The moment Song Wei entered the courtyard, all eyes turned to her. Calmly, she greeted everyone without changing her expression.
"Song… Song Wei, Uncle Erzhu is here to put in your door," Li Juan finally said, snapping out of her daze.
There was a hint of envy in her gaze as she looked at Song Wei. If she had that kind of strength, she thought, maybe she wouldn't have to worry about going hungry.
"Got it," Song Wei replied, setting her things down by the door and then went into her room.
Like Li Juan, Song Wei planned to install a door in the back wall of her room that would lead to the backyard, where the open space was perfect for storing things—and even planting some vegetables to eat.
"Uncle Erzhu, is it alright for us to use some of the land in the backyard as a private plot for ourselves?" she asked, her interest clearly piqued as she took in the expanse of land.
Uncle Jiang Erzhu, who had just finished installing the door, shook his head. "I don't know; you'd have to ask the team leader about that."
Technically, the whole backyard could be divided up among the educated youth however they wanted. She noticed Li Juan had already planted a few vegetables there, some of which were ripe. But as she glanced over it, she realized part of Li Juan's garden looked a bit…bare.
When Uncle Erzhu finished, Song Wei handed him five yuan for his work—both for the new door and for building her brick bed, since he had brought his own materials, which raised the price a bit.
"Thank you, Uncle Erzhu."
Er Zhu, a simple, honest farmer, grinned in satisfaction. He seemed especially happy, his face creasing up into a genuine smile—maybe because of the money and the bowl of snake soup she'd shared with him the day before.
"Song Zhiqing," he said, "you've just moved here and don't have much food yet. Auntie Ma wanted me to tell you to come by our place and pick some vegetables to get you started."
Song Wei flashed a bright, toothy smile. "Thank you! I'll go see Auntie Ma tomorrow."
After sending Uncle Erzhu off, Song Wei grabbed her hatchet and got to work, chopping wood from a large tree branch into neat, manageable pieces. She piled up the firewood in the backyard until it was a good supply.
But then, she heard voices rising in an argument from the front yard.
Curious, she craned her neck, tossing the mushrooms and chestnuts she'd gathered into her room and quickly headed to the front. She didn't want to miss out on the drama—how could she pass up a show like this?
"Enough is enough! Every time, you take my vegetables without a word, not even a thank you, and when I say something, I'm the one called selfish!" Li Juan's voice trembled with anger as she wiped away tears.
"Seriously, what's the big deal? It's just a few vegetables. That whole backyard is technically for everyone, so what's wrong with taking some?" Most of the group looked indifferent, even slightly irritated, except for a few who looked uncomfortable. Liu Linlin and Xu Laidi in particular were eyeing her disdainfully.
Xu Laidi rolled her eyes. "I watered those plants, so I have a right to them, too."
Li Juan's body shook with anger. "All you did was pour out your morning face wash water or evening foot wash water on them! I didn't even want you doing it—sometimes the water was so hot it burned the seedlings, and I had to replace them myself. You should be ashamed!"
Xu Laidi huffed. "It's still water, isn't it? Just wash the vegetables before eating. People in the countryside use manure to grow their vegetables—why don't you go complain about that?"
Liu Linlin muttered, "Are we eating or not? I'm starving, and they're still going on and on."
Everyone was preparing to pay the public grain, and while it wasn't the busiest season, everyone still worked hard each day. So they'd agreed to take turns cooking meals together. Today, it was Xu Laidi and Bai Yunjiao's turn, and they'd taken a good amount of vegetables from the backyard for their meal.
Bai Yunjiao said softly, "I'm sorry, Li Juan. We just thought that since everyone's been working so hard, and we don't have Song Zhiqing's luck in catching meat, we could at least add more vegetables to keep everyone healthy. I didn't think you'd mind."
Wow, Song Wei thought, arms crossed as she watched from the doorway. Bai Yunjiao's sweet, gentle tone made it seem like she was making a generous sacrifice, despite using someone else's food to boost her reputation while stirring resentment against Li Juan.
Sure enough, everyone's looks toward Li Juan grew colder after Bai Yunjiao's words.
"It's just a few vegetables; we'll replace them later," said a male Zhiqing, who was trailing after Bai Yunjiao. It was obvious to everyone that he was one of her admirers.
Luo Yecheng looked disappointed as he turned to Li Juan. "We're all in this together as educated youth. Bai Yunjiao and Xu Laidi only wanted to help everyone. Li Zhiqing, you need to have a spirit of giving."
Li Juan's face turned pale, her expression showing the frustration of being blamed for wanting fairness and respect. They took her food and turned against her.
"What a show," Song Wei said, leaning against the doorframe with her arms folded. "The shamelessness of some people here is truly eye-opening."
Liu Linlin glared at her. "And what's it to you? You're not sharing your grain, so you don't have a say in this!"
Song Wei scoffed. "Oh, please. You all talk a big game about being generous, yet I don't see any of you setting the example. Luo Yecheng, since you're so passionate about giving, why don't you share some of your own grain with Li Juan?"
Luo Yecheng tensed, his posture stiffening. "Why should I?"
Song Wei's eyes widened with feigned surprise. "Weren't you just saying that people shouldn't be selfish, that everyone should be giving? I'm just giving you a chance to practice what you preach. You should be thanking me."
She had a lively charm to her, and her playful tone seemed to make her all the more spirited. Yet every word stung her targets, especially Bai Yunjiao and her admirers, who now looked at her with gritted teeth.
"Oh, and Bai Yunjiao," Song Wei continued, "I remember you just picked up a package from home three days ago. Didn't it have a piece of cured meat in it? You're so worried about everyone's health—why don't you share it with the group?"
Bai Yunjiao had practically flaunted the package, showing off the items inside for everyone to see. Now, with Song Wei's words, she was left with nowhere to hide. Her smile faltered as her eyes darted away.
"What's the matter?" Song Wei pressed. "You're not one to preach generosity and then be selfish yourself, are you? Impossible! After all, you're the kindest, most selfless, and considerate comrade Bai Zhiqing!"
With each exaggerated compliment, Song Wei effectively put Bai Yunjiao on the spot, as if tying her to a post. Bai Yunjiao's chest heaved in silent anger as she replied, "It's already late, and the vegetables we have are enough."
"Oh, it's never too late for meat!" Song Wei replied smoothly.
Li Juan, watching as they stood speechless under Song Wei's calm yet biting words, felt a wave of satisfaction.
"Exactly. Didn't you say you cared so much about everyone's health? Vegetables can't provide the nutrition that meat can!"
Li Juan has a submissive personality and, despite being an experienced Zhiqing, often found herself bullied and unable to argue back. Situations like today's had happened repeatedly, and every time, either she was brushed off or left with nothing but humiliation.
It was her own garden, her own vegetables—everything planted and tended by her own hands. But these people would take what they wanted without asking, and if she dared to complain, they accused her of being selfish and uncooperative. Today, if not for Song Wei's help, she would have lost her vegetables and been blamed and ostracized once again. Just thinking about it made her angry.
Right now, Song Wei was like her anchor. Bai Yunjiao, seeing she had no comeback, quickly put on a helpless, pitiful expression.
