Chapter 20

Ye Huan released Xu Aixiang and went to open the door. It was Zhao Pingtao, holding a washbasin.

“What’s going on in your room?” Zhao Pingtao asked. “Who was screaming?”

He had been carrying the basin to the front yard to wash clothes when he heard a series of bloodcurdling screams from Ye Huan’s room. Though he usually disliked Xu Aixiang, her cries were so desperate that he rushed over without even setting the basin down, fearing something terrible had happened. After all, they lived in the same courtyard.

“Xu Aixiang was messing with my bag,” Ye Huan explained. “I told her to stop.”

Seeing Zhao Pingtao, Xu Aixiang felt like her rescuer had arrived, instantly regaining her confidence. “She put the bag in a way that was blocking the path!” she retorted. “I just wanted to move it, but she attacked me without even asking what was going on!”

She thrust her wrist at Zhao Pingtao. “Look at this! She grabbed me like a vise! Don’t be fooled by her, Pingtao—she’s vicious! Her grip is like a pair of pliers!”

I believe you about as much as I believe in ghosts, Zhao Pingtao thought.

He had arrived at the Zhiqing Compound last year and had lived in the same courtyard as Xu Aixiang ever since. He knew all her tricks: bullying newcomers, taking petty advantages, and rummaging through others’ belongings were her specialties.

He trusted Ye Huan’s version completely. She was messing with Comrade Ye’s things and then screamed like she was being beaten?

The purple mark on Xu Aixiang’s wrist, likely from being grabbed, was now being blamed on Ye Huan—as if this frail and delicate girl could have done such a thing.

This was a textbook case of turning the tables.

Zhao Pingtao refused to believe anything Xu Aixiang said. Ignoring her, he turned to Ye Huan and said, “Let’s walk to work together tomorrow. I have a story that’ll make your stomach hurt from laughing.”

He chuckled to himself. “I can barely hold in my laughter now!”

With that, he grabbed his basin and left. Even as he reached the sink, his shoulders were still shaking with laughter.

What could be so funny? Ye Huan wondered.

Since he promised to tell her tomorrow, she didn’t press him for details.

Xu Aixiang, furious that her “backup” had ignored her and clearly didn’t believe her story, was about to explode. But afraid of another “lesson” from Ye Huan, she couldn’t bear to stay in the same room and quickly fled.

……

Lian Yanmei had just returned from the Production Brigade Headquarters when Xu Aixiang immediately asked to move into Gao Qinggui’s room.

Though she didn’t get along with Gao Qinggui or Bai Yin, she was so frightened by Ye Huan that she’d rather face Bai Yin’s coffin-like expression than share a room with Ye Huan.

Xu Aixiang put on a good show for Lian Yanmei. “There are four of us in this room, but only two in Qinggui’s. If I move over, you’ll have more space.”

Lian Yanmei didn’t think much of it. “Sure, if you want to move, go ahead.”

“You should probably tell Qinggui and Bai Yin first,” Xu Aixiang suggested. “I don’t want to surprise them and make them upset.”

In truth, she feared that without Lian Yanmei’s intervention, Gao Qinggui and Bai Yin would refuse to let her move in.

Lian Yanmei went to inform them.

Gao Qinggui’s face darkened. “Why move when we’re perfectly fine here?” she grumbled to Bai Yin. “So annoying.”

She hoped to unite with Bai Yin and give Xu Aixiang a cold enough reception to scare her off.

But Bai Yin, munching on an apple, didn’t respond.

Though Xu Aixiang was disliked, she had never dared provoke Bai Yin. Even if she moved in, it wouldn’t affect Bai Yin much.

Gao Qinggui, rebuffed, glanced at the red apple in Bai Yin’s hand, curled her lip, and stormed off, letting the curtain fall behind her.

When Xu Aixiang finally moved in, she felt she could finally sleep soundly. With Ye Huan’s strength, if she accidentally provoked her again, she might end up with a broken neck.

Terrifying.

***

After a day off on Sunday, work resumed.

