Stunning Check-in: A Carefree Life Begins in the Countryside

Xia An looked at Chen Zhiyi and her mother-in-law Xianglan, as well as Song Xiao and several other educated youths in front of her.

"Comrade Chen is here for acupuncture, Aunt Xiuqin, what brings you here?"

Aunt Xiuqin said shyly, "I came here specifically to thank Xia, the educated youth."

"Although it can't compare to what that comrade just did, it's still a small token of our appreciation, and Xia Zhiqing can't refuse it."

Xia An glanced at the basket full of eggs in her hands, and the vegetables and a small bag of brown sugar that Xiang Lan was carrying.

He immediately shook his head and laughed, "Auntie, what's the big deal? What would I look like if I accepted this?"

Aunt Xiuqin shook her head, "Xia Zhiqing, we won't feel good if you don't accept it."

At this moment, Luo Yunshu smiled and said,

"Brother Xia An, since it's a small token of Aunt Xiuqin's appreciation, please accept it."

"Alright then."

Xia An shook her head and chuckled, "Auntie, I'll accept this time, but you can't do it again."

"Okay, sure."

Aunt Xiuqin readily agreed, and the two handed the items to Luo Yunshu.

"Xia, you go ahead with your work, we'll head back now."

After saying that, the two turned and left, their steps seemingly lighter.

Xia An shook his head and smiled, his gaze passing over Chen Zhiyi and looking at Song Xiao and the others.

"Young educated youth, what can I do for you?"

Song Xiao glanced at the group of people, then said somewhat embarrassedly:

"Xia, could you perhaps exchange some meat for us?"

"We tried catching fish in the river today, but they were too hard to catch. We worked for half a day but didn't catch anything."

Xia An frowned slightly, and Ye Qingxuan hesitated for a moment before stepping forward and saying:

"A private transaction isn't appropriate. If we're going to exchange, what would you like to use in exchange?"

Song Xiao and the others frowned slightly, not answering the question immediately, but instead turning their gazes to Xia An.

After all, the meat belonged to Xia An, and Xia An was the one in charge.

Xia An raised an eyebrow slightly. "What she said is also what I meant, but at most, we can only exchange... two jin."

"After all, there are quite a few of us cooking together, and 20 pounds of meat isn't much."

Song Xiao and the others exchanged glances, and Wu Tao smiled and said, "Thank you very much, Educated Youth Xia."

"Well then, I happen to have a three-jin national grain coupon here."

"How about we trade this for two pounds of meat for Xia Zhiqing?"

Xia An nodded and looked at Luo Yunshu beside him, "Yunshu, go and get the scale."

"good!"

Luo Yunshu turned around and got the medicine scale, which was arguably the most accurate.

Who dares to make it inaccurate?

At the same time, Jiang Mengmeng also took the kitchen knife, "Xia An, here!"

Xia An took the knife and cut a piece off one of the roe deer meat pieces.

"Two jin and one jin, any extra is a gift."

"Also, Mengmeng, get them some fruit."

"Oh? That's so embarrassing!" Wu Tao said with an embarrassed smile.

But even as he said that, his gaze involuntarily fell on the fruit.

Anping Village only has some fruit trees near the mountains and forests, but those belong to the collective.

Even if it's cooked, they still won't be able to eat it.

It's even harder to buy from supply and marketing cooperatives, and he'd been craving so much fruit for a long time.

Xia An shook his head and smiled, "We're all educated youth, it's fine to share a little."

"Then thank you very much, Young Master Xia," Wu Tao said quickly with a smile.

At this time,

Luo Yunshu took the meat, weighed it, shook her head, and chuckled:

"It's exactly two jin and one jin. I always said Brother Xia An's hands are like scales, whether it's for dispensing medicine or weighing meat."

"Hey, come and take a look."

As he spoke, he handed it over to Wu Tao and the others to see.

Qin Yu looked surprised and said, "Is it really that amazing? I'd like to see it."

As he spoke, he leaned closer for a look, then gave Xia An a thumbs-up.

"Xia, the educated youth, is amazing!"

Xia An nodded slightly, a hint of amusement flashing in her eyes. This Qin Yu is quite interesting.

He even made up an excuse to confirm, so his acting was okay, but not superb.

He smiled and said, "No problem."

At this moment, Jiang Mengmeng, along with the Shen sisters, also brought some fruit for Song Xiao and the others.

Four or five pears, five oranges, and five apples.

Compared to five pounds of each of seven or eight kinds of fruit, this is very little; it's definitely generous.

"Thank you, thank you!"

Song Xiao and the others quickly expressed their gratitude.

Seeing this, Wu Tao smiled and handed over a three-jin national grain coupon.

"Xia, you go ahead with your work, we'll head back now."

"Um!"

Xia An nodded and watched them leave.

Immediately, he looked at Ye Qingxuan and the others.

"Yunshu, come with me to the clinic. Qingxuan, you carry the things inside."

"good!"

Ye Qingxuan and the others nodded quickly.

Xia An led Chen Zhiyi and the other two to the clinic and into the examination room.

Of course, Chen Zhiyi had mentioned being shy, so Luo Yunshu and Kong Qingci still didn't come along this time.

One is born, the second is cooked.

Chen Zhiyi has come five or six times already, and she remembers the acupuncture procedure very clearly.

Go inside, draw the curtains...

Xia An returned to the kang (heated brick bed), only to find that Chen Zhiyi hadn't lay down, but instead gently pounced on him.

"Brother Xia, I've finished what I needed to do. I wanted to give it to you, okay?"

Xia An paused for a moment, then patted her head and chuckled softly:

"Yun Shu and the others are outside, how can you not resist?"

Chen Zhiyi blushed, lowered her head shyly, and murmured:

"My mom said, if you like something, try to pursue it, and most importantly, don't be ungrateful."

Xia An's expression hardened slightly. "You told them about our matter?"

Chen Zhiyi shook her head. "I didn't say anything, but my mom probably guessed."

"It was...it was her who taught me."

Xia An frowned slightly, his mind racing, and he vaguely guessed what was going on.

Was it a last resort?

Now, who can't see that everyone in this courtyard might have feelings for Xia An?

Wouldn't Chen's mother notice?

Since she saw it, she should know that Chen Zhiyi had absolutely no advantage.

So, what does she mean by this?

Perhaps he realized that Chen Zhiyi liked Xia An, and coupled with his own fear, he made the compromise.

She wanted Chen Zhiyi to be her mistress so that Xia An would do everything in her power to help her get treatment and seek her protection.

Or perhaps, gambling.

They bet that Chen Zhiyi would win over Xia An first, and that under their coercion, Xia An would have no choice but to marry Chen Zhiyi.

But the latter possibility is very small.

They dared not do that, as it would only offend Xia An, bringing no benefit whatsoever to their family or even Chen Zhiyi.

It could even backfire.

In comparison, compromise—making Chen Zhiyi a concubine—is the most reasonable option.

Rather than letting Chen Zhiyi be plagued by illness and unable to get married, or marry the worst person and suffer from her in-laws' mistreatment,

It would be better to let her stay with Xia An. At least Xia An is of good character and will protect Chen Zhiyi.

With this guess in mind, Xia An hesitated before asking, "Zhiyi, what else did your aunt say?"