Chapter 123 The Lazy Girl in the Historical Fiction 11
“My son Wu Niu injured his leg because of you. Come back with me to take care of him.”
Zhang Wuniu's mother caught Wang Qiuman red-handed at the educated youth settlement. The woman, who had worked in the fields for many years, was extremely strong and grabbed Wang Qiuman, trying to make her go home with her.
Wang Qiuman was naturally unwilling. To her, Zhang Wuniu was just an ordinary suitor, and they weren't even boyfriend and girlfriend yet. Why should she take care of him?
“Ma’am, let go of my hand. My relationship with Comrade Zhang Wuniu is purely one of revolutionary friendship. He’s injured because of his own carelessness. What does it have to do with me? Why should I take care of him?”
Wang Qiuman struggled and shouted loudly. Several families next to the educated youth settlement came out to watch the commotion. The villagers, not wanting to miss out on the fun, watched and whispered among themselves. Old Lady Zhang was furious and used all her strength to drag Wang Qiuman toward her house.
Wang Qiuman was dragged along, staggering. Her trousers were covered in mud, and even her shirt was splattered with mud. It had just rained, and the road was very slippery. She lost her balance and fell flat on her face. Meanwhile, Old Lady Zhang, who had been pulling her along, stood firmly and watched the woman struggling in the mud with a cold eye.
Wang Qiuman was furious. She jumped up and pointed at Zhang Laoniang with her muddy fingers, saying, "You're bullying educated youth like this, and even threatening and coercing young girls. I'm going to the police station to report you."
At this time, the police station was a sacred place in the eyes of the villagers in the countryside. The villagers who were watching the show realized that something was wrong and quickly went to call Luo Dashan over.
When Luo Dashan heard that the educated youth was going to cause trouble at the police station, he naturally couldn't sit idly by and rushed over. Li Taimin was also worried and came along with him.
When Luo Dashan and the others arrived at the educated youth settlement, Wang Qiuman was already arguing with Zhang Laoniang. Zhang Laoniang's insults were vulgar and crude, and Wang Qiuman was clearly no match for her. She just stood there covered in mud and water, throwing a tantrum, and no one could do anything about it. The two were evenly matched.
Luo Dashan roared, "Get up! What's going on here? No organization, no discipline! You all want to be criticized in a big meeting, is that it?"
Upon hearing this, the two women dared not argue anymore, each standing to one side, glaring fiercely at the other.
Old Lady Zhang spoke first: "Village Chief, you must do justice for me! My son worked so hard to help her at the farm, and he got injured. She doesn't even take care of my Wu Niu. Is there any justice in this world?!"
Old Lady Zhang looked like she had gone mad. Her gray hair hung down in a mess, her skin was dark and covered with wrinkles. She looked pitiful, and the villagers would definitely side with her. So, someone immediately started to scold Wang Qiuman.
Wang Qiuman was not one to be trifled with. She raised her eyebrows, looked around, and shouted in a shrill voice, "Zhang Wuniu and I have always had a pure revolutionary friendship. What right do you have to slander me? If you keep talking nonsense, I'll go to the police station to report you."
The people around dared not gossip anymore, but the young wives looked at Wang Qiuman with particular disdain. They had never heard her say that she and Zhang Wuniu had a pure revolutionary friendship when Zhang Wuniu worked for her. Now she was saying it. It was like she was a scoundrel who wanted to erect a chastity arch. Such a person was particularly despicable.
Luo Dashan said in a deep voice, "In that case, Comrade Wang Qiuman, I will have someone change the work points that Zhang Wuniu assigned to you back to Zhang Wuniu's name."
Upon hearing this, Wang Qiuman was instantly stunned. If she didn't get her share of the work points, what would she eat next month? Wasn't her reason for hooking up with Zhang Wuniu, this peasant, just to avoid going to work and find a laborer? Wang Qiuman was dumbfounded, while the villagers watching nearby were delighted. Sure enough, experience counts.
Old Mrs. Zhang naturally had no objection to this decision. In this way, her son would essentially be injured at work, earning work points so he would have food to eat next month, and the medical expenses for work-related injuries would be halved.
Wang Qiuman shouted, "I don't agree. Why? He volunteered to work for me, and those are my work points. Why should they be credited to him? I don't agree."
Wang Qiuman grabbed Luo Dashan's undershirt, startling him. In those days, people were very careful about keeping their distance from men and women. When he saw the muddy handprints on his shirt, his brows furrowed.
Luo Dashan said sternly, "Comrade Wang, you and Zhang Wuniu are not dating, so why should you let her work for you and earn work points? You are having an affair. Zhang Wuniu can report you to the police station."
Upon hearing Luo Dashan's words, Zhang's mother's eyes lit up. That's right, she could also go to the police station to report him for having an affair. What was she afraid of? Wang Qiuman's face turned pale. She really didn't want to date Zhang Wuniu. Zhang Wuniu was dark-skinned, thin, and short, and he carried the rustic and sour smell of a rural person. She didn't even want to get close to him.
"Okay, I'll go to the clinic to take care of him."
Wang Qiu spoke each word sharply and deliberately.
"So you and Zhang Wuniu are dating now?"
"Yes, we're dating."
Wang Qiuman threw out a sentence and then ran towards the educated youth settlement, slamming the wooden door shut with a loud bang. Old Zhang's face was all smiles, her wrinkles smoothing out. Oh dear, she'd gained a wife for free! It's okay if she's disobedient; she'll be fine with more teaching later.
Seeing that the matter was resolved, Luo Dashan dismissed the onlookers and left with Li Taimin. As for whether Wang Qiuman would go to the clinic to take care of Zhang Wuniu, there was no need to worry about that, as there was still Zhang's mother there.
One autumn rain brings a chill, and winter is just around the corner after the autumn harvest. This year, Shanghe Village had a good harvest, and each household received a considerable amount of grain. While they could eat as much as they wanted, they could manage to have sweet potatoes twice a day.
Every household also grows a lot of vegetables, such as pumpkins and radishes, which can be stored for a long time. In winter, when there is nothing to eat outside and it is cold, they rely on these foods to get through the winter.
Xu Yan's life back home was rather miserable. He and his younger brother didn't have warm clothes and were still wearing only thin clothes even though winter was approaching. With the autumn wind blowing coldly, Xu Qinghe fell ill. His younger brother had a fever, but he didn't dare to take him to the clinic. After all, they were still classified as "black five categories" and he didn't have the money to treat his younger brother.
Xu Yan boiled a pot of water and found some Bupleurum chinense. He had read about it in a book before and knew that it had the effect of reducing fever. He decocted the medicine for his younger brother and fed it to him. Then he silently added firewood to the fire. This was the only way to keep warm. They did not stockpile firewood and used wood with a lot of moisture. The thick smoke made people cough and unable to open their eyes.
For a moment, Xu Yanhui wondered if death would bring relief. Looking at his younger brother's rosy face, he thought, if he died with Qinghe, his brother wouldn't have to suffer anymore.
Why should they bear all this? What did they do wrong?
No matter how mature Xu Yanhui was, he was still just a fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy. Overwhelmed by pain, he contemplated suicide.
But when he thought of his grandfather in the Great Northern Wilderness, he hesitated. The deaths of him and his brother were undoubtedly a devastating blow to the old man, or rather, the only hope for the old man to live was him and his brother.
And what about the girl who helped him several times? Now that he's dead, will she shed tears for him? Will she feel sad for him? Just as his thoughts were in turmoil, a girl's clear, cold voice rang out from outside the door:
"What happened to you? Is the house on fire?"
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