Chapter 29

The fool Zhan Ai Guo was talking about was the son of a factory director in the county. He learned about this from a relative who was a temporary worker at the factory, a relative who was barely related to them.

The factory director was really rich, and his son was really stupid, the kind who drooled and couldn’t take care of himself.

Zhan Ai Guo thought that Li Jian lived in Chang Hong Brigade, and he was tall and strong, he would be available whenever they needed him. Now he was missing 200 yuan in dowry, he could make up for it by working harder later.

Most importantly, Zhan Ai Guo valued his son. He didn’t want his son to have a fool as a brother-in-law, to be laughed at, unless it was absolutely necessary.

“I’m not marrying a fool. I told you, Grandpa came to me in a dream and told me that Li Jian will be very rich in the future. I’m going to marry Li Jian.” Zhan Hongyan was angry, she pouted her swollen lips and shouted.

“Are you crazy?” Zhan Ai Guo lowered his voice, but his anger was hard to conceal, “Everyone is against feudal superstition now, and you’re still talking about dreams so loudly. Do you want to be caught and taken to a meeting? Then our whole family will be in trouble.”

“Dad, I don’t care, I’m going to marry Li Jian. He’ll definitely be very rich in the future. Then, I’ll support you every year. Forget about 100 yuan, even 1,000 or 10,000 yuan will be no problem.” Zhan Hongyan’s voice softened a little, but she refused to give in.

“You can marry him, but let him give me 100 yuan as a dowry.” Zhan Ai Guo wasn’t as easy to fool as Chen Ju Xiang. The future was too uncertain, money in hand was more reassuring.

Seeing that her father wouldn’t budge, Zhan Hongyan gritted her teeth and said, “Okay.”

She was reborn, she knew that the college entrance exam would be restored in a few months. She would sell this information to the intellectuals in the brigade for a high price. Also, she could go to the mountains to dig some herbs and mushrooms to sell on the black market.

Thinking this way, Zhan Hongyan went to comfort Chen Ju Xiang first. She knew what Zhan Ai Guo was like, he would still beat Chen Ju Xiang. She was afraid that Chen Ju Xiang couldn’t take it anymore and would tell the truth. She continued to feed her mother a bunch of lies, promising that she would give her a lot of money in the future.

After listening to Chen Ju Xiang’s complaints for half an hour, Zhan Hongyan saw that the rain had stopped and interrupted, “Mom, you rest for a while. I’ll go to the mountains to pick some mushrooms for you. I’ll make you mushroom soup when I come back.”

Mushrooms are delicious, Chen Ju Xiang licked her lips, which were peeling. “Okay, you also catch a wild chicken and make me wild chicken and mushroom soup.”

Zhan Ye Ye knew how to hunt, and he had even fought the Japanese. Zhan Ai Guo was timid and afraid of learning how to hunt because he would have to go to the battlefield to fight the Japanese. He didn’t dare to learn the craft passed down from his ancestors. Later, when the country was peaceful, Zhan Ai Guo couldn’t wait to keep his only son in his pants pocket, and he didn’t dare let him learn how to hunt from his father. However, Zhan Xinyue and Zhan Hongyan had learned a few tricks from their grandfather when they went to the mountains with him.

“I’ll try my best.” Zhan Hongyan agreed on the surface, but in her heart, she was thinking that if she could catch a chicken, she would also sell it on the black market.

Summer rain comes and goes quickly. After the rain, the air was filled with the smell of mud and grass. Zhan Hongyan, carrying tools for making traps and a small backpack, walked on the muddy path in the countryside, sinking deep into the mud with every step, as she went up the mountain.

Zhan Xinyue was cleaning the second floor. Seeing Zhan Hongyan go up the mountain with her backpack, she knew she must have gone to pick mushrooms.

Those who often went up the mountain knew that there were many mushrooms after the rain.

Zhan Xinyue had 300 yuan, she didn’t need to pick mushrooms to make money. She just wanted to go to the mountains to dig herbs and find honey to cure Grandma’s illness. It was better to go when the weather was clear.

“Xinyue, the noodles are ready!” Grandma called from downstairs.

“Coming!” Zhan Xinyue agreed. Her nose was sensitive, she smelled the fragrant chicken noodle soup, and she quickly went downstairs.

