The shouting and scolding from the Lin family had conditioned Heidan to wake up at the crack of dawn each day. Even without anyone yelling at him, he'd become so used to their sharp, cutting voices that he would often wake abruptly from dreams as if he still heard them.
But this time, he opened his eyes to silence. There was no yelling, and the place around him was unfamiliar. He wasn't in the cold firewood shed. Instead, he lay under soft blankets that smelled of sunshine and warmth.
Heidan thought he had entered the place where the gods lived.
Getting out of bed, he noticed a few muddy marks on the bedding and panicked slightly, thinking he'd dirtied something precious.
Yawning, Song Wei sat up and stretched. "Why are you up so early? It's not even time to start working yet."
She can fall asleep quickly in any place and any environment, but was sensitive to the slightest sounds around her when someone else was in the same room.
Seeing Song Wei, Heidan's face lit up with relief and joy. However, his expression quickly changed to worry as he clutched the blanket, his eyes beginning to redden. "I'm so sorry, Sister Song. I got your blanket dirty…"
He looked terrified, wondering what he would do if she got angry.
"If it's dirty, we'll just wash it," Song Wei said, unfazed. She was awake now anyway, so going back to sleep was out of the question.
"Come on, let's heat up some water for a bath." She had wanted to give him a proper wash and shampoo for a while but hadn't pushed the issue before since they hadn't known each other well.
With a bar of soap in hand, Song Wei led Heidan to the communal stove, boiled a big pot of water, and added some cool water to bring it to a comfortable temperature. She then prepared to take off Hei Dan's grimy, tattered clothes.
Hei Dan blushed, holding his clothes tight and shyly insisting he could wash himself. His small, tense body reminded her of a skittish little chick, making Song Wei laugh heartily—a light, clear sound that filled the room.
The early morning sunlight shone on her, catching on her white forearms where she had rolled up her sleeves, and for a moment, she looked radiant.
Luo Yecheng, just stepping out of his house, stopped in his tracks, caught off guard by her beauty. For a fleeting moment, he regretted his choice to be with Jiang Xiaowan. But just as quickly, the illusion was shattered.
Song Wei noticed him looking and turned with an unmistakable eye-roll of distaste, her expression full of exasperation.
His moment of regret vanished, replaced by irritation. Who would want to marry someone like Song Wei? That'd be a lifetime of misery!
"Where's my ration tickets? When are you planning to pay me back?" Song Wei demanded, seated on a low stool as she washed Hei Dan's hair. Her hands stayed busy, but her sharp words came out easily.
"Don't push me, Luo Yecheng! I don't not care about what others think, I'll go straight to secretary Jiang's house if you keep this up!" She raised her voice, and Luo Yecheng's face darkened in anger.
"You've become impossible, Song Wei!" he snapped.
"Oh, really?" she scoffed. "You didn't find it impossible to borrow from me, did you? Now that I'm asking you to pay up, it's like I'm asking you for a kidney. They say poverty doesn't ruin one's character, but it seems to have done quite a number on yours, Mr. Luo!"
Meanwhile, Heidan sat obediently on the floor, letting her wash his hair, but he shot a fierce, wary glare at Luo Yecheng, clearly seeing him as an enemy. Anyone who upset Sister Song was a bad person!
Unable to get a word in, Luo Yecheng finally stormed off, red-faced.
With that, Song Wei continued with the task at hand. She managed to shampoo and wash Heidan's hair, but it was now time to take off his clothes for a bath. Hei Dan hesitated, blushing even more as he slowly removed his tattered shirt. When Song Wei's gaze fell on him, her expression changed to one of deep sadness and anger.
His small body was covered in bruises and scars. Most of them were beaten with thin sticks, some old and some new. Some had broken skin and left scars, and most had alternating blue and purple marks.
Song Wei took a deep breath; she didn't need to ask to know these were from beatings by the Lin family.
She rarely judged people solely on rumors, knowing how personal biases could distort stories. But seeing these scars firsthand filled her with an intense dislike for the Lin family, whom she had never even met.
"Does it still hurt?" she asked gently.
Heidan shook his head, then nodded. "It hurt a lot when they hit me, but it's not as bad now," he answered in a small, strong voice.
"And these?" Song Wei pointed to other marks that didn't look like cane lashes.
"My cousins kicked me," Heidan whispered.
Song Wei thought she had built up a strong enough heart not to be affected, but seeing this was painful.
Gently, she began to wash him, dabbing carefully around his wounds with a soft cloth.
Meanwhile, the early morning stirrings of the commune began, as the young workers, already accustomed to the daily routine, emerged one by one. Several people noticed Song Wei washing a child's hair and bath and were surprised, though most knew better than to approach her. Only Li Juan, curious, came over.
"Is this a village kid? How'd he end up here?"
Heidan tensed and shrank back, clinging to Song Wei's shirt silently.
"I found him wandering," Song Wei replied, scrubbing out layers of grime from his hair and skin until he looked clean and refreshed, though still very tanned from all the time he spent running up and down the mountains in the sun.
Li Juan's eyes widened. "You just brought him back? Aren't you worried his family might show up looking for him?"
Then she noticed his bruises and gasped, "Why is he so thin—and what's with all these injuries?"
"Beaten by awful relatives," Song Wei said tersely, unwilling to get into the whole story right now.
Li Juan's felt sympathy and outrage, while Song Wei lifted Heidan and turned to her. "Would you mind getting some breakfast ready? Make some for Heidan too"
"Of course," Li Juan replied eagerly.
""I'll go to the mountains to get a rabbit or a pheasant some other day to thank you for helping out."
"Not a problem!" Li Juan agreed, her face lighting up with excitement at the mention of meat.
She quickly went to prepare breakfast and even brought out a few small tomatoes for Heidan.
Song Wei threw Heidan's old clothes straight into the trash. Standing barefoot and freshly cleaned on her bed, Hei Dan watched her searching for something to wear, a goofy smile spreading on his face.
Sister Song is so good to me, he thought. If only I could stay with her forever.
This wasn't the first time he'd had this thought, but with each passing day, the wish grew stronger.
Finally, Song Wei found an old, plain shirt and helped Hei Dan put it on.
Song Wei didn't have much medicine at home, so she decided she'd ask for leave to go to the county town the next day. She'd send a letter to her brother, pick up a few things, and buy some medicine for Hei Dan. But for now, her clothes were way too big for Hei Dan, who looked like he was drowning in them, with the hem nearly reaching his calves.
After a moment's thought, she took a piece of straw rope and tied it around his waist. "That's all for now. Next time I go to the county town, I'll buy some fabric and make you some clothes."
Hei Dan's eyes widened in disbelief. "You're…going to make clothes for me?"
He could hardly believe his ears.
"Yep. Yesterday's wild boar brought in a fair bit of money, and those walnuts you helped me collect added to it. So, it's only fair I make you a set of clothes to thank hard-working little Hei Dan."
Hei Dan immediately shook his head, stammering, "No need! I-I didn't do much. The walnuts don't even cost much."
"If they're worth something to me, that's all that matters." Song Wei would have liked to give him a haircut too, but lacking scissors and time, she simply tied back his overgrown bangs with a piece of string.
With his hair pulled back, Hei Dan's features came into view—his eyes were large and clear, shining with a striking contrast against his tanned face. Despite his thinness, his features were delicate, hinting at a handsomeness that would emerge with better health.
