Taming a mother buffalo is not a simple matter. This mother buffalo has been with her three calves for several days now. They cut grass and feed the buffalos every day, and it seems to have become somewhat gentle. However, whenever someone tries to approach and touch the mother buffalo, it immediately triggers her alertness.
Gu Ling made a headgear from wood, but for a while, they couldn't figure out how to put it on the mother buffalo's head. Several people gathered around the buffalo, looking at it for a long time, not knowing what to do.
Lu Yanchen came to the well where the educated youths were fetching water, and seeing them gathered around the buffalo looking troubled, he casually asked, "What's going on?"
On the other side, Peng Xiaoyue was still hiding in the house, crying. The educated youths here didn't know what had happened, so they faced Lu Yanchen with some composure.
Li Haixia was a bit worried, "Lieutenant Lu, we want to put a headgear on this wild buffalo to milk it, but it's very fierce and doesn't let anyone get close."
Before, Gu Ling had managed to throw a loop of rope over the buffalo's neck, but it was precisely fitting. However, throwing the headgear accurately was proving to be a challenge, and everyone was feeling anxious.
Meanwhile, Lu Yanchen, lifting the cup to collect water, had a distracted look in his eyes. He casually said, "What's so difficult about this? Just put it on while it's not paying attention."
Upon hearing this, everyone was momentarily stunned. Li Haixia awkwardly smiled, "Captain Lu, you really know how to joke."
Gu Ling couldn't help but say, "If it weren't for your words, I wouldn't have heard your words."
Isn't it just common sense? When magic meets magic, who wouldn't know how to do it?
Lu Yanchen, sensing the sarcasm in Gu Ling's words, raised an eyebrow slightly and took the headgear from Gu Ling.
"Watch closely."
He walked over, and Li Haixia couldn't help but remind, "Lieutenant Lu, be careful! This is a wild buffalo, very powerful. It might throw someone away!"
As soon as her words fell, Lu Yanchen suddenly grabbed one of the mother buffalo's horns. Then, with an easy leap, he directly flipped onto the back of the buffalo. In almost an instant, before the mother buffalo could go wild, he swiftly placed the headgear on its head!
The buffalo began to thrash wildly, but Lu Yanchen seized the reins around the buffalo's neck, controlling it with ease. The buffalo leaped three feet high, seemingly attempting to throw Lu Yanchen off. The nearby educated youths watched with trembling hearts.
He really did manage to put the headgear on while the buffalo wasn't paying attention!
But how was Lu Yanchen going to get down now?
The mother buffalo roared in madness, and Lu Yanchen, seated on its back, tightly held onto the reins. Despite several moments where Gu Ling thought he would be thrown off, Lu Yanchen remained securely on the buffalo's back!
Gu Ling was internally shocked, her eyes slightly widened. She had never seen a man with such courage and strength, seemingly unafraid of anything. Despite the apparent danger, he handled it effortlessly, as if it were second nature.
It wasn't until Lu Yanchen jumped down after the exhausted buffalo had calmed down a bit that everyone's hearts finally returned to their proper places.
Gu Ling instinctively looked at Lu Yanchen's legs, and as if sensing her gaze, Lu Yanchen directly rolled up his pants. The bandage on his leg was once again stained red.
Frowning, Gu Ling, and Lu Yanchen smiled, "Go milk the buffalo while it's tired. As for truly taming it, it will take some time."
Several educated youths hurriedly went to milk the buffalo. Gu Ling thought for a moment, then went to fetch new bandages and herbs, changing Lu Yanchen's bandage once again.
The wound was cleaned, herbal powder was sprinkled onto the gauze, and it was wrapped around his calf. His calf muscles were firm, completely different from Gu Ling's soft and tender legs.
She couldn't help but think in her heart, what kind of food did this person eat to grow such a sturdy body?
Being a man is indeed great. If only she had such a robust physique, everything would be easier!
As Gu Ling bowed her head to attend to Lu Yanchen's wound, Lu Yanchen was also looking at her with lowered eyes.
The girl was wearing short sleeves, and her slender, fair arms were fully exposed. Her skin was smooth, like a peeled boiled egg, and those thin, tender arms made Lu Yanchen suddenly wonder if this young woman, looking so delicate, could have her arms broken with just a little force.
