While they were working in the fields, they had already heard the news. When Jun Ning had returned to the village to pick up her tools that morning, she saw Xiao Wu, the youngest son of the Great Team Leader, fall into the river. She had immediately dived in to save him, but had ended up drowning herself.
Seeing so many people concerned for her, Jun Ning felt a surge of warmth in her heart.
She smiled and said to them, “There’s no need to worry. I only drowned because my leg cramped up at the time and I passed out. Fortunately, the Old Branch Secretary, Fu Jingwei, Qin Yan, and Lin Qingqing took me to the health center. By the time the Secretary and Fu Jingwei got me there, I woke up almost immediately. I’m perfectly fine now, really!”
Hearing this, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Xiao Yanru grabbed her hand. “It’s good that you’re okay. You scared me to death today.” Then, she added, “Oh, right, A’Ning, the Great Team Leader asked me to tell you that he’s coming over in a bit to thank you for saving his son. He asked that you don’t leave the Youth Point.”
As the saying goes, “Speak of the devil and he shall appear.”
No sooner had Xiao Yanru finished speaking than they saw the Great Team Leader, Liang Zhigao, striding in. He was carrying a bag of items and was followed by his wife, Huang Aifen, his eldest son, Liang Xuewen, and his youngest, Liang Xuewu.
Liang Zhigao was a veteran. He stood with a back as straight as a spear, walked with a purposeful gait, and possessed a hearty personality known for being fair and just. Everyone said that once the Old Branch Secretary retired, the Team Leader would be his successor. Not a single villager in the brigade had an objection to that. Even if there were one or two who disagreed, they were a tiny minority who couldn’t stir up any trouble.
When the Liang family of four saw that everyone was present and that Jun Ning was standing there in good health, they also felt a weight lift from their shoulders.
Liang Zhigao smiled at the group. “You’re all here. Haven’t eaten yet, I assume?”
The youths chimed in, “Not yet, Team Leader. Have you?”
“We haven’t either,” Liang Zhigao replied. “I was too worried about Jun Ning’s safety. I rushed over the moment we finished work. If it weren’t for Jun Ning today, this brat of mine would have lost his life.”
He then turned to Jun Ning, his eyes full of gratitude. “Jun Ning, thank you for saving Xiao Wu’s life. Our family will remember this kindness forever. These things are just a small token of our appreciation. Please, take them!”
Jun Ning quickly pushed the bag back. “Team Leader, please don’t be so polite. I would have saved anyone I saw falling into the water. It was just a stroke of bad luck that I cramped up. Fortunately, it was just a scare and everything turned out fine. You should give these things to Xiao Wu instead; he must have been terrified today.”
Liang Zhigao pulled Xiao Wu in front of Jun Ning and said with a stern face, “Brat, hurry up and thank Sister Jun Ning for saving your life. Kneel down and give her three kowtows.”
Liang Xuewu was truly grateful to Jun Ning and was perfectly willing to kneel. However, just as he was about to go down, Jun Ning caught him and pulled him back up. She smiled gently and said, “Xiao Wu, we live in a New Society now; we don’t do the kneeling and bowing thing anymore. If you really want to thank me, just saying it is enough.”
Hearing Jun Ning’s words, Liang Zhigao immediately thought of the phrase “feudal superstition.” If the child really did kneel and kowtow, and someone decided to make a political issue out of it, they would all be in serious trouble.
He immediately told his son, “Xiao Wu, then just say thank you. Remember Sister Jun Ning’s kindness in your heart forever. When you grow up, you must find a way to repay her, do you understand?”
Liang Xuewu nodded seriously. “Dad, I understand.” He then looked at Jun Ning and said, almost like a vow, “Sister Jun Ning, thank you for saving me. I will remember what you did. When I grow up, I’ll earn money for you to spend!”
The group burst into laughter hearing a little kid claim he was going to earn money for Jun Ning.
Jun Ning laughed as well and patted his head. “Xiao Wu is such a good boy. I appreciate the sentiment. When you grow up and earn money, remember to take care of your parents first. You don’t need to worry about me.”
But Liang Xuewu was stubborn. “I must. I definitely will.”
Seeing how persistent he was, Jun Ning played along. “Alright then. When you’ve made something of yourself, I’ll accept your gifts, okay?”
“Mhm! Sister Jun Ning, I’ll work hard. Just you wait for my gifts!”
Looking at the spark in the boy’s eyes, Jun Ning nodded. “Alright.” She didn’t want to dampen his motivation. By the time this child actually made something of himself, she likely wouldn’t be the same person she was now anyway. She might even be wealthy enough to rival a nation by then.
The Liang family didn’t stay long. They pressed the gifts into Jun Ning’s hands and hurried off. Inside the mesh bag was a tin of malted milk extract, fifty eggs, and a bag of dried mushrooms. To rural folk who barely earned a few dollars a year, this was an incredibly heavy gift.
Jun Ning hadn’t wanted to take it, but Liang Zhigao had dropped it and run. She decided she would find an opportunity to give their family something in return later.
The other youths looked at the items in Jun Ning’s hand with envy, unable to keep themselves from swallowing. Lin Qingqing’s eyes were especially red with jealousy. She said sarcastically, “Jun Ning, you saved someone and got so many things. We saved you—don’t you have anything to show for it?”
Jun Ning looked at her twisted, fake-smiling face and said seriously, “Comrade Lin Qingqing, don’t worry. I will definitely deliver a thank-you gift to you all tomorrow.”
“However,” Jun Ning continued, “the ones who did the heavy lifting on the way to the health center were the Old Branch Secretary and Fu Jingwei, so I will be focusing my gratitude on them. I also appreciate the sentiment of you and Comrade Qin Yan coming along for the trip. I’ll thank you properly as well: one tin of malted milk, twenty eggs, and two catties of pastries. Is that enough?”
Lin Qingqing gave a light scoff. “Jun Ning, is your life really only worth that much?”
Before Jun Ning could even respond to that, Xiao Yanru spat toward Lin Qingqing. “I say, Lin Qingqing, do you have no shame? You just walked along for the ride and Jun Ning is already giving you that much, yet you still want more? What, do you want to open your lion’s maw and swallow her whole? Do you really think Jun Ning is an easy target?”
Gu Xiangwen, the head of the Youth Point, also looked at Lin Qingqing with a stern expression. “Lin Qingqing, we are all fellow comrades here. That’s enough.”
The other youths chimed in as well. “Exactly. Jun Ning is already giving so much; you should be satisfied.”
One of the male youths joked, “If I’d known Jun Ning was this generous, I would have fought for the chance to go!”