Chapter 119 Where do nobility and baseness exist?

A farce ended with a fist!

Zhou kept his word and really didn't leave. Zhao Cuihua and her family, including her maternal relatives, were all from the same village.

Now things are really messed up, because she's all alone, no one has any food to eat!

A dozen or so people huddled against a corner of the wall, watching others eat until their bellies were round, their faces full of resentment.

Wang Haiying's family is not from this village, but she has three children, the youngest being only three years old and the oldest only twelve!

They're all boys, which gives her the right to be arrogant in her husband's family!

However, her whole family, even when following her, still had no food to eat!

Village chief Xie Youfu looked at the group of people drooling with envy and shook his head helplessly. Who told them to bring this upon themselves?

Zhou didn't eat either; he just sat to the side and watched...

What she wanted to do was ensure that these people couldn't eat a single bite, and whether they drank dishwater or not was none of her business.

"Wow... Mom, I want to eat! I'm hungry! I want to eat!"

"Wah wah... Wah ah..."

One child cries, several children cry together, watching other children eat while they can only watch, they just purse their lips and start crying!

The wailing grew louder and louder...

Zhou also looked over, showing no sign of softening or guilt, but simply watching with interest.

Zhao Cuihua's family couldn't hold back any longer. Her mother-in-law pointed her finger at her and cursed, "You jinx! What sins did our family commit to marry such a thing as you!"

What a scourge on the whole family!

We can go without food when we're old, but the children can't go without food! They'll starve!

Go and beg for forgiveness!

"Kneeling is fine, but get over there!"

Zhao Cuihua's husband also raised his fist and punched her, making her cry out in pain. But unfortunately, her family members were also watching her intently, wishing they could beat this good-for-nothing to death.

Zhao Cuihua was so frightened that she lunged towards Zhou Ye's position.

She knelt down in front of him with a thud.

"I'm sorry, it was my fault! I didn't watch my mouth and said some hurtful things. I apologize to you."

Zhou Zhiqing, I won't take the blame for my mistakes, okay?

Let my family eat it!

They'll starve!

Please!

As she spoke, she timidly glanced back at her family!

Zhou Ye smiled at her and said, word by word, "No!"

Every word was like a knife, piercing Zhao Cuihua's heart. Rejected, she dared not go back.

Zhou also looked over there, where a group of people were looking at her expectantly.

Oh……

Did you really think she was soft-hearted?

Zhao Cuihua was furious at being rejected and couldn't hold back any longer, since she wasn't going to get any food anyway.

Can't I starve to death if I don't eat today?

She stood up, hands on her hips, and pointed at Zhou Ye: "You slut, you're just bullying us because you have food."

That's capitalist behavior!

Food should belong to everyone, especially after this year's natural disasters. What? Do you want to hoard it all?

Zhou Ye, you'd better hand over all the grain now, or I'll report you!

They're saying you're using public grain for your own private purposes!

Who has proof that you purchased this? Ha...

"I'd like to see what you do then."

Zhou Ye was so angry he laughed. How could someone be so self-righteous when they were turning black into white?

"Okay, go ahead! Go now!"

Zhou Ye looked at Zhao Cuihua with a smile, as if she had told some huge joke.

The village chief stormed over, furious: "What exactly do you want? Do you really not want the villagers to have a good life?"

"Hmph, you're bullying me, and I can't even fight back?"

Village chief: "You..."

Zhao Cuihua felt she had found a way out. She found a big rock, stood up and shouted, "Where in this world can you find such a good person? Zhou Zhiqing is a little girl of about ten years old, and she is an educated youth sent to the countryside."

I don't believe there's nothing fishy about how they managed to get so much grain for us, and even grain seeds for the whole village!

I need to eat, and I need to eat my fill!

Zhou Zhiqing, let me tell you, if you don't let us eat, I'll make you suffer!

Then you can go to prison.

At the very least, I'll send you to a lumberyard for labor reform! Humph!

The members of Zhao Cuihua's family looked at each other, knowing that at this moment, they should naturally stand on the side of their own family.

So they went forward to surround Zhou Ye.

