Chapter 42 – Is It Okay If I’m a Bit Poor?

Maomao puffed out his cheeks and stared at Fu Mingze for quite a while. Fu Mingze’s expression didn’t change in the slightest. Maomao sighed like a little adult and said, “Forget it,” before splitting the orange in his hand in half and giving one half to Zhou Zhaodi.

Zhou Zhaodi wasn’t like Maomao—she didn’t show any dissatisfaction over getting the smaller, less perfect half. In her mind, children were always supposed to get the worse share—or even nothing at all.

So her eyes lit up as she carefully accepted the orange, peeled off a segment, placed it gently into her mouth, then squinted her eyes with a smile—probably finding it both sour and delicious.

Shen Mo’er glanced at Fu Mingze with a faint smile on her lips. Mimicking Maomao, she also split her orange in half and handed one half to Fu Mingze.

Fu Mingze looked at the plump red-orange piece between her slender fingers but didn’t take it. “Didn’t I tell you to eat it yourself? Don’t share it with anyone,” he said.

Shen Mo’er directly shoved the orange half into his hand. Her touch brushed briefly against his skin as she calmly replied, “I didn’t give it to someone else. I’m giving it to you, aren’t I?”

Fu Mingze’s heart gave an unexpected jolt, but Shen Mo’er had already turned to pat the two little ones on their heads and said, “School’s back in session.”

Fu Mingze glanced at Maomao, who was watching the two of them with wide, knowing eyes. He held himself back and said, “I’ll come find you later,” then turned and walked off with the half orange in hand.

Shen Mo’er raised an eyebrow. What did he mean, come find her later? Couldn’t he just say whatever he needed to now?

She curved her lips in a slight smile, then took the two kids off to school.

---

During the autumn harvest, almost everyone had tanned a few shades darker. Shen Mo’er and Cheng Tao were no exceptions. Only Shen Lingling still looked nearly the same as before. Every time they ran into her in the office these days, Shen Lingling would theatrically wave a palm-sized mirror shard around, complaining in a strange tone about how much darker she’d gotten.

Shen Mo’er seriously felt that this office was missing someone like Zhang Zhiqiang. Without him, Shen Lingling’s solo performances went unchallenged, and she and Cheng Tao couldn’t even enjoy a little comic relief during their breaks.

Today, however, Shen Lingling changed topics:
“That Yang woman isn’t someone easy to deal with. Think about it—second marriage, bringing her kid along to marry into Yangliu brigade, and the Zhou family still treats that kid like a little god. Just goes to show she’s no pushover.”

Shen Mo’er gave her a long look. The Zhou family’s house wasn’t far from her own family’s brick-tile compound. Shen Lingling had probably overheard some commotion from over there.

“So the Zhou family spoiling her previous kid like a little god—what does that have to do with whether she’s tough or not? Doesn’t that just mean the Zhou family is a bit slow in the head?”

Shen Lingling’s mouth twitched. She had no comeback.

Cheng Tao couldn’t hold back and burst out laughing.

---

After school in the afternoon, Shen Mo’er stayed behind in the office to tutor Maomao and Zhou Zhaodi for a while. When it was nearly time, she led them out and locked up.

Halfway along the path, they ran into that Yang woman coming their way, hands on her hips. She barked, “Zhou Zhaodi, you’ve got some nerve, huh? I told you to come home right after school. What are you doing hiding at school?!”

Zhou Zhaodi glanced at Shen Mo’er, quietly said “Goodbye, Teacher Shen,” then ran over. Yang Daniu immediately smacked her twice across the face.
“You useless money-draining wretch! Go three days without a beating and you’re climbing the roof, huh?!”

Seeing how hard she was hitting and showing no sign of stopping, Shen Mo’er instinctively rushed over and yanked her arm. “Talk all you want, but don’t hit her. What you’re doing is child abuse!”

Thank goodness Comrade Fu Mingze had educated her beforehand, or she might not have known how to justify her actions so righteously.

And of course she had to intervene—Zhou Zhaodi’s cheek was already red and swollen.

