“Fine, have her come tomorrow. Otherwise, I can’t guarantee what rumors might spread through the village.”
Seeing Chu Songqiang’s defiant, nothing-left-to-lose attitude, Zhou Huaiqing felt a lump of anger stuck in his throat—unable to rise or fall—his face flushing red with frustration.
Rumors often twisted black into white. Wasn’t Chu Songqiang afraid that if this spread, his own daughter Chu Youhuan would also suffer? But then again, Chu Youhuan’s reputation was already tarnished enough; she probably wouldn’t care if it got a little worse.
But the Zhou family couldn’t afford that! Especially at this critical moment, with him about to take up the position of village Party secretary!
Moreover, in these times, a woman’s reputation was everything. If they really let Chu Songqiang spread exaggerated versions of this incident, not only would Lifang have trouble finding a good match in the future, but it would also implicate the other girls in the Zhou family.
Thinking of his brother’s family, who were on the verge of securing a favorable marriage, Zhou Huaiqing’s expression tightened. He quickly nodded in agreement, “We’ll do as you say.”
It was just an apology, after all—nothing too serious.
Seeing him agree, Chu Songqiang continued, “The doctor said our Huanhuan needs proper rest during this period. She can’t do heavy work or go to the fields. As for the medical expenses, nutrition costs, lost wages…”
He paused for two seconds, his expression contorted as he thought hard before adding, “And that… what’s it called… compensation for emotional distress. You must take responsibility for that too. Prepare a hundred or two hundred yuan and bring it over tomorrow.”
“What?”
Zhou Huaiqing raised his voice in disbelief. A hundred or two hundred yuan? That was outright robbery! Even if his family worked themselves to the bone for an entire year, they couldn’t earn that much, let alone save it.
“You’re unwilling?”
Chu Songqiang narrowed his eyes. The fist he had raised earlier slammed into the doorframe, producing a harsh, dull thud that made Zhou Huaiqing swallow nervously. After hesitating for a moment, Zhou Huaiqing said, “It’s not that I’m unwilling, but Old Chu, you can’t just take advantage of being in the right to extort people, can you? Even if this matter were brought before the Gongshe, they wouldn’t award that much compensation.”
“Fine, then let’s go to the Gongshe leaders and see how they handle this. My daughter was beaten, and as her father, even if I have to throw away this old face of mine, I’ll demand justice!”
“If that doesn’t work, we’ll report it to the police. The public security comrades understand the law—they’ll surely know how to deal with this. Just think, your Zhou Lifang is still so young. If she ends up with a criminal record…”
Hearing this, Zhou Huaiqing felt a chill run down his spine and hurriedly interrupted, “Old Chu! Don’t be impulsive. Matters between youngsters shouldn’t be blown out of proportion. I’ve watched Huanhuan grow up since she was little, and I’m heartbroken that she’s hurt. But right now, our family really can’t come up with that much money.”
As soon as he finished speaking, seeing Chu Songqiang’s expression darken, he hastily pulled out the five yuan he had prepared in advance and stuffed it into Chu Songqiang’s hand, gritting his teeth.
“Take this money for now. I’ll also borrow some ration coupons to buy a can of malted milk powder and a chicken to help Huanhuan recover. But as for the rest… I truly can’t produce it.”
“Who are you trying to fool? I think we should just—”
“Plus another sixty yuan, and let’s settle this matter, alright?” Zhou Huaiqing said with a pained expression. “This time, I’m even digging into my burial savings. Any more, and I really have nothing left.”
Although he knew Zhou Huaiqing was most likely feigning poverty, Chu Songqiang understood the principle of knowing when to stop while ahead. Moreover, this outcome had already far exceeded their expectations. So his dark, bright eyes shifted, and he pretended to reluctantly say, “Alright then. We’re all fellow villagers. Let’s just let it go this time.”
Hearing this, Zhou Huaiqing breathed a slight sigh of relief, but he still couldn’t help feeling a sharp pang of pain. He wished he could spit a mouthful of old phlegm right in Chu Songqiang’s face. Bah! Acting all reluctant after getting such a good deal!
Having suffered such a major silent loss, Zhou Huaiqing cursed that wretched girl Zhou Lifang a thousand times in his heart before speaking up again to probe, “Then what should we say about this publicly?”
