Song Chu’s residual mental power was still there, and she keenly sensed the gazes from the villagers, even hearing what they were chatting about.
So, this shocked them? The surprises were yet to come.
Returning to the pigsty, Song Laoda was busy scrubbing the pigs. He was stunned to see his younger sister return with such a large pile of pig grass.
"Little sister, this is enough for the whole day. You’re really fast," he chuckled honestly.
Song Chu said as a matter of course, "Of course, don't you know who I am?"
With her immense strength and agility, if it took her a whole day to cut this little bit of pig grass, she would be too pathetic.
"..." Song Laoda’s mouth twitched. This was definitely his little sister’s style.
"I’ll finish washing the pigs and then chop it up to boil." He remembered his mother’s instructions from this morning: he mustn't let his sister get tired.
Song Chu smiled indifferently, "No need, I’ll do the chopping. You can boil it later."
She then went to find the kitchen knife and started chopping the pig grass; with her great strength, she was very fast.
Watching this scene, Song Laoda suddenly felt as if his sister had grown up.
As Song Chu was chopping the grass, Tang Min walked in with his hands behind his back.
Seeing Song Chu working, a smile appeared on his stern face.
He had just heard from his wife that his niece had already cut the day’s supply of pig grass. He hadn't quite believed it, so he came over to see while he had a moment.
He didn't expect to see a huge pile of pig grass on the ground, with his niece diligently chopping away.
"Big Uncle, do you need something?" Song Chu looked up and asked with a smile.
Song Laoda also stopped his work, "Big Uncle, why are you here?"
"Ahem, I just came to take a look." Tang Min saw Song Laoda scrubbing the pigs and asked, puzzled, "Why are you washing the pigs?"
"My sister said we need to keep the pigsty and the pigs clean so they don't get sick easily," Song Laoda replied truthfully.
It was the first time Tang Min had heard of this. He looked at Song Chu and asked, "Did you see this in a book?"
He had previously thought she was just making excuses.
"Yes. Don't worry, Big Uncle, I guarantee I’ll have my big brother raise these pigs until they’re plump and healthy."
Song Chu paused and said, "Once we see results, Big Uncle can have people catch more piglets to raise. We could set up a pig farm."
She had observed the village yesterday and today; it was relatively poor and backward. Her family was considered better off than most, yet many were still eating chaff and vegetables, and some families didn't even have enough to eat.
The original owner had a major wish: to completely change her image in everyone’s eyes—to stop being cursed whenever her name was mentioned and instead be praised.
The principle that "the nail that sticks out gets hammered down" is timeless. She wanted to change her family's situation, but being too unconventional in the village would make them stand out. Most villagers were good people, but jealousy was natural, and her family might end up being watched or ostracized.
It was 1975, not an era that encouraged people to get rich.
Therefore, she felt it would be better to lead the whole village in developing together. That way, her family wouldn't seem too prominent. Reputation, when used correctly, is a sharp blade.
Of course, having arrived in this poor and backward era, she genuinely wanted to work to change the status quo. Since the Reform and Opening-up hadn't happened yet, starting from the village was the foundation.
Tang Min didn't take her words to heart; opening a pig farm wasn't that easy. However, not wanting to dampen his niece's enthusiasm, he smiled and encouraged her, "That sounds great. Chu Chu, keep working hard. If you raise them well, opening a pig farm won't be a problem."
"Big Uncle is the best." Song Chu saw through his intentions; she would just go to him once she had results.
Seeing his niece suddenly become so sensible and diligent, Tang Min felt a sense of relief and walked away with his hands behind his back.
After eating lunch at home, Song Chu carried a basket to deliver food to Gu Yue.
When she arrived at the educated youth dormitory, the youths were still eating. Seeing her, they all picked up their bowls and retreated to their rooms.
Jiang, in particular, hated Song Chu to death but didn't dare to provoke her again. He glared at her and quickly turned back to his room.
Song Chu didn't care about their attitudes and knocked on Gu Yue’s door.
"Come in," his clear voice came from inside.
Song Chu pushed the door open and saw him sitting halfway up on the bed, reading a book.
"You're here." Gu Yue put down the book.
Song Chu took the food out of the basket. Today’s lunch was simple—two vegetable dishes with very little oil. She found it tasteless.
Gu Yue didn't mind. He picked up the bowl and ate slowly. With his handsome face, he managed to make the act look elegant and pleasing to the eye.
Song Chu sighed inwardly. No wonder the original owner was so obsessed with this guy. Many village girls and female educated youths secretly liked him too. He was a "handsome disaster."
After finishing, Gu Yue put the bowl and chopsticks into the basket. "Sorry for the trouble lately."
"It's fine, I took your money and food coupons anyway," Song Chu shrugged.
Gu Yue looked at her and asked pointedly, "You went to work at the pigsty today?"
"You don't go out, yet you're quite well-informed," Song Chu raised an eyebrow.
Gu Yue smiled, "I heard it from the people in the dormitory."
When they were cooking, they had been discussing how abnormal Song Chu was today, betting on how many days she could stay diligent. He had heard it all.
"Are you going to the pigsty to raise pigs?" he asked again.
Song Chu replied generously, "Yes. I’ll do your work for these few days, and once you’re better, I’ll focus on raising the pigs."
"Why would you think of raising pigs?" Gu Yue asked with a hint of inquiry.
Could it be she hadn't given up on him? Was she changing tactics to pester him?
But looking at her clear, bright eyes, it didn't seem like it.
"I want to build a pig farm in the village later," she looked at him with a faint smile. "And since you work at the pigsty, if I don't interact with you more, how am I supposed to get back the other half of the laboratory?"
Don't tell her this guy thought she was still pining for him?
Seeing her so open, Gu Yue put away his doubts. "You want to open a pig farm? Is that reliable?"
"A pig farm isn't that easy to open. It’s not just difficult to implement in the village; once there are many pigs, if one gets sick, it could cause an epidemic."
"Besides, the pig grass on the mountain isn't enough to feed them. Every family barely has enough grain to eat themselves; they can't spare any to feed pigs," he added after thinking.
Aside from the team's pigsty, some villagers raised pigs at home, and the grass on the mountain was just enough, but it definitely wouldn't work for a pig farm.
Furthermore, pigs fed mainly on grass didn't grow very fat. In the long run, it wasn't suitable.
Song Chu smiled lightly, "I’ve considered everything you said. My laboratory library has books and materials on scientific pig farming. I can use those."
"I’ll find a way to solve the feed issue, which is why I’m proposing the pig farm." She already had some rough ideas and just needed to implement them bit by bit.
"I don't know if others are reliable, but if I do it, it will definitely be reliable." She had that much confidence.
Watching Song Chu, who radiated confidence, Gu Yue was stunned for a moment, then laughed, "As long as you know what you're doing."
"Then you rest. I’m heading back; I still have to work this afternoon." Song Chu stood up and picked up the basket.
"Alright." Gu Yue nodded.