Chapter 28: The Three Left Behind

“Captain Deng, Comrade Zhang is fine now, but when she had her episode…”

Zhang Shumin was furious!

Earlier, she had been too busy explaining herself to settle accounts with Liu Wei.

And now, Liu Wei had the audacity to speak up again.

Clenching her fists, Zhang Shumin locked her gaze on Liu Wei and demanded,

“Liu Wei, what exactly are you trying to say? Stop beating around the bush and just spit it out!”

“Are you me? Do you know my body better than I do?

I admit that I have an illness, but do you think I wanted to be sick?

I’m already suffering enough from this disease, and yet you still use it to hurt me?

What do you gain from exposing my condition?

Or is it that you’re jealous because Captain Deng invited me to his brigade, and that’s why you’re deliberately making a fuss?”

A barrage of questions left Liu Wei stunned.

Everyone else turned their attention to Zhang Shumin and Liu Wei.

Liu Wei was at a loss. She never expected the usually soft-spoken Zhang Shumin to confront her like this.

Seeing Liu Wei rendered speechless, Zhang Shumin felt a surge of satisfaction.

She pressed on, “We’re all educated youth sent to the countryside. We should support each other and stay united. What kind of mindset is it to play these petty tricks?”

That last sentence sent Liu Wei into a panic.

She hurriedly tried to explain, “Shumin, you’ve misunderstood. I just thought it would be better to be upfront about it from the start,

so that no one would be frightened if you suddenly had an episode while working.”

Hearing the passive-aggressive tone, Song Yue couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Does Comrade Shumin not have a mouth of her own? Does she need you to speak for her?”

Liu Wei glared at Song Yue. “You—”

Seeing Song Yue stand up for her, Zhang Shumin felt even more emboldened.

“You can shut up now. I have no interest in talking to someone who likes playing tricks.”

Li Jianguo felt a headache coming on.

These educated youth were not to be trifled with—each one was fiercer than the last.

He didn’t want to hear any more arguing.

“Alright, alright,” he interjected. “This is a small matter. No need to keep quarreling.”

Then, turning to Song Yue and Lin He, he said, “Comrade Song, Comrade Lin, you two are the only ones left to choose a brigade.”

Song Yue stated directly, “Secretary, I’ll go to your brigade.”

Lin He echoed, “Same for me, Secretary.”

Hearing this, Li Xinyue immediately spoke up, worried that Lin He wouldn’t go with her and Ziru.

“Lin He, what do you mean? You’re going with her instead of us?”

Lin He rolled his eyes. “Being with you two just gives me a headache.”

Li Xinyue stomped her foot angrily. “Lin He, you—”

Before she could continue, Secretary Zhou cut in,

“Alright, that’s enough. It’s getting late. Everyone should follow their respective captains and secretaries back to their brigades.

You all came from far away. Take tonight and tomorrow to rest well—work starts the day after.”

With that, everyone responded and prepared to leave.

Those assigned to Deng Xuejun’s brigade: Li Xinyue, Zhao Zirui, Liu Wei, Zhang Shumin, and Ding Ping.

Those assigned to the brigade with a tractor: Li Mei and Li Jun.

Liu Cheng was assigned to another brigade.

Lastly, Song Yue and Lin He were with Li Jianguo.

As for the silent brigade leader who had been there the whole time, no one chose to go with him.

Since he hadn’t spoken up to recruit anyone either, his trip ended up being pointless.

But he didn’t mind—his brigade was already struggling. Bringing back some dependents would have been more trouble than it was worth.

That brigade leader simply waved his hand and left.

The other captains led their people away with their belongings.

Li Jianguo turned to Song Yue and Lin He, saying, “Comrade Song, Comrade Lin, let’s wait a bit and sit for a while. No rush.”

Song Yue nodded. “Alright.”

Lin He grinned. “Sounds good, Secretary.”

The two sat and watched as the others packed up.

Meanwhile, Li Jianguo was called into the office by Secretary Zhou.

Before leaving, Zhang Shumin thanked Song Yue once again.

Watching Zhang Shumin’s departing figure, Lin He commented, “She should’ve stayed with you. If her condition acts up again, you could help her.”

Song Yue replied coolly, “She has her own plans. As long as she takes her medicine, she’ll be fine.”

Lin He turned to her, staring directly. “By the way, if you know how to treat illnesses, why did you come to the countryside instead of working as a doctor in the city?”

Just then, Li Jianguo and Secretary Zhou came out of the office.

They overheard the question and stopped in their tracks.

Song Yue looked outside and said, “I only know a little—nowhere near enough to be a doctor.”

Lin He scoffed, “That might fool others, but not me. The way you administer acupuncture—fast and precise—you’re clearly an expert.”

Li Jianguo snapped out of his daze and rushed over to Song Yue.

“Comrade Song, you can treat illnesses?”

Before Song Yue could answer, Lin He beat her to it. “Yes, she can. She even saved someone on the train here.”

Secretary Zhou clapped Li Jianguo’s shoulder with a chuckle. “Jianguo, you’ve really struck gold.”

Li Jianguo’s eyes lit up, filled with excitement.

A doctor!

A doctor who could actually treat people! How rare was that?

Song Yue glanced at Uncle Li, who was practically shaking with excitement.

She: “…”

Was being able to treat illnesses really that big of a deal?

Just as Li Jianguo was about to speak, wailing came from outside.

Hearing the familiar cries, Song Yue’s heart skipped a beat.

This crying voice… it sounded way too familiar!

Lin He’s face darkened. He didn’t even need to look—he already knew it was Li Xinyue.

If Li Xinyue was crying, then something must have happened.

Li Jianguo and Secretary Zhou turned toward the noise.

Song Yue followed the sound.

Li Xinyue came back, sobbing.

Behind her were a furious Zhao Zirui and a sulking Liu Wei.

Apart from Li Xinyue, who had returned empty-handed and wailing, Zhao Zirui and Liu Wei were carrying the same bags they had taken out earlier.

Seeing this, Song Yue felt a bad premonition.

“Secretary!” The moment Li Xinyue saw Secretary Zhou, her cries grew even louder.

“?!” Secretary Zhou was baffled as he saw the three returning with their luggage. “What happened?”

Li Xinyue sobbed even harder.

Liu Wei threw her things onto the ground, pouting as if she was about to cry too.

Secretary Zhou quickly tried to console her, “Don’t cry, don’t cry.”

Then he turned to Zhao Zirui, “Comrade Zhao, can you explain?”

Zhao Zirui clenched his fists, his face full of rage, but he remained silent.

Secretary Zhou shifted his gaze to Liu Wei. “Or you can explain.”

Liu Wei sniffled. “Secretary Zhou, here’s what happened: Zhang Shumin and Ding Ping got on the tractor first.

The three of us were just about to board when Captain Deng told us that there was a slope ahead.

He said the tractor couldn’t make it up if there were too many people, so he told us to walk up and get on after.

But once the tractor went up the slope, it just kept going—it never stopped for us!”

Secretary Zhou was stunned.

Song Yue: “…”

So Deng Xuejun had a trick up his sleeve after all.

Secretary Zhou’s face hardened. “That Deng Xuejun is truly despicable! I will reprimand him severely!”

Li Xinyue choked out, “You must reprimand him!”

Secretary Zhou glanced at the three who had been left behind and frowned.

Then he turned to Li Jianguo. “But… Jianguo, what do you think—”