Chapter 42: Only those you bring out yourself make a good team!

Du Shanü felt wronged, but she......

How could I not say it!

I have to say it!

If I don't say it, how will others know I'm wronged!

"You've been injured these past few days, changing medicine and going to the outhouse are both inconvenient, and you won't let others help...... A Chou told me you're exhausted!"

Du Shanü fumbled left and right, pulling out several specially made underpants from the cloth bag at her side as if offering a treasure, and earnestly explained:

"Ordinary underpants have to be taken off to use the outhouse, and after taking them off you still have to tie a knot, but this one doesn't need that!"

"The waistband is made of cow tendon elastic, and I specially left a front opening for you, so when you urinate you can just pull it out...... Ouch (? `?? Д? ′)!! Why are you hitting me again!"

"I, I didn't say wrong! Believe me, this is really easy to wear! I specially picked good material from the shopkeeper! I waited in the shop for half a day! Otherwise how would I only come back at this time...... Ouch (? `?? Д? ′)!! Stop hitting, stop hitting! Am I not allowed to be wrong!"

Several small stones hit my head solidly.

Du Shanü was unwilling but complied.

Although I don't know where I went wrong, admitting fault first is never wrong!

Chinu's temples throbbed with several veins as he looked up at the second level of the earthen wall, where A Chou was sneakily peeking while building the wall, and he said word by word:

"A——Chou——!"

"You——everywhere——spouting——nonsense——what——!"

Even the wails of the ninefold hell aren't this terrifying!

A Chou was scared witless, threw the brick he was holding, and vanished into the earthen wall.

Chinu snorted coldly and immediately turned to chase after him.

Du Shanü hurriedly said:

"Eh eh eh! Take the underpants......"

Du Shanü got a glare and immediately became completely honest:

"Forget I said it; I'll have Xiao An wash it clean and bring it inside for you later."

Although I don't know what Chinu is up to, for now it's best not to provoke this bad omen......

It can't be shyness, right?

It can't be shyness, right?

This is Chinu, after all......

Du Shanü held the underpants, scratched her head, and happened to catch sight of Ouyang Yan returning from the mill to get water and rest.

Ouyang Yan saw her holding a pair of underpants, first startled, then covered his mouth and lightly laughed:

"You're really a warm-hearted person, young lady~"

"Meeting you, Chinu, is truly a good refuge; Chinu also deserves such treatment from you."

"Unlike those who are old and frail, not worth much effort, I only dare to guard the mill day after day for you, young lady...... huh?"

Du Shanü raised her hand, making a stop gesture:

"Sorry, every time you speak I get a bit allergic to sweet talk...... Next time don't say such things, I'll still not miss out on your kindness."

She neatly put away the underpants, then rummaged around and pulled out a box of rouge and several books.

She handed the books to Ouyang Yan, and he then saw they were several children's enlightenment books.

Only one of them was especially special, written as Red-Out Black-In Accounting Method.

Ouyang Yan blinked, then immediately heard the person in front of him speak:

"You previously said you knew a bit of medicine, but based on my observations these past few days, you seem to prefer bookkeeping."

That day she took Chinu to the clinic, while several family members built a new mill in the rain at home.

Once the mill was completed, labor could be powered by the water wheel, but a new problem arose: who would take charge of running the mill.

As the only able-bodied adult in the family, Ouyang Yan was selected by everyone and first took on the responsibility of bookkeeping for the mill.

Unlike what most people think, bookkeeping is actually a very laborious and mentally draining task.

It's not as simple as you give me money and I give you goods.

In autumn, the countryside has more grain on hand than silver money.

Every household has some surplus grain, and the surplus varies—millet, sorghum, wheat, beans, rice......

Compared to paying money, the surrounding villagers prefer to use grain, willing to pay a small price difference to directly exchange for the milled product, rather than go to the city to sell and then come back to buy things.

Thus, there is much more to calculate.

What are the current prices of various farm goods? How much can they be converted into acorn starch? How much can the semi-finished noodles made from acorn starch be converted into?

Going through these items one by one, even Du Shanü gets a terrible headache, wishing she could die in the ledger.

However, Ouyang Yan is different.

Compared to the earlier scene where he said he knew a bit of medicine but then hastily claimed his medical skills weren't fine, when he starts using the abacus he is truly full of vigor.

Whoever cuts in line, whoever is dissatisfied, he can roll up his sleeves, argue and reason with them, and indeed draws a chorus of approval.

Although somewhat improper, Du Shanü feels that compared to that sweet-talking, fake cargo 'green tea', she prefers the completely stripped-down 'green tea'... oh wait, the accountant.

Du Shanü doesn't know where the other person comes from, what happened to them, but she always hopes......

Hope that he can become his own reliance, rather than relying on those ingratiating words and postures that essentially please others, putting himself in a low position.

The mountain one leans on can change.

But if he becomes his own mountain to lean on, then he is unmoved by wind and unceasing in rain.

Ouyang Yan stared at the book in his hand, for a moment not knowing what to think; he instinctively resisted, forcing a smile and softly trying to please:

"Young lady, you've mistaken the person."

"I'm just temporarily managing the mill for a few days; the young master's eyes have clearly improved these days, you'd naturally trust him more with the money, so why not just wait for him?"

I studied medicine for several years before, but never mastered it; now I'm old, studying these again is truly......

The sun set in the west, leaving only a blood-like remnant sun in the vaulted sky.

Ouyang Yan pressed his head; this hand that had healed then cracked again rubbed that booklet, his voice growing softer as he spoke.

At that instant, he felt himself like a setting sun, his fate nearing its end, destined to fall sooner or later.

But fortunately, at the moment of his downfall, someone still caught him.

Du Shanü showed no reaction, merely saying:

"In my hometown there's an old saying: sunk costs should not be involved in major decisions."

"If you want to learn something, it's never too late; I'm just telling you that instead of wasting time here, you have a better path to take."

Perhaps someone likes green tea.

However, Du Sha is truly allergic to green tea; as soon as he hears the other person speak, he feels as if ten thousand ants are crawling all over his body, with a constant sense of being unable to draw breath or let it go, a feeling of helplessness.

This is just like the other person's medical skill studied for many years—if it's not used, it's as good as none.

She doesn't like it; no matter how long Ouyang Yan acts coquettishly, it's all in vain.

Then why not, like Chinu, strive for one's own fate?

Anyway, he looks to be around thirty, and because his appearance is as beautiful as a woman's, he seems even younger.

At this age, it's precisely the time to strive!!!

Du Shanü has long since understood——

Wise ministers and strategists each have their own plans, but my own cultivation from nothing might yet yield a loyal little companion!

?? Ouyang counts as green tea, but not really. His ability is far inferior to that of the previous generation's champion, Ji Nu; essentially, he's a bit flighty.

? Everyone can understand him as a despicable woman who feigns despair.