Chapter 20: Lü Beichu’s Lack of Grace

After collecting the leftover rice, the first team started burning the stalks. Within ten minutes, the sky above Dafeng Village turned black, even darker than before the heavy rain.

The policy prohibiting burning rice and wheat stalks wouldn’t be implemented for another thirty or forty years.

“You’re a money-grubbing woman; I feel sick even looking at you. Get lost and don’t appear in front of me again. If you bother Jingyi again, don’t blame me for being impolite. I, Lü Beichu, don’t like hitting women, but I won’t tolerate being provoked.” An angry, rough voice came from around the corner.

Wang Shuning, about to turn the corner, stopped.

Bad luck. She’d run into Lü Beichu. Judging by his tone, who was he yelling at?

“Do you need to be so harsh? You don’t like me; fine. What’s the point of being rich? You still have to go to the countryside. If it weren’t for your looks and background, I wouldn’t bother looking at you. Hopeless romantic! You deserve to run after women. I hope Guo Jingyi falls for someone else and dumps you.”

Liu Sicun, rejected multiple times by Lü Beichu, was furious. No man had ever said she was disgusting. Who did he think he was? She wouldn’t put up with him. The next batch of educated youths would have richer people.

Liu Sicun walked away angrily, without looking back.

Lü Beichu stared at her back, incredulous. How could a woman’s attitude change so drastically, even cursing him?

He turned to go back but saw Wang Shuning at the crossroads. He paused. “Did you hear that?”

Wang Shuning shook her head. “I just happened to pass by; I didn’t hear anything.”

Lü Beichu frowned; she definitely heard. Being scolded in front of a classmate was embarrassing.

Seeing his bad mood, Wang Shuning didn’t speak and went home.

Zhang Meili had mentioned Liu Sicun and Zhao Leyi arguing with Guo Jingyi a few days ago. Liu Sicun had given up quickly; she wondered what would happen next.

Many villagers were heading to the village committee square; few were dressed as warmly as Wang Shuning; only her eyes were visible.

After drying the rice, they used winnowing machines to remove impurities and transported the public grain to the town government granary.

There weren’t enough machines; they used large winnowing baskets, requiring skill to avoid losing grains. The educated youths were assigned to operate the machines.

Wang Shuning operated a machine, watching a man and two women, confused. “Meili, what’s going on? This is creepy.”

At one machine, Guo Jingyi was operating it, Liu Sicun was using gloves and bags, and Lü Beichu was pouring rice. They were cooperating, and Liu Sicun was even talking to Guo Jingyi; Lü Beichu looked angry, and Guo Jingyi looked awkward.

“Sigh…” Zhang Meili sighed after watching them. “Last night, Liu Sicun suddenly came to my house with two sweet potatoes. I thought she was causing trouble, but she apologized to Jingyi—a sincere apology. She said ‘I’m sorry’ and ‘I was wrong’ over ten times, expressing regret.”

Wang Shuning slowed down, watching Zhang Meili’s animated storytelling.

“She said she was blind for chasing a man, only to realize Lü Beichu was a phony with no grace. She regretted what she’d done and apologized to Jingyi, not expecting to be friends, just to get along normally.”

Wang Shuning’s eyes widened. “Guo Jingyi accepted?”

Zhang Meili nodded vigorously. “Liu Sicun was so apologetic; Jingyi had to accept. This morning, Liu Sicun asked Jingyi to work with her to ease the tension. You should have seen Lü Beichu’s face—like he’d fallen into a latrine.”

Wang Shuning saw He Daniu stop beside her and coughed, speeding up.

Zhang Meili shut her mouth.

He Daniu watched them for a moment before checking elsewhere. They were slow but not weak.

Zhao Leyi from the third team got sick after being caught in the rain and hadn’t come to work for three days. He Liangliang allowed her leave; she was seriously holding them back.

Liu Sicun quickly put on a new bag; only a little rice fell into the winnowing basket. She interrupted Lü Beichu several times until his face darkened. She needed to regain her dignity.

“Jingyi, on the fifteenth, let’s have dinner together at the dormitory. Many educated youths don’t know you.”

“I’ll introduce you to some men. They’re all single and have good backgrounds. You’re new here; it’s good to have connections.”

Guo Jingyi nervously glanced at Lü Beichu, who was staring darkly at Liu Sicun, as if wanting to tear her apart.

He looked scary; Liu Sicun was thin; he could easily lift her. “No, I’m young; I don’t want to date. We’ll get to know each other.”

Liu Sicun added, “I’m not asking you to date now. Meet more people and choose the best. Marriage is important. There aren’t many educated men, but they have roots here; they’re safer than us. There are chances to find handsome men.”

She wanted to make Lü Beichu jealous.

Wang Shuning couldn’t hear them but saw Lü Beichu’s expression; he looked like he was about to explode. Liu Sicun’s mouth kept moving. What had she said?

Remembering Liu Sicun and the others trying to grab rooms, she knew she wasn’t easy to deal with. She was unlike Zhao Leyi, who seemed scheming.