Perhaps, it wouldn't even require much force; she might cry out in pain.
With this in mind, Lu Yanchen suddenly snapped back to reality, immediately suppressing those thoughts in his mind. He shouldn't be making random judgments about a young woman like this.
During lunch, the educated youths invited the patrol soldiers over to the wooden house again, as Lu Yanchen and the others had provided them with a good amount of supplies, such as instant noodles, rice, cornmeal, and more.
Gu Ling used the available ingredients to prepare a hearty lunch.
The freshly squeezed milk from today was used to make mango milk pudding, with each person getting a small bowl. Following that was a large pot of spicy crab and boiled fish, both caught by Zhou Cheng earlier in the morning at the seaside. Corn cakes were placed beside the pot, and the tempting aroma made everyone gather around the kitchen door eagerly.
In addition, a pot of bamboo tube rice was steamed. When the lid was lifted, the fragrance of the bamboo tube mixed with the sweetness of the rice, opening up everyone's appetite. Zhou Cheng exclaimed, "Good heavens! I never knew rice could be so delicious!"
A large table of dishes was set, and the educated youths sat together with the patrol soldiers, creating a lively atmosphere.
Peng Xiaoyue had been crying until midday, and now her stomach was growling. She hadn't participated in the labor during the morning, so she would have to deduct some of her work points to have a meal.
Indeed, for orderly and long-term development, the captain of the educated youths, Li Haixia, had established a work point system: no work, no food!
When Peng Xiaoyue saw Lu Yanchen, he nodded friendly at her. She had some doubts about whether what Lu Yanchen said was true or false, but with his friendly gesture, she was instantly frightened. She hastily grabbed a bowl of food and hid in her room.
There's nothing to say to an invalid!
Watching Peng Xiaoyue's strange behavior, Lu Yanchen's lips curled up. He picked up a chopstick of fish.
He had eaten fish countless times on the island, but this was the first time he had tasted such delicious fish. It was even better than the grilled fish that Ding Shaoyang had taken from this side last time!
Everyone praised endlessly, showering Gu Ling with compliments, prompting one of the patrol soldiers to couldn't help but speak up.
"Educated youth Gu, you're so handsome, and your cooking is delicious. Do you have a boyfriend?"
"Yeah, educated youth Gu, do you have a boyfriend? If not, we can help you find a good one!"
For a moment, everyone turned their attention to Gu Ling.
Gu Ling was momentarily taken aback but then smiled. She knew that she might face some challenges in the realm of relationships, given her attractive appearance and culinary skills, making her easily likable.
So, Gu Ling answered calmly, "I don't have a boyfriend, but I'm not actively looking for one."
Someone was curious, "Why don't you want to find one?"
Gu Ling smiled, "Because I'm a very picky person. I hope the other person doesn't look too handsome, as it might cause me trouble. But they also can't be too ugly because I'll keep looking. If they're just ordinary, I might not remember their face. I find my own criteria hard to meet, so for now, I don't plan on actively searching."
As soon as she said this, those who looked good, those who didn't look good, and those who were neither good nor bad fell into silence.
Ding Shaoyang slapped his thigh, "Educated youth Gu, I was actually thinking of setting you up with our boss, but now it seems like there's no chance! Our boss doesn't have many flaws, the only one being that he looks too good-looking! If looking too handsome is a mistake, then our boss is undoubtedly guilty as charged..."
Feeling a forceful stomp on his foot, Ding Shaoyang immediately changed the topic, gritting his teeth through the pain and tapping his mouth twice, "As for me, I have a broken mouth. Can't keep food in it!"
The pressure on his foot gradually disappeared, and Ding Shaoyang sneakily glanced at Lu Yanchen. He saw Lu Yanchen putting down his bowl, looking composed, and saying, "I'm done eating; you guys continue."
Lu Yanchen got up and walked toward the tent, giving a cold chuckle in his mind.
Is looking handsome really a mistake?
If that's the case, then Gu Ling isn't much better! If he's guilty as charged for looking too good-looking, then she's just compounding her mistakes, making colossal errors!
People like them, who have committed unforgivable mistakes, might just have to settle for each other!
Thinking about this issue, Lu Yanchen grunted softly and returned to his tent.
After lunch, there was a brief rain shower. Summer rains come and go quickly, but the ground was left muddy.
