Chapter 58: Kicking Someone Out Midway

Luo Qiao thought, is this woman crazy? There are so many people outside she could ask. She turned her head and said, “Auntie, you’d better find someone else. If you drag me down with you, that wouldn’t be good.”

Everyone burst into laughter upon hearing this. One woman laughed and said, “Li Xiulan, you’re really something, asking Luo Qiao, who barely has any meat on her bones, to pull your heavy load. It’s hilarious.”

Li Xiulan’s face darkened upon hearing the woman’s words. “Can’t you speak properly? She’s just assisting a bit. What’s wrong with her doing some work at her young age?”

Ding Caifeng, the wife of Accountant Sun who didn’t get along with Li Xiulan, said, “Isn’t this bullying? What did Luo Qiao ever do to you? There are so many people on this cart, but you specifically pick on her.”

Li Xiulan already didn’t get along with Ding Caifeng, so when she heard Ding Caifeng’s words, she thought she was trying to ruin her plans.

Just as she was about to start cursing, Lu Yichen said, “Are you getting in or not? If not, we’re leaving. If we delay the delivery, will you take responsibility?”

Then he slammed on the gas pedal, causing the vehicle to sputter and emit a cloud of black smoke. The sound of the gear shifting startled Li Xiulan so much that she didn’t need anyone’s help to get in.

Although her movements were clumsy, she managed to climb aboard. As for Gao Taohua, who was still leisurely walking behind, Lu Yichen shouted, “Sit tight.”

The vehicle started moving forward. Gao Taohua had just reached the bridge when she saw the vehicle taking off. Anxious, she stopped dawdling and ran to catch up with the tractor, but Lu Yichen paid her no mind, shifted gears, and sped away.

Anxious, Li Xiulan began shouting and cursing, calling Lu Yichen a cripple, accusing him of being immoral, and saying he was young yet already deaf.

The vehicle suddenly stopped, and Lu Yichen sternly said, “Get out.”

By this time, they had already traveled about two miles. Li Xiulan panicked and asked, “Why should I get out?”

Lu Yichen replied, “Don’t make me repeat myself. If you delay the commune’s work, I’ll report it truthfully. Let’s see if your Gao family can bear the consequences.”

Seeing that Lu Yichen’s expression was serious, Li Xiulan realized that if she didn’t get out, this crippled man might really report her.

Thinking about how her family didn’t have much money and fearing that if Gao Shunyi found out she caused trouble outside, he might punish her for the sake of his reputation, so she decided to comply.

Having no other choice, Li Xiulan got off the vehicle reluctantly, still cursing, “Damn cripple, you deserve to be crippled your whole life and never find a wife, staying a bachelor forever.”

The people on the vehicle despised her even more, but no one wanted to provoke her at that moment to avoid her going crazy.

Without Li Xiulan’s noisy presence, everyone felt much more at ease.

Before long, they arrived at the commune. The tractor stopped at the fork leading to the county and the city.

Luo Qiao got off the tractor with everyone else, nodded to Lu Yichen, and then stepped aside to the roadside.

The village women, chatting and laughing, walked towards the commune. No one paid attention to Luo Qiao’s movements, so she stood on the side of the road heading towards the city, waiting for the bus to come.

Earlier, while working, she had found out that there were two buses to the city each day, so one should be coming soon.

There were a few people waiting for the bus nearby, and Luo Qiao had already prepared the fare of twenty cents in advance.

It didn’t take long for the bus to arrive. The conductor shouted through the window, “To the city! Anyone else going to the city?”

Luo Qiao got on the bus, found a seat, and sat down. This bus came from the county, passing through the military family quarters ahead, so there were quite a few people on board.