"Does Xiaocao have a problem with Song Zhiqing (educated youth)? She seemed like she really dislikes her," one of the aunties muttered as a few women gathered to gossip after Xiaocao left.
"Who knows? Xiaocao's been acting more temperamental lately. I heard her family's trying to find a match for her, but she doesn't want to marry and got into a big fight with them. Her grandma even gave her a beating," another aunt whispered in a hushed tone, as if sharing a secret. "And there's something else—my son told me he saw Xiaocao bringing things to Luo Zhiqing before."
"Really? You mean Luo Zhiqing, the one who's supposed to marry Jiang Xiaowan?"
If Song Wei had heard the girl's voice just now, she would have recognized her as the same girl who was secretly meeting with Luo Yecheng when she and Li Juan stumbled upon them.
Meanwhile, Song Wei and Heidan had returned to the shared residence for the educated youth, where they found everyone's attention suddenly fixed on them. From the looks on their faces, Song Wei knew that the incident with the Lin family had spread.
"Song Zhiqing is so generous. That was a watch! Se didn't ask for compensation for the broken watch, and now she's even feeding and housing him," sneered Xu Laidi, unable to hold her tongue any longer. Her eyes and voice dripped with envy.
If that were her watch, she would've cherished it and protected it like a treasure.
Is Song Wei stupid or what? The watch broke, and not only did she not make anyone pay, but she took in Heidan as well. What good is a young child who can't do any real work? That watch was worth over 130 yuan!
Song Wei gave Xu Laidi a look but didn't respond. She just picked up her things and headed straight to her room. Heidan followed her, carrying the firewood to the back courtyard, where he dropped the load and quickly ran to Song Wei's room, eager to check on the rabbits.
Frustrated, Xu Laidi stamped her foot. "What's her problem?"
Gao Le smirked, leaning against the door frame with a handful of sunflower seeds. "Isn't it obvious? Song Zhiqing doesn't want to pay attention to you?"
Zhao Su was very grateful to Song Wei for her idea and also chimed in with a smirk. "Exactly. So what if it's a watch? She can handle it however she wants. Why are you so worried about it?"
Xu Laidi hadn't expected them to defend Song Wei. Red with frustration, she snapped back, "I'm only trying to help her out! You guys just don't appreciate it."
Gao Le scoffed. "Please. Just not getting into fights with her is about all the help you're capable of giving. No one's buying that you're 'looking out' for her." He finished his sunflower seeds and, still grinning, strolled off to the back courtyard with Zhao Su in tow.
The two of them, now able to avoid too much labor and still earn their three work points each day, felt light and carefree—almost like they were on vacation compared to how exhausted they used to be after a full day's work.
By the time they reached the back courtyard, Song Wei had already taken out the rabbits. She pointed to the pile of firewood that Heidan had gathered for Gao Le and Zhao Su.
"That's for you two," she said. Gao Le quickly handed Heidan a dime for his work, grinning broadly.
"We've collected five bundles today!" Gao Le boasted. Heidan had gathered one, the young girl from the village had contributed another, and another boy had brought three.
Since Heidan had spent most of the day with Song Wei helping gather mushrooms and walnuts and roasting a rabbit, he only managed to gather one bundle. The girl's strict family, which favored boys over girls, required her to do many chores, so she could only bring one bundle before having to rush back home. The young boy, on the other hand, was motivated by the chance to earn money and had eagerly gathered three bundles, earning three dimes.
Even though a bundle of firewood only cost a dime, Gao Le and Zhao Su found themselves spending nearly eighty cents a day to hire help. If they kept it up, they'd be spending over 20 yuan a month—more than the monthly salary of a factory day laborer. This plan was only sustainable for Gao Le and Zhao Su, who could afford it; most people couldn't spare that kind of money.
When Gao Le and Zhao Su left, Song Wei and Heidan busied themselves spreading out the mushrooms and walnuts. They'd have to set them out to dry in the sun tomorrow morning.
"You keep an eye on things here. I have to go see Li Juan for something," Song Wei told Heidan.
Heidan nodded earnestly, focusing on spreading the mushrooms in an even layer so they wouldn't rot overnight. Every so often, he sneaked a glance at the basket, where six baby rabbits were wriggling. His face lit up with excitement each time.
Meanwhile, Song Wei headed out with some pine nuts she'd dried earlier, looking for Li Juan.
"Li Juan, would you mind helping me toast these pine nuts later? I also need to prepare some mushroom paste," she said when she found her.
Li Juan, who was already hard at work tending to her own responsibilities, nodded. "Sure. I can help you with it tonight," she replied cheerfully.
There was only one large iron pot for communal use in the dormitory, so they would have to wait until the others had finished using it.
"Thank you," Song Wei said, thinking that she'd cook one of the rabbits tomorrow and share the meal with Li Juan as repayment.
Leaving the pine nuts, she headed back to her own room to work out what to do with the rabbits. They would dig if left loose on the ground, so she needed to find a cage for them. Since it was already late, that would have to wait until the next day.
For now, she kept the three large rabbits tied and put the six babies in a basket. Heidan enthusiastically made a little nest for them out of dry grass and began feeding them leaves he'd gathered on the way down the mountain. Watching the tiny rabbits munch on grass with their fuzzy mouths filled him with joy.
For the three adult rabbits, he tossed some grass in front of them and let them eat on their own.
"Heidan, come on. Bath time," Song Wei called from the backyard, where she'd set up a tub of water.
"Coming!" Heidan ran out, his little face flushed as he clutched his clothes and shyly stood by the tub.
"I can wash myself," he mumbled, embarrassed.
Song Wei stepped away. "Alright, call me when you're done." She couldn't help but chuckle at his shyness.
While Heidan washed up, Song Wei returned to check on Li Juan, who was busy toasting the pine nuts. "I'll handle the stirring," Song Wei offered, knowing her own strength would make the job easier.
Li Juan, not one to argue, focused on tending the fire and brought up Heidan. "Are you really planning to take care of Heidan? Your food rations must be running low."
While she sympathized with Heidan, raising a child was a big responsibility.
"I'll manage," Song Wei replied confidently.
In the wasteland where resources were incredibly scarce, she could support herself. With the resources she have here, if she can't support herself and a little kid, then her previous life must have been lived in vain. Besides,
Heidan was also trying hard to support himself, so it wasn't a big pressure for her.
Song Wei and Li Juan continued roasting the pine nuts, filling the air with a rich, nutty aroma. Before long, Gao Le and Zhao Su showed up, grinning with anticipation as they followed the smell to the kitchen.
Seeing them approach, the other educated youth glanced over with interest. But Xu Laidi, as usual, had no hesitation and shamelessly followed right behind Gao Le and Zhao Su.
"Oh, that smells delicious! Song Zhiqing, you found all these pine nuts yourself?" Xu Laidi exclaimed, trying to peek into the pan. "These pine nuts look so big!"
The two tall guys crowded around the stove, making it look almost tiny by comparison.
"Yes, there's plenty in the mountains. You can go find pine nuts too after work if you want," Song Wei replied.
Gao Le and Zhao Su immediately perked up. "Sounds fun! We'll go look tomorrow," they said, seeing it as more of a scavenger hunt than actual work.
Xu Laidi craned her neck to get a better look, her eyes filled with envy as she practically drooled. "Song Zhiqing, why don't you share some with me?"
