Turns Out I’m the Villain They’re Supposed to Redeem? [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 37

The afternoon sun was dazzlingly bright. Huo Yuwan walked ahead with her long hair flowing loosely, followed by three female educated youths struggling to carry their luggage bags.

One was Li Xuzhi, while the other two had been assigned to other villagers’ homes. However, since there was no place for them to stay yet, they were temporarily arranged to live at Huo Yuwan’s house.

“Hey, little sister, my name is Zhou Xia, and the one behind me is Feng Shanshan. What’s your name?”

One of the female educated youths, carrying her luggage, caught up with Huo Yuwan and struck up a conversation.

Since Huo Yuwan didn’t seem to mind Li Xuzhi’s background, she must be a kind-hearted girl. Zhou Qiuxiu immediately formed a favorable impression of her.

“Huo Yuwan.”

After stating her name, Huo Yuwan glanced unintentionally behind her and then looked at the luggage bag Zhou Qiuxiu was carrying.

“Are you sure you don’t need my help?”

She had wanted to help carry the luggage earlier, but all three of them had shaken their heads.

Huo Yuwan looked younger than them, and the luggage bags were so heavy, how could they let her carry them? With that thought, none of them agreed.

“No need, no need. We can manage on our own,” replied the other educated youth, Feng Shanshan.

Through their back-and-forth questions and answers, the three gradually learned about Huo Yuwan’s family situation and became quite familiar with her. Only Li Xuzhi, trailing at the back, remained silent.

Pressing her lips together to stop the conversation, Huo Yuwan slowed her pace repeatedly. Finally, the four of them trudged slowly to her doorstep.

Huo Yuwan’s house had enough rooms to accommodate them all. The three had initially thought they would have to squeeze into one large, shared bed, so they were pleasantly surprised to find that each could have their own room.

After assigning the rooms, Huo Yuwan picked up Li Xuzhi’s luggage and led the way to the room next to her own bedroom.

When her luggage was lifted from the ground, Li Xuzhi was momentarily stunned before quickly following Huo Yuwan into the room.

Pressing her thin lips together, she lowered her gaze and expressed her gratitude.

“Thank you.”

Placing the luggage bag on the table, Huo Yuwan smiled and waved her hand.

“No need for thanks. Since we’ll be living together from now on, we’re friends. I tidied up the room in advance. Let me know if you need anything else, I can buy it when I go to town tomorrow.”

Hearing this, Li Xuzhi felt a mix of emotions. She wondered if Huo Yuwan truly understood the implications of being labeled a “capitalist roader.” Otherwise, how could she treat her so kindly without any reservations?

The room had clearly been prepared with care. Even the toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, and other items on the table were brand new and unopened. A mosquito net had been thoughtfully set up on the bed.

“I… thank you…”

Her clenched fingers tightened and then relaxed. Li Xuzhi had always been awkward with words, and now, overwhelmed with gratitude, she could only repeat the same phrase.

Gazing at Huo Yuwan’s bright smile, Li Xuzhi thought to herself, she really is a kind and sincere person.

Unaware that she had just been given a “good person card,” Huo Yuwan cheerfully headed to the kitchen to prepare lunch. Knowing the educated youths would arrive at noon, she had deliberately postponed lunchtime. After all, she was the only one at home, when one person ate, the whole household was fed.

Lunch consisted of rice steamed with cured meat and a stir-fried potato dish. Huo Yuwan had bought a piece of pork from the supply and marketing cooperative in town that morning, planning to save it for braised pork in the evening. So, for lunch, they made do with something simple.

She found it acceptable, but the other three didn’t share her view. Rice was quite precious these days, most families would toss a handful into a pot to make porridge, and the more extravagant might mix in some sweet potatoes. Very few would steam plain rice directly, as even in the city, that was considered a luxury.

