Chapter 6

A group of young men and women, all dressed neatly, arrived at the edge of the field at the village entrance.

One of the women, around twenty-five, was speaking in a soft, gentle voice to the group of young men and women.

She had an oval face, fair skin, delicate features, and pretty eyebrows. She had a pure, harmless look, with a petite figure that men admired.

When Fugui saw her, he glanced at Yang Qiujin still planting rice, and then raised his voice, “Hey, Director Shi, what are you doing?”

The woman, called Director Shi, turned at the sound of his voice. Seeing her and Yang Qiujin in the distance, she briefly furrowed her brows before smoothing them out. She spoke professionally, “Sister-in-law Fugui, I’m here with the educated youth, helping them familiarize themselves with the brigade. Please ask the brigade leader to show them how to work.”

Starting in the 1950s, many educated youth from cities were sent to rural areas to support national development. Before this, their brigade only had two rightists and factionalists sent for labor reform.

No one knew what had happened that year, but the city was in chaos. Junior and senior high school students stopped attending school and instead wore red armbands, becoming little red soldiers. They posted big-character posters everywhere, held protests, and destroyed things, causing widespread panic.

Many young faces appeared in the countryside—so-called educated youth, city youths sent to work in rural areas.

Shi Fangfang, the women’s director of Hongqi Commune, was the daughter-in-law of the commune secretary and Yang Qiujin’s sworn enemy. She often dealt with disputes between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law or sisters-in-law. When there was nothing else to do, she lay at home, enjoying a more comfortable life than Yang Qiujin, making her the envy of the other women in the commune.

The rich wife flattered Shi: “You do this kind of work yourself, Director Shi? It must be so tough.”

“As for cadres, those who are capable should do more work,” Shi Fangfang smiled, glancing at Yang Qiujin. “What about your vanguard brigade’s cadres? Are they working in the fields?”

Before Fugui’s family could speak, Yang Qiujin fired back: “What do you mean, cadres must work in the fields? Do you think being a good cadre is like you? You’re lucky to marry into the Ji family and have the support of the commune secretary. Of course, you don’t do anything with your position as women’s director, just playing around.”

Everyone in the commune knew that Shi Fangfang had been engaged to Chen Shengqing as a child.

When Grandpa Chen was still alive, Grandpa Shi liked Chen Shengqing, the obedient child. The two families were old friends, and the children were born in the same year and month. Grandpa Shi arranged an engagement with Grandpa Chen, promising they’d marry when they turned 18.

However, when Shi Fangfang was twelve, her family’s fortune changed. Grandpa Shi was labeled a rich peasant, her father as a lower-class member, and her uncle as a rightist. They faced severe consequences due to political changes.

Shi Fangfang’s mother became a widow, and due to her background, no one dared to marry her.

To support Shi Fangfang and her siblings, her mother resorted to selling herself and had affairs with men in the village. A few years later, she became involved with Yang Qiujin’s father, Yang Chenghua.

At that time, rumors spread that Yang Qiujin was in love with Ji Mingchen, the son of the commune secretary, and the two would soon be engaged.

The Ji family was a medical family with Red Army soldier ancestors, well-off, and respected. Ji Mingchen was also the only college student in the commune who had been admitted to university.

Despite the admiration he received, Ji Mingchen was with Yang Qiujin, a sharp-tongued and fiery woman, causing envy and gossip in the village.

Shi Fangfang, eager to marry into a wealthy family and escape her poor reputation, took an interest in the situation.

She began plotting against Yang Qiujin. Yang Qiujin was drugged by her father and carried to Shi’s house, where Chen Shengqing was tricked into visiting. He was drugged by Shi and her daughter and found next to the unconscious Yang Qiujin.

The affair between Yang Qiujin and Ji Mingchen was exposed, and Chen Shengqing had no choice but to marry her.