Song Wei glance at Xu Laidi, "I don't think we're close enough for that. Weren't we just arguing a few days ago?"
Xu Laidi's boldness had reached new levels lately. She was acting as if they were best friends, even though they'd just had a shouting match a few days back.
"Don't be so stingy! We're all educated youth here; sharing wouldn't hurt, right? It's just something you picked up in the mountains—it's not worth that much," Xu Laidi complained.
Li Juan scoffed, "Funny, I don't see you sharing anything with us. You're always out to take advantage of everyone else. Of all the people here, you're definitely the stingiest."
Since Li Juan and Xu Laidi had openly clashed last time, Li Juan no longer held back, and she wasn't afraid to shut down Xu Laidi's requests.
Xu Laidi glared at Li Juan. "I wasn't even talking to you! The pine nuts are Song Zhiqing's; I was asking her. What's your problem?"
Song Wei calmly continued stirring the pine nuts. "Sorry, I'm not interested in sharing."
Irritated, Xu Laidi muttered, "Can't even spare a few pine nuts. No wonder Luo Zhiqing doesn't want anything to do with you."
Song Wei's tone turned icy. "Get out. One more word and I'll slap you."
Xu Laidi was still afraid of Song Wei; though Song Wei looked soft, she'd proven she wasn't afraid to fight, and she was shockingly strong. Even some of the guys didn't dare mess with her. Muttering to herself, Xu Laidi turned and left, grumbling under her breath.
Li Juan rolled her eyes as she watched her leave. "Always thinking of ways to mooch off others. Her skin must be made of stone."
Gao Le came over with a flattering smile: "Sister, I won't take advantage of you, can I buy some pine nuts?"
The smell was even better than the sunflower seeds he'd been snacking on.
Song Wei didn't have a huge amount of pine nuts, so she offered, "I can sell you a pound, but I need the rest to send to my brother."
"You're sending it home?" Gao Le's eyes widened. That gave him an idea—maybe he should send something home too. His parents might feel sorry for him and send him more money and ration tickets—or even some smoked meat.
He turned to Zhao Su, whispering excitedly, and the two decided to try their luck at gathering nuts in the mountains the next day.
With the pine nuts finished, Song Wei remembered Heidan was still outside washing up, so she set down the spatula and went to check on him in the backyard.
"Heidan, are you done washing up?"
Heidan came out in the clean clothes Song Wei had given him, which were her old ones and so long that they looked like a dress on him.
"I'm done!" he chirped, beaming with pride. Not only had he washed up, but he'd also poured out the bathwater and tidied up the backyard.
"You're really a responsible kid," Song Wei praised him. He didn't have shoes that fit, so he'd still have to go barefoot for now, though she'd have him wash his feet again before bed. "Come help me pick out the mushrooms with the thickest stems for the sauce."
"Okay!" Heidan agreed enthusiastically, shadowing Song Wei like a loyal puppy. He squatted beside her, carefully sorting the mushrooms. Every now and then, he couldn't help but stand up to sneak a look at the rabbits in the basket. Seeing them curled up together asleep made him grin from ear to ear.
Once the pine nuts were done, Song Wei, Li Juan, and Heidan worked late into the night, staying up until nearly eleven to cook all the mushrooms into a savory mushroom sauce. Song Wei had borrowed three large glass jars from Li Juan to store it, but with no more jars left, they had to put the rest in large bowls for now.
The delicious aroma of the sauce wafted through the building, making it hard for some of the other educated youth to sleep.
One of them, Liu Linlin, finally sat up in bed and yelled toward the back courtyard, "Can you guys keep it down? Some of us have work tomorrow!"
Xu Laidi, her mouth watering at the smell, scowled toward the back. "What gluttons! They'll regret it when they can't support themselves," she muttered, though in truth, she was simply annoyed she hadn't been able to score any free food for herself.
If it were just Li Juan making the mushroom sauce, she would have tried to get a taste. But with Song Wei involved, she knew better than to try.
Song Wei and Li Juan ignored the complaints. Li Juan even offered them each a coarse grain bun, and the three of them happily dipped the bread into the mushroom sauce, thoroughly enjoying the late-night snack.
Heidan's thin cheeks puffed out as he ate, his face lighting up with pure joy.
"Finally, time for some sleep," Song Wei yawned, stretching as she waved goodbye to Li Juan and took Heidan inside to wash his feet before they climbed into bed.
It was Heidan's first time sleeping in such a big, clean bed. The sheets were soft and smelled fresh, making him nervous to even move his hands or feet for fear of getting anything dirty.
"Sister Song, maybe I should sleep where I slept yesterday," he mumbled, feeling a bit overwhelmed.
But Song Wei nudged him onto the bed and tucked him in. "Just sleep. I've already taken that old bed apart."
Heidan huddled on the bed, awed by how comfortable it was. "It's much better than my little bed made of hay," he whispered, barely audible. The space was tiny, and he slept on straw, with only a thin, scratchy blanket that barely kept him warm in winter.
"Thank you, Sister Song. You're the best…" he mumbled, drifting off to sleep.
Watching him sleep, Song Wei gently tucked the blanket around him and closed her eyes, quickly falling asleep herself.
The next morning, Song Wei went to request leave from the team leader, citing a hospital visit as the reason. In fact, since she came here, she only felt uncomfortable on the first day, but she felt refreshed after a good night sleep.
The original Song Wei had always looked sickly, partly because of her naturally delicate features but also because of the stress and hardships she'd endured back home.
But after the core was replaced by Song Wei, her special ability also came along. The fresh air and greenery of the mountains had done wonders for her mood and energy, and any so-called "illness" had quickly disappeared.
Song Wei knew her health was fine, so she didn't actually need a checkup. But that didn't stop her from using it as a reason to get time off. After all, she had indeed fallen in the river and bumped her head not long ago, so it wasn't a total lie.
The team leader easily approved her leave. With a smile, Song Wei returned to the dormitory, packed up some mountain goods she'd gathered, and stuffed them into her basket. She had a surprising amount—though it was mostly just things she'd foraged.
"Alright, Heidan, let's go!" she called out.
While Song Wei was away, Heidan had already cleaned up after the rabbits, feeding them fresh grass and tidying their area. When he heard her, he grabbed his small basket and hurried to her side.
As they walked along the village path, children ran by now and then. When they heard that Song Wei was taking Heidan to town, they looked at him with envy. Heidan puffed out his chest proudly—he was finally going to town for the first time during the day!
A village cart went into town every so often, and it happened that today was one of those days. Song Wei and Heidan were in luck. Several village ladies were already seated when they arrived.
Despite having little money, the villagers still needed to buy some things. With supplies often limited, they sometimes had to rush to get what they needed, as there was only one supply and marketing cooperative in the small county town.
"Song Zhiqing, heading to town too?" asked Aunty Wang, who was also on the cart.
She was one of the friendly women Song Wei had shared gossip with while threshing corn before.
Song Wei squeezed onto the cart with Heidan and smiled at her warmly.
The old cart driver called out, "Everyone ready? Let's head out!"
"Nice to see you, Aunt Wang! Going to town for shopping?" Song Wei chatted as the cart started moving.
"Yep, just to pick up a few things," Aunt Wang replied, glancing at Song Wei's full basket. "Why did you carry so many things?"
The other women eyed her basket too, curious to see what was inside.
