Chapter 82: No One Can Compare to Him
There was no hint of hostility in Lu Dongping's words, but they were not polite at all.
"It's to hone you, to wear down the conceited mentality of you city intellectuals. Life has only gotten better for a few years now, but for generations, who hasn't toiled in the fields, facing the loess and back to the sky? So what if the conditions were good or bad? That was our parents' story. What does it have to do with us? I don't know Wen Wan's family, and I don't want to. I'm attracted to her as a person. Yes, we're poor and don't have a car to pick her up, but I can. I don't have a nanny to do her laundry and cooking, but I can. If she can't work in the fields, I'll do more. I know the kind of person I'm attracted to, and I don't intend to change our circumstances just because she follows me. Besides," he said, his voice slowing, then speaking with even greater resolve, "there's still a lot of time left in this life. As long as you're not a lazy person or a fool, life will get better and better." He was speaking to Xu Qingming, but he was also speaking to himself. He wouldn't accept his fate, he wouldn't admit defeat!
Xu Qingming sneered, "No matter how eloquent you are, it's impossible for you to say no. Neither the Wen family nor the Xu family will agree to your relationship with Wen Wan. Why should our little girl, who was raised in the palm of our hands, suffer with you and endure hardships with you? She has never been short of milk powder or food since she was a child. Even when supplies were scarce, she never picked up anyone's old clothes. I don't look down on you, but what can you give her? Why should we give you the little girl we pampered and let her suffer with you?"
"Lu Dongping, people should know themselves. Whether it's family or knowledge, think about it carefully. Are you worthy of it?" These words touched Lu Dongping's heart.
Lu Dongping pursed his lips, looked down at his feet and chuckled softly, "Whether we're a good match or not is not up to you to decide. It's rare that you're telling me, so I'll make it clear all at once. Things are different now. Marriage is free. As long as we like each other, it doesn't matter if you're just my cousin or even my biological brother. What you said was in the past. You spoiled yours and I loved mine. No matter how much you love her, isn't she still sent down to our remote mountain village? After being sent down, she has to do whatever others want."
"It's only your first day here, how are you feeling? Pretty irritated, right? Think about her, your precious child, the one you all hold in your hands. She's done all the work you do, she's been in the situation you're in now. Think about how she managed to get to this point. When she arrived, the team was clearing wasteland. It was freezing cold, and her hands were covered in blisters from using a rake, so she could only pick up cold, muddy rocks. When she went up the mountain, everyone else was already working in the fields, but she was still walking. When she came down, her legs were shaking. Everyone else had left, but she couldn't get down. When she returned to the educated youth center, she still had to cook. She ate grits porridge twice a day for a month, and she was as exhausted as if a weasel had sucked her blood. At that time, where were you, the Wen family, the Xu family? Now, you're here, how can you help her? How much can you take care of her?"
After saying that, he breathed a sigh of relief. It was really tiring to talk like this. He might as well go to work.
"Now that you're here, everything that happened before is in the past. Do you think you're just here for fun and can go back in three or five days? Go ask Liu Changqing and Wang Jianmao about their family background, how long they've been here, and if they know when they can go back."
"Spend one day here. As long as I'm here, I won't let her suffer any injustice. What about you?" After saying that, he walked away.
While talking to Xu Qingming, he did not forget the important matter. Wen Wan should have fallen asleep by now, so he had to go and check on her, eavesdropping to see if she was being targeted or bullied.
Zhang Hongying was really not prepared. Several female educated youths really started to cause trouble after they had dinner and were lying in bed.
Wen Wan watched the two people walk away. Knowing that they didn't want her to hear their conversation, she didn't follow them. In the basin under the bed was the leftover boiled water she had poured out in the morning. It was now cold, so she added hot water to wash herself and got into bed.
The weather in March is not that cold anymore, and it is still very comfortable in bed.
Wen Wan rolled over in her arms and heard a soft voice: "Wen Wan, why didn't you go to work today?"
Wenwan carefully identified the voice and found it belonged to the female comrade named Zhang Yun. Her voice was as soft and weak as her own.
"I went to work, but I didn't go to the fields. I went to the weir to pick grass for the pigs."
"Can we still pull grass?" Xu Wenfang asked.
Wen Wan nodded and said, "When it's busy, we go to the fields. When it's not busy, we go to pick pig grass and hand it in to the pig farm. This is the only way to earn work points. Otherwise, if the work points are not enough at the end of the year, we will have to pay change to the team, especially since we have borrowed food rations." She bought her food rations, but of course, she would not talk about it.
"Huh? I don't have enough work points and I have to pay back the change?"
Wen Wan turned over and lay on the bed, nodding seriously: "Yes, isn't there that per capita ration at the end of the year? It's distributed based on the number of people, and everyone gets it. After receiving the ration, if you don't reach the basic work points, you have to make up for it to the team."
The room suddenly became quiet.
Wen Wan thought that was the end of the conversation for today, but Deng Hongjuan suddenly spoke up again: "Why do others have to work in the fields, but you get to pick pig grass?"
