Lu Debang and Zhang Hongfa had already distributed the grain to Shen Meng and asked her and the others to wait inside while they went to the production team to get some things. They also needed to find a plank to carry her away, and Shen Meng readily agreed.
As she was leaving, she saw a large group of people gathered at the Lu family's door and quickly waved them away.
"Go back to work! Don't bother earning work points by coming here to watch the show. Don't cause any trouble when it's time to distribute grain and meat at the end of the year."
Seeing the village chief chasing them away, some sensible people left first, while others shuffled along, their eyes still glancing towards the Lu family's house.
On the way back to the production team, Lu Debang frowned and said, "You said you'd compensate Zhenping's wife ten yuan and thirty jin of fine grain, but you didn't even discuss it with me before making this decision. What if others knew? Would they be happy about that?"
"Hmph, so what if they aren't? The production team's ox gored someone, nearly killing them, and they didn't even call a doctor. If word gets out, our Lu Family Village production team will be infamous in the commune. Do you think Zhenping will let it go? Don't forget, Zhenping knows people in the county government. If he holds a grudge, who will take responsibility?"
Lu Debang was somewhat dismissive, scoffing, "I think you're overthinking it. Zhenping is a reasonable person."
"Even if he's reasonable, it's his wife and his wife who's hurt. He's out there protecting his country, and his family, his fellow villagers, and even us, who grew up with him, are just standing by and watching him die. Do you think he'd be happy about that? Think about it carefully."
Lu Debang fell silent after hearing this. He knew Lu Zhenping's temper; sometimes, when he got ruthless, it was truly frightening.
Seeing that he was silent, Zhang Hongfa sighed and patted him on the shoulder.
"Debang, even if you don't care about the monk, you should care about the Buddha. Shen Meng is Zhenping's wife. She was injured by the production team's cow, and we don't even know if she'll survive. If the village cadres don't stand up for her at this time, what will the commune members think? It's only because her parents are honest that they didn't make a scene at the commune. Try it with someone else, they would be making a fuss and demanding compensation from the production team! Besides, your nephew wants to join the army. He's fifteen this year. If
he enlists..." He didn't finish his sentence, but patted Lu Debang's shoulder twice more. These village cadres were all young, and many relationships needed to be rebuilt. They had to be fair in their dealings, otherwise, they wouldn't be able to gain people's trust.
At this moment, Lu Debang's heart skipped a beat. Lu Mingyang's children were all grown up. If they couldn't get through Shen Meng, they would definitely leave a message for Lu Zhenping. Whether they said good or bad things would depend on their behavior.
Thinking back to his previous attitude, Zhang Hongfa broke out in a cold sweat. These days, one person joining the army brings honor to the whole family; doing well in the army means a bright future. But sometimes, no matter how hard you try, you still need connections.
"Yes, yes, I misunderstood. Hongfa, you're right. Let's hurry and get money and grain for Zhenping's wife. Oh, let's see if the production team has any coupons they can spare, and get some for her too. I just heard that Uncle Shen and the others aren't planning to go back tonight. Let's find someone to go to their house in Shenjiaji and deliver a message."
"Hahaha, okay, whatever you say." Zhang Hongfa laughed and pointed at Lu Debang. The two discussed how to help Shen Meng move and deliver things, secretly planning to have the women in their families bring something to Shen Meng to curry favor.
Half an hour later, Shen Meng was carried back to her home, lying on a dilapidated door panel. Those who stayed at the Lu family's house, seeing her half-dead, miserable state, began to believe what Wang Guizhi had said earlier.
Several people with loose tongues pointed and whispered about the old Lu family courtyard.
Zhou Jiaojiao felt a huge sense of loss after moving from a spacious brick house to the dilapidated house where Shen Meng lived. She had bought a lot of things before, all of which she had saved up little by little, and now they were all piled up on the kang (a heated brick bed). She couldn't even tidy them up, and there was nowhere to put them. Her eyes were red with grievance.
Lu Jiaxuan felt incredibly sorry for her.
"Jiaojiao, don't be sad. I'll make you some cabinets later. The house Mom built for us when we got married is quite spacious. Let's move there!"
Zhou Jiaojiao frowned slightly and gently shook her head.
"No, it's almost autumn, and Mom and Dad are getting old. They should live in that house. We're young and strong, so we should stay here. We'll just find some newspapers to cover the windows, and this house will be livable after a little cleaning."
Lu Jiaxuan's heart softened as he looked at his understanding wife.
"Jiaojiao, you've been wronged."
"I'm not wronged. As long as I'm with you, and we're of one mind living a good life, I'm not wronged."
Zhou Jiaojiao didn't want to move to Liu Sanjin's house. She and Lu Jiaxuan lived a sweet and happy life, only coming to the old house for meals and playing around freely. Living in the old house was different; any noise would be heard by others.
She was planning to ask her in-laws to build a courtyard for their fourth branch of the family, even if it was just a mud-brick house.
She wanted to be able to live her own life behind closed doors; that would be much more enjoyable! Liu Sanjin was living comfortably in the big house. Seeing her youngest son and daughter-in-law move back, she felt sorry for them, but she didn't want to move back to the old house herself. She saw the roof was about to collapse if it wasn't repaired soon. Just then, Lu Jiaxuan told her that Zhou Jiaojiao didn't want to move in, saying she was too old and needed to be comfortable.
Liu Sanjin was deeply moved, once again thinking how considerate her youngest daughter-in-law, Zhou Jiaojiao, was. She thought Shen Meng, that little bitch, was just a troublemaker; when her eldest son, Lu Zhenping, came back, she would definitely make him divorce her.
Shen Meng was unaware of what was happening here. She was currently talking with the village chief's sister-in-law, Tian Guihua, and the village secretary's mother, Chen Jinling. The two of them had come together, carrying eggs, brown sugar, and some dried vegetables.
"Good child, take good care of yourself, you'll get better. Your Mingkai is still so young, he can't lose his mother. If you ever need anything, just come to me, I'll stand up for you."
"Yes, sister, I didn't know you had such a hard life before. Everyone is busy earning work points. Some people are heartless, they don't have any skills themselves, so they just want to take advantage of others. Don't worry, my brother-in-law is the village chief. Although he's young, he's fair and just, and he won't let us villagers suffer."
Both of them had something in mind, and they tried to say nice things to Shen Meng in various ways. But while they were nice, they were also genuinely trying to make friends. After going through a life-or-death experience, she was still able to get her house back; she was a smart man.
"Oh, I'm so sorry to have made you laugh at me, sister-in-law and aunt. I'm so lucky to have gotten my child's house back; it's all thanks to those two leaders. When my son Zhenping comes back, I'll have to tell him to find the village chief and the Party Secretary and thank them properly."
Hearing Shen Meng say this, Tian Guihua and Chen Jinling exchanged a glance and both breathed a sigh of relief. They didn't need to express gratitude; they just hoped he wouldn't hold a grudge for not helping them get a doctor.