“Chief, think about it. If the authorities didn’t sentence these people to heavy punishment, but instead sent them down to the countryside what do you suppose their true purpose is?”
The chief replied as though it were obvious. “Why, to punish them, of course! To make them work!”
“Exactly to work!” Lin Jingwan slapped her thigh. “And more than just work to *reform* them!
“In the old society, they turned people into ghosts. But in our new society, we nurture and uplift the human heart! We make them endure hardship, do the hardest labor, and cast off their old bad habits! This is forging their resolve remaking them into honest, simple working people. This is the vision of our new society, the very strength of socialism, and the profound care with which the Organization acts.”
“You speak truly.” The chief nodded.
Seeing she had him hooked, Lin Jingwan pressed on gently. “But if they were to die… that would disrupt the entire reform plan. It would defeat the very purpose of the Organization’s decree. Chief, we cannot let personal feeling guide us we must not go against the Organization’s greater will. We may supervise their labor and keep strict watch but they must not die! Otherwise, we local cadets would be overstepping our authority, and defying the Organization’s grand design!”
“Ah?” The chief looked bewildered. It sounded reasonable… yet something felt distinctly off.
Hanhan glanced at Luoluo, who immediately tugged at the chief’s coat. “Uncle Chief, it’s getting so cold… there are little children back at the cattle shed. Little Zhuzi’s nose is running blue with cold. I fear he won’t last much longer…”
“That’s true!” Hanhan chimed in. “When I went to gather firewood the other day, I heard Heidan from the cattle shed asking where the hill graveyard lay. I think… he’s making ready to bury his grandfather before winter even takes him.”
“That we cannot allow!” The chief grew instantly alarmed. “That hillside is our village’s ancestral burial ground. It has been so since time immemorial strangers may not be laid to rest there!”
He fell silent then. Thinking of the paralyzed old man wasting away in the shed his life already all but spent he hesitated. At last he sighed.
“Very well. It is your house you shall decide. But on two conditions: only the elderly and children may dwell there. And they may not move in until next month before the cold truly sets in.”
A faint smile touched Lin Jingwan’s lips. “As the Chief commands.”
It suited her perfectly. Even should anyone later question her kindness toward the sent-down families, there would be no blame to lay at her door she would have been gone a full month! All arrangements were approved by the Chief himself; none could be traced to her. She had simply laid the wisest of investments for a future yet to come.
When winter rages, a helping hand is worth more than gold.
That evening, she spoke thus to Li Zhaoye. Finishing, she turned her gaze toward him, voice soft. “Li Zhaoye… do you think me foolishly soft-hearted?”
His eyes rested gently on her face, a quiet warmth in his tone. “Not at all. You give wisely and just enough.”
Her heart stirred. He understands me. And he was no rigid, old-fashioned fool.
Oh no… she was beginning to like him rather a lot.
Li Zhaoye met her gaze, and the corners of his mouth lifted in a faint smile. He was striking enough in repose but that smile made her heart melt unbidden.
Oh dear. If he keeps looking at me like that… I might just fall for him.
“Ahem!” She quickly steered the conversation elsewhere. “By the way you went to the Public Security Bureau this afternoon. What do you suppose will become of Old Madam Lin and the rest?”
“Old Madam Lin is dead.”
“ What?”
“She was gone before we even reached the station. By the time the ambulance arrived… she had breathed her last.”
Lin Jingwan thought privately: Good riddance. Thank heavens she had never laid a hand on the woman.
“That had nothing to do with me,” she said. “I never touched her!”
“Indeed. It was not your doing. She was old and frail, and could not bear the shock. When she heard her son’s grave had been opened… her heart simply gave way.”
“However…” Li Zhaoye paused, his tone growing meaningful.
Lin Jingwan’s heart skipped a beat.
“Lin Dayong and Lin Daqiang have both fallen ill vomiting and severe diarrhea. Lin Laosan and his wife… their lips and fingernails have turned blue. All four have been rushed to the hospital.” His gaze rested upon her, as though seeing straight through her.