As not much could be done in the rain, and everyone's basic needs were met, with enough food, places to rest, and sufficient freshwater, they took the rainy day as an opportunity to rest, without feeling the need to engage in any particular activities.
Feeling a bit sleepy, Gu Ling took a nap. When she woke up at half-past two in the afternoon, she heard someone outside suddenly exclaim in pain. She quickly got up, and Li Haixia also came out.
In the courtyard, Zhou Cheng had slipped and almost couldn't get up due to the pain. Gu Ling and Li Haixia hurriedly helped him up and brought him to sit on the porch for a closer examination of his injuries.
Zhou Cheng winced in pain, "I thought the rain had stopped, so I wanted to check my fishing nets. Little did I know the ground was so slippery. I barely stepped inside, and I slipped!"
Indeed, although they had built wooden houses, they hadn't had the chance to pave the roads. As a result, the ground became slippery whenever it rained, presenting a problem.
Seeing the scrapes and bruises on Zhou Cheng's arms, legs, and shoulders, Gu Ling felt a twinge of guilt.
She quickly fetched her herbal powder and helped Zhou Cheng clean his wounds, sprinkling the herbal powder on them.
Although Li Haixia was also assisting, she mostly played a supporting role.
So, from a distance inside his tent, Lu Yanchen observed Gu Ling seemingly full of concern as she tended to Zhou Cheng's injuries.
His hearing was excellent, and he could even faintly hear her voice.
"Zhou Cheng, does it hurt here? I'll be gentle when applying the medicine. If it hurts, just let me know!"
The tone was caring and attentive, causing a sudden frown on Lu Yanchen's face.
When applying medicine to him, she pressed hard on the wound, asking if it hurt.
But when applying medicine to Zhou Cheng, it was done delicately and tenderly, full of comfort and care.
Heh, Lu Yanchen lowered the tent curtain, no longer looking in that direction.
Due to Zhou Cheng's fall, Gu Ling decided to temporarily put other tasks aside and focus on constructing a road near their dwelling.
However, before building the road, they needed to make a wheelbarrow; otherwise, transporting stones would be challenging. Relying solely on manpower to move the stones was too exhausting and inefficient. Many times, tools were necessary!
However, when everyone heard that Gu Ling was going to make a wheelbarrow, they were all shocked!
Shipbuilding, well-digging, and now even making a wheelbarrow by themselves?
However, due to the numerous experiences they had gone through, people didn't seem overly surprised. One by one, they awaited Gu Ling's instructions.
Gu Ling roughly drew the structure of the wheelbarrow, pondered for a while. In fact, the construction of a wheelbarrow wasn't too difficult. As long as someone carefully observed a wheelbarrow and was a bit clever, they could figure out how to make one.
With the diagram ready, the next step was to go and cut down the wood. They had a knife, and previously, Zhou Cheng had been the main force in cutting wood because Wang Haohan and Niu Dawei weren't as skilled.
But now, with Zhou Cheng injured, cutting wood became a problem.
Li Haixia suggested, "Why not ask the garrison troops for help?"
Some of those soldiers had great strength! Since they had previously invited the soldiers to eat, now asking them for help in cutting trees shouldn't be a difficult task!
Gu Ling thought about it and nodded, "Alright, Sister Haixia, you go and ask."
While Li Haixia went to ask the patrol soldiers for assistance, Gu Ling chose a tree. Wang Haohan and Niu Dawei exerted a lot of effort, but after a long while, the tree only suffered minor damage.
Everyone was sweating profusely; just cutting down a tree turned out to be quite challenging!
Niu Dawei, panting heavily, said, "Educated youth Gu, how about choosing another tree! The trees we used for building the wooden houses before were different, easy to cut. This tree is really tough!"
However, the wood used for constructing houses and the wood needed for the wheelbarrow were different. Gu Ling was contemplating when a low voice came from behind.
"I'll do it."
Gu Ling turned around, and her heart skipped a beat because behind her, Lu Yanchen had a few strands of hair dampened with sweat on his forehead. His deep eyes clearly indicated he had just finished something before coming over.
This tall man exuded a powerful scent of hormones, emanating a dominating pressure. It felt as if once he made a move, nothing could escape his control.
