Yao Yunzhen waved the paper in her hand: “How did you receive this letter?”
“When I came back yesterday, I saw this letter pinned to my door with my name written on it, so I took it.”
He was accustomed to slacking off and was usually the first one to return to the Educated Youth Center.
He didn’t doubt the contents of the letter either.
There wasn’t just one or two village girls who admired him, and this wasn’t the first love letter he had received.
As for the ugly handwriting and misspelled words, he considered that perfectly normal.
So what if Yao Yunzhen had finished high school? She was still just a village girl—what could she possibly have learned?
Yao Yunzhen pressed further: “Did you see who delivered the letter?”
Li Yunqi shook his head honestly: “No.”
Clearly, he didn’t know anything more.
Yao Yunzhen was utterly contemptuous: “What an idiot. How could you fall for such an obvious scheme? Do you really think I would ever like you?”
With her face mask on and her bangs covering her forehead, Li Yunqi couldn’t see her expression, but he could sense the heavy sarcasm in her words.
Li Yunqi wished he could tear her mouth apart.
Damn bitch. Wasted such a lovely voice and such beautiful eyes on such a sharp, nasty personality.
He wouldn’t want a woman like that even if she were handed to him on a platter. Served her right to have sores on her face and be an ugly monster.
Though Li Yunqi didn’t dare say a word aloud, he cursed her incessantly in his heart.
Yao Yunzhen pointed at him again: “Dad, he’s cursing me!”
Seeing Yao Sheng about to approach him again, Li Yunqi hurriedly cried out: “I didn’t! I haven’t said anything!”
“Hmph, don’t think I don’t know—you’re cursing me in your heart.”
His eyes were darting around shiftily; he clearly wasn’t being honest and must be secretly cursing her inside.
But even cursing her in his heart wasn’t allowed—she refused to tolerate that injustice.
A flicker of guilt flashed in Li Yunqi’s eyes before he tried to argue back.
But Yao Sheng wasn’t about to give him another chance. He pinned him to the ground again and beat him until he was crying for his parents.
Since his daughter said he had cursed her, then he had cursed her.
“I didn’t curse, I really didn’t… Ah, it hurts, stop hitting me, please stop…”
“I know I was wrong, I won’t curse anymore, never again, please don’t hit me, I beg you, stop hitting me…”
Only when she thought it was enough did Yao Yunzhen speak up: “Alright, Dad, you can stop now.”
Yao Sheng naturally stopped.
Yao Yunzhen stepped forward and looked down at Li Yunqi from above.
“You spouted nonsense at me and even tried to hit me, seriously damaging my physical and mental health. You have to compensate me.”
Hearing this, Li Yunqi’s breath hitched, and his face turned pale then green—though it was hard to tell through the bruises and swelling anyway.
But he didn’t dare argue loudly, only muttering under his breath: “I’ve already been beaten…”
“What, you don’t want to compensate? Dad—”
“No, no, I’m willing to compensate, I’m willing!”
Li Yunqi immediately scrambled up from the ground, his face twitching in pain, but he didn’t dare delay. He rushed into his room, took out all the money he had saved, didn’t even bother counting it, and thrust it toward her.
“Here, this is my compensation.”
Yao Yunzhen took it and counted: eight yuan, seventy-two cents in total, a mix of bills and coins.
It was much more than her own private savings, but Yao Yunzhen wasn’t entirely satisfied.
“Is this all you have?”
“This is all the money I have, really, I’m not lying to you.”
Li Yunqi spoke with utmost sincerity, terrified of being beaten again, nearly swearing to the heavens.
“Tsk, I heard your family was quite wealthy. How come there’s so little?”
Li Yunqi hung his head, not daring to speak.
If his family were truly wealthy, he wouldn’t be scamming villagers out of eggs to eat.
Although his family sent him money every month, he couldn’t bear living frugally. He frequented the State-run Restaurant every few days, insisted on buying Fine Grains at the Educated Youth Center, and constantly purchased new clothes. The money vanished almost instantly, completely spent each month.
The reason there was this much left was simply because it was only mid-month, and he hadn’t managed to squander it all yet—now Yao Yunzhen was benefiting from it.
“Lucky you.” Yao Yunzhen rolled her eyes. “Dad, Uncle, let’s go back.”
Since she couldn’t squeeze any more out of him, Yao Yunzhen saw no point in staying longer.
“If you dare spout nonsense to my daughter again, I’ll beat you up every time I see you.”
Yao Sheng gripped Li Yunqi’s collar and warned him sternly. Only after hearing his repeated promises not to did Yao Sheng release him and stand up to follow Yao Yunzhen home.
After seeing her home, Yao Sheng instructed, “Zhenzhen, play at home for a while. Dad needs to discuss something with your Third Grandfather.”
The Third Grandfather Yao Sheng referred to was the brigade leader of Baiyang Brigade, Yao Dajun. He was of the same generation as Yao Yunzhen’s grandfather, Yao Daqiang, and their families were closely related within five degrees of kinship, maintaining a warm relationship.
Yao Yunzhen was curious. “Dad, what are you going to discuss with Third Grandfather?”
“That brat dared to trouble you—we can’t just let it slide. I’m going to talk to your Third Grandfather about it.”
Yao Sheng stated plainly, unafraid that Yao Yunzhen might think him petty.
Neither Yao Sheng nor Miao Cuilan had ever taught their children the older generation’s belief that “suffering a loss is a blessing,” nor did they preach about pure kindness and beauty.
Their philosophy was simple: never let yourself be wronged. Settle scores on the spot; if that’s not possible, return for reinforcements and settle them later.
They refused to raise their child to be too meek.
Especially since their daughter was so exceptionally beautiful—she needed to be even tougher to protect herself effectively.
Under their guidance, Yao Yunzhen had surpassed them, becoming even more formidable.
Sure enough, hearing Yao Sheng’s plan, Yao Yunzhen found nothing wrong with it and even suggested, “Dad, have Third Grandfather assign him to Carrying Night Soil. Let him haul manure every day, stinking to high heaven. Then we’ll see how he manages to charm anyone.”
Originally, Yao Yunzhen had no intention of interfering in Li Yunqi’s affairs with the village girls. It was none of her business, and since it was consensual, meddling would only earn her resentment for being nosy.
But now that he had crossed her, she didn’t want to see Li Yunqi receiving any more help from the villagers.
Yao Sheng naturally had no objections.
“Alright, we’ll do as you say. Let him carry night soil.”
Li Yunqi had been in Baiyang Brigade for several years, working sporadically—three days fishing, two days drying nets. But he was good at putting on a show. The village’s young women and wives often spoke up for him, and his family regularly sent packages, making his background appear substantial. Thus, the village had largely tolerated him.
Those who disapproved kept their opinions to themselves, never voicing them aloud.
But this was only possible because the brigade leader had been turning a blind eye.
Nowadays, to deal with him, there wasn’t even a need to find an excuse—he could simply be assigned tasks directly.
Compared to a slacking Educated Youth, Yao Dajun naturally stood on the side of his own people.
Yao Sheng quickly handled the matter and returned, just in time for the end of the workday, so he came back together with the rest of the family.