"Oh, it's just some mountain goods I gathered recently," Song Wei said, untying the cloth to show them. "Nothing fancy. Just a few things I want to send to my brother since he sent me some things too, so I need to pick them up."
Hearing this, the other women's curiosity turned to admiration.
"Your brother must be really good to you."
With a cheerful smile, Song Wei nodded. She knew that mentioning her brother in advance would give her an excuse for any items she brought back. If people asked, she could say her brother had sent them.
The cart moved slowly and the trip took time, but it was far from boring. The village women enjoyed chatting about all kinds of things since news and gossip were their main source of entertainment. Song Wei held Heidan in her lap and listened with great interest, and even grabbed a handful of melon seeds for everyone to share.
This handful of melon seeds successfully brought her closer to the aunts and sisters.
She exchanged these melon seeds with three taels of pine nuts from the educated youth.
As they snacked, the conversation inevitably turned back to her.
"Song Zhiqing, so you really took Heidan in? You're really caring for him?" one of the women asked, looking at Heidan with interest.
Song Wei didn't mind the attention and smiled. "Heidan is a great helper. I'd say I'm the lucky one—he's a hard worker. Besides, it's good for him to come along and see the town."
Seeing her so openly fond of Heidan, the women exchanged glances. They admired Song Wei's kindness but thought she was being a bit too generous.
"It's not often you see someone as good-hearted as you, bringing him to town and even dressing him up in decent clothes," another woman remarked.
Song Wei patted Heidan's head. "No big deal—my brother looks out for me, so I can manage."
Heidan stayed silent, shy and reserved around strangers. He'd always been quiet around the village kids, and he'd often been seen as moody or tough, even getting into fights sometimes. To most, he seemed like a hard-to-approach, sullen child.
But Song Wei had come to know him better. She could see that Heidan was just guarded, keeping his walls up as a way to protect himself. He wasn't used to receiving kindness, so with her, he was trying his best to show he was worth keeping around.
About an hour and a half later, the cart finally reached the county. The village women quickly made their way toward the supply and marketing cooperative—"quickly" being an understatement, as they practically sprinted, shouting out orders as they went.
"Soap! I need a bar of soap!"
"Do you have any Liberation Shoes? I need a pair of Liberation Shoes!"
"How much for that kettle?"
Heidan, seeing the chaotic scene at the store, was stunned into silence.
Song Wei was also taken aback. She hadn't expected the situation to be this intense. Supplies were scarce, and she realized she needed to act fast to get what she needed. But first, she had to mail her package to her brother.
"Let's go to the post office," she said to Heidan.
"Excuse me, I'd like to mail something," she said once inside.
"Of course," the postal clerk replied, taking her package and weighing it. Song Wei filled out the address, paid the fee, and thanked the clerk.
Postal services were slow in those days, and with her brother stationed far away, it would probably take at least two weeks for the package to reach him.
With her package mailed, Song Wei took Heidan's hand and they headed back to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative.
Song Wei took Heidan to buy supplies. In this small town, ready-made children's clothing wasn't available, so she planned to buy some fabric and have someone make clothes for him. Children's shoes were only sold at the supply and marketing cooperative, so that was also on her list, along with other daily essentials.
The town's supply and marketing cooperative had limited goods, but plenty of people came to shop. While it wasn't as crowded as before, it still took effort to get inside. Song Wei told Heidan to wait outside, then rolled up her sleeves and prepared to dive into the crowd.
She thought her strength would make it easy to push through, but she underestimated the fierce competition among the village aunties.
"Watch it! Can't you see there's an old lady here?"
"Ow! Who stepped on my shoe?"
"Please make way. My old bones can't stand your squeezing."
Everyone used whatever tactics they could think of to get ahead. Song Wei barely got a few steps in before the crowd pushed her right back out. Stunned, she couldn't believe it—she'd been overpowered! Taking a deep breath, she braced herself and went in again.
This time, she held her ground, pushing firmly through the crowd without letting herself be carried backward. Determined, she kept her head down and pushed forward, ignoring the scolding and complaints from others.
Finally, she reached the front, her hair and clothes a bit disheveled. But she held her place, gripping the counter tightly with one hand and clutching her money and tickets in the other.
"Excuse me, I need children's shoes, size 23!" she shouted over the noise.
"And a hot water kettle, please!"
"How much is that blue fabric?" she asked, pointing behind the counter.
"That one's fifty cents per foot," replied the clerk.
"Alright, I'll take seven feet, please," she said, handing over a fabric ticket she'd gotten from the factory director.
Ignoring the shoving from the side, Song Wei held her position, impressing even the clerk, who glanced at her with a mix of surprise and amusement.
Once she had her items, she took a deep breath and fought her way back through the crowd, emerging with her hair looking like a bird's nest. Heidan ran over, carrying his small basket.
"Sister Song, are you okay?"
"I'm fine," she replied, stuffing everything into her basket. She combed her hair with her fingers and straightened her clothes before leading Heidan to the grocery store to buy food.
Using her ration tickets, she bought fifty pounds of flour and twenty pounds of rice. Cornmeal could be traded for locally, so no tickets were needed for that. She also bought sugar, biscuits, and other snacks, using up nearly all her tickets.
With both their baskets filled, they left the store. Heidan was thrilled, his eyes shining as he walked in his new shoes. Every few steps, he'd look down to admire them, as if afraid they'd disappear.
It was Heidan's first pair of his very own shoes, and they were new! Song Wei understood his excitement but saw he was slowing them down by walking so carefully.
"Shoes are made for walking," she encouraged him, "no need to be so cautious."
Heidan nodded, still feeling like he was dreaming. "Sister Song."
"Yes?"
"My new shoes look so nice."
Song Wei glanced down, amused by his excitement. She didn't think they looked that special but smiled and nodded.
"Yes, they look nice."
"I even have a second pair! I used to have no shoes at all, and now I have two pairs."
His happiness was obvious from his voice.
"Sister Song."
"Hmm?"
"You're so good to me. When I grow up, I'll be even better to you."
"Alright, then eat well and grow up fast."
Song Wei still wanted to visit the black market, but carrying all these things made it tricky. As they passed the state-run restaurant, the smell of food stopped them in their tracks.
Both of them swallowed, drawn to the delicious aroma coming from the restaurant.
"Let's go in and have a nice meal," Song Wei decided. She still had plenty of money on hand.
There weren't many people eating in the restaurant, likely because meat dishes were scarce and pricey. Today, the only meat dish available was braised pork, but it was a treat in itself. Song Wei flashed a bright smile at the server.
"I'll take two orders of the braised pork. Do you have any steamed buns or bread?"
The server, a young woman with a rather aloof attitude, glanced at her. Jobs were highly valued, so even a restaurant server had a certain pride.
"There's only one order of braised pork left," she replied. "And we're out of meat buns—just veggie buns and plain steamed buns are available. Do you want those?"
Song Wei sighed over the limited options but took what she could get, snapping up the last serving of pork.
Behind her, another customer looked disappointed.
She ordered ten veggie buns and plain steamed buns, two vegetable dishes, and the single order of braised pork, spending a total of three yuan and sixty cents. Expensive, but the portions were large.
She and Heidan found a table, and she handed him a big, fluffy steamed bun before taking one herself. Heidan's eyes widened, and he held the bun as if it were something precious.
"Go on, eat up," she said, tearing the bun open and stuffing some braised pork inside.