Song Wei's thought: "This kid needs to be properly fed and taken care of."
Since he'd just had a bath, Song Wei didn't let Hei Dan walk barefoot. She tucked him under her arm and carried him like a sack as she headed toward Li Juan's room.
But they hadn't gone far when Gao Le called out to her.
"Comrade Song, just a heads-up—after you and Hei Dan left yesterday, someone came looking for you two. They didn't seem very friendly, so just be on your guard."
Both Song Wei and Hei Dan had a good guess about who it might be. After all, she had beaten up Lin's precious son yesterday, and it was unlikely that the Lin family would let that slide.
Hei Dan's body instantly tensed, and fear flashed in his eyes. Song Wei nodded her thanks to Gao Le. "Got it, thank you, Comrade Gao."
She continued toward Li Juan's room, reassuring Hei Dan along the way, "Don't worry, they're no match for me."
Hei Dan, feeling guilty, looked down. "I'm sorry, Sister Song. I've brought you trouble."
"You're just a kid—leave the worrying to the grown-ups."
Once they arrived, they had breakfast with Li Juan: buns and cornmeal rolls paired with mushroom paste. Song Wei herself could polish off seven cornmeal rolls, tossing a few cherry tomatoes into her mouth like fruit.
Li Juan watched her eat with a mixture of shock and awe. Song Wei ate with such enjoyment that Li Juan's own appetite had improved since they'd started eating together, but no one could keep up with such an appetite.
Li Juan finally sighed, "Song Wei, you have finished your food."
Song Wei blinked. "Already?"
Hei Dan, sitting quietly with a cornmeal roll in his hands, froze mid-bite and looked up at her with worry, holding the half-eaten roll without taking another bite.
"I will ask for leave from the captain tomorrow to go get some things. My brother sent me a lot. By the way, I will go to the mountain to get some mushrooms this afternoon. Can you help me make some mushroom sauce? I will send it to my brother."
Li Juan agreed readily, happy to help. Song Wei always gave her a good portion of whatever she brought back, and she still had a big jar of mushroom paste from Song Wei's last haul.
After breakfast, everyone headed to the fields. Song Wei was paired with Gao Le again, but instead of heading directly to work, she took Hei Dan with her to find the captain first.
On their way, those who recognized Hei Dan stared, clearly surprised.
"Isn't that Hei Dan with Comrade Song? When did they start sticking together?"
"That shirt he's wearing—must be hers. He's usually in rags. He looks like a new kid in that."
Ignoring the gossiping villagers, Song Wei went straight to the captain. After observing him over the past few days, she found that this captain is relatively fair. Still, she knew that her recent confrontations, and now this incident with the Lin family, might cause trouble. If she wanted to live peacefully in Ping'an Village, she needed to make sure she didn't alienate the captain. So she was here to give him a heads-up.
"Captain, I need to talk to you about something."
Seeing her approach, the captain sighed, anticipating trouble. Song Wei looked delicate and frail, but in reality, she had stirred up more than her share of issues since arriving. She might look sickly, but she had a sharp tongue and a knack for framing things in her favor, so no one could fault her.
"What have you done now?" he asked.
With wide, innocent eyes, Song Wei protested, "Captain, how could you say that? I never go looking for trouble."
The captain sighed, visibly unimpressed.
"And what's Hei Dan doing here with you?"
"I actually wanted to talk to you about him," Song Wei replied, holding Hei Dan closer. She explained how she'd found Hei Dan the day before, gathering pig fodder for Lin Youfu, and gently hinted at her conflicts with the Lin family.
The captain's face darkened immediately. "That Lin family is too much!"
"Exactly!" Song Wei echoed, her tone indignant. "From what I gathered, this isn't the first time. I've seen Hei Dan on the mountain before, carrying a heavy basket and gathering firewood on his own. Captain, he's only five. Do you think he looks like a five-year-old child?"
Hei Dan, small and undernourished, looked frail enough to be mistaken for a three-year-old.
The captain took a drag of his pipe, frowning deeply. He genuinely felt bad for Hei Dan but replied, "It's still a family matter, Song Wei. Not something we can intervene in easily."
After all, Lin's family, terrible as they were, were Hei Dan's kin. Family obligations still carried weight here, and taking action could backfire, especially if they tried to take custody of Hei Dan. His family might simply take advantage of whoever took him in, exploiting them in every way.
"Captain," Song Wei said, lowering her voice, "I heard that Hei Dan's older brother is a soldier—someone who's defending our country. If he finds out that while he's away, his only family member has been abused, what do you think he'll do? He might hold it against the village or, worse, go straight to the authorities or the Women's Federation. That wouldn't reflect well on Ping'an Village."
The captain's eyes widened as he processed her words. Song Wei was right: Hei Dan's brother, Lin Zhen, was known for his fierce temper. Years ago, he'd even chased his uncle's family with a knife and nearly burned their house down. Now that Hei Dan was his only family, if he returned to find him in this condition, things could get very messy.
The captain took a few more puffs of his pipe, his frown deepening. The more he thought about it, the more troubled he became.
"Just look at Hei Dan's injuries," Song Wei said, showing the bruises and cuts on Hei Dan's body to the captain.
The captain was immediately enraged. "How could they do this to him!"
Up until now, the captain had underestimated just how cruel the Lin family could be. He'd thought they were merely overworking the child and not feeding him well enough. In these tough times, plenty of young children helped out with work, and Hei Dan's daily tasks, although demanding, weren't something he could directly criticize. And while it was known that Lin's family barely fed the boy, villagers with extra would occasionally give him food, though few could spare much themselves.
But seeing him beaten this severely was different. Now the captain was deeply angered and felt a growing disgust for the Lin family.
Seeing the captain's response, Song Wei leaned in and suggested, "Captain, I have an idea, if you don't mind."
The captain, still fuming, looked at her with a resigned expression. Every time she started with that tone, it felt like she was up to something.
"Fine, let's hear it."
"Can I adopt Hei Dan?"
"What?!" Both the captain and Hei Dan stared at her in shock. Hei Dan's wide eyes shone with a mix of disbelief and joy.
The captain nearly choked on his smoke. "You—you want to adopt Hei Dan?"
The look he gave her said, "Have you lost your mind?"
"What's in it for you?"
Song Wei patted Hei Dan's head and replied calmly, "The kid's hardworking. Besides, he won't eat much."
The captain's face twisted into a skeptical expression. "Not eat much? You think this is some kind of joke?"
Food was precious, and he couldn't help but scoff, "You are an educated youth from the city. With the rations you get, you're barely feeding yourself, and now you want to take on a child? He's not a pet you can feed scraps to! Have you thought about food, clothes, and everything else?"
The captain genuinely wanted to help Hei Dan, but he also didn't want to see Song Wei get herself into trouble. He thought she must be acting on a whim, feeling sorry for the boy. Adopting a child was far more complicated than she might think.
"Comrade Song, I appreciate your good heart, but raising a child isn't simple. Even if we don't talk about food or clothing, dealing with the Lin family won't be easy. They'll cling to you, and you'll never have a peaceful day again."
Hei Dan's excitement waned at hearing this, leaving him feeling disheartened. He hugged Song Wei tightly, his voice laced with sadness. "I don't want to trouble you, Sister Song. I can take care of myself."