Still, no one would complain about such hospitality. Zhou Xia and Feng Shanshan expressed their gratitude to Huo Yuwan before picking up their bowls and digging in. Having traveled all morning, they were utterly famished.

Li Xuzhi lifted her bowl, which was generously topped with slices of meat, a hint of hesitation creasing her brow. Earlier, she had peeked into Zhou Xia and Feng Shanshan’s room, nothing but a bare bed, with no other provisions.

In her own room, however, not only were toiletries provided, but there was even a jar of snow cream.

Eating her rice quietly, Li Xuzhi made up her mind.

…

That afternoon, the educated youths followed the villagers assigned to them to work in the fields. Zhou Xia and Feng Shanshan had already left to find their respective households. Li Xuzhi watched their retreating figures, pressed her lips together, and walked over to Huo Yuwan.

“Here, for you.”

Huo Yuwan was momentarily stunned as a banknote was pressed into her hand. Watching Li Xuzhi stride away without a backward glance, she called out, somewhat dazed, “Um, Comrade Li, you’ve passed it, our field is over here.”

Li Xuzhi halted, a flush of embarrassment coloring her cheeks, then turned back.

Huo Yuwan met her with a smile. “What’s this for?”

Gazing down at the straw in the field, Li Xuzhi replied calmly, “I can’t accept the things prepared in the room for nothing.”

She knew Huo Yuwan was a good person, but her own nature made it impossible to accept kindness without reciprocation.

Besides, given her current status and circumstances, she had to be especially cautious.

At this thought, a shadow of melancholy crossed Li Xuzhi’s heart.

“It’s not for nothing, you’re here to help me with the work, aren’t you?”

Tucking the money back into Li Xuzhi’s shirt pocket, Huo Yuwan grinned at her.

Seeing that Li Xuzhi still stubbornly intended to pull the money out again, Huo Yuwan didn’t give her the chance.

Pulling her into the field, she gestured, “Today’s task is quite demanding. From here to there is all my family’s land. We need to clear all the weeds mixed in with the rice seedlings.”

With that, Huo Yuwan handed her a hoe, demonstrated how to remove the weeds, and then darted to the other end of the field before Li Xuzhi could react.

“Keep it up, Comrade Li!”

The field was filled with villagers and educated youths hard at work. Huo Yuwan’s cheerful shout, not softened in the least, drew the attention of nearby villagers.

Instinctively, Li Xuzhi tugged her straw hat lower and began swinging the hoe, her face flushing crimson.

Throughout, Huo Yuwan kept an eye on her movements, worried that Li Xuzhi’s inexperience might lead to injury, the hoe’s blade was sharp and could easily cut a leg or foot if handled carelessly.

Fortunately, nothing went wrong. When midday arrived, Huo Yuwan brought over a water flask, urging her to hydrate and take a break. Li Xuzhi only took a small sip before shaking her head and resuming her work with the hoe.

Her face was already flushed red from the sun, sweat pouring uncontrollably from her forehead. If she continued like this, heatstroke seemed inevitable.

Huo Yuwan grasped the handle of the hoe, her voice gentle. “It won’t hurt to rest for a bit, there’s no rush.”

But Li Xuzhi pulled her hand away, her voice cold and firm. “No need.”

Due to the upheaval at home, she had been feeling unsettled. Before coming here for re-education, Li Xuzhi had resolved to behave well and work hard.

Now that she had met someone like Huo Yuwan, who treated her so kindly, Li Xuzhi felt even less entitled to rest without guilt.

Seeing that she couldn’t persuade her, Huo Yuwan sighed helplessly in her heart.

She could guess what Li Xuzhi was thinking and didn’t press further. Placing the water jug on the ridge, she turned and picked up a hoe to join in the work.

The sound from behind made Li Xuzhi pause. She pressed her lips together, her lowered eyes hiding her expression.

…

On their way home that evening, they ran into Zhou Xia and Feng Shanshan. The two weren’t eating at Huo Yuwan’s place that night and were instead heading to the homes of the villagers they had been assigned to. Huo Yuwan nodded indifferently and led Li Xuzhi back home.