But the moment Shen Mo’er grabbed her, Yang Daniu immediately burst into dramatic wails:
“Help! I’m being attacked! She’s bullying a pregnant woman! Someone call for help—I’m pregnant and she’s hurting me!”

She even reversed her grip and latched tightly onto Shen Mo’er’s hand. “Don’t even think about running! My belly hurts! Owwww, my belly hurts!”

Just then, a man dashed over.
“What are you doing? Let her go! She’s pregnant! Let her go right now!”

He charged straight at Shen Mo’er. If Shen Mo’er hadn’t reacted quickly enough to dodge, both she and Yang Daniu would’ve ended up on the ground.

To avoid a collision, she dodged while kicking out—getting the upper hand and knocking the man to the ground.

Then she raised her hand, which was still tightly clutched by Yang Daniu, and said, “Look carefully. Who’s refusing to let go of who?”

Zhou Xiaoshuan’s face darkened. Seeing Shen Mo’er’s wrist clamped tightly in Yang Daniu’s grasp, he paused for a second—then roared in anger, “She’s pregnant, dammit!”

“If she weren’t, I’d have kicked her away already,” Shen Mo’er replied calmly. “Uncle Xiaoshuan, you know full well that kicking her away would’ve been easy for me.”

Zhou Xiaoshuan didn’t look pleased, but she had just kicked him down with one move. Kicking Yang Daniu wouldn’t be any harder.

“Go on then, kick me! You’ve got the guts, don’t you? You teachers lock up kids in school and now you’re bullying pregnant women—how dare you claim you’re in the right?” Yang Daniu shrieked. “My stomach hurts! You’re not going anywhere—you owe me money!”

Zhou Xiaoshuan was more worried about her pregnancy. He scrambled to his feet to pull her off, but she wouldn’t let go and just kept yelling about compensation. Zhou Zhaodi stood off to the side, already crying. Maomao shouted anxiously, “You’re the one holding onto Teacher Shen! She didn’t hit you—you’re lying!” But of course, nobody listened to a child.

Residents nearby had already gathered, forming a curious crowd.

Just as Shen Mo’er was about to speak, someone stepped out from the crowd and blocked her:
“Sister-in-law from the Zhou family, you can’t just falsely accuse people like this. I saw it all. You hit Zhou Zhaodi first, and Comrade Shen Mo’er just gently stepped in to stop you. Now you’re twisting the truth to pin it on her? That’s really not right. Since I saw it, I’m standing up to tell it like it is.”

He sounded righteous and upright.

Shen Mo’er glanced at him—it was the educated youth, Shi Wei.

She was certain this guy hadn’t been there when Yang Daniu came charging in.

But clearly, Yang Daniu wasn’t as sure as she was. Her shrill voice immediately choked off. After a long pause, she shouted back, “You say you saw it, and we’re just supposed to believe you? Nonsense! You’re just taking that little tramp’s side!”

Before Shen Mo’er could respond, Zhou Mancang rushed over and bellowed,
“Who are you calling names?! Zhou Xiaoshuan, if you can’t control your wife, then pack up and get out of Yangliu brigade!”

Zhou Mancang looked so furious his hair practically stood on end.
“Those kids were studying extra hours to prepare for competitions. Didn’t I log those hours under ‘gleaning labor points’ for you all? Haven’t your families already gotten plenty of benefit from this? Didn’t I clearly tell you that Teacher Shen was using her own time to tutor your children for free? That you should show some damn respect and gratitude? And this—this is how you repay her?!”

“Well, of course she’s working hard—who knows what kind of reward she’ll get from above?” Yang Daniu shouted without shame. “Gleaning labor points only counted before they went to the city for competitions. Now they’re going to the province! That should be full labor points every day! I’ve got a whole household to manage and was counting on that little money-sucking brat to help out. If we don’t get full points, then forget it—we’re not doing it anymore!”

She glanced at Shi Wei and seemed like she still wanted to accuse Shen Mo’er of assault to demand compensation. But with a witness now and that brat from Chen Zhuangzhuang’s family yelling nonstop, nobody would believe her.

Busybody meddler.

Shen Mo’er finally understood how the team leader had managed to get those few families on board.

