Chapter 56: Want to Have Some Fun with Big Brother?

A man and a woman.

And both of them were people she knew…

The man was Zhao Zirui, and the woman was Zhang Jiaojiao.

Oh.

That Zhang Jiaojiao—the one who had scolded Liu Wei so harshly that she didn’t even dare make a sound.

“Comrade Zhao, this is just a little something from me, please accept it~”

A delicate, saccharine voice rang out, making Song Yue’s skin crawl.

After speaking, Zhang Jiaojiao stuffed something into Zhao Zirui’s arms and then ran off.

Zhao Zirui hadn’t even had time to react.

By the time he did and wanted to return the item, “Hey… comrade…”

The person was already far gone.

Zhao Zirui lowered his head and saw that what had been stuffed into his arms was some candy and a few eggs.

After hesitating for a moment, he still put the items away, then bent down to pick up a large bundle of firewood.

Song Yue remained where she was, waiting until he was completely out of sight. She sat there for another ten minutes or so, estimating that Zhao Zirui had likely left the woods and gone far away.

Only then did she hoist her own bundle of firewood onto her back, pick up her basket, and head out.

Once out of the woods, she didn’t see any trace of Zhao Zirui.

But halfway back, near the well, she ran into…

Lin He was there drawing water, while Zhao Zirui stood nearby carrying his firewood.

She walked over.

Lin He noticed her right away and greeted her, “Comrade Song.”

Zhao Zirui also turned his head. Seeing her carrying such a large bundle of firewood, his expression changed slightly before returning to normal.

“Comrade Song also went to collect firewood?” Zhao Zirui asked with a smile. “I was there too, but I didn’t see you.”

Song Yue replied coolly, “The forest is so big. Isn’t it normal not to run into each other?”

Zhao Zirui’s expression turned a little awkward. He suddenly felt as if the items in his arms were burning hot. “Where did Comrade Song collect firewood?”

Song Yue smirked. “Why? Do I need to report to Comrade Zhao where I gather firewood?”

Realizing he was pushing too much, Zhao Zirui gave an awkward laugh. “I was just concerned about you…”

“Stop right there.” Song Yue cut him off. “You should worry more about Comrade Li instead. Don’t bother worrying about me—I don’t need it.”

Her gaze shifted to Lin He, who was still drawing water. “Comrade Lin, you’re cooking tonight, remember?”

Lin He grinned. “Mm-hmm! I’m cooking tonight. We’re even having meat!”

Zhao Zirui’s eyes flickered with surprise upon hearing that.

Lin He looked pleased with himself. “I traded for it with one of the village aunties. Impressive, right?”

“Not bad,” Song Yue said in a flat tone. “I’ll head back first.”

Lin He responded, “Alright, Comrade Song, you go on ahead. We’ll follow behind.”

Song Yue left.

Lin He watched her carrying that massive bundle of firewood, feeling a bit curious. She looked so delicate…

How did she have such strength?

He withdrew his gaze and then looked at Zhao Zirui’s pitifully small bundle of firewood—it wasn’t even a third of what Song Yue had gathered.

Lin He: “…”

He couldn’t help but comment, “Zhao Zirui, I’m just saying…

Look at the firewood Comrade Song collected, then look at yours…”

Halfway through his complaint, he noticed that Zhao Zirui’s face didn’t look too good, so he changed the subject.

“Anyway, with that little bit of firewood you gathered, is it even enough for the three of us?”

“If it’s not enough, I’ll collect more tomorrow,” Zhao Zirui replied. “We’ve got plenty of time to gather more.”

“Fine.” Lin He was clearly dissatisfied. “This is my second trip carrying water. After I go back and cook, you should come and fetch another bucket.”

Zhao Zirui sighed. “Can I do it tomorrow? Today was my first day working in the fields, and I’m exhausted.”

Lin He immediately got annoyed. “You think I’m not tired?”

After carrying this second load of water back, he still had to cook.

So Zhao Zirui was just going to lie on the kang and rest? Do nothing?

Seeing that Lin He was getting angry, Zhao Zirui quickly relented. “Alright, alright, I’ll come fetch the water later.”

…

Song Yue returned to the educated youth dormitory.

At a corner in the path, she suddenly heard an angry shout from ahead—

“Li Hongjun, get out of my way!”

That voice…? Spring Flower?

And the name Li Hongjun sounded familiar too.

Soon enough, Song Yue remembered who he was—Chen Juhua’s son.

Wasn’t Chen Juhua just saying this morning how great it would be if Yang Chunhua married her son?

Then Yang Chunhua’s mother-in-law had stormed out, and the two women had gotten into a shouting match.

Now, Li Hongjun’s voice rang out—

“Yang Chunhua, just have the baby, then divorce Jiang Xuemei and be with me.”

“I promise I’ll treat you well. I…”

Song Yue: “……”

Wow.

She had just heard the gossip in the morning, and now she was witnessing it firsthand.

But…

This Li Hongjun didn’t sound like anything good.

Yang Chunhua clenched her fists. “Shut up! Get out of my way! I’m going home!”

“I’ll move—if you give me a kiss. Kiss me, and I’ll let you go.”

Song Yue: “……”

She had heard enough.

She strode forward.

Turning the corner, she saw Yang Chunhua being blocked by a tall, scrawny man.

Song Yue’s voice was calm. “Messing around like this could get you a bullet to the head.”

Both of them turned to look at her.

And she finally saw what this Li Hongjun looked like.

Sharp, monkey-like features, messy sparse brows, squinty eyes.

Just from his face alone, he looked like bad news.

Li Hongjun eyed her up and down, his gaze filled with lechery. “Oh?”

“Where did this little girl come from? Pretty thing, aren’t you? How come I’ve never seen you before?”

Yang Chunhua’s eyes flashed with worry, and she urged, “Comrade Song, leave now! This guy is no good!”

Li Hongjun snapped back at her, “Shut your damn mouth, Yang Chunhua! You call me no good, yet you were interested in me before, huh?”

“Pah!” He spat at her.

“You shameless bitch. Back then, you married Chen Guoqiang just for the bride price. And look at you now—almost due and still working in the fields. Serves you right! That’s karma!”

Yang Chunhua’s face turned pale, her whole body trembling with anger.

She knew better than anyone that this scumbag had been fooling around behind her back. Her family had only broken off the engagement after catching him red-handed.

Back then, his mother had dragged him to her house, knelt at the door, and begged them to keep it quiet, even paying money to settle things.

Her father had let it go to avoid unnecessary trouble.

But after she married Chen Guoqiang, this bastard and his mother had gone around spreading rumors that she only married for money.

Though Chen Guoqiang’s family had initially understood the truth, the village gossip grew over time, and it had affected them. Even her own family had started to look at her differently…

If she had known this would happen, she would have rather died than marry into this hellhole.

Li Hongjun’s voice turned threatening. “Say another word, and I’ll kick that bastard in your belly right out of you. Believe it?”

Yang Chunhua’s eyes widened in fury. “You—”

Li Hongjun ignored her, turning back to Song Yue.

“Pretty girl, so you’re a new educated youth from the city, huh? City girls sure are good-looking.”

He rubbed his hands together excitedly. “Come on, have some fun with big brother, yeah?”