But watching rookies fight each other first also had its own flavor.
Ruan Liuzheng watched the commotion with great interest.
When women fought, it usually came down to scratching faces and pulling hair.
Clearly, Shen Rongrong was no match for Chen Meijuan. Her face had already been scratched several times.
It hurt and enraged her at the same time.
Tears kept falling as she clutched her face and dodged, yet her mouth refused to stay quiet.
“You’re just ugly! I feel like vomiting just looking at you!”
Chen Meijuan was also a woman, and being attacked about her looks immediately made her cry as well.
“You’re the one with a face full of black spots—you’re the ugly one!”
In an instant, the entire field was filled with crying.
Nearby villagers working in the fields all turned their heads. Some even ran over carrying hoes and rakes.
They stood on the ridges of the field, watching the drama with great enthusiasm.
Deng Yuanchao had just finished inspecting the rice fields and hadn’t even had time for a sip of water when someone came running over.
“Head of the brigade! You need to come quickly! The two new educated youth girls are fighting!”
Deng Yuanchao’s vision went black.
What kind of ancestors had Zhengyang Brigade invited this time?!
So angry he even forgot his pipe bag and rushed out.
Just then, he ran into Xie Jinghuai hurrying toward the fields with a serious expression.
Deng Yuanchao quickly asked, “Comrade Xie, what’s going on?”
Xie Jinghuai replied, “Old Zhang’s little boy is sick. I’m looking for Educated Youth Ruan to take a look.”
“That’s serious, hurry!”
That child was the only grandson of Old Zhang’s eldest branch, and also the orphan of a martyr. The brigade had always taken good care of him.
When they arrived at the fields, Shen Rongrong and Chen Wenjuan had already been pulled apart.
Ruan Liuzheng stood nearby. Her fair little face looked even paler under the sunlight.
Even while doing farm work, she was so beautiful that no one could ignore her.
When the villagers saw Deng Yuanchao, they greeted him.
“Head of the brigade.”
Deng Yuanchao frowned at the two who had been fighting, then turned to Ruan Liuzheng.
“Educated Youth Ruan, Old Zhang’s little boy is sick. Comrade Xie came to find you to take a look. Go quickly.”
Only then did Ruan Liuzheng notice him.
On the ridge stood a tall figure. Under the sunlight, his nose bridge was high and sharp, his facial features distinct. A few strands of slightly messy hair fell across his strong brow bone, and beside his phoenix eyes was a faint mole at the corner like a tear mark.
He looked like a lonely, world-weary lone wolf—striking and impossible not to sigh at.
Shen Rongrong recognized him instantly.
It was the man from last night.
A wave of displeasure rose in her heart. Even though this man was a rough rural worker, he was still strikingly masculine.
Ruan Liuzheng really had good luck.
“This is the Comrade Xie who shares meals with Educated Youth Ruan, right?” Zhai Xueying murmured with a smile.
Hearing this, Chen Wenjuan looked over.
So this was the man Ruan Liuzheng was eating with?
Wasn’t he supposed to be from a poor peasant family?
He didn’t look like it at all.
Jealousy immediately rose in her, and she couldn’t help but stab Shen Rongrong a couple more times.
“Same sisters, but such different lives. Some people can’t even find someone to share meals with, unlike certain others who can eat with such a good-looking male comrade.”
Shen Rongrong understood immediately and glared at her fiercely.
Without knowing why, she suddenly rushed straight toward Xie Jinghuai.
Standing so close, she became even more envious of his appearance.
Forcing herself to calm down, she spoke in a sweet, affected tone.
“Comrade, can I share meals with you too?”
Xie Jinghuai’s expression instantly changed. His eyes were filled with obvious disgust.
He stepped back two paces.
But Shen Rongrong didn’t give up and moved forward again.
“Comrade, I’m her younger sister. Can you take me in too?”
She even added a hint of coquettishness.
Ruan Liuzheng didn’t step forward. She just stood behind and watched.
She also wanted to see what Xie Jinghuai would do with other women.
Under the sunlight, Xie Jinghuai’s dark eyes looked even deeper. His tone was extremely unpleasant.
“Get lost.”
Shen Rongrong’s smile froze on her face.
Then she saw Xie Jinghuai motioning for Ruan Liuzheng. The feeling in her throat turned sour and disgusting, as if something unbearable had been forced down.
She felt revolted.
When Ruan Liuzheng passed by her, a faint, barely noticeable trace of mockery appeared at the corner of her beautiful brows.
Shen Rongrong was so angry she shouted out loud.
“She’s not a good person at all!”
Xie Jinghuai’s expression turned as cold as frost.
“She’s not a good person? And you, as her so-called sister—what exactly are you?”
Ruan Liuzheng barely suppressed the smile at the corner of her lips.
No, she had to hold it in.
She lowered her head with a pitiful expression, looking deeply hurt.
“Rongrong, don’t be angry. After I finish my work, whatever you want… I’ll let you…”
She bit her lip tightly, her eyes showing fear that didn’t seem newly formed, but something long endured.
As if she had been bullied for a long time and had never dared to resist.
Yet she was still saying she would let Shen Rongrong vent her anger later.
Was that something a normal person would say?
Shen Rongrong was shaking with rage, almost fainting.
So that’s it—this act again.
Ruan Liuzheng always used this kind of performance to deceive people.
Especially those blind men, just like her brother!
Shen Rongrong yelled, “Ruan Liuzheng, stop pretending!”
Before she could continue, Xie Jinghuai’s cold gaze made her step back in fear.
She retreated again.
“She—she really is pretending, you don’t understand…”
Xie Jinghuai frowned slightly.
“She’s pretending, at least she still looks good doing it. And you?”
He turned to Ruan Liuzheng.
“Comrade Ruan, I’ll need you to come with me.”
Ruan Liuzheng suppressed her laughter so hard her eyes turned red.
Soft and slightly nasal, she replied.
“Okay.”
Shen Rongrong: “!!!”
Watching their retreating figures, she was both furious and aggrieved.
Chen Wenjuan covered her mouth and laughed.
“If you ask me, some people really should look in a mirror before talking. A wild chicken still wants to compete with a phoenix?”
“You’re the wild chicken! The ugliest wild chicken!”
The two immediately started arguing again.
“Enough! Both of you, go to the brigade office!”
Meanwhile, Ruan Liuzheng jogged after Xie Jinghuai.
She was laughing so hard she almost couldn’t breathe.
This is killing me… Xie Jinghuai is actually this funny?
She hadn’t expected him to have this side.
Ruan Liuzheng clutched her stomach, nearly choking from laughter.
Xie Jinghuai glanced at her, noticing her holding her stomach, his expression tightening slightly.
“If you’re bullied, you should learn to fight back. Otherwise people will keep bullying you.”
Ruan Liuzheng’s eyes turned red as she nervously tugged at her sleeve.
“I… I was raised in her family…”
That one sentence carried all the bitterness of her situation, leaving the rest for others to imagine.
At that moment, they had already reached the Zhang family’s courtyard.
Jia Weihua looked anxious.
Just as he was about to speak, he saw that stern-faced “stepfather look” of Old Xie.
He pulled his hand back slightly.
“Doctor Ruan, you’re finally here.”
“Please come in quickly—the child’s fever just won’t go down.”
Ruan Liuzheng hurried into the courtyard.
Zhang Xiaoquan came out to meet her.
“Comrade Ruan, please take a look at my nephew.”
She paused for a moment.
Zhang Xiaoquan and Sister Chen turned out to be related by marriage.
At that moment, panicked and helpless cries came from inside the room.
“Zhuangzhuang! Zhuangzhuang!”