Hei Dan's little voice, fighting back tears, was so brave that it tugged at the captain's heart. The captain couldn't help but feel pity for the boy, cursing the Lin family in his heart.
"Don't worry," Song Wei reassured him. Then, turning back to the captain, she added, "The main reason I came was to give you a heads-up. Yesterday I gave Lin Youfu a bit of a beating, so they'll likely come looking for trouble today. If things get heated, I just hope you'll be fair."
The captain frowned. "What kind of man do you take me for?"
"Of course, you're the fairest of them all," Song Wei replied, grinning, "but it never hurts to be extra careful, right?"
"Get to work already," the captain growled.
"Sure thing! Just taking Hei Dan along with me," she said, cheerfully walking away.
For today's work, Song Wei was again paired with Gao Le for planting cabbage. Cabbage and radishes grew quickly and were cold-resistant, which meant they'd be ready by the time winter hit in the Northeast.
When Gao Le saw her, he lit up like a 200-pound puppy. "Sister, finally!"
Gao Le was very servile and fawning.
"The land we received this time is the same as yesterday. Can we finish planting it?"
Song Wei set Hei Dan down and said, "As long as we don't get interrupted, we should get it done."
Gao Le, confused, nodded, unaware of what she meant by "interrupted."
Song Wei moved with her usual speed, her seemingly fragile frame working with unexpected strength, swinging her hoe as if it weighed nothing. It was a sight—like a delicate lady doing heavy labor with grace. Even while working, she found time to chat with the village ladies nearby, picking up every morsel of gossip.
The villagers talked about everything, from mother-in-law arguments to kids getting spanked for wetting the bed, and Song Wei eagerly listened, always up for any story.
Hei Dan, eager to help, knelt down carefully to plant seedlings, making sure not to dirty his borrowed clothes. He was more helpful than Gao Le, who glanced over and felt a bit embarrassed.
Looking at Song Wei working nearby, Hei Dan's eyes crinkled with joy. Back at the Lin family, he'd been overworked and underfed. But now, even though he was still working, he was happy.
However, the peace didn't last long. Hei Dan spotted the Lin family approaching from a distance. Fear gripped him instinctively, and he began to shake.
Dropping his seedlings, he dashed over to Song Wei, pointing anxiously. "Sister Song… they… they're coming."
Following his gaze, Song Wei spotted the group. "Well, looks like they brought backup."
From across the field, the villagers could see Lin family approaching, and everyone stopped to watch the show unfold.
"Song Wei, that Lin family's here for you," sneered a familiar voice. It was Liu Guifen.
This shout allowed the Lin family to immediately lock onto their target.
The group consisted of grandmother Lin, her three daughters-in-law, and her daughter. The whole gang was out.
The old woman led them, it is said that appearance reflects the heart, and this old lady Lin's appearance is that of a cunning and mean scanned Song Wei with disdain. But it was the eldest daughter-in-law who had the least patience. Furious about her son's beating, she lunged at Song Wei, her fingers aimed for a fistful of hair.
"You lowlife, how dare you lay a hand on my son!"
Was Song Wei really going to let herself be caught?
Holding Hei Dan, she quickly sidestepped, flicking her foot to send a pebble flying toward Lin Youfu's mother's knee. The woman, Deng Chunhua, stumbled forward and fell flat on her face.
No one caught Song Wei's slight movement, so it looked like Deng Chunhua had just lunged too hard and missed.
Face down in the dirt, Deng Chunhua moaned and cursed, "You little wretch! You dared to dodge me!"
She looked up with a venomous glare, her face twisted in anger.
Song Wei just sneered, "Excuse me, but didn't you try to hit me first? What, you thought I'd just stand here and let you slap me? How big does your ego have to be to think I'd just take it?"
Deng Chunhua was furious. "You little tramp! You hit my son yesterday! And you, Hei Dan, you little orphan—no father, no mother, and helping an outsider bully your brother! Why hasn't lightning struck you down yet!"
Hei Dan lowered his head, saying nothing, as though long used to the insults. He clung to Song Wei's sleeve in silence.
Song Wei's tone was icy. "Ma'am, did you eat pig slop for breakfast to come up with this trash talk? Are you talking about that good-for-nothing son of yours, who made Hei Dan, a small child, cut pig grass for him? Lazy, sneaky, and repulsive, it's no wonder he got what he deserved. I couldn't stand his rat-like leer for another second."
The villagers gasped.
Country folk didn't usually hear such cutting insults—Song Wei's words weren't vulgar, yet they were sharper than any foul language. The fact that she said them with a casual smile made it all the more unsettling.
Deng Chunhua's face turned bright red. "How dare you say my son is useless! He's fine!"
Deng Chunhua scrambled to her feet, her anger boiling over, and lunged at Song Wei again.
Song Wei gave Hei Dan a little push, moving him out of the way, and then pretended to be afraid, dodging her clumsily. "Let's talk this out, please," she said, feigning panic.
Gao Le was puffing out his chest and preparing to help, when suddenly there was a crisp sound. Everyone saw a flash before their eyes, and then Deng Chunhua fell to the ground holding her cheeks.
Looking down at her hand, Song Wei blinked, her innocent expression betrayed only by the gleam in her eye. "Oh, my! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to… That didn't hurt too much, did it?"
Deng Chunhua's mind reeled, her cheek now bearing a red, stinging handprint. She hadn't expected this frail-looking city girl to actually fight back.
"What a disgrace!" scoffed old lady Lin, watching from the sidelines. She hadn't expected her eldest daughter-in-law to have trouble handling Song Wei and had believed she'd be watching her get put in her place. But reality wasn't matching up to her expectations.
Deng Chunhua, not giving up, tried yet again. Song Wei sidestepped, landing a solid step on her foot as she moved. Deng Chunhua stumbled and, for the third time, met the ground in a messy heap.
Villagers around them murmured in amusement.
"What's with Deng Chunhua today? She used to be so fierce—why does she keep falling?"
"She's face-first in the dirt three times now!"
"Song Wei's got some impressive luck!"
All the commotion drew the team leader's attention, and he stormed over, barking, "What on earth is going on here?"
Deng Chunhua immediately pointed at Song Wei. "Squad leader! She hit me!"
Song Wei's expression turned to feigned horror. "Ma'am, how could you accuse me like that? You came at me! If you fell down, that's not my fault."
The team leader shook his head. "Song Wei, it's you again?"
She had only recently had a dispute with, old lady Niu. Now, here she was stirring up trouble again.
"This isn't my fault," Song Wei defended. "They're the ones picking a fight."
Deng Chunhua scowled. "You beat up my son yesterday!"
Song Wei gave her a dismissive glance. "Yeah, well, he deserved it."
Deng Chunhua's face twisted with rage. "You little hussy! Dressing up all fancy, luring my son like some vixen! He was doing you a favor by being interested in you, and you repay him by attacking him?"
She could still recall her son's tearful, angry declaration that he wanted to marry Song Wei. The very sight of her now filled Deng Chunhua with loathing.
The team leader's face darkened at Deng Chunhua's words.
Song Wei wasn't one to let anyone talk down to her. "Fancy that," she replied, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "I had no idea being ogled by your lazy, shameless son was a privilege. Maybe you'd like to take my place in his 'affections'? Any girl with common sense wouldn't look twice at him. The only 'good quality' he has is that he vaguely resembles a human being."
