As we descended the mountain, it was the end of the morning workday, and the gongs were ringing out loudly.

“Su Su!”

There was only one person who called her that: Li Mingyu, a sent-down educated youth who had arrived in the village last year.

The two of them had once even had some… less-than-public dealings. Faced with a “client,” Su Fu’s attitude was still fairly good.

“Li Li, are you being targeted again?”

Li Mingyu looked frustrated.

“I really don’t get it. There are so many educated youths who came down at the same time—why are they only targeting me?”

Su Fu thought to herself: because you look exactly like someone with money, no street smarts, and easy to bully. If not you, who else?

“Don’t be scared. Su Fu will protect you.”

Li Mingyu was deeply moved. The luckiest thing about coming down to the countryside was meeting Su Fu.

“It’s that educated youth who came with me in the same batch—the one who looks like a beanpole, with tiny eyes and glasses.”

“He actually went around telling people I used to be his girlfriend, and that I came down here because we had a falling out!”

Li Mingyu was furious. Even though they were from the same city, she didn’t even know him before.

Being slandered like that—if a village kid hadn’t told her today, she would still be in the dark.

Su Fu immediately understood.

“Does he often take the initiative to talk to you, and after you scold him, he just shakes his head helplessly and smiles?”

Li Mingyu nodded rapidly.

“Yes! Yes! Exactly! I’ve never seen someone so shameless!”

Seeing her face red with anger, Su Fu became more serious.

After all, the money she invested in Wang Mazi originally came from her.

“So do you want to handle this yourself, or should I take care of it? If you do it yourself, it’s ten yuan. If I do it, it’s five.”

Li Mingyu was deeply touched. Su Fu really was a good person—last year she had started at fifty or even a hundred yuan per job.

Now that they were familiar, she had directly reduced the price tenfold!

“Su Su, can I try handling it myself?”

Li Mingyu lacked confidence. She was the type who burst into tears after arguing a few sentences, completely lacking presence.

Su Fu sighed and patted her shoulder earnestly.

“Li Li, you need to learn to grow up. I can’t always help you.”

Li Mingyu’s heart tightened.

“Did you find a job?”

Su Fu shook her head.

“I’m getting married.”

She figured she might as well give her major client a heads-up.

Seeing Li Mingyu frown, she added, “If you have anything you can’t handle later, you can go find Wang Mazi.”

Li Mingyu looked heartbroken, tears welling up.

“Su Su… do you think I never should have come down to the countryside?”

Su Fu comforted her.

“Whether you come or not wasn’t your decision. Just do your best and try to return to the city early.”

Tears rolled down Li Mingyu’s cheeks.

“I could decide it. You know my family is well-off.”

Su Fu: “?? Then why did you come down here to suffer?”

She couldn’t understand. She didn’t approve. And she was deeply envious!!!

Li Mingyu didn’t say anything on the road. Instead, she pulled Su Fu into a small grove, found a clean patch of ground, and sat down.

“My family arranged a marriage for me since I was little,” she said.

“I heard that man is sickly and does nothing all day, completely spoiled. I didn’t want to marry someone like that. I wanted someone with shared ideals—someone who would contribute to the wider world—so I secretly came down to the countryside.”

“My parents were furious after they found out. I’ve been relying on my older brothers to support me this past year.”

Su Fu felt her eyes sting with envy.

Why were there so many lucky people in the world—and why couldn’t there be one more of her?!

Damn heavens. Truly blind!!!

“Su Su… Su Su, what’s wrong?” Li Mingyu shook her hand after getting no response.

Su Fu wiped away nonexistent tears.

“I’m fine. Go on.”

Li Mingyu propped her chin up.

“But I didn’t expect life in the countryside to be this hard. I haven’t even found anyone with shared ideals.”

“My brother told me to admit my mistake and go back to the city and marry properly, but I refuse.”

“I don’t want my life arranged for me. Having you here used to make me feel safe—but now even you are going to get married.”

She turned to look at Su Fu.

“Su Su… do you understand me?”

Su Fu didn’t.

She dreamed of having everything arranged for her without effort.

If her parents were still alive, maybe she would understand.

“I’ll be honest,” Su Fu said.

“I’m jealous of you.”

Li Mingyu sighed.

“Many people have said that. Did I do something wrong?”

She looked lost, her once-soft hands now covered in calluses, her skin darker, her clothes no longer bright.

Su Fu didn’t know how to respond.

“You can’t really say you were wrong. At least you gained something from coming down here, right?”

Still jealous though. Sob π_π

Li Mingyu thought about it.

“That’s true. I’ve learned not to be picky with food—and I gained you as a friend!”

She grabbed Su Fu’s hand, her expression turning serious as if she had made a decision.

“Su Su, come back to the city with me and help me deal with that fiancé!”

Su Fu: “?? Sister, don’t joke.”

Li Mingyu was firm.

“Two hundred yuan. Do it or not?”

Su Fu: “DO IT!!”

Refusing would be stupid. Two hundred yuan was almost a full year’s salary for an ordinary worker!

Who could say no? Only an idiot.

Su Fu looked at Li Mingyu as if she were her reincarnated benefactor.

“Li Li, you’re the best~”

Li Mingyu waved it off.

“You’re also great. You don’t even need to convince my parents—just make him voluntarily break off the engagement.”

“That sickly guy doesn’t really want to marry me anyway. He’s just lazy, and having me around helps block pressure, so he’s been dragging things out.”

Su Fu asked, “You’ve never met him?”

Li Mingyu: “We met when we were kids. I just remember he was very pale… delicate? Like a willow in the wind. Even prettier than me.”

Su Fu looked her over.

Fair skin, delicate features—truly someone who could inspire pity… and even prettier than her? Just how beautiful was that?

Curiosity aside, Su Fu was very professional. She always clarified risks in advance.

What if she offended someone, and then Li Mingyu ended up liking him later?

“So you really don’t want to meet him? What if you two are actually perfect for each other?”

Li Mingyu blushed.

“I don’t like pale guys. I like… have you seen The Red Detachment of Women? I like someone like Hong Changqing.”

Su Fu had indeed seen it. Hong Changqing was definitely not “willow-like.”

“In that case, you should still take a look first. I’ll say this in advance—if you end up liking him, I still take half the fee.”

Su Su always did business cautiously.

Li Mingyu actually felt a little happy about that.

After all, who doesn’t like being prioritized?

“I agree. Let’s go to town and make a phone call first. And I’ll treat you to a good meal!!”

Su Fu was delighted.

“Let’s go!!”

The procedure still had to be followed. First, Li Mingyu went to the brigade leader Li Youcai’s house to ask for leave.

Li Youcai saw the educated youth and Su Fu hanging out together again, and his eyelid twitched hard.

He wanted to say something, but couldn’t exactly criticize them in front of them.

“Li Zhiqing…you…”