When Rong Zhaonan dealt with Wang Jianhua and his group of male educated youths in the woods, Wang Jianhua and his group ran away overnight, and even Tang Zhenzhen and her fellow educated youths were unaware of it.
The old Party Secretary was afraid of getting into trouble, so he wouldn't let the villagers know that Rong Zhaonan had laid a hand on him.
Aunt Wang was convinced that Rong Zhaonan was just a weak pretty boy, so what if she beat him up?!
A gust of wind blew behind him, and Rong Zhaonan nimbly dodged, avoiding most of the cow dung, but some still splashed onto him.
The familiar stench spread, just like the smell in my dark memories of the past few years—cold and damp, filthy and hopeless, pressing down on my soul layer by layer.
He lowered his eyes, and a cold red vein slowly appeared in his dark eyes. His fair fingers curled slightly, and the veins on the back of his hands stood out.
no……
He swore an oath to the Red Flag with his life that he would never point a gun, bayonet, or fist at his own people.
Even after leaving the team, silence and patience remain the underlying essence of the oath, imprinted deep in the soul.
Ignorance breeds fearlessness; how can that be considered a crime?
He slowly clenched his fists, silently watching the blood-red sunset over the distant fields.
Aunt Wang looked at Rong Zhaonan standing there, his back to everyone, without making a sound, his face and clothes still covered in cow dung that she had thrown.
She smugly picked up a shovel and started shoveling cow dung, while mocking Rong Zhaonan to the women around her: "Look at that spineless coward! He doesn't dare to utter a single fart!"
In the past, the young men who came here for reform were paraded through the streets or made to publicly apologize at a conference. They were so cowardly that even when stones and cow dung were thrown at their heads, they didn't dare to say a word and just stood there like idiots.
It's the same now; without Ning Yuan, he's just a coward.
A village woman who was also leaving work nearby couldn't stand it anymore and whispered, "Third Aunt, you're in your fifties or sixties, don't bully young people like this..."
Aunt Wang, having just suffered a setback at Ning Yuan's hands, was far from restrained; her gaunt face was filled with a malicious smile.
"I knew Ning Yuan was a slut, marrying a spineless man. Cow dung can cure impotence, and I was just trying to help Ning Yuan cure her spineless man!"
As she spoke, she spat yellow phlegm into the cow dung in the shovel, and was about to lift it up to hit Rong Zhaonan again.
Rong Zhaonan stood silently with his back to them, making no move.
But just as Aunt Wang raised the shovel, a delicate hand suddenly reached out from behind her and grabbed the shovel handle.
Then that hand forcefully flipped backward—
With a loud crash, a shovel, along with cow dung and her yellow phlegm, splattered all over Aunt Wang's face.
"Ah—!! It hurts, it hurts, it hurts—" Aunt Wang screamed instantly.
Not only was her nose smashed and bleeding, but a lot of cow dung was also smashed into her mouth, causing her to gag uncontrollably: "Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey—vomit, vomit, vomit—!"
Cows are vegetarians, and cow dung contains little protein. Although it doesn't actually smell as bad as human feces, it's still feces, and it's still disgusting to eat.
Ning Yuan, carrying the shovel she had snatched, glared coldly at Aunt Wang, who was bent over vomiting.
"You old bastard, you sleep on the toilet floor every day—you're not far from 'dying' from shitting! How dare you bully my people!"
From afar, I could see this old woman bullying someone. When I got closer, I realized that the unfortunate guy being bullied was actually someone she was protecting!
Ning Yuan was so angry that she immediately started swearing!
Aunt Wang looked up and saw Ning Yuan, her round face contorted with rage, shoveling another scoop of cow dung and slowly closing in on her.
Ning Yuan, that little bitch, has been getting increasingly shrewish lately, as if she's possessed. She never cares about respecting the elderly or caring for the young; if you offend her, you'll get beaten up.
But for some reason, the village party secretary is very biased towards this little bitch!
For a long time afterward, Aunt Wang dared not provoke Ning Yuan, her "arch-enemy," and instead bullied Rong Zhaonan, taking advantage of the weak and fearing the strong.
She covered her bleeding nose and backed away in terror, saying, "What...what do you want to do!"
Ning Yuan laughed, a laugh so bright it was almost sinister: "Using cow dung to cure your illness? Didn't you say it's a good thing? It's perfect for prolonging the life of an old turtle like you!"
After saying that, she rushed over and shoveled another shovelful of cow dung over Aunt Wang's head.