Grandma had already placed two bowls of noodles on the table, one big and one small. The smooth noodles had absorbed the golden chicken broth, and there were a few pieces of chicken meat and oily greens on top. They looked very appetizing.

“Xinyue, you eat the big bowl.”

“Okay.” Zhan Xinyue didn’t refuse. She had felt the old lady’s pulse, she didn’t digest well, and she couldn’t eat too much at night.

The noodles were cooked soft, the saltiness was just right, the chicken broth was delicious, and Zhan Xinyue and Grandma ate to their heart’s content.

The evening after the rain, the air was most refreshing.

Zhan Xinyue helped Grandma take a walk. They hadn’t slept last night, so they didn’t walk for long. Now the village didn’t have electricity, so they took a bath while it wasn’t completely dark. When her hair dried, Zhan Xinyue, feeling refreshed, snuggled into her clean bed.

Zhan Xinyue took a deep sniff of the blanket. The smell of sunshine was intoxicating. She sighed contentedly and quickly fell asleep.

Over here, Zhan Xinyue was well-fed, clean, and sleeping soundly.

Over there, Zhan Hongyan was hungry, her pants were covered in mud, and she was carrying a small basket of mushrooms. She grumbled as she came down the mountain.

“Damn it, I’ve been working for half a day, and I’ve only picked this little bit. It won’t sell for much. I don’t know if the traps will catch any wild chickens.”

“How can I make 100 yuan like this? I have to think of a way.”

Zhan Hongyan’s not-so-bright mind was turning quickly. She didn’t want to go back to the intellectual youth point after this small setback. After all, it was already 1977, and the intellectuals who had connections and money had already returned to the city.

The few who were left were all poor. Even if they all wanted to buy the news, they wouldn’t be able to sell it for 100 yuan.

It was night in the countryside, and there was no one around. Zhan Hongyan looked around, pulled down her clothes, and saw that the marks on her body had faded a lot in the moonlight.

Mainly because her skin was dark and yellow, it wasn’t very obvious. It should be gone in a couple of days.

“Humph, I know what to do. I’m going to get Li Jian to eat the rice before it’s cooked. Then, even if my dad objects, it won’t matter.”

Zhan Hongyan slapped her head, feeling that she was incredibly clever. She had come up with a good idea, and in her self-satisfaction, her voice unconsciously grew louder.

“It’s good to eat the rice before it’s cooked. Hehehe.” A dark figure darted out from the reeds and grabbed Zhan Hongyan’s waist, dragging her into the reeds.

“Ah…” Zhan Hongyan let out a scream, but her mouth was covered.

“Don’t shout, I’ve been following you. Are you short of money? I’ll give you money, you do it for me.”

It was Huang Er Niu, a rogue from Chang Hong Brigade. His parents had died early, and he was lazy and gluttonous. He usually made a living by stealing chickens and dogs and selling them on the black market, but he spent as much as he earned, he couldn’t save any money, and no one dared to marry him.

“Wuwuwu…..” Zhan Hongyan struggled.

Huang Er Niu dragged her deep into the reeds, took off his shirt, and covered Zhan Hongyan’s mouth, grinning lewdly, “I haven’t done a virgin yet. You do it for me, and I’ll give you 20 yuan.”

Huang Er Niu took out a wad of bills from his pocket. He had stolen a radio in the daytime and sold it on the black market for over 50 yuan. He had eaten two full meals at the state-owned restaurant, and the rest…

Zhan Hongyan’s eyes lit up when she saw the money. She had already lost her virginity, she didn’t care about doing it again. Besides, she had money now. She wanted to use this money to buy new clothes and delicious food for Li Jian’s two sons, to win them over. Then she would be able to gain a foothold in the Li family.

It was really a coincidence that both Huang Jianjun and Huang Er Niu gave her 20 yuan.

Zhan Hongyan lay down and got into position, no longer resisting.

Huang Er Niu saw this and became excited. He grinned and pulled the cloth from Zhan Hongyan’s mouth.

“Do you agree?”

“Yes. You keep your word, 20 yuan for one time.”

“Okay.” Huang Er Niu unbuttoned Zhan Hongyan’s clothes…