The villagers were also buzzing with discussions.

It really did seem like Zhao Erhua had thrown herself at him.

When Auntie Yu saw that Wu Donglin actually intended to renege on his debt, she swiftly got up and slapped him across the face.

“You son of a bitch, how dare you mess with me!”

The onlookers voiced their concerns.

Yet, the corners of their mouths inexplicably widened.

Zhang Yunxi was no exception, her hand clasped with Deng Damei’s, waving excitedly.

Watching the scumbag get beaten.

So satisfying!

“Ahhh, how dare you hit me, you old hag! How dare you touch me! Do you know who I am?” Wu Donglin was so angry that it felt like smoke was about to rise from the top of his head.

He stood up, ready to hit Auntie Yu.

The young men from the Zhao brigade quickly stepped in to stop him. After all, she was one of their own—how could they let her be bullied?

With backup now, Auntie Yu immediately became more aggressive, kicking him in the stomach.

Wu Donglin, furious, grabbed her hair and raised his hand to slap her face. “You started it, not once but twice! Even if I have to go to the Revolutionary Committee, I’m in the right this time!”

Auntie Yu had been a dominant figure in the Zhao brigade for years. When had she ever been bullied like this?

Now, she was being beaten by a young man. How outrageous!

She banged her head against him, forcing him to crash into the wall.

Today, she was going to teach him a lesson.

She’d show him why you don’t mess with a tigress!

Although Wu Donglin was a young man, his strength was no match for Auntie Yu’s.

Nor did he have as much combat experience as she did.

He was left seeing stars from the impact.

Brigade Leader Zhao quickly had someone pull Auntie Yu back.

Zhang Yunxi and Deng Damei let out sighs of disappointment.

They had been enjoying the show so much!

But it ended just like that. What a letdown.

“Pay up! You better pay me, or I’ll kill you!” Auntie Yu brushed aside her disheveled black-and-white hair, her demeanor fierce.

Wu Donglin clutched his stomach, feeling like he was about to vomit.

When had he ever suffered such humiliation?

He missed home.

He missed his parents so much!
Wuwuwu…

Wu Donglin bit his lip hard to keep himself from crying out loud. Hearing the demand for money, he mustered his strength and cursed, “Get lost.”

Slap—

Auntie Yu hit him again.

Zhang Yunxi laughed.

What beautiful music!
So pleasing to the ear!

Auntie Yu grabbed Wu Donglin by the collar and demanded, “Five yuan. Are you giving it or not? If not, I’ll kill you.”

The work points he had earned, plus the food he had eaten, actually only amounted to two and a half yuan.

But!

Since she had been beaten, she wasn’t going to feel bad about extorting him.

“No—”

Wu Donglin let out a furious roar.

He only had nine yuan left.

If he gave five yuan.

He’d be left with just four.

No way, absolutely not!
Slap, slap, slap—

Auntie Yu slapped him three times in a row.

Wu Donglin’s face was now a horrifying sight.

One of the male educated youths couldn’t bear to watch anymore and whispered to Wu Donglin, “Your family has money anyway. You’re not short on cash. Just give it to her. Look at how ugly this is getting.”

Wu Donglin didn’t want to give a single cent to a woman, but in front of his buddies, he didn’t want to lose face. So, through gritted teeth, he said, “Fine, I’ll give it to you. But don’t let your daughter come bothering me again.”

Auntie Yu was about to nod.

But Zhao Erhua arrived, “No, I don’t want that! Wu Donglin, I love you!”

Her voice was shrill, her eyes filled with deep affection.

Like a young couple being forcibly separated by their parents.

Whoosh—

Now things were really heating up.

Auntie Yu was so angry at her foolish daughter that she nearly fainted.

Zhang Yunxi shook her head and sighed, “This girl, what a pity…”

Deng Damei asked curiously, “What’s a pity?”

“A pity she has a brain.”

“Pfft, hahaha…”

Deng Damei burst out laughing.

