Wang Dafen had indeed seen Wen Ranran being brought back by a man.
Because she had eaten moldy beans crawling with maggots at lunch, her stomach started churning not long after afternoon work began. It felt as if a long worm were wriggling through her intestines.
Normally, she could have simply relieved herself and been done with it. But unwilling to waste the half piece of cured pork she had eaten at lunch, Wang Dafen clenched her buttocks and held it in all afternoon.
It wasn’t until the end of the workday, when a fart escaped and left a little surprise in her pants, that she finally rushed off to a patch of reeds.
The moment she squatted down, it all came pouring out like a flood, nearly drowning the reed bed.
After nearly half an hour, she finally felt relieved. She grabbed a couple of leaves to wipe herself and was just about to pull up her pants when she heard Wen Ranran talking to a man.
Without even finishing dressing, Wang Dafen hurried out. She wanted to find some leverage she could use against Wen Ranran.
In Wang Dafen’s eyes, Wen Ranran was nothing but a little vixen.
Ever since arriving in the countryside, she had completely bewitched Wang Dafen’s precious son, Wang Qisong. What angered her most was that Wen Ranran actually looked down on him.
“Comrade Wang Qisong, right now I only want to contribute to the development of Qingshui Brigade. I have no plans to date anyone. You should look for another young woman.”
Just remembering the disdainful look Wen Ranran had given her son made Wang Dafen grind her teeth in hatred.
Squinting, she tried to see what kind of man Wen Ranran had supposedly attached herself to.
Unfortunately, her eyesight was poor, and the couple had ridden off on a bicycle before she could get a good look. Since she hadn’t seen anything clearly, she simply started spreading rumors everywhere, claiming that Wen Ranran was fooling around with a short, ugly man.
Who would have thought that Tian Jinbao, the village chief’s grandson, would overhear her words and be so protective of Wen Ranran?
Though Wang Dafen was domineering, she knew when to pick her battles.
The village chief was the highest authority in the brigade. If she offended his family, neither she nor her son would have an easy time in the future.
She was still hoping the chief would arrange an easier job for her son someday.
With fire in her eyes, Wang Dafen didn’t dare provoke the chief’s precious grandson, so she turned her anger on everyone else instead, cursing the entire crowd.
“Laugh, laugh, laugh! Laugh your grandmothers’ legs off! Bah! You rotten women don’t have a single good heart among you! Looking down on my son? As if I don’t know all the dirty little secrets in your families!”
“Liu Cuihua! The day before yesterday, while everyone was working, you snuck home behind your husband’s back. That leper Ma from the neighboring brigade came out your back door two minutes later, pulling up his pants. You shameless hussy—if you’re going to cheat, at least find someone useful!”
“Zhang Sifeng! Your daughter’s been throwing up for half a month and still isn’t better. I bet she came back from visiting relatives carrying some man’s bastard child!”
“And you, Zhao Yanrong! Ever since becoming a widow, all you think about is men. Which man in this brigade haven’t you dragged into bed? Even your own younger brother from your parents’ family spends nights at your place every few days. How did your parents raise such a shameless tramp!”
Wang Dafen shouted while hopping around and clapping her hands.
Though she was only four-foot-seven, everyone in Qingshui Brigade knew that Wang Dafen was not someone to mess with.
But no sooner had she finished speaking than a tremendous force knocked her flat on the ground. Liu Cuihua, Zhang Sifeng, and Zhao Yanrong all charged at her with a roar.
Seeing Wang Dafen getting beaten up, Tian Jinbao couldn’t help grinning. He quietly moved closer to watch.
Smack! Smack! Smack!
“Wang Dafen, did you just crawl out of a cesspit? Every word out of your mouth is filth! Who are you slandering? Tell me, who are you slandering?! Think your filthy mouth can say anything it wants? I’ll tear it right off your face!”
From the side, Tian Jinbao echoed, “Tear it right off!”
Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack!
“You old hag whose husband ran away! Ever wonder why he left? It was because your stinking mouth drove him off!”
Tian Jinbao nodded vigorously. “That’s right, drove him off!”
Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack!
“Someone called you fat and now you’re acting proud? Even pigs know to look at themselves in a puddle. Wang Dafen, you’re worse than a pig! Your son Wang Qisong got every bad trait from you—tiny eyes, huge nose, short stature, oversized head—and he still wants a wife? I think the most suitable woman for him is you!”
Not understanding the insult, Tian Jinbao scratched his head and loudly agreed, “That’s right, the most suitable!”
Wang Dafen’s face turned green.
The three rural women were all tall and sturdy, with hands hardened by farm work. Wang Dafen was beaten until she howled in pain. Even with her lips swollen like sausages, she refused to admit defeat.
“What did I say wrong? I’m telling the truth! If you’ve got nothing to hide, why are you so worked up? Dogs only bark when someone steps on their tails—”
“Ow! My mouth! Help! Help! They’re trying to kill me!”
Wen Ranran knew nothing about Wang Dafen being beaten up.
With Zhu Pingjuan’s help, she got the stove going again and began preparing dinner.
She went to the vegetable patch and cut two handfuls of fresh chives. After finely chopping them, she mixed them with several spoonfuls of flour and two free-range eggs. She greased a pan and started frying. Before long, two fragrant plates of chive-and-egg pancakes were ready.
The delicious aroma made all the educated youths’ stomachs rumble.
Lunch had been lacking in oil and flavor, and they had spent the entire afternoon working in the fields. Their mouths watered at the smell, and once they finally tasted the pancakes, they nearly wanted to swallow their tongues.
Everyone felt puzzled.
Although Comrade Wen was usually a good cook, today’s food seemed especially delicious.
Zhu Pingjuan eagerly explained, “Of course it’s good! Ranran added two eggs from her own supply. How could it not smell amazing?”
The other educated youths immediately felt a little embarrassed.
Although meals at the youth station were communal, only grain and vegetables they grew together were shared. They did keep two hens in the backyard, but the weather had been so hot that the hens hadn’t laid eggs for a long time.
One egg cost seven cents. By contributing two eggs, Wen Ranran had spent fourteen cents on this meal.
Everyone was living frugally, and fourteen cents was not a small amount.
The youths quickly said, “Comrade Wen, there are seven people in the youth station. Split evenly, that’s two cents each. We’ll pay you later. We can’t take advantage of you.”
Aside from Jiang Yue, everyone at the youth station was quite honest and straightforward.
Wen Ranran smiled warmly.
“There’s no need. I was supposed to cook today anyway. And because of what happened with Jiang Yue at noon, everyone was inconvenienced. Consider those two eggs my apology.”