Bai Yunjiao and Song Wei had come to the countryside together, so her skin hadn't yet been hardened by the harsh sun. She also knew how to get the men to help with work, so her skin was still fair. With that distressed look, her admirer's heart melted instantly.
"But it's different! That's meat—Bai Zhiqing's personal belongings—why should she have to share it? Li Zhiqing's vegetables, on the other hand, are planted in the Zhiqing compound's communal garden, so they're for everyone to eat!"
With Song Wei around, Li Juan finally had the courage she needed. Her voice was louder than ever.
"They're mine! I tilled the soil, bought the seeds myself from a villager with two eggs, and did all the weeding and watering. What did any of you do?"
"Why should you all get to eat my vegetables for free when you didn't lift a finger? I don't owe you anything. And you," she turned to the young man, "are a man! If you want vegetables, plant it yourself."
"The communal land in the backyard is huge. If you all wanted vegetables so badly, why didn't you plant your own instead of waiting to pick mine?"
Once Li Juan got going, her anger kept rising.
After rebuking the young man, she turned her fury toward Xu Laidi.
"And you! You call me selfish and petty, but take a good look at yourself. You're lazy, greedy, and shameless.
"You've used my tooth powder more than once, promising every time to buy your own, yet you never have. You borrowed one of my dresses ages ago and never returned it. You even owe me a yuan from before—are you ever planning on paying me back?
"I don't need you watering my plants with your leftover foot water, which reeks! My plants keep dying from your so-called 'help,' yet instead of gratitude, you accuse me. You're just an ungrateful leech!"
At that moment, Li Juan seemed to be venting every bit of frustration she'd ever felt, her voice booming and brooking no argument.
Red-faced, Xu Laidi shrank back under the barrage, and Li Juan turned her sights on Liu Linlin next. Her fighting spirit was unstoppable.
Song Wei sighed inwardly, wishing she had some sunflower seeds to snack on as she enjoyed the show. What a scene! For once, those who had been ganging up on Li Juan were left speechless, too stunned to even defend themselves.
Finally, Li Juan scooped up her vegetables, crying angrily as she did, but moving quickly and efficiently.
"Ungrateful, every last one of you! Trying to eat my food—dream on!"
Grabbing Song Wei by the arm, she led her back to her room.
Song Wei, thoroughly satisfied with the spectacle, glanced at the grim expressions on the others' faces before following Li Juan inside.
The Zhiqing in the courtyard remained silent for a while. Then, a tall, slightly chubby young man finally stirred, grabbing his share of the meal—some coarse bread—which he ate silently.
Rolling his eyes, he muttered, "Unbelievable. Looks like those vegetables weren't for the group after all. We didn't even eat a bite, yet we still got cursed out for it."
The guy next to him also picked up his food and left without a word.
One of the senior Zhiqing in the group spoke up, saying, "Let's eat. We've got work early tomorrow."
Meanwhile, in Li Juan's room, she stared at the vegetables she'd placed on the table, a bit dazed. When Song Wei came in, she gave her a sheepish smile.
Her eyes, however, sparkled with newfound determination.
"You are quite courageous. How'd you let them push you around like that for so long?" Song Wei teased.
Li Juan blushed. "I never thought I'd be able to say those things out loud like that."
Now that her anger had settled, she was a little surprised at herself. But, truth be told, it felt amazing to finally let it all out, like she'd released years' worth of pent-up resentment.
"Song Wei, come eat. I saved a plate of vegetables even though they cooked them," Li Juan said with gratitude.
To Li Juan, Song Wei was now a trusted friend. When everyone else had attacked her, only Song Wei had stood by her. It was also thanks to Song Wei's support that she'd dared to confront Xu Laidi and the others.
Song Wei didn't hesitate and joined her. "I'm planning to ask the team leader if we can fence off part of the backyard for ourselves. If he agrees, I want to make a small kitchen back there and grow my own vegetables."
Song Wei shared her idea. After witnessing Li Juan's ordeal, she realized it would be best to have her own plot clearly marked to avoid these disputes.
Li Juan's eyes lit up, but she hesitated. "Do you think the team leader will agree?"
Song Wei shrugged. "No harm in asking. Let's finish eating, then go talk to him."
Li Juan nodded enthusiastically. If she could get her own little plot, she wouldn't have to worry about Xu Laidi and the others freeloading off her garden again.
Excited, she scarfed down her food, eager to set off.
"Hold on," Song Wei stopped her. "We should bring a little something."
Not exactly a bribe, but it wouldn't hurt to bring a gift to make a good impression. Song Wei's family hadn't sent much with her, but she had few mushrooms on hand. She filled a small basket with them to make it look presentable.
Inspired, Li Juan did the same, gathering some of her own things, including a few candies and five eggs.
"These eggs were from a village auntie—I didn't even eat them myself." But she was willing to make the sacrifice if it meant getting her own plot of land.
So, the two set out under the evening sky toward the team leader's house.
It was only about eight o'clock, and with the full moon overhead, they could see their way perfectly.
The moon was so bright it illuminated everything clearly, from the fields to the courtyard, and several children were playing under its glow without a care.
What a beautiful sight, Song Wei thought, smiling. In ten years, scenes like this would probably be rare.
When they arrived at the team leader's house, they knocked politely. From inside, they could hear a dog barking, followed by a child calling for his parents.
"Grandma, someone's here again!"
The child's voice rang out loudly. It seemed the team leader's house was never short of visitors.
It was Aunt Xinghua, the team leader's wife. Seeing the two girls standing at the door, her eyes lingered on the basket they carried, and her face lit up with a big smile.
"Li Zhiqing and Song Zhiqing! What brings you here? Come in, come in!"
In the courtyard, a little boy—bare-bottomed and three years old—was sitting in a basin of water, craning his neck to catch a glimpse of the visitors.
Song Wei handed the basket to Aunt Xinghua. "Auntie, I picked these mushrooms in the mountains today. It's just a little something—hope you don't mind."
With her bright smile and sweet voice, Song Wei's charm made people want to talk with her. Aunt Xinghua made a show of refusing, but soon accepted, as they weren't especially valuable.
"You girls don't have to be so polite! Come in, and let's talk inside."
Li Juan handed over her eggs, and Song Wei passed a piece of candy to the little boy, who squealed with joy.
"Why give candy to children? It's a waste of money." Aunt Xinghua protested lightly, though the grin on her face grew even wider. It wasn't about the value; seeing others care for her child genuinely made her happy.
"It's just a little treat, really. Nothing costly," Song Wei reassured her.
Li Juan, watching quietly, was deeply impressed. She could never imagine approaching the team leader with such confidence. After all, he commanded considerable respect in the village.
As they chatted, the team leader walked out, a dark blue coat over his shoulders, pipe in his mouth, giving them a scrutinizing look.
"What's got you two here?" he asked brusquely.
Aunt Xinghua shot him a sharp glance. "Look at you, scaring them off with that grumpy face!"
Swallowing his words, the team leader took out his pipe and cast his wife an exasperated look.
"Team leader, I just want to ask you, can we enclose a separate yard on the private plot behind the Zhiqing compound."
The team leader frowned. The affairs of the Zhiqing compound had always been a headache for him; they came with no shortage of petty conflicts. But glancing at the basket of mushrooms and the eggs his wife held, he felt slightly pressured—having already accepted the gifts, an outright refusal would be awkward.
