Sitting in the cornfield, Shen Ruoruo burst into loud sobs as she cursed the Female Lead, Shen Yueyue.
“You little bitch, get over here right now and help me with my work!”
After shouting, she wiped away the tears on her face and continued crying bitterly.
The women of Qingshan Village all put down their work. In groups of two and three, they gathered together and began discussing the conflict between the two sisters. Among them were two women who had ridden the ox cart to town with them before, and they immediately began spreading what they claimed was inside information.
“I heard the younger sister say the older one secretly took all the family’s money. Who knows if it’s true? That older sister even had a job in the city.”
“I reckon that job was probably meant for the family’s son,” another woman said with certainty.
The others nodded in agreement.
After all, a city job was something countless people dreamed of obtaining. Who would be foolish enough to sell one so easily?
“That younger girl must have some savings too,” another woman whispered, giving her companion a meaningful look. “I heard her late mother left her some money, and she took all of it.”
Shen Yueyue was drenched in sweat, yet she forced herself to stand tall, her voice ringing with conviction.
“Little Sister, how can you say such things? I did all the work at home and never complained. Now that you’ve come to the countryside to support national development, you’re still unwilling to work hard. Don’t you know how honorable it is to contribute to our country?”
As she spoke, she wiped the sweat from her forehead with her roughened hands. The gesture only made her words seem more believable.
The villagers of Qingshan Village secretly nodded.
That was right. Without hardworking farmers, how could city people enjoy comfortable lives? Shen Yueyue’s words made them feel proud of their own contributions.
Li Lezhi could only admire the Female Lead’s acting skills. Shen Yueyue clearly hated being here, yet she could deliver such passionate and inspiring speeches. Even the male Sent-down Youth nearby were nodding in agreement.
“Stop talking nonsense!” Shen Ruoruo cried again before struggling to her feet. “I could have been working at the Textile Factory. You’re the one who signed me up to come here. Don’t you feel even a little guilty?”
“I really didn’t,” Shen Yueyue replied innocently. “If you don’t believe me, write to Mother and ask. Maybe she was afraid you’d try to take Little Brother’s future job, so she registered you instead.”
She even began analyzing the situation for Shen Ruoruo as though she were helping her.
By this point, several village women had already accepted Shen Yueyue’s explanation. Even Shen Ruoruo herself began to doubt her own assumptions and stood there deep in thought.
“What are all of you doing?”
Captain Xu’s booming voice suddenly sounded from behind them.
“Don’t you want your work points anymore? Why are you all standing around?”
The moment everyone heard the words “work points,” they immediately scattered and hurried back to their assigned tasks.
The afternoon sun was merciless. Even with spiritual spring water constantly replenishing her strength, Li Lezhi found the heat unbearable. The air was hot and stifling.
Fortunately, she wouldn’t have to work in the fields tomorrow.
When work finally ended, everyone was exhausted, especially the newly arrived Sent-down Youth. Even the male comrades looked drained and lifeless.
They all went to the scorekeeper to record their work points.
After an entire day of labor, and with Aunt Guihua’s help, Li Lezhi had earned only three work points.
Among the eight new arrivals, surprisingly, the highest score belonged to Yang Jun, who had managed only six points.
If Li Lezhi were willing to push herself harder, she could certainly earn more. However, the half-grown corn stalks left her body itchy from head to toe. She found it difficult to imagine whether Li’s Father and the others would be able to endure three years of this life.
After registering their work points, everyone trudged back toward the Sent-down Youth residence.
When they arrived and saw the food on the table, Li Lezhi instantly lost her appetite.
“You all go ahead and eat. I’m too tired today and don’t have much of an appetite.”
With that, she turned and headed toward her room.
“How can you skip dinner? At least eat a little. You’ll need strength to work tomorrow,” Zhao Guoqiang advised kindly.
As if speaking casually, Shen Yueyue suddenly remarked, “The space around Comrade Li’s bed is filled with two large trunks and several huge bags. Perhaps Comrade Li brought quite a lot of food with her.”
The others immediately looked enlightened.
The moment Li Lezhi heard the subtle mockery in Shen Yueyue’s words, she turned around and walked back to the table. Picking up several sweet potatoes, she held them in her hands.
“I originally thought everyone had worked hard today, so I planned to give you my share. But now it seems that’s unnecessary. I suppose I was sticking my nose where it didn’t belong and causing misunderstandings.”
Holding the sweet potatoes firmly, she turned and walked away, leaving only a resolute back view behind.
Everyone stared in stunned silence.
By the time they reacted, Li Lezhi had already disappeared through the doorway.
Ruan Zhaodi was the first to break the silence.
“Why did you have to say that? What was the point of bringing up Comrade Li?”
Her heart sank. She felt as though the food she might have received had vanished before her eyes.
She shot Shen Yueyue with a fierce glare.
After more than three years here, she had never once eaten her fill. The more she thought about it, the more resentment she felt toward Shen Yueyue.
Shen Yueyue felt wronged but still forced herself to remain calm.
“I… I was only telling the truth. How was I supposed to know Comrade Li would react like that? Maybe she never intended to share anything in the first place.”
“Enough,” Zhao Guoqiang interrupted. “Everyone eat and get some rest afterward. We still have work tomorrow.”
Li Lezhi had no idea how Shen Yueyue was portraying her behind her back. Even if she knew, she wouldn’t have cared.
Back in her room, she tossed the sweet potatoes into her space before taking out a cup of malted milk and some biscuits to enjoy.
Aside from that brief disturbance, the night passed peacefully.
The next morning, Li Lezhi rose early, picked up her basket, and followed behind the others.
When they reached the village committee, everyone collected their tools and prepared for work.
Halfway there, Shen Yueyue noticed Li Lezhi standing alone.
“Comrade Li, why are you standing here with a basket?”
Everyone’s attention immediately shifted toward her, but Li Lezhi remained completely unfazed.
At that moment, Captain Xu called out.
“Comrade Li, are you sure you want to earn work points by cutting pig grass?”
Li Lezhi nodded firmly.
“Yes! I won’t cause any trouble for the production team, Captain Xu.”
“All right then. But remember, when the autumn harvest arrives, you’ll still have to work in the fields. Even the half-grown boys in the village will be helping then.”
“I understand. I’ll obey the team’s arrangements.”
Captain Xu warned her, “Then be careful in the mountains. There are quite a few birds of prey up there. Don’t wander too deep into the hills.”
In the end, Li Lezhi collected a sickle, placed it inside her basket, and completely ignored the whispers behind her.
Even from a distance, she could vaguely hear several village women discussing her.
The woman who had been chatting with Aunt Guihua yesterday was saying to another villager:
“Don’t be fooled by how pretty and delicate Comrade Li looks. She’s probably not even capable of bearing children.”
The other women immediately joined the discussion enthusiastically.
Li Lezhi heard everything but made no effort to argue.
After all, she had no intention of spending the rest of her life in this village.
In another four years, the college entrance examination will be reinstated. When that happened, she would be able to leave. By then, Li’s Father and the others would have been rehabilitated as well.
Lost in thought, she gradually arrived at the foot of Qingshan Mountain.