He took the axe from Niu Dawei, asked the others to step back, rolled up his sleeves, and raised the axe against the challenging tree, chopping down one stroke after another!
Gu Ling slightly opened her mouth, watching the scene before her in astonishment.
The muscular lines on Lu Yanchen's arm were clearly visible. With each swing of the axe, the crack in the tree deepened significantly.
Lu Yanchen continued chopping dozens of times, and the towering tree crashed down with a thunderous roar!
Niu Dawei, shocked and unwilling, exclaimed, "Why did I have to chop for hundreds of strokes to achieve so little, and he effortlessly brought down the tree with just a few dozen strokes?"
Gu Ling chuckled inwardly, thinking that if Niu Dawei knew about the "cash for every chop" scheme on Pinduoduo several decades later, he would probably be even more frustrated!
Pinduoduo is a Chinese e-commerce platform known for its group-buying features and social-driven shopping experience.
Lu Yanchen not only helped cut down the tree but also assisted in dividing it into the sizes Gu Ling needed. Then, he individually carried each piece of wood back.
Niu Dawei and Wang Haohan carried one piece each, while Lu Yanchen carried one by himself.
Li Haixia, struggling, swallowed her saliva and whispered to Gu Ling, "Lieutenant Lu doesn't seem like a brute. His face is good-looking. Why is he so strong at doing labor..."
Gu Ling couldn't comprehend it either, and she took a light breath, saying, "Perhaps it's innate strength?"
She had been through a rebirth; Lu Yanchen being a bit stronger didn't seem like a big deal.
After all the wood was transported back, Lu Yanchen picked up a saw to help cut the wood into the boards Gu Ling needed. Gu Ling drew the lines, and he sawed along the marked positions.
Originally, Gu Ling didn't want to trouble him, but Niu Dawei and Wang Haohan were not efficient at the task. In the time it took the two of them to see one board, Lu Yanchen could see three.
After finishing the work, it would be good to express gratitude to Lu Yanchen!
Both of them marked lines, used wooden nails to make the wheels of the wheelbarrow, handles, and other parts, while one of them wielded the saw to cut the wood.
Li Haixia, feeling hot, went to drink water and bumped into Sun Pingfang standing next to the well.
"Xiao Sun, don't you think Lieutenant Lu and Gu Ling are actually quite compatible?"
Sun Pingfang didn't hear her words at all; she just stared blankly at Lu Yanchen's strong and powerful arms, her face turning crimson.
Li Haixia, observing this, couldn't help but feel worried.
Gu Ling hadn't expected that in just one afternoon, they would have completed a wheelbarrow!
The finished wheelbarrow was quite spacious, able to accommodate several baskets on the board without any problem. When pushed, the wheels rolled smoothly, not only suitable for road construction but also for activities such as picking wild fruits in the woods, transporting fish and shrimp after fishing at the seaside, or harvesting crops.
Lu Yanchen watched as Gu Ling happily pushed the wheelbarrow around the yard. There was a hint of joy in his eyes.
It was the first time he had seen such a clever and smart girl. Despite her seemingly delicate appearance, her ability to handle tasks made men sigh in admiration.
Well, such a good girl would definitely have many admirers.
Thinking about his constant travels around these various islands, spending only about ten days on each, Lu Yanchen's initial enthusiasm waned. He casually said, "Alright, I'll head back. Let me know if you need anything."
Gu Ling was very grateful and said with a smile, "Thank you. We'll prepare a delicious meal tonight, remember to come and eat!"
With his back turned to her, Lu Yanchen raised his hand in acknowledgment and continued walking forward.
Sun Pingfang, watching the carefree figure of the man, blushed even more intensely. Taking advantage of Gu Ling's break, she nervously approached.
Seemingly mustering the greatest courage of her life, she said, "Sister Gu Ling, can you help me with something..."
Gu Ling liked Sun Pingfang. Although she was petite and not very outgoing, she was down-to-earth, never afraid of hard work, and always chose the least when it came to meals, letting others pick first.
Even this seemingly indifferent person had desires and requests at this moment, and his eyes were filled with anticipation. "Sister Gu Ling, can you help me with something? Can you ask Lieutenant Lu a question for me? Ask him if he's looking for a partner, and if he is, what does he think of me?"
