Chapter 136 : Who will pay the compensation?

Although Yang Chunhua and Yang Lanhua were sisters, they typically didn’t worry about who got the better deal or who suffered a loss in their interactions.  

If one of them made something tasty, they would often share it with the other.  

However, this time was different. The compensation involved a significant amount of money, and Yang Chunhua wasn’t happy about paying it.  

Now that both her sons insisted on asking their aunt to pay, she didn’t oppose the idea.  

Even among siblings, financial matters should be clear-cut.  

Yang Chunhua nodded and said to her two sons, “Just talk to them nicely when you go over. I think your second aunt and second uncle will definitely agree to pay.”  

She reasoned that since she had gone to help her sister fight, it was only right that her sister’s family should cover the compensation.  

She believed her sister and brother-in-law wouldn’t refuse.  

In the meantime, Yang Lanhua and her daughter-in-law, Zhang Qianyun, were cooking in the kitchen despite their injuries.  

When they heard that Yang Chunhua’s two sons were coming over, Yang Lanhua hurried out of the kitchen.  

Before she could even greet them, Han Laoda (the eldest son) quickly explained their purpose.  

Yang Lanhua frowned upon hearing their request. While she understood her family should bear the cost, she couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable with how direct her two nephews were about asking for money.  

She thought about how much she had cared for them in the past, only to see them act so ungratefully when something happened.  

As she mulled it over, a troubling thought crossed her mind: Did her elder sister know about this? Or had her elder sister sent them to ask for the money?  

The more she thought about it, the more uneasy she felt. Her enthusiasm waned, and her demeanor turned cold.  

Yang Chunhua’s two sons mistook her reaction for reluctance and began speaking more rudely.  

Han Laoda said, “Second Aunt, my mother, my wife, and my sister-in-law went to help Meili vent her anger today. Now they’ve been beaten up like this. We didn’t ask your family to pay for their medical expenses, but you should at least cover the compensation.”  

Han Lao Er (the second son) added, “Second Aunt, we should have a conscience. You can’t just use people and abandon them after they’ve helped you.”  

Hearing this, Yang Lanhua became so angry that she trembled, her face turning pale.  

“Big Brother, Second Brother, do you really think Second Aunt is that kind of person? Even if you hadn’t come to ask, I wouldn’t let you pay for it.”  

When Han Laoda heard this, he immediately softened his tone and smiled. “Second Aunt, don’t misunderstand us. That’s not what we meant. My brother and I just came to check if the money and goods are ready since we need to deliver them to the brigade headquarters before work starts.”  

Yang Lanhua gave the brothers a measured look and said calmly, “Don’t worry, it’s ready. I’ll have Zhenhua deliver it later. Your family won’t be inconvenienced.” Then she turned and went back into the kitchen.  

The two brothers felt somewhat embarrassed and annoyed with their second aunt.  

They glanced at Old Man Han, who didn’t look pleased either, and left without saying another word.  

As they walked out of the Han family’s gate, they heard Han Meili shouting, “Mom, why should we help their family? That’s 20 yuan, plus so much grain and so many eggs. We barely have enough ourselves, why should we cover the extra?”  

The two brothers slowed their pace, hoping to catch what Yang Lanhua would say.  

But after waiting a while, they heard nothing from their second aunt.  

Exchanging glances, they curled their lips in displeasure and went home.  

When Yang Chunhua saw her sons return, she quickly asked, “What did your second aunt say?”  

Han Laoda, wanting to discourage his mother from further involvement with the Han family, exaggerated their reaction.  

“Although Second Aunt and Second Uncle agreed, they were very unhappy and said some harsh things to me and my brother. They even questioned, ‘Why should they help our family?’”  

Han Lao Er angrily added, “Mom, in the future, don’t concern yourself with Second Aunt’s family matters. You worked hard, got beaten, and in the end, were blamed. That family is entirely ungrateful.”  

Yang Chunhua opened her mouth to defend her sister but, recalling what her son had just told her, felt a twinge of disappointment and said nothing.  

After this incident, a rift formed between the two sisters.  

