Chapter 49: Losing One’s Conscience, Oh No, What a Bold Face!

Ming Dai was startled as well. She quickly turned around, but before she could stop him, Zhou Sinian had already reached Liu Dazhu and raised his military dagger.

Liu Dazhu was petrified, his eyes fixed on the gleaming, ice-cold, three-edged blade as it plunged toward him.

“Pfft!”

The sound of the knife piercing flesh echoed in the silence. Warm blood splattered onto the Liu family members and Secretary Liu, slowly staining the ground red.

The entire place fell into dead silence.

Zhou Sinian, looking completely satisfied, withdrew the knife and casually wiped it on the sheep’s wool. Then, without hesitation, he ran back to Ming Dai’s side, glanced at her seriously, and explained, “Bleeding it out. Tastes better.”

Ming Dai was utterly speechless.

Feeling embarrassed, she glanced at the stunned Liu family members, forced a small apologetic smile, and quickly pulled Zhou Sinian away.

It wasn’t until the two of them had disappeared around the corner that the crowd finally exploded into fearful murmurs, their delayed shock setting in.

“Aiya! That scared the life out of me! That madman is truly insane!”

“Yeah! I almost thought he was going to stab the brigade leader to death!”

“Wuuu! Mom! I’m scared!”

…

The Liu family members, who had been at the scene, also came to their senses. Aunt Huang almost collapsed, but luckily her daughter-in-law caught her.

“Mom! Mom! Are you okay?”

Aunt Huang came to her senses and shook her head, quickly looking at Liu Dazhu. “Old man, are you alright?”

She had clearly seen that the knife had swung right over the old man’s head!

Liu Dazhu didn’t speak for a long time. He trembled as he tried to bring his pipe to his mouth but failed to even puff out a single drag of smoke.

Secretary Liu gently rubbed his chest, and with a deep breath, Liu Dazhu finally came to his senses.

“I’m fine.”

Everyone turned to look at the dead sheep on the ground, its eyes still wide open in death. They shivered as they recalled the madman’s violent stabbing. Fear of him resurfaced.

Seeing that the old man was fine, Aunt Huang let out a sigh of relief. Then, noticing the sheep on the ground, she slapped her thigh. “Ah! The blood is going to waste! Eldest daughter-in-law, hurry and get a basin!”

Huang Dalian immediately rushed inside and returned with a small basin. Liu Laifu and Liu Laiwang lifted the dead goat, allowing the blood to flow from its severed carotid artery, quickly filling the basin to the brim.

Aunt Huang looked at the blood on the ground with regret. If it weren’t for the madman’s sudden outburst, they could have collected another basin full.

In times like these, even sheep’s blood was a rare and valuable thing!

Once the small basin of blood was collected, everyone’s nerves seemed to settle, and no one wanted to leave. They all stared eagerly at the dead sheep on the ground.

Liu Dazhu reignited his pipe, took a puff, and, regaining his composure, looked at the sheep with satisfaction.

Although their area was close to the mountains, the village didn’t have guns, and it was impossible to organize a hunting party to go into the mountains. The best they could hope for was a rabbit or a wild chicken. Large game like this was out of the question.

Clearing his throat, he addressed everyone, “As you can see, this sheep was brought down by Zhou Sinian and Xiao Ming, and it’s being delivered to us for collective processing!”

According to the rules in Liujiawan, any game found on the mountain belongs to the person who finds it. As for Zhou Sinian, that’s one thing, but Xiao Ming, the educated youth, gave the sheep to the collective for processing because she was thinking about how, throughout the year, everyone barely gets a bite of meat or a sip of soup. This is something good, and everyone should remember it!”

There was a chorus of agreement from the crowd, but a few discordant voices were also heard.

“This is a sheep, not a simple chicken or rabbit! Of course, it belongs to the collective. Isn’t it normal that Xiao Ming gave it to the collective? What’s there to remember?”

“Exactly! The city kid’s got too many tricks up her sleeve. Who knows how many sheep they actually hunted? I think that madman must’ve hidden some!”

