Chapter 42: Fortune Lies in Peril
In the boundless fields, the ripe corn gleamed with an oily yellow hue. The commune members, wearing straw hats, hunched over, each responsible for two rows. They broke off the corn and threw it on the ground in a pile. People carrying baskets and sacks picked it up, packed it up, and carried it to the flatbed carts and oxcarts at the edge of the field.
Everyone worked together well, in a well-organized manner. The village loudspeaker blared out encouraging songs, which was a rare occurrence, and the village girls, who were good at singing, sang while they worked.
This inspired the hardworking villagers, filling them with renewed energy. Even the usually mischievous children joined in, carrying cloth bags and picking up corn kernels in the fields.
Looking around, everything is peaceful and serene.
While busy keeping score, Shen Yuzhu would also help out by the flatbed cart, handing a mug of water to the commune members who were tired and had put down their sacks and baskets to take a short break.
"Why does this water taste so sweet today, and it even has a bit of a herbal aroma? How did you make it?"
"You didn't know? Hehehe... Shen, the educated youth, was worried that we would get heatstroke while working, so he added herbs to it. It's a good thing for clearing heat and relieving summer heat. How is it? Isn't it pretty good?"
"Not bad, it's refreshingly cool, did you add some mint?"
"You have to be an old hand to tell the difference; you can tell just by tasting it."
"A kind and thoughtful girl came to our production team. I have to say, she's got more energy for work now, hehehe..."
........
Shen Yuzhu accepted everyone's praise without hesitation. Seeing Ma Daya carrying a sack of corn, she quickly went over and helped her. The two of them struggled to throw the sack onto the flatbed cart, grabbed the bottom and pulled upwards, and the corn inside the sack fell into the flatbed cart.
"Take a break, Sister Ma, have some water, it'll cool you down!"
"Oh, thank you, Educated Youth Shen."
The two women exchanged a glance. Ma Daya took a sip and immediately recognized it as the same drink she had had in her sister's courtyard. The girl had taken care of everyone to make her feel more relaxed, and Ma Daya was deeply moved.
While Shen Yuzhu was drinking water, she turned her head and looked to both sides. Lu Jianshe, who was working not far away, shook his head slightly at her. Zhou Li and Li Wang on the other side did the same.
When Ma Daya told her about Lai Pitou and Zhang Li's conspiracy, she sought out Lü Jianshe, Zhou Li, and Li Wang. She had gone to great lengths to save them, and since they owed her a debt of gratitude, she was obliged to use their help when the time came.
Especially since Lü Jianshe is the team leader's son, no one would say anything even if he slacked off and wandered around the fields because of that status. He's always been like that anyway. The team leader must be incredibly grateful that he was able to get off work this time.
"Shen Zhiqing, Shen Zhiqing, there's a package for you at the brigade headquarters. After work, I'll have Jianshe and Zhou Li carry it back for you!"
Shen Yuzhu had just handed a cup of water to a commune member when she heard Captain Lü call her name. She turned her head and glanced at Lü Guangzhi, whose expression was complicated, and her heart suddenly started pounding.
The fact that the word "lift" was used to describe a package shows just how big it was.
She suddenly remembered the two huge packages that Chu Lian and Zhou Congsheng had packed for her.
Shen Yuzhu: "!!!"
"........"
No, please don't, thank you!!!
After Lai Pi Tou made his promise to Zhang Li, he had a wonderful dream that very night. Not only did he marry Shen Yu Zhu, but he also lived in her courtyard, spent her money, and even had her as his mistress. After a few years, she would give birth to a child and return to the city to get him a job. He would live a life of comfort and ease. He was so happy that he laughed out loud in the middle of the night, but then he woke up from his dream.
He was so angry that he quickly went to sleep, but he couldn't continue his sweet dream.
So he got up very early this morning, but before he could even find a chance to pull Shen Yuzhu away, he heard that her fiancé, who was in the army, had arrived yesterday evening. He was from the local garrison, which scared him so much that his legs went weak on the spot.
After working in the field for a while, I hurried to Zhang Li's house.
"That man is a soldier. If I dare to mess with him, I'll be dead."
"You good-for-nothing! You said he's your fiancé, and you're not even married yet. What are you afraid of? Think about Shen Zhiqing's face, think about her money, tsk tsk tsk. Once she's yours, what are you afraid of? You shameless coward! Let me tell you, if you don't do this, I'll find someone else. You coward, you'll be a bachelor for life!"
Lai Pi Tou couldn't argue with Zhang Li and got scolded. Actually, it wasn't that he didn't want to, but he didn't know much. When he left Zhang's house, he met Lü Jianshe and Zhou Li on the road. The two of them were carrying a large package on a wooden stick as thick as an arm.
He couldn't take his eyes off it.
"Shen Zhiqing's family really dotes on her. I heard it was sent from some food processing factory. Wow, such a big package! There must be lots of good food in it!"
"Well, Shen Zhiqing is such a good girl, whoever marries her will be set for life!"
"We can't keep such a good girl in our countryside. She's from the city, and her boyfriend is a soldier. And you know what, he's quite handsome too..."
...
Lai Pi Tou felt a cold sweat break out on his back, his whole body went numb, and he lowered his head to hide his fierce eyes. Fortune favors the bold, what if?!
Meanwhile, on the other side, Shen Yuzhu was washing clothes by the river with Qiao Wangshu. Zhang Pozi, who had been persuaded by Ma Daya to come and wash clothes with a basin, rushed over in a panic when she heard the two talking.
"Chen, Chen, what did you just say?"
"Huh? Aunt Zhang, I didn't say anything!"
Granny Zhang stamped her foot anxiously and quickly said, "You just said that Old Chang, the man who comes to the countryside to collect eggs, is getting married?"
"Hey, you mean Grandpa Chang? I didn't know. Today when I passed by, an old lady asked him if he was getting married. He smiled and said he just wanted to find a companion. I even told Qiao Zhiqing that Grandpa Chang is quite fashionable. But nowadays, marriage is about mutual consent. It's understandable that he wants to find a companion when he gets older."
"That's right. Back in Beijing, there are many old men and women who live together, but none of them are as formal as Uncle Chang. He's talking about marrying a life partner."
"Grandpa Chang is a good grandpa."
.........
Granny Zhang was stunned, as if struck by lightning. After a long while, her face turned as pale as a ghost.
My mind was filled with the conversation between the two of them in the grove last night. "Good, good, Old Chang, I just told him I was going to propose to her, and now he wants to marry a widow from the same village. That old geezer, why is he in such a hurry? He just told me to wait a bit."
The old lady was extremely anxious. She stopped washing her clothes, turned around, staggered towards the shore, and started running home with her small feet.
"Why did you make me say those things, especially to Granny Zhang? What's wrong? Did she get upset that Uncle Chang married the old lady? Is she secretly in love with Uncle Chang?"
Shen Yuzhu: "!!!"
"......."
It's true what they say about women's intuition being incredibly accurate; she was actually half right!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
