There were quite a few educated youths from Beijing in Chen Dingkun’s group. Coincidentally, two female educated youths in Shenjia Village had attended the same school as them and had even traveled on the same train when they were sent down. Building some familiarity with them was not difficult.
However, asking girls about another girl would have been rather inappropriate. So when they went over, they claimed they had not seen their fellow townsmen for a long time and wanted to get acquainted with the local educated youths as well. Contributing a few grain coupons, they managed to share lunch at the educated youth residence.
By spending the afternoon socializing, they developed some rapport with several of the male educated youths from Shenjia Village. Among men, privately asking about a particular girl was one of the easiest things in the world, and everyone understood that. As a result, before three o’clock that afternoon, Chen Dingkun and Zheng Xuejun had already learned almost everything about Shen Yao. They even found out that she attended the evening literacy class to listen to lessons. That was why they paid for dinner as well and continued freeloading meals at the educated youth residence.
Shen Yao had no idea she would end up being harassed that evening.
When Shen Gang asked whether she wanted to go to the educated youth residence, she hesitated for a moment. After learning that it was not Song Jincheng teaching that day, she decided to go anyway. Deep down, there was also a bit of a desire to compete with He Shi.
As usual, she sat with the literacy class and listened to the lesson while Shen Gang stood outside the educated youths’ dormitory listening to the stories being told inside.
She noticed someone watching her. Glancing over, she saw two unfamiliar faces, but paid them little mind.
After sitting there for barely ten minutes, however, she became restless. Picking up her stool, she called to Shen Gang and said they should head home.
She was not a dull person. How could she fail to notice someone staring at her constantly? Moreover, those gazes made her deeply uncomfortable.
Her understanding of people in this era came mostly from the original owner’s memories and the handful of Shenjia Village residents she had personally met. Most of them were kind and honest people. So when she felt uncomfortable under someone’s gaze, her instinct was simply to leave. It never occurred to her that those two would dare harass her openly in the village.
They had walked barely a dozen meters from the educated youth residence when the two young men who had been sitting nearby caught up with them.
One of them smiled and said, “Little sister, it’s so dark out. Let us walk you home. Do you remember us? We met during the day. Your name is Shen Yao, right? I’m Chen Dingkun, an educated youth from Beijing.”
Shen Yao frowned and tugged Shen Gang along, quickening her pace.
The two young men sped up as well.
“Don’t go. Let’s be friends. We’re just chatting, not trying to do anything.”
Zheng Xuejun stepped in front of the siblings, his tone frivolous and teasing.
Before Shen Yao could respond, Shen Gang had already moved in front of her protectively.
Angrily, he said, “Who are you calling little sister? Watch your mouth. You’re standing on Shenjia Village’s land, show some respect.”
The boy was much smaller than either of them, but he had plenty of courage. His grip tightened around the stool in his hand. He was already thinking that if these two scoundrels dared say another inappropriate word to his sister, he would smash the stool over one of their heads first.
Zheng Xuejun laughed.
“Not bad, kid. Thinking of fighting? Leaving aside whether your tiny body could take one kick from me, do you know what happens if you injure an educated youth?”
At those words, Shen Yao tugged at Shen Gang’s sleeve.
She clearly remembered incidents like this. Earlier that year, a female educated youth in a neighboring village had accused a local young man of hooliganism and attempted rape. The man had been executed. In another township, a male educated youth had assaulted a village girl. After the girl threw herself into a river and died, the young man, whose family had powerful connections, had merely been sent back to the city.
Educated youths and farmers had never been treated as equals.
She could not let Shen Gang suffer because of this.
Her eyes swept the surroundings, calculating the chances of finding villagers nearby who could help.
Just then, a cold voice emerged from the darkness.
“If I beat the two of you up today, you’ll just have to take it.”
Hearing that voice, Shen Yao turned around in delight.
Walking toward them beneath the cool moonlight were He Shi and Xu Xiangdong.
Never before had she found the two men so pleasing to the eye.
“Educated Youth He, Educated Youth Xu.”
He Shi glanced at her. He was annoyed that she had ignored his advice, but this was hardly the time to lecture her, so he deliberately looked away.
