“Perfect for propping up the table.”
Su Wanqing dropped this line, ignoring the stares of the crowd that made her look like a fool, and leisurely linked arms with Li Xiu as they walked back to the educated youth dormitory.
Lu Zhenting watched Gu Yanshen’s tall back, then glanced at Su Wanqing, his teeth grinding with anger.
This Gu Yanshen—how was he everywhere she went?
And that idiot Su Wanqing, spending two cents on a useless stone—had her brain been jammed in a door?!
Back in the dorm, Li Xiu couldn’t help but ask: “Wanqing, are you really going to use that stone to prop up the table? It’s so black and ugly—it makes me feel gross just looking at it.”
Su Wanqing put away her new notebooks and smiled nonchalantly: “It’s fine, just wash it and it’ll be clean. Our dorm table’s always wobbly, so it comes in handy.”
Of course, she didn’t tell the truth.
That stone was her first pot of gold for turning the tide in her favor!
…
The next day, before dawn had fully broken, the courtyard echoed with sharp, urgent bell sounds: “Dang! Dang! Dang!”
The signal to start work.
Su Wanqing opened her eyes almost immediately. Li Xiu jerked awake beside her, and the two scrambled to get dressed.
When the new educated youths hurried into the yard, Wang Jianjun and the older youths were already carrying hoes, looking perfectly accustomed to the routine.
The moment Lu Zhenting saw Su Wanqing, his eyes lit up. He rushed over: “Comrade Su, good morning! First day of work—nervous? Don’t worry, if there’s any heavy work, I’ll help you!”
Su Wanqing ignored him entirely, walking straight to Li Xiu and keeping three meters of distance between herself and him.
Lu Zhenting’s cheerful expression froze.
Not far off, Gu Yanshen leaned against the wall, hands in his pockets, his gaze calm as it swept over them and finally landed on Su Wanqing’s sleepy, delicate face, deepening slightly.
At that moment, Wang Fenglian, the women’s director of the brigade, walked over with a notebook. She was a middle-aged woman who looked capable and had a commanding voice.
“Everyone’s here! Today’s the first day of work for the new comrades. Let’s take care of them and start them on lighter tasks!” She scanned the new female educated youths, and upon seeing Su Wanqing’s delicate frame, made a quick decision.
“The three of you new girls, plus Lin Zhaodi, head to the back mountain to cut pig fodder.”
She then called out a few more names: “Zhang Daniu, Ma Daniu, Zhu Daniu, you older ones go along and teach them how to work—don’t let them mistake wheat seedlings for grass!”
Upon hearing this, Lin Zhaodi’s lips curved into a smug smile.
Being grouped with Su Wanqing and with her aunt there—this would be entertaining!
Su Wanqing’s mind let out a cold chuckle—what she hoped for always seemed to come true.
She had just been worrying about how to build rapport with Ma Daniu and Zhu Daniu, and now the opportunity presented itself.
The group received sickles and baskets and set off in a long line toward the back mountain.
On the hillside, Zhang Daniu and Lin Zhaodi immediately displayed their skill. Squatting down, their sickles “swish, swish, swish” through the grass, quickly gathering a small pile of fresh green fodder.
Su Wanqing, on the other hand, began her performance.
Dressed in clean clothes and holding the rusty sickle, she acted extremely cautious, as if holding a hot potato rather than a tool.
She imitated the others, squatting and carefully inspecting a clump of grass for a long time before gingerly cutting it.
Most of the time, she either cut the wrong grass or only got two or three blades, her efficiency abysmally low.
When dirt accidentally smudged her pants, she immediately paused, furrowed her delicate brows, and pat at it with obvious disdain.
Her delicate, coddled appearance hardly looked like someone there to work.
Zhang Daniu could no longer tolerate it. She threw her sickle to the ground, hands on her hips, and spoke sarcastically: “Oh my! Whose young lady is here experiencing life? Is this work or embroidery? Cutting grass like a goddess descending from heaven—we country girls are truly seeing something new!”
