Bai Jiaojiao laughed and said, "That's right. The black market gatekeeper stopped him as soon as he saw him. He couldn't even get in. Who would believe his report? Besides, Third Brother and he already have a grudge. Even if he reported it, we can say he's making a false accusation. Don't worry, Sister-in-law."
"Well, among those people cracking down on speculation and profiteering, there are some that Brother Heng knows. If there's a day when a report can't be covered up, we'll definitely be the first to get the news."
Deng Min was finally at ease. Bai Shihai had told her the same thing: he had been in the black market for so many years and had survived even when the situation was so tense. How could he not have some skills?
Deng Min quickly made two days' worth of glutinous rice strips. In the morning, the loudspeaker blared, summoning everyone to the stage to discuss the road repair project for the brigade.
The villagers of Shili Village were relatively well-off compared to other villages, but in this era, everyone was poor, and there were quite a few villagers who were struggling to make ends meet.
In the dead of winter, some families only have one cotton-padded coat, which is worn by whoever goes out. When they hear the village calling, some families only send one person.
It's not that I don't want to go, but the temperature outside is below -10 or -20 degrees Celsius. If I go out in thin clothes, I'll freeze to death in less than ten minutes.
Zheng Xu was also worried. Although the women in the village had more income this year, no one was willing to spend it. How much would a new cotton-padded jacket cost? They were all saving it up.
Seeing the sparse number of people arriving, Zheng Xu quickly conveyed the next steps: "The deadline given to us is to build the road to Xiaojiazhuang and connect it with the road to their village before the beginning of spring. This way, the road from our village to the town will be open."
Xiaojiazhuang is a small village between Hushan Commune and the town. From this village onwards, the road to the town becomes much wider and flatter.
Bai Jiaojiao estimated that it was about five or six miles long, such a large span, the road would be difficult to repair.
The wind was strong today, and Bai Jiaojiao was so windy that she could hardly stand. She leaned closer to Shen Heng and said, "Brother Heng, I'm cold."
Shen Heng reached out and put his arm around her: "I told you not to come out. Look how many people from our village have come out. Why don't we just have each family send a representative to listen?"
Bai Jiaojiao pouted, and Shen Heng took the towel off his neck and wrapped it around Bai Jiaojiao's neck again.
This maroon scarf was knitted by Bai Jiaojiao, and Shen Heng loves it to death, wishing he could wear it around his neck every day.
Bai Jiaojiao put her hands into Shen Heng's pockets, asking him to warm them for her. Shen Heng grabbed Bai Jiaojiao's slightly cold fingertips and said, "I'll take you back first."
"Let's wait until the captain finishes speaking."
"Stand behind me, it'll be better if there's no wind."
"Um."
Shen Heng's broad figure stepped aside, shielding Bai Jiaojiao from the wind.
Zheng Xu, standing on the stage, caught a glimpse of their subtle interaction, pursed his lips, and looked away: "In short, the task is arduous, so let's all find a way to overcome it. The village will provide subsidies for this road repair, so hurry back and make yourself some cotton-padded clothes. This time, everyone is required to participate in the road repair!"
Covering five or six miles, entirely by hand, is no easy task.
Zheng Xu issued an ultimatum. He figured out which families were truly in trouble and he would have to visit them later to help them out and see if he could find anything to make do.
There were many ways to make do, such as stuffing newspapers or straw into clothes. Everyone had gone through hard times.
When Bai Jiaojiao got back, she rummaged through her belongings and found her old cotton-padded jacket.
These were all brought by Bai Jiaojiao from the city three years ago, and they were very fashionable.
Shen Heng asked, "Why aren't you wearing these cotton-padded coats anymore?"
Shen Heng could imagine how beautiful Bai Jiaojiao would look in those pretty clothes; he loved seeing Bai Jiaojiao looking beautiful.
Bai Jiaojiao looked at these old clothes. Since her rebirth, she had changed all of them. She didn't want to make new clothes; she just didn't want to wear them anymore.
Bai Jiaojiao remembered that in her past life, she wore these clothes to hurt Shen Heng.
Bai Jiaojiao picked up a camel-colored cotton-padded coat and "crack" cut a slit in it with scissors.
What are you doing?
"Take the cotton out; it's all good cotton here."
Bai Jiaojiao remembered that in her previous life, she was furious with Shen Heng for washing away all the cotton from the dress and piling it all up. She even sent Shen Heng to live in the woodshed on a cold day.
Now, thinking back on it, Bai Jiaojiao still feels sorry for how Shen Heng spent that night.
"If you can't bear to cut it, why did you cut it? And why are you crying?"
Shen Heng squatted down beside Bai Jiaojiao and wiped away her tears, but unexpectedly Bai Jiaojiao turned around and threw herself into his arms.
Shen Heng said, "Are you afraid the villagers will gossip and stop you from wearing such nice clothes? Why do you care about them? Wear them as you please. Who dares to say that I can't kill them?"
Bai Jiaojiao shook her head: "No, I wanted to pick out these old cotton leaves and see if I could give them to people in need in the village."
Bai Jiaojiao just felt that she was too bad. In her previous life, she instinctively rejected Shen Heng and recklessly took advantage of Shen Heng's kindness to her.
Shen Heng found it somewhat amusing: "You're so reluctant to part with it, yet you cut up your cotton-padded coat and gave it to others? Who in the village is worth your concern?"
“That old lady Su in the village, I saw her today wearing only a thin jacket, she looked so pitiful.”
Shen Heng pursed his lips: "What does it have to do with you if she's pitiful?"
Having come through the most pitiful times, Shen Heng no longer felt sorry for anyone. He had his own rules for survival: either suffer and struggle to live, or die. That's just how the world is.
"She also has a little grandson to take care of."
Grandma Su's eldest son died, and her daughter-in-law quickly remarried, leaving her with a young grandson.
Grandma Su's other sons all said they wanted to "give" their grandson to wealthy families who couldn't have children, but Grandma Su refused no matter what. Her two remaining sons were not good people to begin with, and they used this as an excuse to stop supporting their mother. Fortunately, both of them lived in town and didn't come back usually, so Grandma Su couldn't find them.
Zheng Xu had helped Grandma Su ask for alimony many times, but each time he failed.
Their requirements are simple: they're willing to support their mother, but they can't raise another child.
Grandma Su refused to back down, and now she's struggling to survive on her own, raising her grandson all by herself.
"Hmm, so what?"
Shen Heng raised an eyebrow.
Bai Jiaojiao kissed Chen Heng's neck: "I always think, if only more people could have helped you when you were little."
Shen Heng lowered his eyes and saw Bai Jiaojiao's moist eyes, enjoying the tenderness she showed him.
"I'm still alive today, and being able to hear you say that makes all the suffering I've endured in the past worthwhile."
Shen Heng gently patted Bai Jiaojiao on the back. Bai Jiaojiao sniffed and continued cutting her cotton-padded jacket: "These styles are outdated and look out of place in the village. I'll take out the cotton from these two jackets, enough for the two of them to buy a set of cotton-padded clothes."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
