Chapter 22: Meeting Granny Mu

In the evening, Gong Fanrui wanted to visit the brigade leader’s home for a proper talk.

As for gifts—she had no intention of bringing any.

Her visiting the brigade leader’s home was already doing him a favor in her eyes. She certainly wouldn’t stoop to bringing gifts to those beneath her.

What she didn’t realize was that even if she brought gifts, they wouldn’t accept them.

When she arrived at the brigade leader’s house, he asked, “Comrade Educated Youth, is there something you need?”

“I just came to pay a visit,” she replied, walking straight into the house, finding a seat without waiting for an invitation, and settling down as if it were her own home.

The brigade leader and his family were momentarily stunned. It felt like she treated their place as her own, sitting on the edge of the kang like she was above them all, casting glances from the corners of her eyes.

Lu Yunduo already didn’t have a good impression of her and didn’t want to engage, so she returned to her room. Lu Yunyang also left.

The brigade leader asked again, “Comrade Gong, what exactly did you come here for?”

Gong Fanrui began, “Brigade leader, you only know that I’m an educated youth assigned here, but do you know who my grandfather, my father, and my uncle are?”

The brigade leader shook his head in confusion. “No, I don’t. But what does your grandfather, father, or uncle have to do with me?” He took a sip of jasmine tea. He wasn’t blind to the little scheme this educated youth was playing. Probably someone from a powerful family—but so what? He wasn’t here to serve anyone.

Before Gong Fanrui could speak again, he said, “Comrade Gong, you being assigned to this brigade makes you no different from any other educated youth. We don’t concern ourselves with where you’re from or who your parents are. Once you’re here, you’re all the same in my eyes.”

Gong Fanrui was secretly fuming. How could this brigade leader be so stubborn and unyielding? Did he not fear authority at all?

She forced a smile. “Brigade leader, don’t get me wrong. I didn’t mean anything by it, I just wanted to ask if you happened to know them. My grandfather is a high-ranking official in the capital, and he said he once fought battles here. I thought maybe you’d recognize him.”

The brigade leader chuckled. “A lot of people fought battles around here in the past—I didn’t remember any names. I’m sure your grandfather is a highly respected man. I greatly admire those who have shed blood for the country. Your grandfather must be truly remarkable.” Though he couldn’t help but wonder—how did such a noble man raise such a snobbish granddaughter?

Gong Fanrui didn’t think he was flattering her—just sincerely admiring her grandfather.

“Brigade leader, I’m proud of my grandfather too. He’s always been a role model to me.”

“Yes, so Comrade Gong, if you just do your work well here, I’m sure your grandfather would be proud too.”

“I—” Gong Fanrui was so frustrated she couldn’t talk back to this stubborn old man.

Forget it. Besides trying to show off her background today, she also wanted to talk to the brigade leader about Yu Jingjing treating Aunt Lu’s illness.

“Brigade leader, I saw Comrade Yu treating Aunt Lu on the ox cart today. I just wanted to ask—how is Aunt Lu doing now?”

“She’s doing better. She says she feels much more comfortable. Comrade Yu’s medical skills are quite impressive.”

Gong Fanrui cursed the brigade leader inwardly for being so old-fashioned. “Brigade leader, don’t you know that everyone uses Western medicine nowadays? Western medicine is more accurate and works faster. You should’ve taken Aunt Lu to see a Western doctor.”

“But Comrade Yu’s treatment is showing real results. We’ve tried hospitals before with no improvement. After a few acupuncture needles from Comrade Yu, Aunt Lu said she felt relief.”

“Maybe it’s that she used some old-fashioned mystic arts. Brigade leader, Aunt Lu’s health is important—don’t risk delaying her treatment.”

She didn’t understand that “mystic arts” referred to traditional Chinese medicine, which is a legitimate healing practice.

But for those who didn’t understand, it often came across as superstition.

The brigade leader hesitated slightly when just then, Aunt Lu and Granny Lu walked in.

Aunt Lu said, “I think Comrade Yu is treating me quite well. I can feel my body improving. No matter what kind of medicine it is, as long as it helps, that’s what matters.”

“But what if you feel better now but have side effects later?” Gong Fanrui continued to press.

“At least I’m feeling better right now. If not for Comrade Yu, I’d still be in pain. That alone proves her skills are better than others.”

“Auntie, you can’t just look at the short term.”

“Little Comrade, if someone is on the brink of death, and someone else can save them, are you going to say they shouldn’t be saved because the method might have future side effects? If the person dies, do side effects even matter anymore? Besides, Comrade Yu only gave me acupuncture and some herbal medicine. How could that cause side effects?”

Gong Fanrui couldn’t convince these backward-thinking people. In her mind, uneducated folks were always short-sighted.

“If I were treating her, I’d definitely do better than Yu Jingjing.”

The brigade leader gave her a chance: “Then how would Comrade Gong treat her?”

