Chapter 9: Love-Obsessed, Beyond Redemption

Su Xiaoyun was momentarily taken aback by his words, then smiled brightly, revealing her gleaming teeth. "Alright, then I won’t hold back."
This golden opportunity—a powerful patron—she had to seize it, one way or another!
In these times, an official of even one rank higher could easily crush you.
Huo Congjing, young as he was, already held the position of regiment commander… even old Yang Hongfu dared to be cautious around him.
Su Xiaoyun leaned forward slightly and lifted a corner of the tent’s canvas.
"There are still seeds among these batches. I’ve sorted and recorded them all."
"But it’s best to keep the flour away from the edges of the tent to prevent dampness and mold."
No one was pampered here; Su Xiaoyun handled these basic matters with ease.
She instructed meticulously and then handed the ledger to Huo Congjing.
His dark eyes narrowed slightly as he quickly scanned it, a trace of appreciation flickering in his gaze. "Comrade Su is indeed efficient; the branch secretary’s words were not empty."
Su Xiaoyun’s lips twitched. Was that a compliment or a rebuke?
Branch Secretary Li Bingcheng was honest but simple-minded; his impression of her likely wasn’t very good.
In Shigang Village, from the eldest grandmother to the youngest child, none held her in favor.
Every time she thought of this, Su Xiaoyun felt as if her heart might stop.
Huo Congjing stood at the entrance, keeping his distance from the two educated youths.
His gaze darkened as it fell on Su Xiaoyun.
Just as he was about to speak, Su Xiaoyun suddenly exhaled heavily, her fair face showing helplessness. "Forget it, let’s take it step by step."
"The supplies have been coordinated. Remember to separate the seeds with wooden boards, don’t place them directly on the ground."
"Otherwise, by the time they are needed, they’d have sprouted or withered."
She brushed the dust off her palms, finished her instructions, and turned to link arms with Feng Wanqing.
Outside, the sun blazed fiercely, cracking the earth beneath their feet.
The grass leaves at the edge of the woods curled and shriveled under the harsh sun.
Su Xiaoyun wiped the sweat from her forehead indifferently, then turned and smiled, "Huo Congjing, we’re leaving now!"
Her voice was bright and clear as a bell, echoing across the small clearing like pearls dropping on a jade plate.
Huo Congjing turned and took a sack of millet from his deputy, Meng Qinian. "Life is hard at the youth settlement. Consider this a token of my gratitude for your help, comrades."
Feng Wanqing smiled warmly, her eyes crescent-shaped. "Commander Huo, you’re too kind. We came to help at the branch secretary’s request."
"Coordinating supplies is a meticulous task. Others are busy with work, so we had a bit more time."
Huo Congjing’s stern face softened slightly. "Feng, you’re too modest."
"Without you two comrades, no one else in the village could have handled this responsibility."
"Accept it."
Without waiting for a reply, he thrust the cloth bag into Su Xiaoyun’s hands.
The weight instantly pressed down on her palm!

Su Xiaoyun was startled. Good heavens, this must weigh four or five jin!
Millet was nutritious and precious in these times.
Huo Congjing’s generosity in giving several jin right away was impressive.
She smiled slyly, lifted the bag, and shook it slightly. "Well then, we won’t refuse. If there’s work next time, just call on us."
With that, she pulled Feng Wanqing and left the military camp.
After all, the camp was full of men and strict about gender relations; it was inconvenient to stay too long.
At least the supply coordination went smoothly, with no embarrassment, and she even managed to get closer to Huo Congjing.
If someday she had a major conflict with the team leader’s family, she’d at least have a temporary powerful ally to lean on.
"Hey? Xiaoyun, what are you daydreaming about?"
Lost in thoughts about the future, Su Xiaoyun hadn’t noticed Feng Wanqing waving her hand in front of her face.
Only when Feng nudged her did she snap back, "Ah? Nothing, I have something for you."
Her bright eyes sparkled with liveliness.
She led Feng Wanqing to a discreet slope nearby. "Wanqing, this is the money I owe you."
"I still owe you seven jin of ration coupons, three jin of cornmeal, right?"
"When I earn a few more work points and save some money and coupons, I’ll pay you back all at once."
Then she stuffed twenty yuan into Feng’s hand.
There was no other way—after all, the original owner’s foolish obsession with love had left debts everywhere.
Feng Wanqing furrowed her brows anxiously. "Where did you get so much money? Do you still have enough for yourself?"
Before being sent to Shigang Village, Feng Wanqing came from a capitalist family and was used to wealth.
In the past, twenty yuan was insignificant to her.
But these days, every penny counted.
Su Xiaoyun grinned mischievously. "Forgot? I just got back what Zhou Xuejun and Yang Jinyue owed me from Yang Hongfu."
"As for how Yang Hongfu settles accounts with Zhou Xuejun, that’s none of my business."
"Keep it safe. Once we’re better off, the two of us will feast every day!"
Seeing her like this, Feng Wanqing relaxed but scolded her with a glare, "Just don’t spend any more on that scoundrel man. If we save on our rations, it’ll be enough."
Su Xiaoyun said nothing, only nodded.
Feng Wanqing was sincere; this debt could not be ignored.
As they continued walking, Su Xiaoyun fell behind.
Taking advantage of Feng Wanqing’s distraction, she quickly glanced at her system’s storage space.
She still had 130 yuan in cash, one jin of corn grits, and a ration coupon.
The cash was spread across thirteen ten-yuan bills!
That was plenty!
If she could just hang on a little longer, who knew—maybe the system would generate gold for her!
The thought alone made Su Xiaoyun feel elated!

The two returned to the youth settlement.
At this hour, most people were just coming back from the fields.
Smoke rose from the tiled roofs of earthen houses everywhere, though some families still ate cold meals.
Rations were insufficient; everyone tightened their belts and lived frugally.
The settlement housed both men and women.
They usually cooked and ate together, but sometimes each ate separately.
Su Xiaoyun and Feng Wanqing were close and always shared a stove.
Su Xiaoyun’s stomach growled uncontrollably; she felt her emaciated frame, so thin she resembled a bean sprout.
Inwardly, she wailed a thousand times:
Oh heavens, return to me my curvaceous figure!
The original owner was always saving for Zhou Xuejun, barely managing to have a black wheat bread twice in two days.
She often felt dizzy and weak from hunger, suffering from hypoglycemia and anemia.
"I can’t take it anymore."
"If I don’t eat soon, I’m done for!"
Su Xiaoyun made a firm resolution.
But where was the food?
Except for the one jin of corn grits in the system space, she didn’t even have two taels of flour.
Everything had been swindled away by that scumbag couple, Zhou Xuejun and his woman.
She gritted her teeth, clutching her growling stomach, frustrated beyond words.
She held the dish brush in her hand, feeling weak and powerless.
Suddenly,
Feng Wanqing couldn’t hold back a laugh. "Look at you, starving! I’ll make some wild vegetable soup and cornmeal pancakes."
With that, she turned and went back to get the food.
Since no one else was around and the others hadn’t returned yet, Su Xiaoyun’s mind stirred.
She wanted to use supplies to cook, but there was only a bit of corn grits in the system space.
Suddenly!
Su Xiaoyun’s eyes lit up, a sly smile spreading across her fair, egg-shaped face. "Hehe, little system?"
System: …