After careful consideration, Secretary Luo took out the Worker-Peasant-Soldier University quota document issued by the state and read it aloud. He concluded, "Why our Tianxing Brigade received this quota is because our members worked tirelessly, day and night, to earn it."
Therefore, I support the proposal just made by that member. The next opportunity will go to the three children from our village!"
His words fell.
The scene erupted in thunderous applause.
Clap, clap, clap, it rose and fell, continuous and unending.
Secretary Luo gestured to quiet the crowd several times before it finally settled.
None of the Educated Youths dared to speak.
There were only two quotas, so the Educated Youths actually had no chance.
Gu Chunsheng, who drew a Worker-Peasant-Soldier University quota, was extremely grateful.
Lin Xiangdong's face was already contorted with rage. Seeing that the Educated Youths were silent, he shouted, "Unfair! Unfair! We agreed at the beginning! How can you suddenly change your mind!"
Lin Xiangdong's voice echoed alone across the drying ground.
As his voice faded, the scene seemed to be paused, falling silent for a second before everything returned to normal.
Several Educated Youths returned to the crowd.
The three village youths stepped forward.
Secretary Luo, raising his voice, called for the sixth draw.
Lin Xiangdong stood there, somewhat blocking the way.
Auntie Pang from the village came over and unceremoniously carried him away.
Lin Xiangdong shouted, "I'm not convinced! It's unfair, I don't accept it!"
How could a flea possibly hold up a quilt.
His voice was ultimately drowned out by the crowd.
Lin Xiangdong was thrown next to the millstone. Unwilling to accept it, he tried to run back, but Auntie Pang shouted, "Tie him up."
So, two aunties came over with hemp ropes.
Xu Shanshan excitedly ran forward, spreading her arms, "Auntie Pang, no... no, let's go, we'll leave right now!"
Lin Xiangdong's eyes turned red with anger, and he roared in fury, "Unfair, I don't accept it! I don't accept it!"
Xu Shanshan covered his mouth, "Lin Xiangdong! Wake up!"
Lin Xiangdong's world collapsed; his dream was shattered.
He was so desperate he wanted to die!
Unwillingness, anger, and despair surged, engulfing him entirely.
However, the drying ground was not affected by him in the slightest.
The lively event continued.
The sixth person didn't draw a quota, but the seventh did.
This boy was none other than Auntie Pang's youngest son.
Auntie Pang excitedly rushed forward and hugged her small, thin son, "The ancestral graves of the Chen family must be smoking! My child is going to university, haha, haha..."
Auntie Pang was plump, which signified her prosperity. Not only had she given birth to six sons for the Chen family, but she was also a skilled worker herself.
Her maternal family was in town. Thanks to her uncle, her eldest son worked in a state-owned factory in the county town, and her third son was a Public Security Bureau officer in town.
She never expected her youngest son would also get to go to university.
This made everyone in the village incredibly envious.
This plump woman truly brought prosperity to the family.
The Chen family had many sons, but only three rooms, which weren't even enough to divide.
But as soon as Fatty Ya married in, they split the family, and she gave birth to six children for Chen Lao Yao. With support from her maternal family, the Chen family's fortunes began to flourish.
Xia Xi had already run off.
She ran to Phoenix Mountain.
Finding a vantage point, she could see the large drying ground.
Xia Xi was not surprised that the youngest son of the Chen family drew the quota.
When that boy was studying, he was no worse than her, he just liked to play.
Moreover, in her previous life, this youngest son of the Chen family didn't draw a university quota, but after the Reform and Opening Up, he became an individual household, and his life was quite prosperous.
Smart people always find a way to live.
Xia Xi also saw Lin Xiangdong's despair and pain.
Thinking of how cruel he had been to her in her previous life.
Xia Xi felt extremely satisfied!
The excitement on the drying ground ended.
Seeing the sun rise, Xia Xi took her basket and checked a few termite mushroom patches. She had a harvest and picked another basket of termite mushrooms before heading home.
Xia Xi thought she could avoid Lin Xiangdong.
To her surprise, the bastard was still waiting for her at the foot of the mountain.
Xia Xi quietly put the termite mushrooms from her basket into her space. It would be a pity if they got ruined during the argument later.
These were irreplaceable mushrooms; even her space might not be able to grow them.
She was particularly fond of them, so she cherished them even more.
Lin Xiangdong's eyes were bloodshot, and he glared fiercely at Xia Xi, "Xia Xi, you lied to me!! You lied to me, what about the quota we agreed on! Why is it gone, why!"
Xia Xi took a step back, her whole body tense as she watched him, "You saw the accident yourself. You didn't even get a chance to draw. This is heaven cutting off your path!"
Lin Xiangdong roared, "Xia Xi, figure something out for me! I order you to find a solution, or I will never speak to you again, and I will never let you into our Lin family's door."
Xia Xi pouted, "I don't want to enter your Lin family's door. I can't help, and why should I find a solution for you."
Lin Xiangdong felt blood rush to his head, his brain felt like it was about to explode, "Xia Xi, that's enough! If you act like this, in the end, you'll lose everything and gain nothing!"
Xia Xi let out a cold laugh, "I don't care! Lin Xiangdong, I have a brain, I'm not brainless. Get lost, get far away from me!"
Lin Xiangdong's eyes gradually turned cold, "Xia Xi, you dare to play me?"
Xia Xi pulled out her butcher knife, "Play you? Who is playing whom!"
Lin Xiangdong's face remained fierce, but his hands betrayed him, trembling uncontrollably. To hide his trembling, he hid his hands behind his back and took two steps back, "Xia Xi, you will regret this! You will definitely regret it!"
Xia Xi pouted, coward!
After confirming Lin Xiangdong had walked far away, Xia Xi put the butcher knife back in her basket and headed home.
Xia Xi was still a little worried that Lin Xiangdong might cause trouble because of this matter and affect her father.
So she made a bold decision.
After dinner.
She found her three brothers.
She took out a sturdy large sack.
The three brothers were instantly stunned. Second Brother, the most quick-witted, said, "Little Sister, tell us who to beat! Second Brother will go! Anyone who dares to provoke my Little Sister is tired of living."
Eldest Brother's expression slightly tightened, "Little Sister, hitting people is wrong. These things, we will handle."
Third Brother: "I'll keep watch for you!"
Xia Xi sighed softly, "You all know, I was blind before and fell for that bastard Lin Xiangdong. But after what happened that day, I suddenly woke up.
He ate our family's grain, our meat, our sugar! And he was secretly involved with Xu Shanshan. Regarding the Worker-Peasant-Soldier University quota, our family didn't help him, yet he blames me and said he would make me pay.
Brothers, do you know the saying, 'He who strikes first wins, he who strikes last loses'?"
The clever Second Brother immediately understood, "Got it. Leave this to us!"
Xia Xi stretched her neck to look at their house, making sure her parents hadn't noticed. She lowered her voice and said, "You do this, and then this..."
Second Brother gave a thumbs up, "Little Sister, you're so wicked!"
Xia Xi couldn't help but recall an incident from her childhood.
It was Second Brother who had angered her.
She was unhappy for three days, and Second Brother didn't come to appease her.
She felt resentful in her heart.
So, while Second Brother was using the outhouse, she quietly threw a large stone into the cesspit.
Not only did the excrement splash all over Second Brother, but he also slipped and fell in.
The smelly Second Brother was disliked by the family for half a month and wasn't allowed into the house.
✦✦✦