“I—I don’t have the equipment. But if I had diagnostic tools, I could definitely treat Aunt Lu better.”

“Isn’t that just empty talk? Comrade Yu took her pulse, used a few needles, and gave her herbs found right here in the mountains. Isn’t that so convenient?” said Granny Lu.

Gong Fanrui resented this countryside life. If this were the city, things would be so much easier.

“Well then, I have nothing more to say. If Auntie starts to feel unwell again, be sure to go to the hospital right away.” If something happened, Yu Jingjing would be held responsible.

That’s all she had to say. She’d just wait and see what would happen to Yu Jingjing.

“Alright, I won’t bother you all anymore. I’ll be going now.”

As soon as she walked out the brigade leader’s home, Granny Lu curled her lips.

“That little educated youth doesn’t seem like a good person. She was saying on the ox cart that Comrade Yu’s treatment wouldn’t work and didn’t want her to help. Now she’s here again trying to cause trouble—what a piece of work.”

“She’s just a little girl who probably learned some Western medicine and thinks everything from our ancestors is useless. I’m not against Western medicine, but whichever works is what we should use. It’s her attitude that’s the problem. And now she’s flaunting her background like that. As if that works on me.”

The brigade leader straightened his back. He didn’t expect to become powerful in this lifetime, but as long as he had a clear conscience, that was enough.

Granny Lu laughed, “No wonder you’re my son. I raised you well.”

---

The next day, all the old educated youths had to go to work. They and the villagers had to first gather at the village threshing ground.

The brigade leader assigned small teams to the new educated youths. Yu Jingjing wasn’t placed with Zhao Yuan but was assigned alone to Team Six.

Thanks to her helping deliver the piglets earlier, the brigade cadres had already discussed among themselves and decided to take care of her a little more.

So while other educated youths had to weed cornfields on their first day, Team Six didn’t plant corn. Their fields had cotton, peanuts, and sweet potatoes—low-growing crops that didn’t trap heat like cornfields did.

The team leader assigned her to catch bugs on the cotton plants. As long as someone wasn’t particularly afraid of bugs, the task was actually pretty easy.

She wasn’t given much work either and finished her morning tasks early without getting tired. Instead of going back to the educated youth compound, she decided to wander elsewhere.

At the foot of the mountain, Granny Mu crouched in an open field with her head tucked in.

“You can’t see me, you can’t see me, you can’t see me.”

She whispered the “spell” three times, then looked around. The old man hadn’t followed her. She giggled, reached into her pocket, and pulled out a pair of floral underwear, placing it on her head.

“Old man, now that I’m wearing floral panties on my head, no one can see me.” And no one would hit her.

As she happily squatted picking flowers, a few children ran by, laughing at her and picking up stones to throw at her.

“Big dummy! Big dummy! Wearing flower panties on your head! Dummy, dummy!”

Granny Mu was hit several times and rubbed the sore spots with her hand. Why could they still see her even though she wore panties as a hat?

She asked the naughty kids, “You—can you really see me? My hat didn’t work? If this pair of panties doesn’t work, whose will? The old man’s? Yes, next time I’ll wear the old man’s blue undies.”

“Hahaha, what kind of hat is that? That’s just a pair of underpants! Ew, underpants are stinky! Stinky!” The mischievous little brats laughed as they threw stones at her.

“Y-you… don’t hit me… I… I’ll go back and change my underpants, okay? If I change them, then you won’t see me anymore…”

She wanted to go home, but the children kept chasing and hitting her.

Yu Jingjing happened to witness this scene—an elderly woman with a ragged item on her head was being pelted with stones by a few mischievous kids. The old woman was shielding her head with her arms, but the stones still hit her, making her cry out in pain.

Yu Jingjing quickly ran over and scolded the children.

“Stop it right now! Don’t hit her! You can’t bully an elderly person!”

The mischievous children and Granny Mu turned to look at her. One of them asked, “Who are you? Why should we listen to you? She’s a fool who came here from outside. She lives in the cowshed. She’s a bad person, so we’re supposed to hit her.”

Yu Jingjing sighed inwardly. Even the children were influenced by such a toxic environment.

She saw the old woman curling up and murmuring, “Don’t hit me… please don’t hit me… I’m a sweet old baby… don’t hit me…”

Yu Jingjing didn’t try to drive the kids away or lecture them with lofty principles, fearing it would backfire. Instead, she pulled a handful of fruit candies from her pocket. The children’s eyes lit up at the sight of candy.

“If you promise not to bully this grandma again, I’ll give each of you two candies.”

The little rascals immediately nodded. “Okay, okay! We won’t bully her anymore. Give us the candy!”

“You have to promise—absolutely no more bullying her,” she emphasized, knowing children weren’t always reliable.

“We promise! We absolutely won’t bully her!”

Yu Jingjing handed out the candies. With sweets in hand, the children ran off to play elsewhere.

