In the Village Head’s house, a large round table was set with four meat dishes and two vegetable dishes. The Village Head had even brought out his treasured collection of fine wine.
“Comrade Gu, you’ve done such a huge service for the village; I really don’t know how to thank you.” The Village Head looked at Gu Beizheng with a face full of gratitude. “The village’s transformer was due for a replacement ages ago. Every harvest season, the power would cut out just from the strain of the irrigation lines. But our funds are meager—we’re just small households—how could we afford to replace it? It’s all thanks to the sponsorship you secured that we were able to get a new one. On behalf of the whole village, thank you.”
The Village Head raised his glass. Gu Beizheng picked up his own cup. “You’re too kind, Village Head.”
He clinked glasses lightly with the older man, looked up, and drained the drink in one go. He had originally planned to go into town today to buy some things for Xiaotao and his sister, but who would have guessed he’d be intercepted by the Village Head and dragged over here?
“Comrade Gu, make sure you eat and drink your fill.” Zhao Ying walked in carrying a bowl of soup. As she set it on the table, her eyes practically twinkled as she looked at Gu Beizheng.
“Young Comrade Gu really is righteous. When it comes down to it, he’s a child who grew up in our village, so he still has feelings for the place.” The Village Head’s wife, Wang Guihua, who had followed her daughter in, looked at Gu Beizheng with a beaming smile.
“Little Gu, do you remember? That one New Year, I sent a basket of sweet potatoes to your house. Grain was so precious back then, but your family was starving to the point where you couldn’t even put food on the table. I thought to myself, even if our family has to go hungry, we can’t let you go hungry, so I sent them over.”
Wang Guihua spoke with a grin, boasting about her “charity in times of need” to curry favor.
Gu Beizheng raised his eyes to look at Wang Guihua, his gaze cool and calm. “I remember it vividly. Thanks to your ‘blessing,’ Auntie, all four of us came down with food poisoning that year and nearly died in our house.”
The smile froze on Wang Guihua’s face. “Uh, well… that can’t be right, can it?”
The corner of her mouth twitched. Why couldn’t it be right? That year, her old man had insisted she send some food to the Gu family courtyard. They didn’t even have enough for themselves, so why act so generous? Unable to out-argue her husband, she had dug out a few sprouted sweet potatoes from the cow trough, sliced off the rotten parts, and sent them over to the Gu family.
Upon hearing this, the Village Head couldn’t maintain his composure either. He glared, wide-eyed. “We two men are drinking and talking; what are you blathering on about here, you old hag? Hurry up and go buy me another bottle of wine.”
Wang Guihua smiled sheepishly and dragged the love-struck Zhao Ying out the door.
The Village Head gave Gu Beizheng an embarrassed smile. “Bringing up old stories really makes one nostalgic. Are your parents doing well?”
“Thank you for asking; they are doing very well.” Gu Beizheng’s expression remained indifferent.
For a moment, the Village Head didn’t know what else to say. “Have some food, have some food.” He could only urge him to eat to alleviate the awkwardness.
Gu Beizheng didn’t move. He simply raised his eyes to look at the Village Head. “My family lived in Water Head Village for over a decade. We are indebted to the neighbors for their care, and my parents have always kept that in their hearts. Consider this transformer my repayment to the villagers.
“I have to return to my unit in a few days. My sister is alone with her child—a widow and an orphan—so I hope you will look out for them, Village Head.”
Gu Beizheng raised his glass to gesture to the Village Head, then tilted his head back and drained it.
The Village Head hurriedly raised his glass. “Oh my, Comrade Gu, you’re too serious. Rest assured, I watched that girl Ding Lan grow up. She’s honest and good-natured. As long as I’m here, no one in the village will dare to bully her.”
How could the Village Head not know that the main reason Gu Beizheng had done such a massive favor for the village was for Ding Lan? He wanted to make life a little easier for the widow and her child.
“Kind people get bullied. I’m afraid the ones giving her a hard time aren’t outsiders, but her own family,” Gu Beizheng said indifferently.