When Zheng Xuejun and Chen Dingkun heard her address them as educated youths, they finally understood what the newcomer meant.
Chen Dingkun looked He Shi and Xu Xiangdong up and down and sneered.
“Where did these little brats come from? You’ve got quite the mouth on you. Think you can beat me? You’ve got guts.”
Hearing his accent, He Shi’s gaze shifted to the military trousers the two were wearing.
One pair was Army Yellow, the standard army uniform color introduced after the 1955 rank system, widely regarded among Beijing compound youths as the most fashionable military attire.
The other pair was National Defense Green.
Smiling faintly, He Shi said, “From Beijing? Weren’t two years of causing trouble in Beijing enough? Had to come all the way south to embarrass yourselves?”
The remark was viciously insulting.
Chen Dingkun’s and Zheng Xuejun’s expressions darkened immediately.
Chen Dingkun said coldly, “So you’re from the same hometown. Ever heard of me, Chen Dingkun? If you want to challenge me, you’d better open your eyes and see who you’re dealing with.”
“A famous troublemaker from the Planning Commission compound, huh?”
Xu Xiangdong burst out laughing.
“No wonder you looked familiar. I’ve actually heard your name before.”
The two men immediately looked pleased with themselves.
Grinning, Chen Dingkun said, “Since we’re acquainted, tell me which compound you’re from. If we happen to know mutual friends, I won’t make things difficult for you.”
Xu Xiangdong laughed.
Sure enough, He Shi replied, “That wouldn’t do. I came here intending to make things difficult for you.”
The moment the words left his mouth, he sprang forward.
With a spinning kick, he drove his foot directly into Chen Dingkun’s face.
Chen Dingkun was sent crashing to the ground. His face instantly went numb.
No one knew He Shi better than Xu Xiangdong.
Before Chen Dingkun had even finished speaking, Xu Xiangdong had already guessed He Shi was about to fight.
The instant He Shi moved, Xu Xiangdong moved too, targeting Zheng Xuejun.
Xu Xiangdong’s skills were not as good as He Shi’s. Exchanging punches and kicks with Zheng Xuejun, neither gained a clear advantage at first.
Only after He Shi turned around and landed two heavy punches on Zheng Xuejun did the fight become completely one-sided.
A few minutes later, He Shi’s leather shoe was planted firmly on Chen Dingkun’s face.
Smiling, he said, “I’m not some street tough, but dealing with trash like you is easy enough. Remember this, stay away from people you shouldn’t provoke. Otherwise, next time you won’t get off with just a beating.”
Chen Dingkun’s face was pressed into the mud beneath He Shi’s shoe.
He could not even manage a threat.
He knew he had run into someone tougher than himself and had already lost his nerve. All his earlier arrogance had vanished.
After kicking him once and ordering him to get lost, He Shi watched as Chen Dingkun obediently scrambled away without daring to utter a word.
Only after running seven or eight meters did he finally turn around and shout, “Just you wait!” salvaging a shred of pride before fleeing.
Shen Gang swallowed hard, staring at He Shi with shining eyes.
The kick He Shi had delivered just now had looked exactly like something out of the martial arts heroes in storybooks.
Excitedly, he asked, “Educated Youth He, do you know kung fu?”
He Shi smiled.
“If you train military combat boxing well enough, it looks like that.”
He glanced at Shen Yao and said with a half-smile, “Good thing someone reminded me yesterday to wear leather shoes today. Otherwise, if I’d gone into battle wearing slippers, the damage wouldn’t have been nearly as effective.”
Neither Xu Xiangdong nor Shen Gang understood that he was referring to Shen Yao stepping on his foot the previous night.
Only Shen Yao knew.
Her cheeks puffed out slightly.
After a moment, she looked at He Shi and stepped forward, sincerely thanking him.
“Thank you, Educated Youth He.”
Her voice was soft and gentle.
Hearing it, He Shi’s heart softened as well.
“Were you scared just now?” he asked.
“Didn’t I tell you not to come to the educated youth residence anymore?”
He was secretly grateful that he had come along when Xu Xiangdong decided to head over that evening. At the time, he had simply wanted to check whether Shen Yao had actually listened to what he told her.
