Chapter 54

Liu Cuifang wasn’t the type to let things slide so easily. She was already plotting how to get back at Tang Yunling for embarrassing her in front of the team. 

Meanwhile, Zhao Tiantian, innocent and straightforward, remained oblivious. 

When Zhao Tiantian chided her, Liu Cuifang didn’t argue this time. Instead, she reached into her pocket and pulled out a piece of candy, pressing it into Zhao Tiantian’s hand. 

Zhao Tiantian hesitated, embarrassed. 

“I… I don’t need this.” 

Despite her words, she couldn’t resist the allure of the candy and swallowed a small gulp. 

“Take it. You’re right, Tiantian. I was wrong yesterday,” Liu Cuifang said with a forced smile. “This candy is my apology.” 

“Alright then. My brother says that admitting your mistakes and fixing them makes you a good comrade,” Zhao Tiantian replied, clutching the candy with a slightly concerned expression. “But you won’t cause trouble for Sister Weiwei anymore, right?” 

“I won’t,” Liu Cuifang said quickly. “Your sister-in-law is so fierce—how could I dare?” 

Her tone made no impression on Zhao Tiantian. 

“My sister-in-law is pretty straightforward,” Tiantian said with a bashful laugh. “She’s a good person. Don’t take her too seriously.” 

“Of course not,” Liu Cuifang replied with an air of sincerity. “Tiantian, you’re the first friend I made when I came to the Red Flag Brigade. We’ll have lots of time to spend together in the future.” 

“And since your sister-in-law will be living here after she gets married, we’ll run into each other often. I wouldn’t want to make things awkward for you.” 

After pausing for effect, she added, “When work is done, why don’t you take me to your house? I’ll apologize to your sister-in-law properly…” 

—

Meanwhile, Tang Yunling had brought Lu Baiwei to Zhao Yongsen’s house to arrange for some new furniture. Zhao Yongsen’s mother invited them to stay for lunch, as did Tang Yunling’s aunt. 

However, Lu Baiwei was worried about the two children at home and needed to return to make lunch for He Ting and the little ones. She declined both invitations, explaining they needed to head back after finishing their tasks. 

Lu Baiwei planned not only to get a bed made but also two cabinets, now that there were more children in the house and they needed extra storage space. 

Before leaving, she picked up four little chicks from Tang Yunling’s aunt, gave Zhao Yongsen the dimensions for the new furniture, and prepared to head home with Tang Yunling. 

At that moment, Zhao Tiantian returned with Liu Cuifang in tow. 

“Sister Lingling, Liu the Educated Youth is here to apologize to Sister Weiwei,” Zhao Tiantian announced. 

Tang Yunling, known for her fierce fighting skills, had quite the reputation. When she was younger, she had protected Zhao Yongsen and his siblings by fighting off anyone who dared to bully them, earning her a reputation as unbeatable in the Red Flag Brigade. 

When Tang Yunling was a child, she fought anyone who dared bully Zhao Yongsen and his siblings, earning her the title of the invincible protector of the Red Flag Brigade. 

Zhao Tiantian, intimidated by Tang Yunling, quickly explained why she had brought Liu Cuifang over when she noticed Tang Yunling frowning at her. 

Liu Cuifang, for some reason, seemed like she had been completely subdued. She bowed deeply toward Lu Baiwei, her tone unusually sincere. 

“Lu Baiwei, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have called you a village bumpkin or a rural firewood girl.” 

“I came to the countryside to join the brigade, and I should respect the local youth instead of speaking nonsense.” 

“I’m good friends with Tiantian, and Comrade Zhao Yongsen has helped me before. Speaking that way was also disrespectful to Tiantian.” 

She glanced at Zhao Yongsen, who was stripping bark off a piece of wood, looking deeply remorseful. 

“I also shouldn’t have taken it upon myself to stand up for my friend Feng Shishi and trouble you and He Ting.” 

“Let me explain something—I don’t have any feelings for He Ting. It’s just that Shishi was close to him in the past. They often walked to school together.” 

“He Ting got married to you so quickly after moving to the countryside. I couldn’t accept it on Shishi’s behalf.” 

“But let’s not bring that up anymore.” 

Fearing another scolding from Tang Yunling, Liu Cuifang quickly continued, “Yesterday, after what you said to me, and then hearing similar things today from Tiantian’s future sister-in-law, I realized how wrong I was—terribly wrong.” 