Her sharp, loud voice drew the attention of everyone around.
Lin Zhaodi quickly stood, pretending to be a peacemaker, but every word she spoke carried a sting.
“Aunt! Mind your words!” she shouted, “Comrade Su is from the city—she’s never done this before. We have to be understanding. Unlike us country folk, our skin is tough and our muscles hardy, naturally born to work. How could a precious city girl compare?”
On the surface, she appeared to defend Su Wanqing, but in reality, she was emphasizing her “capitalist girl” identity, isolating her and stirring resentment among the others.
A few young wives couldn’t help but snicker.
Su Wanqing lowered her head, her eyes reddening instantly, her shoulders trembling slightly—she looked utterly aggrieved.
Just as Zhang Daniu was about to speak again, a loud, commanding voice rang out:
“I say, Widow Zhang! Have you got chicken feathers stuffed in your mouth or what? Always yammering non-stop!”
Ma Daniu slammed her sickle into the ground and strode over aggressively, pointing at Zhang Daniu’s nose: “The girl’s new here—so what if her hands are inexperienced? Who is born knowing how to walk? When you first married into this village, you didn’t even know how to light the stove! Didn’t I teach you myself? And now, with your wings grown, you start bullying the new girls?”
Zhang Daniu’s face flushed red and then pale—she hated being called “Widow Zhang” most of all.
“Ma Huilan! Nonsense! When have I ever been unable to light a fire?”
“Nonsense? Should I bring up the time you peed in the bed back then too?” Ma Daniu’s eyes narrowed.
Zhu Daniu also stepped over, pulling the still-crouching Su Wanqing behind her, shielding her, and spat toward Zhang Daniu and Lin Zhaodi:
“Exactly! Acting tough in your own home counts for nothing! Got the guts? Go fight the men! Bullying a girl—shameless!”
Then she immediately switched to a kind smile, taking Su Wanqing’s hand: “Come on, Wanqing, don’t mind those gossipers. Let me show you—see this grass? It’s called pig’s ear plant. The leaves are plump, pigs love it. Hold the sickle like this, yes, apply force at the base, and ‘swish!’—see, just like that!”
Zhu Daniu demonstrated, a large handful of pig fodder in her hands.
Tears instantly welled up in Su Wanqing’s eyes. She looked at the two women, her voice soft and sweet, full of dependence: “Thank you, Ma Daniu! Thank you, Zhu Daniu! I… I’m just a little clumsy and caused you trouble, but I’ll try my best to learn!”
The grateful, admiring gaze melted the hearts of Ma Daniu and Zhu Daniu.
“Oh, this child, such sweet words.”
“Learn what? Stand aside and rest—we’re quick with our hands and feet, it’ll be done in no time!”
With the support of the two women, Zhang Daniu and Lin Zhaodi’s faces turned green with anger. They dared not speak further, only burying their heads and cutting the grass, imagining each clump as Su Wanqing and venting their frustration with each swing.
But Su Wanqing didn’t actually rest. She still held her sickle, awkwardly mimicking the others.
“Ah—”
She suddenly let out a short, sharp cry.
“What’s wrong, Wanqing?” Zhu Daniu asked anxiously.
Su Wanqing quickly pulled her hand behind her back, shaking her head with a slight tremor in her voice: “N-nothing… just accidentally… cut myself a little.”
Her words said “nothing,” but her small face had already paled from the pain, her eyes reddened instantly, clear tears brimming, yet she stubbornly bit her lip to keep them from falling.
The pained, aggrieved, yet resolute expression tugged at everyone’s heartstrings.
This scene was perfectly observed by the male educated youths working in another field nearby.
Lu Zhenting’s eyes lit up instantly—this was the perfect opportunity to show off!
Beside him, however, Gu Yanshen’s pupils constricted sharply. His hands gripping the hoe, knuckles whitening from the force, making a creaking sound, his face pale as death.