Shi Fangfang, with her sweet and gentle appearance, learned many tricks from her mother on how to manipulate men. She married Ji Mingchen and became women’s director with her father-in-law’s help. After marriage, she had two children and lived comfortably.

Yang Qiujin never treated Shi Fangfang kindly. She beat her whenever they crossed paths. Shi Fangfang, aware of her wrongdoings, avoided Yang Qiujin and rarely visited the Pioneer Brigade.

Some members who knew the truth couldn’t help but laugh when they heard Yang Qiujin’s words.

The laughter felt like a slap to Shi Fangfang’s face, and her face flushed with embarrassment.

For years, Shi Fangfang had pretended to be virtuous and gentle in the Ji family, but in front of Yang Qiujin, she couldn’t cover up her past actions.

Despite Shi Fangfang’s outward gentleness, Yang Qiujin was known for being blunt but good-hearted. She and her despised mother, Yang Chenghua, had been wronged by Shi Fangfang, who had stolen Yang Qiujin’s marriage. Even those who didn’t like Yang Qiujin called Shi Fangfang shameless.

Shi Fangfang bit her lip, pretending to ignore Yang Qiujin’s sarcasm. She whispered softly, “Qiu Jin, you’re wrong. We are all cadres, but each has different responsibilities. Not everyone can be like you, doing nothing all day.”

The onlookers were surprised by this blatant hypocrisy and thought to themselves that Shi Fangfang’s words made it seem like Yang Qiujin wasn’t working at all.

“Yes, we work hard every day in the fields, growing crops for the country. How can you say we’re not doing our work?” said one member.

“That’s right. After being the women’s director for years, she looks down on us working people.”

“Everyone knows she became director because of her father-in-law. She and her mother, who had affairs with many men, framed Qiu Jin and stole her good marriage. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be living so comfortably today.”

“If you ask me, this evil woman should be sent to a labor camp for reeducation.”

“Hey, Qiu Jin did call the police, but it was pointless. The police said there was no evidence and only detained Shi for two days. Not only did she escape harm, but she also became a cadre. She truly is a troublemaker who will be remembered forever.”

…

The voices of the villagers discussing the situation reached Shi Fangfang’s ears, causing her to flush with embarrassment and anger. She never expected that a simple comment would allow Yang Qiujin to turn the villagers against her, using them as weapons to strike at her with words. She stood speechless.

Suppressing the anger that begged to be released in a loud argument, Shi Fangfang reminded herself to maintain her image of being gentle, virtuous, and patient. She couldn’t act as Yang Qiujin did, creating chaos and becoming someone everyone would hate. “I don’t have time to argue with you. The innocent are innocent,” she muttered and turned to walk away in shame.

But just as she took a couple of steps, a postman appeared riding a 28-inch bicycle, pedaling fast from the village and shouting, “Yang Qiujin, you have a letter from the army!”

Army? Shi Fangfang froze. Could it be from Chen Shengqing?

The villagers’ curiosity piqued, they were more excited than Yang Qiujin herself. “Oh, is it a letter from Shengqing? There’s been no letter for two years! Qiu Jin, read it to us!”

Yang Qiujin’s heart raced when she heard “letter from the army,” and her throat tightened. She took the envelope with trembling hands, afraid to open it. She feared it might contain news of her husband’s death.

“Qiu Jin, what does Shengqing say?” The villagers, mostly illiterate, gathered around, eager to know, though they couldn’t read the letter themselves.

“He… he said he was promoted to battalion commander and will be coming home soon,” Yang Qiujin stammered, overwhelmed with emotions. A mix of surprise, bitterness, anticipation, and even a sense of injustice filled her, leaving her eyes red and her voice shaky. She turned to the captain, saying, “Captain, I need to ask for leave to share this good news with my mother-in-law.”

Li Xiu’e, her mother-in-law, was likely still on her way home and unaware of the letter.

“Go ahead,” the captain responded with understanding. “It’s a rare thing for Shengqing to write. You should tell Aunt Li right away.”