Village chief Xie Youfu and Wang Guihua immediately protected Zhou Ye.

"What do you want to do? Zhao Cuihua, let me tell you, don't do anything reckless!"

Wang Guihua wasn't so polite: "I think you're the ungrateful one. I've given you food and drink!"

We'll give you hope for next year!

Is this how you repay someone? Shameless! I'd be ashamed to live in your village!

Seeing her family standing behind her, Zhao Cuihua became even more arrogant: "So what? I want to eat, and it's not okay if you don't let us eat!"

Then he looked at Zhou Ye with a mocking expression, sizing her up and down: "Little girl, don't be too arrogant. I just knelt down and begged you, but you still wouldn't give in!"

Where do you think you are?

This is Hongqi Village!

Did you know?

Zhou Ye seemed not to hear her threat, and stood up to ask softly, "So what do you want?"

"What? Give me the grain! Give me the rice too!"

Zhao Cuihua glared at Zhou Ye as if she wanted to devour him.

"Oh……"

Village chief Xie Youfu angrily pointed at Zhao Cuihua's family: "Your family is simply going too far!"

Guards, get them out of here!

If I said no food today, then you're not allowed to eat a single bite!

"good!"

"Fine, get out of here!"

"Get out! Don't disturb our meal!"

"go out!"

"Walk!"

Zhao Cuihua's family wasn't going to be jealous, and just when it looked like a brawl was about to break out, Su Da suddenly appeared.

Holding a machete, he appeared behind Zhou Ye.

"Who's going to make a move?"

The appearance of Soochow University stunned everyone.

Who are you?

Who is this?

"I don't know, I've never seen it before!"

Village chief Xie Youfu looked at Zhou Ye with a puzzled expression, and Zhou Ye gestured for Su Da to explain himself.

Su Da said expressionlessly, "I am Su Yunzhou's friend. He has some business to attend to in Beijing, so I am staying in his room temporarily!"

Su, the educated youth, instructed that Zhou's safety be protected if necessary!

Upon hearing this, Zhao Cuihua and her family's faces immediately turned grim. They didn't know Su Da, but they knew all too well who Su Yunzhou was.

I heard he's a junior member of a high-ranking official's family in Beijing, and he's come to Hongqi Village to recuperate. He's always surrounded by people I've never seen before.

It's just that everyone knows it but doesn't say it.

This so-called friend might be a bodyguard or a thug!

There have been cases in the past where people were ungrateful and offended Su Yunzhou, only to have their entire families disappear the next day.

They said they went to stay with relatives, but who doesn't know the truth?

Such coincidences happen everywhere.

Therefore, from then on, everyone was very wary of Su Yunzhou and generally didn't dare to get close to him unless necessary.

Su Yunzhou provided a great deal of assistance during this flood...

Zhao Cuihua stammered, "I...we just had a misunderstanding, it's nothing serious."

Her family members even took a few steps back, distancing themselves from Zhao Cuihua.

"It has nothing to do with us..."

Zhou Ye slowly stood up. Although he was not afraid, he had not yet mastered self-defense techniques. Just as Su Da said, he had a strong learning ability, but his foundation was not solid, so he needed to practice for a period of time.

Are you still eating?

Zhao Cuihua shook her head decisively: "I'm not eating... I'm not eating... I'm not hungry yet!"

When her child heard that there was no food, he cried loudly, "No, Mom, I want to eat!"

I'm hungry!

"Waaah... Mom, he's all alone, what are you afraid of? Kill him! I want to eat!"

Zhao Cuihua glanced at Su Da and slapped him across the face: "What are you eating?"

Our family offended the educated youth, and they won't let us eat.

Not only can't I eat it, but you can't eat it either, and neither can your younger siblings! Aren't I hungry?

Don't I feel sorry for you?

You are my children!

"Waaah..."

The child glared at Zhou Ye with malice, wishing he could tear her apart on the spot.

Zhou Ye looked at the child calmly. The child was only seven or eight years old, but he understood everything.

"Children, you are actually innocent, especially you children. I feel sorry for you very much."

But there's nothing I can do, your mom made me angry!