Old lady lin, who had been watching the exchange, could no longer hold it any longer. "Watch your mouth!" she snapped, her sharp eyes narrowed with anger.
"Song Zhiqing is really sharp-tongued. My grandson is the best in this village. He is an intellectual who has studied in junior high school. You, an educated youth who came to the countryside to work in the production team, are bullying us locals. You beat my grandson and now you are bullying my daughter-in-law. Do you really think that there is no one left in our Lin family?"
Song Wei was surprised: "Did your grandson go to junior high school? Which school has such poor quality of intellectuals? He's supposedly educated, but with his behavior, I wonder if he just sat in a classroom for show. You must have a bad eye. If there is really no one in the Lin family, would there be so many people bullying a little girl like me?"
Old Lady Lin was used to commanding her son and daughter-in-law with authority at home, and outside, she had never lost a fight when leading her daughters-in-law in quarrels and brawls.
But now, while their insults were nothing more than the same old vulgarities, Song Wei, who never used a single curse word, could still infuriate them to the point of almost driving them mad.
Old lady Lin rolled her eyes and suddenly came up with an idea. "Song Wei, my grandson's already told us he's been pursuing you. He's even given you plenty of gifts, yet you repay him with violence. You may be educated, but do you really think you can treat our family this way?"
Song Wei was taken aback. She hadn't expected the old lady to twist the story like this. Lies like that could damage her reputation, especially among the village women who were starting to give her suspicious looks.
Deng Chunhua quickly joined in, "Exactly! Foxy little thing, you've got him enchanted. Last night, he kept saying he'd marry you. What did you do to him?"
The other women began murmuring amongst themselves, scandalized.
"Could it be true? Is Song Wei really like that?"
"You never know. Didn't one of the other city girls get mixed up with a village boy, too?"
The crowd's disapproving whispers grew louder as Song Wei watched, silently fuming.
"But didn't she just say she has no interest in Lin Youfu?"
"Well, who knows if she was telling the truth."
The crowd gathering to watch the drama was growing, including a few of the educated youth. Among them, Xu Laidi was watching with a look of schadenfreude, hoping for Song Wei's downfall. Bai Yunjiao's eyes flashed with interest as she stood among the onlookers, a faint smile on her face.
A cold gleam appeared in Song Wei's eyes. This old woman, she thought, was truly malicious, trying to ruin her reputation.
"Old lady Lin, do you have any proof of what you're saying?" Song Wei asked.
"My grandson said so himself! That's proof enough," the old lady retorted. "I've seen women like you before—taking advantage of my grandson and then turning your back on him. I'm telling you, it won't work with me!"
Song Wei didn't directly deny the accusation. Instead, she said, "I saw your eldest daughter-in-law sneaking around with another man in the haystack."
Deng Chunhua's eyes widened in shock, and she let out a shriek, lunging at Song Wei.
"You wretched girl! How dare you spread such lies! I'll teach you a lesson!"
Song Wei didn't hold back this time. She grabbed Deng Chunhua by the hair, slapped her hard, and threw her to the ground in front of Old lady Lin. Her cold eyes held a slight smile as she looked down at them.
"I also saw you, old lady Lin, talking secretly with an old man in the middle of the night, saying none of your sons are really Old Man Lin's—something about a 'green hat' you put on him," Song Wei continued, "I even heard that you were quite improper with other men when you were younger, wearing scandalous clothes and flirting openly."
Old lady Lin's hands shook as she pointed at Song Wei. "You… how dare you spout such lies, you shameless girl."
The crowd started to whisper.
"Could it be true? Are Old Lin's sons really not his?"
"Did Deng Chunhua really sneak off with someone else in the haystack? Who was it?"
"Old lady Lin did have a bit of a reputation in her younger days, come to think of it. And Old Lin has always been quiet, never really standing up for himself…"
Hearing these remarks, old lady Lin felt her head throbbing with anger. Her resentful gaze stayed fixed on Song Wei's smiling face, and she looked ready to tear her apart.
Suddenly, old lady Lin threw herself to the ground, pounding her fists and wailing. "I can't go on living! To think I'm being smeared by an outsider like this in my old age. This is too much! These so-called educated youth think they can trample on us common folk!"
The team leader looked pained, rubbing his temples in exasperation.
Meanwhile, old lady Lin's daughters-in-law came over to comfort her. Lin's daughter suddenly picked up a stone from the ground and threw it angrily at Song Wei.
"How dare you bully my mother? Die, you shameless bitch!"
Heidan: "Sister Song, be careful!"
Song Wei didn't dodge either. She raised her hand to catch the stone that was thrown at her face. She weighed it in her hand, and suddenly threw the stone back to its original path.
As everyone exclaimed, the stone brushed past the face of Old Lady Lin's daughter and hit the ground, creating a deep pit.
Old Mrs. Lin's daughter turned her head tremblingly, and her legs went weak and she almost fell down.
"Ah… looks like I missed," Song Wei said casually.
Everyone shivered, feeling a chill down their spines. People were starting to look at Song Wei with some fear. This girl was… ruthless.
The team leader originally wanted Song Wei to come over and apologize, but the words got stuck in his throat.
Old lady Lin's daughters-in-law also fell silent, no longer daring to rush forward. Seeing Deng Chunhua's swollen face and remembering how Song Wei had pulled her hair, they were wary.
But old lady Lin, undeterred, continued her wailing, demanding the brigade punish Song Wei. The rumors she had spread about Song Wei and Lin Youfu were now mostly ignored in favor of the sensational gossip Song Wei had thrown back at her.
Xu Laidi and Bai Yunjiao, meanwhile, looked bitter, clearly dissatisfied that Song Wei had turned the tables on the Lin family in this way.
Old lady Lin's eyes glinted with hatred, and she turned her gaze toward Heidan, who was still cowering behind Song Wei.
"You little mongrel, come here! You're just like your father—a backstabbing, ungrateful wretch. I should've strangled you when you were born!"
Unable to get to Song Wei, old lady Lin set her sights on Heidan.
"Go and bring that little brat here!" she ordered.
Heidan clutched Song Wei's clothes, trembling with fear. Old lady Lin sneered at Song Wei with satisfaction.
"Hand over my grandson, you shameless girl, or I'll report you for kidnapping!"
Song Wei smiled calmly. "If you want to take Heidan, sure."
Heidan's hand trembled, but when he felt a light pat on his head, he relaxed, trusting her completely.
"Just compensate me for my losses first," Song Wei added, pulling out a broken watch. Its face was cracked.
"This is my watch. It's worth 130 yuan, and Heidan broke it. I took him in to work off his debt, so if you want to take him back, just pay me the 130 yuan and a watch coupon."
Everyone gasped. Watches were highly valuable at that time, and everyone craned to get a look at the watch in Song Wei's hand.
"Such a beautiful watch. How did Heidan manage to break it?" someone asked.
Heidan didn't fully understand why, but he nodded along with Song Wei.
"It was my fault," he admitted.
Song Wei's eyes sparkled with amusement. "The other day, Heidan was carrying a huge bundle of firewood down the mountain and bumped into me. I fell, and the watch hit a rock and broke," she explained. "And it happened because he was out gathering wood for your family."