The pork with steamed bun was heavenly. Song Wei's cheeks puffed out as she ate, savoring each bite.
Heidan hesitated only a moment before taking a big bite, completely enchanted by the rich flavors. He'd never tasted anything so delicious.
While they enjoyed their meal, an old woman at a nearby table and her grandson stared longingly at their food. The little boy, about four years old and clearly well-fed, began whining.
"Grandma, I want meat, too! Buy me some braised pork!"
In this day and age, if a child can be raised to be this fat, he or she must either be from a wealthy family or be spoiled by the whole family.
This family is clearly the latter.
But the shortcomings of such a child are obvious. He is a completely carefree and naughty child.
For example, at this moment the little boy is rolling on the ground and crying in order to eat meat.
His grandmother tried to calm him, calling him her "precious darling." But the child was relentless, his eyes fixed on Song Wei's plate of meat.
Song Wei chewed on a mouthful of steamed bun and meat, watching the little boy throwing a tantrum with mild amusement. She had no intention of sharing her food, and neither did Heidan. He eyed the boy warily, as if afraid he'd come over and snatch his food, he pulled his meat closer to himself and Song Wei.
The old woman rolled her eyes before she looked at Song Wei, a smile plastered on her face.
"Little girl, my grandson is just so greedy for a taste of meat. Could you spare a small piece for him? Just a little, so he'll stop fussing."
She sounded pitiful. With a softer-hearted person, this tactic would've likely worked.
Song Wei had a shy smile on her face, and just as the old woman thought she'd agree, Song Wei's voice rang out clearly.
"Sorry, but there's barely enough for my brother and me."
Hearing her refusal, Heidan relaxed but clutched his bowl even tighter, casting a cautious glance at the old woman and her grandson.
The woman's face froze, unprepared for the straightforward rejection.
Song Wei calmly went back to her food, urging Heidan to continue eating. The little boy, seeing his grandmother's attempt had failed, started wailing even louder.
"Granny, I want meat! Go get me meat!"
His loud cries began drawing attention from those nearby, who looked on with expressions of curiosity and entertainment.
The old woman forced a smile. "It's just a bit of meat, dear. You've ordered so much food, surely you won't eat it all. My grandson wouldn't take much."
Song Wei wasn't moved. She could tell the woman was trying to appeal to some sense of pity and social pressure, hoping she'd be embarrassed into giving up her food. But Song Wei simply focused on her meal, unbothered by the eyes on her.
Just then, a young woman in a stylish Dacron dress, who had been watching, decided to intervene.
"It's amazing how some people can be so unkind these days," she said, with a sugary smile as she helped the old woman up, casting a scolding look at Song Wei.
"Ma'am, don't worry about her. Some people are heartless no matter how much they have," the young woman said loudly. "I'll share some of my own braised pork with you."
The old woman's eyes gleamed with gratitude, showering the girl with thanks and compliments, calling her kind-hearted and generous. The praise made the young woman, Lin Rong, lift her chin proudly, feeling even more virtuous in comparison to Song Wei.
Without a second thought, Lin Rong reached across the table to take her group's dish of braised pork.
Before her friends could react, Lin Rong carried the plate over to the old woman.
"Here, I'll share some of our pork with you—"
But before she could finish, the little boy lunged at her, grabbing the entire bowl right out of her hands. He shoved his greasy fingers into the pork, stuffing his face greedily.
Lin Rong recoiled in shock, letting out a horrified scream. "What are you doing?!"
She tried to snatch the bowl back, but the boy clutched it tight, retreating behind his grandmother, his mouth full of meat.
Lin Rong looked on in disgust. "Give that back!"
The old woman, who had acted kindly before, suddenly turned defensive, pushing Lin Rong away.
"Leave him alone! How dare you try to take food from a child! You'll scare him!"
Lin Rong stared in disbelief. "Your grandson took all of our food!"
Her friends had also come over, looking at the boy cramming pork into his mouth, their faces filled with frustration.
"That pork was something we all chipped in for. Give it back!"
From their clothes and demeanor, it was clear Lin Rong and her friends were educated youths, possibly visiting or working in the countryside. The old woman stood her ground, shielding her grandson.
"You said you'd share with us, so he's doing nothing wrong," she replied matter-of-factly.
Lin Rong's face turned red with anger. "I meant a small piece, not the entire bowl! Now that he's touched it, how can we eat it?"
The old woman seemed completely unbothered.
"If you're so kind-hearted, why not give a little more? My poor grandson hasn't had a good meal in ages, so what if he eats a bit more?"
Song Wei, who had been quietly watching, felt a smirk tug at her lips. She could barely contain her amusement. This whole scene was exactly why it paid to mind her own business. Watching others deal with the trouble was far better than being caught up in it herself.
Onlookers around them also began whispering, commenting on the unfolding scene.
"That old woman is shameless, taking advantage of that girl's kindness like that."
"That boy doesn't look like he's starving—he's got plenty of meat on him! If anyone here is going hungry, it's her."
"That young woman is foolish. Who'd share meat these days? The other girl there is smarter—her own kid's thinner than the old woman's grandson, and she isn't sharing with anyone. Honestly, this girl got what she deserved."
Meanwhile, Lin Rong's friends, realizing their food was lost and now inedible, turned on her.
"You and your generosity! That braised pork was something we all paid for, not just you. What right did you have to give it away to look good?"
"We all saved up to have something nice, and now it's ruined because of you."
"Lin Rong, you owe us braised pork!"
Lin Rong felt her face flush with embarrassment, surrounded by her friends' accusations and the onlookers' stares. Her earlier pride and satisfaction vanished. Catching sight of Song Wei, who was watching her with an amused glint in her eye, Lin Rong felt a flash of resentment.
"Fine! I'll buy some next time," she huffed, trying to save face.
But her heart sank at the thought. Despite her well-dressed appearance, most of her money had gone into buying her Dacron outfit, and her funds were running low. A bowl of braised pork was a hefty expense.
Still, if she didn't buy it, her friends would never let her forget this.
The truth was, Lin Rong had thought herself kindhearted, believing that the old woman and her grandson deserved her sympathy. Now, she realized they weren't nearly as pitiful as she'd thought, and the "kind" gesture had backfired spectacularly.
Lin Rong felt completely wronged. She hadn't done anything wrong; it was that grandmother and her grandson who'd behaved terribly. Was it wrong to be kind? Why was everyone blaming her?
Fuming, she shot an angry glare at Song Wei.
Song Wei: "?"
Is this girl out of her mind?
In Lin Rong's mind, if Song Wei had just given that pair some meat in the first place, none of this would have happened. So, in a way, Song Wei was at fault too.
In response, Song Wei rolled her eyes.
"Now even if we want to eat braised pork, there is no more. I don't know when we will be able to eat it next time."
The educated youths who had barely tasted the pork wore expressions of frustration. Even though Lin Rong promised to buy meat next time, her companions remained icy.
Lin Rong's eyes filled with tears of frustration, but none of her friends came to comfort her.
When the scene finally quieted down, Song Wei and Heidan had finished every last bite of their food, packed up the remaining buns and bread, and left the state-run restaurant.
Afterward, Song Wei took Heidan to the hospital. She was still worried about his injuries and the toll that working for the Lin family might have taken on his health.
Heidan felt anxious, clutching Song Wei's clothes tightly.