“I promise I won’t cause any more trouble for you in Xiangyang Brigade.” 

“Comrade Lu Baiwei, I sincerely apologize for my actions yesterday. Can you forgive me?” 

Liu Cuifang finished her speech in one breath, her gaze filled with apparent sincerity as she awaited Lu Baiwei’s response. 

*Why didn’t she think of this earlier?* 

Tang Yunling was ready to retort again, but Liu Cuifang, looking visibly shaken, glanced pitifully at Zhao Yongsen for help. 

Zhao Yongsen put down the wood he was working on and smiled ingratiatingly at Tang Yunling. 

“Yunling, do me a favor and let this go. Liu the Educated Youth has realized her mistakes.” 

“That’s right,” chimed in Zhao Yongsen’s mother, appearing with a bowl of tea from the kitchen. She handed it to Liu Cuifang with a polite smile. 

“Here, Liu the Educated Youth, have some tea. I still haven’t properly thanked you for teaching Tiantian and Yongsen to read last time.” 

“You’re so kind,” she added, smiling. “Coming from the city, you’re knowledgeable and educated. If you have time, I’d appreciate it if you could continue teaching Tiantian and Yongsen.” 

“Oh, Auntie, you’re too polite!” Liu Cuifang replied, sounding flattered. 

Meanwhile, Lu Baiwei, eager to get back to Xiangyang Brigade, saw no point in prolonging the issue. Tang Yunling, disinclined to argue further, scoffed before hopping onto the back seat of Lu Baiwei’s bicycle. 

As Lu Baiwei pedaled down the small road out of the Red Flag Brigade, Tang Yunling sat behind her, commenting, “See, Weiwei? Someone like Liu Cuifang needs to be scolded. After one proper tongue-lashing, she obediently went to Zhao Yongsen’s house to apologize to you.” 

As Lu Baiwei pedaled her bicycle along the small road leaving the Red Flag Brigade, Tang Yunling sat on the back seat, chatting with her. “See, Weiwei? People like Liu Cuifang need to be scolded. After just one round of scolding, she obediently went to Zhao Yongsen’s house to apologize to you.” 

But wait! 

Something didn’t feel quite right. 

With Lu Baiwei’s sharp observational skills, she couldn’t help but think the situation had taken a strange turn. 

For one, people don’t usually change that easily. 

Moreover, Zhao Yongsen’s mother seemed oddly warm toward Liu Cuifang. 

It wasn’t unusual for Liu Cuifang to be close to Zhao Tiantian, teaching her to read and write. 

But Zhao Yongsen, who was already engaged, shouldn’t he be keeping a respectful distance from the female educated youths in the brigade? 

Earlier, when her cousin openly confronted Liu Cuifang in front of the Red Flag Brigade members, Zhao Yongsen seemed genuinely happy to see her cousin show up at the brigade. 

Yet, that cheerful greeting also conveniently diffused the tension for Liu Cuifang. 

Then, just now at Zhao Yongsen’s house, Liu Cuifang had apologized to her, and even cast pitiful glances toward Zhao Yongsen, who had actually stepped in to defend her, asking her cousin to give him some face. 

*Wait a second!* 

Zhao Yongsen was her cousin’s fiancé. Why should her cousin have to give face to some educated youth? 

At the time, Lu Baiwei hadn’t thought much of it. But now, looking back, she felt like something was off. 

“Cousin, don’t you think Zhao Yongsen and his siblings are a bit too close to Liu Cuifang?” 

Lu Baiwei voiced her suspicions. “Zhao Yongsen is engaged to you. Shouldn’t he be maintaining boundaries with other women?” 

“What?” Tang Yunling scoffed. “You think Zhao Yongsen and Liu Cuifang are getting involved?” 

“That’s impossible. No way!” 

“Do you think everyone’s like He Ting, some coveted prize everyone’s fighting over?” 

“Zhao Yongsen is just a humble carpenter. His family’s conditions in the Red Flag Brigade are average at best. Honestly, when I agreed to be with him, his mom was already thanking the heavens!” 

“And let me tell you this—he’s someone I’ve been protecting since childhood. Back when he and his siblings got bullied, I was the one who fought back for them. I made the kids in their brigade cry their hearts out! I’ve cared so much for him; there’s no way he’d be lured away by someone as ridiculous as Liu Cuifang!” 

“That would make him utterly useless!” 

“My standards aren’t that low, Weiwei.” Tang Yunling’s voice carried a mix of defiance and conviction.