Yang Xiaohong had expected Chen Shuning to talk back. After all, Chen Shuning wasn't one to be bullied. Yang Xiaohong and Chen Shuning hadn't gotten along well on the train, so although she had never gained the upper hand over Chen Shuning, Yang Xiaohong still couldn't help but occasionally jump out and ask for a few insults.
She hadn't expected that Old Yang, the driver, would stoop to her level, especially since he was standing up for Chen Shuning. Furious, she blurted out without thinking, "What has Chen Shuning done for you that you're feeding her and standing up for her? But I advise you to keep your thoughts to yourself, even if you do have some ideas. Chen Shuning has a boyfriend who's a military officer; she's got high standards and wouldn't look down on you country bumpkins."
Yang Xiaohong often saw the Yang family delivering vegetables to Chen Shuning, and she also heard that Old Yang had two unmarried sons. So she was convinced that Old Yang had taken a liking to Chen Shuning and wanted her to be his daughter-in-law.
So when Old Yang spoke up for Chen Shuning, this was the first thing that came to mind, and he also took the opportunity to criticize the ungrateful old man.
However, her comment about being a "country bumpkin" offended both of the old men driving the carts. These village elders usually looked down on these high-minded but incompetent educated youths, and now, after being spoken to like that by a young girl, Old Yang's face darkened immediately. Pointing at Yang Xiaohong, he said, "Since you look down on us country bumpkins so much, then don't ride in my cart driven by a country bumpkin. Don't let this country cart get dirty for your noble city person. Get off now!"
Yang Xiaohong had only blurted out these words in a fit of anger, and she regretted them as soon as she said them. But now that she had already spoken, and was being ridiculed by an old man from the countryside, she couldn't save face, so she muttered, "Fine, I won't sit then. Do you think I like riding in your broken oxcart?"
As she spoke, Yang Xiaohong jumped off Old Yang's oxcart and walked toward Old Li's oxcart next to her.
Unexpectedly, Old Li stopped her with his whip and said without even looking up, "I'm just a country bumpkin, I can't help you, you city lady. It's still early, and you don't look like you bought much. You should walk back yourself and save a couple of cents on the bus fare."
Yang Xiaohong was truly furious. Having been ridiculed repeatedly, she stood up for herself this time. She glared hatefully at the three people present, huffed, slung her bamboo basket over her shoulder, and turned to leave.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