"We're just here to check if you're healthy. If you don't take care of your health now, you might not grow tall and strong," she warned him.
That got Heidan's attention. More than anything, he wanted to grow big and strong, so no one could push him around, and he could protect Song Wei. So even though he was nervous, he obediently followed her.
Song Wei found a doctor who happened to be the same one who had treated her after her accident.
"Back for a follow-up?" he asked.
Song Wei shook her head. "No, doctor, I feel great now, no problems at all. It's my little brother here who needs a checkup."
The doctor raised an eyebrow, looking at Heidan's thin frame with concern.
"Your brother?"
"Well, I took him under my wing," Song Wei explained with a grin.
The doctor didn't question her further. He gently took Heidan's hand, checking his pulse, then frowned and lifted his shirt to see the bruises on his body.
After a full examination, the doctor sighed.
"This child's been neglected and abused for a long time. He's severely malnourished and physically exhausted. This could shorten his lifespan, but with proper care, he can recover."
Although Song Wei had expected bad news, hearing it made her curse the Lin family in her heart.
"What's the treatment?" she asked, swallowing her anger.
The doctor looked at her thoughtfully. "I'll prescribe some medicine, but he'll need to eat well. Meat and nourishing herbs, if possible."
In this era, meat and herbs were not only hard to find, but expensive.
Still, Song Wei knew it wouldn't be too difficult for her. The Brigade bordered the mountains, which were full of resources. She'd just need to venture into the deeper areas to find them.
"Okay, I'll take the medicine then," she told the doctor.
The hospital bill alone cost her three yuan.
While Song Wei wasn't too worried, Heidan's face fell. His eyes watered as he saw her pay.
"Sister Song, please, that's too expensive. Let's forget it," he pleaded, feeling guilty about the cost.
Song Wei patted his head. "Stop worrying; your health is more important."
The doctor looked at her with newfound respect. He didn't know the relationship between them, but it was clear that Song Wei, a young educated youth, was going above and beyond to care for a village boy who had been mistreated.
Song Wei turned back to the doctor. "I have a question, actually," she said with a friendly smile. "If I collect some medicinal herbs from the mountains, could I sell them to the hospital?"
Seeing her genuine interest, the doctor nodded. "Yes, I can make a list of herbs the hospital needs right now. Are you familiar with medicinal plants?"
Her face lit up. "Yes, I know a few."
He quickly wrote out a list of commonly used herbs, noting their approximate prices, and handed it to her.
"You can bring the herbs directly to the purchasing department and show them this list," he explained.
"Thank you so much, doctor!" Song Wei said. She cheekily handed him a couple of pieces of candy. "Just a little something for your kindness," she added, whisking Heidan out the door before he could refuse.
The doctor glanced down at the candy with a smile.
Leaving the hospital, Song Wei and Heidan returned to the county entrance where the village's ox-cart was parked. They loaded all their items onto the cart.
She handed the cart driver a steamed bun.
Surprised, the driver looked at her, wide-eyed.
"Sir, if it's not too much trouble, could you keep an eye on Heidan and our things for a bit? It's just a bun, nothing fancy, as a small thank-you," she explained with a smile.
Blushing with delight, the driver nodded eagerly. "Of course, no problem. Don't worry, I'll look after him and your things."
He felt slightly embarrassed but was also thrilled to receive a steamed bun, a rare treat these days.
Leaving Heidan in safe hands, Song Wei set off alone to the black market. It wouldn't be easy to browse freely with him around.
She followed a few people dressed in worn clothes, who kept glancing around as they walked toward a narrow alleyway.
Two older men sat at the alley's entrance, watching the area carefully. Clearly, they were guards.
Song Wei took a moment to disguise herself, smearing a bit of charcoal on her face and pulling up her scarf before approaching.
One of the men stepped in front of her. "Buying or selling?"
"Buying," she whispered.
"That'll be one mao (dime) to enter."
Without complaint, she handed over the coin and slipped inside.
The black market was bustling with quiet activity. People bartered in hushed voices. There were sellers with rice, cloth, socks, eggs, and even wild game. Meat, of course, was the most sought-after item, with people crowding around stalls selling chickens, ducks, and rabbits.
"How much is the rice?"
"One mao eight (0.18 yuan)."
"Too expensive! Could you go a bit lower?"
"It's already the lowest price without needing ration tickets."
Song Wei overheard and peeked at the rice, a hefty bag likely weighing seventy or eighty pounds.
Once the previous buyer left, she approached the seller.
"How much for the rice, ma'am?"
"One mao eight. Only selling because we're in need of cash," the woman explained, opening the bag to show her. "Look here, it's well-dried with no moisture, last year's crop and still in good condition."
After examining it, Song Wei thought for a moment and made her offer.
"One mao five, and I'll buy it all."
The woman hesitated. This was a bit lower than she'd wanted, but it was a fair deal for the whole lot.
"All right, one mao six," the woman countered. "It's the best I can do."
At last, they settled on one mao six (0.16 yuan) per pound, and Song Wei bought the entire bag—78 pounds in total. That would yield a good amount of rice.
The woman, seeing Song Wei was a reliable buyer, leaned in and whispered, "I also have some cornmeal at home. Are you interested?"
Song Wei's eyes lit up. "Yes!"
She was planning to buy food from the brigade, but the brigade's food purchase capacity was limited, and buying too much at once would attract a lot of attention.
Don't show off your wealth. There are many scoundrels and dishonest people in the village. If they know that you have money, you will be robbed.
After giving Song Wei an address to pick up the cornmeal later, the woman left.
Song Wei nodded in agreement and continued exploring the area. She bought a bolt of fabric that didn't require a ticket, though it was pricier than what the supply and marketing cooperative would charged and had a few flaws. Despite this, plenty of people were asking about it, and by the time Song Wei arrived, only two bolts were left.
It seemed the seller was a family member of someone who worked at the textile factory and had brought three bolts of fabric altogether. Without haggling, Song Wei bought one of the remaining bolts and quickly left. Immediately, a crowd rushed to buy the last bolt, but they were purchasing by the meter.
Afterward, Song Wei bought a few pairs of socks for herself and Heidan. With the essentials handled, she left the area and headed to the address the woman had given her earlier. It turned out to be a hidden alley.
Song Wei didn't worry about it being a potential trap; after all, who could ambush her and win? She walked in with confidence and relief when she found the woman waiting to do business, as promised.
"There you are," the woman said, quickly pulling her in and showing her the cornmeal in a sack.
Unlike finely milled flour, cornmeal in this era was coarsely ground using stone mills. A few years down the line, cornmeal would be downgraded to animal feed, but for now, it was still considered a better staple than sweet potatoes or yams.
"How much?" Song Wei asked.
The woman held up two fingers. "Two mao (0.2 yuan) per jin. Cornmeal is filling and waste-free since it's already ground. This price is fair."
It was about forty pounds, a decent amount. Not wanting to waste time bargaining, Song Wei agreed.
After stashing her purchases, including the cornmeal, rice, fabric, and socks, in her backpack and covering it with an old cloth, she found a spot to wash her face. Finally, she slung the heavy pack onto her back and started heading back.
At the county entrance, the ox cart was already crowded with villagers, all carrying bags of goods they had purchased.
Some of them were eyeing each other's bags with curiosity.
"Hey, Heidan, what did Song Wei buy?" someone asked.
