Chapter 81 Trivial Matters
When the new group of people from the Commerce Department were attacking Lu Shuangshuang, Song Lubai approached the instructor and told him about the news she had heard that day regarding labor and reform prisoners.
The instructor nodded. "We heard about it today too. Our surroundings are all barren desert, so we really need to be careful."
Who knows, the pancakes that went missing today might have been stolen by convicts or ex-convicts who had wandered into the area.
"Everyone, please be quiet and listen to me."
The new recruits were still attacking Lu Shuangshuang, and the two sides were arguing quite loudly. The company commander got angry and shouted, "Shut up!"
The scene then quieted down.
The instructor said, "We heard some news at the farm headquarters today: some convicts and ex-convicts from other farms have escaped and may be roaming around here."
Upon hearing this, everyone naturally suspected that the pancakes were stolen by the laborers and prisoners, and they became suspicious when they looked at the dark surroundings.
“From now on, we can’t keep our grain in the stove under the shed. Tomorrow I’ll go get a lock and lock such important things as grain in the dugout.”
"In addition, regardless of gender, when going to the toilet at night, don't go too far. It's best to go in groups of at least three. In this desolate Gobi Desert, there are only small woods or mounds for miles around. If someone is hiding, no one will be able to find them immediately, so we have to be extremely careful."
A woman in the crowd said, "We have to work here all the time, and we'll be staying here for quite a while. Can't we build a latrine first?"
The company commander said, "Don't worry, this will be done soon. Once everything is ready, the first thing we'll build is the outhouse."
The women were finally satisfied.
The grove of trees was several miles away, and everyone who wanted to use the outhouse had to go behind that mound. Both men and women went there, and there was always the chance of accidentally bumping into each other, which was very inconvenient.
After finishing discussing the labor and reformatory cases, Lu Shuangshuang said, "There aren't enough pancakes. How are we going to divide them among the remaining people? There's no time to make more."
Song Lubai offered, "I can give one of the cakes away."
Like Song Lubai, several other girls who ate rabbit meat all day long chimed in, "I can share one too."
Several girls set an example, and the boys were not to be outdone, all saying they could give one of them up.
The instructor nodded with satisfaction: "They are all good comrades."
Feng Ying raised her chin and said, "They must all be good comrades and honest people. We are all a collective, and there is no reason for us to be full while others go hungry."
Song Lubai glanced at Lu Shuangshuang and said, “That’s right. Comrade Lu’s previous malicious speculation really hurt everyone’s feelings. Although we will leave here sooner or later, we are a collective with the 25th Company after working here for a day. We would never do anything to undermine the collective.”
Lu Shuangshuang didn't expect Song Lubai to single her out. As she was about to make amends, the instructor spoke up first, "Lu Shuangshuang, apologize to the newcomer. We are a team, and we can't start by creating internal conflict and division when something goes wrong. This kind of behavior is very unacceptable."
With so many eyes watching, Lu Shuangshuang felt embarrassed and couldn't open her mouth for a long time, her face as red as a monkey's bottom.
Li Huijun, who was in the crowd, said, "Comrade Lu is also wholeheartedly for our group, and she has a bit of a short temper. I think she already knows she was wrong, so let's not dwell on her mistake."
Li Huijun was the oldest woman in the 25th Company. She was married but didn't have any children. She had a kind face, and everyone thought she was a good person.
Li Huijun looked around at the newly arrived young people from Henan Province.
No one disagreed with her, but no one echoed her either.
Everyone could see that Lu Shuangshuang was now in an awkward position.
But she really went too far before, and no one wants to let it go so easily.
The instructor glanced silently at Lu Shuangshuang and said to everyone, "Alright, alright, go and rest."
And so, the impromptu "meeting" convened because of the lost pancakes came to an end.
After the crowd dispersed, Lu Shuangshuang covered her mouth and rushed back to her dugout.
Song Lubai and her group of girls all pursed their lips when they saw this.
She was the one who said harsh things to the newcomers before, but now she's acting all wronged and aggrieved. Who is she trying to impress?
"Don't you guys think she's always acting strangely? When she wants to talk to us, she can say a few words properly, but when she's in a bad mood, she inexplicably picks fights and throws tantrums. Who spoils her?"
Some people are not good at socializing and are shy; some are outgoing and warm-hearted; some are mild-mannered and unhurried in their actions…
Lu Shuangshuang, this woman, is sometimes annoying, and sometimes seems like a normal person to communicate with. She is very capricious in her dealings with people.
It was as if it was an honor for others to speak to her.
Such a self-centered person may have an easy time, but it makes life difficult for those who deal with her.
In the dugout where Lu Shuangshuang lived, she was lying on the bed crying.
The girl in the dorm tried to persuade him a few times, but then stopped.
Everyone knows that Lu Shuangshuang wants to excel in everything, and because of Zhao Aiguo, she is a person who "has a say" in the entire camp, and she is usually arrogant.
I made a fool of myself today, and it's only natural that I feel ashamed and can't hold my head up.
A moment later, Lu Shuangshuang wiped her nose, stood up, and walked out. Judging from the way she started, she was about to rush out and do something big.
One of the girls in the dorm quickly said, "There might be convicts or ex-convicts outside, so don't act rashly."
Lu Shuangshuang stopped in her tracks, feeling embarrassed. She scoffed, "None of your business!"
The girls ignored her and went about their business.
Lu Shuangshuang slowed her pace and still left the dugout.
She walked to the open space behind the dugout where Song Lubai lived, and saw two dark figures passing something to each other. Judging from the voices and figures, the one opposite her was a man, and the dark figure with his back to her was quite tall and thin, somewhat resembling Song Lubai.
She cursed inwardly, thinking Song Lubai was a two-faced woman who used her looks to take advantage of men.
Lu Shuangshuang walked away with a look of disgust.
After she left, the boy handed over the items, finished explaining, and prepared to leave as well.
Sun Hong called out to the person, "If she doesn't want it, I'll give it back to you."
The boy scratched his head: "No need, this is originally for girls. If any of you need it, just take it."
Sun Hong said, "You're a really nice person."
The boy smiled sheepishly and said, "We're all from the same place, so we should help each other out."
After the male comrade walked away, Sun Hong lifted her leg and walked up the slope below.
The dugout was at the bottom, and to get in, you had to go downhill. Sun Hong had just come out from down there and hadn't even come all the way up when she saw Wang Zhendong loitering nearby and called out to him.
If Lu Shuangshuang saw Sun Hong's back as she walked all the way up the slope, she would never associate her with Song Lubai, because Sun Hong's height was truly outstanding among the girls.
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