Chapter 144: Who? Speak to Your Lordship

When the village bell rang, everyone finally stepped out and leisurely made their way to the grain-drying yard.

At this moment, a hint of joy graced each face. After a whole year, everyone was about to receive their dividends. Anyone in their position would be pleased, even Sun Yong, who had been deeply shaken just yesterday.

However, Sun Yong looked rather disheveled—like a man abandoned after years of heartbreak at the hands of a deceitful woman. His hair was as tangled as a bird’s nest, his eyes crusted with sleep, his lips chapped from yesterday’s drinking without hydration, his clothes wrinkled, and his entire body reeked of alcohol, enough to knock you over from a distance.

By contrast, Zhang Xiangjun, who had been drinking with Sun Yong last night, was in much better shape. Though still smelling of alcohol, he at least tidied himself up before leaving.

With the full support of Han Li and Zhang Xiangjun, Sun Yong recalled the events of the previous day and realized all the foolish things he had done. The faint joy on his face quickly transformed into embarrassment—a change swifter than any master from Sichuan Province.

Just as Han Li was about to tease him a bit more, they arrived at the grain-drying yard, where Yun Yingying promptly called Han Li over.

Everyone at the yard wore expressions of joy and anticipation; many had already planned how to spend their shares.

Now that things had quieted down, several village women gathered to tease Han Li and Yun Yingying.

“When it’s time to divide the grain, you young folks better be careful, especially you two Yun sisters—I can’t even tell which one is which. Little Yun, you must help Comrade Han calculate carefully; don’t let the man go hungry,” one woman said with a sly smile before Yun Yingying could respond.

Another woman chuckled mischievously, “We can’t tell the two Yun sisters apart, but Comrade Han should be able to, right? Otherwise, what will you do after marriage? Accidentally crawling into your sister-in-law’s bed would be quite a story.”

“Yeah, Comrade Han, how exactly do you tell you two apart? Or can you not tell either?”

“What’s there to tell? Maybe Comrade Han secretly hopes he can’t tell.”

“Ha ha...”

Han Li was completely overwhelmed by these village women’s teasing and quickly forced a bitter smile.

“Ladies, such jokes are out of bounds. Besides, how could I not recognize my own partner?”

Yet the now-relaxed women had no intention of letting him off. Their questions were far beyond what someone his age could answer. The Yun sisters quickly escaped, leaving Han Li surrounded for over ten minutes before he finally broke free with a wry smile.

Under the envious gaze of the other educated youth, Han Li returned to their group. They couldn’t understand why the villagers got along so well with him.

Yun Yingying glared at him, her face flushed, but the look held little menace.

Seeing Yun Jingjing standing nearby, chatting with Hao Hongmin and the others without reacting, Han Li breathed a sigh of relief.

Such matters were best kept to oneself; having them aired publicly was deeply embarrassing. Had it been a more sensitive girl, she might have refused to share a meal with Han Li or even avoided his home thereafter.

Once Village Chief Zhao and Team Leader Liang arrived, the grain distribution in Shanghe Village began.

As in previous years, villagers received their shares first, distributed household by household. A few sharp-witted family members would verify each person’s work points, count the money and vouchers earned this year, then move the grain to be weighed.

There were occasional disputes over work points, but these were rare and quickly settled by the record keeper consulting his ledger.

By around noon, the villagers finished collecting their grain, and it was the youth’s turn.

The educated youth took turns verifying their shares, and by mid-afternoon, everything was completed.

Everyone borrowed carts from the village committee to haul grain home. Those planning to spend the New Year elsewhere temporarily stored some grain here, intending to collect it next year.

Jiang Xiaoli also chose to store her grain here, as she planned to sell it at the commune grain station for vouchers once her approval passed, saving herself the trouble of moving it back and forth.

Han Li borrowed a cart from the village committee and made three trips to bring back all the grain from several courtyards.

Although the Yun sisters’ grain was modest in quantity, they entrusted all of it to Han Li.

All the grain was still in its husks and required further processing before consumption, which was impossible today.

After storing all the grain, Han Li barely caught his breath before Hao Hongmin, He Mi, and others approached.

“Didn’t I already help put away your grain?” Han Li asked.

Yang Xiuying replied, “Yes, and that’s why we plan to treat you, our hero, to dinner tonight. Afterward, we’d like to borrow your bathroom to wash away the dust of this year’s hard work. From now on, we’ll focus on storing grain and gathering supplies to prepare for the long winter.”

“Make yourselves at home,” Han Li said.

After dinner, Han Li had Yun Yingying and the others bolt the front door from inside, then took the dogs out for their evening walk.

Since he had gone out early today, he bumped into Zhang Xiangjun immediately.

“Have you eaten?” Zhang asked.

“Just finished. You’re out walking the dogs?”

“Exactly. How about we have a drink later?”

Han Li chuckled, “Not a chance today, no matter what. You go ahead; I’m heading home to sleep.”

Zhang Xiangjun seemed startled by the refusal and turned to head home.

Han Li laughed and strode toward the fields beyond the village.

Since he walked the dogs nearly every day, he knew the area well and didn’t even carry a flashlight.

At the edge of the fields, he let the dogs scatter as he settled on a low wall, gazing at the beautiful night sky.

Perhaps having lived his past life amid concrete jungles, Han Li found the vast sky endlessly captivating.

As he traced the constellations he studied daily, the dogs suddenly growled low behind him.

Startled, Han Li snapped to attention and found a short spear in his hand. Who was there?

Villagers frequently set traps on the mountain paths, and to avoid awkward encounters, Han Li chose this spot because almost no one came here.

Who could it be now? He spun around abruptly.

A dark figure approached him, its shape suggesting a woman.

“Who’s there? Speak up,” Han Li demanded.