"You... one by one..." The captain stopped speaking, his cold gaze sweeping across the faces of the crowd, "are you all here to see Doctor Song for treatment?"
Seeing the captain's cold face, everyone's hearts sank, and the sweat on their foreheads turned into cold sweat.
Coming here to join in the fun has really backfired. Not only have I offended Doctor Song, but I'm afraid I've also offended the brigade leader.
The villagers, who had remained silent all along, tried to minimize their presence. They hoped that neither the brigade leader nor Song Yueying would notice them.
"Alright." The captain didn't expose them and slowly raised his right hand. "Those who came to see Doctor Song, please stand to my right now."
Seeing how easy the brigade leader was to talk to, the villagers were dumbfounded and began to wonder what he meant.
Song Rumeng glanced at Aunt Li, hoping she would step forward and accuse Song Yueying of having an affair. Unfortunately, Aunt Li seemed lost in thought and didn't look at her.
"Useless," Song Rumeng muttered angrily.
"Hurry up, stop dawdling and don't waste everyone's time," the team leader urged. "Today is the first day of the double harvest, and there's a lot of work to be done in the fields."
"If we don't hurry up and harvest the crops from the fields and replant them, no one will have enough to eat next year."
Upon hearing that they might not have enough to eat next year, the villagers began to panic. Because they couldn't figure out what the village head was planning, no one dared to make a move.
Song Yueying and Qi Yanjue exchanged a glance, both sensing that their captain was brewing a big surprise.
Having exposed Aunt Li's past misdeeds, Song's mother had essentially severed all ties with her. Feeling somewhat saddened, she stood to the side, head bowed, lost in thought.
Seeing the villagers dawdling, the brigade leader's anger continued to rise.
"Nobody's moving, is that it?" The captain's face was ashen as he suddenly raised his voice, "Nobody's moving? Then what you're saying about coming to see Doctor Song is all nonsense?"
"Or do you think what I, as the captain, say is just bullshit?"
"The double harvest season is always busy, and today is the first day of the double harvest, so it's even busier. Not only are you busy, but I'm busy too, so busy that I don't even have time to drink a sip of water."
"The sun is strong at noon, so when you go home for lunch, take the opportunity to rest for a while so you can prepare for the heavy work in the afternoon."
“Since you don’t need to rest, starting tomorrow, none of you are allowed to go home for lunch. Everyone will eat in the fields.”
"Whether you bring your own food or have your elderly relatives or children bring you meals, you must eat lunch in the fields and then continue working."
"If anyone dares to disobey me or try to play tricks on me, don't blame me for being ruthless."
"If you get fewer work points or less food, don't try to reason with me. I don't reason."
Song Yueying and Qi Yanjue exchanged another glance; the captain was indeed holding back a big move.
Anyway, they have nothing to do right now, so they might as well just watch the show. Song Yueying muttered to herself, "Sigh, if only we could have some peanuts and melon seeds."
"What did you say?" Qi Yanjue wasn't that he didn't hear her muttering, but rather that he couldn't believe she would say such a thing in such a situation.
Peanuts and melon seeds—what did she think this was? Watching a show?
"I didn't say anything!" At this point, Song Yueying would never admit that she had said anything.
Qi Yanjue looked at her meaningfully, while Song Yueying returned his gaze with an innocent expression.
None of the villagers in the courtyard noticed the interaction between the two, except for Song Rumeng. She gritted her teeth as she glared at them, cursing and swearing in her heart.
The villagers lowered their heads, too ashamed to utter a sound. Out of respect for the brigade leader's authority, even those deeply dissatisfied with his arrangements dared not voice their grievances.
But there are exceptions, such as Aunt Li, who is an exception.
Aunt Li said, "Captain, you're not right. You're the one who assigns us work; we're the ones who work in the fields, so we're definitely the ones who are most tired."
"You even made us bring our own food to eat in the fields. Is that food tasty? Will it be enough to fill us up?"
"If we're not getting enough to eat, how can we have the strength to work?"
Aunt Li's words really struck a chord with the villagers; they didn't want to eat in the fields either. Eating at home was unpredictable, and eating quickly allowed them to rest for a while.
Eating in the fields is a different story. After eating, you have to keep working. Even the strongest body can't handle it.
Once Aunt Li started, the other villagers followed suit.
