Having lived in the capital for so many years, Xie Yan had come to understand that the situation among those who were sent down was far more complicated than it seemed; many of them were not simply victims of injustice.
Among them are some politicians whose minds are as unfathomable as whirlpools in the deep sea.
Xie Yan didn't think he had the ability to deal with these people.
He didn't want to be tricked by these people without realizing it, ending up being sold out and foolishly helping them count the money—that would be too humiliating.
The safest approach is to keep your distance and go your separate ways.
After Yu Yuehua finished eating, the two said goodbye to their families and headed towards the commune.
At this time, although the winter sun was bright, it was not very warm, and the cold wind cut like a knife on the face.
Along the way, the two tightened their cotton-padded coats and quickened their pace.
When we arrived at the commune, it was still early.
Xie Yan found a relatively sheltered spot where he could get some sun and sat down. Looking at the open space around him, he smiled and said to Yuehua, "Brother, why didn't we come in an oxcart this time?"
Yu Yuehua glanced at him and said indifferently, "Don't you even know who we're here to pick up?"
Xie Yan paused for a moment, then suddenly realized: "I understand!"
The winter sun shone into the commune's courtyard, blocked by the walls so no wind could blow in, and it was quite warm.
At that moment, Xie Yan directly empathized with those elderly people who love to bask in the sun. Let me tell you, the warm winter sun really feels so comfortable!
Especially when they're posting pictures and gossiping at the same time.
Despite being a grown man, Yu Yuehua knows quite a bit of gossip.
Xie Yan listened with great interest.
Xie Yan couldn't resist any longer, and his hand unconsciously reached into his pocket.
He rummaged through his pockets and finally found a few sunflower seeds, though he couldn't remember when he had casually put them in there.
A hint of joy appeared on his face, as if he had discovered some precious treasure, and he couldn't wait to share a few with Yu Yuehua.
The two stood there, cracking sunflower seeds and huddling together, sharing shocking gossip that no one else could hear.
Even though I was mentally prepared before the banquet, I still couldn't help but widen my eyes and forcefully suppress the gasp that was about to come out when I heard some gossip.
However, it still occasionally makes some inappropriate noises, but fortunately the volume is controlled so that no one can hear it.
But he ate the sunflower seeds more and more slowly, and time slipped away quietly as the two gossiped.
Not long after, the commune cadres led a few ragged people slowly in.
The clothes of these people were tattered and patched upon patched, with some even showing their toes, which were red and swollen in the cold wind. Some of them also had injuries on their bodies.
Their hair was also in a terrible mess, with much of it tangled and knotted together. The two women in particular looked especially miserable, with strands of dry, yellow, and rough hair sticking haphazardly to their faces, and their faces were covered in so much unblemished flesh.
Xie Yan frowned slightly as he watched. He was the kind of person who lacked ability but couldn't bear to see people suffer. Seeing such a scene, he instinctively wanted to help them.
But these people don't believe in helping!
He quickly looked away, afraid that if he looked any longer he would soften his heart.
Fortunately, there weren't many people, only about a dozen.
Upon seeing these people, Xie Yan, Yu Yuehua, and people from several nearby villages went up to them.
Some of these people are like Xie Yan and Yu Yuehua, some are family members or nephews of the brigade leader, and some are ordinary villagers.
Seeing that everyone had gathered around, the commune cadres didn't waste any time. They simply pulled a crumpled list out of their pockets, cleared their throats, and began to read it aloud.
“Dahe Village.” As soon as the words were spoken, a very handsome man stepped forward. He was tall and straight, with fair skin and a scholarly air about him.
Beside him was a slightly shorter man, whose appearance was, well, rather indescribable.
It wasn't that she was disgustingly ugly, but standing next to a handsome man, she stood out in comparison.
The commune cadre approached a man and a woman inside, who appeared to be a married couple, and said, "You're from your village."
The two men went forward to collect the signatures.
Yu Yuehua turned slightly to the side, lowered her voice, and said to Xie Yan like a gossipy old man, "These two are the two sons of the village chief of Dahe Village. The good-looking one is the older brother, and the ugly one is his younger brother."
Xie Yan couldn't help but raise an eyebrow; the two brothers looked so different!
All the good genes and romantic relationships were monopolized by the older brother.
Yu Yuehua seemed to see through Xie Yan's thoughts and whispered, "The good-looking one looks like his mother, and the short one looks like his father!"
Upon hearing this, Xie Yan's eyes widened, and a sense of sympathy welled up in his heart.
To be honest, he felt a little sorry for his brother. How ugly must his father be? Even with his mother's good genes, he couldn't save his brother!
Look what they've done to him! This brother has lived his whole life in comparison to his older brother. How inferior he must feel!
However, Xie Yan was wrong this time.
Although this guy wasn't good-looking, because he had a father who was a brigade leader and was a boy, his family doted on him. Nobody thought there was anything wrong with him being ugly, so he never felt inferior because of it.
Just as Yu Yuehua was explaining the situation of the surrounding villages to Xie Yan, the people around them were also discussing them in hushed tones.
Some people who knew the inside story dug up Xie Yan's identity completely.
When everyone learned that Xie Yan was the educated youth who had married Yu Yuehui, that "she-devil," they all immediately cast sympathetic glances at him.
Their imaginations were instantly ignited, and they quickly conjured up a tragic drama in their minds about village officials coercing and enticing weak male educated youth.
After imagining it all, the pity in her eyes when she looked at Xie Yan was almost overflowing, as if Xie Yan was the pitiful person who had suffered all kinds of grievances.
Xie Yan's village was located quite far down the list, and while waiting, Xie Yan suddenly felt the urge to urinate.
After asking Yu Yuehua for directions to the restroom, he hurriedly headed in that direction.
The toilet was a simple mud-brick house, surrounded by piles of miscellaneous items.
Xie Yan finished quickly and rushed outside, but unexpectedly ran into a few other people there.
They looked Xie Yan up and down, and one of them spoke up: "Hey, you're Xie Yan?"
The sudden sound seemed particularly abrupt in the quiet corner, startling Xie Yan.
He looked around uncertainly, and after confirming that there was no one else named Xie Yan nearby, he nodded and asked in confusion, "Yes! What's wrong?"
Looking at Xie Yan's fair and clean appearance, and not at all like someone who had suffered a lot, someone wanted to persuade the person next to him. Before he could say anything, someone quickly said, "If you are treated unfairly, remember to go to the commune or to us. We will help you."
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