Chapter 33

Cai Genhua

The next morning, the work bell rang early, and Xia Wanyang was still in an excited state from the night before. She had been so energized that even by the final ring of the work bell, she was still wide awake. It wasn’t until the last bell rang that she finally opened her eyes.

She didn’t even have time to comb her hair, rushing out in a hurry. By the time she arrived at the brigade office, she realized that she was the last one to arrive.

Zhang Shiye stood at the front, and when he saw her with her hair unkempt and looking like she hadn’t fully woken up, his heart ached for her. He quietly moved closer to her and softly said, “How about I ask for a day off for you?”

Xia Wanyang’s beautiful fox-like eyes shimmered with the mist left from her yawn. She blinked lazily, her gaze confused and drowsy, as if she had just woken from a pleasant dream. She slightly tilted her head and met Zhang Shiye’s gaze, gently shaking her head.

“That’s not good. Today is the first day of spring plowing. If I take a leave to sleep in, people will talk behind my back!”

Zhang Shiye sighed. “I talked to my father last night. He’ll assign you a lighter task. You can take it easy, and when I’m done, I’ll come help you!”

“Aren’t you an accountant? Why are you working in the fields with us?” Xia Wanyang actually wanted to ask him how someone with his personality would choose to be an accountant.

“Spring plowing and autumn harvest, everyone in the team must work in the fields, except for the elderly, children, and pregnant women. Even my father has to work.”

Zhang Heping stood on the table, shouting, “Spring plowing starts now. Everyone, put in 120% effort. Whether we can earn the title of advanced team this year depends on all the men and women of our Dongfanghong team!

Alright, except for the new educated youths, everyone else will follow the previous assignments. New educated youths Huang Chen, Chen Qi, and Zheng Yu, go to team one to plow. Gu Xiuyuan and Li Xiang, go to team two to dig holes. Duan Xiaoyu, Xu Jiaojiao, and Wang Yan, go to team three to plant seeds. Xia Wanyang will help distribute the seeds!”

As soon as Xu Jiaojiao heard that Xia Wanyang was assigned such an easy task, she immediately shouted, “Team Leader Zhang, why does Xia Wanyang get such an easy job?”

Zhang Heping gave Zhang Shiye a subtle glance. “Are you the team leader or am I? There’s no such thing as high or low in tasks. I assign jobs as I see fit. Are you here to build the countryside or to compare yourselves with others? If you have the energy to watch others, you’d better focus on your own tasks! If you don’t like planting seeds, you can go help Qian Guilan’s group with the fertilizing!”

Li Xiang shouted, “The captain is right! We’re like bricks, we go where we’re needed! If you want to be a socialist parasite, don’t drag the whole team down!”

Xia Wanyang almost wanted to jump up and clap for him.

Zhang Heping glared at Xu Jiaojiao. “Wang Jing will be back soon. When she returns, she’ll join team two to dig holes. Look at Wang Jing, she’s a woman and she’s not afraid of hardship. That’s the right attitude!”

Xia Wanyang flashed a big smile, showing all eight of her white teeth, looking like a silly fool. “Thank you!”

Zhang Shiye barely restrained himself from pinching her chubby cheeks. “Go on, if you’re tired, you can sit under a tree!”

Helping Xia Wanyang distribute the seeds was Aunt Cai, who had a good relationship with her when they were picking seeds together. Xia Wanyang didn’t feel awkward at all.

Aunt Cai, whose full name was Cai Genhua, had a husband who worked as a cowherd in the team over twenty years ago. One night, for reasons unknown, one of the cows broke its leg. Her husband was severely criticized for days, and after enduring both physical and psychological torture, he died without even closing his eyes. This incident had always been a thorn in Aunt Cai’s heart.

When her husband passed away, he left her with a three-year-old son. Aunt Cai had raised him by herself, and he later got married and had a little granddaughter. Just as things seemed to be improving, her only son went up the mountain to hunt for food and was killed by a wild boar. His wife didn’t hesitate to remarry within half a month. Now, Aunt Cai was left with just herself and a four-year-old granddaughter.

A widow’s life is full of hardships. Over the years, Aunt Cai had transformed from her originally gentle nature into a sharp, tough woman. The women of similar age in the team, though somewhat sympathetic, understood her hardships. When she was younger, to support her son, she had worked in the fields alongside the men. Therefore, as she grew older, the team assigned her lighter tasks, and no one had any objections.

“Aunt Cai, I’ll be working with you these days!” Xia Wanyang had known about Aunt Cai’s past in her previous life. When Xia Wanyang had encountered difficulties, Aunt Cai had comforted her and used her own experience as an example. Xia Wanyang was deeply grateful for those few words.

Aunt Cai nodded. “Distributing the seeds is easy. Just count the number, then deliver them to each team leader for their plot. Once that’s done, we can start working.”

The two of them each took responsibility for a field, and soon the task was nearly finished. Xia Wanyang, being younger, was naturally the one running errands. As she arrived at the peanut field, two troublemakers from the village blocked her way.

“Little educated youth, delivering seeds? Just give them to me!” one of the fools said with ill intentions.

Xia Wanyang stepped back in disgust and handed the bag to him. As he grabbed the bag, he took the opportunity to reach out with his dirty hand towards Xia Wanyang’s small hand.

Unlike Song Changhe, who had parents, these two, the fool and the long-faced man, were orphans. Even if they made mistakes and got locked up for a few days, they wouldn’t care. Zhang Heping had no way of dealing with them.

Xia Wanyang loosened her grip and stepped back a few more paces, glaring at the two of them. “Do you want to lose your hands?”

The long-faced man grinned and stepped closer. “I’ve heard. You’re the daughter of a high-ranking official from the big city. The older men in the village might have thoughts about you, but they wouldn’t dare do anything. But we brothers aren’t scared. Don’t try to use your father’s authority to pressure us!”

Xia Wanyang snorted. “What do you want?”

The fool stroked his chin, looking Xia Wanyang up and down with a greedy gleam in his eyes. “Ah, now we’re talking. Us brothers are starving. How about lending us some money to spend? Don’t worry, we’ll return it when we settle the work points at the end of the year!” His voice carried a tone of threat and smugness, as if he were sure that Xia Wanyang wouldn’t dare resist.

The long-faced man added, “Yeah, girl, we’re really in a tough spot and need to borrow some money!”

He raised a finger. “How about you lend us a hundred bucks?”

Xia Wanyang scoffed. “I didn’t bring any money. Wait for me at the educated youth spot 200 meters away after work, and I’ll bring it to you!” Her tone was so casual that both the fool and the long-faced man were taken aback. Getting a hundred bucks was so easy for her?

She picked up the seed bag from the ground and walked towards the team leader.

After delivering the seeds, Zhang Shiye had just finished his work. When he saw her coming back, he immediately walked up and handed her a handkerchief. “Is it hot?”

Aunt Cai raised an eyebrow. “Xia, educated youth, you can head back now! Just a few more trips with today’s tasks, and we’ll be done for the morning!” She gave Xia Wanyang a questioning look, asking what the situation was.

Xia Wanyang smiled awkwardly and whispered in Aunt Cai’s ear, “We’re dating!”

Aunt Cai froze for a few seconds. Wow, that was quick! She had only been here for a few days, and Zhang’s fourth son really moved fast.

Xia Wanyang handed the handkerchief back to Zhang Shiye. “I’m not hot, just running errands. I’m going back to eat now. You should go take a rest too!”