Chapter 22: Smells So Good!

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Gu Zi smiled and handed the basket of steamed buns to Zhang Cuihua. “Auntie Zhang, these are the steamed buns I made. Please try them.”

As she lifted the lid on the basket, the aroma of the meat buns filled the air.

Zhang Cuihua’s nose twitched, and she swallowed saliva, her eyes fixed on the meat buns in the basket. She hesitated and politely declined, “I don’t think it’s appropriate.”

“There’s nothing inappropriate about it,” Gu Zi placed the basket on the ground and invited Shi Tou, who was playing nearby, to join them. “Come over and have a bun.”

She saw Shi Tou put the candy she gave him directly into Lele’s mouth. Although he really wanted to eat it, he still left some for Lele.

This child was truly considerate.

“Thank you, Fairy Sister!” Shi Tou was already drooling and immediately walked to Gu Zi’s side.

Just as he was about to take the buns, he saw that the buns were white and tender. His hands paused and then he retracted them. He quickly ran to the side to wash his hands before coming over to take the buns to eat.

Gu Zi smiled gently at Shi Tou. “Shi Tou is a good big brother. Help me keep Lele company. Is that okay?”

Shi Tou nodded with a smile.

Aunt Zhang had also washed her hands. It was not good to eat buns now. So, she enthusiastically pointed out the way to the pig farm for Gu Zi. After Gu Zi went home to grab Su Shen’s lunch box, Aunt Zhang immediately picked up the buns and started eating.

“How fragrant!” Aunt Zhang only wanted to take a bite and leave the rest of the bun for Shi Tou. However, after taking a bite, she couldn’t help but eat the entire bun. She put the basket next to Shi Tou with a guilty expression.

Meanwhile, Gu Zi headed back home to fetch the lunchbox she had prepared for Su Shen. The path from their home to the pig farm was straightforward, following the main road.

The weather was a little hot, but there were trees on both sides of the road. The dense leaves blocked out the sunlight, and occasionally there was a breeze, making the walk quite pleasant.

Gu Zi wore a straw hat adorned with a lace butterfly bow, which not only complemented her facial features but also shielded her from most of the sunlight.

She donned a sky-blue sundress, cinched at the waist to accentuate her graceful figure, and the skirt flowed down to reveal her fair and slender legs. On her feet, she wore a pair of black leather shoes, adding to her delicate and beautiful appearance.

It was the middle of the day, and both sides of the main road were lined with fields. Many people were sitting under the trees, having their lunch. When they saw Gu Zi approaching, they couldn’t help but look in her direction, curious about who had city relatives visiting and who this young girl was.

Although Gu Zi had arrived in the village the day before, she had not ventured outside, so only a few people had seen her so far.

The villagers began to gossip and speculate about her background, eager to find out more about the city girl.

Gu Zi remained unfazed by their curious stares. To her, the opinions of these people were not important. She had come from the city and was considered to have “married down” by rural standards. There was no need for her to try to please everyone. She simply offered a polite smile in their direction as a way of acknowledging their presence.

The villagers were taken aback by Gu Zi’s friendly gesture. They had not expected the city girl to greet them.

Most of the people in the countryside did not have ulterior motives, and as long as they felt the goodwill of city folks, they would reciprocate with kindness.

Gu Zi looked around at her surroundings. Except for Su Shen’s family, most of the others had modest living conditions.

She recalled the years of hard work and long hours she had put in back in her world, with no time for herself.

She had hoped to save money to renovate her home and secure her retirement, but inflation had outpaced her salary increases, making it impossible to achieve financial freedom.

This time, entering a book world felt like experiencing a different life. She wanted to live well in this world, to achieve financial independence, and if she could change the plot, she would. If not, she would focus on taking care of herself.

Meanwhile, in the pig farm’s main hall, a group of men sat on the floor, exhausted from their work. They fanned themselves with handheld fans, and there were plates of food that their wives had sent with them on the ground. Some of the men’s wives were even sitting with them, eating and chatting.

The entire hall was bustling with activity.

While the work at the pig farm was not easy, it paid well. The men hoped the farm would get even busier so they could earn more money.

One man, sitting near the entrance, was enjoying the meal his wife had prepared. When he spotted someone approaching in the distance, he quickly called out to the others, “Oooo! Chu Xi’s precious daughter is here with a lunchbox for the boss!”