During breakfast, Zhao Pingtao sidled up to Ye Huan. “Let’s walk together later. It’s about ten minutes, and I can show you the way. Plus, we can chat.”

Li Guangchen scoffed, “Cut it out, Zhao Pingtao. You just want someone to talk to.”

“What’s wrong with keeping each other company?” Zhao Pingtao retorted. “It’s so boring walking alone every day.”

Before Ye Huan arrived, Zhao Pingtao and Bai Yin were the only ones in the Horticultural Department from the Zhiqing quarters. The others worked in the Agricultural Department, on the opposite side of the compound. But Bai Yin rarely acknowledged him, leaving him to walk alone every day.

Zhao Pingtao loved to talk, but those solitary walks felt like punishment. He dreamed of a conversation partner.

Then Ye Huan arrived. Unlike Bai Yin, she wasn’t aloof. With her gentle demeanor and quiet nature, she seemed like the perfect match.

If both were talkative, they’d probably argue after a few sentences. But Ye Huan’s quiet nature made her ideal. She didn’t speak much, but when she did, her words were memorable.

Ye Huan didn’t mind walking with him.

Zhao Pingtao, feeling smug, called out after breakfast, “Let’s go, time for work.”

As soon as they left the compound, he pulled a handful of sunflower seeds from his pocket. “Here, have some.”

Ye Huan noticed his bulging pocket. “Is that all sunflower seeds?”

“Of course not,” Zhao Pingtao replied. “There are peanuts too. Just eat up—I’ve got plenty.”

The Horticultural Department was full of gossiping aunties and grandmothers. Gossip was best enjoyed with snacks—peanuts, sunflower seeds—something to nibble on while chatting.

Last time he shared snacks, the aunties quickly started a tea party and exposed that their group leader had wet the bed until age ten. That leader didn’t show his face for three days.

Zhao Pingtao couldn’t wait to share gossip with Ye Huan. “Xu Aixiang’s stomach is still acting up this morning. She’s been running to the toilet like crazy, looking like a ghost. Sister Yanmei offered to get medicine for her, but she refused and went herself.”

Ye Huan said, “So she does know how to avoid troubling Sister Yanmei.”

“Not at all! She’s just petty and afraid Sister Yanmei would pocket her money. She left standing up but came back lying down.”

“But she seems fine now?”

“She fainted halfway and had to be carried back.”

“Lying down doesn’t mean… that, does it?” Ye Huan asked.

When people say someone left standing but came back lying down, doesn’t that usually mean they died?

“Not the point,” Zhao Pingtao said. “She was brought back on Zhao Wu’s oxcart—the one he’d just used to haul manure.”

“No wonder I smelled something awful when I came in yesterday!” Ye Huan exclaimed.

“She’s cleaned up now, but the stench was unbearable. Sister Yanmei had to boil water so she could wash.”

Among the educated youth, Zhao Pingtao was the youngest—just seventeen. Last year, Xu Aixiang had bullied him, even “borrowing” over ten yuan and never paying it back. When he asked, she denied ever taking it, claiming he must be mistaken.

If she had just said, “I can’t pay you back,” he would’ve let it go. What infuriated him was the lie.

He loathed her and relished her humiliation.

As they talked, they soon arrived at the Horticultural Department.

“We have three teams here,” Zhao Pingtao explained. “Team One, Team Two, and Team Three. Bai Yin is in Team One, led by Jiang Chaoqiang. I’m in Team Two, led by Sun Guoqing. It’d be great if you joined us, but either One or Two is fine.”

“What about Team Three?” Ye Huan asked.

“Forget it. That’s for teachers and horticultural experts—the best in the province. We don’t qualify.”

Ye Huan understood. Team Three likely handled rare plants, as Fang Hui had said.

Zhao Pingtao led her to the office and burst in. “Director Wang, I’ve brought you a new worker!” He shoved Ye Huan forward. “This is Ye Huan, a newcomer.”