"What's brought this on? Why would you want to fence off part of the yard?"
Song Wei nudged Li Juan forward and spoke passionately, recounting the day's events and emphasizing how much effort Li Juan had put into tending that small vegetable plot.
"Imagine putting your heart and soul into a garden, only to have others come and take what they want without asking. And worse—they don't say a single good thing but turn around and call you selfish. Who could stand that? And besides, this will only encourage laziness, with everyone relying on someone else's work. Eventually, no one will even want to plant anything!"
Li Juan's eyes reddened, genuinely upset, and Aunt Xinghua nodded sympathetically.
Country folk rarely tolerated laziness. Aunt Xinghua knew that if someone dared pick vegetables from her own garden and then called her stingy, she'd be furious enough to scold them out of town.
"Why are those Zhiqing like this? If they want vegetables, why don't they plant their own?"
"Exactly! That's why Li Zhiqing and I came to ask if we could fence off our own little spot. Otherwise, if they keep doing this, Li Juan won't even dare plant anything, and neither will I."
The team leader took a deep drag on his pipe, frowning thoughtfully. He hadn't expected to hear about such an incident in the Zhiqing compound.
"Let me think about it."
Aunt Xinghua cut in. "What's there to think about? It's just a small fenced area in the backyard. That space is huge!"
The team leader shot her a look. "It's not that simple. We'd need to get the other Zhiqing's input, and even if we go ahead, there would need to be a plan in place. We can't just let anyone set up fences wherever they like."
"We only want a small plot, just the three square meters behind our rooms."
Li Juan nodded in agreement.
The team leader took another long pull on his pipe. "I'll give it some thought. You two should go back for now."
Since he hadn't turned them down outright, Song Wei knew that the idea was feasible. Leaving the mushrooms behind, they bid farewell to Aunt Xinghua and headed home.
Once they were gone, Aunt Xinghua couldn't stop smiling as she looked at the plump mushrooms.
"This'll be enough for the family for two days! Song Zhiqing has a real way with people—the mushrooms she brought look amazing."
None of them had gone mushroom picking in the mountains themselves yet.
The team leader's daughter-in-law chimed in, "These mushrooms look fantastic, Mom, I will go to the mountains to pick mushrooms tomorrow afternoon."
Hearing this, the young boy—still with candy in his mouth—bounced over excitedly. "Can I go to the mountains, too?"
"Yes, your mom will take you tomorrow," Aunt Xinghua said with a grin.
The team leader gave his wife a disapproving look. "I've told you not to just take things from people."
Taking gifts meant responsibilities, and he was already overloaded.
Aunt Xinghua rolled her eyes. "I'm not foolish, you know. Mushrooms aren't anything precious—they grow in the mountains, after all. Besides, the girls didn't ask for anything difficult. If they dared to, I'd throw the basket right back at them."
She wasn't one to let people take advantage, especially if they were making her husband's job harder.
"As for the case of Li Zhiqing, the other Zhiqing are truly shameless. It's just like back when our brigade had group work days; there were always a few freeloaders making the hard workers resentful. But once we changed the system to give points for work, no one dared slack off. It's the same idea."
Aunt Xinghua genuinely liked Song Wei and Li Juan; after all, they were sensible girls who'd shown respect by bringing gifts.
"Fine, fine. I'll look into it tomorrow," the team leader conceded.
"But you know," Aunt Xinghua added thoughtfully, "Song Zhiqing really seems different after she came back from the hospital—so likable, too."
The daughter-in-law lowered her voice, "Maybe she got scared straight?"
Aunt Xinghua chuckled. "No, I heard the whole incident about her jumping in the river was a misunderstanding. She slipped and fell in by accident. And as for her chasing after Luo Zhiqing, it turns out she'd given him a bunch of ration tickets, so she wanted her dues back."
The daughter-in-law's eyes widened in surprise. "Really?"
"Oh, yes. Let me tell you…"
The team leader watched the two women gossip with growing exasperation. Did these women have nothing better to do?
On their way back, Song Wei and Li Juan found themselves in an unexpected situation.
It started when Song Wei picked up on Luo Yecheng's voice nearby. Her sharp ears caught him speaking with an unfamiliar woman, and she quickly gestured for Li Juan to be quiet.
"Shh, Luo Yecheng's talking to someone. Let's sneak up quietly," Song whispered.
Li Juan's eyes widened. "Could it be Jiang Xiaowan?"
Since he and Jiang Xiaowan were practically engaged, sneaking out for a late-night meeting wasn't out of the question. But Song Wei shook her head. "No, it's a voice I don't recognize—a stranger."
At her words, Li Juan covered her mouth, stifling any sound she might make. She watched as Song Wei, moving with surprising skill, tiptoed closer to the voices.
Li Juan hesitated, torn between her conscience and curiosity. But after only five seconds of deliberation, curiosity won out. She followed Song Wei, as quietly as possible, and the two of them crouched behind a large tree, listening in.
Their eavesdropping paid off, and the voices became clear.
"Luo Zhiqing, are you really going to marry Jiang Xiaowan? What about me? I've loved you this whole time! What does she have that I don't?" The girl's voice was both angry and hurt.
"You accepted my gifts, you said I was the sweetest girl you'd ever met. Were all those words lies?"
Wow. Song Wei and Li Juan exchanged shocked glances—this was big gossip. Li Juan looked stunned, while Song Wei's eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Xiao Cao, calm down," Luo Yecheng's smooth voice replied. "Of course I meant what I said. You are the sweetest, most resilient girl I've met since I came to this village. But love isn't that simple, and you know that. I'm just a poor Zhiqing with nothing to my name. I would be a burden to you—your parents wouldn't accept me."
"Then let's run away together!"
Xiao Cao's voice was filled with emotion, verging on tears. "I love you, Yecheng. Why should Jiang Xiaowan get to marry you, while I can't?"
Luo Yecheng's voice softened. "Xiao cao, that's impossible. Even if we eloped, we wouldn't have anywhere to go without a letter of introduction from the captain. We'd be homeless and without food, and worse, we might even get caught and sent to the reform camp. Do you know what that's like?"
He continued, his tone grave. "Have you seen the people who live in the bullpen? Life in the reform camp is much worse. Is that the life you want? Even if you'd sacrifice that much, I can't drag you into it. You deserve more than that."
Xiao cao began sobbing into his shoulder, heartbroken, but she no longer spoke of eloping. Luo Yecheng's cautionary tales had hit home.
"You're so kind, Yecheng. Even now, you're looking out for me. I just can't bear it. I can't bear that Jiang Xiaowan gets to be with you. She doesn't deserve you!" Xiao cao cried.
Song Wei and Li Juan gaped, jaws practically on the floor. Was this girl serious? Did she actually buy Luo Yecheng's excuses?
Apparently, she did.
After a while, Luo Yecheng, clearly worried about being caught, coaxed Xiao cao to leave first. Then he made his way back to the Zhiqing quarters.
Once he was out of sight, Song Wei and Li Juan emerged from behind the tree.
"He's shameless!" Li Juan muttered angrily.