"Song Wei's been awfully nice to you, getting you new shoes and all. Those are brand new!" one of the women remarked with a hint of jealousy, looking at Heidan's shoes. A few of the more stingy onlookers were practically wishing they could pull the shoes off his feet for their own kids.
Heidan quickly hugged his legs, clutching his shoes protectively as he warily watched a few of the older women.
"Let me see what Song Wei bought," one of the women said, reaching toward his backpack.
Alarmed, Heidan clung to it tightly, his face turning red. "Get away! Don't touch it!"
"It's not even your stuff. Why so protective?" the woman scoffed. "You really are an ill-mannered, ungrateful brat!"
The woman moved as if to push him aside forcefully.
"What's going on here?" the ox cart driver stepped over and scolded her. "That's Song Wei's stuff—who said you could go rummaging through it?"
The woman was bold enough to berate Heidan, but she wouldn't dare defy the cart driver. She gave a sheepish smile and mumbled, "I was just curious. I wasn't planning to take anything."
Song Wei's voice rang out as she approached. "Well, if you're that curious, why don't you show us what you bought first?"
Heidan turned around, his face lighting up with joy.
With her backpack full to the brim but covered up, Song Wei was carrying it casually, almost as if it were light as a feather.
Ruffling Heidan's hair, Song Wei looked at the woman with a mocking smile.
"How about it, Auntie? You can also show us how much money you brought."
The woman immediately put her hands on her hips and shot back, "Who do you think you are? Why should I show you?"
Song Wei's smile faded as she returned the woman's glare with a mocking look of her own.
"Exactly. Who do you think you are? Why should I show you my stuff?"
She didn't bother hiding her irritation and even rolled her eyes before turning away, leaving the woman fuming.
The ox cart driver, who had been watching the exchange, couldn't help but look at Song Wei with some concern. She'd bought quite a bit; he hoped his old ox could manage.
Still, Song Wei's earlier gesture of giving him a white steam bun made it hard for him to complain.
Once everyone was ready to go, Song Wei offered, "There's barely enough room on the cart for everyone. I'll just carry my backpack and walk alongside."
Carrying a load over a hundred jin (about 110 pounds) was nothing for her, and it saved her the trouble of her belongings drawing unwanted attention. Plus, she could trust her strength more than any ox cart.
The driver was surprised but grateful. "That's very considerate of you," he said, a bit sheepishly.
Heidan wanted to get down and walk with her, but she stopped him.
"Stay on the cart," she said. "You still need to keep an eye on our stuff up there."
Heidan immediately remembered the woman who had tried to dig through the backpack earlier. He nodded, giving up his plan to walk alongside her.
The ox cart's pace was actually slower than Song Wei's walking speed, so she strolled alongside. From their seats, a few of the women couldn't help but question her.
"Song Wei," one of the women asked, "if Heidan is supposed to be working for you, why do you give him nice clothes and shoes? Aren't you just losing out?"
Song Wei smiled and replied, "I'm not mistreating him just because he helps me. Winter is around the corner, and without proper clothes and shoes, he'd get sick. Then, I'd have to spend money on a doctor anyway, which would be even more expensive."
The woman who asked could only respond with an awkward smile. "True, true."
Some of the others muttered among themselves, feeling she was overly generous.
"Song Wei's at least kinder than the Lin family," the ox cart driver commented, irritated by how the Lin family had treated Heidan.
One of the women turned the conversation back to the Lin family, a bit of gossip lighting up her face.
"By the way, Song Wei, was what you said about the Lin family that day true?"
Even though Song Wei had later clarified that she'd only been joking, many people were still curious. Several older villagers had confirmed that back in the day, old lady Lin was indeed close with several other men before she got married.
"My mother-in-law said that old lady Lin was a girl from town. How did she end up marrying old man Lin, anyway? And I heard that soon after she got married, she was already pregnant."
"I heard that Lin Dahai was born prematurely."
Song Wei's eyes widened in surprise. She'd just been making wild guesses, but it seemed there might be truth to her suspicions about the Lin family after all.
The women on the ox cart eagerly chimed in with what they knew.
"It's true. Out of all the Lin sons, old lady Lin likes Lin Dahai the most, doesn't she?"
"All the other Lin sons have a bit of their father's look in them, but Lin Dahai doesn't resemble old man Lin at all."
"And remember, old lady Lin made her third son (Heidan's father) work like a mule to earn money, only to turn around and buy a job for Lin Dahai."
The Lin family had pooled all their resources to get Lin Dahai a job at the town's textile factory. Despite the family's efforts, he was still only a temporary worker and had never been promoted to a full-time position. These days, getting a permanent job required either strong skills, years of experience, or good connections and luck. Unfortunately, Lin Dahai had none of these advantages.
However, even as a temporary worker, his job gave the Lin family plenty to brag about in the village. They boasted about it so much that they practically had their noses in the air.
Who knows how much hard-earned money Heidan's father had sacrificed to make this possible?
"Come to think of it, Lin Dahai might really not be Old Lin's son. Maybe back then, Old Lady Lin got pregnant while messing around and had to marry Old Lin because of it."
"Old Lin is such a pushover. He doesn't act like a man at all. Old Lady Lin controls him completely—everything in that family goes her way."
From the conversation, Song Wei pieced together more about the Lin family's dynamics.
In the Lin household, Old Lady Lin was like an empress. Her word was law, and no one dared question it.
She doted on her eldest son, Lin Dahai, but had a cold, distant attitude toward her other sons. And because she nearly died giving birth to her third son, she treated him as if he were her enemy.
To Song Wei, Old Lady Lin seemed selfish to the core. Other than her obvious favoritism toward Lin Dahai, she seemed to see her other sons merely as labor to use and order around. When Lin the third was still around, he bore the brunt of her scolding. Now, with him gone, the rest of her sons were her targets—though none faced the harshness he had to face.
Because of her hatred for her third son, she also had little sympathy for his child, Heidan. Her cruelty extended to him, and she barely treated him like family.
Old Lady Lin didn't seem to care about anyone else in the family—only Lin Dahai, who was likely not even Old Lin's biological child.
Generally speaking, someone like her would definitely not like the son of the man who made her pregnant and then abandoned her, unless she really loves that man.
That would be interesting, indeed.
Though the villagers discussed it openly, these events happened long ago. Nobody had solid proof, so everything was mostly speculation.
When the ox cart finally arrived back at Brigade, everyone quickly scattered back to their homes. Song Wei and Heidan returned to the dormitory.
To her surprise, Gao Le and Zhao Su were already there.
"Hey, you're back, Sister Song!" they greeted, sitting outside and snacking on sunflower seeds.
Ever since they started using Song Wei's trick to earn three work points with minimal effort, they had been finishing their tasks early and coming home with plenty of time to relax. They seemed much happier, without the stressed looks they once wore.
Even their team leader, who knew what slackers they were, chose to turn a blind eye to it.
Song Wei gave them a nod and put away her things in her room before coming back out.
"You're finishing up so early? But don't just sit around. If someone reports you, there will be trouble."
Skipping work now and then was one thing, but work was technically mandatory for both the villagers and the educated youth. Other than taking leave or in cases of extreme cold in winter, everyone was expected to stay in the fields until the official end of the workday. Educated Youth who left early without good reason risked being scolded for "lacking the proper spirit." For villagers, unless the laziness was too obvious, most people let it slide.
