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After dividing the money, Ye Xin found herself in a much better financial position. With about 25 yuan left and the combined dividends of over 65 yuan for the two of them, she now had a total of nearly 90 yuan!
While still short of breaking into the three-digit range, this was a significant amount—an unprecedented achievement worth celebrating!
In a cheerful mood, Ye Xin even hummed a tune while tending to the fire.
Shen Zhuo, slicing cured pork beside her, couldn’t help but comment, “What a lovely song! What are you humming?”
Ye Xin immediately paused, narrowing her eyes playfully at him. “Not telling you.”
Her eyes, already large, widened even more, but the glare lacked any real menace. Shen Zhuo found himself momentarily taken aback, and his rhythm in slicing the meat faltered.
“Watch your fingers!” Ye Xin exclaimed. “I don’t want to eat human blood sausage!”
Shen Zhuo quickly averted his gaze, focusing intently on the cutting board as he sliced the fatty pork belly into thin pieces. The meat was perfectly marbled, glistening with a sheen that made it incredibly appetizing.
Every piece of cured meat at home was chosen with care by Ye Xin, and as she leaned over to admire the last piece, her mouth watered. “This is the last one, right?” She typically gathered fresh vegetables daily, but she left the meat up to Shen Zhuo because she didn’t want greasy hands. However, she had a good idea of how much they had.
“Yep, it’s the last one,” Shen Zhuo confirmed with a nod.
Ye Xin replied with a serious tone, “We need to buy more. We can’t run out of meat.”
“Why don’t we go to the town tomorrow? Since we just got our dividends, and with the New Year coming up…” Shen Zhuo suggested.
Ye Xin shook her head. “Tomorrow’s the 21st—not a market day. Let’s just have some sausages for now; we should still have a few left.”
Shen Zhuo felt a twinge of disappointment. Attending training every day meant he only got to see her in the mornings and evenings. If he could take her to town, he could spend a bit more time with her.
Ye Xin continued to strategize. “In a couple of days, on the 23rd, they’ll be slaughtering the New Year’s pig and distributing the meat! We’ll have fresh pork to enjoy! But I guess it won’t be too much, probably just enough for a few meals. So, we still need to buy some. After the 23rd… oh no, there are only two market days left, the 26th and the 29th. The markets will be absolutely packed!”
Shen Zhuo chimed in, “Let’s go on the 26th. We can head out early to avoid the crowds.”
Ye Xin nodded. “Sounds good.” She then admonished him, “Just make sure you focus on your studies. Don’t let the excitement of the New Year distract you. The knowledge you’re gaining is essential for healing people—don’t take it lightly!”
Shen Zhuo felt a bit downcast. “I know.”
The truth was, he had been somewhat distracted—not by the festive spirit, but because the culprit behind the vandalism of his vehicle still hadn’t been found.
However, he had begun to suspect Xiao Tianbao.
He remembered that on the third day of the New Year, when he had been busy selling vegetables with Ye Xin, he had almost been late to the market. At that moment, he’d encountered Xiao Tianbao in the bike shed, which was likely when the latter had taken note of his vehicle.
After a few days of secret observation, Shen Zhuo had confirmed that Xiao Tianbao genuinely liked Lin Xiuwan. He was constantly hovering around her, even going out of his way to help her with hot water during lunch, trying to win her favor. Unfortunately for him, Lin Xiuwan seemed indifferent to his attention, responding to him with little warmth.
Shen Zhuo had also learned that both Xiao Tianbao and Lin Xiuwan were from the Changlin Brigade, and both came from decent families—after all, they could both afford bicycles.
Lin Xiuwan lived up to her name—graceful and gentle, with skin softer than most. Her long, lustrous braids cascaded down to her waist, attracting many secret admirers in their training class. Xiao Tianbao, while not unattractive himself, always wore a brooding expression, his fierce eyes intimidating anyone who dared to look at Lin Xiuwan.
On the surface, they seemed like a good match. But Lin Xiuwan didn’t appear to be the type who needed protection; in fact, she had a fiery temper and was likely irritated by Xiao Tianbao’s domineering attitude.
The more Shen Zhuo observed, the more certain he became.
However, Xiao Tianbao had been constantly hovering around Lin Xiuwan, making it impossible for Shen Zhuo to catch him alone after school. With the date for the pig slaughter fast approaching on the 23rd, Shen Zhuo felt he could no longer delay things. So, during a break between classes, he decided to call Xiao Tianbao out directly.