She walked up to Granny Mu and asked, “Granny, are you alright?”

“I’m fine.” Granny Mu lifted her cloudy eyes to look at her and suddenly grasped her hand. “Young lady, you’re so kind… you drove away the bad guys for me.”

“Granny, you’d better go home. I’m afraid they’ll come back and hurt you again.”

Usually, people who lived in the cowshed wouldn’t wander around unless they had to work. This granny must’ve come out because she was confused.

Granny Mu nodded. “Okay, okay. But… young lady, can you tell me how to make myself invisible to them? Why doesn’t this pointy pair of underpants work? Would my old man’s blue underpants work better?”

Yu Jingjing was speechless. “Granny, that pair of underpants is just a regular piece of clothing. Wearing it on your head won’t make you invisible. If you don’t want them to see you, just go home. They won’t see you at home.”

“Yes, yes! If I don’t come out, they won’t see me.”

Yu Jingjing removed the pointy underpants from the old woman’s head, stuffed them into her pocket, and gave her a handful of candies.

“Granny, hurry on home now.”

Granny Mu looked reluctant, staring at Yu Jingjing for a moment before finally turning to leave after she urged her again.

She looked back once and said calmly, “Young lady, you’re a good person.”

Not far along the way, she was found by Mu Zining.

“Granny, didn’t I tell you to stay at home? Why are you out again?”

“I had the pointy underpants on my head. I thought people wouldn’t be able to see me. A few little brats threw stones at me, but luckily a young lady saved me. She even gave me candy. Is she my mom?”

“She’s not.”

“Oh, she gave me candy, so I thought she was my mom.”

“Granny, wait here for a bit.”

Mu Zining ran over to Yu Jingjing and expressed her gratitude.

“Comrade, thank you for helping my grandmother.”

“It’s nothing. You should take her home.”

“Alright, th-thank you.” Other than saying thank you, she didn’t know what else she could do.

“Go on now.”

Mu Zining left with Granny Mu. After watching them go, Yu Jingjing stood there for a moment before heading back to the educated youth residence.

When Mu Zining returned with Granny Mu, Mu Dongdong was visibly relieved.

“Granny, where did you go? We were so worried.”

“I just went out to play.” She pulled two pieces of fruit candy from her pocket and handed them to Mu Dongdong. “I met a young lady outside who chased away the kids who were hitting me and gave me candy. She’s my mom.”

“Your mom?” Mu Dongdong’s eyes widened. Granny had a mom?

Mu Zining interjected, “Granny, she’s not your mom. She’s still young—how could she be your mom?”

“She’s young? Then I must be even younger than her. I’m an old baby, so that means she can be my mom now, right?”

Mu Zining didn’t know how to respond. Granny’s mind was confused—correcting her too forcefully might only make her more disoriented. She’d probably forget all of this soon anyway.

After lunch, Yu Jingjing went back to work in the fields. Zhao Yuan was in Team Five, so the two of them headed out together in the afternoon. Gong Fanrui, who was in Team Four, left the educated youth compound shortly after them. Although she wasn’t in the same team as Zhao Yuan or Yu Jingjing, they all took the same path to the fields.

Granny Lu, along with Lu Yunyang, Lu Yunduo, and Lu’s mother, also headed out to the fields. Lu’s mother felt a bit better and wanted to get some exercise by doing some fieldwork.

As they walked, they saw Yu Jingjing and Zhao Yuan up ahead.

“That looks like Sister Yu,” Lu Yunduo pointed.

The moment she said that, Lu Yunyang—who had been acting normal—suddenly felt short of breath, tight-chested, and his face turned red.

Lu Yunduo nudged him, “Third Brother, didn’t you say you like Sister Yu? Go after her already! Make her my sister-in-law!”

“D-don’t worry. I’ll do my best,” he stammered.

But he seemed to be struggling—his legs weren’t quite listening to him, and his chest was tight and breath short.

Granny Lu said, “Yunyang, didn’t you say you wanted to pursue her? Go over and talk to her! Opportunities don’t just fall into your lap—you have to seize them!”

“Yes, yes, Grandma, don’t worry—I’ll go.” At this point, one side of his mouth drooped and his eye looked odd, but he hadn’t realized it yet.

He quickened his pace, telling himself not to panic. If he stayed calm, everything would be fine.

But before he could reach Yu Jingjing and Zhao Yuan, Zhao Yuan glanced back and nudged Yu Jingjing.

“Jingjing, look at that guy behind us—doesn’t he look like he’s got post-stroke sequelae? Look at his eyes, his hand, and how he’s walking.”

Yu Jingjing, being a doctor, instantly analyzed the man’s appearance. “It might not be post-stroke. It could be congenital cerebral palsy.”

At this moment, Lu Yunyang—suspected to have either post-stroke sequelae or congenital cerebral palsy—was still doing his best to walk toward them.