There was supposed to be some food for you in this pot, but your mother bullied you with cold words. If it were you, would you share your food with the person who insulted you?

The little boy's face immediately changed. He turned to look at Zhao Cuihua and after a long while said viciously, "Mom, so it was you who offended them that caused you to go hungry! You're the one who deserves to die!"

"Son, what did you say?" Zhao Cuihua couldn't believe that her son had spoken so harshly to her over just one meal.

"I said, why don't you just die? If it weren't for you, I would have been full long ago! I feel disgusted to have you as my mother!"

"You should just go die!"

Zhao Cuihua stared at her son, mouth agape, in disbelief…

She watched helplessly as her son led her younger siblings away. She tried to stop him, but he violently pushed her away...

Is my son resenting me?

"Waaaaah... Waaaaah... Zhou Zhiqing, you've really ruined me!"

Zhao Cuihua was so upset that she burst into tears!

"Get out of here! Take your people and get out of here!" Village chief Xie Youfu chased Zhao Cuihua's family and Wang Haiying's family away!

Su Da said apologetically, "I'm sorry I'm late!"

"It's alright. Now that you've shown your face, come eat here from now on!"

"yes!"

Suzhou University did not refuse, after all, it would be more convenient this way!

Zhou turned around and went back to the educated youth settlement. Huang Ying and the others sat at the kitchen door, worrying about what to eat.

"Hey...did I misunderstand Zhou Ye's meaning? Was she going to give us special tutoring?"

Huang Ying began to doubt herself.

"No way?"

"Sigh...who knows? If we don't want to eat, we don't have to. Two meals won't kill us."

"hehe……"

Laughter came from outside the door!

Everyone turned around and saw that it was Zhou Ye. Huang Ying almost pounced on him.

"Zhou Ye, you're finally back."

"Wait for me, weren't you prepared to go hungry?"

Zhou also joked.

Huang Ying chuckled, "Hehe, of course I'll be waiting for you!"

Zhou knew everyone was hungry, so he didn't tease them anymore and said directly, "You guys wait here, I'll go to the backyard to get some ingredients."

"Okay, I'll help you!"

Huang Ying and Chen Lan followed Zhou Ye to the backyard, but they were mindful of boundaries and simply waited at the door without going in.

Bai Xue was cooking inside the house; it was almost done.

Seeing Zhou Ye come in, she said, "Sister Zhou, why are you only just getting back? Let's eat."

"Bai Xue, Huang Ying and the others helped me just now. Shall we go to the front yard and have dinner with them?"

"Huh? Together? How did they help you?"

This is what Bai Xue is more curious about.

Zhou recounted what had just happened, and Bai Xue's eyes widened in anger: "What? Zhao Cuihua is actually this kind of person?"

I always thought she wasn't a good person, but I never imagined she was this wicked! If I were here, I'd definitely give her a good beating.

As he spoke, he raised his fist.

Zhou said with a laugh, "Alright, let's go to the front yard!"

"Okay, I just finished making my steamed buns, so you don't need to make any other staple food! They helped you, which is a help to me!"

As he spoke, he took an extra head of cabbage and two sausages.

Many hands make light work, and in no time everyone had prepared two dishes together: a cabbage stew with glass noodles and some minced meat!

Although the quantity is not large, it is because the meat is fatty and very oily!

The soup is bubbling with oil; it looks so delicious it makes my mouth water!

The other dish is stir-fried potatoes, eggplant, and Chinese sausage!

Both dishes came in two huge bowls!

The staple food is made by mixing cornmeal and wheat flour and steaming it. It looks golden in color, but it tastes even more dense and soft!

"Stop looking, everyone hurry up and eat!"

Huang Ying and the others swallowed hard, unable to bear it any longer!

He picked up a steamed bun, added a bite of vegetables, and began to wolf it down!

"Wow...this is so delicious! It tastes amazing, I never knew I was such a good cook!"

"Waaah... It's so delicious! I want two big steamed buns!"

"Xiao Ye, we're all so lucky to have you! You're so kind, I love you so much!"

Everyone was talking at once, and Zhou Ye didn't seem to find it annoying at all.