But it still didn’t snap Zhao Erhua out of her trance.

Zhao Erhua knelt before Auntie Yu, begging her to stop tormenting Wu Donglin.

Auntie Yu was so angry she felt dizzy.

“Zhao Dahua, take your sister back!!!”

Zhao Dahua silently pulled his sister away.

Zhao Erhua reached out, trying to grab Wu Donglin, “Wu Donglin, my feelings for you are genuine!”

Wu Donglin couldn’t even be bothered to look at this ugly creature!
Auntie Yu demanded the money.

Wu Donglin handed it over.

With his buddies around, he couldn’t afford to lose face.

Auntie Yu left, and the show was over.

But the villagers’ gossip about Zhao Erhua didn’t stop. Families with daughters warned their girls not to fall for any of the male educated youths!
Zhang Yunxi noticed Er Gouzi watching the spectacle with his family and quickly called out to him, “Er Gouzi.”

Er Gouzi immediately scurried over to Zhang Yunxi, “Auntie, what do you need help with? Leave it all to me!”

Er Gouzi’s family rolled their eyes in unison.

This brat.

He’s never this eager to help at home. Asking him to do a bit of work is like pulling teeth.

Zhang Yunxi led him to a secluded spot, “Payday. You worked for eight days, so here’s forty cents.”

Four ten-cent notes rested in his palm, and Er Gouzi was a bit stunned.

Money.

He had money now.

“You’re really giving this to me?”

“Of course, who do you think I am?”

“My favorite auntie!” Er Gouzi replied.

Zhang Yunxi nodded in satisfaction, “You’re catching on. Now, I’ve got even better news for you.”

“What?” Er Gouzi asked, his eyes wide.

“Tomorrow, I’m going to town. Ask your grandma if you can come with me. I’ll take you to the state-run restaurant for some good food.”

“You’re taking me? What about Zhao Mo?”

“She’s coming too!”

“Yay, I’ll go ask my grandma right now.”

Er Gouzi ran halfway, then suddenly stopped and turned back to Zhang Yunxi, handing her the forty cents, “Auntie, I don’t have pockets. Can you hold onto this for me? I’ll ask for it when I need it, okay?”

“Sure!” Zhang Yunxi accepted the money.

Er Gouzi skipped back home.

The family had already prepared breakfast—sweet potatoes. The kids got one each, the adults two. Er Gouzi leaned in close to his grandma, Chen Hehua, “Grandma, my auntie said she’s taking me and Zhao Mo to the state-run restaurant for some good food. Can I go?”

“What, the state-run restaurant!”

Chen Hehua had lived a long life, but she had never been to the state-run restaurant. Even when passing by, she would hurry past. That place wasn’t for the likes of her.

And now…

Her grandson was going to eat there.

“Zhang Zhiqing is so generous?”

“I helped my auntie with work. She’s the best, most amazing person ever.” Er Gouzi lifted his chin, looking at his family, “Jealous, huh? You can’t go.”

Chen Hehua gently tapped his head, “Don’t get cocky.”

“Hmph, I’m going to be cocky. None of you have been there, but I’m going~”

Er Gouzi boasted in front of the whole family.

He was really stirring up some envy.

But there was nothing they could do.

None of them were close to Zhang Yunxi, and she didn’t seem like the type who was easy to get close to.

She usually hung out with the female educated youths.

And…

Played with Er Gouzi and Zhao Mo.

Sometimes she seemed very clever, but other times, when she chatted happily with Er Gouzi, it felt like she was still just a kid.

All in all, she was a bit of an odd character, hard to approach!

Chen Hehua naturally didn’t stop her grandson from going to the state-run restaurant.

But she did remind him, “Make sure you stick close to your auntie, understand? Oh, I mean Zhang Zhiqing. It’s your fault for making me slip up.”

“It’s fine. She’s Zhao Mo’s auntie, so she’s my auntie too.”