Chapter 8

After a brief nap, the afternoon felt incredibly leisurely and comfortable. Chen Baozhen didn't have any classes today and had been home all day. Qin Yao and she had pulled out the small bok choy from the yard, selecting the ones that were barely presentable, cleaned them, and hoped to stir-fry a plate of bok choy for dinner.

Sitting in the bamboo chairs in the yard to cool off, Chen Baozhen chatted with her about the events that happened on the island. Qin Yao quietly played the role of a listener.

"Apart from the occasional boredom, staying on the island is quite comfortable," Chen Baozhen had adapted well to life on the island. Other than having to do household chores herself, the air was clean, and there were plants and lush greenery everywhere, which was very pleasing to the eye. "When I'm in a bad mood, taking a walk outside helps to clear my mind."

"It's not like when I used to stay in the city. Everywhere there were square houses, and large families were crammed into small spaces—I really didn't expect the house and yard here to be so big," Chen Baozhen sighed deeply. Cleaning houses in Bei City was easy because the houses were small. Most families were crammed into 20-30 square meter homes, and cleaning wasn't a big deal.

The houses here are large, with upper and lower floors, and just dusting is a hassle, but they are comfortable to live in.

Qin Yao smiled and said, "I like big houses. You know the situation at my home. My two sisters-in-law compete at night about who can make more noise."

Just imagining that scene made Qin Yao feel incredibly suffocated. The house was small, and the soundproofing was just a cloth curtain that barely blocked any noise. The space was tiny, and expanding was difficult; everything was cramped.

"Yaoyao, why don't you stay here and keep me company?"

Qin Yao lowered her gaze and said, "I want to stay here."

Chen Baozhen said excitedly, "Then, I'll try to introduce you to someone. After marriage, you can stay here."

"I plan to stay on the island, but I don't intend to marry into this family compound. Zhizhen, I want to find a job first. Please help me keep an eye out." Qin Yao didn't want to marry an officer or cadre. Before she transmigrated, her father was a military-transferred cadre, strict, with a bad temper and severe patriarchy. As the eldest daughter, he made her cut her hair short and demanded she behave like a boy. She was scolded and beaten a lot as a child. After her brother was born, she was asked to be gentle and virtuous like a girl.

It seemed like how she lived was entirely up to him; he was the absolute authority in the family.

At that time, their family was an ethnic minority, so they could have a second child.

Qin Yao couldn't stand her father's dictatorial temper. After going to college, her relationship with her family became more distant. She loved the free and fresh air outside, rather than being criticized for what clothes to wear or what hairstyle to have.

She preferred someone gentle, like Gu Cheng, whom she met at the port before. That low-brow, clean, harmless little white flower look, she really loved it.

As her mother said, when officials get promoted, their tempers grow. She didn't want to marry an authority or someone who liked to give orders.

She didn't ask for her future husband to be extraordinary. It would be best if he was carefree and handsome, capable of being presentable in public and cooking in the kitchen.

A lazy fisherman would be perfect.

"Okay, I'll help you find a job." This place was originally where educated youth went to the countryside. Qin Yao actively came here from the big city, a gesture considered to support frontier construction.

The premise was that there was a unit willing to accept her.

As long as there was a unit to accept her, many things would be easier.

In the city, near the post office and the train station, the telegraph poles were plastered with advertisements for exchanging job positions and houses. One position, one person; to get a job, you either inherited it from an elder at home, were recommended to university for national job distribution, or bought a job with family money...

Buying a job with money was easier said than done. Unless absolutely necessary, no one was willing to give up their job, so most exchanges were job swaps.

For someone like Qin Yao, who didn't have a job, finding one now was difficult, even more so in the capital. It was a bit easier on this island, depending on the opportunity.

Talking with Chen Baozhen, Qin Yao glanced at the time. She thought it was almost time, just about to hit twenty-four hours.

What would the "goodwill" gift be?

"Ding—"

[Obtained the skill "X-ray Vision" for one hour.]

Qin Yao sat up straight, her beautiful eyes widening in disbelief. She had transmigrated into a period drama, and she thought the "goodwill" reward would be "rice, flour, oil," or instant noodles and sausages.

But the reward was a skill.

Qin Yao chose to use the "X-ray Vision" skill, and everything before her began to change. It was as if she was carrying an X-ray machine; she could see everything underground to about a meter.

She saw the grass roots winding in the soil, the wriggling earthworms... This feeling was very unpleasant, as if her eyes had turned into a microscope, seeing too clearly and making her nauseous.

Qin Yao withdrew her gaze from the ground, instinctively looked up, and Chen Baozhen's figure appeared before her. She exclaimed in shock, "Ah!"

"Yaoyao, what's wrong?"

She had seen everything.

The X-ray vision skill was truly... Upon careful inspection, she could even see through to the human skeleton and internal organs.

The impact was too great, and Qin Yao immediately turned off the X-ray vision skill.

This skill only lasted for one hour and was best saved for necessary times.

The "X-ray Vision" skill was very useful. In the future, whether used for "jade cutting" or at the poker table, it would be an invincible divine skill.

In the seventies, used medically, it would be better than X-rays.

However, since it only lasted an hour, it couldn't be used casually. Qin Yao didn't know what reward she would get the next time she accumulated twenty-four hours.

