So embarrassing!

The director was squatting behind the Van, eating a boxed meal.

Having learned her lesson last time, she had now mastered the art of counter-surveillance-she ate at no fixed time or place, and even the boxed meals no longer had labels.

When Jiang Xun found her, she had just stuffed a piece of braised pork into her mouth.

"Director."

The director nearly choked. She gulped down two mouthfuls of water before swallowing the meat, then warily stuffed her unopened Yogurt into her trouser pocket.

"What do you want this time?"

"I'm here for my points." Jiang Xun squatted in front of her and counted on his fingers.

"I washed three big basins of clothes for Shen Wangjing's family this afternoon. According to your points rules, doing chores once earns three points-three basins means three times, so nine points. Round that up to ten, and I'll trade them for a white flour steamed bun."

The director's mouth twitched. "Is that how rounding works?"

"Then what can I get for nine points?"

The director pulled out the laminated card and scanned it from top to bottom. "Nothing. The minimum is ten points."

"Then keep a record for me. I'll redeem them when I've saved up enough."

"You can't get things on credit with points-"

"Then I'll get enough right now. Nine points for washing clothes, plus the two hours I spent helping Shen Wangjing sell corn at the market a few days ago-doesn't that count as helping family with work? Add another three points, and that's twelve. I'd have change left after one bun, so make it two."

The director said, "...Selling corn doesn't count. You were the one who insisted on going along."

"How does it not count? I helped him sell two whole sacks of corn. I shouted myself hoarse."

Jiang Xun rolled up his sleeve and pointed at the red mark on his elbow, which had faded until it was barely visible. "Look, the mark from getting jolted around on the tricycle that day is still here."

The director glanced down and honestly couldn't see any mark.

But Jiang Xun stared at her with those sparkling eyes, his two dimples plain on his face, looking both well-behaved and pitiful.

"...Fine. You can have two."

The director turned and called for a crew member to buy buns from the village's only steamed bun shop, then turned back and glared at Jiang Xun.

"All these days, you've been snatching boxed meals from the production crew, talking back to the director, and carrying a cleaver out to catch thieves in the middle of the night-and now you know to come ask me for points?"

"Those are separate matters." Jiang Xun folded his arms and leaned against the cargo compartment of the Van, the obedient, pitiful expression vanishing from his face in an instant.

"Snatching boxed meals was about survival. It has nothing to do with points. I earned those points fair and square. What's it to you how I spend them?"

The director had no reply.

The crew member puttered off on an electric scooter, then puttered back with a plastic bag containing two steaming white flour steamed buns.

Jiang Xun accepted them with both hands, holding them with all the ceremony of an Olympic torch relay. He leaned close for a sniff and nodded in satisfaction.

"See you." He waved at the director and headed back, holding the buns against his chest.

Yellow Dog followed at his feet, his tail spinning like a propeller as he frantically nosed at Jiang Xun's chest.

"Stop that. They're not for you." Jiang Xun tucked the buns closer against his chest. "You lie around at home all day doing nothing. At least I washed three big basins of clothes."

Yellow Dog whined, his ears drooping.

Jiang Xun glanced down at him and sighed. "Fine, fine. I'll break off a little piece for you later."

Yellow Dog's ears sprang straight back up, and his tail wagged even harder.

As the man and dog approached the Old Locust Tree at the village entrance, Jiang Xun slowed his steps.

Someone was squatting beneath the Old Locust Tree.

A head of blue hair stood out especially sharply in the setting sun.

Duan Qizhao squatted on a tree root, idly scratching at the ground with a twig. A bulging plastic bag sat by his feet.

Hearing footsteps, Duan Qizhao looked up and met Jiang Xun's eyes.

His expression went from blank to guilty to feigned composure in an instant, and the twig in his hand snapped with a crack.

"What are you doing here?" Jiang Xun looked him up and down. "Why'd you come squat out here? Feeding the mosquitoes?"

"Who said I came looking for you!" Duan Qizhao threw the broken halves of the twig onto the ground and stood with his chest puffed out. "I'm just out for a walk! What's it to you if I take a walk!"

"A walk all the way out here? The village chief's house isn't close. It's at least a ten-minute walk."

"I like walking farther. Can't I get some exercise?" No sooner had Duan Qizhao finished speaking than his stomach growled.

The sound rang out especially clearly in the quiet mountain village at dusk. Even Yellow Dog cocked his head to look at him.

Duan Qizhao's face instantly flushed red.

"Didn't you have meat to eat at the village chief's house?" Jiang Xun leaned against the Old Locust Tree, folded his arms, and snorted. "What, didn't get enough?"

"None of your damn business!" Humiliated, Duan Qizhao flew into a rage. "That Li Guizhi is so stingy with her cooking. She rolls her eyes at me if I take one extra piece of braised pork. What kind of banquet haven't I, Duan Qizhao, eaten in Capital City? As if I'd need to stay at her place-"

He abruptly stopped himself.

This was so embarrassing.

What Duan Qizhao hated most in his life was embarrassing himself, especially in front of Jiang Xun.

He had felt off since that morning. The bed at the village chief's house really was soft, Li Guizhi's meals really did have meat, and although Zhao Pengfei wore a dark expression the whole time, he hadn't dared give him any trouble.

But he just felt uncomfortable. He couldn't say where, as though ants were crawling all over his body.

That realization made him feel incredibly awkward. After all, no normal person would eagerly come running back after being kicked flying, drugged, and mocked.

Yet he had come back anyway, carrying a plastic bag of Soy-Braised Beef stolen from the village chief's house-

Li Guizhi had braised beef that afternoon and left it cooling on the kitchen windowsill. He had swiped several pieces while no one was looking, then strolled around the yard twice as if nothing had happened before heading out.

Jiang Xun glanced down at the plastic bag by his feet and chuckled.

"All right, quit pretending. Let's go."

"Go? Go where?" Duan Qizhao stared at him warily.

"Back, obviously." Jiang Xun pulled the white flour steamed buns from his chest and waved them. "You brought beef, and I traded for buns. We're having something extra tonight. Hurry up. Keep dawdling and it'll be dark."

Duan Qizhao froze for a moment, then beamed as he caught on, picking up the plastic bag and following him.

Yellow Dog barked twice and darted to the front, wagging his tail.