Zhou's mother's voice was the loudest, "Old man, today I have to fight back, otherwise this won't end. A educated youth from out of town is bullying my daughter. Also, you need to find her a new place to live. My family can't tolerate the person who hit my daughter."

Xu Wenzhu retorted, "Why should she? It's because she's shameless."

"I didn't," Zhou Mingjiao said, tears streaming down her face, her eyes brimming with barely suppressed hatred.

"Hmph, why would you bring water to Wenze if you didn't? Don't tell me you helped him. It wasn't a special favor; it was just something I did casually. You're just trying to climb the social ladder." Xu Wenzhu saw right through her.

"I really didn't," Zhou Mingjiao said, of course, she wouldn't admit her true feelings.

"You, Xu, a former educated youth, are you from a big city? Do you think just anyone would look up to you educated youth? You earn less work points than even a half-grown child," Zhou's mother said, displeased.

"Who cares if you guys are interested? Anyway, I'll beat up anyone who dares to covet my brother Wenze," Xu Wenzhu said without backing down.

Su Wenze was almost driven to despair. "Say less to me," he said, turning to Zhou's father. "Captain, this is all our fault. This is just a small token of our appreciation. Please accept it." He took out the malted milk powder he had brought from home.

If it weren't for Uncle Xu saving my father, I would never have gotten involved in these matters.

Thinking of his father's meaning, Su Wenze felt even worse.

Xu Wenzhu was dissatisfied, but seeing Wenze glaring at her, she didn't dare to say anything more.

Zhou's father knew a bit about Su Wenze's family background, so he accepted the apology.

Zhou's mother wanted to make a fuss again, but seeing Zhou's father's disapproving look, she decided to wait until after they went to bed that night to ask him.

Seeing that it was over just like that, Shen Banxia still felt a little unsatisfied.

Since it was already dark, Zhou's second sister-in-law made some sweet potato porridge. The porridge was so thick that you could see your shadow in it. As for the vegetables, they were stir-fried until they were dark and there were some pickled vegetables.

Shen Banxia was already about half full after eating three large meat buns, so she decided to have some porridge for now.

Xu Wenzhu was furious. After a long day, all she got was this to eat. "Didn't we give you our food rations? Is this what you give us? Even pigs wouldn't eat this."

Zhou's mother was also annoyed. "Stop nagging me. Do you think anyone wants to cook for you? We're still borrowing food from the commune members. How can you expect to live a life of luxury? Is this how you treat your family, the landlords?"

"Hmph," Xu Wenzhu said, giving up under Su Wenze's disapproving gaze.

That's right, Su Wenze also stayed for dinner.

Soon, everyone finished eating.

It was Shen Banxia's first day working, and she was very tired. She boiled water, wiped herself down, and went to sleep.

Zhou Mingqian, on the other hand, dawdled and finally found his father, saying, "Dad, I don't think it's really appropriate for a grown man like me to be in the threshing ground. How about I just bundle the wheat instead?"

"What kind of wicked idea are you plotting now?" Zhou's father looked at him suspiciously; this guy wasn't exactly a diligent person.

“Look at what you’re saying, Dad. I just didn’t want to put you in a difficult position,” Zhou Mingqian said seriously.

"Really?" Zhou's father still couldn't believe it.

“I would never lie to you, no matter who I lie to,” Zhou Mingqian thought, believing that this person genuinely wanted to bundle the wheat.

As for other incidental purposes, there's no need to elaborate.

"Alright, you're of marriageable age now, it's time to make a good impression. You should go and harvest the wheat, there are enough people already bundling it."

Upon hearing this, she said, "Dad, everything should be done step by step. What if I faint again when you suddenly ask me to cut wheat?"

"You still have the nerve to bring this up? If you dare to cause me any more trouble, don't blame me for beating you up," Zhou's father thought, feeling that his eldest son was a real handful.

Zhou Mingqian chuckled, "Dad, don't worry, I'll definitely do a good job this time."

"Alright, get up early tomorrow morning, and don't let your mother come to wake you up again."

"Okay!" The tone was cheerful.

Mr. Zhou shook his head, puzzled.

I was getting ready to wash my feet and rest when, unexpectedly, my little girl came over too.

"What? You're going to bundle wheat too?"

"Also? Father, who else?" Zhou Mingjiao asked, puzzled.

Mr. Zhou said irritably, "It's all because of your older brother."

However, this wasn't about the eldest son. "You should just stay home and read some books. The sun is so strong now, aren't you afraid of getting a tan?"

He had thought about letting his youngest daughter watch over the wheat field before, but she said she wanted to study hard. He felt that there were plenty of able-bodied men in the family, so they wouldn't need another daughter.

Things become worthless when you have too much of them, like a son.

“Dad, I’m just thinking that I’m all grown up now and it’s time for me to be more sensible.”

But Zhou's father wasn't so easily fooled. Thinking of what that educated youth Xu had said, he looked at his little daughter suspiciously, "That educated youth Xu didn't really say something too harsh, did he? You really have your eye on educated youth Su?"

Zhou Mingjiao's face stiffened, but she quickly regained her composure. "Dad, how could that be? How could you not trust your own daughter and instead trust outsiders?" she said, her eyes red and filled with tears as she looked at her father.

Mr. Zhou still felt sorry for his little daughter. "Alright, stop crying. I didn't say I wouldn't agree. But daughter, that work of bundling wheat is not easy. Why don't you go to the threshing ground to watch over the wheat?"

"Dad, I can do it." If she were in a different place, how would she get close to Su Zhiqing?

The next day, when the people of Zhoujiazhuang saw Zhou Mingqian and Zhou Mingjiao appear together in the wheat field, they all stared wide-eyed and started discussing it.

"The sun has risen in the west! The brigade leader's precious daughter is working in the fields too?" someone joked.

"That's a nice thing to say, but what's the point of it?"

"Hehe, I think it's definitely because of that Su Zhiqing. Yesterday, two women fought over one man. Don't you think she's like the vixen in the play?"

"What vixen? Su Zhiqing is a man."

Some people countered, "There are male and female fox spirits too."

Shen Banxia wanted to laugh when she heard this, and nodded secretly, agreeing with what she said.

However, Su Wenze? A male fox spirit? He does seem to have some potential.

Shen Banxia listened with great interest, but Xu Wenzhu couldn't stand it and started criticizing, "Don't you people have any manners? Talking about others behind their backs."

These words stirred up a hornet's nest, after all, most gossips are from middle-aged women with a strong fighting spirit.

"You have the manners to chase after me."

"You're so polite, but people won't pay you any attention."

"You have the manners to slap someone."

"If you're so classy, ​​why are you working here?"

One person said one thing, and Xu Wenzhu couldn't win at all. She cried out, "You're bullying me!" and ran away.

The older women: ...

What did I say? Is a couple of sentences all it takes to get it over with?

Shen Banxia almost died laughing; it was the older women who could handle Xu Wenzhu.

But what's that figure doing, always crowding around and making things worse?