The Village Head understood immediately; he was talking about Ding Lan’s wicked mother-in-law. He quickly gave Gu Beizheng his guarantee: “Comrade Gu, don’t worry. That old hag is mean and unreasonable, but she’s actually a coward who only bullies the weak. Ding Lan is kind-hearted and doesn’t stoop to her level. From now on, with me here, I absolutely won’t let her bully Ding Lan, you have my word.”
Gu Beizheng nodded slightly. “Then I will trouble you with that, Village Head.”
With the main business concluded, Gu Beizheng intended to get up and leave, but suddenly, a teary-eyed little face popped into his mind.
He frowned, clenched his fist tight, and spoke up anyway. “Village Head, about that Teacher Xu…”
The Village Head looked at Gu Beizheng seriously, waiting to hear what he had to say. “Teacher Xu? Oh, you mean that educated youth, Xu? Sigh, speaking of her gives me a real headache.”
The Village Head put on a helpless expression. “I mean, she can’t go back to the city, yet staying in the village, she just attracts bees and butterflies. She’s got all those young punks scratching at their hearts with desire; who knows how many fights they’ve started over her? It’s a mess. I heard she caused trouble for you too, Comrade Gu. Don’t worry, I’ll give her a good talking-to later and make her behave herself.”
The Village Head’s words drifted into Gu Beizheng’s ears one by one, causing his thick brows to furrow tightly. “As a state cadre, is it appropriate for you to evaluate a female comrade with such remarks?”
“Uh…” The Village Head froze. What does he mean? Did I misread the room? Am I barking up the wrong tree?
“Comrade Gu, you mean…?”
Gu Beizheng sat up straight, his hand resting on the table as he traced the rim of his wine glass. He spoke in a deep voice, “Since she is an educated youth in this village, shouldn’t the village at least guarantee her safety?”
The Village Head: “…”
Should it? Or shouldn’t it?
“I recall the state has issued repeated orders requiring the protection of educated youths, isn’t that right, Village Head?” Gu Beizheng lifted his gaze to look at him.
The Village Head hesitated, then nodded. “Yes, there is such a policy.”
“Then, as the head of a village, letting a girl live alone in a dilapidated educated youth center, allowing ruffians to harass her at will—that’s unjustifiable by both emotion and reason, isn’t it?” Gu Beizheng’s voice was calm and cold, devoid of any discernible emotion.
The Village Head couldn’t quite figure out Gu Beizheng’s true intentions for a moment, but he could tell he was speaking up for Educated Youth Xu. He quickly agreed, “Yes, Comrade Gu is right. I’ll definitely straighten those brats out one of these days. As for Teacher Xu, I’ll arrange another place for her to stay as soon as possible.”
Gu Beizheng twitched the corner of his mouth.
“The Village Head understands the principles of righteousness deeply; that is the villagers’ good fortune.”
Just then, Zhao Ying and her mother returned. Zhao Ying walked in holding a pot of wine, a shy blush on her face. She sidled up to the table and refilled Gu Beizheng’s glass.
“Comrade Gu, this is fine wine just brought in by the supplier. Have a glass.”
Gu Beizheng said indifferently, “I won’t impose any longer. I’ll pass on the wine.”
Saying this, he stood up, intending to leave.
“Hey, Comrade Gu, look, I already bought it. Just have one glass.” Zhao Ying blocked his path, not letting him leave.
“Yes, Comrade Gu, our Ying’zi has loved soldiers and heroes since she was little. She bought this wine specifically for you; just give us some face,” Wang Guihua chimed in from the side.
“Comrade Gu, my girl is a simple, honest soul. If you don’t drink it, she probably won’t be able to sleep tonight out of distress.” The Village Head also urged him with a chuckle.
With a cold expression, Gu Beizheng just wanted to get rid of their pestering quickly, so he reached out and took the wine glass.
“Gu Beizheng, don’t drink!”
The wine had just reached his lips when a frantic shout suddenly came from outside the door.