During the autumn harvest, kids who helped glean rice stalks or carry bundles earned a few labor points too—not much, maybe three to five per day. But for kids who weren’t counted as full laborers, it was already quite a lot. Over the span of a month or so, it added up to a nice little bonus for each family.

The team leaders had clearly discussed this arrangement. And now that the kids were winning awards, Zhou Mancang had no problem bringing it up publicly—those families had indeed benefited. But not just anyone could enjoy that benefit. The other villagers could only look on with envy.

Who would’ve thought Yang Daniu still wasn’t satisfied?

On the surface, she’d stirred up trouble today because Zhou Zhaodi wasn’t home helping early enough. But in truth, she was angling for full labor points every day.

As if Zhou Mancang would ever agree to that.

Zhou Mancang’s face darkened. He ignored Yang Daniu and spoke directly to Zhou Xiaoshuan: “If there’s something to say, let your father come and speak to me. You all have no right. The competition is an honor for the whole brigade. If you hit the child again or try to prevent her from studying, that’s considered sabotage of collective interest. The brigade will look into the matter and handle it accordingly.”

The moment he heard the words “sabotage of collective interest,” Zhou Xiaoshuan’s face turned pale. In this day and age, that was a serious accusation—even being sent to a labor camp would be considered light punishment.

He quickly pulled Yang Daniu over and said, “No, no, we definitely won’t hit the child again. We’ll absolutely let her study properly and won’t cause any trouble for the brigade.”

Yang Daniu still wanted to say something, but he clamped his hand over her mouth.

Having a son was important, sure, but only if there was enough food in the house to raise the child. If the brigade really labeled them as sabotaging collective interest and assigned them the lowest-paid and hardest labor, the whole family would be left starving in the cold wind.

At this moment, it was as if the fact that Yang Daniu was pregnant no longer mattered. Zhou Xiaoshuan kept his hand over her mouth and dragged her away. Zhou Zhaodi cautiously glanced at Shen Mo’er, wiped her tears, and followed her father.

Zhou Mancang let out a long sigh. This was supposed to be a matter of bringing honor to one’s ancestors, but it had turned into this mess.

They had already gained so many benefits, yet they still wanted to squeeze more out of the brigade, like trying to bite off another piece of meat. If they really got away with it, then the brigade wouldn’t be able to function anymore.

Standing from the position of the brigade committee, Zhou Mancang offered a few words of comfort to Shen Mo’er, especially emphasizing the importance and support of both the brigade and the commune regarding this matter. He told her that if she had any problems or difficulties in the future, she should come straight to him. If anyone in the village tried to cause trouble, she should tell him directly—he would take care of it.

These words were also meant for the onlookers. Zhou Mancang was truly worried that there might still be some brainless fools who thought Shen Lao Qi and his daughter could still be bullied like before.

No one noticed that when Zhou Mancang was speaking, Shi Wei’s gaze flickered, and he gave Shen Mo’er a meaningful look.

It was only after the crowd had dispersed that Aunt Chen and her daughter-in-law Li Xinmei hurried over. Both women were known for their sharp tongues. As they accompanied Shen Mo’er home, they scolded Yang Daniu and Zhou Xiaoshuan mercilessly the whole way.

After all, their family’s Maomao had won an award and was going to the provincial competition. The whole family was overjoyed and deeply grateful to Shen Mo’er. Yet thanks to Yang Daniu’s fuss, they ended up looking like ungrateful ingrates.

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law pair didn’t know how many good things they said along the way. They practically swore to the heavens that they absolutely didn’t share any of Yang Daniu’s vile thoughts.

Shen Mo’er could only repeatedly assure them that she didn’t mind at all and completely believed in their character.

She truly didn’t care that much. Even if the brigade leader hadn’t shown up today, she wouldn’t have suffered any loss. If it came to causing a scene, she was much better at it than Yang Daniu and would never make the clumsy and unbelievable mistakes she had.

Still, there was a fresh feeling—like she was gradually integrating into this village, into this world.

Although the incident had seemed to target her, in reality, the Zhou family had been aiming at the brigade, trying to take advantage of the situation. Shen Mo’er just treated it like a melodrama, and once she got home, she threw it to the back of her mind.

