Xiangzhi hurriedly fled back into her materialized body, pressing her chest as she breathed slightly.
He sniffed her petals again! Lecher, lecher!
In the pitch-black communal barracks, Xiangzhi’s cheeks flushed with shame and anger looked touchingly appetizing.
“Why can I not eat him?”
Xiangzhi recalled the scene just now, remembering that glowing light. The righteous light from the national emblem stopped all demons and ghouls, even more so for a simple little flower spirit.
Since she could not eat him in the dream, she would simply materialize and go directly to Gu Wenshan, scare him to death running in panic, then devour him in one bite.
Xiangzhi had nice dreams, but just as she was about to use her spiritual power to leave the sent-down youth dormitory, she discovered her power was suppressed by the righteous light, unable to use any spiritual power no matter how hard she tried.
The little flower spirit nearly cried—such a beautiful flower, what if she could not change back?
“Why did you wake up?” You Xiu returned from a nighttime trip to find Xiangzhi on the verge of tears, hesitating to speak: “Are you okay?”
Xiangzhi puckered her lips, things had turned serious.
You Xiu’s expression was poor, she kept looking toward the window. Seeing Xiangzhi awake and dawn approaching, she said worriedly: “If you do not want to go home, tomorrow I will beg Comrade Secretary Zou to not make the report.”
Xiangzhi, now without spiritual power and like an ordinary person, naturally could not run away with Guo Chunli. She did not know why You Xiu suddenly said this.
As if afraid she would be scared, You Xiu tossed and turned beside her, unable to sleep. The female sent-down youth lying next to her almost woke up, grumbling a curse.
You Xiu suddenly sat up, unable to hold it back, her voice catching with tears: “Little Qin, let me call you that for now. You should run tonight while it is still dark. There are two people hiding in the firewood pile watching you, planning to capture you tomorrow and sell you for another hundred dollars.”
Xiangzhi’s beautiful apricot eyes widened slightly as she swallowed: “You knew I was not Cao Xiangqin?”
You Xiu wept without tears: “I spend every day with you, you have no education and no cultivation—you do not seem like someone who received elementary school education at all. Can I hide it from you? It is not time to discuss this now, you need to think of a plan to get away! They plan to take you tomorrow morning.”
Xiangzhi hesitantly told You Xiu: “I want to find Auntie Qin, she is a capable person and definitely knows what to do.”
You Xiu slapped her thigh: “That is right! She has her son who is Regiment Commander Gu, the most prestigious in the area! You two have such a good relationship, use all means to get her to help you… I heard them say they would take you away early tomorrow morning.”
The other sent-down youth in the bed beside them, Sang Bao, said quietly: “Just stop them.”
You Xiu was startled and covered her mouth: “You heard all that?”
The light at the roof “clicked” on—Sun Guoqi by the wall turned it on: “Not only did she hear it, we all heard it.”
The over ten female sent-down youth still sleeping on the communal barracks all said: “That is right, we are not deaf.”
“You both have no awareness, how could we not hear you being so loud?”
“I also saw those two at the firewood pile, they do not look like good people. I think Comrade Secretary Zou has connections with them too. Best not ask her.”
“Comrade Cao, rest assured, we will stop them together, you just run straight to Comrade Professor Qin’s house! With us here, no one can take you away!”
Xiangzhi bit her lip, her nose turning sore: “Thank you, comrade sisters. Do not call me Cao anymore, my name is Xiangzhi. Xiangzhi of fragrant and gardenia. I was also oppressed and fled, please do not ask me who I am. I will not hurt you.”
Being pressed down by Regiment Commander Gu, Xiangzhi was determined to eat him, so she said this.
“With your thin arms and legs, who could you hurt?”
You Xiu patted her shoulder, smiling as she said: “So your name is ‘Xiangzhi’—that suits you much better than ‘Cao Xiangqin.’ All right, do not cry, we are comrades facing adversity together, everyone will help you.”
“Regardless of whether you are ‘Cao Xiangqin,’ their behavior is wrong and deserves criticism.”
“Chairman Mao said ‘Nothing is difficult in the world if you set your mind to it. Face villains with firm resistance and defeat them!'”…
Guo Chunli sneezed, covering herself with straw: “How did the light in the room flicker and go out? Did you hear anyone talking inside?”
Cao Yong, just falling asleep, was woken and said impatiently: “Been watching all night, the rooster is already crowing, let us go back to Squad Leader Wu’s place.”
Guo Chunli swept the straw off and quickly said: “Hurry, let us get back, being seen would be bad.”
“I trusted you two to handle this, and you turn out to be worthless.”
A cold voice came, Lu Jianping sat by the basketball rim base, the ground beneath him littered with cigarette butts.
Lu Jianping had rushed to Zhuyuan Mountain last night to look for Liu Sai, but Liu Sai’s hidden items were still in the cave, yet the person was gone.
He anticipated some force was opposing him, perhaps also coveting “Cao Xiangqin.” He had to speed up.
After the rooster crowed again, Squad Leader Wu rang his gong, calling everyone up.
He was yawning mid-yawn when he suddenly saw the brigade secretary Zou heading to the sent-down youth station.
And at the basketball court, Cadre Lu from the municipal sent-down youth bureau and two unfamiliar men stood talking, Lu stood in the middle, slowly and unhurriedly wiping his fogged glasses.
“Another inspection?” Squad Leader Wu approached nervously, bowing to Cadre Lu: “Sir, any new instructions from above?”