At noon, Li Xuzhi hadn’t been able to help because she was unpacking. But when Huo Yuwan headed to the kitchen again that evening, Li Xuzhi followed her and said, “Let me cook.”

Turning around at her words, Huo Yuwan took the meat she had bought that morning out of the basin. “Then you can make braised pork, steam two egg custards, and cook some sweet potato porridge. I’ll go heat water for bathing.”

Her straightforward attitude actually made Li Xuzhi feel more at ease. “Alright.”

Taking the piece of pork with its perfect ratio of fat to lean, Li Xuzhi couldn’t help but turn back and ask Huo Yuwan, “Should I cook the whole piece? Isn’t it a bit much?”

Waving her hand, Huo Yuwan shook her head with a smile. “It’s not too much. I have a big appetite, go ahead and cook it all.”

Earlier that afternoon, while working, she had been worried that this piece of meat wouldn’t be enough to share among four people.

But now it worked out perfectly, she had originally bought just enough for two.

…

Witnessing Huo Yuwan’s appetite firsthand, Li Xuzhi finally realized her earlier worries had been unnecessary.

At the same time, she chided herself inwardly: it was only natural for laborers to eat more. After working hard all afternoon, it made sense to have a bigger appetite.

Thinking this, she silently noted the amount of food prepared that evening, planning to cook the same portions from then on.

After dinner, Huo Yuwan wanted Li Xuzhi to bathe first in the backyard, but Li Xuzhi refused. Insisting stubbornly as she washed the dishes, she urged Huo Yuwan to go first.

Unable to argue, Huo Yuwan agreed, thinking she would take a quick rinse and then let Li Xuzhi have her turn.

As the hot water streamed over her body, Huo Yuwan let out a comfortable sigh. She had worked nonstop in the fields all afternoon, and now her back, arms, and legs ached, her entire body felt exhausted.

If she felt this tired, she could only imagine how much worse Li Xuzhi, who was doing farm work for the first time, must be feeling. She was probably in even more discomfort.

Glancing at the bathtub set to the side, Huo Yuwan sped up lathering the soap. No matter what, she would persuade Li Xuzhi to soak in the tub later and even give her a massage. Otherwise, tomorrow she probably wouldn’t even be able to get out of bed.

Just as she was rinsing off, Huo Yuwan heard a noise. She paused and turned to look.

A dark shadow flashed by, and the stool where she had placed her clean clothes was now empty.

…

Huo Yuwan wondered if she had imagined it. She wiped the water from her face and leaned in for a closer look.

The clothes were indeed gone.

Had she misremembered? Did she not bring a change of clothes? Huo Yuwan began to doubt herself.

But that couldn’t be, how could she possibly misremember something like that?

Recalling the noise and the shadowy figure she had just noticed, Huo Yuwan couldn’t help but entertain an unbelievable thought.

There were only two people in the house right now. Could it be…

Had Li Xuzhi taken her clothes?!

She almost laughed at the absurdity of the idea. Shaking her head, Huo Yuwan tentatively called out,

“Comrade Li? Are you out there?”

Silence.

“Comrade Li?”

She raised her voice slightly.

The kitchen wasn’t far away, he should have been able to hear her.

“Li Xuzhi?” she called again, her voice growing louder each time.

No response after so many attempts. Could it be a guilty conscience?

Huo Yuwan frowned, deep in thought.

After a long while, there was still no sound from outside.

“That wretched Li Xuzhi! Am I not more tempting than a pile of clothes?”

Feeling both heartbroken and unwilling to accept reality, Huo Yuwan blurted out in frustration.

He had the nerve to sneak in and take her clothes, yet he completely ignored her stunning figure!

“What did you say?”

Footsteps approached, and Li Xuzhi’s cool, detached voice sounded just a few steps away.