Shen Mo’er scooped some rice and started cooking.

It had been a bit of a scare after all—she deserved to treat herself. She didn’t use any coarse grains or miscellaneous cereals, just filled an entire bowl with pure white rice.

As she was rinsing the rice, someone knocked on the courtyard gate. Shen Mo’er set down the enamel basin she was using and went to open the door.

Standing outside, drenched in sweat, was Fu Mingze. He wore a white shirt and black pants, looking clean and upright. But his patched white shirt was soaked with sweat, and in his hand, he held a loudly squawking, struggling rooster, creating a strangely endearing contrast.

Shen Mo’er was momentarily stunned, then couldn’t help but laugh. “You ran all the way over here?”

As she spoke, she stepped aside to let him in, then habitually kicked the stone by the gate to keep the courtyard door propped open.

Fu Mingze glanced down at the stone, his expression unreadable. Shen Mo’er followed his gaze and looked at the stone as well. Realizing something, the corners of her lips curled slightly.

Neither of them mentioned the stone. Fu Mingze nonchalantly walked into the courtyard and placed the chicken into the coop tucked in the corner.

When the new house was built, a chicken coop had been added to the courtyard. But with the busyness that followed and their lack of experience raising chickens, it had been temporarily set aside.

Still, it didn’t seem like Fu Mingze was planning to leave the chicken here for her to raise. According to regulations, each household could only keep three chickens, usually hens. Occasionally someone might raise a rooster and slaughter it for festivals once it was grown.

Before Shen Mo’er could ask, Fu Mingze explained, “I traded for this in private. The autumn harvest is exhausting—I wanted something nutritious to recover with. It’s hard to cook anything decent at the educated youth spot, so I hoped you and Uncle Qi could help.”

The educated youth spot really wasn’t suitable—especially considering Zhang Zhiqiang, Yang Qingqing, and Shi Wei. Shen Mo’er frowned slightly. It wasn’t just inconvenient—it felt unsafe.

“When do you want the chicken cooked?” Shen Mo’er asked directly.

“Whenever is convenient for you. I’ll bring Zheng Jiamin along—he contributed money and tickets too,” Fu Mingze said.

Shen Mo’er nodded. That was only fair. “Tomorrow then. It’s too late today. I’ll start the stew early tomorrow. After you finish work, just come over. I’ll prepare the rice and vegetables.”

Fu Mingze nodded, glanced at her carefully, and changed the subject. “I heard Zhou Zhaodi’s stepmother gave you trouble. You didn’t suffer, did you?”

Shen Mo’er suddenly realized something and laughed. “You ran over here because you were afraid I’d been bullied?”

Fu Mingze paused, then didn’t deny it. “Yeah. I heard she was fierce. But by the time I got there, everyone had already dispersed.”

He wasn’t close with the villagers and didn’t want to rashly ask around for details.

Rationally, he knew she wouldn’t be at a disadvantage. Ever since the grain-snatching incident, she hadn’t suffered any losses. But emotionally, he still worried she might be the same as before—afraid to resist even when people barged in to steal food. Or maybe too thin-skinned to argue with the village shrews.

Shen Mo’er raised her eyebrows. “Don’t worry. I won’t be taken advantage of.”

After thinking for a moment, she added, “You know I’m actually strong and have good aim. I used to never fight back because I hadn’t figured things out. But now it’s different. I’ll fight back—I won’t let anyone bully me again. Besides, this isn’t just my own problem. Even if I didn’t say anything, the brigade leader and others would’ve stepped in to help.”

Fu Mingze nodded. “Yeah, I know.”

Knowing and worrying were two different things.

They fell silent for a while. Then Shen Mo’er asked, “Stay for dinner? I was just about to start.”

Fu Mingze shook his head. “No need, I’ll eat at the educated youth spot.”

But he didn’t leave right away. He stood there for a moment longer. Shen Mo’er looked at him and noticed the sweat still on his jaw. Suddenly she remembered something. “I’ll pour you a bowl of water. Have something to drink before heading back.”

Fu Mingze was momentarily surprised, then said, “Sure. I am a little thirsty.”