Song Wei looked unimpressed. "Luo Yecheng just sees the girls who like him as meal tickets. He's got mooching down to an art."
Remembering how Song Wei had also fallen for Luo Yecheng's act once, Li Juan's face darkened.
"Shouldn't we expose him?" she asked. "He's giving all of us Zhiqing a bad name."
While she didn't want to admit it, the bad reputation of one Zhiqing could affect them all. In a rural village, solidarity was essential for the city Zhiqing, who were already seen as outsiders.
Song Wei thought for a moment. "And how do we do that without proof? We don't even know who that girl was."
They had only heard her voice in the darkness; they hadn't seen her face.
"Even if we figure out who she is, what's the point without solid evidence? Luo Yecheng would just deny it, and she'd probably deny it, too. Her family wouldn't want their daughter's reputation to be ruined—they'd turn on us instead."
Li Juan also thought about how tough this country people were and shuddered immediately. "So… do we just let it go?"
"Just for now." Song Wei rubbed her chin thoughtfully. They would have to find a way to get this information to Jiang Xiaowan. For a jerk like Luo Yecheng, Song Wei figured a bit of scheming was well worth it.
The next day, Li Juan avoided Luo Yecheng, eyeing him with a mix of suspicion and disgust. Oblivious to the reason behind her stares, Luo Yecheng assumed it was because she admired him.
With a smug smile, he sauntered over to her. "Li Zhiqing, would you like to walk to work together?"
Li Juan immediately shook her head and rushed over to Song Wei, clinging to her arm. He's not on to us, is he?
But Luo Yecheng's gaze followed her, eventually landing on Song Wei.
His expression stiffened briefly, but he quickly recovered and gazed at Song Wei with his signature, overly affectionate look.
"Song Wei…"
"Stop looking at me with that look you'd give a dog."
"Pfft…"
With a single comment, she froze Luo Yecheng in his tracks, while another Zhiqing, brushing his teeth nearby, snorted, accidentally spitting out his water.
"Oh, don't mind me," Gao Le muttered, suppressing his laughter as he went back to brushing his teeth, though his shoulders shook with amusement.
Luo Yecheng's expression darkened, but he tried again. "Song Wei, can't we talk this over civilly? I think you've misunderstood me."
"Oh, there's no misunderstanding. Besides, when are you returning my ration tickets?" she asked casually.
His face flushed with anger. "You're impossible!" he snapped, striding off in frustration.
Song Wei scoffed, muttering loud enough for him to hear, "Look at him, acting like some gentleman with that dramatic exit. You're here to work the fields, not recite poetry."
At the door, Luo Yecheng stumbled and nearly fell, his face twisted in fury. "Song Wei!"
"What? Calling for your creditor?" she shot back.
He finally stormed off, humiliated. Li Juan, still clinging to Song Wei's side, looked up, curious. "What did you mean by 'looking at you with a look he'd give a dog?'"
Gao Le, also interested, nodded.
Song Wei grinned. "Doesn't his face just scream 'I love you'—the way you might look at a cute dog?"
Li Juan & Gao Le: … Oh, so that's what she meant.
With bandages still on her forehead, Song Wei once again found herself assigned to yesterday's task of removing corn kernels from the cobs. Today, however, there was a new face in the gossip group—a sour-faced woman whose gaze screamed disapproval.
The moment Song Wei arrived, the woman began her tirade.
"A young city girl coming to compete with us older women for corn-shucking work? Shameless! Those city Zhiqing girls don't know how to work. All they're good for is showing off their pretty faces, trying to charm folks around here. I'm warning you all, keep an eye on the young men in your homes. We can't afford to take in some spoiled city girl as a daughter-in-law!"
Her loud chattering made the other women around her look a bit uncomfortable—many of them had gossiped together yesterday and were too embarrassed to join in now.
"Absolutely right, Auntie Niu!"
Everyone expected Song Wei to snap back, as she usually did, but she surprised them by smiling and agreeing. Without a trace of shame, she sat beside Auntie Niu and started shucking corn quickly.
Thinking Song Wei was intimidated, Auntie Niu smiled smugly—until Song Wei spoke again.
"True enough! But laziness doesn't just apply to women; men can be lazy too. If a young woman is a little lazy, she can still marry into a good family and make do. But a lazy man? Now that's a disaster. A family's livelihood depends on him. If he's lazy, the whole family's doomed.
"So ladies, if you have daughters of marriageable age, keep your eyes open. Marrying off your girl to a lazy man is practically sending her to the fire. She'll end up doing all the work inside and out, plus dealing with a mean mother-in-law. Who would want that?"
Though Song Wei didn't name names, everyone knew who she meant. Auntie Niu's son and grandson were notoriously lazy and undependable. The fact that Auntie Niu's son also had a wandering eye was well-known in the village. Everyone knew her family's reputation.
Auntie Niu's face flushed, turning an alarming shade of purple.
"You shameless Zhiqing! Who do you think you're calling lazy? Who's an evil mother-in-law?"
Song Wei looked at her with wide, innocent eyes. "Oh, Auntie Niu, why are you so upset? I didn't mean you. I was just speaking generally. If lazy girls exist, lazy men must exist too. And we all know a lazy man can bring down a whole household."
Auntie Niu, who was not known for her patience, leaped toward Song Wei, hands outstretched.
Song Wei feigned a frightened dodge and managed to discreetly place a cob under Auntie Niu's foot, causing her to stumble and fall right into the pile of corn. The cobs tumbled down on top of her, and her shrieks filled the air.
Corn cobs are hard; they hurt whether you're being hit by one or falling onto them. But despite her weathered appearance, Auntie Niu was still strong—at only forty-something, her rough life had simply made her look older.
As Auntie Niu moaned and groaned, Song Wei acted the part, rushing with the others to "help" her out of the corn pile.
Coincidentally, the Team leader happened to be passing by and hurried over with a frown. "What's all this racket? Do you want to lose work points over this?"
Auntie Niu clutched her waist, her face contorted in pain as she pointed at Song Wei, looking for sympathy. "Team Leader, it was her! That Zhiqing girl pushed me into the corn pile. I hurt all over, I need to see a doctor. She has to pay for it!"
The team leader looked at Song Wei, exasperated. This girl had just come back from the hospital and now she was causing trouble again?
Song Wei responded innocently. "Team Leader, I didn't push her. Auntie Niu tried to hit me, but she tripped on her own. I just moved away to avoid getting hit! I wasn't even close enough to touch her. The others saw everything."
"I saw it," one woman piped up. "Auntie Niu fell all on her own."
"Haha! She looked like a toad on its belly—so funny!" a young boy chimed in.
The kids, who had come along to the field with their grandmothers, started imitating Auntie Niu's exaggerated moans and groans, clutching their backs and hopping on one leg.
"Get lost, you rude little rascals!" Auntie Niu shouted, her face twisted with anger.
"What's that supposed to mean?" one of the grandmothers shot back. "My Er Gou was only saying what he saw. I saw it too; the Zhiqing didn't lay a finger on you."
Another joined in, "Exactly. The girl didn't say anything rude until you started shouting."
The team leader turned to Song Wei. "So, what exactly did you say?"
Without waiting for anyone else, Song Wei took the opportunity to "explain" in her best impression of Auntie Niu's voice, imitating both her tone and gestures.
