"Deliver what vegetables? Don’t get sidetracked! I was talking about the thank-you gift. Your uncle and your dad already took care of it."

’Oh... so that’s what she meant. I guess I was too slow.’

An Ning followed Lin Cuihua, who was carrying the pastries into the house, and asked with an eagerness to learn:

"Mom, why do people say ’the daylilies are cold’? Can’t other vegetables be cold instead?"

An Ning’s question actually stumped Lin Cuihua. She had no idea why the saying specified daylilies.

"Why are you worrying about that? The saying is what it is."

Lin Cuihua’s tone made it sound like she was completely in the right, even though she hadn’t actually explained anything.

However, after getting to know her for a while, An Ning knew that this particular tone from Lin Cuihua meant it was time to drop the subject.

She had no choice but to let the question go. After putting her things down at home, she went out to work in the fields.

Last night, she had used up her spiritual power to teleport ten seeds. She needed to work in the fields to get it back.

This time, An Ning went to the fields with a hoe over her shoulder. She didn’t do any heavy lifting, focusing instead on communicating with the crops.

As she worked, the headache she’d been feeling began to ease slightly.

After working for the better part of the morning, An Ning headed back with everyone else. However, as soon as she reached the An family home, she picked up some pastries and a dictionary and left again for the Educated Youth Point.

When An Ning arrived at the Educated Youth Point, she happened to see Yin Xuemei approaching from the opposite direction.

She walked with her head down, clutching a piece of paper, her shoulders slumped.

"Yin Xuemei."

An Ning called out her name, and Yin Xuemei looked up, somewhat flustered.

"An Ning, are you looking for me?"

"Yes, I came to return your dictionary."

An Ning handed the dictionary over. Yin Xuemei hurried forward a few steps to take it and asked, "Are you finished with it?"

"No, I didn’t have enough time, so I’ve only read about a third of it. But I bought a new one today."

An Ning then held out the pastries.

"This is a thank-you gift. I also wanted to ask if you could teach me the stroke order for Chinese characters. I can pay for the lessons, if you have time."

Yin Xuemei had never met someone like An Ning before. She seemed to know exactly what she wanted.

And once she knew, she would do everything she could to achieve it, without a trace of hesitation or confusion.

"I can teach you. Stroke order has its own patterns. You’ll get the hang of it after you write for a while."

Yin Xuemei didn’t refuse the pastries. Despite only having met her twice, Yin Xuemei sensed an endearing directness about An Ning.

Sure enough, when An Ning saw that Yin Xuemei accepted her pastries and even agreed to her request, she immediately broke into a sweet smile.

"Thank you. If you ever need help with anything, please let me know."

An Ning turned to leave.

"Wait."

Having called out, Yin Xuemei gave An Ning a sheepish smile as she turned back around.

"Can I talk with you for a bit?"

She really didn’t have any true friends at the Educated Youth Point.

"Of course."

An Ning agreed readily. She and Yin Xuemei left the entrance of the Educated Youth Point and walked toward the foot of the mountain.

The two walked in silence. An Ning wasn’t skilled at delicate conversation, and even less so when someone else had initiated it.

Yin Xuemei, meanwhile, was struggling with how to begin.

After about ten minutes of walking, Yin Xuemei finally spoke.

"I’m the third child in my family. I have an older brother, an older sister, and younger twin siblings. Growing up, I’ve always felt like an invisible person."

"When it was time for someone to be sent to the countryside, my family didn’t even think about it. I was always the only choice."

As she said this, Yin Xuemei let out a self-deprecating laugh. She gestured with the letter in her hand, her eyes shimmering with tears.

"I always dreamed of getting out by passing the college entrance exam. I kept telling myself it was just because there were too many kids in the family, that once I went back home, everything would be fine."

"But in today’s letter, my own father and mother..."

Yin Xuemei’s voice began to tremble, and her whole body started to shake. She bit her lip and said with all her might:

"They told me not to take the college entrance exam. They want me to find someone local to marry, collect a bride price, and use it for my older brother’s wedding."

Having said it all, Yin Xuemei seemed to have broken through some kind of shackle. She looked at An Ning through a blur of tears.

"I feel like I don’t have a family anymore."

An Ning felt no empathy for Yin Xuemei’s emotional turmoil, but she understood the facts of the situation. "You’re right," she said with stark honesty. "You don’t."

An Ning’s direct words made Yin Xuemei forget to cry. She simply listened, stunned, as An Ning continued:

"From your description, your parents and siblings are not good family members."

"You can’t choose your family, but you can choose your own future."

Yin Xuemei gazed into An Ning’s uniquely determined eyes. Though doubt still lingered, she now had a faint sense of direction.

She wiped away her tears, a weak smile breaking through them. "I’m sorry," she said, embarrassed. "I lost my composure."

"You didn’t. You were just showing your emotions."

Just looking into An Ning’s bright eyes made Yin Xuemei’s heart feel lighter and clearer.

"An Ning, have you always known what you want?"

Unseen by Yin Xuemei, An Ning’s eyes darted away for a moment. She paused for a few seconds and said, "Ever since I learned how to speak, yes."

"That’s wonderful."

Yin Xuemei deeply envied people like An Ning, who had a goal, knew what they wanted, and worked hard to achieve it.

The two of them didn’t say much more. Yin Xuemei had just needed an outlet.

Venting her emotions had brought her some relief.

"An Ning, thank you for today. Whenever you want to learn to write Chinese characters, just come find me. I’ll be around."

Yin Xuemei gave An Ning a shy smile.

"You should head home now. Thank you."

"You’re welcome. I’ll walk you back."

An Ning glanced at the already dimming sky. They were at the foot of the mountain, which was rather remote.

’As a strong woman, how can I let someone so frail walk home alone?’

"No, that’s okay, I’ll be fine. I can walk by myself. Our village is quite safe."

"No."

’An Ning wouldn’t back down. In the interstellar age, the strong naturally protected the weak, regardless of gender.’

In the end, An Ning quietly escorted Yin Xuemei back to the Educated Youth Point.

After leaving the Educated Youth Point, An Ning ran home.

Just as she reached the main gate, she heard the voices of several people in the courtyard.

"She’s back, she’s back."

An Sancheng waved An Ning over from the gate, asking urgently, "Where have you been? The captain has been waiting for you for ages."

An Ning had no idea what was going on. A bit confused, she walked in and stopped in front of Sun Dazhuang.

"Captain, you were the one who gave me the day off. It’s not that I was slacking off."

’An Ning’s first guess was that this was about her not doing enough work today.’

"?"

Sun Dazhuang looked completely exasperated as he stood up.

"It’s not about that. I came to give you something."