He followed Shen Mo’er into the kitchen and watched as she took a porcelain bowl from the side basin, poured in some cool water from a lidded enamel jug, then added some hot water from the thermos. She tested the temperature with her slender fingers, screwed the thermos lid back on, set it down, then turned and handed him the bowl with a smile. “The temperature should be just right.”

Fu Mingze lowered his eyes slightly and slowly drank from the white porcelain bowl.

Shen Mo’er rinsed the rice again, poured it into the pot with water, and moved to light the stove.

Soon, an orange-red flame lit up the stove, casting flickering shadows across her delicate features—so beautiful it was almost startling.

Sometimes, Fu Mingze wondered why such a lovely girl used to be so unnoticed in the village.

But at the same time, he was secretly glad. Glad that she had been so low-key before—otherwise, with her old personality, she might have gotten into even more trouble or danger.

Maybe… maybe that was exactly why she and her father had always chosen to endure in silence?

Fu Mingze thought it over. He’d always felt that her father had the air of someone wise pretending to be simple.

As he let his thoughts wander, the bowl slowly emptied, even though he drank very slowly. He stared blankly at a small patch of ground illuminated by the firelight until Shen Mo’er looked up and asked, “Finished your water? Want a refill?”

“No need.”

Fu Mingze stood up from the small stool, scooped some water from the basin to rinse the bowl, and placed it back in the enamel basin.

“You need a cupboard, huh?” Fu Mingze asked.

Shen Mo’er casually poked at the firewood in the stove with the tongs, then left it alone. She picked up some yardlong beans from a bamboo basket and began snapping them into short pieces. “Yeah, I do. But I’m short on money at the moment.”

As she said this, she looked up and asked, “Have you been to the commune recently? We still haven’t paid Brother Bao for the bicycle. When will you take it to him?”

Logically, that rooster couldn’t have come from within the village—it was likely from the commune.

Fu Mingze froze for a moment. He’d actually forgotten about that. He had already paid for the bike when he picked it up, so subconsciously he hadn’t planned to collect the money.

But as a poor educated youth, he really had no reason to refuse it either.

Still, seeing her struggling financially—how she might’ve planned to use that money to buy wood for a cupboard but ended up delaying it because of the bike—it made him hesitate.

“Brother Bao’s out collecting goods right now. I’ll take care of it later.”

Fu Mingze made an excuse. After a brief pause, he said, “I should get going.”

“Then come back tomorrow.”

Shen Mo’er got up and walked him to the gate. Only when she watched him disappear into the distance did she return to the kitchen to finish washing and chopping vegetables.

Some cured meat stir-fried with beans, spinach scrambled with eggs, mushroom soup—two dishes and a soup with white rice. Tonight’s meal was going to be one of the best in the entire Yangliu Brigade.

Just as she began soaking the wild mushrooms in hot water, she heard rapid footsteps outside. She turned, confused—she remembered she’d forgotten to close the gate after sending Fu Mingze off. And those footsteps weren’t her father’s—

Then she saw Fu Mingze, who had already left, standing at the kitchen door again. Sweat glistened on his handsome face, and he was slightly out of breath, as if he had sprinted all the way back.

“Did you forget something?” Shen Mo’er looked at him in surprise.

Fu Mingze stood silently at the doorway, staring at her. A deep, unreadable emotion flickered in his eyes.

Then, before she could speak again, he suddenly asked, “Comrade Shen Mo’er, besides looking for a husband to marry into your family, do you have any other requirements in a partner?”

Shen Mo’er blinked, even more surprised.

Fu Mingze lowered his gaze slightly, then asked again, “If he’s poor, is that acceptable?”

Shen Mo’er finally understood and couldn’t help the slight smile that curved her lips.

Fu Mingze looked up at her, eyes steady, his voice low but clear: “Someone like me—would you consider it?”

The world around them seemed unusually quiet. Shen Mo’er could almost hear her own heartbeat quicken, mingling with the crackling of burning wood in the stove—and perhaps other sounds too.

But in the end, she only heard Fu Mingze’s clear and gentle voice, sounding once again, solemn and sincere:

“Would you?”