Gu Ling was taken aback, her expression somewhat complex. She wasn't one to judge people solely based on appearances, but it was evident that Lu Yanchen might not appreciate a girl with Sun Pingfang's personality.
However, perhaps Lu Yanchen's true personality differed from what he showed? Thinking about this, Gu Ling smiled and said, "Pingfang, you should first consider whether you genuinely like him. If you really do, then openly express your feelings to him."
Sun Pingfang's eyes welled up with tears instantly. "I genuinely like him! Every time I see him, my heart feels uncontrollably excited!"
Gu Ling was momentarily stunned, recalling certain moments when she, too, was captivated by Lu Yanchen. After all, Lu Yanchen's charm was undeniably overwhelming. But wasn't that normal? People are naturally drawn to beautiful things.
However, superficial admiration based on appearances is different from genuine affection.
Similar to how Gu Ling currently thought Lu Yanchen was indeed good-looking and efficient, she merely considered him a decent person. But to say she liked him for sure was out of the question, as she didn't know what kind of person he truly was.
In a world with so many discrepancies between appearance and reality, Gu Ling had suffered in her past life, making it impossible for her to easily develop feelings for someone again in this life.
However, Sun Pingfang was crying profusely, "I've never felt such a strong desire to do something, but I'm scared. I'm both scared and eager to try. I want to tell him that I like him by myself, but just thinking about him standing in front of me makes my legs tremble! Sister Gu Ling, please, I beg you. Can you help me? You dare to do anything. It's just a simple question. Can you help me ask him? Otherwise, they'll only stay on this island for ten days and will leave soon! I don't want to have regrets for a lifetime."
The concerns of a young girl were so painful, and perhaps Sun Pingfang wouldn't understand until she faced setbacks. Love shouldn't make someone cry so much, especially for a love that hasn't even started.
Seeing her cry like this, Gu Ling remembered her own past, the night when she confronted Yu Mingxin and his female secretary in the office. She cried all night without anyone's help.
So, Gu Ling softened her heart and said, "I'll help you ask. You can quietly listen nearby. But you have to promise me, regardless of the outcome, you must approach this matter with a positive attitude. Don't let it affect your life, okay?"
Sun Pingfang nodded repeatedly, and the two of them stood up and went to the tent where Lu Yanchen was.
Gu Ling spoke at the entrance of the tent, "Lieutenant Lu, are you inside? I have something to talk to you about."
Lu Yanchen was writing at the makeshift table and was somewhat surprised to hear this, "Come in."
Gu Ling exchanged a glance with Sun Pingfang, who nervously stood outside the tent, waiting. Gu Ling then entered the tent.
Lu Yanchen's tent was relatively large but also very simple, consisting of just a bed, a table, and a chair.
The man sized her up, asking, "Are you looking for me?"
Gu Ling didn't beat around the bush and directly asked, "Do you have a significant other? Are you looking for one?"
Lu Yanchen looked at her intently, and the pen in his hand was forcefully slammed onto the table, breaking the pen tip unexpectedly!
His mind was in a mess. He took out a cigarette to smoke but found he had put it in his mouth the wrong way. He glanced at Gu Ling, then decided to put the cigarette back.
The girl's eyes were clear, and she looked at him openly and candidly.
Lu Yanchen never expected that Gu Ling would be so blunt!
He seemed to have made a significant decision, and there was an unexpected mix of joy and nervousness in his heart. Lu Yanchen coughed slightly.
The man said somewhat awkwardly, "Cough, how can I let you bring this up? I promise you."
Gu Ling was shocked, "You... you knew that I was conveying feelings on behalf of Sun Pingfang to you? You agreed? I'll go call Pingfang, I'll tell her!"
Lu Yanchen was taken aback, and he took a deep breath. The joy on his face disappeared, and he gritted his teeth slightly, saying, "What I just said is, I promised you, and I absolutely won't disclose this matter! What do you think I promised you? Who I choose to be in a relationship with is my business. Do you think you can point me to anyone, and I'll have to be in a relationship with them?"
Gu Ling hadn't expected it to turn out like this. Outside, the sound of Sun Pingfang's footsteps, leaving in sorrow, reached them. Gu Ling couldn't help but stomp her foot and went out to catch up, intending to comfort Sun Pingfang.