People in the crowd looked at the Lin family with disdain. Everyone knew it wasn't unusual for Heidan to gather firewood for them.
"Who's to say you didn't break it yourself?" old lady Lin shouted desperately.
"Why would I break my own watch?" Song Wei replied coolly. "Something worth over a hundred yuan? Besides, Heidan admitted it himself."
"She's right. If I had a watch like that, I'd treasure it, not break it for no reason," someone muttered in the crowd.
"Song Wei's too kind," another added. "Something that expensive, and she only asked Heidan to work it off without demanding compensation."
Song Wei held out the broken watch toward the Lin family. "So, are you going to pay?"
Old lady Lin cursed under her breath and tried to hit Heidan, but Song Wei stepped in her way.
"He has to work off his debt to me. If you hurt him, who'll help me?"
"You! He's my grandson—are you seriously trying to tell me I can't discipline him?" Old lady Lin fumed.
Song Wei replied calmly, "Yes, he's your grandson. But if you beat him so badly he can't work, then your family will owe me 130 yuan plus a watch coupon. Your choice."
Old lady Lin yelled, "130 yuan?! Why not just rob a bank! That little pest isn't worth it!"
"Bah, he's nothing but a troublemaker—just like his good-for-nothing mother! Eating and living at my expense, and the one thing I ask him to do, he messes it up. I should've drowned him at birth!" old lady Lin's words were laced with venom, cursing Heidan with every slur she could think of.
By now, even the bystanders were disgusted, unable to listen any longer.
Just then, the Captain arrived, looking worn out. Granny Lin was a notorious troublemaker, and the others struggled to handle her.
"Granny Lin, is this how you talk about your own grandson?" he asked with a scowl. "Even if you raised a dog, you'd feel something for it by now. What exactly are you trying to do?"
The captain's tone was sharp, his voice carrying an edge of anger as he remembered the bruises covering Heidan's small body.
But old lady Lin, still lost in her anger, didn't notice the captain's glare. Instead, she began pointing fingers at Song Wei.
"Captain, you have to do something! This girl is nothing but a troublemaker. She shows up with a broken watch just to get free labor out of my grandson. And yesterday, she even attacked Lin Youfu! Look at my daughter-in-law's face—it's all swollen from her beating!"
Old lady Lin dragged her eldest daughter-in-law over to show the captain.
"See? Song Wei is vicious! She may look young and harmless, but she's as cunning as they come. You can't let someone like her stay in the brigade. Who knows what trouble she'll stir up next?"
The captain didn't even have time to respond before his wife, Wu Xinghua, marched over, hands on her hips.
"Old lady Lin, why are you screaming like a banshee? Does being the loudest make you right?" She roughly pried old lady Lin's grip from her husband's hand. "And what's with grabbing onto my man like that?"
Old lady Lin's touch made her cringe. It was revolting.
The captain, too, was thoroughly annoyed. Old lady Lin's grip was surprisingly strong for her age.
"Xinghua, be careful. Some folks may be old, but their hearts sure aren't," someone in the crowd muttered snidely.
Many in the village, especially those who lived nearby, harbored grudges against old lady Lin's family, finding them brazen and insufferable. They'd made plenty of enemies over the years.
"What did you just say, you shameless old hag?" Old lady Lin retorted, now turning on one of her neighbors. "I haven't even gotten to the part about your grandson bullying my little grandson, but here you are butting in!"
"Enough!" the captain shouted, his face darkening. "Everyone, be quiet! Keep this up, and you won't get any work points today!"
At the mention of work points, which affected everyone's food rations, the crowd finally fell silent.
"Song Wei, explain what's going on," the captain said. He didn't look at her angrily, having already spoken to her earlier.
Song Wei nodded and recounted how old lady Lin had spread rumors about her and Lin Youfu, then explained the story about the broken watch.
The leader glanced at the watch in Song Wei's hand, inhaling sharply. Song Wei's strategy was no small gesture—that watch cost 130 yuan! Some families didn't even make that much in a year. It was an expensive item.
Old lady Lin jumped in, her tone harsh. "What rumor? That's the truth! My grandson said it himself, and your kind should consider yourself lucky if my grandson is interested in you. But no, you had to act all stuck-up!"
"Silence!" The captain gestured to the scorekeeper. "Deduct three work points from old lady Lin's household."
Old lady Lin's eyes widened in shock. She hadn't expected him to do that. She let out a howl and began to throw a fit, while her daughters-in-law grew visibly anxious. Work points meant food for the whole family, after all.
"If you keep this up, I'll deduct even more," the captain warned.
Old lady Lin and her daughters-in-law fell silent, no longer daring to cause a scene.
"Do you have any proof of your accusations against Song Wei and Lin Youfu? Did anyone see them together?" the captain asked.
Old lady Lin huffed indignantly. "My grandson said so, and that's enough!"
"And that's enough for you to believe him? Who in this village has ever seen Song Wei and Lin Youfu together? You all just open your mouths and say whatever you want, not caring how it can ruin a young woman's reputation. If Song Wei files a report with the police and they investigate Lin Youfu, he could end up in jail for slander."
Lin's face paled, and her eldest daughter-in-law, Deng Chunhua, looked even more alarmed.
"She wouldn't dare!" Deng Chunhua shrieked.
Song Wei folded her arms, smirking. "Try me. Just look at your precious Lin Youfu. I bet he'd be scared stiff the moment he sees a police officer."
Most people in those days were frightened of the police, and Lin Youfu was the type to crumble at the slightest pressure.
"You can't report us!" Deng Chunhua screamed. "You slandered me and my mother-in-law too!"
Song Wei smiled innocently. "Oh, that? I was just kidding."
"You…" The Lin family hadn't expected her to brush it off so lightly. Old lady Lin's hand shook in rage as she pointed at Song Wei, helplessly furious. She had finally met her match.
Song Wei looked at old lady Lin and her family. "So, does Lin Youfu have any relationship with me?"
Her casual smile was cold, almost as if daring them to find out what would happen if they pushed her further.
Old lady Lin scowled. "No, he doesn't! My grandson is a fine man and wouldn't look at someone like you—a weakling who wouldn't be able to bear healthy children!"
The crowd exchanged disdainful looks. Just a moment ago, Granny Lin had claimed her grandson was interested in Song Wei. Now, fearing legal trouble, she was changing her tune and even insulting Song Wei.
The captain turned back to the matter of the watch. "Since Heidan broke Song Wei's watch, the Lin family either has to pay the 130 yuan, or Heidan can work for her to pay it off. Song Wei's being generous enough not to demand immediate payment."
Old lady Lin sneered. "Fine! But don't expect us to feed or house Heidan anymore!"
The captain gave a bitter laugh. "And just what 'precious' food were you feeding him? Lin Zhen sends monthly support specifically for his younger brother. Has any of that money actually gone toward Heidan's care?"
Old lady Lin's gaze faltered for a moment, but she quickly composed herself and retorted, "I've raised Heidan to this age, haven't I? Feeding and clothing him all these years wasn't free, you know! Besides, Lin Zhen is also my grandson, so part of that support money is for his grandparents!"
The captain's patience was nearly gone. "How thick-skinned can you be?"