“Say what? It’s perfectly normal for girls to not get along and pull each other’s hair.” Chu Songqiang, fiddling with the money in his hand, glanced sidelong at Zhou Huaiqing. Because he was tall and Zhou Huaiqing was short, that look was full of contempt and disdain.
Zhou Huaiqing was seething inside, yet he still had to agree, “Yes, yes, yes.”
After saying this, remembering something, he glanced into the ward. “How is Huanhuan?”
Chu Songqiang didn’t say anything, just sighed.
That sigh was perfectly timed. Zhou Huaiqing couldn’t immediately gauge whether it meant things were good or bad. Just as he was nervously wondering, he was given his marching orders.
“She just fell asleep. Whatever it is, we’ll talk about it tomorrow.”
“…”
After all this trouble all afternoon, he hadn’t even gotten a sip of water, and now he was just being kicked out like this? But if he didn’t leave, was he supposed to stay here and act as a door god?
Zhou Huaiqing glanced at the group of young men not far away, who were almost all surnamed Chu, and could only swallow any further grievances.
Only when he reached the hospital entrance did Zhou Huaiqing belatedly realize something strange. Since when had that careless Chu Songqiang become so slick-tongued? His words came out in perfect sets, each one precisely hitting his weak spots, leaving him speechless and forced to obediently accept defeat.
No, he couldn’t just sit back and wait. He was determined to secure the position of village party secretary.
Thinking this, Zhou Huaiqing’s eyes darkened.
After Zhou Huaiqing left, only a few of their own relatives remained in the hospital corridor, and everyone spoke much more freely.
“Dad, how is Little Sister really?”
The man speaking was different from the sun-tanned country fellows around him; instead, he was somewhat fair-skinned and refined, with a very handsome face. Although his tone was stiff when speaking, it still revealed a bit of unconcealable urgency and concern.
“Nothing serious.” Chu Songqiang waved his hand.
Hearing it was nothing serious, Chu Deming immediately breathed a sigh of relief. Once his reason returned, he felt rather awkward, so he simply changed the subject directly: “I sent Xiaoshan to send word to Mom.”
When they got the news, they were still working in the fields. Hearing something had happened at home, how could they care about earning Gongfen? They grabbed their tools and rushed over, but by the time they arrived, it was already too late. He could only first send his younger brother to deliver the message to the neighboring village, while he followed Zhou Huaiqing into town by donkey cart.
Chu Songqiang took in his eldest son’s awkward behavior and couldn’t help but sigh heavily in his heart.
Since that incident, these two siblings hadn’t spoken a single word to each other, worse than strangers. He had originally thought Deming would hate Huanhuan for life, but now it seemed that wasn’t the case. After all, how could sibling affection be severed so easily?
Flesh and blood are both part of the same body. When a daughter makes a mistake and ruins her brother’s future, what more can a father do after having already beaten and scolded her? He can’t truly drive her to the brink, can he?
What parent doesn’t wish for their children to be close and their family to live in harmony?
Thinking this, Chu Songqiang hesitated for a moment before tentatively asking, “Your mother must be terribly worried. Why don’t you go in and check on Huanhuan for her? That way, she’ll feel at ease when you return.”
Hearing this, Chu Deming was stunned for a moment, but ultimately shook his head. “Little sister is asleep. I shouldn’t disturb her.”
Chu Songqiang wanted to say more, but seeing how haggard his son had looked lately, his heart ached, and he couldn’t bring himself to utter another word.
“Since you’re here keeping watch, Dad, I’ll head back to the village with my cousins before it gets dark. I still have work to do tomorrow.”
After saying this, Chu Deming turned to leave. But just as he took a step, he heard a clear voice call out from behind him: “Brother!”
The familiar voice froze Chu Deming in place. Instinctively, he turned to look and saw Chu Youhuan standing at the doorway of the hospital room, smiling brightly at him.
Her peach-blossom eyes, glistening with moisture, gradually curved into crescents. With features already strikingly bold, her smile made her even more radiant and captivating, making it impossible not to smile back.
But Chu Deming quickly snapped out of it, his expression returning to its usual calm and indifference.
What trick was she playing now? Or was he so exhausted that he was starting to hallucinate?
Was this really his little sister, the one with sky-high ambitions and a temper more stubborn than a mule? If so, how could she be the first to lower her head, calling him “brother” and smiling so happily?
But no matter what, one stumble was enough. He absolutely would not fall for it a second time.
“Brother, be careful on your way back.”