Lu Yanchen was furious. He understood now. Not only did Gu Ling find him annoying, but she also didn't see him as a person at all!
In the following days, Gu Ling never saw Lu Yanchen again. Sun Pingfang, under the "consolation" of Peng Xiaoyue, was shocked, and her intense liking for Lu Yanchen was instantly extinguished. The young people joined forces to repair roads, catch fish and shrimp, make fish and shrimp dry, and harvest sea cucumbers and other items to sustain themselves.
They needed to find ways to earn money on their own to purchase more supplies and improve the overall happiness on the island.
In just a few days, the young people used the hand-made cart to transport stones from various places, smashed and flattened them. The yard in front of the wooden house was completely paved with crushed stone roads. A beautiful road was also laid from the door, extending all the way to the seaside. On both sides of the road, some wild flowers were transplanted, making the entire road look incredibly beautiful.
One day, Gu Ling decided to go to the mainland with Zhou Cheng and Wang Haohan.
Peng Xiaoyue couldn't help but want to go too: "We're all educated youth. Why should you go, and I can't?"
Gu Ling ignored her, and Li Haixia said displeasedly, "They are going to find a place to sell all the fish and shrimp, and then figure out a way to buy the things we need. Do you think it's just for fun?"
Since Peng Xiaoyue knew that Lu Yanchen was not an option, her mood had been extremely poor. Now she was angry and threw out a letter, saying, "Then help me send this letter!"
Gu Ling said, "Today, we are going to the post office. Not just to send letters; each of us will choose some seafood or similar items to send back for our families to taste."
Unexpectedly, Peng Xiaoyue sneered, "I don't need to send anything. My family has everything good."
Since she didn't want to send anything, Gu Ling took the letters from the others and, along with Zhou Cheng and Wang Haohan, boarded a boat to the mainland.
The boat was small and couldn't carry too many people. When the three arrived on the mainland, they found the black market near the vegetable market and nervously sold all their goods. Since they were all high-quality items caught from the sea, they fetched good prices!
Especially the sea cucumbers, a middle-aged man wanted to buy all thirty of them to take back for his mother's health.
This time, they earned a total of nine hundred yuan, of course, the combined price of all the items.
After that, they all set off together to the post office to send their parcels.
Gu Ling sent a large package of dried fish, shrimp, seaweed, and other items. This package was divided into three parts, each for her uncle's family, Aunt Chen Xuefeng's family, and Lin Huining's family.
After leaving the post office, Gu Ling saw a public phone booth at the entrance. Since it was about the time when Lin Huining was at work, she decided to make a call to the food factory.
On the other end, Lin Huining quickly answered the phone. Initially sounding a bit lazy, she instantly became speechless upon hearing Gu Ling's voice!
Gu Ling had to keep calling, "Huining? Are you there, Huining?"
Lin Huining sniffed, "I'm here! You finally called me! Why did you go for so long without a call or a letter? I thought something happened to you!"
Saying this, she wiped her nose and eyes and seemed to be on the verge of crying and laughing.
Gu Ling could only comfort her, "When I first arrived, it was a deserted island here. We built our own wooden houses, searched for food everywhere, cultivated land for farming, and were very busy. Moreover, transportation was inconvenient, so we built our own boat to come to the mainland and call you."
On the other end of the phone, Lin Huining's mouth hung wide open, "Oh my God! Ling Ling, did you go on an adventure? It sounds so interesting! You even built your own boat? Build your own houses?"
Although it sounded quite challenging, it inexplicably made people yearn for it!
Gu Ling smiled warmly, and she could imagine the expression on Lin Huining's face. She said, "Yes, it's fun here, the air is great, and there's plenty to eat and drink. Wait for a few more years, and by then, you'll definitely have the chance to come over."
Lin Huining instantly felt deflated, "Really? I was hoping you'd come back in a few years!"
Anyway, given the current situation, Lin Huining didn't think there would be significant societal developments in the next few years.
The two chatted for a while. Lin Huining informed Gu Ling that she had sold her job to another girl at Gu Ling's request, and she had received money to send to Gu Ling. Gu Ling didn't ask for it, only letting Lin Huining keep it for the time being. Lin Huining also mentioned how she had disciplined Gu Ya, which amused Gu Ling to the point of laughter.
