Zhao Mingyue frowned, thought for a moment, and said, "Sister Youfen, do you still remember Wang Xiaolian's matter?"
Yu Youfen suddenly looked up at Zhao Mingyue. This was common knowledge in their commune: Wang Xiaolian was a girl from Paoma Mountain. She was in love with a sent-down youth and had secretly become pregnant. Just then, the sent-down youth suddenly returned to the city. Wang Xiaolian discovered she was pregnant and went to find him, only to find out he had just been playing around with her and had married someone else as soon as he got back.
Wang Xiaolian then embarked on a path of seeking justice, suing the other party for indecent assault and emotional deception, and she successfully brought them down. However, Wang Xiaolian's shame was now widely known, and none of her relatives or friends were willing to accept her. She was indeed a victim, but in such a society, how many people would sympathize with a woman who lacked self-respect and self-love? Most would only feel contempt and ridicule. With nowhere else to turn, Wang Xiaolian ultimately committed suicide, taking the lives of herself and her unborn child—a tragic end.
Yu Youfen bit her lip and looked at Zhao Mingyue: "Mingyue, what do you mean by this?"
Zhao Mingyue knew it wasn't a good analogy to use Wang Xiaolian, but as someone who knew Yu Youfen's fate, how could she warn her against going down the wrong path? If it was an accident, she could help prevent it, but if Yu Youfen chose this path herself, how could she help her avoid it? Zhao Mingyue was also in a dilemma. "Sister Youfen," she said, "I just want to say, it's okay to be poor, but you must have ambition. You must be careful about which path you choose, because if you make a mistake, there's no going back."
Yu Youfen's neck turned red. She felt that Zhao Mingyue already knew her plans, which was why she had told her so much. Fortunately, she was a gentle girl and did not retort to Zhao Mingyue, otherwise Zhao Mingyue would have lost face.
Zhao Mingyue said, "Don't worry about this, Sister Fen. If you really want to pull some strings, have your parents go to the brigade cadres and secretly give them some benefits. Don't go yourself; we girls must take care of ourselves."
Yu Youfen's eyes stung a little, and she nodded, "Okay." Although she longed to escape rural life, she wasn't entirely unfazed by the thought of being violated by that disgusting Zhao Jinyun.
Zhao Mingyue thought for a moment, then lowered her voice and said, "Sister Youfen, I have something to tell you, but don't spread it around. Just keep it to yourself."
Yu Youfen looked at Zhao Mingyue: "What?"
Zhao Mingyue lowered her voice and said, "I heard that there is a meeting at the higher-ups, and they will no longer judge people based on their class background or family background. We will be eligible for recruitment and education."
Yu Youfen's eyes widened, her face filled with joy: "Are you telling the truth?"
"I heard it from someone else, and I've also seen some clues in the newspapers, but it's not confirmed yet. But you absolutely cannot tell anyone else. Keep this a secret for me, or we're both doomed," Zhao Mingyue repeatedly instructed.
Yu Youfen nodded vigorously, "Okay, sure." Her family background had long taught her to keep her mouth shut, otherwise, she would be in deep trouble and wouldn't even know how she died. Although she knew that the news might not be true, Yu Youfen still felt a surge of confidence. After all these years, was this invisible shackle that had been tightly gripping her throat finally about to be loosened?
Although Zhao Mingyue went to great lengths to dissuade Yu Youfen from sacrificing herself for her future, Zhao Jinyun was not about to let the easy money slip away. He went to see Yu Youfen more than once, and even hinted to her in front of Zhao Mingyue once: "Youfen, didn't I tell you to come to my office to hand in some materials last time? You didn't come. Don't you want to work at the textile factory anymore?"
Yu Youfen bit her lip: "I've already had my dad pay it."
Zhao Jinyun grinned, revealing her large gold teeth: "Oh right, I remember now, some of your materials are still incomplete, and even your father can't explain them clearly. You'd better take another look yourself."
Yu Youfen glanced at Zhao Mingyue: "Shall we go take a look now?"
Zhao Jinyun was now certain that Yu Youfen was unwilling to cooperate: "I don't have time now, let's talk about it later." With that, she walked away with her hands behind her back.
Yu Youfen sighed and said, "Mingyue, is it definitely not possible for me to go?"
Zhao Mingyue said, "It's okay if I can't go, I don't care." In another ten years or so, all the workers will be laid off, and who will still want to be a worker?
Yu Youfen thought the matter was off, but two days later, Zhao Jinyun came to her: "Come to the brigade office this afternoon. The leaders of the textile factory are coming to interview you. Get ready."
Yu Youfen was overjoyed: "Really? Do my parents have to come too?" If the higher-ups are coming for an interview, then it means the matter is pretty much a done deal.
Zhao Jinyun glanced at her: "You're going to work, why are you calling your parents? Just dress nicely and come to the brigade office."
"Okay, thank you, Director." Yu Youfen was so happy that she felt like she was floating on air. She never expected that such a good thing would actually fall into her lap.
In the afternoon, Yu Youfen took leave and went back to get ready. When Zhao Mingyue arrived at the venue, she didn't see Yu Youfen and was a little surprised. Generally speaking, Yu Youfen rarely missed work; she cared more about her work points than anyone else. Had she gone to work on the team again? She casually asked the points recorder, "Sister Youfen didn't come this afternoon?"
The scorekeeper said, "She said she had something to do in the afternoon and asked for leave."
"What is it?"
The scorekeeper said, "I don't know. The director came to see her, and she seemed quite happy."
