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◎The Tenth Day of the King of Scrolls◎
Jiang Wanzhou shook her head helplessly and said, "Xia, the educated youth, keeps saying that our village doesn't treat you educated youth as one of its own, but you can go and ask other villages yourselves."
“You did far less work in the fields than they did, and our village officials and scorekeepers didn’t hold you back on work points.”
“You all have to work today too. Cleaning the pigsty also counts as work points. Why do you think I’m targeting you?”
Xia Meilin, hands on her hips, said, "You're targeting us educated youth!"
“You may dislike me, but I don’t, okay? If I don’t dislike you, how could I dislike the other educated youth? If I don’t dislike them, then where does this talk of targeting come from?” Jiang Wanzhou said, enunciating each word clearly.
Su Xiaomei's eyes darted around, and she pretended to be concerned, saying, "Sister Jiang, we didn't mean to criticize you, but we just think it's a bit too coincidental that you helped deliver the sow this time. You're a young girl, how could you possibly help deliver a sow? Did you know beforehand that the sow was going to have a difficult birth and were just showing off?"
Jiang Wanzhou felt a surge of anger; she hadn't expected Su Xiaomei to make such malicious assumptions about her.
"Is this Su, the educated youth? Su should learn more from Xia, and stop thinking such dark thoughts."
"Also, my mother didn't give birth to a younger sister for me, so please call me Comrade Jiang."
She took a deep breath.
Aunt Li came over and said angrily, "Su Zhiqing, don't talk nonsense! Wanzhou is a good girl. She helped the sow give birth out of pure good intentions, and she didn't have any of the ulterior motives you're talking about. If you keep spouting nonsense, I won't let you off the hook."
Su Xiaomei's face turned red and white as Aunt Li rebuked her. She lowered her head and dared not say another word.
Seeing this, Xia Meilin wanted to argue a few more words, but seeing the stern look Jiang Weiguo gave her, she had no choice but to shut her mouth.
At this moment, Zhou Qingyu came down from the hillside to help, and Shen Jiahao followed behind, covering his nose, somewhat disapproving.
Zhou Qingyu strode to the middle of the crowd, his gaze sweeping over several people.
Jiang Wanzhou looked away; she didn't have a good impression of this group of educated youth.
If another person comes to help, she will speak up regardless of the situation, as long as it's based on the issue, not the person.
"Stop arguing, clean up the pigsty. How many points does the captain get for this?"
Zhou Qingyu's voice was steady and powerful, carrying an unquestionable authority.
The tense atmosphere instantly quieted down.
Shen Jiahao, still covering his nose and frowning, muttered, "This pigsty is filthy and smelly. Why did you take it over? It's normal for some people not to want to."
Jiang Wanzhou patiently explained, "Only when the pigsty is clean can bacteria and viruses be reduced, so that the pigs can live comfortably, grow healthily, and grow meat quickly."
Shen Jiahao curled his lip in disapproval.
What knowledge could a village girl possibly have? She even talked about bacteria and viruses.
Xia Meilin crossed her arms: "What difference does it make whether we eat a few more pieces of meat or a few less? It's better for us to go back to school and study more so we can return to the city later than cleaning here."
The moment those words were spoken, the atmosphere became somewhat awkward again.
Xia Meilin and Su Xiaomei exchanged glances, and Xia Meilin saw the disapproval in Su Xiaomei's eyes.
Su Xiaomei said seriously, "Although it is everyone's wish for Comrade Xia to return to the city, we must also do our current work well, contribute to the construction of the countryside and the village. This is also our responsibility as educated youth."
Xia Meilin looked at Su Xiaomei approvingly: "Comrade Su is right."
Zhou Qingyu had already carried the dilapidated and heavy things from the pigsty out.
Noticing their gazes, Shen Jiahao quickly said, "Then make more."
He saw that the two of them still hadn't moved.
"Get moving! So you're just all talk?"
Shen Jiahao was a little confused and scratched his head.
Zhou Qingyu glanced back but remained silent.
When Jiang Weiguo saw Zhou Qingyu arrive, he knew things would go smoothly, and gestured to Aunt Li and Jiang Wanzhou to start cleaning.
Jiang Wanzhou skillfully picked up a broom and shovel and cleared the debris together.
Xia Meilin and Su Xiaomei did it somewhat reluctantly.
Shen Jiahao bumped into Zhou Qingyu and whispered, "Brother Yu, did you hear me? Study, go back to the city."
Zhou Qingyu glanced back at him, and Shen Jiahao immediately fell silent.
Zhou Qingyu ignored Shen Jiahao's mutterings and continued to focus on moving the heavy junk in the pigsty.
He was tall and straight, and his movements were nimble.
Seeing that Zhou Qingyu ignored him, Shen Jiahao shrugged helplessly and had no choice but to slowly start working as well.
As he carried the things, he kept stealing glances at Xia Meilin and Su Xiaomei, wondering what they were up to. Just moments ago, they had been arguing fiercely with Jiang Wanzhou, but now they suddenly seemed so righteous and ready to contribute to the village.
Jiang Wanzhou was engrossed in cleaning the grime in the corner of the pigsty when she suddenly heard Xia Meilin say in a sarcastic tone, "Oh, Comrade Jiang is quite efficient at work, it's like he was born for this job."
Jiang Wanzhou stopped what she was doing, straightened up, gave Xia Meilin a cold look, and said, "Xia, you don't mind the environment here anymore?"
Xia Meilin immediately covered her mouth.
Jiang Wanzhou glanced around.
While complaining about the stench, Shen Jiahao dawdled as he pushed the cart to receive the things Zhou Qingyu had brought back.