“Wow, Xiao Tianbao finally found a chance to trouble Shen Zhuo!”
“Are you blind? It’s Shen Zhuo who called Xiao Tianbao out!”
“Can’t believe it. Shen Zhuo looks so weak and gentle; I didn’t think he’d have the guts to confront Xiao Tianbao…”
The students in the training class watched the scene unfold, their heads bobbing as they whispered among themselves. Everyone had noticed that Lin Xiuwan had personally asked Shen Zhuo whether he was engaged, clearly showing her interest in him. Meanwhile, it was common knowledge that Xiao Tianbao had his sights set on Lin Xiuwan, so the students were eager to see how this showdown would unfold.
Most of them speculated that Xiao Tianbao would be the one seeking trouble, but the roles had flipped, igniting their curiosity.
Too afraid to follow too closely, they craned their necks from the classroom, hoping to catch a glimpse of the drama and wondering if things might escalate into a fight. After all, they were young and hot-blooded; things could easily get out of hand!
Once the two boys stepped out of sight, Shen Zhuo led Xiao Tianbao to a secluded corner where he had previously spoken with Li Guangyao.
Xiao Tianbao had not expected Shen Zhuo to confront him directly. He stood there with a cold smirk on his face and said, “You’ve got some guts, Shen Zhuo. I hadn’t come looking for you, yet here you are.”
Shen Zhuo turned to face him, staring him down. “You punctured my tire, didn’t you?”
Xiao Tianbao’s expression shifted slightly, his voice turning menacing. “What are you talking about? If you’re unlucky, don’t blame me!”
Shen Zhuo observed his reaction and calmly replied, “You know whether it’s true or not.”
Xiao Tianbao could no longer contain himself. Clenching his fists, he narrowed his eyes and threatened, “You dare speak to me like that? You think I won’t beat you up? I’ve wanted to teach you a lesson for ages, but I never found the opportunity. Now you’ve come right to my doorstep, and you chose a nice, quiet spot. If I decide to beat you, no one will see…”
Shen Zhuo glanced around and replied coolly, “Oh, no one will see?”
Xiao Tianbao was infuriated by Shen Zhuo’s calm demeanor. He grabbed Shen Zhuo by the collar and sneered, “What’s there to be proud of with your pretty face? One punch from me, and who knows if you’ll…”
Before he could finish, his expression changed abruptly as Shen Zhuo landed a powerful punch to his gut, not holding back at all.
Ye Xin had been clever enough to anticipate a possible confrontation and had even encouraged Shen Zhuo not to be afraid and to stand his ground if needed. She was right—his strength had improved significantly. Even though he looked slender, he had been working hard, earning full work points. His slight frame was simply a result of his growth spurts.
Xiao Tianbao had never expected that this seemingly weak Shen Zhuo could hit so hard. The punch left him winded, causing his face to turn pale as he doubled over, struggling to speak. “You…”
“Did you think I’m easy to bully?”
Shen Zhuo pushed his hand away and pulled him up by the collar, locking eyes with him. “It’s not my fault you can’t win Lin Xiuwan’s affection. Why come looking for trouble? Destroying my property won’t make you seem capable!”
Xiao Tianbao’s face shifted from pale to a mix of red and green under the pressure of Shen Zhuo’s words. After a long pause, he managed to stutter out, “You… you’re so strong. Are you pretending to be weak?”
Shen Zhuo scoffed. “Pretending to be weak? You think everyone needs to flaunt their strengths like you? And who do you think you are, questioning me about my engagement? My fiancée told me I’m here to learn, not to chat. Why would I need to explain myself? Only those with ulterior motives think about others all day!”
Xiao Tianbao found himself trapped, unable to break free from Shen Zhuo’s grip. His arrogance deflated, but he couldn’t resist asking, “Lin Xiuwan is so beautiful. Don’t you like her?”
Shen Zhuo felt a surge of annoyance at Xiao Tianbao’s foolish words. “Do you not understand? I’m already engaged! I have a fiancée, so how could I possibly like someone else?!”
Xiao Tianbao took a breath and replied, “That’s not a guarantee. You mentioned it was your father’s dying wish, and it was all so rushed—how do you know she’s even that great? Besides, Lin Xiuwan is not only stunning; she’s a fellow youth worker!”
