Chapter 31

“This big-faced girl is as black as coal, and her face is full of pockmarks. I can’t even bring myself to look at her.”

Old Man Xia yelled, “Old woman, hurry up and get the money! Old lady Hezi is just being stubborn and doesn’t want to go.” He glared at Old lady Hezi fiercely, and she reluctantly went inside to get the money.

She was taking money out of her pocket, and mumbled to herself in the room, “What a stingy old fart! She wants to take back two hundred yuan. Doesn’t she worry about getting a bad case of the runs?”

When Old lady Hezi lifted the bedboard and looked under the bed, she couldn’t find anything. All her money was gone! She suddenly let out a scream like a pig being slaughtered.

Old Man Xia rushed in and asked, “Old woman, why are you yelling so loudly in the middle of the night? Did you see a ghost? Didn’t I just ask you to come in and get some money?”

“Old man, hurry up and use the kerosene lamp to help me see why all my money is gone. Did a rat drag it away?”

“Old woman, where did you put your money? Did it really all disappear? A rat just looks for food, why would it drag away your money?”

“I put it under the bed, I put it all together, and now it’s all gone. Even that little bitch’s jade pendant is gone.”

“Old Man Xia raised his voice and said, “What…?” He almost couldn’t catch his breath.

“Ouch, you damn old man, why are you so loud? You scared me! My money and the jade pendant are all gone! Do you think someone took it or a rat dragged it away?”

“You ask me? Who should I ask? Why didn’t you keep your things better? Even if we knew someone took it, who could we find? Would they admit it if they took it?”

“Old lady Hezi cursed, “Which damn little bitch dared to steal her money? If she catches her, she’ll chop off her hands and feet. She dares to steal her money, doesn’t she worry about her children and grandchildren being cut off?”

Old Man Xia and Old lady Hezi searched the whole room, but couldn’t find anything. They then went out and looked at Zhang the Butcher and said, “Son-in-law, your grandma’s money is all gone. Now, we can’t even give you two cents, let alone two hundred. How about we just forget about it? You got a wife, didn’t you?”

Zhang the Butcher said angrily, “You wouldn’t be making this up just to avoid giving me money, would you? Why did it disappear now, not earlier or later? Don’t try to fool me, I’m not a fool.”

Old Man Xia quickly said, “We’re telling the truth, not a single lie. We’ll have to ask the Captain for some money tomorrow. You’ll see.”

“Then you have to give Xia Yunrou’s some dowry. If you don’t have anything, it won’t look good. How can you marry off a daughter without a dowry?”

Old lady Hezi said, “Besides her clothes, there’s no dowry. Now all my money is gone, and you still want a dowry? You’re dreaming! Marry her or not, I don’t care. Old lady Hezi is done, she doesn’t care about anyone anymore.”

In the past, she had pampered her granddaughter a little more because she could bully Xia Yunxuan, that little bitch. She really thought Old lady Hezi cared about her. That face looked like Zhong Kui’s! She was afraid she wouldn’t get married, but now she finally could. She didn’t care.

The matter ended unhappily. It was late, so everyone went to sleep. Old lady Hezi didn’t care if her son-in-law had a place to sleep. She went into her room and slammed the door shut.

It was Xia Dahai who found a place for Zhang the Butcher to stay for the night. Their place was too small, there was no other way.

The sun was shining brightly in the morning. Xia Yunxuan was still dreaming, but she was woken up by her alarm clock. In her dream, a handsome big brother wanted to be her boyfriend.

Xia Yunxuan thought, why would she dream this? She wasn’t in a hurry to find a boyfriend. Wasn’t it nice to be single? If she didn’t find the right boyfriend, it would only affect her speed of making money and becoming rich.

Today, Xia Yunxuan planned to go to town and do some shopping. She dressed up, making herself look even more charming and beautiful.

These were clothes she had taken from her space and modified herself. Of course, they were much better than the common styles available now. Plus, she had a good figure, so she looked even better in them.

Xia Yunxuan had just finished breakfast, took her keys, locked the door, and was just arriving at the village office when she heard the broadcast. The Captain asked everyone to gather at the drying field for a meeting, he had something to say.

Usually, the broadcaster was his daughter, Xia Linlin, but today it was the Captain himself.

It seemed like he was very angry about yesterday’s incident. She wasn’t nervous, anyway, it was those people who started it, she was just retaliating.

Xia Yunxuan arrived at the drying field, and saw everyone discussing. She found an empty spot and sat down, waiting for the Captain to speak.

The Captain cleared his throat and said seriously, “I believe everyone heard about what happened yesterday. I’m emphasizing here that this kind of thing must not happen again. Also, I called everyone here today for another matter, about the arrangement of the educated youths.”

The Captain looked around and continued, “The male educated youths will go to the mountains to clear wasteland and plant crops. I hope everyone will cooperate actively, no one is allowed to slack off, and no one is allowed to have any objections.”

“The female educated youths will go to pull weeds and dig sweet potato vines.”

The educated youths were surprised. Someone said, “Captain, clearing wasteland is so tiring, why do you want us educated youths to do it?”

The Captain said, “People from the team will go with you, it’s not just you guys. What’s with all these objections?”

“Besides, you’re here to help with construction. Don’t think you’re here to be pampered. If you don’t work, then don’t come crying to me when there’s not enough food. The village won’t give you any relief grain.”

The Captain continued, “New educated youths, get ready, you’ll have to start working normally tomorrow. Don’t take leave every other day.”

“Whoever doesn’t follow my arrangements, if you’re an educated youth, go back to where you came from. If you’re someone else, you’ll have your work points deducted.”

Then, the Captain looked at Xia Yunxuan and said, “Yun girl, come with me for a moment.”

After the Captain and Xia Yunxuan walked a distance, he asked, “Little girl, tell me honestly, was it you who did it last night?”

Xia Yunxuan said, “Uncle Captain, you think too highly of me. How could I have such great abilities?”

“If I had such great abilities, I wouldn’t have been bullied like that before. Maybe it was my sister and Zhang the Butcher who fell in love at first sight, and couldn’t help themselves.”