Wang Qunshan, who had been discussing matters with Jiang Chaoqiang and Sun Guoqing, looked up and saw a fair-skinned young woman standing before him. A headache immediately began to throb behind his eyes.

He had received a notice a few days earlier that a new educated youth would be assigned to his department.

Xu Guochao himself had delivered the news.

…..

Xu Guochao had walked into the office and pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket. “Look at this—Da Qianmen, with filters! My daughter got them for me. You were the first person I thought of. Want to try one?”

The farm grew tobacco, and the men usually smoked dry tobacco or homemade cigarettes rolled with newspaper. Few could afford foreign brands, especially ones with filters.

Wang Qunshan wasn’t fooled by the sudden generosity. “Just get to the point. What do you want?”

“Why so formal? Can’t I stop by for a smoke and a chat?” Xu Guochao feigned offense.

“Tell me or I’m going back to work,” Wang Qunshan said as he got up.

Xu Guochao quickly grabbed his arm. “Alright, alright! Three more youths are coming to the farm, and one of them has been assigned to your department.”

“More? Why are they still sending more?” Wang Qunshan exploded.

“Well, it’s in response to the call to support rural construction…”

“Spare me the propaganda! Just tell me—is it a male or female educated youth?”

“Female,” Xu Guochao replied. “And the higher-ups specifically assigned her to you.”

“A ‘connections’ case, no doubt! Why can’t they send her to Old Fang’s department and give her an easy job? You know my department is practically the Women’s Army already!”

The Horticultural Department had more women than men because the work was lighter than in the Agricultural Department.

It wasn’t that the women were incompetent, but they naturally lacked the physical strength of men. For heavy tasks, Wang Qunshan had to borrow workers from the Agricultural Department—a favor Old Fang granted only after much persuasion.

“I don’t mind newcomers, but couldn’t they at least send a man this time?”

Xu Guochao tried to reassure him. “Think of it this way—what if we get another Lian Yanmei?”

Lian Yanmei was a legend on the farm. Renowned for her strength and work ethic, she could do the work of two men. Wang Qunshan had long wanted her in his department, but Old Fang refused to let her go.

Xu Guochao’s words had piqued his curiosity. What if this girl really is another Lian Yanmei?

…..

Instead, what they got was this frail, delicate girl standing in front of him now.

Far from being another Lian Yanmei, she looked even weaker than Bai Yin.

Xu Guochao, you’re all talk and no substance!

Now that she was here, they couldn’t just send her away. Wang Qunshan cleared his throat. “Comrade Ye, welcome, welcome. Um…”

Before he could assign her, Jiang Chaoqiang slipped away. “Director, I just remembered I have urgent business. I need to leave now.”

He bolted, terrified that if he hesitated, Wang Qunshan would assign the newcomer to his group.

Sun Guoqing was a step too slow. Wang Qunshan grabbed him. “Sun Guoqing, Comrade Ye will join your group. Get her settled in.”

Turning to Ye Huan, he added, “This is Sun Guoqing, leader of Team Two. You’ll be working under him. Work hard!”

Sun Guoqing led Ye Huan out with a gloomy expression, fretting over where to place her.

Chen Feng’e, who was weeding in the fields, spotted them and called out, “Comrade Ye, you’re assigned to Guoqing’s group!”

Sun Guoqing turned to Ye Huan. “You two know each other?”

“Yes, we met yesterday on the way to town. We sat together and talked the whole way,” Chen Feng’e replied.

Ye Huan stayed silent. The truth was, she hadn’t gotten a word in—Chen Feng’e had gossiped the whole way.

“Perfect,” Sun Guoqing said. “I’ll leave her in your care. Show the new comrade the ropes.”

“Alright, leave it to me,” Chen Feng’e assured him. “I’ll take good care of her.”

After Sun Guoqing left, Chen Feng’e beckoned Ye Huan to join her in weeding the fields. As soon as they reached the edge, she cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted, “Yongzhen, your niece is here!”

Ye Huan was stunned. She had an aunt working here? How had she never known?