flashlight was a necessity for Xu Ying.
Many places in the countryside were not electrified, and although Yushan Commune had electricity, most households were too frugal to use it.
Xu Family's courtyard didn't even have a light, and the last time Xu Ying went to the outhouse at night, she nearly fell into the pit.
Today's toilets were quite crude, with the septic tanks exposed outside. Thinking about her near fall into one still gave her the chills.
"Fuying, do we have any flawed insulated flasks and flashlights at the Supply and Marketing Co-operative?" Xu Ying asked awkwardly. She lacked industrial tickets, after all.
"We do have a flashlight, but I'm not sure about the flasks. Come with me and take a look," Fuying said, pulling Xu Ying along like they were sisters.
The other clerks at the Supply and Marketing Co-operative greeted Fuying with smiles.
Xu Ying guessed that Fuying must have some connections through her family.
Fuying led her to the back warehouse, "Sister Zhang, do we have any flashlights and insulated flasks that don't require tickets?"
As soon as she said this, the warehouse manager knew what was going on and after rifling through the storage, they found an insulated flask and a flashlight.
Fuying was also worried that Xu Ying might not have enough money and immediately took out her wallet intending to settle the bill.
Xu Ying couldn't let her pay and quickly intervened, taking out her own money, "I have money."
Only then did Fuying give up. She invited Xu Ying to her home for a meal to express her gratitude for saving her life.
But Xu Ying had other matters to attend to and declined, "Maybe next time. I'll come over when I'm free. If you have time, feel free to come to my place too."
Seeing that Xu Ying genuinely had things to do, Fuying agreed, albeit disappointed.
Xu Ying left the Supply and Marketing Co-operative, mounted her bike, and once out of sight, she tossed the insulated flask and flashlight straight into her space.
Then she rode her bike to the nearby factories.
On the way, she ran into the man who had bullied Fuying. The moment he saw Xu Ying, he ran off like a rat fleeing from a cat.