Chapter 43: The High-Ranking Leader Helps Her Carry Water

As Lu Huaishen spoke, he reached out and took the bucket from Song Yue’s hands, immediately drawing water.

Song Yue quickly tried to stop him. “Comrade Lu…”

Zhou Ye chuckled. “Comrade Song, it’s not like this is the first time Boss has helped you. There’s no harm in letting him fetch water for you.”

“I…” Song Yue felt a little embarrassed. “By the way, I haven’t had the chance to thank you both for what happened earlier.”

Zhou Ye waved a hand dismissively. “No need for thanks.”

Song Yue prepared to return the money for the medical expenses. “About that medical fee, I…”

Before she could finish, Lu Huaishen had already shouldered the water and walked off.

Song Yue froze for a moment, then hurried after him.

Zhou Ye, still smiling, followed behind them.

At the bend in the road, Lu Huaishen suddenly stopped, set down the buckets, and turned to glance at Song Yue.

“My current status is a bit sensitive. I can only carry the water for you this far. It’s not much, but you should be able to manage the rest.”

“Zhou Ye, let’s go.”

With that, Lu Huaishen called for Zhou Ye and turned to leave.

Song Yue quickly stepped forward, blocking his path. “Wait, Lu—”

Lu Huaishen looked down at her from above. “Just carry the water back. There’ll be plenty of chances to repay me in the future. No rush.”

Zhou Ye promptly echoed, “Comrade Song, Boss is right. Right now, our identities are a little sensitive.

“If people see you talking to us, they might start gossiping.”

“No rush, we’re all in the same village.”

Lu Huaishen gave Song Yue a deep look. “We’re leaving.”

Song Yue had no choice but to agree. “Alright.”

She watched them walk away before shifting her gaze to the buckets—both were only half full.

Together, they barely made up a full bucket.

Forget it, she’d just make another trip later.

Balancing the carrying pole, she started back toward the educated youth camp.

She was still about a hundred meters away when a small car and a rumbling tractor approached, stopping at the entrance of the camp.

Her brow twitched. Judging by the scene, someone important had arrived.

Could it be that Li Xinyue’s family had driven all the way from Beijing to track her down?

Now that would be interesting.

As Song Yue walked over with the water, the people from the vehicles had already gotten out.

She spotted a woman stepping down with a child.

She froze. This outfit… looked familiar?

Then the woman lifted her head and locked eyes with her.

Song Yue: !!!

Wasn’t this the mother and son from the cafeteria that morning?!

Someone called her name. “Comrade Song?”

Song Yue looked up and saw that it was Secretary Li.

Aside from Secretary Li, there was also Secretary Zhou from the commune, whom she had seen the other day.

This…

Secretary Li and the commune secretary were both here?

Oh…

And the brigade leader too.

What was going on?

Secretary Li stepped closer, his face changing when he saw Song Yue carrying water.

He hurried over. “Comrade Song, why are you fetching water? Put it down, put it down!”

As he spoke, Li Jianguo reached out to take the carrying pole. “Let me do it.”

Song Yue refused. “Secretary, it’s fine. I can carry it.”

At that moment, Huang Xiuying stepped down from the vehicle.

She looked up and saw Song Yue’s thin frame carrying the water, and her expression darkened. She turned to her husband.

“Honey, this is Comrade Song.”

The middle-aged man in a Zhongshan suit shifted his sharp gaze to Song Yue, scrutinizing her from head to toe.

Song Yue met his gaze.

Her heart skipped a beat. This man had gotten out of the car.

In this era, anyone who could ride in a car had to have an extraordinary background.

As Huang Xiuying spoke, her tears suddenly began to fall.

“This morning, it was Comrade Song who saved our child. If not for her, our Dabao would have…”

Zhang Aiguo withdrew his gaze and gently wiped away Huang Xiuying’s tears. “Don’t cry.”

Huang Xiuying choked back a sob and nodded.

Zhang Aiguo then strode over to Song Yue. “Comrade Song, let me carry the water.”