It wasn't until Gu Ling suddenly realized that she noticed the reproachful looks from Zhou Cheng and Wang Haohan on the side. It turned out that she had been on the phone with Lin Huining for half an hour!
Someone on the other end urged Lin Huining to hurry up and go to work. Gu Ling could only hastily say, "I've sent you some seafood. After you receive it, share a portion with my uncle and Aunt Chen Xuefeng. Okay, I won't talk anymore. We'll chat next time!"
The phone clicked as it hung up, but Gu Ling felt completely satisfied.
On the other side, Lin Huining laughed at the people calling her to work, saying, "I got it, I got it. I'll go to work right away. Why the rush?"
Perhaps that's how good best friends were—always each other's emotional support.
Gu Ling hung up the phone, and with Zhou Cheng and Wang Haohan, she bought the supplies they needed before boarding the boat back to the island. As she looked at the vast expanse of the sea, Gu Ling gazed at the island she had lived on for over two months. Suddenly, she felt a sense of belonging to the island, as if it were her home.
That night, the educated youths had an unexpectedly delicious meal. Gu Ling bought spicy ingredients and made a hot and spicy hot pot. She added homemade fish balls, shrimp, and various vegetables, creating a flavorful and mouth watering dish. Served with cooked noodles, it was incredibly satisfying!
As Gu Ya fell asleep, the first thing she saw was a scene of them enjoying the hot and spicy hot pot.
Her eyes widened at the colorful and appetizing dish. Then, she noticed the comments under her novel, almost all praising Gu Ling. They complimented Gu Ling's bamboo rice, spicy fish, mango pudding, and admired the characters' desire to jump into the novel and call Gu Ling their husband...
Gu Ya was in a good mood herself because she had used her unique ability to modify the plot. Although it cost her two months' worth of moonstones and earned her a scolding from her own mother, she had successfully pleased her mother-in-law. These days at the Yu family were much more enjoyable.
With good relations with her family, money from the Yu family would continue flowing into her pocket.
But seeing Gu Ling living so well, Gu Ya couldn't be happy.
The money from the educated youth team was all being managed by Gu Ling. Thinking about such a large sum of money, Gu Ya felt jealous to the point of going crazy. She couldn't understand how these people, each of whom had flaws in her eyes, became so obedient and well-behaved in front of Gu Ling!
Gu Ya searched for the plot changes automatically made by the system and finally found something. Gu Ling sent a large package of seafood to Lin Huining?
Her eyes flickered as she roughly calculated the timeline, realizing that Gu Ling visited the post office every few days.
On this particular day, Gu Ya went to the post office, presented the Gu family's household registration book, and directly claimed the large package of seafood sent by Gu Ling.
Gu Ya didn't bring the seafood to the Yu family; she was afraid it would be hard to explain there. Instead, she took it back to her mother's house and asked her mom, Sun Xiulan, to see if she could sell it on the black market, hoping to make some money.
Sun Xiulan's eyes were filled with joy, and she readily agreed. The next day, she went to the black market. Don't underestimate this package of seafood; it contained valuable items, and she managed to sell it for over a hundred yuan!
Unable to contain her excitement, Sun Xiulan quietly approached Gu Ya and said, "Next time, if you hear any news, intercept the packages Gu Ling sends back. This little wretch doesn't send the good stuff back to our own home; she sends it to the Lin family. It's a waste after raising her for so many years!"
Gu Ya asked again, "Mom, what if Lin Huining comes looking for it? This mean girl is fierce; last time, she came to my in-laws' house and slapped me as soon as she entered!"
Sun Xiulan laughed, "She comes to make trouble? I'll ask the Lin family why they have the right to take what Gu Ling sends back. Is she Gu Ling's dad or Gu Ling's mom?"
Behind their backs, the mother and daughter dealt with the seafood cleanly. On the other hand, Lin Huining waited for a long time but didn't receive the package. Unable to wait any longer, she went to the post office to inquire.
However, they could only confirm that the package had been picked up, but they couldn't identify the person who took it because of an oversight by the staff that day.
Lin Huining was extremely angry! Even if the postal service compensated her with money, she was still angry!
Can money compare to the items that Gu Ling sent back? She was relying on seeing what Gu Ling had sent back, imagining the kind of life Gu Ling was leading. What did she need money for?
