Reborn as a Superpower Girl in the 80s

Chapter 23: Chapter 23 The Hypothetical Enemy Chapter 23: Chapter 23 The Hypothetical Enemy Luo Qiao had also agreed to buy twenty chicks from her, saying they would meet at the small grove at the commune crossroads the day after tomorrow at noon to make the transaction. They would also be priced at eight cents each. As for the piglets, the person said they would look around since they were not easy to find. After agreeing on this, the two parted ways.

After leaving the commune, she gathered the ten ducklings in the grove ahead into her space before briskly walking toward the village.

As she neared the village, she came across a donkey cart stopped on the side of the road, surrounded by several men and women. Luo Qiao arrived to see Sun Haitang also standing there.

She approached and asked, “Auntie Haitang, why are you standing here?”

Sun Haitang replied, “I didn’t go to work today. I went to the county instead, and now the donkey cart has broken down just as I arrived here. Where have you been?”

Luo Qiao replied openly, “I went to the commune and bought some daily necessities.”

While speaking with Auntie Haitang, she also nodded to the others as a form of greeting.

The woman standing next to Auntie Haitang asked, “Luo Qiao, what did you buy?”

Luo Qiao generously set her basket down for them to see: an enamel washbasin, a pair of Jiefang canvas shoes, a pair of black cloth shoes, a bar of soap, over twenty pounds of cornmeal, a pound of millet, and half a pound of salt.

On seeing these items, someone showed envy, remarking, “That must have cost quite a bit of money and food stamps.”

Luo Qiao smiled and said, “I collected some medicinal herbs on the mountain and exchanged them for some money and food stamps, really nothing to live on.”

The woman hurriedly asked, “Medicinal herbs? What kind of herbs can be exchanged for so much money and stamps?”

Luo Qiao didn’t conceal it, telling her, “Bupleurum and Scutellaria.”

The woman seemed eager to ask more, but a man behind her pulled her back.

Auntie Haitang let out a sigh, “Now that you can earn seven work points, supporting yourself isn’t a problem. Things will get better. If you need any help, just tell Auntie, don’t be shy.”

After expressing her thanks, Luo Qiao said, “Auntie, I’ll be heading off first to take care of my private plot.” She waved to the others as well.

After Luo Qiao left, a girl standing next to Sun Haitang asked, “Auntie, who is that? I don’t think I’ve seen her before.”

The girl was the daughter of the village Secretary’s home, two years older than Luo Qiao and named Zhang Qiaoyan, a first-year student at the county high school.

Zhang Qiaoyan watched Luo Qiao’s retreating figure thoughtfully, her gaze full of displeasure—because Luo Qiao was taller than her and more beautiful.

In this period, Luo Qiao’s complexion had improved significantly, and her hair quality had also become much better than before. Although her figure was still slender, her features were definitely not lacking.

But in Luo Qiao’s mind, all this was trivial. This body was only fifteen years old, and she believed that in no time at all, she would grow into a graceful and beautiful young lady.

Auntie Haitang sighed as she watched Luo Qiao’s back, “You wouldn’t know since you stayed in town to keep your elder sister company and didn’t come back to the village for a while, but this Luo Qiao…”

Auntie Haitang then added, “Luo Qiao is capable. Now she can earn seven work points, and she’s very agile in her tasks. It’s just that the child is quite pitiable.”

After hearing all this, Zhang Qiaoyan finally relaxed, ‘Hmph, being pretty is one thing, but she’s still pitiable. I am a high school student,’ she thought, feeling a sense of superiority.

Luo Qiao was unaware that in just this short span of time, someone had made her their imagined rival.

Upon entering the village, she saw the back of Sixth Sister Zhao running off and snorted coldly in her heart as she made her way home.

Gao Suhua was tidying up the courtyard when she heard her young daughter burst in: “She’s back, she’s back. That Luo Qiao has returned, carrying her basket.”

Upon hearing this, Gao Suhua’s mind raced with various guesses, itching with curiosity and thinking about finding an excuse to probe into Luo Qiao’s affairs.

It was perfect timing as her elder daughter walked in, and she said, “Xiaotao, go over to the educated youth spot and see what Luo Qiao bought today.”

Zhao Xiaotao ignored her mother and proceeded straight into the main room.

Seeing her elder daughter disregard her, Gao Suhua wasn’t angry. She spoke to her second daughter, Zhao Xiaomei, who was following behind, “Xiaomei, if your sister won’t go, you go. If there are any good things to be had, I’ll include them in your dowry when you get engaged.”

On hearing this, Zhao Xiaomei perked up, smiling, “You said it, Mom.”