The children of their families stopped interacting. When they met, they would merely exchange brief greetings to maintain appearances.  

—

That afternoon, the members of the Sanhua Brigade went to work.  

Su Xiaqiu took her two children to the brigade headquarters to return the bicycle and to collect the compensation from Yang Lanhua and Yang Chunhua.  

When the three of them arrived, the brigade leader was in the office, talking with several female educated youths, including Su Xieyun.  

Standing outside, Su Xiaqiu overheard the conversation. The female educated youths were complaining about the heavy workload assigned to them, saying they couldn’t handle it, and were asking for lighter tasks.  

“There are easier jobs, but the work points are much lower,” the brigade leader replied sternly. “If there’s not enough food, don’t come to the brigade for handouts.”  

He had learned that some educated youths liked to test boundaries and create trouble. If he wasn’t strict with them, they wouldn’t take their responsibilities seriously.  

The female educated youths present were Su Xieyun, Qin Yao, Li Bihua, and Wen Lina.  

That morning, Su Xieyun and Wen Lina had asked for leave but were denied by the team leader, who said it was the busy farming season.  

At lunchtime, they discussed the matter and decided to escalate it to the brigade leader.  

The families of these educated youths were relatively well-off, and they received monthly subsidies, so they weren’t worried about going hungry if they didn’t earn enough work points.  

“Captain, please reassign us,” Wen Lina pleaded. “We don’t mind fewer work points. We really can’t manage harvesting beans. If we lack food, our families will send us some.”  

The brigade leader looked at the others, who all echoed the same sentiment, promising that their families would make up any shortages.  

Reluctantly, the brigade leader agreed. “Fine. This afternoon, you’ll peel corn husks. It’s an easy job. If you meet the daily target, you’ll earn four work points. If not, deductions will apply. It’s more work, more pay.”  

He reasoned that as long as they didn’t come asking the brigade for food later, it didn’t matter whether they worked hard or not.  

The group of young women achieved their goal, thanked the brigade leader, and left the office, laughing and chatting.  

On their way out, they saw Su Xiaqiu approaching with her two children.  

Although the young women looked down on her, they had witnessed her strength earlier that morning and didn’t dare say anything sarcastic, not even Su Xieyun.  

Su Xiaqiu acted as if she didn’t see them, pushing the bicycle straight into the office.  

“Captain, I’m here to return the bicycle,” she said.  

“Just leave it there,” the captain replied, pulling out 40 yuan in compensation from his drawer. He pointed to a bag nearby and added, “40 kilograms of cornmeal and 30 eggs. It’s all accounted for. Take it. This settles the matter, don’t bring it up again.”  

“Thank you, Captain,” Su Xiaqiu said with a smile. She lowered her voice and continued, “Captain, someone gifted me a piece of fabric, but I have no use for it. I’d like to give it to your wife so she can make a dress for your niece.”  

“That’s not necessary. You have two more children now, and your burden is heavier. Keep it for yourselves,” the captain replied, clearly hesitant.  

He found Han Zhenyu’s wife too troublesome compared to her husband and was cautious about accepting gifts from their family, fearing potential complications.  

Suppressing a laugh, Su Xiaqiu picked up the eggs and cornmeal and said, “Alright, Captain, I’ll head back. I’ll talk to your wife in a couple of days.”  

The captain nodded, taking a sip from his teacup.  

Before he could swallow, Su Xiaqiu turned back and said, “By the way, Captain, I got injured in the fight with Han Meili and can’t work for now. I’ll need to rest for a few days. I’ll return to work when I feel better.”  

The captain stared at her, speechless, thinking, ‘She’s incredibly bold, lying with a straight face.’  

With a resigned tone, he said, “There’s not much work left after the autumn harvest. Why don’t you just take the rest of the year off and come back in spring?”  

Su Xiaqiu, undeterred by his tone, took his words as kindness and replied cheerfully, “Thank you, Captain. I’ll focus on recovering this year and aim for a model worker award next year!”  

The captain couldn’t even bring himself to look at her. He waved his hand dismissively, signaling her to leave.