Secretary Zhou’s heart clenched. He quickly tried to stop him. “Leader, you mustn’t! Let me do it, let me!”

Zhang Aiguo, his square face solemn, said, “Comrade Zhou, Comrade Song saved my son’s life. What’s wrong with me carrying some water for her?”

Secretary Zhou and Secretary Li exchanged looks.

How were they supposed to handle this?

The high-ranking leader had come all this way just to carry water?

The brigade leader, seeing the situation, quickly took a step back.

With the secretaries and the leader here, he, a mere brigade leader, wouldn’t dare to step forward and get involved.

“Ahem.”

Seeing their expressions, Song Yue cleared her throat. “Actually, I was going to make another trip anyway.”

Secretary Zhou: “……”

Secretary Li: “……”

Comrade Song! You really dare to say that!

But… this did give them a way out of the awkward situation.

Secretary Zhou immediately spoke up. “I’ll handle the next trip.”

Zhang Aiguo smiled at Song Yue and extended his hand. “Comrade Song, give it to me.”

Song Yue set down the buckets and handed him the carrying pole. “Thank you, Leader.”

Zhang Aiguo took the pole, lifted the water, and headed toward the educated youth camp.

“Comrade Song, I came to thank you. If you thank me now, then who’s actually thanking whom?”

Song Yue followed alongside him.

Huang Xiuying held her child’s hand and walked behind them.

Secretary Zhou and Secretary Li followed as well.

The brigade leader trailed at the very back.

“Uh…” Song Yue hesitated, glancing sideways at Zhang Aiguo. “Mutual gratitude?”

“Hahahaha.” Zhang Aiguo burst into laughter. “What a great way to put it—mutual gratitude. You’re a very straightforward comrade.”

Song Yue and Zhang Aiguo walked at the front.

Behind them, Secretary Zhou and Secretary Li deliberately slowed their pace.

The two men watched as Song Yue and the leader chatted and laughed.

Secretary Li suddenly paused and turned to the brigade leader, lowering his voice. “Li Jianping.”

The brigade leader stiffened and quickly caught up.

Secretary Li frowned. “Fetching water at the educated youth camp should be a job for the male comrades, shouldn’t it? Why is a female comrade doing it?”

The brigade leader shook his head. “Secretary, I don’t know. It was the male comrades fetching water before, but today…”

Secretary Li cut him off. “We’ve embarrassed ourselves in front of the high-ranking leader.”

The brigade leader: “……”

Secretary Li’s voice dropped even lower. “Do you even realize that Comrade Song saved the leader’s son this morning? The leader came all this way just to thank her!”

The brigade leader’s eyes widened. “!!!!”

This delicate-looking Comrade Song had actually saved the leader’s precious son?

Then this…

Secretary Li continued, “And yet, as soon as he arrives, he sees Comrade Song, a female, carrying water?!”

“I…”

Secretary Li was furious.

Secretary Zhou said nothing.

Everything Li Jianguo was saying was exactly what he was thinking. This was utterly disgraceful.

Comrade Song was such a delicate young woman, yet she was made to carry water?

What were the male comrades at the educated youth camp doing?

The brigade leader quickly tried to placate him. “Secretary, don’t be mad. Don’t be mad. We’ll definitely give them a serious reprimand later.”

…

Meanwhile, Song Yue and Zhang Aiguo chatted as they walked toward the educated youth camp.

Just as they reached the gate—

A voice rang out from inside.

“Come on, if you think being a senior educated youth makes you so great, let’s see what you’ve got!”

“A bunch of cowards who only pick on the weak!”

Song Yue frowned.

Had Lin He gotten into another fight after she left?

Zhang Aiguo heard the commotion too, and the smile on his face disappeared.

When they stepped into the yard, they saw a group of about ten people facing off.

Zhang Aiguo’s brows furrowed, his expression darkening.

Sensing something was wrong, Secretary Zhou spoke up. “Comrades, what’s going on here?”