After dinner, Shen Zhihuan returned to her room. She lay on her hard bed, idly tapping the thin cotton quilt with her long, slender fingers.

When the sound of Xiao weidong’s chatter from the next room finally ceased, Shen Zhihuan quietly got out of bed.

Covering her nose and mouth with a cloth, she moved stealthily through the village, slipping past house after house in the darkness. Using the original Shen Zhihuan’s memories as a guide, she headed toward Xu Youcai’s home near the large locust tree.

Taking advantage of the night, she climbed over the low wall surrounding Xu Youcai’s house. She crept to the main room’s door.

At dawn, a piercing scream filled with both shock and fury echoed across the village.

It was still early, far from the time to report for work. Most of the men were still snoring in bed, dreaming away, while only a few women were awake preparing breakfast.

The blood-curdling wail startled the men living near the large locust tree into leaping out of bed.

Sensing a spectacle, the women hurriedly smothered the fires in their stoves with last night’s ash before rushing out the door. Meanwhile, the men didn’t even stop to wash their faces, bolting outside like startled rabbits.

Before long, a crowd gathered outside Xu Youcai’s house, forming several layers of onlookers.

The more daring among the men climbed the low wall to sneak into the yard. Barely two minutes later, they stumbled back out, pale-faced and gagging.

Before anyone could ask what they saw, the men shoved their way through the crowd and vomited noisily by the roadside.

The sour, rancid smell of their retching wafted through the air, making the onlookers recoil in disgust. Yet their revulsion only deepened their curiosity.

Unable to resist their intrigue, the villagers cautiously entered Xu Youcai’s courtyard.

The stench hit them first, followed by the sight: a shocking scene of yellowish filth spread across the ground.

In the middle of the mess, Xu Youcai tiptoed gingerly through his main room, trying to avoid the worst of the muck. But just a few steps in, his foot slipped. Losing his balance, he fell face-first into the sludge with a loud splat.

The splash sent foul liquid flying everywhere—onto the dining table, chairs, walls, and even the “Outstanding Cadre” certificate proudly hanging on the wall.

Worst of all were his wife, Cao Erxiang, and daughter, Xu Jiaojiao, who had been trying to clean the mess near the doorway. Positioned directly in Xu Youcai’s path, they bore the brunt of the disgusting splash.

“Ah—!” Xu Jiaojiao’s scream was cut short as the filth splattered across her face and into her open mouth. Gagging, she doubled over, retching uncontrollably.

Seeing the mother and daughter covered head to toe in filth, the onlookers couldn’t hold it in any longer. Already struggling with their nausea, the grotesque sight sent them running outside to empty their stomachs.

When the work horn finally blew, the villagers trudged off to their tasks, many still gagging, their stomachs churning from the horrific scene.

Xu Youcai, who always strutted around like an important cadre with his notebook and pen, was conspicuously absent from the worksite that day.

Everyone understood why.

Usually projecting an air of self-importance, his image had been utterly tarnished.

“Who do you think did it? Feels like divine retribution,” joked Li Jiabao, a well-known rascal in the village, leaning on his hoe.

“Whoever it was, why did they have to use my manure? I was saving it to fertilize my vegetable patch tomorrow!”

“Exactly! I was planning to tend to my garden on my day off. What a waste.”

“Well, if you’re so heartbroken over your manure, you can still grab a bucket and collect some from Xu Youcai’s house before it’s cleaned up.”

“Whoever did this must be impressive—hauling all that manure overnight! Must’ve been at least five or six men.”

“With your strength, even ten of you couldn’t manage it!”

“Ha! If I’m weak, what about you? You’re a grown man earning the same work points as the women!”

Meanwhile, Xu Youcai sat gloomily at his courtyard’s entrance, his hair still damp after washing off the filth. His face was as dark as thunderclouds.

Xu Jiaojiao, seizing the opportunity to escape, quickly showered and left for her job at the supply and marketing cooperative. This left Cao Erxiang alone to continue cleaning the house, tirelessly shoveling the foul mess.

“Maybe you should call Laigui and Laifu and ask them to come help clean up,” Cao Erxiang suggested, pausing to massage her aching back.

“What, are your hands broken, or your feet paralyzed? Why should they leave their jobs at the machinery factory to clean up here? Do you think the factory belongs to us?” Xu Youcai roared.

Startled, Cao Erxiang hastily picked up her shovel and resumed her work, not daring to complain further.

Shen Zhihuan woke up late, as usual, and placed a basin of water in the sun to warm. Then, she headed to the kitchen to prepare lunch.

Just as she set the rice porridge to simmer and stepped toward the vegetable garden to pick some greens, a knock sounded at the door.

“Sister Huan! Open up!” came Little Fatty’s voice, accompanied by rapid knocking.

“Xiao Weidong hasn’t come back from work yet,” Shen Zhihuan said as she opened the door just enough for Little Fatty to slip inside.

“I’m not here for Xiao Weidong,” Little Fatty replied cheerfully, grinning as he approached.

“Then who are you here for? Me or my mother?” Shen Zhihuan teased, grabbing a basket and heading toward the garden.

“Sister Huan, did you hear? Someone dumped manure all over old man Xu Youcai’s house last night!” Little Fatty said, eagerly following her.

“Manure? Who would dare offend Uncle Xu like that? He’s in charge of work points!” Shen Zhihuan said, feigning disbelief as she harvested chives and picked two fresh cucumbers.

“I swear, it’s true! My dad and uncle saw it. They said his house was filled with pig manure, old man Xu Youcai was afraid of getting dirty, so he walked on tiptoe. Sister Huan, can you guess what happened next?” Little Fatty asked, his round face full of anticipation.

“He slipped?” Shen Zhihuan raised an eyebrow.

“Not just that! He splashed manure all over himself, his wife, and Xu Jiaojiao! My dad said his whole face ended up in the muck!” Little Fatty exclaimed, gesturing animatedly as he spoke.