"I know, I know. Once we finish this snack, we're heading to the mountains," Gao Le replied.
Song Wei didn't press the issue. Instead, she went back to help Heidan sort through the goods she'd brought back.
Seeing so much food, Heidan's eyes practically sparkled.
Like a pair of eager squirrels, the two organized their stash, each item sorted neatly into place. There was grain bought in town, walnuts and chestnuts gathered from the mountains, and dried mushrooms stored for the winter. As the collection grew, both felt an immense sense of satisfaction.
Song Wei set aside a corner for their supplies, with a stack of their latest additions alongside previous finds. Yet she wasn't fully satisfied; she wanted to stockpile even more!
"When they finish collecting the public grain, we should go ask the team leader if we can buy some extra coarse grains and sweet potatoes," Song Wei said.
"Let's gather as many walnuts and chestnuts from the mountains as we can, too," Heidan added. These were food, after all.
Song Wei nodded firmly; he was thinking just like she was.
But right now, there was the matter of housing their rabbits properly. The room needed more storage too, so she planned to see Auntie Ma about it.
Meanwhile, Heidan diligently fed the rabbits and cleaned up the mess they made. The smell was overwhelming, and Song Wei frowned. There was no way she'd let them stay inside much longer; she needed to get those cages made as soon as possible.
After securing the room, Song Wei packed up some sugar and the fabric she bought for Heidan's clothes, along with a white bread bun, and set off for Aunt Ma's house.
She didn't know exactly where Aunt Ma's house was, but Heidan did.
The little guy happily led the way in his new shoes, looking absolutely pleased with himself. He practically glowed with excitement, though he walked carefully, clearly not yet used to his new shoes.
"It's here," Heidan pointed to a nearby house.
Song Wei knocked on the door, which was opened by a timid girl around eight years old.
"Cuiya, is Aunt Ma home?" Heidan asked. "We came to see her."
Although Heidan had few friends in the village, he still recognized most of the children.
Cuiya shook her head. "My mother's not home, but she should be back soon to make dinner."
Song Wei gave the girl a gentle smile. "Could we come in and wait for her? I really need to talk to Aunt Ma."
Seeing Song Wei's friendly smile, Cuiya blushed and nodded shyly.
Song Wei handed her a few pieces of candy. Though she looked tempted, the little girl politely declined at first.
"Go ahead and eat. I've got more here," Song Wei reassured her, giving a few pieces to Heidan as well.
Seeing that Heidan accepted the candy too, Cuiya finally took it, visibly pleased.
Aunt Ma's home was a simple mudbrick house like most in the village, but it was very neat. The yard was well-kept, with a small vegetable garden where Cuiya had been doing laundry.
Waiting in the yard, Song Wei struck up a conversation with Cuiya, and the girl gradually became more comfortable.
Suddenly, loud voices came from the neighboring house.
"Jiang Dashan, did you go see that widow Hu again?" shouted an angry woman.
Song Wei's eyes widened, and before she knew it, she was sneaking over to the corner of the wall to eavesdrop, her curiosity piqued.
Heidan and Cuiya blinked, unsure what to do. After a few seconds of hesitation, they followed her.
"Hey, you two! Kids shouldn't be listening to this kind of gossip," Song Wei whispered as she motioned for them to step back. But then she herself brought over a stool to stand on, peeking just enough over the wall to catch a view of the neighboring yard.
The two people fighting didn't notice her watching.
The woman who had been shouting earlier flung a gourd ladle full of water at the man across from her.
"Jiang Dashan, there are so many things waiting for you at home, but you won't even lift a hoe here! Yet, you're so eager to run and help that widow Hu!"
The man, Jiang Dashan, got drenched, then tried to dodge as his wife chased him around the yard. He shouted back, half-annoyed, "Are you crazy? I'm your husband! I just saw the widow Hu struggling to carry that heavy bucket, so I went to help her! We're both innocent—don't go making things up!"
"Ha!" The woman spat, furious. "How many times have you helped her? If I hadn't caught you today, I wouldn't have known anything! You're saying she's pitiful? I'm the one who should be pitied! You ignore your own wife but jump to help another woman. Are wildflowers that much more tempting than what you've got at home? Jiang Dashan, I'm warning you—explain yourself, or this isn't over!"
With that, she hurled the ladle at him.
Song Wei was so absorbed in the scene that she didn't even notice Aunt Ma had returned.
Seeing Song Wei leaning over the wall and the two kids squatting nearby, Aunt Ma's eyebrow twitched.
She didn't say a word, not wanting to draw attention. But she went over to Song Wei.
"What are you up to, Song Wei?"
Song Wei turned around and flashed her a big grin, pointing at the couple who were arguing in the next yard.
"Listening to them fight."
Aunt Ma promptly pulled over a stool to sit on and joined her at the wall. Song Wei even handed her a few sunflower seeds.
They made sure to chew quietly so they wouldn't disrupt the show next door.
It seemed Jiang Dashan knew he was in the wrong—or perhaps he was just losing because his wife, built like a female warrior, was pounding him. Compared to her, he was lean and thin. Eventually, she pinned him to the ground, smacking him with her fists while he yelped in pain.
Aunt Ma scoffed, "Serves him right. He might look honest, but he's full of sneaky thoughts. Before he married Hu Niu, he was known around the village as a troublemaker. His parents spoiled him since he was their only child, but he never showed any ambition. When they saw he wasn't getting anywhere, they decided to find him a strong-willed wife. And that's how they found Hu Niu, the daughter of a hunter up in the mountains.
"Hu Niu was raised rough—she's sturdy and fierce like her father. Nobody ever proposed to her, not just because she looked tough but also because they lived so deep in the mountains. When Jiang Dashan's parents showed up to propose, they explained their situation, and Hu Niu accepted without hesitation. After they married, it was chaos in their home, but she kept Jiang Dashan in line and made him work. His parents were so relieved that they died with smiles on their faces."
Song Wei listened eagerly. "Wow, Aunt Hu sounds fierce."
She glanced at Aunt Hu, who had a square face and a rather masculine appearance.
In most families, men still ruled the house, but here in Ping'an Brigade, there were at least two women who took charge of their households—Aunt Hu was one of them. The other, of course, was Old Lady Lin. Best not to mention that troublesome family, though.
"Ahh… my back! It's going to break!" Jiang Dashan's screams filled the air. His wife, Hu Niu, had sat down squarely on his back, her large hand twisting the soft flesh at his waist.
Jiang Dashan's face contorted in pain. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry! Wife, I won't do it again!"
But Hu Niu only gave a derisive snort and slapped him on the back of the head. "If I catch you even looking at that widow Hu again, I'll make sure you won't need those parts anymore! We already have kids; your bits are practically useless to me now. Misbehave again, and I'll take care of it."
Jiang Dashan's face flushed red, and he clamped his legs shut in horror.
Song Wei: "What a fierce aunt!"
Aunt Ma shook her head and sighed. "Hu Niu, you have no shame, saying such things with kids around."
Sound traveled easily in the big yard, and with only a wall between them, everyone could hear Hu Niu's loud threats.
Only then did the couple realize they had an audience.
Jiang Dashan's face went through a whole range of emotions, then turned red with embarrassment. Muttering and limping, he slinked away.
Hu Niu, on the other hand, showed no hint of embarrassment. She had disciplined her husband plenty of times before, and in a village like this, where nothing stayed a secret, she figured everyone already knew her business.
