Chapter 52: The Bad News Spreads

Song Yue deliberately paused for a moment. “The woman is fine for now.”

Chen Juhua said nothing, only silently took a few steps back.

Yang Dashan, who was digging the planting holes, spoke up. “Comrade Song, you can start scattering the seeds now.”

“Alright.”

Song Yue responded and turned to remind Chen Juhua, “Aunt Juhua, I only told you about this. You mustn’t spread it around.”

Chen Juhua nodded. “Don’t worry, my lips are sealed.”

Li Tao: “…”

Sealed?

She probably wouldn’t last until noon.

“Good.”

Song Yue nodded, then walked forward and began scattering corn seeds.

If nothing unexpected happened, by tomorrow, the entire Crooked Nest Village would know that she brought bad luck to men.

The village aunts who liked to introduce potential matches would avoid her.

And as for the men?

They wouldn’t even consider it.

Who would risk their lives?

…

Chen Juhua looked at Song Yue’s back with some apprehension. Could it really be that serious?

She turned to Li Tao. “Hey, do you think what she said is true or false?”

Li Tao glanced at Song Yue’s retreating figure, looking thoughtful. His tone was uncertain. “It should be true… Who would joke about their own reputation?”

Chen Juhua found that reasonable. “True.”

She lifted her basket and stepped forward to spread fertilizer, muttering under her breath,

“This girl is really stupid, saying such a thing out loud. Who would dare marry her in the future?”

…

Time passed quickly.

By late morning, when the sun was almost overhead, the work bell rang, signaling the end of the shift.

The villagers immediately dropped their tools and started heading back.

Song Yue glanced ahead—there were still about ten planting holes left unseeded.

Yang Dashan also put down his hoe, deciding to stop for the day.

Song Yue thought she might as well finish these before leaving. It wasn’t much, and she would still have to continue in the afternoon anyway.

Finishing now meant she could rest a bit later.

That was her thinking, but Chen Juhua didn’t see it that way.

Seeing that everyone else had stopped, but Song Yue was still working, she quickly spoke up. “Comrade Song, stop working already! Go eat first, then come back later.”

“If you insist on finishing, then you should do the fertilizing and covering too.”

Do all the work?

Not happening.

Song Yue planted the last few seeds, then put the remaining corn kernels back into the cloth bag and set it on the ground.

She was ready to leave.

The tools and materials would stay here anyway—no one would steal them.

People passing by overheard Chen Juhua and chimed in,

“Chen Juhua, you really think you can make the new educated youth do all your work?”

“This educated youth isn’t bad at all. Unlike the ones in our group—just looking at them gives me a headache. They can’t even let out a fart after half a day of work.”

Song Yue turned to see who was speaking.

Hmm…

Another village aunt. Behind her was Li Xinyue, her face as dark as the bottom of a pot, her eyes slightly red, as if she’d been crying.

As they passed by, Li Xinyue glared at her, then stomped off angrily.

Song Yue: “…”

She could guess—after that aunt praised her, she must have turned around and complained about some other educated youth.

Most likely Li Xinyue.

Otherwise…

Li Xinyue wouldn’t have shot her such a sharp glare.

The aunt turned to her. “Little girl, what’s your name?”

Song Yue withdrew her gaze. “Song Yue.”

The aunt smiled, eyes crinkling. This girl had a much better temperament than the other educated youth in their group, Li Xinyue.

That Li girl was pretty, sure, but she had a terrible attitude.

She was bad at farm work, bad at arguing, and when she lost an argument, she’d just cry.

She had already cried several times this morning—so annoying.

Yang Aunty thought to herself but kept a smile on her face as she asked, “Oh, so you’re Comrade Song?”

“Comrade Song, how old are you?”

Song Yue: “…”

Here we go again…

“?” Song Yue pretended not to understand, eyes filled with confusion. “Do we need to report our age to work in the fields?”

Yang Aunty chuckled meaningfully. “Not for working, but for finding someone to help you, it matters.”

Song Yue continued playing dumb. “Aunty, I can do my own work. Why would I need help?”

Yang Aunty didn’t expect this girl to be so dense. She actually didn’t get what she meant?

Such a foolish girl… It reminded her of her own naive second daughter.

For a moment, she hesitated—was it really right to push a match onto this girl?

Song Yue blinked innocently at her.

Yang Aunty, feeling a little awkward, coughed lightly. “Ahem.”

Chen Juhua interjected, “Comrade Song, Aunty Yang wants to introduce you to a match.”

“A match?” Song Yue feigned confusion, then widened her eyes at Yang Aunty. “Really, Aunty Yang?”

“Hehehe~” Yang Aunty gave an awkward laugh. “That depends on whether you’re willing or not.”

“Um…” Song Yue hesitated, then took a deep breath and said, “I appreciate your kindness, but to avoid harming others, Aunty Yang, you’d better not introduce me to anyone.”

With that, she turned and ran off.

Leaving behind a bewildered Yang Aunty.

“?” Yang Aunty stared after her in confusion. “What do you mean? Harming others?”

Chen Juhua also watched as Song Yue disappeared into the distance.

She hurried over and whispered, “Sister Yang, let me tell you, this girl is untouchable. Anyone who gets involved with her is doomed.”

Yang Aunty was baffled. “What do you mean?”

Chen Juhua quickly recounted what Song Yue had told her earlier.

Yang Aunty’s eyes widened in shock, staring at her like she had just heard the most absurd thing.

Chen Juhua nodded gravely.

“This…” Yang Aunty was stunned. “That can’t be true, can it? Is there really someone like that? Are you making this up so you can keep her for your own son?”

Chen Juhua looked disgusted. “In a situation like this, I’d rather run far away—why would I bring her into my own home?”

“Sister Yang, I wouldn’t lie to you! She said it herself!”

Yang Aunty was still skeptical.

Song Yue looked so simple and naive. If she also had such a fate, then wouldn’t she be completely hopeless?

Who would dare marry her?

Yang Aunty frowned. “Why would she tell you this out of nowhere?”

Chen Juhua looked a little embarrassed. “Well… I was trying to introduce her to someone too…”

Just then, another woman approached. “Chen Juhua, Sister Yang, it’s noon already. Why are you two still chatting instead of going home for lunch?”

Yang Aunty was about to brush it off, but Chen Juhua quickly waved the woman over. “Li Aunty, you came just in time! Come here, let me tell you something!”

“This…” Li Aunty listened, then gasped. “Really? Are you sure?”

“Of course!”

Chen Juhua pulled both women close as they walked, whispering excitedly, “Listen, here’s what happened…”

And so, as they walked back, Chen Juhua spread the news to everyone they met.

Soon enough, every matchmaker in the village who had been eyeing Song Yue as a potential daughter-in-law dropped the idea entirely.

They even warned their unmarried sons: If you see Song Yue, stay far away.