After finishing their meal, it was already past 2 p.m. Huang Ying and the others didn't have time to rest before getting to work in the fields.

The crops are growing in the fields right now, so we can't waste a single moment.

After dinner, Zhou went to the back kitchen and made a separate steamed egg custard with a little salt, chopped green onions, and soy sauce.

The taste is absolutely amazing.

Moreover, I use five eggs at a time!

Wang Guihua would definitely be willing to nourish her son's body, but five eggs are definitely out of the question!

Carrying a full bowl of steamed egg custard, I headed towards the village chief's house.

Nowadays, the people sitting idly on the road are all elderly people who are unable to work. They look at Zhou Ye with curiosity and strangeness all the way.

"Zhou Zhiqing, are you going to the village chief's house?"

"Yes, ma'am!"

"Zhou Zhiqing, is Jianshe's injury any better?"

“Zhou Zhiqing, don’t be upset about Jianshe’s injury. That kid is in great shape.”

"Yeah, that kid's got great health!"

"Marry that guy, and you'll be living the good life!"

"yes……"

Zhou Ye pursed her lips and quickly left!

Who said the people are so kind and honest? We're about to drive off! Luckily I walked fast, otherwise…

Maybe we'll hear something.

"Oh, Xiao Ye, what brings you here?" Wang Guihua was about to go to the fields. She had just fed her son and didn't have anything else to do for a while.

"I'm delivering something to Brother Jianshe. Auntie, have you eaten yet?"

One sentence made Wang Guihua extremely happy.

"Oh, he just ate! His aunt made him egg noodle soup, and the boy ate two bowls. He has a good appetite!"

hehe……

What did you bring as a gift?

Wang Guihua asked curiously.

Zhou Ye opened the basket, and Wang Guihua looked inside, shocked!

Good heavens, what good fortune this brat has! There must be at least three or four eggs in this big bowl.

No, given Xiao Ye's generous nature, there should be at least five!

Oh my god!

I would never dare to do that myself, eating five eggs in one meal! Just thinking about what would happen if my son ate like that makes me panic.

The smaller it looks, the more I like it!

"Alright, then you can take it to that kid! Auntie's going to the fields now!"

"OK!"

Zhou also answered obediently.

When they arrived at Xie Jianshe's room, there was no sound from inside, and the door was ajar, not closed properly.

I went in without knocking.

However, this made Zhou regret it terribly!

When the door was opened, Xie Jianshe inside was startled!

Because it was too hot, he leaned back to cool himself off for a while, not expecting Zhou to suddenly appear.

Importantly, Xie Jianshe was not only shirtless, but he was also wearing an undershirt with his pants on.

In the 21st century, this is nothing special; it's actually quite robust.

but……

This era is far too blatant!

Zhou Ye's ears turned red instantly. She wasn't some naive girl who hadn't experienced anything; she could clearly see that huge lump!

"I'm sorry, I...I..."

Xie Jianshe hurriedly pulled the blanket over himself, stammering as he spoke…

Zhou Ye quickly turned her head away, avoiding Xie Jianshe's gaze, and only turned back after Xie Jianshe had finished speaking.

"Sorry, I didn't notice when I logged off!"

Zhou also felt a little guilty, since it was clearly him who hadn't knocked on the door, but Xie Jianshe was the one apologizing.

"It's not your fault, it's my fault for not knocking. I'll be more careful next time."

As Zhou spoke, he took a bowl of steamed egg custard out of the basket.

"Well... I need to avoid making this for a while, so... it's a bit late! Are you still able to eat?"

Xie Jianshe was deeply moved upon seeing this: "Of course! Thank you so much for going to all this trouble for me!"

The two exchanged polite words, and Xie Jianshe picked up his bowl and finished eating without the slightest hesitation!

"It's really delicious! Thank you..."

Zhou Ye smiled and said, "I'll send some food over when I have time in the future, but I'll let you know in advance next time!"

Xie Jianshe leaned against the wall, looking at Zhou Ye with a faint smile. He wished time would slow down, even slower!

However, things didn't go as planned. Less than half an hour later, while Zhou was talking to Xie Jianshe, Su Da arrived in a hurry.

