The only problem was that if she actually redeemed items from the system, medicine would be fine—it would be gone once swallowed. But how would she explain the origins of everyday necessities?
Moving out and living on her own as soon as possible was the only solution.
She remembered that the college entrance examination would resume in two years. When that time came, the sky would be the limit, and both she and her child would have a much broader horizon. As for living expenses, once she recovered her health, she would try to get a job as a point recorder or logistics worker. If that didn't work out, she could just pretend to have a wealthy relative who sent her occasional financial support. With the farming system at her disposal, there was no way she and her daughter would starve.
Furthermore, upgrading to a high-level farm would unlock flora and fauna like fish, birds, rabbits, and fruit trees. All she had to do was take a stroll in the mountains and then redeem those items from the system to make it look like she foraged them.
She also needed to share some with the people at the Knowledge Youth Institute. After all, they had been taking good care of her, and she couldn't keep freeloading off them forever.
After finishing her meal, Deng Yuyuan took the initiative to wash the pots and bowls before going to ask for her child back.
The moment she appeared in Tuantuan's line of sight, the little baby stared at her intently.
Zhao Erdong felt a little jealous. Deng Yuyuan hurried forward to take the baby in her arms. "Baby, you're a cute little piglet. Except for Mommy who truly treats you well, everyone else just wants to turn you into a roast suckling pig."
Tuantuan's skin seemed a shade fairer today. Her large, bright eyes gazed fixedly at her mother, revealing two shallow pear-shaped dimples. Unfortunately, Deng Yuyuan's body was too weak to produce much milk, so Tuantuan still mostly drank rice broth.
Duty shifts at the Knowledge Youth Institute were relatively easy, mainly involving cooking, cleaning, and going out to purchase supplies. After some discussion, the educated youths had decided that for the next two months, the two female youths would take turns on duty and help Deng Yuyuan look after the baby. Afterward, Deng Yuyuan would be responsible for regular duty shifts.
Today, when the youths returned from work, the sound of their chatting could be heard approaching from a distance, but suddenly, a dead silence fell over the yard.
Deng Yuyuan and Zhao Erdong exchanged a glance. Deng Yuyuan stepped forward to open the door. "Let me go, Erdong. I need to handle the trouble I brought here myself. Otherwise, I really won't have the face to keep living here."
Zhao Erdong held her hand, still adding a word of caution. "It's up to you, but don't try to shoulder everything on your own."
Opening the door, she saw a tall man standing outside, clutching some wild fruits in his arms.
When Zhang Jiahua wore such a pitiful expression on his handsome, striking face, it was indeed easy for people to soften their hearts.
"Wife, I figured you didn't have any snacks here at the Knowledge Youth Institute, so I went to the mountains and found some fruits for you. Take them and eat up. Nursing your health is the most important thing. Please, stop being mad at me." His eyes were full of apprehension, looking as fragile as if he would shatter into pieces the moment Deng Yuyuan rejected him.
Deng Yuyuan glanced at the fruits. They were ripe, plump, and quite large. She raised an eyebrow. "You don't need to take today's fruits to Granny Zhang so she can take her pick first?"
Zhang Jiahua flushed red and said firmly, "They're all yours. I won't do that anymore. From now on, all the good things go to you first."
Deng Yuyuan quietly and carefully scrutinized him. Thinking she was changing her mind, the pleasant surprise in Zhang Jiahua's eyes grew thicker.
"Hmm, you're too polite, but I don't need them. Since you came over today, you must have figured out when we're going to get our divorce certificate." Deng Yuyuan looked at him with a beaming smile. It was the habit of a corporate wage slave—whenever she had to deal with someone she didn't want to talk to, she would instinctively put on a professional smile.
Perhaps Zhang Jiahua would change bit by bit under this pressure, but she really didn't have the time to play games with him. She had no desire to accompany a grown man on his journey to discover and achieve mental independence. She had her own goals and a career to strive for; her purpose in life wasn't to teach a man how to be a good husband.
Why was it that the original owner of this body could become a good wife without anyone teaching her, while Zhang Jiahua needed someone to guide him and teach him?
Forgiving a man who only knew regret after losing everything would be a cruel injustice to the original owner.
The moment Deng Yuyuan opened the door, the other educated youths had tactfully retreated inside. Now, Tian Tian came back out and handed Deng Yuyuan a peeled boiled egg.
"Eat a little something to line your stomach first. Who knows how long you'll be chatting," Tian Tian said, stuffing it directly into Deng Yuyuan's hand.
Deng Yuyuan took a bite of the egg, then looked down at the wild fruits in Zhang Jiahua's hands.
The contrast spoke louder than words.
Zhang Jiahua instantly remembered that this very morning, he had still failed to fight for a bowl of egg custard for his wife. This boiled egg nakedly dragged the problem he had been evading right back in front of him.
He realized a pathetic truth: his wife was living much better at the Knowledge Youth Institute than she ever did at his home.
Holding the wild fruits stiffly, he forced an ugly smile. Avoiding the topic of divorce, he desperately tried to salvage the situation. "Take the wild fruits. Eating them is good for your appetite. Once you come home, I promise you'll have an egg to eat every single day."
Even if his mother objected this time, he would fight tooth and nail for Yuanyuan, ensuring she received the exact same treatment as his sister-in-law. At worst, he would just do all the household chores after getting off work so Yuanyuan could rest more.
"I think I've made myself perfectly clear. Other than divorce, there are no topics or ties needed between us." Deng Yuyuan turned around. "If you truly still have any affection for me, stop coming here to bother me. It'll only make my life at the Knowledge Youth Institute difficult."
Zhang Jiahua didn't want to hear the word "divorce." He forced himself to ignore the hurtful words Deng Yuyuan had spoken, merely comforting himself with the thought that once he coaxed her enough, she would revert to her original, gentle, and lovely self.
It was his fault for making Deng Yuyuan angry, and bringing wild fruits to her door was indeed a bit shabby. Next time, he just needed to bring a more sincere gift.
An increasingly intense sense of defeat almost crushed Zhang Jiahua. Slouching his shoulders, he headed home absentmindedly.
As soon as he arrived home, his mother mocked him with cold sarcasm for returning late. Tonight's dinner was still vegetable soup and four slices of cured meat, with rice warming in the pot. Since Deng Yuyuan's departure, no one bothered to put any real effort into cooking the family meals.
His sister-in-law and younger brother were sitting intimately together, eating the wild fruits he had brought back. The sight of the affectionate young couple stung Zhang Jiahua's eyes.
He and Yu Yuan used to be this sweet too, so why were they at odds now?
The tall man lowered his head and shoveled rice into his mouth, hiding his reddened eyes. He had to win back his family and make Yuanyuan change her mind!
Over the next few days, Deng Yuyuan bumped into Zhang Jiahua at the entrance of the Knowledge Youth Institute every single day after work. Aside from eggs and wild fruits, he had even brought a weasel!
Deng Yuyuan failed to feel his dedication. She was only troubled by one thing. "Does your mother know you're bringing these things over?"
Zhang Jiahua replied with his familiar silence.
Oh, so he was sneaking them over behind his family's back.
Deng Yuyuan rejected all of them. She had a premonition that the moment she dared to accept anything, trouble would immediately come knocking at her door. Counting on Zhang Jiahua to protect her was far less realistic than hoping the weasel he caught—which she had subsequently set free—would cultivate into a spirit and return to repay her kindness.
Seeing Tuantuan was fine, but anything else was out of the question!