“Aunt Li is right, team leader. We’re already tired enough from working in the fields. Let’s not eat lunch there. Let’s all go home and eat.”
"Yes! If we eat in the fields, we won't even have time to catch our breath, and our bodies won't be able to take it."
"Yes, yes, yes, if our bodies break down, we won't have the strength to work."
"The sun is so strong, it's already very hot working in the fields. If we have to eat lunch in the fields under the blazing sun, we'll get sick from the heat."
"My family has no elderly people or children who can cook, what should I do?"
Everyone chimed in with their opinions, whether sincere or just excuses. They all shared the same demand: to avoid eating lunch in the fields.
Withdrawing her gaze from Qi Yanjue's earnest argument, Song Yueying looked at the villagers standing in the sun with great interest.
Is this... forcing the brigade leader, or using her own health to force him? Song Yueying silently applauded the villagers, praising their commendable courage.
They're so stupid they don't even realize it!
Their pressure would not only fail to change the captain's mind, but would also make him think they were challenging his authority.
The captain of a brigade still wielded considerable power during that period.
The captain didn't interrupt everyone's chance to express their opinions, and his livid expression softened considerably.
He waited until the villagers finished speaking before saying, "I'm not discussing this with you, but informing you of the upcoming arrangements. Anyone who disobeys these arrangements will see you at the general meeting."
As soon as he finished speaking, the villagers' faces changed, and they dared not utter another word.
Even Aunt Li, who was usually fearless, turned pale at this moment.
"What kind of conference is the captain talking about?" Song Yueying asked Qi Yanjue in a voice that only the two of them could hear, sensing that there was something more to the captain's words.
Looking down at the head that was almost touching his chest, Qi Yanjue's mind wavered. After regaining his composure, doubt and suspicion flashed in his eyes.
"You don't know?" Qi Yanjue asked in return.
Song Yueying didn't look at him, but shook her head to indicate that she didn't know.
There were so many villagers standing in the courtyard. Although their attention was drawn to the brigade leader, some people still glanced at her and Qi Yanjue from time to time, but Song Yueying didn't care at all.
They didn't bother anyone by talking to Qi Yanjue; they were completely open and honest.
Seeing that she genuinely didn't know, Qi Yanjue suppressed his suspicions and explained, "The meeting the brigade leader mentioned is just a meeting where everyone in the brigade gathers together."
Song Yueying was surprised, thinking to herself, "So it means exactly what it says. I was overthinking it."
"These kinds of meetings are only held a few times a year, but one that never misses a year is after the double harvest," Qi Yanjue continued. "The grain will be distributed after the double harvest."
"Because the harvested grain is to be distributed, everyone in the brigade will come. Therefore, the meeting after the double harvest is the most solemn and has the most attendees of the whole year."
"When the captain said 'see you at the meeting,' he meant to bring the person who disobeyed the orders to the meeting for criticism."
She knew the team leader's words had a hidden meaning, and sure enough, they did. Song Yueying said quietly, "In this way, those who disobey orders will not only lose face, but also lose all their dignity."
Qi Yanjue glanced at her and said nothing more.
"Captain, we..." A villager tried to explain, but the captain didn't want to listen. He interrupted the villager, "You were the one who said the sun was strong?"
"Yes, I said it." The villager nodded in admission. He wanted to deny it, but with so many people watching and listening, he couldn't deny it.
Fortunately, he was telling the truth, so there's no need to panic.
"Very good." The captain nodded, looking intently at the others. "Is that what you all think too?"
Only a few people nodded, most shook their heads, and even more people neither nodded nor shook their heads.
"Fine, very well." The team leader laughed in exasperation. "Letting you eat lunch in the fields to save time for work. You think the sun is too strong in the fields? What about here?"
“You all stood in Dr. Song’s yard under the blazing sun. What’s wrong? Is the sun in Dr. Song’s yard the same as the sun in the fields?”
Everyone blushed with embarrassment at the captain's words, and each of them shrank back like quails.
But the team leader wasn't finished speaking. He continued, "On the first day of the double harvest, I understand how tired everyone was, but I understand you all. Does anyone understand me?"
"You've come to Dr. Song's yard, are you really here to see a doctor, as you say?"
"Don't think that just because you don't tell me, I really don't know what you're up to."
“You know what you’re thinking, and I know it too.”