Chu Youhuan pretended not to notice the indifference and scrutiny on Chu Deming’s face, smiling gently and drawing out her words. But inwardly, she was already raging at the heavens for being unfair. Why was it that while others who transmigrated into books lived smooth and easy lives, she was left with a pile of messes to clean up?
And the most troublesome of them all was the fact that the original owner had given away her own brother’s spot as a Gongnongbing Daxuesheng!
For generations, the Chu family had been farmers, growing tall in stature but not in intellect. Yet, in this generation, it was as if their ancestors’ graves had begun to smoke—Chu Deming emerged as an outstanding student. Though he started school late, he progressed from the village to the county town, and after graduating from high school, he began working in the Gongshe. Later, he was even selected by the Gongshe to be recommended for admission to Gongnongbing Daxue in Shengcheng.
But at the final step, the original owner intercepted the opportunity.
Using her status as the daughter of the Daduizhang, she bought sleeping pills from the health center, secretly slipped them into the food, and burned all of Chu Deming’s relevant documents.
By the time everyone woke up, it was too late.
And just like that, the male lead of the book, who was next in line after Chu Deming, secured the spot.
Because of this, the original owner became estranged from her own brother. Everyone was utterly disappointed in her, and Chu Songqiang flew into a rage, whipping her severely with a belt. It took many days for her wounds to fully heal.
Chu Songqiang even declared that from then on, he would no longer indulge her. If she wanted to eat her fill, she would have to work in the fields and earn Gongfen herself.
Sacrificing her own brother’s future to pave the way for her “beloved” was nothing short of turning the world upside down!
If she were Chu Deming, she wouldn’t care whether that person was her own sister or not—she’d just end it with a single stroke of the knife. After all, who wouldn’t go mad in such a situation?
But Chu Deming hadn’t gone mad yet; the original host had already lost her mind first. She believed she had done nothing wrong, thinking that even if Chu Deming, a rural person, went to university, he wouldn’t achieve much success. The male lead, however, was different. He was originally from Jing Shi, and graduating from university would only add gold to gold, making his future so bright he couldn’t even sleep at night.
And if she could marry him, wouldn’t the Chu family still enjoy a life of luxury alongside her?
So, when facing the Chu family members who accused her, the original host couldn’t help but feel a bit of resentment and grievance, thinking they were short-sighted and ungrateful.
But in the end, it was these very people she looked down upon who helped her seek revenge. Chu Deming, her eldest brother, even believed that the original host’s death was his fault, ultimately dying of depression.
This self-indulgent sacrifice of the original host was something Chu Youhuan neither understood nor wanted to understand. All she knew was to hold onto the people who were good to her now and survive well in this era.
Although the matter of Gongnongbing Daxue was already set in stone and couldn’t be changed, as long as she waited one more year, until the college entrance examination was restored, there would be a chance to turn the tables.
In truth, based on Chu Deming’s abilities and level of effort, he could have easily attended a much better university.
It was just that since the unified college entrance examination was abolished and replaced by recommendations from factories, Gongshe, military units, and other organizations for eligible Gongnongbing students, rural children without connections were fortunate enough to attend Gongnongbing Daxue in their own province.
But after the college entrance examination was restored, things would be different. As long as their scores met the standards, they could choose from universities all over the country, and what they could learn would be more comprehensive and professional.
Moreover, not long after the relatively fair examination system was implemented, students from Gongnongbing Daxue would find themselves in an awkward position. In the book, the male and female leads often faced discrimination and belittlement because of this.
So now, she couldn’t quite tell whether Chu Deming’s failure to attend Gongnongbing Daxue was a good thing or a bad one.
“Having a younger sister is really nice, Deming. I truly envy you.”
Someone said this, abruptly pulling Chu Youhuan’s drifting thoughts back. When she realized what had been said, she nearly failed to maintain the smile on her face.
Heh, would you want this kind of “blessing” if it were offered to you?
Not just her, but Chu Deming and Chu Songqiang also nearly lost their composure. The latter coughed lightly and began shooing people away. “It’s getting late. You should go now.”
“Goodbye, brothers,” Chu Youhuan waved at them. Her cousins quickly urged her to go back and rest, saying that recovering her health was the most important thing. But she insisted on watching them leave.
Chu Deming followed the crowd forward, but his eyes uncontrollably glanced back. He saw that slender figure still standing in place, her eyes curved into a gentle smile.
————————!!————————
Huanhuan: Really out of options [clown]