"So that's how it was, Team Leader," Song Wei concluded, standing primly beside him with the most innocent expression she could muster.
The team leader sighed. She hadn't directly accused Auntie Niu's family of being lazy, but her insinuations were crystal clear. But since Auntie Niu was the one who first lunged, and Song Wei hadn't actually laid a finger on her, there wasn't much he could do.
"Everyone, let's leave it at that. Get back to work."
But Auntie Niu wasn't finished. "It's her fault! I only tripped because of what she said! She has to pay for my doctor's bill!"
The team leader scowled. "Tell me, what am I supposed to do for you here? The Zhiqing girl didn't insult you; you just admitted that you think your family fits that description. You attacked her first, and you're responsible for your own fall. You want her to pay? This isn't some bandit hideout."
The team leader glared at Aunt Niu, voice thick with frustration. "You're lazy every day. One more fuss and I'm docking your work points!" Then he cast a warning look at Song Wei, saying, "And you—stop stirring up trouble."
Song Wei wisely nodded in agreement, keeping her tone respectful. "Yes, sir."
Seeing that continuing her complaints might actually cost her work points, Aunt Niu went silent, but not without shooting a venomous look at Song Wei. Muttering under her breath, she turned her attention back to the corn, while Song Wei, unfazed, swiftly resumed her work. The other women around her watched in quiet awe. Song Wei had done the unthinkable—she'd managed to shut Aunt Niu up without breaking a sweat, something they'd all given up on.
Aunt Niu kept mumbling complaints, but no one else engaged. Instead, the older women began gossiping as usual, hands busy but tongues even busier.
"Did you hear about the Lin family?" Aunt Wang began, her voice edged with disapproval. "Yesterday that poor Heidan hauled a whole load of firewood home, and not one person saved him any food! A five-year-old boy starved so bad he looks like a toddler."
"Absolutely heartless," muttered Aunt Zhang, shaking her head. "That's their own flesh and blood grandson, yet they treat him worse than a stray."
After hearing the name Heidan and what Aunt Wang said, Song Wei was basically certain that she was talking about the little boy from yesterday.
She pretended to be curious and asked, "Is the Lin family from our village? I think I might have seen this little boy; I haven't seen anyone thinner."
"Oh, they're infamous around here!" Aunt Wang eagerly filled her in, sensing an audience.
The Village was mainly populated by three large families: Jiang, Lin, and Wang. The others had settled here during the famine years and were integrated later on when the People's Commune was established, eventually forming what they now called the Ping'an Brigade.
Heidan was the grandson of Lin Tieniu and his wife, Zhou. Lin Tieniu had four sons and one daughter. The third son, however, was believed to be born under a "cursed star" as both parents faced serious misfortunes during his birth. Superstitious to the core, Zhou consulted a village fortune-teller, who only fueled her suspicions. Though it was risky to even talk about superstition, Aunt Wang leaned in close to fill in Song Wei on the details.
"From the day he was born, they treated Lin Laosan like a cursed animal—good for work, but not deserving of even a full meal," Aunt Wang explained with a grimace. "They made him work like a mule and always kept him half-starved. Years passed, and his older and younger brothers married, while he was ignored until he finally found himself a wife, Heidan's mother, whom he bought with two bags of coarse rice."
Aunt Xiu chimed in, "Her own family practically sold her off since they didn't care about her. They were a family that valued sons over daughters, so they didn't think twice when the Lin family offered rice."
"Then the Lins nearly beat Lin Laosan to death for spending the rice, calling it 'family property' even though he'd earned it himself!" Aunt Wang's face soured. "Poor people, that couple."
"Both of them worked hard, yet Zhou treated Heidan's mother terribly. Even when she was pregnant, she'd make her wash clothes in the icy river. And later, when their first child was in her belly, Lin Laosan's little sister even shoved her, causing a miscarriage. That finally broke him. He stormed to the team leader and the family elders, demanding a split from the family or he'd die at their doorstep."
Aunt Xiu continued, "They finally let him separate from the family, but with nothing—no money, no dishes, not even a single bowl. The poor couple was forced to start from scratch. At least the team leader was decent enough to arrange a small clay house for them. They fixed it up and worked hard, and for a while, life got a bit better."
Aunt Wang picked up again, "But then Heidan's mother fell ill while pregnant, and Lin Laosan died searching for medicine on the mountain. She was so shocked she went into early labor and barely survived herself. Heidan was born but lost his mother soon after. All he had was his half-grown brother. The Lin family wanted to occupy Lin Laosan's house. Lin Zhen gritted his teeth and took his newborn brother to ask for help from his great grandfather and joined the army. He promised to send some money back every month for the cost of raising his brother. Over the years, he only came back once, when Heidan was a little over one year old, and he left in a hurry after staying for only three days. Heidan was so young at that time that he probably couldn't remember what his brother looked like at all.
Unfortunately, the outside world was in chaos, and the Lin family finally snatched the then two-year-old Heidan back after a lot of arguing, and used it to seize the child support that Lin Zhen sent back, but the money did not go to Heidan. "
It's obvious that the money was embezzled.
Song Wei was stunned. "So they took him back, but don't even take care of him? How could they be so shameless?"
Aunt Wang smirked, "Shameless is right! Just wait till Lin Zhen returns and sees what they've done to his little brother. He's not one to let things slide."
After all, when his mother almost had a miscarriage because of the Lin family when she was pregnant with Heidan. That guy dared to run to the Lin family with a kitchen knife to cause trouble.
Having absorbed the family's tragic history, Song Wei finished up her work.
Find the scorekeeper to record the work points and then leave.
As she headed out, Aunt Niu muttered insults her way, calling her out by name.
Song Wei shouted back, "Aunt Niu, seems you're falling behind on work again! Slacking off, are we?"
Her voice was loud enough, catching the team leader's attention as he walked by. Hearing her, he came over, his face darkening.
"Again, Aunt Niu?" he growled. "Can't you go one day without causing trouble? Do you want to lose work points?"
Song Wei, feigning surprise, picked up one of Aunt Niu's half-peeled cobs and exclaimed, "Oh, look! These haven't even been cleaned properly. You're wasting good kernels, Auntie."
Every time Song Wei spoke up, she seemed to hit Aunt Niu's nerves. Aunt Niu looked like she wanted to rush over and clamp Song Wei's mouth shut.
The team leader's face was darkening by the second.
Having successfully stirred the pot, Song Wei darted off, her legs moving like a blur.
The other older women stared in amazement—Song Wei had bested Aunt Niu without breaking a sweat. It was clear that Song Wei was not someone to mess with.
After putting some distance between herself and the scene, Song Wei slowed down, making her way leisurely back to the youth settlement.
The first thing she did when she got back was take out the mushrooms she'd gathered in the hills the day before. The thinner mushrooms would be good dried, while the thicker ones would make a hearty mushroom sauce.
She carefully sorted the mushrooms, laying the thin ones out to dry in the backyard and saving the thick ones. Pine nuts, pinecones, and chestnuts also needed to be dried.
Finally, she grabbed a wooden board and, using a piece of charcoal, scrawled a few words across it, then planted it in a prominent spot in the yard.
