Chapter 8 A Village Girl in the 1970s
Yao Yunzhen waved the paper in her hand: "How did you receive this letter?"
“When I came back yesterday, I saw this letter pinned to the door with my name on it, so I kept it.”
He was used to being lazy and was usually the first to return to the educated youth settlement.
He had no doubts about the contents.
He had more than one or two village girls who admired him, and he received more than one love letter.
As for his poor handwriting and misspellings, he considered that perfectly normal.
Even if Yao Yunzhen finishes high school, so what? She'll still be a country girl. What can she possibly learn?
Yao Yunzhen pressed further, "Didn't you see the messenger?"
Li Yunqi honestly shook his head: "No."
Clearly, he didn't know any more.
Yao Yunzhen utterly scorned: "What an idiot! You fell for such an obvious scheme. Even a fool could see that I would like you?"
She was wearing a mask and her bangs covered her face, so Li Yunqi couldn't see her expression, but he could sense the strong sarcasm in her words.
Li Yunqi wanted nothing more than to tear her mouth apart.
That damned bitch! She was born with such a beautiful voice and such lovely eyes, yet she has such a sharp and mean-spirited personality.
He wouldn't want a woman like that even if she were given to him; she deserves to have sores on her face and is an ugly monster.
Li Yunqi dared not say anything aloud, but he was cursing incessantly in his heart.
Yao Yunzhen pointed again: "Dad, he insulted me!"
Seeing Yao Sheng about to walk towards him again, Li Yunqi quickly shouted, "I didn't, I didn't say anything!"
"Hmph, don't think I don't know you're cursing me in your heart."
The man's eyes were darting around; he was clearly up to no good and was probably cursing her in his heart.
She couldn't even curse him in her heart; she wouldn't tolerate such humiliation.
A hint of guilt flashed in Li Yunqi's eyes, and then he was about to retort.
But Yao Sheng wouldn't give him another chance. He pinned the man to the ground and beat him until he cried out in pain.
Since my daughter said he cursed, then he must have cursed.
"I didn't curse, I really didn't curse... Ouch, it hurts, stop hitting me, stop hitting me..."
"I know I was wrong, I won't curse anymore, I'll never curse again, please don't hit me, please, please stop hitting me..."
Seeing that things had gone far enough, Yao Yunzhen said, "Alright, Dad, you should stop now."
Yao Sheng naturally stopped.
Yao Yunzhen stepped forward and looked down at Li Yunqi.
“You talked nonsense to me and even tried to hit me, which seriously damaged my physical and mental health. You must compensate me.”
Upon hearing this, Li Yunqi's breath hitched, and his face turned pale and then red, though it wasn't visible on his bruised and swollen face.
But he didn't dare to argue loudly, only muttering under his breath, "I've already been beaten..."
"What, you don't want to pay? Dad—"
"No, no, I'm willing to pay, I'm willing to pay."
Li Yunqi immediately rolled over and got up from the ground, his face twitching from the pain, but he didn't dare to delay for a moment. He rushed into the house, took out all the money he had put away, and handed it over without even counting it.
"Here, this is my compensation."
Yao Yunzhen counted the money; it totaled eight yuan and seventy-two cents, with some change and some coins.
This was much more than her personal savings, but Yao Yunzhen was not entirely satisfied.
"Is that all?"
"All my money is here, really, I'm not lying to you."
Li Yunqi was terrified of being beaten again, so he spoke with utmost sincerity, almost as if he were swearing an oath to heaven.
"Tsk, didn't you say your family was quite wealthy? How come you only have so little?"
Li Yunqi lowered his head, not daring to speak.
If he were truly wealthy, he wouldn't be cheating people out of eggs in the village.
Although his family sent him money every month, he couldn't stand the hardship and would go to state-run restaurants every few days. Even when he ate at the educated youth settlement, he had to buy fine grains and clothes. Money didn't last long, and he spent all the money sent to him every month.
The reason he has so much money left is because it's only mid-month and he hasn't had a chance to enjoy it yet, and now it's all gone to Yao Yunzhen.
"You got off easy." Yao Yunzhen rolled her eyes. "Dad, Second Uncle, let's go back."
Since she couldn't extract any profit from the situation, Yao Yunzhen didn't bother staying any longer.
“If you dare to spout nonsense about my daughter again, I’ll beat you every time I see you.”
Yao Sheng grabbed Li Yunqi by the collar and warned him. Only after Li Yunqi repeatedly promised that he wouldn't do it again did Yao Sheng let go and get up to go home with Yao Yunzhen.
After taking her home, Yao Shengcai instructed, "Zhenzhen, you play at home for a while. Dad has something to discuss with your third grandfather."
The third grandfather Yao Sheng mentioned was Yao Dajun, the captain of Baiyang Brigade. He and Yao Yunzhen's grandfather, Yao Daqiang, were of the same generation and were still within the fifth degree of kinship with Yao Yunzhen's family. They had a very close relationship.
Yao Yunzhen asked curiously, "Dad, what are you going to see Third Grandfather for?"
“That kid dared to cause you trouble, we can’t just let it go like this. I’m going to talk to your third grandfather.”
Yao Sheng said frankly, not afraid that Yao Yunzhen would think he was petty.
Whether it was Yao Sheng or Miao Cuilan, neither of them instilled the older generation's idea that suffering a loss is a blessing when educating their children, nor did they teach them about truth, goodness, and beauty.
Their motto is "If someone is wronged, I will not wrong myself." They settle scores on the spot, and if they can't settle them on the spot, they come back for reinforcements and then go to settle scores.
Children should never be raised to be too docile.
Especially since her daughter is so beautiful, she should be even stronger so that she can protect herself to the greatest extent.
Under the guidance of the couple, Yao Yunzhen surpassed her teachers.
Sure enough, upon hearing Yao Sheng say this, Yao Yunzhen didn't find anything wrong with it at all, and even suggested, "Dad, let Third Grandfather arrange for him to carry manure. Carrying manure every day, it'll stink, let's see how he can flirt with other people then."
Originally, Yao Yunzhen didn't intend to get involved in Li Yunqi's affairs with the girls in the village. After all, it had nothing to do with her, and their relationship was consensual. If she interfered, others would complain that she was meddling.
But now that he's offended her, she's unwilling to see Li Yunqi receive any more help from the villagers.
Yao Sheng naturally had no objection.
"Okay, I'll listen to my daughter and let him go pick up the manure."
Li Yunqi has been in Baiyang Brigade for several years, but he only works sporadically. However, he is good at putting on airs, and the young women and wives in the village all speak up for him. His family also sends him things every now and then, making it seem like he comes from a wealthy family. That's why the villagers don't have any objections.
Those who had opinions kept them to themselves and didn't voice them.
But this was under the condition that the battalion commander turned a blind eye.
Now, to deal with him, we don't even need to find a reason; we can just arrange it directly.
Compared to a slacker among the educated youth, Yao Dajun naturally stood on the side of his own people.
Yao Sheng quickly finished his business and returned home just as it was time to get off work, so he came back with the rest of his family.
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