"Granny Lin, stop flattering yourself. Does Lin Zhen even acknowledge you as his grandmother?" someone in the crowd retorted. "And feeding Heidan? We're not blind. He's working for your family every day, but he's dressed in rags and barely eats. If Lin Zhen came back and saw how Heidan's been treated, he'd probably set your house on fire!"
Granny Lin's face darkened. She muttered that Lin Zhen would never do such a thing, but deep down, she was uneasy. Lin Zhen had always been wild and rebellious, never afraid of standing up to anyone, even if it meant being labeled as unfilial.
Realizing she wouldn't get her way, Granny Lin shot Song Wei and Heidan a hateful glare and turned to leave. But Song Wei called after her.
"Granny Lin, now that everything is settled, you won't be calling Heidan back to your house for any reason, right?"
"Why should I agree to that? Heidan may be working for you to pay off the debt, but I didn't sell him to you. I'm his grandmother—if I tell him to come home, he comes home! Heidan will gather firewood for the Lin family; that's his way of showing respect for his grandparents."
The captain scowled, clearly annoyed. "Heidan's just a child. Are you trying to work him to death?"
"I don't care! He's part of the Lin family, so he has to contribute to the Lin family!" Granny Lin insisted.
The captain shot back, "Then why don't you send Lin Youfu or Lin Youcai? Lin Youfu is old enough to do the job properly instead of relying on a young boy. It's absurd that an 18-year-old needs a child's help to gather pig feed!"
Granny Lin was indignant and threw herself onto the ground, wailing and howling that the captain was biased against her family.
The captain was on the verge of losing his patience. Handling people like Granny Lin, who knew how to manipulate with drama, was exhausting. But his wife, Wu Xinghua, wasn't one to back down. She marched over, finger pointed directly at Granny Lin.
"You shameless old hag! Do you really think we're powerless against you?"
Looking around, Wu Xinghua spotted a pail of manure nearby. She strode over, scooped up a ladleful, and held it up threateningly.
In rural areas, manure—often a mix of human and animal waste—was used as fertilizer. The smell alone was enough to make anyone back away.
"If you throw another tantrum, I'll make sure you know exactly what this manure taste like!" she threatened, striding toward Granny Lin with the pail.
Everyone around immediately backed away, covering their noses. Seeing Wu Xinghua approaching with the manure, Granny Lin scrambled to her feet, genuinely afraid Wu Xinghua might douse her in it.
"Captain, are you just going to let this madwoman bully an elderly person like me?" Granny Lin shrieked.
Wu Xinghua shot back, "Ha! An elder? More like an old pest! You know exactly how old Lin Youfu is, don't you? He's nearly grown, and all he's done is feed pigs, while the young kids are out there doing real work! And you act like he's some big shot just because he's been to middle school. What a joke!"
Unable to bear any criticism of her son, Deng Chunhua, Granny Lin's daughter-in-law, snapped back, "My son is just waiting for an opportunity! He's preparing for a factory exam. Once he passes, he'll be a legitimate worker, just like his father."
Wu Xinghua snorted, "Preparing for the exam? Lin Youfu's always hanging around with idle troublemakers. If he can pass, then anyone in this village could! And Lin Dahai is still an intern after all these years—barely able to support himself. Your family loves to brag, but do you have anything else worth mentioning?"
"Honestly," another villager chimed in, "Lin Youfu's hogging the pig-feeding job is unfair to everyone else. Plenty of other kids need those work points. Captain, just kick him out and give the job to someone who actually needs it."
"Exactly. I've wanted to say this for ages. The Lin family has no shame hogging that job."
Others agreed, particularly those who had children at home who could use the work points to earn more food for the family. "Besides, unless Heidan helps, the pigs won't eat the grass Lin Youfu cuts himself. The pigs raised in our brigade are skinny and I don't know if we can deliver them this year."
Seeing everyone turn against her grandson, Granny Lin tried to throw another fit, but Wu Xinghua's sharp glare and the raised pail of manure kept her in line.
The captain finally made his decision. "Lin Youfu's job of collecting pig grass is taken back from now on. We'll choose a new worker from the village kids."
The surrounding crowd broke into smiles and cheers, while Granny Lin was left dumbfounded.
Song Wei, watching from the sidelines with Heidan, could barely contain her laughter. Granny Lin had not only lost the argument but had lost her family's work privileges. This time, the Lin family had really suffered a double blow.
Once the crowd dispersed, Song Wei noticed Gao Le nearby, munching on sunflower seeds with great enjoyment. When he saw the show was over, he looked a bit disappointed.
Song Wei raised an eyebrow. "Look at you, watching with snacks and everything."
"Sis, you were amazing out there!" Gao Le said, offering her a handful of sunflower seeds.
Song Wei took a few and shared some with Heidan, smiling. "Just doing what had to be done."
They finished their snacks and went back to work. Heidan, feeling energized, worked with renewed spirit, helping to plant vegetables. But since he was still young, he grew tired quickly, and Song Wei soon sent him to rest.
"I'm not tired, Sister Song!" Heidan insisted.
Song Wei smirked. "Check the sweat on your forehead, and then say that."
Heidan just grinned sheepishly. He was overjoyed—they had managed to stand up to his grandmother, and he would get to stay with Sister Song.
Nearby, a group of aunts were gossiping as they worked.
"That Song Wei sure is foolish, letting the boy work off a 130-yuan debt. He's so young, what kind of work can he really do?"
"Exactly. That's a watch we're talking about! Just thinking about it makes my heart ache," another chimed in.
"She has a watch and even a bicycle coupon. Her family must be wealthy, so why'd she end up here in the countryside?"
"Who knows?" the aunts murmured.
They thought they were being discreet, but their voices were heard by both Song Wei and Gao Le. Gao Le glanced at Song Wei, expecting her to be annoyed, but she looked unfazed, almost amused.
In fact, Song Wei was humming a tune as she worked, completely undisturbed. In truth, the watch wasn't broken by Heidan—it had been broken long ago. Her older brother had sent it to her, but when she'd tried to wear it back at the Song house, her stepsister and stepmother had tried every trick to take it from her.
Her father even slapped her for not giving the watch to her stepsister, the original Song Wei was so angry that she smashed it right in front of them. It was better broken than to let those two have it.
Although the watch was broken, since her brother had gifted it to her, Song Wei had kept it safely. She even brought it along when she was sent to the countryside, and now, it had come in handy.
Ignoring all the gossip around them, Song Wei and Gao Le quickly finished up their assigned work and made their escape, leaving the scorekeeper fuming.
This time, the unlucky scorekeeper happened to be Jiang Xiaowan.
"You two are adults and only work for three points' worth! Aren't you ashamed?" Jiang Xiaowan's face was red with anger.
Both Song Wei and Gao Le shook their heads in unison, totally unbothered.
Song Wei weakly held her head, pretending to feel faint, and even leaned on Heidan for support. "Comrade Jiang, I'm still reeling from the argument with Granny Lin. I can't handle the heat—it's making me dizzy!"
Gao Le followed her lead but clumsily fumbled between holding his head and his stomach. His acting was so bad it was almost painful to watch. He looked at Song Wei, pleading with his eyes, "Help me, sis!"
Song Wei couldn't believe how clueless he was. "The team leader (captain) is coming," she said, making Jiang Xiaowan turn to look. Taking advantage of the distraction, she punched Gao Le lightly in the stomach.