"Alright, I still have to find the team leader to finalize the private plot situation," she murmured to herself, looking at the sign, which read: "Whoever takes it is a dog!"
She knew that in the future, people would probably just bark a few times and happily take the things.
But nowadays, it is still a bit lethal to those who care about face.
With that done, Song Wei eyed the plump mushrooms she'd kept, wishing them to magically turn into mushroom sauce. She wasn't quite sure how to make it herself.
"Guess I'll wait and ask Li Juan when she gets back," she sighed, giving up for now. Instead, she put some steamed buns on the stove. She only knew how to make basic foods, so the buns were as close as she'd get to a real meal.
She rolled up her sleeves and made a few millet buns as well. When the food was ready, she stuffed one into her mouth, packed the rest in a bag, and headed back out with her basket and sack, prepared for another day of foraging in the mountains.
But today didn't go quite as smoothly.
On the way, she stumbled upon a scene of bullying.
A group of kids were chanting, "Orphan! No parents! Heidan is cursed!"
"Get him! He stole from us!" one boy shouted. "Heidan's a thief!"
Surrounded, Little Heidan protested, "I I'll didn't steal anything! My grandfather gave it to me!"
His voice trembled with tears and a stubborn sense of defiance.
Hearing Heidan's name, Song Wei changed direction and headed toward the scene. "What's going on here?" she called out. "A bunch of older kids picking on a younger one—aren't you ashamed?"
The kids froze at the sound of an adult's voice. But when they saw it was just Song Wei, they relaxed, pulling faces at her. A chubby boy even retorted with a sneer, "I'm teaching him a lesson on behalf of my grandma! He's a thief."
"Oh?" Song Wei raised an eyebrow. "And what exactly did he steal? Did you see it yourself? Where, when, and how? Tell me."
Lin Youcai, the chubby boy, hesitated. He couldn't come up with an answer because he'd made it up. "Mind your business!" he barked. "This is family business—it has nothing to do with you!"
"Family business?" Song Wei feigned surprise. "So Heidan is actually your cousin? I'd never have guessed, seeing as you're treating him like an enemy. Who beats up their own family? Would you lead other children to beat your cousin?"
The other kids glanced at each other and shook their heads.
"You see?" Song Wei continued. "That's not how real family behaves. So tell me, did your grandma actually tell you to bully your cousin? Or is this your own idea? Because picking on someone smaller than you is something only a bully would do."
The children, especially the ones who'd been dragged into this, fidgeted uncomfortably, embarrassed to be seen as bullies.
"We are not bad kids!"
Song Wei squatted down and looked at the group of children in front of her with a serious expression: "But good children will not bully the weak. Look at Heidan, he already has insufficient food and clothing, and he is much thinner and shorter than all of you. How can you still have the heart to bully him?"
"It's because… Black Egg is a bad kid!" Lin Youcai stammered. "They say he cursed his parents—that's why they died."
"Nonsense! Hei Dan isn't a bad kid at all. His father went up the mountain to gather herbs so that Hei Dan could be born healthy and see this world.
But the mountains are dangerous, and even though you're young, the adults at home must have told you that, right? So that's why something happened to his father. But his father was willing to risk going into the mountains for the sake of his unborn child, which shows just how much he loved him.
And his mother, who tried her best to give birth to Heidan despite being extremely sad, loved Heidan very much. She only followed his father because she missed him so much."
Song Wei spoke slowly, carefully using simple words so the children could understand.
Little Heidan, listening from behind her, stared with wide, tear-filled eyes.
He didn't think of crying when he was beaten, but now he cried when he heard Song Wei's words.
It was the first time he heard such an explanation. Everyone said that he was the one who killed his parents. Over time, Heidan also thought so.
But for the first time someone said that his parents loved him and they did a lot of things for him in order to bring him into this world.
Song Wei pulled out some candies from her pocket. "If you're willing to say sorry to Heidan, you can each have a candy. Real kindness means apologizing when you've done something wrong, and showing respect for others."
Except for Lin Youcai, the kids all quickly took a candy and murmured, "Sorry, Heidan… we shouldn't have called you names or hit you."
Lin Youcai, however, scoffed. "I don't want your candy. Heidan is just a freeloader!"
Song Wei sighed, unfazed. "Your grandma and your mom definitely didn't tell you that Heidan brother sent money back every month. Originally, the money was used to support Heidan, but Heidan is like this…why don't you go back and ask your grandma and your mom where the money went?"
Lin Youcai's face reddened as he stomped his foot. "You're lying!" he yelled before running off.
The other children crowded around Song Wei, calling her "Sister" and thanking her eagerly. She ruffled Little Black Egg's hair, sneaking two extra candies into his small, dirt-streaked hands. His big, dark eyes blinked up at her, shining with emotion.
Because of the sparse population in her previous life, children are the hope of the future. This concept has always influenced her, so she is very patient with these lively children.
Learning that Song Wei was heading to the mountains to gather mushrooms and firewood, a group of children eagerly clamored to join her.
Since schooling had been disrupted for years due to turmoil, the kids in Ping'an Brigade, now in their most energetic years, ran wild daily, forming packs to roam around, sometimes wreaking havoc, much to their parents' annoyance.
Song Wei didn't mind them tagging along, though this meant they wouldn't venture too deep into the mountains.
"I know where the best mushrooms grow, Sister Song. Let me show you," one of the kids offered eagerly.
These little rascals knew all kinds of secret spots that even the adults didn't know about.
With the kids leading the way, Song Wei held Little Heidan by one hand and a young girl by the other, and they set off toward the mountains. Heidan seemed thrilled, occasionally stealing shy glances at Song Wei.
"Sister Song, did my parents really love me? How do you know that?" Heidan asked, curiosity and a hint of sadness in his voice. Given how the Lin family treated him, he'd rarely heard anything positive about his parents.
Song Wei nodded. "Just this morning, I was talking to Grandma Wang, and she told me all about them. Your mother was a bit weak when she was pregnant with you, and your father risked his life going to the mountains to gather herbs to keep both you and your mother healthy. And your big brother, he joined the army to make sure he could look after you."
She chose to avoid the darker details for now. There was no need to sow seeds of resentment in such a young child; without the power to do anything, he would only end up hurting himself.
Heidan's eyes reddened, and he whispered, "Thank you, Sister Song."
As they made their way up the mountain, it was clear that Song Wei wasn't just accompanying the kids but leading them as the most mischievous one of all. Her spirit matched theirs, and they quickly found themselves at the upper part of the village river.
"My mom said we're not allowed in the river," one child said cautiously.
Song Wei rolled up her pants and smiled. "But there are fish in it. I can't just let fish swim by and taunt me without trying to catch them. Your parents said not to go in the water, but I'm a grown-up, so it's fine for me."
She added with a mock-serious look, "Stay put on the bank. Just watch me catch them."
With a splash, she leaped into the water, nimbly weaving around the fish and tossing them up onto the bank one by one.
The kids erupted in cheers.
"Sister Song, over there, there's a big one!"
"Sister Song, it's slipping past your toes!"
"Sister Song…"
The children watched excitedly, itching to jump in themselves. One of the bolder ones couldn't resist and leaped into the water, only for Song Wei to scoop him up by the arm and plop him back on the bank with a light smack on the rear.
