“I truly never expected that Lina’s original hometown was actually Heihe Village.”
After the meal, Shen Fujuan took out a medicinal ointment from her Dimensional Space and gently massaged it into Su Jiaxuan’s hands, which were covered in blood blisters.
Her eyes held nothing but heartache for her husband.
Su Jianjun curled his lip in disdain and spat out, “She deserved it! Back then, she was so eager to report us to those Red Armbands. If she had been sent down with our family, it would still have been better than being taken back by that kind of family!”
With Shen Fujuan helping Su Jiaxuan and Zhao Xiaorou assisting Su Jianqiang, Su Jianjun had to take a needle in his right hand and personally lance the blood blisters on his own hands.
A day of farm work had left all three of them utterly worn out.
Now, knowing about Su Lina’s plight, Su Jianjun still felt a twinge of relief.
Thankfully, they were all their parents’ own children. Thankfully, none of them were ungrateful traitors.
The family had already let go of Su Lina. After learning about this matter, they only sighed briefly in passing.
After all, they were barely managing themselves now—where would they find the energy to care about Su Lina again?
Perhaps to get back at Su Jiaxuan for embarrassing him the day before, early the next morning, when the sky was just beginning to lighten and the village roosters hadn’t even started crowing, Huang Wenqiang was already standing at their door, banging loudly on a broken gong.
Huang Chaoying could only watch helplessly as her nephew made trouble.
On this matter, Huang Wenqiang resented Huang Chaoying for always being too soft-hearted and never allowed her to interfere.
By the time they were brought to the fields, not a single soul was around—only their family diligently set to work.
“This whole area is yours. Since you’re so capable, don’t let me down!”
With those words, Huang Wenqiang dragged Huang Chaoying away.
Shen Fujuan had just taken a look at the area Huang Wenqiang had assigned.
Yesterday, this same plot had been worked by five people, and it still wasn’t finished.
How could their family—a mix of the old, weak, sick, disabled, and pregnant—possibly complete the task Huang Wenqiang had set?
Su Jiaxuan didn’t say anything, just silently took the sickle from Shen Fujuan’s hand.
Time spent complaining now could instead be used to get an early start on the harvest.
Su Jianqiang and Su Jianjun quickly joined in, while Shen Fujuan continued working alongside Zhao Xiaorou, handling the cleanup at the rear.
At first, the two chatted intermittently, but after a while, Shen Fujuan suddenly realized she hadn’t heard Zhao Xiaorou respond for some time.
Turning sharply to look, Shen Fujuan saw Zhao Xiaorou sitting on the ground.
She was panting heavily, her small face flushed bright red.
“Mom, I’m feeling a bit dizzy and my vision is blurry. I can’t stand up,” Zhao Xiaorou said weakly to Shen Fujuan.
She was pregnant, after all. She hadn’t eaten much last night, and this morning she had come straight to the fields without a single grain of rice. Her energy couldn’t keep up with the exertion, leaving her too exhausted to even stand.
Shen Fujuan initially thought of taking some snacks from her Dimensional Space to tide Zhao Xiaorou over.
Unfortunately, it was already time for work to begin, and people were trickling into the fields.
“Xiaorou, go sit and rest at the side for now. Can you hold on a little longer?” Shen Fujuan said gently.
Zhao Xiaorou nodded vigorously. “Mom, I’m really sorry—”
Shen Fujuan quickly covered her mouth. “Helping each other is what family does. There’s no need for apologies—that would make us strangers!”
Su Jianqiang turned his head and realized Zhao Xiaorou hadn’t followed, immediately sensing something was wrong. He quickly turned and ran toward the field ridge.
Knowing Zhao Xiaorou was starving, Su Jianqiang had no choice but to pick up a handful of broken rice grains from the ground. He rubbed them in his hands, removing the husks.
He brought them to Zhao Xiaorou’s mouth. “Chew a little and eat.”
Zhao Xiaorou reluctantly took a bite or two.
The freshly ripened rice had little flavor, carrying only a faint grassy fragrance.
Just as Su Jianqiang was about to pick up another handful, a large hand clamped down on his arm.
Looking up, he met Huang Wenqiang’s uneven, yellowed teeth.
Su Jianqiang nearly vomited up the meal he’d eaten the night before.
“Everyone, come and see! This is a classic capitalist-roader! He even dares to take what belongs to the commune—our collective grain—for himself!”
“If I hadn’t been quick-eyed, he would have committed another crime of embezzling state assets!”
Huang Wenqiang raised his voice, using his authority as a shield, and began denouncing Su Jianqiang right there in the fields.
The people below dared not remain silent, clapping numbly as sparse applause echoed across the field.
“When I report this later, I’ll definitely put up big-character posters to thoroughly criticize this kind of freeloading behavior!”
This time, Shen Fujuan didn’t hold back. She straightened up and glared at Huang Wenqiang.
“Secretary Huang, if this counts as embezzling assets, what about your son stuffing two steamed buns into his pocket just now? Does that count as sabotaging collective interests?”
“And what about you trading a dan of rice for the position of commune secretary? Does that count as buying an official post?” Shen Fujuan planted her hands on her hips and began listing Huang Wenqiang’s wrongdoings right there in the field.
Huang Wenqiang’s old face flushed with embarrassment.
He had intended to pin a label on Shen Fujuan, never expecting this city woman to be so sharp-tongued.
Afraid she might escalate the situation, he didn’t dare argue with her. Instead, he muttered curses under his breath and walked away as if nothing had happened.
Seizing the opportunity, Shen Fujuan slipped over and quietly handed Zhao Xiaorou a small piece of walnut cake.
At first, Zhao Xiaorou couldn’t believe her eyes. After walking for a while, she stared at Shen Fujuan in shock.
Such a rare treat was hard to come by even in the city.
How had it appeared out here in the wilderness?!
Shen Fujuan winked. “Don’t ask where it came from. Just eat it quickly!”
Only when Xiaorou was full would the baby in her belly be safe.
And Jianqiang would be safe too—their family would remain harmonious and happy. The thought made Shen Fujuan’s heart ache.
When work ended, Huang Wenqiang sat on the field ridge with the comrade responsible for recording work points.
Everyone else’s work points were recorded properly, but when it was Shen Fujuan’s turn, Huang Wenqiang suddenly snorted disdainfully.
“You still have the nerve to come over?”
Shen Fujuan glanced back.
The task Huang Wenqiang had assigned them that morning was already mostly completed.
It was more efficient than what five grown men had accomplished the day before.
“Secretary Huang, how should I record hers?” asked the villager in charge of recording, who was skilled at reading moods.
“Record three work points!”
Three work points! The moment these words were spoken, several people instantly erupted.
It was well known that a female comrade’s daily work points were eight!
Huang Wenqiang had deducted a full five at once!
“Why are you docking my mother’s work points? Haven’t we finished all the tasks we were supposed to do?” Su Jianjun wiped the sweat from his forehead, his tone sharp.
“Exactly! We did every bit of work we were assigned, and even more than others. What gives you the right to dock our work points? I’m going to appeal—I won’t accept this!”
Even the usually steady Jianqiang couldn’t stand it any longer, raising his voice alongside Jianjun in protest.
Huang Wenqiang slammed his hand heavily on the table, his face dark as he glared at the people lined up before him.
“Causing trouble and slacking off on the job—I’ve been lenient not to deduct all your work points!”