"Who are those others? Are you talking about you? You just arrived, so you must be going to the ground!"
Deng Hongjuan sneered, "Really? Why do I feel it's unfair? You're getting special treatment just because you hook up with that officer named Lu? No matter how much he treats you, you still have to go and pull grass. The female educated youth before him only had to sit in the warehouse."
Wen Wan lazily replied, "What does this have to do with you? You're really nosy. Are we familiar with each other? Aren't you tired? I'm tired and I'm going to sleep!"
Deng Hongjuan sneered, "Are you feeling guilty? You're saying everyone is the same. That's obviously unfair—"
Wen Wan pulled the quilt in annoyance, covered her ears, emptied her mind, and fell asleep in a short while.
Isn't it good to go to bed early and get up early? This female educated youth might really have some problems. She's always making noises and has so many things to do.
Lu Dongping stood outside the window for a while, listening for silence before running back home. He had things to do that evening. He had to sort out his things and also quickly take care of the matter his mother had mentioned recently.
He would let Xu Qingming know that no one could compare to how good he was to the little girl.
Anbao! Sooner or later, he will be able to shout like this.
The next day, the mountain workers still went to work. Wen Wan took a break and took advantage of the good sunshine and before she got too busy to take apart the quilt. She took the quilt cover and the cotton-padded jacket and trousers she had taken off to the Lu family.
Lu Dongping looked like he hadn't slept well. He looked at the dark mass for the first time. "Wash it? Then use hot water. It's been very cold these past two days."
Wen Wan leaned over and glanced at him: "Didn't you sleep last night?"
"I went to sleep. I had a lot of dreams all night and didn't sleep well." He was busy in the middle of the night and fell asleep as soon as he got back to bed. He felt very sound.
Wen Wan took it seriously and looked at him hesitantly: "My seventh brother, did you say something unpleasant?"
"Don't take it to heart. He's just like that. He's always been very protective of me since I was little." The kind of protection that only I can handle, no one else can. Of course, he didn't dare bully me either.
Lu Dongping smiled and said, "No, I'm an intellectual from a big city after all, how could I say anything unpleasant? I really had a dream. I dreamed of being with you--" He leaned over and whispered two words in Wen Wan's ear.
Wen Wan ran away like a frightened rabbit, her face flushed red.
Lu Dongping's laughter could be heard throughout the yard.
After laughing enough, he waved to Wen Wan: "I'm serious with you, let me tell you something."
Wen Wan hesitated and moved closer. When Lu Dongping got close to her, she turned back and warned him with her eyes wide open: "Stop talking nonsense!"
"I promise, no nonsense, this is serious business."
Okay~_~, I'll try to believe it again.
When she got closer, Lu Dongping said, "Last time I took you there, a big thing fell in."
Wen Wan's eyes widened again: "How big is it? Oh no, what is it?"
"A wild boar, out to gnaw on the wheat. I don't know when it fell in. It was still breathing when I found it, and I got it out last night."
Wen Wan was extremely nervous: "I heard that it can't be bought and sold casually. How come you are so bold?"
"So it has to be quiet. Apart from my parents, I'll only tell you. Chun'e and Donglin won't tell anyone."
"Well, then don't tell me. The fewer people who know, the better."
Lu Dongping said, "That won't work. You're my girlfriend and my future wife. I have to tell you no matter who says it."
Wen Wan stretched out her hand to push him away: "I told you not to talk nonsense, but you are talking nonsense again. Who is your wife?"
Lu Dongping was silent, his eyes full of smiles, nakedly writing one word: "You!"
Wen Wan turned around and didn't dare to talk to him anymore. This man was becoming more and more shameless and unruly.
While the rice was still hot, Lu Dongping took his shoulder pole to the well and filled the water jar. Then he got out the wooden basin used for washing clothes at home and gave her the soap and soap pods. If he hadn't had to go to the commune, he would have washed everything for her.
Wen Wan did not dare to delay. She took advantage of the sun to wash the quilt cover and sheets early and hung them up, and then slowly washed her cotton clothes and trousers.
Cotton-padded clothes and pants are incredibly difficult to wash. Once they're wet, you can't even lift them. You can only rub the cuffs and collar with soap, rinse them at home, and pound them with a pestle before hanging them up. Even if the sun is strong enough, it takes ten or eight days to dry them.
Xu Qingming and Lu Dongping did not come to an agreement. The next afternoon after work, he went to find Wen Wan again, as if he was determined to break up the two of them.
Although he is young, he speaks earnestly like an elder.
"Anbao, you're only eighteen this year. Even if you stay here for three years, you'll only be twenty-one. By then, your uncle will definitely find a way to take you back to the capital. With your conditions, you can find anyone you want. Why do you have to find someone here?"
Wen Wan blinked and looked at him: "Then tell me, why can't I find one here?"
There is not much spring land left, and Medina is the highlight. The busy time is still to come. This period of time in between is a good time to take a break from the busy schedule and tinker with the vegetable jars at home.
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