Chapter 42: Are All the Men at the Zhiqing Point Dead?

Zhu Jing glared. “You—”

Song Yue’s tone remained indifferent. “You don’t have to say more, and there’s no need to get so worked up. I’ll make up for the water and firewood I used.”

“Once I’ve done that, to avoid conflicts like this from happening again, I’ll just cook separately.”

Chen Xue interjected, “Song Yue, you just arrived in the countryside, and you’re already acting special. That’s not good, is it?”

Niu Yifan chimed in, “Exactly! We’ve been here for so long, eating and working together, always staying united and looking out for each other.

And now you’ve barely arrived and want to cook on your own? You’re disrupting our collective spirit and breaking our unity!”

Song Yue smiled at them. “Unity and camaraderie, is it? So, your version of unity is ganging up on the newly arrived zhiqing?”

“All this fuss just because I didn’t immediately refill the water I used, and now you’re all taking turns verbally attacking me? Tell me, is this really about unity, or are you just forming your own little cliques? You all know the truth in your hearts.”

“If you don’t agree with me cooking separately, that’s fine. I’ll go find the brigade leader and let him decide whether I was the one being unreasonable, or if you were.”

The older zhiqing: “…”

Chen Xue’s expression darkened. “Song Yue, don’t keep bringing up the brigade leader. You’re the one in the wrong to begin with, and even if the brigade leader comes, it’s still your fault.”

Zhu Jing smirked, gloating. “Song Yue, if you made a mistake, admit it. Stop being so stubborn.”

Song Yue glanced at the three of them, the smile in her eyes deepening.

Hmm…

Who should she start with?

Reasoning clearly wasn’t working, so maybe it was time to let her fists do the talking…

Chen Xue, Zhu Jing, and Niu Yifan all felt a chill run down their spines under Song Yue’s smiling gaze.

She made her decision—she’d start with Zhu Jing, the one with the foulest mouth.

Just as she was about to step forward—

Creak!

The door to Lin He and Zhao Zirui’s room swung open.

Lin He stepped out.

Song Yue’s brow twitched. Great timing.

Zhu Jing immediately seized the opportunity. “perfect timing! You’re new here too—why don’t you weigh in?”

“Song Yue used up all the water in the vat and didn’t go fetch more. Isn’t that her fault?”

Lin He, still groggy from sleep, blinked in confusion. “Water?”

Zhu Jing nodded eagerly. “Yeah! The whole vat—she used it all up by herself!”

Lin He instinctively replied, “She wasn’t the only one who used the water. We all did—we boiled water for bathing.”

Zhu Jing froze. “…”

others: “…”

So, it wasn’t just Song Yue who used the water… Five of them had.

Yet not a single one had spoken up for her.

Zhu Jing’s face turned awkward.

She turned to Song Yue. “Song Yue, so it wasn’t just you who used the water? Why didn’t you say so earlier? I thought it was just you, so—”

“Heh…” Song Yue let out a soft chuckle. “Are you deaf, or just brainless?”

“I said it very clearly—I’ll replace the water and firewood that I used.”

“Anyone with half a brain would know that a single person couldn’t use up an entire vat of water.”

Chen Xue spoke up. “Song Yue—”

Song Yue cut him off. “Enough. I’m not interested in listening to your nonsense.”

“I’ll go fetch the water.”

“From now on, let’s keep things separate.”

With that, she turned to grab the tools and buckets for fetching water.

Once she was done carrying water, she’d go find the brigade leader and see if she could build her own place and move out.

Living with this group was just endless scheming and backstabbing. Unlike before, when she was in the city, she couldn’t just shut the door and deal with scumbags like her parents in a more… direct way.

And since dealing with these people came with consequences, she’d take the diplomatic approach first.

Beating up her scumbag parents had no consequences. No consequences at all. She could do it anytime.

Song Yue grabbed her things and was about to leave.

Lin He hurried after her. “Song Yue, why are you fetching water? Didn’t we agree that the three of you would gather firewood while Zhao Zirui and I fetched water?”

Without even looking at him, Song Yue replied, “That was before. Now, we handle our own tasks separately.”

Lin He sensed something was off. “Wait—”

Song Yue suddenly paused, turned to him with a smile, and asked, “Do you find this amusing?”

She was smiling, but her eyes were icy cold.

Lin He was taken aback. “?”

Song Yue said flatly, “Five people used the water, but four of you hid in your room without saying a word. And now you come out acting all concerned? Does that make sense to you?”

Lin He realized she had misunderstood. He wanted to explain that he had been asleep—that Zhao Zirui had woken him up.

But at this point, no matter what he said, Song Yue wouldn’t believe him.

He swallowed his explanation and simply apologized. “I’m sorry.”

“I—”

Song Yue looked away and left without another word.

Lin He felt his heart sink.

Li Tao stepped in front of her. “Song Yue, let me do it. That water is too heavy for you.”

Song Yue sidestepped him. “How do you know I can’t carry it if I haven’t tried?”

Li Tao: “…”

Song Yue picked up the buckets and left the zhiqing point.

Everyone watched her departing figure in silence.

Some of them were starting to feel… had they gone too far?

Zhu Jing muttered, “Do you think Song Yue is using this water-fetching excuse to go complain to the brigade leader?”

Lin He sneered, “Do you think everyone is as disgusting as you?”

Zhu Jing scoffed. “Oh, please. I’m not nearly as disgusting as you—hiding in your room like a coward while we mistakenly thought Song Yue used all the water.”

“If I hadn’t been asleep, would you even have had the chance to run your mouth like a barking dog?”

Lin He smirked. “Keep barking all you want. All this drama over a few buckets of water? After we’re done fetching water, we’re going straight to the brigade leader.”

“We came here to build a better future, not to argue over petty nonsense every day.”

Li Xinyue suddenly spoke up. “Lin He, take me with you when you go.”

Lin He instantly recognized her voice—she hadn’t been sleeping at all.

Thinking back to what Song Yue had said earlier about the four of them staying silent in their room, his anger doubled.

“Take you with me? In your dreams. Li Xinyue, let me make one thing clear—if I ever speak up for you again in the future, I’ll write my name backward!”

“Mark my words.”

…

The well was about twenty steps away from the zhiqing point.

Beside it stood a large tree.

Song Yue had never drawn water from a well before, nor had she ever watched someone do it.

She tried a few times but only managed to bring up a small amount—or worse, the bucket just floated on the surface.

Frustrated, she frowned.

Who would’ve thought there’d come a day when she was stumped by something as simple as fetching water?

She decided to try dropping the bucket straight down.

Just then, a familiar voice sounded behind her. “You need to tilt the bucket upside down before lowering it. That way, it fills up properly.”

Song Yue’s heart skipped a beat.

She turned around.

At some point, Lu Huaishen had appeared behind her.

Zhou Ye was there too.

“Hey!” Zhou Ye greeted her with a cheerful grin. “Song Comrade, what a coincidence. We meet again.”

Song Yue nodded in acknowledgment. “Comrade Lu, Comrade Zhou.”

Lu Huaishen frowned at the buckets in her hands. “Why are you fetching water? Are all the men at the zhiqing point dead?”