Shen Zhuo frowned deeply. “A fellow youth worker? She’s a youth worker? How can she be in training then?”
“Why not? There was never a rule against youth workers attending these programs. Lin Xiuwan has been trained in medicine at home and can treat people. This training is just an added bonus; she’s far better than us! Why are you so shocked? Could it be that now you’ve learned this, you’re starting to like her?” Xiao Tianbao smirked, almost challenging him.
Shen Zhuo was so enraged he almost threw a punch, but he restrained himself. “My fiancée is also a youth worker,” he replied coldly.
Xiao Tianbao’s eyes widened in disbelief. “No way…”
Shen Zhuo sneered, “Why not? My fiancée is not only a youth worker, but she’s also smarter and more beautiful than Lin Xiuwan. If she’s so wonderful, why would I ever look at someone else? Just because you’re foolish doesn’t mean everyone else is!”
Xiao Tianbao was left speechless, his mouth agape.
Shen Zhuo, growing impatient, cut straight to the point. “I didn’t bring you out here to chat. I want to talk about your bike—specifically, you vandalized it. Not only did you puncture the tire, but you also let the air out two times before. You owe me two dollars, and I’ll let it go!”
Xiao Tianbao couldn’t hold back any longer. “It was just a tiny hole; it’s not worth two dollars!” But as soon as he said that, he regretted it—it felt like an admission of guilt.
Shen Zhuo’s cold gaze was like ice.
Xiao Tianbao tried to wriggle out, “I didn’t do it! Don’t try to frame me!”
Shen Zhuo replied frostily, “You know whether it was you or not. You have two days to pay me the two dollars. Leave it on my desk. If you don’t, next time it won’t just be a light punch that you’ll get!”
With that, he tossed Xiao Tianbao aside, brushing off his clothes and turning to leave.
Xiao Tianbao hit the ground hard, barely noticing the dirt on his clothes as he gingerly rubbed his stomach. “Ugh…” He looked up at Shen Zhuo’s retreating figure, bewildered. How could someone who looked so weak pack such a powerful punch?
He had said it was just a light punch, but that felt like a serious beating!
As Shen Zhuo took a few steps back, he ran into Lin Xiuwan, who was hurrying toward him.
Lin Xiuwan had suspected the two had met because of her and was terrified they might have fought. After several anxious minutes, she couldn’t resist running out, ready to intervene if necessary. She didn’t want Xiao Tianbao’s brute force to hurt the slender Shen Zhuo!
But as she stepped out, she saw Shen Zhuo walking back, looking perfectly fine.
Relieved, she approached him. “Shen Zhuo, are you okay?”
Shen Zhuo glanced at her coldly. “I’m fine.”
Seeing him start to walk past her, Lin Xiuwan quickly asked, “What about Xiao Tianbao?”
Shen Zhuo had already walked by and replied casually, “He’s behind.”
Lin Xiuwan turned to look for him.
She certainly didn’t think that Xiao Tianbao, with his temperament and build, could take any hits. Instead, she intended to warn him not to cause trouble for Shen Zhuo.
Upon hearing the noise, Xiao Tianbao quickly stood up, brushing off the dust and adjusting his clothes. Although his stomach still ached, he couldn’t let Lin Xiuwan see him in such a pitiful state.
Yet, Lin Xiuwan noticed that his face was off. “What’s wrong? You didn’t really get hit by Shen Zhuo, did you?”
Xiao Tianbao wanted to protest but found himself at a loss for words.
Who would believe that beneath Shen Zhuo’s delicate exterior was such immense strength and a fierce fighting spirit?
Of course, someone as proud as Xiao Tianbao would never admit that, especially not in front of the girl he admired.
Xiu Wan stared at Xiao Tianbao as he tried to put on a brave face. “He’s so weak and fragile; how could I be beaten by him? I’m just feeling angry!”
Lin Xiu Wan didn’t buy it. “If you’re angry, don’t take it out on others. Shen Zhuo is completely innocent; don’t cause him any trouble!”
Xiao Tianbao felt a wave of frustration crash over him, intensifying his stomach pain. Deep down, he knew she was right—Shen Zhuo really was innocent. From what he had just seen, Shen Zhuo was singing the praises of his fiancée: she was intelligent, beautiful, and encouraged him to study hard. It was like he was putting her on a pedestal! And to top it off, she was also a youth worker, which meant she wasn’t any less impressive than Lin Xiu Wan.