The boy's face turned bright red. "Why'd you hit me?"
"Because you didn't listen. Disobedience means punishment."
"You don't have to hit my backside, though! A man's bottom is like a tiger's—untouchable!"
Song Wei smirked. "Tiger's backside, you say? I'd touch a tiger's backside, too."
"I don't believe you. You're lying."
With a mischievous glint, she replied, "Fine, don't believe me. Too bad there aren't any tigers around here to prove it."
She wrung out her wet clothes and let the sun dry her off. "So, how many fish do we have? Enough for everyone?"
"More than enough! Sister Song, you're amazing! My dad can't catch this many fish."
"But how are we going to cook them?"
"Grill them, of course," Song Wei said. Grilling was about the extent of her cooking skills.
"Does anyone have ginger? Maybe some green onions?"
"I can go get some from home!" one child volunteered. The village wasn't far, and the kids could run there and back in half an hour. In the meantime, Song Wei cleaned the fish and made a makeshift pool to keep the extras fresh.
"Bring some chili peppers too!" she called after them.
Leaving Heidan and another kid to tend the fire, she instructed, "Make sure to clear away any dry grass or leaves around the fire."
"We know! We've roasted food in the mountains before," they replied confidently.
These kids were surprisingly responsible with fire, having been taught from a young age how to be cautious, especially in the mountains. They dug a pit in the ground to contain the fire, and when they were finished, they would cover it with earth.
While the fish grilled, Song Wei and a few others went exploring nearby.
"Sister Song, I know where there's a beehive. Do you want to go check it out?" a boy, dark from sun and dirt, suggested with a grin.
Song Wei raised an eyebrow. "Why haven't you gone after it yourself?"
"I tried! But I got stung badly. And then my mom chased me around the yard with a feather duster," he admitted. "My dad never has time to help me."
"So, you're still after it, huh?" She chuckled, amused by his persistence. "Alright, lead the way. Let's go."
Honey was a rare treat. She could hardly remember what that kind of sweetness tasted like.
She followed him with the kids in tow, gathering branches and dry sticks along the way. They bound dried grass with green twigs to make a bundle. Tying the bundle to her waist, she scrambled up a tree, agile as a monkey.
The children below watched, awe-struck.
"Wow! Sister Song climbs so fast!"
"My mom told me the city kids don't know how to do anything, but Sister Song is amazing."
She soon reached a point where she could clearly see the hive, large and arched, with a steady hum around it. This was the good kind of hive, she thought—the type filled with honey.
There were three sizable chunks hanging in front of her.
Song Wei climbed a bit higher, where the buzzing grew louder. She found a steady spot, lit her smoke bundle with a match, and let thick smoke waft up toward the hive, which sent the bees into an uneasy buzz. Some bees even fainted from the smoke and fell from the tree.
A few persistent ones approached her, but she swatted them away with a branch.
Balancing herself and managing the smoke, she cut off a piece of honeycomb about the size of a basketball, savoring the sweetness as she licked the honey from her fingers.
The taste was heavenly, leaving her in high spirits.
Not wanting to be greedy, she cut off one more small piece from another hive before stopping. She had prepared a palm leaf rope to tie the honeycombs securely.
Glancing down, she grinned before letting herself drop from branch to branch in a show of agility, landing gracefully to a chorus of awed gasps.
As soon as Song Wei landed on the ground, she was met with a cheer from the children.
"Sister Song, you're amazing! How did you do that? Can you teach me?"
To kids, especially the boys, there's nothing cooler than someone who can pull off impressive stunts. Right now, Song Wei was like a hero straight out of picture books—a warrior.
Holding up her prize, the honeycomb, Song Wei gestured for them to move. "No time for talking! Let's go before the bees come back!"
Afraid of being stung, the little ones scrambled to keep up, their short legs working furiously. One lagging child almost tripped, and Song Wei hoisted him by the back of his collar just as the buzzing drew closer.
Realizing they'd been robbed, the bees started to give chase. Without missing a beat, Song Wei hefted the smallest child up under one arm and took the lead.
"Keep up, everyone! Don't fall behind!"
"Wait for us, Sister Song!"
"Carry me too!" one of the kids shouted.
Without turning, Song Wei replied, "You're too big! Walk on your own!"
Under her guidance, they all managed to escape the bees. Song Wei held the honeycomb aloft, smiling brightly as she led her little gang back toward their grilling spot.
"Let's go enjoy our spoils!" she said with a mischievous grin.
The children mimicked her swagger, each taking up her unbothered, "nobody-messes-with-me" strut as they walked back, almost like they were heading into a brawl rather than a feast.
In their eyes, Song Wei was their leader now.
Back at their grilling spot, she kept the largest chunk of honeycomb and carefully divided the smaller one into equal portions for the seven kids. The children munched on fish and licked honey from their hands, each grinning like they'd won the lottery.
"I'll just have a little. I want to save the rest for my parents," one of the boys said.
"I'll give some to my grandma."
"I'm bringing mine home for my sister."
As unruly as they could be, these kids knew how to share the good things with their families. Heidan, watching them quietly, looked down at his honey with a conflicted expression.
He didn't want to take it home and lose it to his greedy relatives.
Song Wei patted his head. "If you can't finish it, I'll keep it for you. Just come by whenever you want some."
She slipped him a rough-grain bun as well, saying, "Eat up," knowing that he might not get another good meal anytime soon.
Heidan's eyes lit up. "Thank you, Sister Song," he said politely, then bit eagerly into the bun.
"Eat as much fish as you want, too."
Despite her usual reluctance to share her food, Song Wei couldn't help but be generous with these kids. She handed out pieces of her bun and millet bread, softening at how they followed her around loyally.
By the time everyone was full, they had bonded over their little adventure, and the kids had officially declared Song Wei as their leader.
While gathering mushrooms, they eagerly pointed out good spots for her and told her about places with wild fruits.
"I know where there's a huge wild grapevine! It's deeper in the mountains, though. My parents won't let me go there alone," one boy said, his eyes wide with excitement.
Now that piqued her interest. "Well, maybe next time we'll go together. You lead the way, and I'll keep us safe."
"Okay! Sister Song, you have to remember, though!" To them, Song Wei seemed braver than even their fathers, so they felt safe with her in charge.
With a basket full of mushrooms, Song Wei carefully stacked a bundle of firewood on top, grabbed another bundle with her hand, and led the kids back down the mountain.
Each child carried a fish caught by Song Wei, grinning from ear to ear as they headed home.
"Meet me tomorrow if you have time," she said. She knew Heidan would have a hard time keeping anything at home, so she'd save some for him.
He nodded eagerly, a rare smile lighting up his face, his wary, wolfish expression gone.
As they descended, they ran into a few village women coming back from work, who were also on their way up to look for mushrooms, with a few little girls trailing them.
"Mom!" one of the boys shouted, running off to greet his mother.
Some of the other women recognized Song Wei too, like the few she'd shared a cart with.
"Oh my, Song Wei, look at all the stuff you've got there," Liu Guifen said as she rushed over to poke at Song Wei's basket.
"Quite the haul of mushrooms in here, and two big fish!" Liu Guifen shouted, her voice ringing out in fake outrage. "These are public resources, you know! It wouldn't be right to keep all of it to yourself."