Lin Jingwan met his gaze calmly, feigning indifference. “Doubtless divine retribution for their many sins.”
She knew Li Zhaoye had likely guessed the truth. But… so what? She had motive, yes but he had “no proof”.
She lifted her chin and looked him steadily in the eye.
Li Zhaoye watched her standing there so boldly pretending innocence… and a soft, tender light danced in his gaze.
Oh no. Lin Jingwan realized with a start this man was beginning to know her all too well. She could have sworn she saw affection in his eyes.
No. No, no, no. This is moving far too fast.
They might share a home, share warmth and comfort… but she must never fall in love. Love was a luxury that could get you killed. In the days of ruin, betrayal most often came from those you loved. In this life, given a second chance… she would put herself first, always.
Though… perhaps… just a little fondness might be permitted…
Lin Jingwan shook her head, chasing away those dangerous thoughts. “Very well. I understand. Now go and cook I am famished!”
Li Zhaoye looked surprised. “It’s so late haven’t you eaten yet?”
“Not yet! I’ve been shouting and arguing all day, busy from dawn till dusk… and yesterday we were ”
“I’ll go make dinner!”
Before she could finish, Li Zhaoye turned and hurried out. He knew exactly what she had been about to say.
Lin Jingwan burst out laughing as she watched him leave. Hahaha! She hadn’t expected him to be so easily flustered he really couldn’t take a little teasing!
“Hanhan, Luoluo come, let’s count how much we gathered today!”
“Coming, Sister!”
The three girls sat on the heated kang, happily counting their haul.
“One fen, two fen, five fen, ten fen…”
“Sister! Altogether it’s 326 yuan, 7 jiao, and 8 fen!”
“Wow that much?”
Lin Jingwan was genuinely impressed. Truly, old women in this country knew how to hoard money! After setting aside the 70 yuan that had belonged to her family, Old Madam Lin had still managed to save up nearly 200 yuan herself!
And yet the 100 yuan she had been sold for? That money was coming back. Tomorrow, she would go and collect what was owed.
The next morning, Lin Jingwan was awakened by noise in the courtyard. She stretched and yawned, climbing out of bed to find little Luoluo kneading dough.
“You’re awake, Sister!” Luoluo turned at the sound.
Her stomach gave a loud growl. “Hehe… I don’t think I ate enough yesterday.”
“But Sister you had three bowls of porridge and five sweet potatoes!”
Lin Jingwan fell silent. Hehe… ever since waking up in this life, she had an overwhelming hunger for food. Starved in her past life this time, she would eat well!
And that meant finding her grandmother. Her real grandmother. The woman whose ancestors had served as imperial chefs to the Empress Dowager Cixi! She would latch onto that connection and never let go!
“Sister? What are you thinking about?”
“Ah… just thinking that someone’s cooking leaves much to be desired. All thin broth and plain porridge yesterday!”
Li Zhaoye, stepping through the door just in time, paused. …He had already used up every bit of rice taken from Lin Laosan’s house the day before.
“Sister, we’re back!” Hanhan announced, walking in behind Li Zhaoye. So far, he decided, this brother-in-law was doing a fine job and certainly hadn’t been driven away yet.
“Brother-in-law!” Luoluo beamed, her eyes fixed on what he carried.
“Mm.” Li Zhaoye nodded. “Caught these fish by the river at dawn, and hunted two hares as well. Later I’ll fetch a couple of chickens from the next courtyard plenty for everyone at midday.” He set everything down.
Luoluo’s eyes sparkled as she poured two cups of water. Lin Jingwan’s gaze shone even brighter. She looked at the fresh game on the ground, then at the tall, upright man beside her.
My, my… what a capable man. He could hunt in the hills, fish in the streams, contribute what he could, and always knew what needed doing! As far as partners went he was practically perfect.
And yet… preparing such a feast just to tear down a wall? Somehow, she felt like she was getting the short end of the deal.
Perhaps… there was a better way to make it worth her while.