The Lifesaver
Jian Mingyue flew out like a kite with its string cut.
Her body slammed heavily onto the ground with a loud thud.
The bright red slap mark on her face was particularly striking, and a trickle of blood seeped from the corner of her mouth.
Jian Mingyue felt as if all her bones had been shattered. She struggled for a long time before managing to get up from the ground.
“Jiang Taohua… why did you hit me? I knew nothing good would come from running into a jinx like you!”
Jiang Taohua glanced at her sideways. “Why I hit you—don’t you have any idea in your own mind?”
The commune secretary, having seen countless people, was shrewd and capable, not someone easily fooled by a few words.
One person’s clothes were spotless, while the other’s shoes and pant legs were soaked through. Without guessing, it was clear she had gone down the well to save someone, which explained her disheveled state.
Jian Mingyue turned to look at the commune secretary.
“Secretary, you must stand up for me. Don’t forget it was me who saved your grandson.”
The commune secretary looked at her with annoyance. “Enough! I’m not a fool. I can still tell who the real lifesaver is.”
As he spoke, his expression softened as he turned to Jiang Taohua. “Comrade, thank you for saving my grandson. I will definitely repay you.”
The woman beside him chimed in, “Comrade, this child is our everything. Thank you so much. Seeing your clothes are all wet, my home is very close by. Why not come with me to change into something dry?”
Unable to resist their enthusiasm, Jiang Taohua left with the couple and their child.
Only Jian Mingyue remained behind, glaring resentfully at Jiang Taohua’s retreating figure.
After walking for about seven or eight minutes, they arrived at the secretary’s home.
The grandson in his arms woke up, pouting and on the verge of tears. Jiang Taohua couldn’t stand children crying, so she quickly pulled a piece of White Rabbit milk candy from her pocket.
“Be good, don’t cry. Sister will give you candy.”
Hearing about candy, the child immediately shifted his attention. He nodded, and Jiang Taohua slipped the milk candy into his mouth.
The secretary’s wife looked at her with admiration and said, “You really know how to comfort children. My surname is Sun, you can call me Aunt Sun. That’s your Uncle Zhao.”
Jiang Taohua called out, “Aunt Sun, Uncle Zhao.”
“Yes!”
Aunt Sun affectionately took Jiang Taohua’s hand, growing fonder of her the more she looked.
She led Jiang Taohua and her little grandson into the inner room to change clothes, while Wen Shunu sat on the sofa, carelessly munching on the fruit on the table.
Aunt Sun brought out a woolen coat, black pants, and a pair of black leather shoes—clearly not cheap.
“Taohua, these are clothes from my younger days. I only wore them once. Now that I’m older, they don’t suit me anymore. If you don’t mind, I’d like to give them to you.”
Jiang Taohua graciously accepted them. “Thank you, Aunt Sun.”
Looking at Jiang Taohua in her new clothes, Aunt Sun felt her eyes light up. It was true that clothes made the person. Such a young and pretty girl should dress up more often.
They chatted on the sofa for a while longer. As it grew dark, Aunt Sun insisted they stay for dinner, but Jiang Taohua was determined to leave, so Aunt Sun had to let her go.
She took out two identical mesh bags, each containing three boxes of malted milk powder, two boxes of milk powder, two bags of White Rabbit milk candy, a bag of pastries, and a bag of white sugar—the highest standard of gifts in this era. Jiang Taohua and Wen Shunu each received one.
Aunt Sun reluctantly saw her out the door, urging her to come visit often.
Uncle Zhao called the driver over and instructed him to ensure the two returned safely to the educated youth point.
Sitting in the car, Wen Shunu felt as if she were dreaming. She pinched her own face hard.
Jiang Taohua asked in confusion, “Why are you pinching yourself?”
Wen Shunu giggled foolishly, “I’m checking if I’m dreaming, hehe.”
She then planted a loud kiss on Jiang Taohua’s cheek: “Taohua, I really benefited from you today. I never expected to receive a thank-you gift too.”
Jiang Taohua lifted her chin and declared, “Stick with me, and I’ll make sure you live the good life!”
Wen Shunu playfully pounced on her, laughing, “Then I’ll follow you from now on.”
The two tussled and rolled around together.
The car screeched to a halt at the entrance of the educated youth point.
The production team leader was chatting with Li Guangrong, the person in charge of the educated youth point. When they saw a car approaching, both instinctively turned to look.
He immediately recognized it as the commune secretary’s car.
Seeing Jiang Taohua and Wen Shunu step out of the car, the production team leader’s mind raced with thoughts.
What was the relationship between these two female educated youths and the secretary? Could they be his relatives?
He often attended meetings at the commune and was familiar with the driver. Noticing the car window rolling down, he hurried over to strike up a conversation.
As the car drove away, the production team leader replayed the driver’s words in his mind.
“Jiang Taohua is the lifesaver of the secretary’s family. You must take good care of her and make sure no one bullies her.”
The production team leader shuddered. The lifesaver of the secretary’s family—he had to protect her well. If anything went wrong, wouldn’t the secretary skin him alive?
Pushing open the door to the educated youth point, they found the educated youths in the courtyard having dinner.
Jian Mingyue saw the large bundle of goodies in Jiang Taohua’s hands, along with her expensive-looking clothes and shoes, and knew they must have been gifts from the secretary. She gritted her teeth. These things, the clothes and shoes, should have been hers. It was all because of that damned Jiang Taohua.
She said sarcastically, “Oh, you finally decided to come back so late? People might think you went to meet some wild man!”
Jiang Taohua moved like a gust of wind, slapping Jian Mingyue twice across the face.
“If you don’t know how to speak properly, at least keep your mouth from stinking. I don’t mind teaching you how to behave on behalf of your parents.”
“Congratulations, Host, for angering the female protagonist. Reward: three yuan.”
Yan Jinghong’s previously indifferent gaze was instantly drawn. The women around him were all gentle and submissive. Such a fiery woman, full of wildness and vitality, struck him as very interesting.
“You… you!!” Jian Mingyue angrily pointed at Jiang Taohua.
Her eyes shifted, as if she had thought of something, and she then said with ill intent, “Taohua, Chen Zhushi came looking for you earlier. He said it was love at first sight and specifically asked me to give this to you.”
Jian Mingyue held a boiled egg in her hand and raised it to pass to Jiang Taohua.
[Hmph, you bitch. If I say this, everyone will think you’re involved with Chen Zhushi. Even if you don’t know him, it doesn’t matter. After tonight, your reputation will be ruined, and you’ll have to marry that scumbag. Just wait until you’re crying then.]