Secretary Zou walked near and smiled: “No new instructions, there is good news. He has come to pick up his wife to go home.”
Inside, a group of female sent-down youth huddled at the window, hardly believing their ears.
You Xiu ground her teeth and said: “Comrade Zou is definitely working with them.”
Sun Guoqi found a signature from Lu, saying in surprise: “Is Comrade Lu human trafficking? How is he this kind of person?”
Xiangzhi sat on the bed edge, braiding her hair calmly and said: “He is thoroughly rotten.”
Speaking, Squad Leader Wu knocked on their door calling: “Get up, have not you? That Cao Xiangqin, your family and fiancé have come to pick you up, gather your things and come out.”
Xiangzhi, hugging her sesame oil jar, shuffled out in her slippers. Lu Jianping’s eyes lit up when he saw her, his heart was satisfied—these days of tossing around were worth it, a few days away she became even more bewitching.
Lu Jianping reached to take the sesame oil jar from her hands, Xiangzhi dodged. Several female sent-down youth immediately blocked between them, standing up straight with heroic expressions.
Squad Leader Wu, pipe in his mouth, slowly considered, something felt off.
Lu Jianping kept his cultured appearance, his manner impeccable, speaking softly as a calm lake: “Do not be upset, I was truly busy with work and could not reply to your letters. I promise I have not had contact with other female comrades.”
Xiangzhi said lightly: “We are not close, why would I go with you?”
Before Lu Jianping could explain, Guo Chunli reached out to grab Xiangzhi’s arm, You Xiu bumped her aside.
She covered her sore arm, saying angrily: “We had marriage engagement, the bride price was already paid. I came to bring her home and get married, that is only proper.”
You Xiu with a chubby smile said: “So it is human trafficking with good terms.”
Lu Jianping, remaining cultured, said with a smile: “Do not make trouble, my work has been too busy to write back in time. I guarantee I have not had any contact with other female comrades.”
Xiangzhi was made to laugh: “We are not familiar, why should I go back with you?”
Without waiting for Lu to explain, Guo Chunli tried to pull Xiangzhi’s arm, You Xiu shoved her aside.
Covering her sore arm, she said irritably: “She and you made a childhood marriage agreement, the bride price was already paid long ago. I am bringing her home to get married, that is proper.”
You Xiu’s chubby face sneered: “Wow, quite the good-sounding excuse for human trafficking.”
Lu Jianping, maintaining his cultured manner, reached into his pocket and pulled out a thick stack of letters, handing them: “These are love letters she wrote to me alone, look at the address and signature—she wrote them herself. Xiangqin has liked me for years, these are proof.”
Xiangzhi’s face paled.
Lu Jianping was clever step by step, if she had not revealed her identity last night, today she would have no defense—his trump card making “Cao Xiangqin” speechless, outsiders seeing would think she was just being temperamental. A trip home and a marriage consummated, the plan would be complete.
You Xiu took the letter and opened it, the handwriting inside was elegant and beautiful. She looked at it, then the other female sent-down youth looked at it and began to laugh.
Lu Jianping asked, confused: “Why are you laughing?”
You Xiu pointed at Xiangzhi and said: “Do not you know she is illiterate? An illiterate girl can use classical allusions and write poems?”
Lu Jianping was shocked to see Xiangzhi.
He was certain Xiangzhi would not dare admit being a black household, never dreaming she had already confessed to them. This was his killer move, thinking to make “Cao Xiangqin” defenseless, who expected it to fail like this?
Xiangzhi raised her chin proudly, her beautiful eyes shining: “You underestimated people too much, have you tried testing them?”
Secretary Zou was about to help Lu, Squad Leader Wu stopped her: “Things are more complex than we thought, as a leader, you should not get involved carelessly.”
Secretary Zou of course knew this was not simple, but Lu had promised her the March 8th Red Flag honor [1]the March 8th Red Flag honor (san ba hong qi shou, 三八紅旗手) Slang, a state honor awarded to outstanding women workers, named for International Women’s Day (March 8 jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3398839_1_1').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3398839_1_1', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });) next year-end, with which she could quickly transfer to county work. Was the countryside not stronger?
She wanted to muddy the waters but was blocked, her expression soured.
Squad Leader Wu continued: “Since the leaders have all arrived, we should treat everyone to breakfast. Whatever there is to discuss, we sit down and talk, right?”
The female sent-down youth chimed in: “Yes, yes, we have work to do anyway, cannot work without eating.”
Aunt Li from the canteen shouted: “This morning is fine white rice porridge, I did not mix any sweet potato flour—come eat!”
You Xiu and the others pushed Xiangzhi toward the canteen, Lu Jianping tried to follow. Several female sent-down youth blocked him.
Squad Leader Wu, chewing a pipe, slowly swallowed smoke, sensing trouble.
Lu Jianping finished eating and sat at the canteen entrance waiting for Xiangzhi to come out. He had decided no matter what, he would take her today.
Cao Xiangqin’s file photos were all torn and destroyed by him, once taken away, they had no proper marriage, and who could say something was wrong?
But he waited at the entrance, smoking three cigarettes in a row, and never saw Xiangzhi come out, gradually he sensed something amiss.
He stood up wanting to go into the canteen when male sent-down youth blocked him, Chen Jinbin stood in front, saying: “Hey, Cadre Lu, the female sent-down youth are changing into work clothes, we cannot go in there. We just caught a lech, you know.”
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