Chapter 23

Making Fang Zhaodi Look Bad

Xia Wanyang slept soundly until the work bell rang. She quickly sat up from the kang (traditional heated bed), washing her face and brushing her teeth in five minutes. She changed into a floral shirt and beige pants, tying her hair back loosely.

When she stepped outside, the old and new youth had already left. Xia Wanyang could only run toward the worksite.

She saw Zhang Heping standing on a raised platform, giving a speech, and Xia Wanyang crouched down, blending into the crowd.

She wore a smug expression, like someone who had done something bad but thought no one had seen.

Zhang Shiye had spotted her as soon as she appeared. The little girl had woken up late—probably because no one was there to call her.

She hadn’t even had time to wipe the water off her face, and there were still white toothpaste marks at the corner of her mouth, looking playful and cute, like a little kitten.

Her hair also looked like it had been hurriedly tied up, with a few stray strands sticking up at the crown of her head, as if they were telling the story of her rushed morning.

However, none of this took away from her beauty. The bright floral shirt she wore perfectly highlighted her delicate, vibrant appearance, like a blooming flower. Her lively eyes, slightly raised corners of her mouth, and the smile that slipped through her expression all made his heart race.

Tsk, why is she so cute?

“Yesterday, the new youth did a great job, and I’d like to give special praise to Comrade Wang Jing. As a female youth, she didn’t fear hardship or exhaustion. She worked alongside the male youth in the weeding, without falling behind. She’s a model for all the female youth!” Zhang Heping shouted loudly from atop a stone.

Wang Jing proudly raised her neck and exaggeratedly waved to everyone, making sure everyone knew who she was.

Xia Wanyang curled her lips. What an idiot. A girl like that was exactly the type the rural aunties would look out for—someone from the city, with at least one family member eating official grain. If she was lucky, maybe even two, and her family didn’t live nearby, making her easier to manage, plus she could work…

“Alright, we’ll continue with the same assignments as yesterday. If anyone has trouble or wants to switch, come to me, but think carefully—after you switch once, there’s no chance to change again!”

Xu Jiaojiao wanted to switch, but seeing Wang Jing’s proud look, it was obvious she still wanted to show off. If Xu Jiaojiao changed now, who knew if she could get a good assignment, and she might even catch some flak for it.

Forget it, just hold on for two more days. Anyway, it was almost May, and the farming would start soon. Maybe she could switch for a better job then.

Xia Wanyang, on the other hand, was quite happy. After all, choosing seeds was easy and light work, plus she could listen to the news!

Skipping over to the work area, she greeted everyone and grabbed her little stool to start working.

“Xia Youth, you woke up late, huh? You look a bit different today, all fresh and neat!” A woman in her thirties joked with her.

Xia Wanyang smiled awkwardly, “Our big kang (heated bed) in the Northeast is so comfortable, I just couldn’t get up on time!”

This was exactly what the locals loved to hear.

“That’s no lie! Our big kang is so warm in the winter. My back pain from the autumn goes away just lying on the kang in winter; it feels so good!” one woman said.

“Exactly! I heard you city folks sleep in beds; isn’t it less comfortable than our kang?” another added.

Xia Wanyang nodded like a chick pecking for food. “Yeah, Aunt Ding, summer is fine, but in winter, it’s so cold, we have to pile on several thick blankets, and it’s hard to breathe with all the weight. But the bed is still freezing. My mom gives me a hot water bottle every night, but by midnight, it’s already cold!”

She then mysteriously waved her hand to the group, and everyone leaned in to listen. Xia Wanyang whispered, “When I get my period, my hands and feet are cold, and my stomach cramps badly!”

The group dispersed after hearing that. “Oh dear, tsk tsk tsk, that’s tough!”

“They say city life is good, but I think it’s much better in our countryside!”

“Xia Youth, you must try our big kang this winter! It’ll warm your little belly!”

Xia Wanyang nodded, promising to experience it.

Just then, Zhang Heping came over with Fang Zhaodi. “Comrade Qiao, this female comrade isn’t feeling well today. She’ll temporarily join you in seed picking.”