"Ah! Murder!" Aunt Wang screamed instantly and turned to run away.
But he was still a step too slow, barely avoiding the shovel, but still getting drenched in flying cow dung.
The women around them screamed and scattered as the cow dung rained down.
Ning Yuan stood with her hands on her hips, her chest heaving with anger, and shouted veiled insults, "What kind of skill is it to bully honest people? If there's a next time, eating shit will be the least of your worries, I'll beat you to death!"
Everything in the village is great, except for some old women like Aunt Wang San, who are just too despicable!
She was reborn, and originally wanted to continue being a refined person, but they forced her to become a shrew!
Once everyone had run away from the village road, Ning Yuan picked up her shovel and angrily walked up to Rong Zhaonan.
Ning Yuan said irritably, "Why are you like a block of wood, not even fighting back? You're usually so capable, carrying a knife and going in and out of the mountains..."
Before she could finish speaking, she met Rong Zhaonan's eyes. His beautiful, narrow phoenix eyes reflected the dark red sunset in the sky, yet they were as still and stagnant as deep black water.
Ning Yuan's heart skipped a beat for no reason. She stared at him blankly for a while, then suddenly took his hand and said, "Rong Zhaonan, let's go home."
He didn't speak, silently and quietly letting her lead him towards the cowshed hut.
The two shadows on the ridge of the field were stretched into lonely shapes by the cold winter sun, yet the presence of each other seemed to bring them some warmth.
Back in the cowshed, Ning Yuan pulled him to sit down, immediately lit the stove to boil water, drew water from the well, and brought over a basin of water and a towel.
She took a towel and carefully wiped away the cow dung that had gotten on his cheeks, body, and neck. He sat quietly, like a silent statue.
Ning Yuan seemed to see again that silent, thin figure with old black-rimmed glasses, bangs hanging down, and dressed in tattered worker's clothes, being paraded through the streets alone.
She also recalled those first few months when they met, when he always hid behind her, silently and coldly watching the ground.
Have you ever doubted whether the world you've been protecting is worthwhile?
She didn't ask the question in the end, but simply wiped his pale face with a towel and slowly said, "Rong Zhaonan, the past is the past. Just like winter turning into spring, everything will be reborn."
After a long pause, Rong Zhaonan finally spoke in a hoarse voice, "Is that so?"
Ning Yuan looked down at him. He was an incredibly sharp and resilient person, yet at this moment he had a strange, dark, and shattered feeling about him.
She suddenly placed her hands on his shoulders and said with utmost seriousness, "Yes! The road ahead is always winding, but if you keep moving forward, you will find that your past efforts and protection were worthwhile."
She paused, then said slowly and deliberately, "This prosperous era will ultimately be as our ancestors and we wished."
Unable to articulate the immense historical changes she had experienced, she could only offer meager comfort with seemingly hollow hopes.
Because she was just such an ordinary person.
But some people are born with the talent to lead and outshine others; before that, they must remain silent for a long time.
They have to endure more pain than ordinary people, bear enormous responsibilities yet remain misunderstood and unappreciated, and bleed from the betrayal and lies of their own people.
If they can't survive, they perish, and no one knows...
Rong Zhaonan raised his pale, cold face and looked at the petite girl in front of him. She was standing so close, and her hands on his shoulders were very firm.
She was so certain, as if she had walked from a future of glorious prosperity to this beginning.
His large, dark eyes shone with a bright, vibrant light, as if even the darkest void in his heart could be filled with those tiny rays of light.
The stagnant water in his eyes slowly rippled because of her resolute tone.
Rong Zhaonan raised his hand and placed it on her hand that was resting on his shoulder.
His long, slender fingers slowly intertwined with hers, and he said in a low, slow voice, "I believe... in you."
He was willing to believe her, just as he believed that the sacrifices and silent protection they had made were not wrong.
Ning Yuan looked into his dark and brooding eyes and sighed softly; this topic was too heavy.
Ning Yuan suddenly felt a strong urge to open her arms and hug him, to hug this person who shouldn't be treated like this by those ignorant people.
He will get through this, he will become a true swordsman, overcoming all obstacles and leading countless people onto the right path.
She thought, Rong Zhaonan in his previous life was blind in one eye, but he still made it through.
Perhaps he's just momentarily confused?
Her idea of embracing him was inappropriate—because some embraces and comforts are reserved for lovers.
She will not be his lover.
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