"Kids don't understand that kind of talk anyway," she shrugged. "Who's this, though?"
Song Wei, entirely unbothered by being caught, flashed her a friendly smile.
"Hello, Aunt Hu. You're amazing!"
Hu Niu gave a hearty laugh, completely unabashed. "If you want to keep a man in line, you've got to be like me."
Aunt Ma introduced Song Wei properly.
"This is Song Wei, one of the educated youth."
Hu Niu nodded in recognition. "So you're the Song Wei who fought with Old Lin Lady and Old Lady Niu. Heard all about it."
Song Wei thought to herself, Am I famous now?
After chatting for a moment, Hu Niu waved goodbye. "I have to go start making dinner for the kids. Let's catch up another time."
After Hu Niu left, Song Wei and Auntie Ma climbed down from the wall.
Fully satisfied from her eavesdropping, Song Wei led Heidan to help Aunt Ma prepare vegetables in the yard.
"Sorry it took me so long to come by, Aunt Ma. I've been very busy."
Aunt Ma laughed, a friendly warmth in her voice. "Oh, I know! You've been so busy going up the mountain, sorting things out at the dormitory, and handling those disputes with Old Lady Lin and others. You've become a bit of a celebrity around here."
Song Wei sighed. She hadn't intended to be so well-known.
She said seriously, "It wasn't my fault; they started it. I was just defending myself."
She then brought up her main reason for coming. "Aunt Ma, I need your help with something. Heidan doesn't have any proper clothes, and with winter coming, he'll need a warm coat. Do you know anyone in the village who could make clothes? I'll pay fairly—one and a half yuan for a summer outfit and two for winter. And I'll cover the cost of any cotton padding."
Aunt Ma looked over at the fabric Song Wei was holding, then at Heidan.
"He's so lucky to have you looking out for him," Aunt Ma remarked, moved.
Song Wei just smiled.
Aunt Ma slapped her thigh and said, "Why look for someone else? If you trust me, leave the fabric with mother-in-law is the best at making clothes in this area. We even have some leftover cotton at home, and I can gather more from friends and'll make Heidan a warm winter coat."
Song Wei's eyes brightened, handing over the fabric. "Of course I trust you, Aunt Ma!"
"Aunt, if there's any extra cotton, I'd also love to have a winter coat made. I've heard winters here get quite cold, and the clothes I brought aren't thick enough."
"No problem. Families around here usually have some extra cotton stashed away. I'll ask around the village."
Aunt Ma took Song Wei's and Heidan's measurements. "I'll talk to my mother-in-law, and she'll get started as soon as she's back."
With three coats to make, Aunt Ma could earn over five yuan from this job.
"That's great!" Song Wei tugged Heidan to measure his size as well. "Aunt, make sure his is a bit big so he can still wear it as he grows."
Auntie Ma smiled. "We always make kids' clothes bigger."
Song Wei paid her three yuan as a deposit to reassure her. She then asked about the carpenter.
"Aunt Ma, where's the carpenter you recommended?"
"Let me take you there myself," Aunt Ma offered.
"No need! Just tell me where to go, and Heidan can lead the way," Song Wei replied, not wanting to trouble her further.
"It's the carpenter at the edge of the village. Lots of villagers can do basic woodwork, but he's the most fair and makes things that last. You'll get your money's worth there."
Heidan nodded. "I know where it is, Sister Song."
Song Wei bid Aunt Ma goodbye, handing her a fresh bun. Aunt Ma couldn't refuse, beaming as she took it. In return, she pulled some vegetables from her garden and handed them to Song Wei. "Take it back and add some more dishes, and don't be polite to your aunt."
Song Wei happily accepted, then headed to the carpenter's house with Heidan.
At the carpenter's, she explained what she needed. The old man pointed to a room full of furniture. "I have plenty of cabinets and chairs in there; take your pick. As for the rabbit cage, it'll be done by afternoon and delivered to the educated youth dormitory."
Song Wei chose a small chest, a large cabinet, and two sturdy chairs. When she tried to move the cabinet, the old carpenter offered to help load it onto a cart. But to his shock, Song Wei, though slim, lifted the large cabinet on her own.
The carpenter's eyes widened in disbelief, his mouth agape as he watched her effortlessly place the cabinet on the cart.
"Girl, you're… really strong!" he managed.
Song Wei grinned, looking as sweet and harmless as ever. "Oh, it's not too heavy."
The carpenter blinked. Not heavy? That cabinet's huge—there's no way she should be able to lift it.
All the things cost four yuan in total, and the cabinet was a little bigger and more expensive. The cabinet was not a common style in the village. It was made by the old carpenter based on the description by the educated youth. However, no one wanted it because it was a bit expensive. Now that Song Wei bought it, the old carpenter was very happy. Pleased, the old carpenter lent her his cart to transport the items back.
Song Wei and Heidan managed to get everything home. As they were arranging things, some of the other educated youth arrived back from the fields.
"Well, isn't someone lucky, always finding an excuse to skip work," sneered a voice. Although they knew they couldn't win against Song Wei, people like Liu Linlin and Xu Laidi couldn't resist making snide comments.
Xu Laidi eyed Heidan's shoes with jealousy and muttered bitterly, "What a fool. She barely has enough food for herself, yet she's raising a child. Waste of money."
Heidan glared, his eyes fierce. "Mind your own business!"
He might be polite with Song Wei, but around others, he was still the defensive little wolf cub.
Xu Laidi opened her mouth to retort, but Song Wei grabbed a thick branch and snapped it in half with her bare hands. She looked at Xu Laidi, smiling sweetly, her gaze saying clearly, Say one more word, and it'll be your mouth I break.
Xu Laidi shrank back, and the others quickly kept their distance from Song Wei.
Song Wei turned her attention to Luo Yecheng. "Luo Zhiqing, any update on repaying me for those tickets?"
Luo Yecheng averted his eyes. "I'm working on it." He quickly scurried off, looking embarrassed.
Everyone dispersed to their own tasks. Later, Song Wei brought a rabbit to Li Juan.
Li Juan gasped in delight. "A rabbit? Song Wei, you're unbelievably lucky! First a snake, then fish, and now a wild rabbit?"
Song Wei handed her the rabbit casually. "Let's cook it. I've still got some wild boar left too."
"Wild boar meat?" Li Juan's eyes widened, then she clamped a hand over her mouth. "Where did you even get that?"
"From the black market," Song Wei replied, unbothered.
"The black market? I heard it's risky. Some Educated Youth were caught there and still haven't returned."
"I run fast," Song Wei assured her.
Li Juan scowled, worried. "Be careful, though."
When Heidan brought the boar meat, Li Juan's eyes sparkled. "Let's make dumplings! I still have some flour. With some sauerkraut added to the pork, they'll be delicious!"
Dumplings—something Song Wei had dreamed of during the barren years on the wasteland. Her mouth watered, and she nodded eagerly.
With tasks divided, Song Wei took charge of kneading the dough, Li Juan prepared the filling, and Heidan stoked the fire.
Watching Heidan work diligently, Li Juan murmured, "What were the Lin family thinking? He's so hardworking, yet they treated him so horribly."
She felt heartbroken when she saw the injuries on Heidan's body.
Song Wei sneered: "Stupid and vicious."
Li Juan: That's a perfect description.