Xia Wanyang raised an eyebrow, grinning

After Fang Zhaodi arrived, she sat on the small stool, while Xia Wanyang still sat on the one from yesterday that Qian Guilan had left.

After a while of squatting, Fang Zhaodi’s legs went numb. She looked around but couldn’t find anyone she could talk to.

Then she pitifully looked at Xia Wanyang. “Xia Wanyang, can you lend me your stool for a bit?”

Xia Wanyang didn’t even look up as she picked through the seeds. “Why should I? If I lend you my stool, where will I sit?”

Fang Zhaodi thought for a moment, “I’m on my period and afraid of the cold. My legs are going numb from squatting.”

Xia Wanyang couldn’t help but laugh. “Sister, are you out of your mind? If you’re not feeling well, you can take a day off. Why would I give you my stool and sit on the ground myself so my legs don’t go numb? I’m a female too, and it’s not like I’m immune to the cold!”

Then she turned around and asked the others, “What do you all think? Isn’t she being unreasonable?”

They had just discussed how cold the beds were in winter, so they easily empathized with Xia Wanyang’s words!

“Exactly! If you have stomach cramps, why not take the day off? Our team isn’t all about exploiting people, we have some humanity. You’ve been here for over a year, don’t you know that? Why didn’t you prepare for the cold when you came to work?”

“Xia Wanyang’s right! If she sits on the ground, it’s cold for her too. We women don’t just get cramps, we’re always cold. We’re all in the same boat!”

“Exactly! Why should anyone give up their seat for you?”

Fang Zhaodi’s eyes immediately turned red as she heard the scolding voices. “We’re all women! Why can’t you all just be united? Why don’t you have any sense of sacrifice?”

Xia Wanyang squinted her eyes. “Fang Youth, I’m cold at night. Can I borrow your quilt?”

Fang Zhaodi’s brows twisted into a knot. “Why should I lend you mine? Will I not be cold if I give it to you?”

Aunt Qiao chimed in, “Fang Youth, why are you so uncooperative? Why do you have no spirit of sacrifice?”

“Alright, you’re isolating me and forming little cliques, right? I’ll go straight to the team leader!”

With that, she stormed off.

“Is this Fang Youth’s brain not working properly?” Aunt Wang asked, confused.

Xia Wanyang waved her hand to gather everyone together again.

“Ladies, I have a secret to share with you, but you can’t tell anyone, okay?”

Everyone nodded like little chicks, their eyes sparkling with curiosity.

“Fang Zhaodi? Her brain isn’t working! She’s always busy serving Li Wenzhu at our youth spot. Last night, when I was leaving work, I saw her squatting by the well, washing clothes for that lazy Li Wenzhu!”

Li Wenzhu is also such a shameless person. He saw that I was well-fed and well-dressed and tried to get close to me. I’ve scolded him in front of everyone several times, but each time, Fang Zhaodi would jump in and defend him, scolding me instead.

Tell me, what kind of normal person would like someone and then tolerate that person showing off in front of other women like a peacock?”

After hearing this, the group dispersed, but they lowered their voices. “Oh my God, she really has no shame. She’s not even his girlfriend, yet she’s washing his clothes?”

Even Aunt Cai, who usually didn’t say much, sneered in disgust. “If she were my daughter, I’d beat her to death!”

Liu Cui, full of enthusiasm, added, “That Li Wenzhu works with my son Zhou Wu. My Zhou Wu says that little youth always tries to slack off while working, slippery as an eel, always complaining that he’s uncomfortable or in pain. But that’s nothing compared to a good woman who can actually work!”

Aunt Qiao joined in, “We don’t care about that kind of weakling. I raised four sons, and they’re all good workers. My second son, though young, joined the army. When he left, he was short and thin, but when he came back two years ago, he had grown tall and was all muscle!”

Aunt Qiao spoke proudly about her second son.

Xia Wanyang nodded in agreement. “I think men should be strong. Both of my brothers may not be in the army or working the fields, but they’re all muscular!”