At this moment, Qin Yao realized that her "goodwill" system was incredibly useful. She didn't have to do anything; just being near someone who had a high "goodwill" for her would bring benefits.

"Zhizhen, I want to stay with you!" Qin Yao took Chen Baozhen's hand.

Chen Baozhen tucked her hair behind her ear, gave Qin Yao a glamorous side glance, and said maturely, "Yaoyao, you have to keep your word."

They smiled at each other.

They sat and drank tea for a while. As close friends, having someone to joke around with made any chores enjoyable.

Everything that needed to be cleaned up was done. Chen Baozhen decided to wash all the quilt covers, bed sheets, and blankets. With Qin Yao there, they could wring them out together.

After a simple drying in the breeze, they might be able to collect them by tonight.

"I'll count to three, and we'll use force together."

"One, two, three!"

The two of them each grabbed one end of the quilt cover and pulled in different directions, the squeezed-out water dripping into a silver aluminum basin.

After hanging the bedsheet in the yard to dry, and with everything washed and aired, Qin Yao sighed in relief. But the next second, she was suddenly splashed with water on her face.

Chen Baozhen crouched beside the basin, a mischievous grin on her face, clearly pleased with herself for successfully dousing Qin Yao.

"You're so naughty! How can you be so childish!" Qin Yao pressed on the edge of the basin, dipped her hand into the water, and splashed Chen Baozhen opposite her.

"Ahhh!"

Like children, they giggled and splashed water at each other.

Inside the house, Bai Qiuling and Tian Shuyun heard the laughter of the young women from next door.

Tian Shuyun pouted, while Bai Qiuling felt puzzled. Chen Baozhen, who used to carry an air of arrogance towards everyone, was actually making such lively laughter now.

"I'm done playing, I'm all wet!"

"Ugh, how annoying!"

Qin Yao laughed and scolded, her wet hair sticking to her cheeks, her clothes clinging uncomfortably to her body. Just as she stood up to go inside, she suddenly noticed two figures standing outside the yard gate.

The two were dressed in pristine white military uniforms, the red stars on their caps gleaming brightly.

"Bao... Baozhen—" Gao Jianguo stared in disbelief at his drenched wife, Chen Baozhen. Though she was lazy at home, she always took great care with her appearance outside, always presenting herself with an elegant and graceful demeanor.

The military man next to him, however, was staring intently at a young woman with two braids lazily coiled at the back of her head. Her skin was fair as porcelain, her lips red like cherries, and water droplets hung on her cheeks as she tilted her head, her smile particularly charming and her voice sweet and soft.

It was none other than the chubby girl who had leaned on him and dozed off in his dreams.

A whirlwind of thoughts and countless guesses flashed through his mind in an instant, and Gu Cheng's face turned cold, emanating an aura of chill.

He realized he had been played.

Qin Yao was Chen Baozhen's best friend, and Chen Baozhen had gone on a blind date with him. She must have recognized him long ago, knowing his identity, and secretly watched him wear his false mask without exposing him.

"Zhenzhen." Qin Yao looked at Gao Jianguo, guessing that this was Chen Baozhen's husband, her brother-in-law. Chen Baozhen was a year and a half older than her.

Gao Jianguo had a square face, his features looked upright and noble, not particularly handsome but giving off a very righteous and pleasant impression.

No wonder Chen Baozhen had taken a liking to him.

The man next to him stood straight and tall, his jawline sharp and clear under the brim of his cap, his cold and stern expression exuding an aura of authority and ruthlessness, giving off an intimidating presence.

The man in front of her looked very familiar, bearing a strong resemblance to Gu Cheng, yet they were completely different people.

Gu Cheng, the younger brother, walked with a slight hunch, tall and thin like a bamboo swaying in the wind, his features delicate but always gentle and obedient, exuding a pure and kind simplicity.

After quickly wiping the water droplets from her face, Chen Baozhen coughed and introduced them, "Yaoyao, this is my husband, Gao Jianguo. You've seen his picture before."

Qin Yao nodded, "Yes, I've seen your photos."

"This is Qin Yao, my best friend."

Gao Jianguo and the cold-faced Gu Cheng walked in. Gao Jianguo gave Gu Cheng a strange look; Gu Cheng's face was ashen, his aura intimidating, and even Gao Jianguo couldn't help but feel a chill.

"Comrade Qin, hello. Baozhen, this is Captain Gu. He'll be staying for dinner at our place tonight. I've already asked Auntie to prepare a few dishes, and I'll throw together a couple more later..."

Upon hearing the title 'Captain Gu,' Qin Yao thought to herself, so he's surnamed Gu, probably Gu Cheng's older brother.

He looked so mature—could he be Gu Cheng's elder brother? She hadn't expected to meet his brother here! What a karmic entanglement!

The two men had completely different auras.

One was a naval officer, the other an employee of the Fishing Company, but both brothers were connected to the sea.

The Captain Gu in front of her exuded an air of authority, clearly someone accustomed to giving orders, intimidating and not to be trifled with, completely unlike his mild-mannered and good-tempered younger brother, Gu Cheng.

Qin Yao disliked this type the most; she preferred the younger brother's style.

Captain Gu was tall, and with his cap, even taller. Qin Yao didn't dare to look at him much; after all, she was just a guest and didn't need to entertain him.

—He probably didn't recognize her anyway.

Qin Yao turned around, feeling relieved, and went upstairs with Chen Baozhen to change clothes.