Unable to find any information at the post office, Lin Huining immediately suspected Gu Ya.
She had caused a scene at the Yu family last time, getting scolded by her father when she returned. This time, she decided not to go to the Yu family first but to check on the Gu family.
Riding her bicycle, Lin Huining arrived at the Gu family's door. Unsure if anyone was inside, she walked up and was about to knock when she heard muffled arguing from inside.
"Sister Wang, didn't I give you money last time? We agreed not to bring up this matter again. Why are you here again? Our lives are already difficult!"
Sun Xiulan lamented endlessly.
Sister Wang held her arms and looked at her coldly, "If you've done something unscrupulous, of course, you have to pay the price! If it weren't for you back then, Yang Shan wouldn't have died! She had an accident herself. A call came, saying someone saw Yang Shan critically injured and needed your family to bring money for rescue. My husband hadn't even gone to inform his workplace; he came to the Gu family first. Who knew you would suddenly appear? You knelt in front of me, begging me not to reveal this matter, treating it as if Yang Shan had died! Did you do it? Tell me, did Yang Shan ruin your relationship with Gu Changjian? I sympathized with you at the time and agreed to your request, but who knew the truth was completely different! You are the one who destroyed the marital relationship! Now, Yang Shan is probably already dead, all because of you. Either bring out the money, or I'll reveal this matter!"
Sun Xiulan couldn't help but get angry, "All my fault? The mouth is on your face. Back then, it was you who didn't want to inform their workplace! I didn't force you! Anyway, I don't have money for you now!"
Wang Sister was furious, "Alright, alright, Sun Xiulan, you're something! Let's wait and see!"
The two argued more and more fiercely. Outside the door, Lin Huining felt a chill all over her body. She never thought that the truth would be so ugly and dark!
Aunt Yang Shan turned out to be not rescued because of Sun Xiulan?
What is the current situation of Aunt Yang Shan, who was seriously injured back then? If she was really saved, why hasn't she come back in more than a decade?
Lin Huining trembled all over, her eyes moist, but afraid of being discovered. She quickly got on her bicycle and left.
She returned home thinking about what to do. She couldn't trust Gu Ling's dad, Gu Changjian, at this time. Moreover, she didn't even have the mailing address to write a letter to Gu Ling! So, who should she tell about this matter?
Lin Huining was so anxious that she felt irritated. At home, she was lost in thought, and in no time, her mom came back.
As soon as Lin's mom entered, she started talking excitedly, "Oh, living is really not easy! Huining, there's a woman named Wang in the same alley as Gu Ling's family, and she just died. Do you know? She died this afternoon! What's going on with her? How did she get electrocuted out of nowhere!"
Lin Huining trembled all over, looking at her mom in disbelief, "Sister Wang is dead?"
She did know this Sister Wang. The voice she heard this afternoon was indeed Wang and Sun Xiulan talking, right?
How coincidental! After their quarrel, Sister Wang died just like that?
Lin Huining, being young, couldn't help but look at her mom helplessly, "Mom, it's not like that, definitely not! Sister Wang was murdered! This afternoon, I overheard Gu Ling's stepmother arguing with Sister Wang! Aunt Yang Shan was also killed by Sun Xiulan. Mom, let's call the police, okay?"
Her tears flowed uncontrollably.
Mother Lin was startled, quickly patting her daughter's back, but in the next moment, she grabbed Lin Huining's hand, "Do you have any evidence? You're just making baseless claims! Besides, if Sun Xiulan is really that ruthless, can you afford to provoke her? Sister Wang argued with her one moment and then died the next! Do you want to die too? Huining, those are the matters of the Gu family. Gu Ling has gone to the island and can't come back. Don't get involved! Live your own life well, okay?"
Lin Huining looked at her mom, dazed, as if she didn't recognize her.
But the fear in her heart was real. She involuntarily said, "But, but Ling Ling is so pitiful. She must miss her mom a lot and want to know what happened back then. I want to tell her about it."
Mother Lin sternly said, "No, you must not speak! Do you understand? You're not allowed to meddle in this matter anymore! Not telling her is also for her own good. Do you think that after she knows, a young girl like her can take revenge? You'll only end up harming her!"
Lin Huining, in a daze, had a moment when she thought her mom might be right.
Even if Gu Ling knew, what could she do?