Chapter 29 (Catching Bugs)
When she came back from the town, she met Meng Jiandi at the village entrance. It seemed like she was waiting for her.
"Comrade Jiani!" Meng Jiandi greeted her with a smile, a hint of apology flashing across her face.
Because of their interactions on the train, this group of educated youth from the provincial capital all had a favorable impression of Liu Ailing, but were somewhat repulsed by Zhou Jiani.
During the days she lived with Liu Ailing, she had developed a strange impression of Zhou Jiani, a girl who was nothing but a pretty face, and she even had a faint contempt for her, after hearing her describe her good sister Zhou Jiani with a tone of worry, regret, or even a smile.
As a result, Comrade Xiao Zhou, whom she despised, became a popular figure in the whole village in a short period of time.
Zhou Hongbing told her privately that Zhou Jiani's helping the old educated youth sell vegetables was actually equivalent to saving the new educated youth. Just look at the ten kilograms of vegetables bought by Zhao Weiguo and Wang Changzheng.
Ten kilograms of vegetables may not cost much, but it definitely makes you feel uncomfortable.
However, because of the conflict between Zhou Jiani and Zhao Weiguo, and the embarrassment of her previous advice to everyone not to cause trouble but no one paid attention, and finally she had to pick up manure, everyone was embarrassed to come to Zhou Jiani to show goodwill or say thank you.
Immediately afterwards, Comrade Liu Ailing, who was praised by everyone, collapsed, which made everyone else even more embarrassed.
Liu Ailing fled that afternoon, and they also felt hot on their faces.
No one wants to face her again.
Zhou Jiani jumped out of the car and greeted with a smile, "Comrade Meng Jiandi, are you waiting for me?"
After the incident, it seemed as if a dividing line had been drawn between this group of new educated youth. Although none of them were as thorny as Zhao Weiguo, they were indeed not very friendly and were just acquaintances. She couldn't figure out what Meng Jiandi wanted to talk to her about.
Meng Jiandi smiled and said, "Comrade Jiani, I want to talk to you alone."
Zhao Mei hurriedly said, "Jia Ni, I'll go to the team and wait for you to deliver the money together."
"Sister-in-law, you can go by yourself. Starting tomorrow, you will be responsible for collecting the vegetables, delivering them, and settling the bills. Today is equivalent to familiarizing yourself with the second half of the process."
Zhao Mei was not reserved when interacting with people from the same village. She said, "Okay, you guys chat, I'll go over first."
After Zhao Mei left, Zhou Jiani looked at Meng Jiandi with a questioning look.
Meng Jiandi felt a little embarrassed and said hesitantly, "Comrade Jiani, actually, someone asked me to help you make an appointment."
A man walked out from behind the large sycamore tree not far from them, raised his voice with a stern face, "I'm looking for you."
Zhou Jiani looked at Zhao Weiguo who was walking over and raised her eyebrows.
Zhao Weiguo came over and glanced at Meng Jiandi with dissatisfaction. He sneered and said, "You are all ungrateful."
Meng Jiandi was so angry that her face turned red and she glared at him fiercely.
She didn't want to get involved in the matter between Zhou Jiani and Liu Ailing. Everyone could see that something was wrong with Liu Ailing. Although they still found it a little hard to believe, they also more or less doubted Liu Ailing's character. So she would maintain a superficial friendship with Liu Ailing in the next two days, but would not hang around her like before.
But Zhao Weiguo disagreed. He felt that Liu Ailing must have been wronged and wanted Zhou Jiani to clarify the matter in front of the fellow villagers and clear Liu Ailing's name.
I think that even if Liu Ailing's mother said a few bad words about Zhou Jiani, it has nothing to do with Ailing, and the disaster will not affect her family.
Meng Jiandi didn't want to come, so Zhao Weiguo scolded her for being heartless, saying that no matter what, Liu Ailing was good to her and other comrades, right?
"Didn't Comrade Ai Ling help you wash clothes? When we were punished, everyone avoided us, but Comrade Ai Ling came over every day to show her concern and encouragement. Have you forgotten all this?"