Liu Guifen had it out for Song Wei after what happened that morning. Her mother-in-law had vented her frustration over the whole incident on her, dragging her husband in to discipline her too.
As far as Liu Guifen was concerned, if it weren't for Song Wei, she wouldn't have suffered those two humiliating slaps.
But Song Wei stood firm and calmly pushed her hand away. "So by your logic, everyone should hand over everything they gather? Well, if that's what everyone thinks, I'm happy to turn it in."
The other women immediately protested. They had come to the mountains to gather mushrooms themselves—no way were they letting Liu Guifen set that kind of precedent.
"Since when did you get so generous, Liu Guifen?" one woman scoffed. "If you're so keen on making donations, why don't you go home and bring out all the things you've gathered for the village?"
Another chimed in, "Exactly! You think we all collect mushrooms to give them away?"
The kids, feeling like they were part of Song Wei's crew now, chimed in to back her up.
"Mom, Sister Song gave us fish to bring home," one boy said, proudly holding up his catch. "We're gonna have fish tonight—and honey, too! Sister Song climbed a huge tree to get it."
He proudly unwrapped a clean leaf holding a chunk of golden honeycomb, and the other kids quickly showed off theirs too, each piece as big as a palm.
For families that hadn't tasted meat or sweets in ages, this was a treasure. Smiling brightly, the mothers shifted their attention, admiring Song Wei's generosity.
"Such a kind gesture from Song Wei. She even shared honey with the kids!"
The parents without kids around regretted it. They sighed, wishing their kids weren't missing out, while imagining them playing somewhere, completely missing out on all the excitement and treats.
Liu Guifen's eyes turned green with envy as she watched the kids boasting about their fish and honey. If the kids had so much, how much more did Song Wei have?
One of the mothers called her out. "What, Liu Guifen, planning to snatch from my kid now? Do you have any shame left?"
"Just try touching my son's things," said another, "and I'll scratch your face up!"
Liu Guifen wasn't scared of a single person, or even two, but facing a group of angry mothers? She didn't dare take her chances.
"I wasn't saying anything about the kids. I meant Song Wei!" she retorted, clinging to her excuse. "She's not even from our brigade, so why should she get all the good things from our mountains?"
Heidan tried to stand in front of Song Wei to shield her with his small frame. "Sister Song is part of our brigade! She found these things herself, so they're hers!"
"Get out of here, you little jinx without parents," Liu Guifen sneered.
Song Wei's eyes narrowed, a hard edge in her gaze as she gently pulled Heidan to her side. Her voice carried a thinly veiled anger.
"Auntie, are you trying to turn the Zhiqing against the villagers?" Song Wei asked with a cold smile. "We came to help build up the country with mutual respect and understanding, but it seems like you're determined to sow discord. Such hostility doesn't really show the right spirit."
Liu Guifen's eyes went wide. "That's not what I meant! How could you say that?"
Song Wei flashed her a friendly smile. "Oh, then I must have misunderstood you! But, just a tip—watch your words. We Zhiqing are new to the village, so it's normal for there to be some friction. Just like in families, people have misunderstandings sometimes."
Then, looking around, she raised her voice a bit. "But the ladies in this village are so warm and welcoming. I'm sure we'll quickly feel at home with their help. When I came here, they told me this village has the best morals in the area. I wasn't sure at first, but after spending time with them, I'm convinced!"
The other women, hearing this, relaxed and softened toward her. With Song Wei's friendly attitude, they felt less resistant. Liu Guifen's petty behavior had soured their impression of her, especially since she kept trying to take things from the kids.
"The Zhiqing are a part of our brigade too?" one woman retorted. "Are you going to go tell the team leader this nonsense?"
"Right? The Zhiqing earn their work points, so why shouldn't they get their share from the mountain too? Everyone sees what you're up to, trying to bully a young girl."
Aunt Ma chimed in, "Song Wei, don't mind her. If she tries anything, we'll go to the team leader and settle this right."
Song Wei nodded sweetly. "Thank you, aunties."
Ignoring Liu Guifen's fuming gaze, she calmly waved goodbye to the other kids and walked down the hill with Heidan.
Once she left, one of Liu Guifen's friends gave her a wry smile. "Honestly, what were you thinking? Didn't your mother-in-law just have a run-in with her today?"
"Who does that girl think she is?" Liu Guifen fumed. "All of you, siding with an outsider! I'm the one who's from the Village!"
"Have you ever given the village kids fish or honey?" her friend shot back.
Liu Guifen was taken aback. "For that little bit of food? Who cares?"
"Well, I care! My son wasn't there to get any today, though."
Liu Guifen's face flushed. "Whose side are you on?"
"I was just trying to comfort you. Don't you feel better?"
Liu Guifen clenched her fists. "You're making it worse!"
By now, people were growing accustomed to seeing Song Wei come back with a large load of firewood, though they still eyed her bounty with envy. Gao Le and his friend were simply in awe.
"We've got to gather some firewood before winter comes," Gao Le said, watching Song Wei. "I hear the winters here are brutal."
Zhao Su, squatting on the doorstep and eating his meal, sighed, his face scrunched up in dismay. "I don't want to. When will all this work end? One more day here, and I'm done. My father is heartless for sending me here to suffer."
Gao Le gave him a nudge. "You should be glad. At least we can go back home someday once they've cooled off. Most of the other Zhiqing have no chance at all."
He whispered this, knowing how tempting the idea of going back to the city was for everyone. Gao Le and Zhao Su may not have been the sharpest, but they knew enough to keep quiet about such things.
Just then, a sweet, lilting voice cut in, nearly making Gao Le drop his bowl. "Gao Le, Zhao Su, are you two short on food? I can share some with you if you like."
It was Bai Yunjiao. Gao Le nearly jumped out of his skin, feeling as if he were in some eerie play.
Zhao Su cast a wary glance at her. His mother had warned him that women who approached without reason usually had ulterior motives—either for his looks or his status. Now that he was stuck in the countryside and barely able to sustain himself, he couldn't afford to take on another mouth to feed.
"No thanks, we're fine," he said flatly, pulling his bowl closer.
Gao Le grunted a similar response, and Zhao Su shuffled a bit farther away, spooning rice into his mouth.
Bai Yunjiao bit her lip, attempting to appear shy but curious. "What were you two talking about?"
Gao Le and Zhao Su exchanged wary looks. This girl definitely had ulterior motives.
"We were just heading off. See you around!" The two friends quickly rose, practically tripping over each other to get back inside and shut the door.
"She's trying to figure out our background!" Gao Le exclaimed as soon as they were inside.
Zhao Su nodded, a serious look on his face. "My mother warned me—women like that want you to do all the work, give them tickets, money, and labor. Not happening."
"Right! We can barely make ends meet ourselves. Two work points a day? Even the old ladies here think we're useless."
Zhao Su looked at him in confusion. "Wait, really? I thought two points a day was impressive."
The two of them stared at each other for a moment, then nodded in agreement.
Before coming to the countryside, they'd been pampered city boys with no worries. Earning two points a day seemed like an achievement, given they hadn't shed a single tear over it.
The two chose to forget the fact that they cried secretly together in the first two days