"Those who want to see a doctor, and those who object to bringing lunch to eat in the fields, can stay. The rest of you can go home. Anyone who is late for work in the afternoon will have two work points deducted."
Wasn't the captain angry? Yes, he was. Wasn't he furious? Yes, he was. But no matter how angry or furious he was, he still remained rational.
He knew that no matter how capable he was, he was only one person. The grain in the fields had to be brought into the granary as soon as possible, and this would require the concerted efforts of all the villagers.
So let's let these villagers off the hook for now, and settle accounts later.
When the brigade leader said they could leave, the villagers felt as if they had been granted a pardon. They turned around to leave when someone suddenly shouted, "You can't leave!"
The villagers stopped and looked toward the source of the sound.
Song Rumeng, was she the one who just shouted that we couldn't leave?
Not wanting to upset the brigade leader any further, a kind-hearted aunt came over and took Song Rumeng's hand, saying, "Mengmeng, stop making a fuss, hurry home and make lunch."
“Yes, hurry home and make lunch. Your dad injured his leg, he’s probably waiting for you to come back and cook for him,” another auntie advised.
Song Rumeng ignored their words, brushed aside the kind aunt's hand, and walked straight to the front.
“He, they.” Pointing at Song Yueying and Qi Yanjue, he said loudly, “Captain, the reason we are here is because of the two of them.”
“My cousin brought a man home in broad daylight, ruining the reputation of our entire brigade.”
“Even if she is my cousin, I cannot protect her.”
After Song Rumeng's reminder, the villagers also realized why they had come here. So they all stopped in their tracks; the double harvest was busy, but it couldn't be finished in just a day or two.
For now, it's more important to just watch the show.
Song Yueying's eyes shone like stars in the night sky as she looked triumphantly at Qi Yanjue. Her gaze seemed to say, "I won. You can't go back on your promise."
Qi Yanjue smiled helplessly, nodded slightly, and silently said, "I'm willing to accept the consequences of my bet."
The silent interaction between the two was interpreted by Song Rumeng as flirting. Daring to seduce a man in public, Song Yueying truly had no shame.
Song Rumeng cursed Song Yueying fiercely in her heart.
The captain sneered, glancing back at Song Yueying and Qi Yanjue. His gaze lingered on Qi Yanjue's face for a moment before returning to Song Rumeng. "You mean, I'm protecting her?"
"I didn't mean that." Of course, Song Rumeng couldn't admit that, even if that was what she really thought.
"If you didn't mean that, then what did you mean?" the captain asked impatiently, his voice carrying a hint of authority.
Song Rumeng felt a chill in her heart, but she still insisted, "What I mean is, my cousin did something that tarnished the reputation of our brigade. You saw it, and you can't pretend you didn't see it."
"Ruining the reputation of our brigade." The brigade leader savored the words, turning to look at Song Yueying. He asked, "You've ruined the reputation of our brigade?"
"Is that how you ask a question?" Song Rumeng was dumbfounded.
The captain's question almost made Song Yueying burst out laughing. She quickly grabbed Qi Yanjue's arm and turned her head away, trying her best to hold back her laughter.
Nearly a minute later, she turned back and shook her head seriously at the captain, "I didn't."
Seeing her shake her head seriously, the captain's lips twitched, and he turned back to Song Rumeng and said, "I just asked, and your cousin said she didn't have it."
This time, even the villagers who were watching the commotion were dumbfounded.
But the captain wasn't finished yet. He suddenly realized, "Oh right, Song Rumeng, didn't you just say that your cousin brought a man home in broad daylight?"
"Yes, I just said that." Song Rumeng was still in a daze and nodded blankly.
"Did you see it with your own eyes?" the captain asked again.
"Yes, I saw it with my own eyes." Song Rumeng nodded again. By now, she had come to her senses and felt that the captain's question was a bit strange, but what was strange about it?
She couldn't explain it clearly at the moment.
The captain looked at Song Yueying. This time, Song Yueying was very self-aware and pushed Qi Yanjue in front of the captain without him having to ask. "The man I brought home is him."
The captain nodded, pointed at Qi Yanjue, and asked Song Rumeng, "Your cousin said this is the man she brought home. Is the person you saw him?"
“It’s him,” Song Rumeng answered without the slightest hesitation.
The captain looked at Song Yueying, then at Song Rumeng, and asked, "Are you two done with your standoff? Any more questions?"
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