"Ugh…"
Gao Le's hands immediately flew to his stomach as he crouched down, wincing.
Jiang Xiaowan looked back to find Song Wei pointing at Gao Le with an innocent expression. "Comrade Jiang, he has a stomachache."
Gao Le gave a weak thumbs-up. "It really hurts."
Jiang Xiaowan's voice rose with frustration. "How dumb do you think I am? The argument with Granny Lin was ages ago, and yet you finished over an acre of work so quickly and are now pretending to be sick. Who'd believe that?"
Song Wei closed her eyes and murmured, "It doesn't matter. My head really hurts, and I can't work anymore."
Gao Le, still clutching his stomach, added, "Mine too…ow…"
He thought to himself, "Sister Song, did you really have to punch that hard?"
The team leader, who had initially been on his way over, took one look at Song Wei, sighed, and tried to change direction, hoping to avoid the situation altogether. But Jiang Xiaowan called him over.
"Team leader, you need to deal with this! These two are perfectly capable of working but only take on three work points' worth, and now they're even faking stomachaches!"
Back then, laboring in the fields was mandatory for everyone, even wealthy families, as a way of contributing to the community. If it weren't compulsory, Gao Le and his friend Zhao Su would have long since stopped working and spent their time lounging around.
With a heavy sigh, the team leader made his way over. "What's the problem?"
"Comrade Song and Comrade Gao could do a lot more work, but they're only doing the minimum of three points. And now, even though it's early, they want to leave," Jiang Xiaowan explained.
Song Wei leaned weakly on Heidan, her expression pale. "Team leader, my head hurts, my chest hurts—must be because Granny Lin and her family yelled at me earlier. It was terrible."
The team leader internally cursed. "What nonsense! You're the one who got the better of the Lin family, and it's been quite some time since then. Now you're suddenly hurting?"
Gao Le still crouched on the ground, clutching his stomach. "I have a stomachache."
The team leader gave Gao Le an annoyed look. "Comrade Gao, with your height and size, could you at least work up to your strength? It's a waste to see you putting in such little effort!"
He regretted competing for Gao Le back when the Second Team's leader had tried to recruit him. Now, he felt humiliated every time he saw that leader, who always teased him about Gao Le's laziness. Gao Le was just as disappointed. "I'm doing my best! I'm working three points' worth each day, after all," he said with an oddly proud tone.
The team leader could only sigh, feeling utterly defeated. "Fine. Give them their points."
"But if others start copying them, what then?" Jiang Xiaowan protested.
The team leader snorted, "Do you think they don't need food or water? If everyone did as little as they do, they'd be starving in no time!"
Working only two or three points daily wasn't enough to survive on. But judging by their nonchalant attitude, the team leader suspected both of them had family support. The team had strict rules that each worker had to complete at least three points of labor daily. However, both Gao Le and Zhao Su were so unskilled that even Bai Yunjiao, the delicate female comrade, could outperform them.
If he claimed they weren't working at all, it wouldn't be accurate—they were in the fields daily, just not putting in much effort. Every day they managed only two points, sometimes three, yet their output was so low it often dragged down their teammates' points.
With Gao Le finally managing to complete three points alongside Song Wei, the team leader had decided to turn a blind eye to it for now, since at least they weren't dragging anyone else down.
The scorekeeper, Jiang Xiaowan, etched their points onto the ledger with evident irritation before walking away with a huff.
As soon as she was out of sight, Song Wei perked right up, looking refreshed. Gao Le stood up, clutching his stomach, his face wrinkled in discomfort.
"Sis, next time, go a little easier."
Song Wei shrugged. "I barely used any strength. You're just not tough."
Gao Le sighed, defeated. "So it's my fault, then?"
"Come on, let's head up the mountain."
"Sis, wait—could you help me out with one more thing?" Gao Le asked hesitantly. "I've got a good friend, Zhao Su…"
But Song Wei cut him off, "Not a chance. Not interested."
She had her own plans to go mushroom hunting in the mountains. Gao Le's face fell, his hope deflating.
"Dummy. Just hire a few kids, maybe around 11 or 12 years old, to help. Farm kids here know how to work the fields from a young age. They're just too young to earn points, but they help their families. Rules can be flexible if you're smart about it."
Eleven-year-olds could work on family farms, even though they didn't earn points until they were fifteen to eighteen years old.
Gao Le brightened, "You're right! I'll go find some kids."
"Just don't go around flaunting money while you're at it."
"I'm not that clueless. I know what I'm doing," he said confidently, trotting off.
As he left, Gao Le waved at Heidan. "Don't forget our deal, Heidan!"
Heidan nodded eagerly, excited about earning some money—one bundle of firewood for a dime. He planned to find a couple of other kids to make money together.
Once they returned to the dormitory, Song Wei and Heidan, the little boy, prepared something to eat. With her ration nearly gone, all she had left were a few sweet potatoes, so she cooked them up. After having a snack, the two headed for the mountains.
Meanwhile, Gao Le, having taken Song Wei's advice, rushed off to find his friend Zhao Su. When he arrived, Zhao Su's face turned green with envy.
"Don't tell me you finished work early again!" he said in a voice dripping with jealousy.
Gao Le looked pleased. "Exactly! Feeling envious?" he teased, while Zhao Su could only sigh with a look of pure longing.
Today, Zhao Su had been paired with an older man, and both of their faces looked miserable. The man was fed up and tapped his foot in frustration. "Comrade Zhao, can't you pick up the pace?"
"I-I'm trying my best," Zhao Su muttered. The man's intense stare made him even more anxious.
Gao Le, feeling a bit sorry for his friend, pulled Zhao Su aside and explained the plan Song Wei had shared with him. Zhao Su's eyes lit up instantly, he was so excited that he almost crushed the vegetable seedlings he was holding.
"This idea is great! I'm going to find someone right away," he said excitedly.
"Where do you think you're going?" his partner called out with narrowed eyes, clearly thinking Zhao Su was trying to slip away.
"I… I just needed to stand up and stretch for a second," Zhao Su said sheepishly, realizing he had no way out. In the end, he asked Gao Le to find someone for him.
"Please, man, help me find someone and save me from this misery!" Zhao Su begged.
"Got it!" Gao Le grinned. It wasn't hard to find a kid willing to help, but he wanted to make sure the person he picked was reliable.
While Gao Le had only been in Ping'an Brigade for a short time, he'd heard plenty of gossip while he was slacking off, so he knew a little bit about each family's situation. After wandering around, he found the right family to approach—a widow with three young children. Her kids were all underage; the oldest was thirteen, the second was eleven, and the youngest was only eight. Each day, her two eldest helped her in the fields, but with just one adult, the most she could earn in a day was ten work points.
Gao Le saw an opportunity and approached her, explaining his offer. The widow accepted the proposal immediately, knowing it would be a good way for her family to make some extra money.
Soon after, Gao Le showed up with an eleven-year-old boy ready to work. Zhao Su's older team partner looked puzzled at first but was pleased when Gao Le explained the situation.
Zhao Su would leave after completing three work points, and he could team up with others, he immediately agreed without caring how these two guys found people to help.
He really didn't want to work with Zhao Su at all, as it made his heart sick.