Meng Jiandi had no choice but to come.
Seeing him being so sarcastic, Zhou Jiani walked away.
Meng Jiandi also knew why Zhao Weiguo had to pester her. This man really didn't please Zhou Jiani, so she called out awkwardly: "Comrade Jiani——"
Zhou Jiani took a breath, turned to look at her, and said, "What's going on?"
Meng Jiandi couldn't open her mouth to say what Zhao Weiguo had taught her, so she looked at him and said, "Are you going to tell me or not? If not, I don't care."
Zhao Weiguo was furious at their ungratefulness. He said to Zhou Jiani sternly, "We were all educated youth who came here together. Comrade Ai Ling was very kind to you before. You're going too far by trampling Ai Ling into the mud like this."
Zhou Jiani patiently asked, "So?"
"Your careless words the other day caused everyone to misunderstand Comrade Ai Ling. Do you know how heartbroken she has been these past two days? She used to be such a talkative, cheerful, and warm-hearted person, but these past two days, she's been working and crying silently. You hurt Comrade Ai Ling so much with your reckless words. You must apologize to her, explain things clearly in front of all the members, and give her justice."
"You said it yourself that day. You didn't believe it was Comrade Ailing who did it. You said it yourself. Don't say you forgot."
Zhao Weiguo went to chase Liu Ailing that day and did not hear the analysis of those aunts and sisters, nor did he hear what Zhou Jiani said later. Now he is insisting that Zhou Jiani herself said that she did not believe that Ailing did it. Since she does not believe it, then he will clear Comrade Ailing's name.
Zhou Jiani sneered, "Comrade Zhao Weiguo, I was just being polite. Did you take it seriously? I suggest again, Comrade Zhao Weiguo, go to town tomorrow and call the Qiyang Second Textile Factory. You don't even need to mention names. Just ask whoever answers the phone. See the impact of this incident on the factory and find out what Comrade Liu Ailing's family has to say."
She ignored Zhao Weiguo's grim expression and asked suspiciously, "Eh? Comrade Zhao Weiguo, are you here to work in the countryside, or to mediate conflicts between female comrades?"
"you……"
Zhou Jiani turned and left, not even paying any attention to Meng Jiandi.
Meng Jiandi turned around and glared at Zhao Weiguo fiercely, then left angrily.
Zhou Jiani returned to Huihui's house. Zhao Mei had not returned yet. She said hello to Zhang Kaishan who was basking in the sun in the yard, then went back to the house, closed the door and rested.
I took a box of milk from the warehouse and drank it while looking at the things on the shelf.
This time, she asked her fellow villagers to collect dried cowpeas, and kept ten kilograms for herself to start a business, and took the rest back. Although it is nice to make money, maintaining interpersonal relationships is also very important.
The items currently ready for sale include dried cowpeas, stamps and straw hats.
After arriving in the provincial capital, I will find a chance to put away half of the new baskets. If I can’t sell all the vegetables, I can keep them and start a group sale.
Before leaving, you can also find fellow villagers to buy some sweet potatoes.
In addition to these, the shelves also contained the noodles bought that day.
Zhou Jiani took a few big sips, finished the milk and disposed of the packaging. She took two bags of noodles and the food-specific straw paper and hemp rope she bought last time, removed the original packaging, wrapped them with straw paper, tied them up, and put them in the warehouse.
Yesterday, she took advantage of a group buy of dried shrimps and bought two pounds of them to take back for her family.
Two days later, Zhou Jiani went to the town post office to pick up the package and called the factory.
The train tickets have been bought and the return time has been set.
It was Liu Qin who answered the phone again. She said, "Nini, your mother was so happy to hear you were coming back. She's been asking three times a day if you've called again. Now Huifang is relieved. What time will you arrive?"
"Aunt Liu, we'll be at the train station around 3:00 PM. Please have my dad pick you up. Besides the vegetables, we'll also have several woven baskets from our brigade's weaving workshop. There are dozens of baskets alone... Since I can't bring much, I only bought you over 20 kilograms of dried cowpeas and didn't bring anything else."
