Educated Youth in the Countryside: She is the Village's Embroidery Queen!-Chapter 122: Double-Sided Embroidery

"Are they at the Youth Corps Courtyard now?"

Yi Chichi wasn’t too keen on seeing them, fearing they would get caught up in gossip and forget what they were supposed to do.

"No, they’re not."

Recalling the scene she witnessed earlier that morning, Liu Lan said with a complex expression, "The three of them took a bullock cart to the commune."

Great, now I can return to the Youth Corps Courtyard without worries.

Liu Lan accompanied her back, and upon realizing Wang Nan and the rest weren’t there, she wondered aloud, "Where did they all go?"

"They went weeding."

Yi Chichi looked exasperated, "The wheat seedlings aren’t growing as fast as the weeds."

Nowadays, there’s no herbicide or pesticide, and even chemical fertilizers are scarce.

Therefore, fertilizing is mainly dependent on farm manure, while weeding and pest control rely heavily on manual labor.

But it can’t be ignored; it affects crop growth and competes with crops for nutrients leading to poor yields.

As a result, after spring planting ends, the team doesn’t get any downtime and spends all day in the fields keeping company with the weeds.

Liu Lan sighed, "Nothing can be done, we’re used to it."

Yi Chichi instinctively glanced at her hands and then advised, "Take care of your hands, or the silk will snag."

Liu Lan nodded, "I know, I used to wash dishes and clothes, but now they’re not letting me do any of that."

In this era, it’s rare to have a girl who is pampered like this.

Thinking about the original protagonist’s experiences and comparing them to Liu Lan’s living environment, Yi Chichi couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy.

The poor girl was born to the wrong family—hoping that in her next life she’d have a happy family and fulfilling life!

"Make sure to take good care of your hands."

"Your hand cream works well."

She chuckled, and Yi Chichi glanced at her, teasingly asking, "What, you want it for free?"

"Of course not."

Liu Lan shook her head hastily, afraid Yi Chichi would think she’s taking advantage, and explained, "I meant next time you make hand cream, could you make a jar for me too?"

"Lard is hard to find."

She neither declined nor agreed but simply pointed out the difficulty.

Liu Lan understood immediately, "I’ll have my big brother handle the lard."

Yi Chichi nodded, even though Liu Family’s big brother isn’t well-known in Kao Shan Village, he is quite capable.

It’s said that he has connections in the county’s black market, so getting some pork fat shouldn’t be a problem.

"Be careful."

Getting caught would be serious trouble.

Many who dabble in the black market end up with nothing.

Of course, some make a fortune from it, but they are few and far between.

In life, relying on luck is never a wise choice.

"My brother doesn’t get involved directly; he always finds someone to deal with it."

Liu Lan mercilessly teased her own brother, "My mom says my big brother has always been shrewd since childhood, never letting others take advantage of him or harming them... It’s nearly impossible for others to take advantage of him or trick him."

As she rambled on, Yi Chichi almost wished to cover her ears.

She wanted to say she didn’t care whether her brothers were smart or not—they were strangers.

But then Liu Lan suddenly changed the topic, saying—

"Chichi, what do you think of my fifth brother?"

"??? Your fifth brother?"

Yi Chichi blinked, a bad feeling rising within her. Was this like Yu Ritang’s mother trying to play matchmaker?

"Not familiar, don’t know, no idea."

Regardless of the situation, it’s best to make her stance clear first.

It seemed Liu Lan hadn’t expected this answer, and after a pause, she slowly asked, "Have you ever thought about what kind of person you’d like to be with?"

Yi Chichi stared at the sky speechlessly. She’s only 18 in this body, why is everyone concerned about her lifelong plans?

"Never thought about it, I’ll consider it after 24."

Wanting to avoid continuing this topic, she feigned curiosity, "What about you? Ever thought about it?"

Liu Lan’s mouth twitched, "Think about what, I have a partner."

"Huh?"

Yi Chichi was so surprised her jaw nearly dropped, "You have a partner?"

"Yeah, a childhood betrothal."

Liu Lan beamed, looking very pleased.

Yi Chichi looked skyward speechlessly, realizing Liu Lan already had a partner, thankful they’d stopped Wu Yongfei back then. Otherwise, he might have ended up in trouble, with his reputation as a clumsy youth getting worse.

What a close call.

"What’s your partner do? Why haven’t we ever seen him?"

"You won’t see him, he hasn’t returned in three years, he’s in the Air Force, supposed to have leave this year."

Air Force from this era?

Instantly, Yi Chichi thought of the high-class treatment in the Air Force, including the special meals for pilots.

"Lanlan, if you get rich, don’t forget us."

She grabbed Liu Lan’s hand, playfully acting like a lackey.

Liu Lan laughed, "Sure, if I become rich and famous, I won’t forget you."

"You’re something."

Joking and chatting, they arrived at the Youth Corps Courtyard.

Bai Chen and the others weren’t back because they were weeding, and the new youth hadn’t returned from the commune, leaving the large courtyard silent and empty.

Yi Chichi walked straight to her room, took out her key, unlocked the door, and invited Liu Lan inside.

"Is it convenient?"

Liu Lan asked politely, to which Yi Chichi rolled her eyes, "I’ve already invited you; what would be inconvenient?"

That’s true.

So, she swaggered into the room.

Soon her eyes were drawn to the embroidery frame at the end of the kang, upon which a half-finished piece was stretched.

The piece depicted a kitten, with glass-like eyes clear and bright, its fur delicately realistic as if swaying in the breeze, and its tail raised high, suggesting the cat’s good mood.

Though the kitten’s belly wasn’t completed yet, it was evident it was a leaping cat, with a colorful butterfly above.

Clearly about to pounce on the butterfly.

The composition, mood, and even the coloring of the entire piece were extraordinary.

It made one feel like they were present, bringing a smile at the kitten’s lively cuteness.

She took out her own embroidery to compare with the kitten, but the more she compared, the more disappointed and uncomfortable she became.

She couldn’t help but mutter softly, "The needlework is different, the embroidery thread is different, and also..."

Yi Chichi, who had just put away her change and tickets in her cotton coat pocket, turned around to find her murmuring in front of the embroidery frame. After a brief pause, she quietly approached her, hearing her mutter, "The difference is just despairing."

Yi Chichi’s mouth twitched a bit. She’s been embroidering for years, and Liu Lan just learned not too long ago. If there wasn’t a difference, she wouldn’t deserve the national-level heritage status.

"What kind of needlework is this, how could it be so detailed and realistic? It feels completely different from Chaotic Needle Embroidery."

"Double-sided embroidery, with many kinds of needlework."

"Hmm?"

Liu Lan turned her head swiftly to look at her, "Double-sided embroidery?"

"Mhm!"

Yi Chichi nodded and adjusted the direction of the embroidery frame.

"What..."

The words didn’t make it out as Liu Lan stared at the embroidery, eyes full of surprise, and exclaimed, "This cat looks like the big Da Li Uncle Yaozi keeps."