Chapter 48: Almost Exposed

Chapter 48: Chapter 48: Almost Exposed

She couldn’t just let a golden opportunity slip through her fingers.

Deng Yuyuan had an idea; at the very least, she needed to build a good rapport. She knew nothing about agronomy, but giving them some seeds to study shouldn’t be an issue. Besides, this white rice was no different from the rice she ate in the future. Perhaps they really could cultivate it using seeds from the Farm Shop. Furthermore, the agricultural books in the Farm Shop contained knowledge far more advanced than this era. If she went back today and studied them carefully, she could surely come up with some ideas to inspire them.

As evening approached and pale golden twilight claimed half the sky, Deng Yuyuan made her way to the supply and marketing cooperative. She bought a heap of preserved fruits and fruit drops, along with some clothes suitable for a child Gou Ya’s age.

Passing by a restaurant, she grabbed a bowl of plain porridge and two large meat buns to go. She also paid for a thermos of hot boiled water. Tucking the food tightly into her arms and wrapping her coat around it, she hurried toward the hospital.

Her timing was impeccable. Just as Deng Yuyuan entered the IV drip room, Gou Ya’s infusion finished. The nurse removed the needle and reminded Deng Yuyuan to bring the child back for another IV the next day. The moment Gou Ya saw Deng Yuyuan, her eyes lit up. She stood close against Deng Yuyuan’s leg, her small hand tightly gripping the seam of her pants.

"Wait, let go, I can’t walk like this," Deng Yuyuan protested. She gently pried Gou Ya’s little hand off her pants, opting to hold the girl’s hand instead as they sat back down together. "Let’s eat here before we go back. You must be starving."

Gou Ya naturally nodded, though she still sat upright and a bit stiffly to the side.

"If you can’t finish the plain porridge, don’t force it," Deng Yuyuan told her. "We’ll take it back to the Knowledge Youth Institute, heat it up, and you can have it tomorrow. Don’t stuff yourself, or you’ll feel even worse."

Gou Ya understood. She murmured a thank you and took tiny, careful bites. "When Sister Deng wasn’t here, the nurse lady already told me."

"And did you thank the nurse lady?" Deng Yuyuan asked casually.

"I did."

Deep down, Gou Ya actually felt that Deng Yuyuan was the one who needed reminding more than anyone else.

The savory aroma of the meat buns drifted through the IV drip room. By the time the nearby children smelled it and looked over, Deng Yuyuan was already relishing her preserved fruits. Gou Ya could clearly see several kids drooling profusely. It was simply too tempting, and they couldn’t fathom how an adult could be eating so well here.

The adult who was eating incredibly well lounged comfortably in her seat, forming a stark contrast with the child beside her who could only sip plain porridge. Catching Gou Ya’s gaze, Deng Yuyuan waved the preserved fruit in her hand. "You can’t eat this right now."

Gou Ya swallowed back the words she hadn’t spoken. She was shocked, wondering how Sister Deng could remain so calm under the stares of so many people.

CHOMP CHOMP CHOMP. Deng Yuyuan only felt that the snacks in her hand tasted even better. She knew she was wicked like that, loving to intentionally make kids jealous, and she laughed to herself.

The two managed to make it back just before night fully fell. It was past dinnertime. The educated youths at the Knowledge Youth Institute knew Deng Yuyuan’s habits; they had kept two steamed corn-breads warm in the pot for her just in case, but didn’t save any formal dishes.

As soon as the door was pushed open, Tuantuan babbled loudly, reaching out for her mother. Her gaze landed on Deng Yuyuan and Gou Ya’s joined hands, and she blinked her big eyes. She stared blankly at the scene; her newborn brain processor still needed time to react.

She threw her head back and unleashed an earth-shattering wail. The Gou Ya she had loved just yesterday was no longer loved today. After her mother took her into her arms, she formed tiny fists and began hitting her incessantly, her busy little fists occasionally stopping to wipe away a tear. She shot an angry glare at Gou Ya before looking back at her mother. Her mouth, still unable to speak, whimpered and grumbled, pouting so fiercely you could hang a bucket on her lower lip.

"Tuantuan, why are you so angry?" Deng Yuyuan held her, gently coaxing her, while still finding the time to look back at Gou Ya, who was standing there at a loss. "What are you standing around for? Go back to the room. Don’t take Tuantuan’s crying to heart. Kids have short memories; she’ll forget all about it when she grows up."

"Hmph." Tuantuan cupped her mother’s face with both hands, refusing to let her look at the other child.

Alright, alright. Yielding to her strength, Deng Yuyuan obediently focused only on Tuantuan, muttering softly, "Why are you so bossy?"

"Yeah!" Tuantuan nodded her head vigorously.

Gou Ya stared blankly at them, unmoving.

Tian Tian came over to usher her away. Gou Ya whispered, "I want to wait for Sister Tuantuan to calm down."

"Alright, but don’t just stand there, you’re still sick. Go sit on a stool, find any stool—" Tian Tian suddenly frowned. "Sister Tuantuan? Sister Deng? Who taught you this messy hierarchy? You should call Sister Yu Yuan Aunt Deng."

Noticing Gou Ya’s discomfort, Tian Tian crouched down and patiently explained, "Tuantuan doesn’t hate you. She’s just mad at her mom for not playing with her all day and playing with another kid instead. She’ll be coaxed back to normal soon."

Gou Ya felt a mix of sweetness and worry. As the child who had been accompanied by Deng Yuyuan all day, she already possessed the fine qualities of a devoted child bride, deeply afraid that Tuantuan would grow distant from her. But obviously, Tuantuan had already been appeased.

"Who is the silliest little piglet in the world?" Deng Yuyuan lifted Tuantuan up with a smile.

"AROO!" Tuantuan babbled excitedly.

And there was an unnoticed background voice: "Stop teaching Tuantuan nonsense!"

The next day, when Gou Ya was brought in for her IV drip, Fang Zhongwen—passing by the IV room for the umpteenth time and noticing the child sitting all alone—asked the nurse in confusion, "Is her guardian always absent?"

Thinking back to the pretty woman leisurely munching on snacks yesterday, the nurse nodded. She thought it was better if the woman wasn’t here, so she wouldn’t make the little kids cry from jealousy.

Deng Yuyuan walked into the alleyway, where the man in black was already waiting. He said in exasperation, "You slipped away too fast yesterday. We didn’t even agree on a specific time."

Deng Yuyuan handed over the basket. Today, there was still no cooked food.

The man in black rummaged through it. "You actually have strawberries!"

They were the reward for reaching level 8 in the Farm game. Deng Yuyuan had never sold them before to save herself the hassle, but now was the perfect time to bring them out. He picked one up and popped it into his mouth. Sweet and juicy—it could definitely fetch a good price.

"Can you sell them?" Deng Yuyuan asked.

"Yes, and for a very high price at that." The man in black carefully stowed away the basket of treasures. "I’ve never heard of strawberries being grown anywhere near here."

"Well, now you have," Deng Yuyuan replied in a hoarse voice.

The man in black estimated the value and paid her. Deng Yuyuan still inspected the bills one by one. "I’ll probably drop off more goods around this time tomorrow. I won’t come the day after, but I’ll be here the day after that. I’ll keep coming every other day until three weeks before the Spring Festival; then I’ll stop selling."

Today’s merchandise included hairpins. Looking at the familiar craftsmanship that belonged to Deng Yuyuan, the man in black suddenly asked, "Did you make these hairpins yourself?"