Liu Qin's laughter came from the microphone, and she said, "Twenty kilograms is quite a lot. Thank you, Nini. We've agreed on the vegetables you brought. Let your dad take them back to the dormitory. Don't worry about the rest."
He didn't even have time to sort the books out before rushing to the village to get various certificates.
In the evening she came out with an empty handbag. She didn't bring any clothes, but stuffed it with a few cans and bottles of pickles and dried cowpeas.
Seeing her tidying up, Yu Wanxia and Sun Ping were extremely envious.
Especially Sun Ping, she and Zhou Jiani are both from Qi Yang. Comrade Zhou Jiani will be able to go back to visit in a few days, which makes her miss home a little.
Zhou Jiani pinched Sun Ping's face and said with a smile, "I can't help you bring things back to your family, but if you need anything to bring back, write me a letter. I'll stop by the steel factory dormitory before I come back."
"Jiani, thank you so much!" Sun Ping jumped happily and wrote a short letter to her, asking her mother to pack some autumn and winter clothes and ask Jiani to bring them back for her.
While Zhou Jiani was cleaning up the house, Zhou Hongbing and Wang Changzheng paced back and forth outside for a few times, pushing each other for a long time, but in the end they didn't dare to go in.
After leaving the alley where Zhang Kaishan lived, Zhou Hongbing's eyes turned slightly red with frustration.
Who would have thought that Zhou Jiani, who was described as the most delicate by Liu Ailing, would be the first to have the opportunity to return to the provincial capital?
Even though I'm on a business trip, I can still go home and visit.
Wang Changzheng scratched his head and said, "You haven't offended Zhou Jiani, so why are you embarrassed?"
I haven't offended him, but we don't have a very close relationship either. How can I have the nerve to ask someone to help me carry something for me?
Zhou Hongbing was a little envious of Sun Ping.
"Aren't you the same?"
Wang Changzheng sucked his teeth. It was indeed difficult for him to open his mouth to ask Zhou Jiani for help. He said, "Forget it, just write a letter home and send it. It's not worth the money!"
The two left.
The one who felt the most disgusted was Liu Ailing, and she was also the most panicked.
The two went to the countryside together, but Zhou Jiani was able to go on a business trip to the provincial capital on behalf of the village.
She didn't even dare to think about what the neighbors would ask Zhou Jiani after she returned.
Zhou Jiani had no idea that Zhou Hongbing and Wang Changzheng had come to see her. She slept until after midnight when Zhao Mei woke her up. She took her packed bag, kettle, and the steamed buns that Zhao Mei had heated up for her, and went to the village entrance in the dark.
Liu Tong was already waiting there with a few fellow villagers. He went there at night to oversee the picking of vegetables, weighing them, and pushing them to the village entrance in a cart to gather.
Seeing her coming, everyone greeted her and said, "Comrade Xiao Zhou, thank you and Comrade Xiao Qiu for your hard work."
It was still a bit chilly in the late autumn night. Zhou Jiani shuddered and laughed, "It's not hard at all. It's just that I only have two hands, so I can't really help you with much. I also have to thank my colleagues at my parents' factory. They know I'm helping the villagers generate income, so they've already agreed to buy all the vegetables."
Her parents' colleagues took care of her, so she had to say a few good words to them.
Several fellow villagers here were also deeply moved and expressed their gratitude profusely.
Qiu Zeming also came over, carrying a bag and wearing a thin long-sleeved jacket.
Uncle Liu drove over in an ox cart, followed by Zhang Baosheng and Zhang Laosi.
The woven baskets have been loaded onto the car, and Zhou Jiani counted the number in front of everyone.
There are twelve each of ingot baskets and lace baskets with lids, twenty each of square and round baskets with oblique mouths, and twenty each of coasters and pot mats.
The number was correct, and with the earnest instructions of the team leader and other members, he got on the ox cart with Qiu Zeming and Liu Tong and headed to the county.
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