Zhao Mingyue gave an "oh," but she became suspicious. What kind of trouble was Zhao Jinyun up to? Or had Yu Youfen's family made some progress? But in her previous life, it was Zhao Baoli who went to the textile factory last. Could there be some change in the situation?
Thinking about how disgusting Zhao Jinyun was, Zhao Mingyue couldn't help but feel worried. So she asked for leave and went to visit Yu Youfen. When she was almost at Yu's house, she saw Yu Youqing coming out and called out to him, "Youqing, where is Sister Youfen?"
Yu Youqing smiled shyly: "My sister went to the brigade; she said someone from the factory came for an interview." She was clearly very excited.
"Really? How long have you been gone?" Zhao Mingyue asked.
Yu Youqing said, "He just left not long ago."
Zhao Mingyue's heart skipped a beat: "Youqing, let's go to the brigade together and secretly see how the interview is going."
Yu Youqing looked at Zhao Mingyue: "Isn't this inappropriate?"
“What’s wrong with that? Those people don’t even know us. Let’s go.” Zhao Mingyue said, pulling on Yu Youqing’s sleeve and hurrying towards the group.
Yu Youqing blushed when a girl tugged at his sleeve for the first time, but Zhao Mingyue was too busy getting going to notice his expression. Fortunately, they didn't encounter many people along the way; everyone was off to work.
Yu Youqing was still muttering to himself, "I haven't recorded my work hours yet, and I didn't ask for leave this afternoon."
"It's okay, I'll be fine in a bit. Being late once in a while is no big deal." Zhao Mingyue walked quickly with her head down.
The brigade courtyard was quiet; the educated youth had all gone out, and the cadres had probably all gone to a meeting at the commune. Zhao Mingyue and Yu Youqing walked to the brigade office. The door was closed from the inside but not locked. Zhao Mingyue pressed her ear against the door and listened for a while, but there was no sound of anyone speaking inside.
Zhao Mingyue peeked through the crack in the window, but the window was tightly closed, even the windows on the upper floor were shut, so she couldn't see what was going on inside. Why was it so tightly closed? Zhao Mingyue frowned.
Yu Youqing lowered his voice and said, "Zhao Mingyue, let's go. My sister might not be here."
Zhao Mingyue straightened up and shouted at the top of her lungs, "Sister Youfen! Sister Youfen!"
Suddenly, a loud thud came from inside the room; something had fallen to the floor. Zhao Mingyue's heart skipped a beat: "There's someone inside. Is Sister Fen in there? If you are, make a sound."
Zhao Mingyue heard someone making grunting sounds from their nose, as if struggling. Zhao Mingyue said to Yu Youqing, "Youqing, kick the door open."
"That wouldn't be good." Yu Youqing had been timid and fearful since childhood, and dared not do such a rebellious, rule-breaking, and disorderly thing.
"Listen to me, if you don't kick it, I will. Hurry up!" Zhao Mingyue was certain that Yu Youfen was inside, so she raised her leg and kicked the door.
Seeing her so agitated, Yu Youqing quickly kicked the door open. The moment the door slammed down, Zhao Mingyue rushed in. Zhao Jinyun was just coming out of the break room in the office; although she was still wearing her clothes, they were visibly disheveled, and her belt wasn't fastened properly. Zhao Mingyue glared at Zhao Jinyun, then stormed into the break room. She saw Yu Youfen, disheveled and with messy hair, sitting on the floor, sobbing uncontrollably. A cloth and rope lay scattered on the floor beside the bed.
Zhao Mingyue rushed over: "Sister Youfen. Am I too late?"
Yu Youfen shook her head: "Mingyue, sob sob sob..." She hugged Zhao Mingyue tightly and cried sadly.
Looking at his sister's appearance and then at Zhao Jinyun tidying her clothes, Yu Youqing was filled with rage: "Zhao Jinyun, I'll curse your ancestors!" With that, he raised his fist and punched her.
Zhao Jinyun hurriedly ran away: "What do you want to do? What do you want to do? You dare to hit someone!"
Although Yu Youqing was thin, he was still a teenager and agile. He pounced and quickly grabbed Zhao Jinyun, who was trying to dodge, and started punching him. Zhao Jinyun, who was in his forties, was in his prime. Although he had been weakened by alcohol and women over the years, he was not to be underestimated. The two of them soon got into a fight.
Zhao Mingyue comforted Yu Youfen, roughly combed her hair with her fingers, and pulled her up from the ground: "Sister Youfen, he didn't take advantage of you, did he?"
"No, thank goodness you arrived in time. He lied to me and said someone came for an interview, but no one did." Yu Youfen sobbed, her words broken and fragmented.
Zhao Mingyue hugged her and said, "Don't be afraid, Sister Fen is here. It's alright."
Outside, Zhao Jinyun was being beaten by Yu Youqing, howling in pain: "He's killed someone! He's killed someone!"
Zhao Mingyue snapped out of her daze and quickly went with Yu Youfen to the outer office. Yu Youqing, his eyes red with anger, pinned Zhao Jinyun to the ground and began to beat her mercilessly with his fists: "You bastard, I'll beat you to death for bullying people!" The pent-up emotions of the past exploded at this moment. The thin Yu Youqing's fists seemed to have the force of a thousand pounds, pounding into Zhao Jinyun again and again.
Zhao Mingyue quickly ran over and stopped Yu Youqing: "Youqing, stop hitting him! Be careful someone gets killed. It's not worth it for someone like that!"
Yu Youqing stopped what he was doing, his bloodshot eyes finally regained their senses, he looked at Zhao Mingyue, then let out a long sigh and released Zhao Jinyun.
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