They chatted and laughed all the way, and soon arrived at the brigade headquarters. Across the courtyard, Xiao Jing could hear a commotion inside, indicating that there were quite a few people there.
After entering the main gate and passing the screen wall, the entire courtyard came into view, and the people gathered in front of the main hall all turned around.
Most of them were unfamiliar faces, probably educated youth who had been sent to Xiaocheng Village from the city in recent years. However, Xiaojing also saw a few familiar faces among them.
For example, there was Liu Qing, the female educated youth I met at the village entrance, and the head of the educated youth settlement.
As scrutinizing and probing gazes fell upon her, Xiao Jing walked to the door with a calm expression and said to the crowd blocking her way, "Excuse me, could you please make way so I can pass?"
"Oh, okay."
The two female educated youths standing on the periphery subconsciously took a step back, making way for Xiaojing to move in.
Xiao Jing took two steps forward but couldn't go any further. The door was firmly blocked by a slender figure with braided pigtails.
Xiao Jing spoke again: "Hello? Could you please move aside?"
When the female educated youth turned around, Xiao Jing realized that the person blocking the door was Liu Qing.
She was standing outside the door frame earlier.
Liu Qing turned her head, giving her an unfriendly look, and spoke in a tone full of hostility: "Why should I give way to you?"
The two had a conflict at the village entrance at noon over college entrance exam registration. Xiao Jing could understand Liu Qing's hostility towards her, so she patiently explained, "You're blocking the door. I want to go inside, so I'd like to trouble you to move so I can go in first."
"I'm not moving," Liu Qing questioned. "There are plenty of people waiting at the door, why should you go first? Don't you know the rule of first come, first served? Are you the only one who wants special treatment?"
"I didn't want to get special treatment; I just wanted to go in first and see what the situation was like up ahead."
"What do you mean 'look first'? I think you just want to cut in line!" Liu Qing sneered. "Stop making excuses. You country bumpkins have no manners. Go to the back of the line and be honest."
"What do you mean by 'country bumpkins have no manners'? You, surnamed Liu, what kind of bullshit are you spewing from your stinking mouth!"
Upon hearing this, Wang Qiuju became furious. She put the child down, rolled up her sleeves, and was about to start a fight.
Liu Qing quickly dodged behind another person, shouting relentlessly, "Just talk, why are you hitting me! Besides, what business is it of yours if I'm talking to Cheng Jing?"
"She's my sister-in-law, I'm her brother's wife, what business is it of mine!"
Wang Qiuju was about to make a move as she spoke.
Her fighting prowess in the village was second to none. Before she got married, her fierce reputation had already spread far and wide. After she got married, no one could afford to let her suffer any losses.
Originally, there were some old women in Xiaocheng Village who wanted to take advantage of her, the new bride, but after they suffered a few losses, no one dared to provoke her anymore.
Liu Qing was certainly aware of her fighting prowess.
Not to mention anything far back, last year that shrew surnamed Wang even scratched Jiang Moli's face.
That's her cousin-in-law; their husbands are even related by the same grandfather.
Liu Qing screamed in fright and kept hiding behind the other educated youth.
The relationship between the educated youth and her was not very good, but the educated youth were a large collective, and they could not stand by and watch their comrades be beaten by outsiders. Out of consideration for their reputation, they could only protect her.
In the chaos, Wang Lele was accidentally bumped by a young educated youth's leg and almost fell, but fortunately Xiao Jing grabbed the child's collar in time.
"Don't be afraid, sister-in-law." Xiao Jing carried the child up to protect Wang Qiuju, and took the opportunity to stomp on Liu Qing's instep several times.
"Stop! Stop it, all of you!"
Seeing that the situation was about to get out of control, Cheng Lin and the head of the educated youth settlement stepped between the group, saying, "Calm down, everyone calm down."
Cheng Lin was more inclined to side with Wang Qiuju, mainly to stop Liu Qing's counterattack. Wang Qiuju was quick and reached out to her, tearing her braids in an instant and pulling out several strands of hair.
"Cheng Lin, don't stop me! This bastard can't say anything nice. I'm going to tear her mouth apart today!"
"No, no, no, the Party Secretary is inside. It's not worth losing work points over such a small matter." Cheng Lin covered for her while winking at her.
“I accept having my work points deducted. They eat the food of country folk, but then they turn around and curse us country folk. I just can’t stand people like that! And they say we country folk have no manners? Does that mean city people have all the manners?”
Wang Qiuju glared at Liu Qing and spat, "Pah! I think she's not even as good as those beggars from out of town! At least they know to kneel down and kowtow to say thank you when they eat the food we give them."
"puff……"
Cheng Lin didn't want to laugh at first, but when Wang Qiuju used the analogy of begging, he couldn't help but laugh.
“Sister-in-law, you’re right. Let’s not stoop to her level.”
Liu Qing was furious as soon as she heard that.
What does this guy surnamed Wang mean? Is he implying that she's not even as good as a beggar?
Just as she was about to retaliate, a cold, stern male voice suddenly came from behind her: "What's all the noise about? Shut up!"
The scene fell silent instantly.
Wang Qiuju decisively turned her back, tore open the top of her collar, then lowered her head and ruffled her hair, blinking hard as if trying to shed a few tears.
But she was simply not cut out for acting; she couldn't bring herself to cry on cue. So she turned away, covered her face, and wailed at the top of her lungs, "Uncle Guo, this female educated youth surnamed Liu is bullying me! My sister wanted to come in, but she blocked the door and wouldn't let her in, and she even called us country bumpkins for being uncivilized! I got angry and argued with her a bit, and she tried to hit me. Look at this! She's pulled out so much of my hair! And my clothes too, she's torn the collar to shreds! You have to stand up for me!"
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