Jiang Wanzhou was about to focus again when she heard footsteps behind her.
Xia Meilin deliberately moved closer to Jiang Wanzhou, and when Jiang Wanzhou wasn't paying attention, she tried to smear a handful of pig manure on her trouser leg.
Jiang Wanzhou deliberately moved to the right.
Xia Meilin crouched down furtively, but her body slipped and she fell into the path in front of her...
She sensed something was wrong with her clothes and immediately flew into a rage.
"Jiang Wanzhou, what are you doing!" Xia Meilin glared at her angrily.
Jiang Wanzhou blinked, looking innocent and surprised, and said, "Xia Zhiqing, what happened to you? How did you fall into that filthy thing?"
Xia Meilin was trembling with anger. She pointed at Jiang Wanzhou's nose and yelled, "You're still pretending! You clearly dodged on purpose!"
Jiang Wanzhou waved her hand with a wronged expression: "Xia Zhiqing, you can't wrong me. I've been working hard here the whole time. I didn't have time to trip you. Besides, I'm a distance away from you, and my back is to you."
People around who heard the noise turned to look at them with curiosity.
Shen Jiahao also stopped what he was doing and watched the scene with great interest, adding fuel to the fire: "So Comrade Jiang's eyes are in the back of his head."
Xia Meilin was both ashamed and angry, tears welling up in her eyes: "You...you're all in cahoots, deliberately trying to make a fool of me!"
At this moment, Zhou Qingyu walked over, his brows furrowed slightly. He glanced at Jiang Wanzhou and Xia Meilin, and asked in a deep voice, "What's going on?"
Xia Meilin seemed to have found her pillar of support and rushed to Zhou Qingyu's side, while Zhou Qingyu quickly stepped back to keep her distance.
As if oblivious, she said in a tearful voice, "Brother Zhou, Jiang Wanzhou deliberately tripped me."
Zhou Qingyu looked at Jiang Wanzhou, his eyes questioning. Jiang Wanzhou met his gaze calmly and said unhurriedly, "Zhou Qingqing, I didn't trip her."
At this moment, Aunt Li saw this scene and immediately rushed over, pointing her finger at Xia Meilin's nose and scolding, "Xia, you've gone too far! I saw you about to do something bad. You did such a despicable thing, and you still talk about black and white."
Jiang Wanzhou added from the side: "Turning black into white."
“Yes! Black is upside down, white is upside down!” Aunt Li spat.
Xia Meilin's face flushed red from Aunt Li's scolding, and she was about to retort.
Jiang Weiguo walked over and said sternly, "Xia, your behavior today has seriously disrupted the work order. If you continue to act recklessly like this, I will report your situation to the commune."
Zhou Qingyu remained silent for a moment, then looked at Xia Meilin's disheveled appearance and made a general judgment in his mind.
He turned to Xia Meilin and said, "Xia, everyone is busy working now, so stop making a scene. Go clean yourself up and come back to work."
Xia Meilin was shocked that Zhou Qingyu would side with Jiang Wanzhou so much. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she said, "Brother Zhou, how can you not believe me?"
Zhou Qingyu stopped talking and silently got back to work.
Shen Jiahao didn't dare to watch the excitement and buried himself in his work.
Xia Meilin bit her lip, tears welling up in her eyes. She glared fiercely at Jiang Wanzhou, then turned and ran away.
Su Xiaomei glanced longingly at Xia Meilin, but the latter didn't seem to remember her.
Shen Jiahao moved closer to Jiang Wanzhou, gave her a thumbs up and said, "Comrade Jiang, you're amazing! Xia Meilin is usually so arrogant and domineering, but she's finally met her match today."
Jiang Wanzhou managed a forced, bewildered smile.
She didn't think it was a compliment.
Zhou Qingyu rolled her eyes at him: "You talk too much, why don't you get to work?"
Shen Jiahao chuckled and went to push his car again.
Zhou Qingyu gave Jiang Wanzhou a deep look, said nothing, and turned back to continue moving the miscellaneous items.
Jiang Wanzhou felt inexplicably uneasy under his gaze.
She scolded herself, "What are you feeling guilty about? Next time, glare back at me."
Jiang Wanzhou lowered her head and continued cleaning the pigsty.
After all that commotion, everyone got back to their busy work.
When Xia Meilin returned, although she still looked unwilling, she didn't dare to cause any more trouble. She just glared at Jiang Wanzhou from time to time while working.
As time passed, the pigsty gradually became clean and tidy thanks to everyone's efforts.
Jiang Wanzhou wiped the sweat from her forehead and looked at the fruits of her labor; it was almost noon.
Oh no, she didn't buy anything, and Shen Xinglian still needs to eat.
While she was still struggling with her decision, only Zhou Qingyu remained.
Zhou Qingyu walked past her: "Xia Meilin won't give up so easily. Going against her will only make things difficult for her."
Jiang Wanzhou shouted at his retreating figure, "And then what? She's a rich young lady, so we country girls are just supposed to swallow our anger?"
Zhou Qingyu didn't say a word or turn around.
As dusk settled, a series of steady, powerful footsteps broke the tranquility of Jiang Wanzhou's home.
Jiang Weiguo strode into Jiang Wanzhou's courtyard with great enthusiasm.
Jiang Wanzhou was talking quietly with Shen Xinglian inside the house when she heard the noise and came out to greet them.
As soon as Jiang Weiguo saw Jiang Wanzhou, a bright smile spread across his face. His smile was full of praise and satisfaction. He said loudly, "Wanzhou, you have done a great service to our village!"
[Author's Note]
Jiang Weiguo: Please check the Boss's reply.
Jiang Wanzhou: Uncle, actually I don't know how to deliver pigs...
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