Xiao Tianbao realized that Shen Zhuo’s heart belonged solely to his fiancée, and he clearly had no feelings for Lin Xiu Wan. But even so, he refused to admit he was wrong, and Shen Zhuo’s remark about him lacking the ability to win Lin Xiu Wan’s affection only made his anger boil over.
Watching Lin Xiu Wan defend Shen Zhuo so fiercely made Xiao Tianbao feel even worse. “You keep dreaming about Shen Zhuo, but he doesn’t like you at all!”
Lin Xiu Wan paused, a hint of sadness crossing her face. “If he doesn’t like me, then he doesn’t like me. I’m not desperate for his affection.”
Xiao Tianbao’s frustration only grew. “He has a fiancée, and he flaunts it every day! And guess what? He just mentioned that his fiancée is also a youth worker!”
Lin Xiu Wan stood there, stunned. “No wonder… His fiancée must be incredible for him to be so smitten…”
She sighed, finally accepting the truth. In reality, she hadn’t liked Shen Zhuo that much; it was just that his looks, charisma, and personality were all perfectly aligned with her preferences. But how well did she really know him?
As she turned to leave, Xiao Tianbao grabbed her hand in frustration. “Can’t you see me? I like you so much!”
Lin Xiu Wan frowned and effortlessly shook him off. “Who would be blind enough to like someone like you?” With that, she turned and walked away.
Just then, the class bell rang, and Xiao Tianbao was left to swallow his annoyance as he trudged back to class.
Ye Xin was in high spirits today because the team was finally slaughtering the New Year pig!
Not only was she excited, but the entire production team was buzzing with joy, anticipating their share of the pig meat. Children ran around cheerfully, shouting, “We’re having meat tonight!” and “We’re making dumplings!” The adults just laughed, watching the kids with fond smiles.
With events like distributing grain, sharing profits, and killing pigs on the horizon, the New Year was fast approaching, and the village was growing increasingly lively.
Ye Xin, along with Zheng Wenwen and Wang Xiaowei, gathered to witness the pig slaughter. They watched as a large spotted pig was dragged out of its pen by three or four people. It seemed to sense its fate, struggling with all its might, its plump body shaking as it squealed pitifully—each sound a sharp reminder of what was to come.
Ye Xin felt a twinge of sympathy for the pig; it fought valiantly but couldn’t escape its grim destiny. They held the pig down on a stone slab, and the butcher brandished a large knife, blood splattering everywhere as the pig let out a heart-wrenching scream that echoed into the sky.
Ye Xin couldn’t help but cover her face. “That’s so brutal!”
Zheng Wenwen exclaimed excitedly, “I saw the same thing last year! Don’t worry, you’ll soon find it mouthwatering!”
One pig wasn’t enough; they slaughtered seven more, for a total of eight hefty pigs to share among the village. The butcher worked quickly and skillfully, scalding the pigs to remove their hair, then eviscerating them with practiced precision, separating the bones and arranging the pig heads, ears, and entrails as if they were pieces of art.
Finally, the moment everyone had been waiting for arrived—the distribution of the meat!
People were already holding bowls, eagerly anticipating the feast!
True to Zheng Wenwen’s words, Ye Xin’s initial sympathy faded quickly as she gazed at the fresh, glistening pork, her mind racing with thoughts of meat, glorious meat!
After a long wait in line, she finally received two pounds of pork, practically skipping home with glee!
That evening, when Shen Zhuo returned, Ye Xin animatedly recounted the day’s pig-slaughtering escapades. Having grown up in this village, Shen Zhuo had seen many pig slaughters before and wasn’t particularly amazed. Yet, Ye Xin’s excited tone captured his attention, making him listen intently.
He loved how her eyes sparkled when she talked, lifting his spirits along with hers.
As she wrapped up her thrilling tale of the pig slaughter, she sighed dramatically, “And I missed out on all the little cuts! I wanted some pig’s head meat for hotpot, but I couldn’t compete with the aunties; they snatched everything up! Not a scrap was left for me!”
Shen Zhuo chuckled softly, reassuring her, “Forget about competing with them. In a couple of days, we’ll go into town and buy some.”