"Comrade Zhou, I have something urgent to attend to."

"What's wrong?" Zhou Ye hurriedly went out, but didn't see that when Su Da turned around, he gave Xie Jianshe a meaningful look.

That glance carried a warning... and perhaps something else as well!

"Comrade Zhou, the gentleman is calling! He's in the village office!"

“Okay!” Zhou didn’t hesitate at all, and even took the basket with him to carry the food.

Xie Jianshe watched Zhou Ye's resolute departing figure.

Su Yunzhou...

Disappointment flashed in his eyes, and he gave a bitter smile. What was his status, and what was Zhou Ye's status? How could they possibly be interested in him?

They take care of you and cook for you simply because you've helped others.

Xie Jianshe, don't have high expectations, then you won't be too disappointed!

Just enjoy it!

"Ring ring..."

"Hello?"

Hello, Xiao Ye!

Su Yunzhou greeted them playfully from the other side, but her voice was a little hoarse!

"What's wrong? Are you hurt? Or are you sick?"

Zhou Ye immediately sensed something was wrong!

Su Yunzhou chuckled softly, "Xiao Ye is always so smart. However, I'm not injured, just too tired!"

It's okay, things at home are a bit complicated.

We'll be back soon!

"How are things on your end?" Su Yunzhou asked after a moment's hesitation.

Zhou didn't notice anything amiss and quickly replied, "I'm fine, you don't need to worry about this."

Soochow University is very reliable!

With Su Da here, I won't get hurt!

"Really?" Su Yunzhou's voice was even lower, clearly indicating that he was a little unhappy.

Zhou also felt somewhat puzzled.

"Does Xiao miss me even a little bit?"

Zhou was even more confused. He did have feelings for Su Yunzhou, but it didn't feel like it had reached this point of intense thought. Just as he was about to tell the truth, he heard someone say, "Is Su Da more important than me?"

Zhou Ye exclaimed "Ah!"

"hehe……"

Laughter came from the other end.

"I'm just kidding. Tell Su Da to protect you well. If anything happens to you, he doesn't need to come see me!"

Zhou glanced at Su Da and suddenly felt that Su Da was quite pitiful.

Su Da touched his nose, feeling a strange chill on his back.

Zhou fell silent. He wasn't good at communicating to begin with, and now he didn't know what to say.

It seems that if two people are together, they should say some caring words.

So Zhou gritted his teeth and said haltingly, "Su Yunzhou, you need to take good care of yourself over there."

Don't get hurt, and don't overwork yourself!

You need to get more sleep; your body... needs to rest and recuperate!

"Hehe... Great, our little Ye is showing concern for others now!"

Just as Zhou was at a loss for words, Su Yunzhou suddenly asked, "If you really care about me, then why take care of others?"

"What?" Zhou Ye's heart skipped a beat, and he looked sharply at Su Da. He was not only protecting him, but also monitoring him for Su Yunzhou?

Su Da lowered his head and took a few steps back!

The meaning is quite clear! It was him who reported it.

Zhou Ye suddenly sneered: "Su Yunzhou, is this fun? You said you wanted Su Da to protect me, but actually you were spying on me, right?"

Do you know everything I did, everything that happened to me?

Then why are you even asking?

Are you here to laugh at me?

After a long while... there was no reply!

Zhou Ye was furious: "Su Yunzhou, speak up!"

"Why……"

It sounded like a sigh as Su Yunzhou slowly spoke: "Xiao Ye, I was doing this to protect you!"

You know I love you!

I also crave special treatment. You went to take care of Xie Jianshe, but did you even consider my feelings?

He did it to save me!

Zhou Ye said, word by word, that she hated this feeling, the feeling of being manipulated and controlled.

It seems like an inescapable cage!

"So what? He's just a country bumpkin, but you're different! You'll be the mistress of the Su family in the future, destined to be more noble than him!"

Zhou Ye suddenly remembered something and abruptly interrupted Su Yunzhou, asking, "Didn't you say before that the Xie family are your distant relatives? Where is the distinction between noble and lowly?"