The young boy, having helped his mother in the fields many times, was quick and precise. Compared to him, Zhao Su and Gao Le looked like total amateurs, but Zhao Su was very happy. He offered the boy his sugar water and even a large steamed bun, encouraging him to keep up the good work.
The young boy worked even harder.
Back on the mountain path, Heidan recruited two friends to help him gather firewood. One was a girl from a family that favored boys, so she often didn't get enough to eat and had to do heavy work, just like Heidan. The other was a boy living with only his grandfather, who was too old to earn enough points to support them both.
Upon hearing that each bundle of firewood could earn them a dime, both kids' faces lit up with excitement. Heidan advised them to keep it secret from others.
"It's better if your family doesn't find out, Chunya," he said to the little girl. "If they find out, they'll just take your money and might even steal this work from us."
The three kids shared serious looks, nodding in agreement like they were discussing a top-secret mission. Song Wei watched from nearby, amused by their determination.
The girl, Chunya, suggested, "I'll leave my money with you, Heidan. Then I can get it from you whenever I need it, okay?"
Heidan nodded, and the three headed up the mountain together with their baskets for gathering firewood. They were young but experienced, each knowing exactly what to do.
When they reached the edge of the forest, Heidan ran over to Song Wei, his small, bony hand gently holding onto her coat. "Sister Song, we're ready to go."
Song Wei smiled, patting him on the head, and held his hand as they continued on their way toward where they'd collected walnuts the day before. The other two kids waved them off, eager to start gathering firewood.
"Are we bringing all the walnuts today?" Heidan asked, looking up at Song Wei.
"Yep, you can focus on gathering wood," she said, encouraging him to earn his own money without worry.
The walnuts they gathered yesterday filled two large sacks, which remained hidden in a secluded spot, safe from prying eyes.
While Heidan collected firewood nearby, Song Wei started searching for mushrooms in the area. There were plenty—she only had to walk a few steps to find several. She picked them with great satisfaction, feeling as if she were picking up money.
"This place is full of resources," she thought with a smile. Suddenly, she noticed a hole in the ground. "Could this be a rabbit burrow?"
Song Wei immediately abandoned her mushroom hunt and crouched down to inspect the hole. She saw signs like small droppings and grayish fur scattered around. No doubt about it—it was a rabbit burrow. Her eyes lit up as she searched around and found two more openings.
"Smart rabbits," she muttered, recalling the saying "A cunning rabbit has three burrows." She blocked the other two entrances and then started digging into the main one, jabbing a stick into the burrow to collapse it slightly.
Meanwhile, Heidan, who was busy collecting firewood, kept an eye on her, worried about getting separated. When he saw her digging into the burrow, he hurried over, curious. Before he could ask what she was doing, Song Wei pulled her arm out of the hole, gripping a large rabbit by its back legs.
"A rabbit!" Heidan gasped, eyes wide with excitement.
Song Wei handed the squirming, squealing rabbit to Heidan. "Grab it by its ears, quickly."
The rabbit was hefty, weighing at least a couple of pounds. Heidan held tightly onto the rabbit's ears, struggling to keep it from wriggling free. Song Wei crouched down again and reached back into the burrow, pulling out yet another large rabbit.
Heidan's mouth dropped open in surprise, and he just stared in awe.
"Go grab the rope," she told him, motioning to the side. Heidan rushed to fetch it, and she swiftly tied the rabbits' legs and set them aside.
Song Wei reached into the burrow once more. Heidan's eyes were wide with excitement, his small hands clenched tightly as he watched her in anticipation. When she pulled out a third rabbit, he couldn't contain his excitement anymore.
"Another one!" he cried. "That's the third rabbit, Sister Song!"
Song Wei tied its legs just like the others and went back to the burrow. Before she could even reach in, a rabbit bolted out, but she grabbed it by the ears, lifting it triumphantly.
"Four! Four rabbits!" Heidan exclaimed, his eyes wide with amazement.
"Looks like there might be more," Song Wei said, peering inside the burrow. She reached in one last time and pulled out six small baby rabbits.
Heidan stared in shock. "S-so many!"
After confirming there were no more rabbits, Song Wei stood up, dusting her hands. She gazed at the four large rabbits and six small ones lying on the ground with satisfaction.
Heidan grinned as he watched the rabbits. "Let's cook one to eat now!"
They'd only eaten a few sweet potatoes for lunch, and the thought of meat was tempting. They headed to a spot near a stream, where Song Wei quickly and skillfully prepared one of the rabbits to roast. Heidan helped gather firewood, occasionally glancing nervously at the other rabbits to make sure they didn't escape.
Before long, both of them were watching the rabbit meat roasting over the fire with eager anticipation.
"Sister Song, you're so lucky to have caught so many rabbits. You're amazing!" Heidan said with admiration.
Everyone in the village knew there were wild chickens and rabbits in the mountains, but they were hard to catch. Villagers considered it a big deal if anyone managed to catch one. But here was Sister Song, catching ten all at once.
Song Wei smiled. "Let's keep it quiet, though. When we head back, let's hide the rabbits in the basket so no one sees them."
Heidan nodded obediently. Though he was young, he'd learned from experience to hide any good finds. If the other villagers saw the rabbits, they wouldn't try to take them, but they'd likely gossip or resent Song Wei for it.
Pointing to the baby rabbits, Song Wei said, "When we get back, you can take care of these. Once they're grown, you can keep three, and I'll keep three."
Heidan looked up, surprised. "Really? You'll let me raise them? I don't need my own; they're all yours, Sister Song. I'm happy to take care of them."
But Song Wei insisted, "We'll split them evenly. When they're grown, you can decide if you want to eat or sell your three."
Heidan tried to argue, but Song Wei wouldn't budge. He quietly resolved to take good care of the six rabbits.
The meat soon finished cooking, and after they ate their fill, Song Wei went back to gathering mushrooms, while Heidan continued collecting firewood. Later, they found a different path that led straight back to the village, making it easier to carry their haul.
As dusk fell, Song Wei loaded Heidan's basket with mushrooms while she put the rabbits in her own. She layered the mushrooms on top, hiding the rabbits, and they headed back down.
Along the way, Heidan gathered fresh grass and leaves to feed the rabbits. Though he was carrying a load, he felt as light as a feather, stealing glances back at Song Wei.
"Sister Song, I can carry this on my own. Let go; I'll be fine," he insisted.
Song Wei kept a steady hand on the basket as she walked behind him. "Just keep walking," she said casually.
When they ran into a few villagers on the way down, they exchanged brief greetings before continuing on.
Watching them leave, a few of the women couldn't help but gossip.
"Poor Heidan. He's worked like a mule for his family, and now he has to do the same for that educated youth," one woman said sympathetically.
Word of the fight with the Lin family had already spread through the entire village. The local women were well-known for their gossiping skills.
"I don't know. I think Heidan's better off with Song Wei. At least she gives him clean clothes, and he has company on the mountain. It's safer than wandering around alone."
One young woman scoffed. "You think all educated youths are that nice? She's probably just using him for cheap labor. Look at all that firewood she's making him carry. She's heartless!"
"Are you serious? Don't pretend Heidan never carried loads like that before," another woman argued. "And Song Wei's already being generous by not asking for her money back—that watch was worth over a hundred yuan!"
The young woman scowled. "You're all fooled by her act. I don't believe she's that kind-hearted." With that, she picked up her basket and stormed off.