Sure enough, his words had gone in one ear and out the other.
Although the thought irritated him, he was still thankful he had arrived when he did and had prevented the girl from coming to any harm.
Shen Gang had no idea when Educated Youth He had spoken with his sister before. Looking puzzled, he glanced at He Shi.
Noticing this, Xu Xiangdong slung an arm around Shen Gang’s shoulders and said, “We’ll walk you two home. Shen Gang, did you see how good He Shi’s fighting skills are? Let me tell you…”
Seeing that his sister was following behind them, Shen Gang relaxed and allowed his attention to be drawn away by Xu Xiangdong’s stories about He Shi’s past fights.
Those stories were not only audible to Shen Gang, Shen Yao heard every word as well.
She glanced sideways at He Shi and thought that her initial impression had indeed been correct. He really was a playboy. Compared to ordinary playboys, the main difference was that his combat ability was considerably stronger.
Naturally, Shen Yao did not know that “playboy” was the term used in her own era. In Beijing at this time, people like He Shi were called “wanzhu,” street toughs and rebellious youths.
Hearing Xu Xiangdong expose his past, He Shi cleared his throat awkwardly and instinctively defended himself.
“Don’t listen to his nonsense. I’m not a wanzhu. The fights he’s talking about were all started by other people.”
As for whether those words were meant for Shen Gang or Shen Yao, only he knew.
Shen Yao smiled.
Considering that he had just fought on her behalf, she found herself far less resistant to his advice about staying away from the educated youth residence.
For once, she actually explained herself.
“I went there to attend the literacy class.”
He Shi thought to himself, That’s exactly what’s bothering me. It’s because you’re going to those literacy classes that I’m annoyed.
Looking at her, he asked, “What can you even understand from those lessons?”
Shen Yao was unusually patient with him today.
Smiling, she said, “If I listen a few times, I can remember some of it.”
That was an understatement.
In reality, she could remember everything after hearing it once. After all, she was not the real Shen Yao. The education she had received growing up had been exceptional.
He Shi was surprised.
Could this little fool really be so eager to learn?
Then he reconsidered and realized something was off.
Looking at her with a half-smile, he said, “If you really want to study, can’t your father and your brother teach you at home?”
So in the end, it was still all because of Song Jincheng.
Naturally, Shen Yao knew she could learn much faster at home.
In fact, Shen Gang had already been teaching her there.
Her visits to the literacy class had been largely for appearances’ sake. Her father hoped that if the county opened factory recruitment in the future, he could arrange for her to work there. Being literate would be important. Her “illness” needed to appear as though it was gradually improving, and learning to read required some visible signs of effort.
But after what had happened that evening, Shen Yao no longer wanted to keep up the act.
She had already attended enough times to establish the appearance of studying. From now on, she could simply learn at home.
So this time, she answered seriously.
“You’re right. From now on, I’ll just have my father and Gangzi teach me at home.”
Her cooperation was so unexpected that He Shi found it hard to believe.
After all, this was not the first time the little girl had brushed him off.
When they reached the Shen family courtyard, Shen Yao and Shen Gang thanked He Shi and Xu Xiangdong.
Neither man returned to the educated youth residence. Instead, they headed straight back to their own lodgings.
Lying on his bed, He Shi found his mind replaying Shen Yao’s appearance and voice from that evening over and over again.
Then he remembered the way she had smiled at him from the side and said, “I went there to attend the literacy class.”
The literacy class.
The literacy class.
The more he thought about it, the sourer he felt.
Wasn’t going to the literacy class really just an excuse to see Song Jincheng?
Then another thought suddenly struck him.
Wait.
The literacy classes were taught by different educated youths on a rotating schedule.
Yesterday it had been Song Jincheng.
That meant today it should have been someone else.
He abruptly sat upright on the bed.
“I went there to attend the literacy class.”
A grin spread across his face.
So she had actually been explaining that she wasn’t there to see Song Jincheng?
The moment that realization surfaced, he could no longer suppress his smile.
Falling back onto the bed, he draped an arm across his eyes.
Yet the corners of his mouth remained lifted, refusing to come down.