You know, once doubt was cast, other voices of agreement followed, and some even suggested going to the educated youth quarters to confront Xiao Ming and see if she had hidden other sheep that she hadn’t handed over.

Aunt Huang grew angrier and angrier as she listened. What a good girl Xiao Ming was! How dare these people slander her!

“Bah! Whoever said that, come out here! You worthless scoundrels! I think you’ve eaten coal and lost your conscience!

Xiao Ming was such a good girl!

Not only did she feed the madman with her own grain, but she also let him give the meat to everyone! Do you think that madman was easy to persuade?

Who knows if they even beat Xiao Ming! The poor girl was pale, trembling as she walked, just to get you ungrateful people a little meat to eat!

All of you have no shame! Who said it? Come out here!”

Ming Dai: I didn’t even know I was so pitiful, woo woo!

The voices of doubt in the crowd immediately fell silent. Everyone awkwardly glanced at Aunt Huang, realizing they were in the wrong.

Once Aunt Huang finished venting, Liu Dazhu knocked his pipe and finally spoke. “Let’s not talk about who Xiao Ming is. As for the madman, the fact that he managed to bring down the game is his skill. If he didn’t want to share it, who among you would dare to take it from him?”

“So don’t come telling me that the game should belong to the collective— that’s nonsense!”

“Except for the militia’s hunting in the commune, which is collectively owned, who among you has ever handed over game to the collective? I haven’t seen anyone do that!”

As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd fell silent. After all, everyone had caught rabbits or other small animals in the mountains at some point, but no one had ever handed them over to the collective. They had all kept them for themselves, and even if others found out, no one reported it. Everyone did the same, as long as it wasn’t too extreme.

Seeing that no one dared to argue anymore, Liu Dazhu snorted and continued, “My wife’s words might be rough, but they’re right. Xiao Ming was able to handle the madman, and that’s already solved a huge problem for us. You can go to Shangwan Village and ask around about what that madman did there.”

“So don’t go looking for trouble. If you anger the madman, I can’t save you. You might have to rely on Xiao Ming!”

Upon hearing this, the crowd agreed.

That’s right! Right now, only Xiao Ming could handle the madman! If the madman targeted them, only Xiao Ming could save them!

Secretary Liu timely spoke up, “The captain is right, and also, Xiao Ming is an honest and good girl. If she brought one sheep, it’s certain she only hunted one. After all, they brought in a live sheep, not a dead one. It’s lucky that they managed to catch one.”

The crowd nodded in agreement. They had seen sheep on the mountain before, but by the time they got there, the sheep had already run away. Without a gun, it was nearly impossible to catch one, let alone capture it alive.

“So, I propose we give Xiao Ming a sheep leg. After all, it was their hard work that brought it down.”

Liu Dazhu nodded in agreement. Though the other villagers felt a bit reluctant to part with the meat, they also understood. If Xiao Ming and her group had kept the sheep for themselves, there was nothing they could do about it. So, they all agreed to the proposal.

Liu Dazhu smiled in satisfaction. “Alright! It’s getting dark—everyone head home. Let’s work hard tomorrow, and we’ll have lamb soup for lunch!”

Instantly, the crowd erupted in cheers. The children ran through the crowd, shouting, “Lamb soup! We’re having lamb soup!”

People rubbed their hands together, smiling as they walked home in groups, the atmosphere lively enough to rival the New Year’s celebration.

The educated youths followed behind, but they remained silent.

When the crowd finally dispersed, a group of people walked toward the educated youth quarters.

Unlike the joyful atmosphere among the villagers, the educated youths were quiet.

As they were nearly home, Song Lanlan sneered, “You have meat and don’t save it for your own family, but instead give it to a bunch of peasants! How shameless!”

The others walked with their heads down, not saying anything, but it was clear they agreed with her, especially Fang Mingyang. He was very displeased that Ming Dai had handed over the sheep without his consent. Even though they didn’t live together, she was also an educated youth, and wasn’t she supposed to be under his management?

Ming Dai had no idea about their thoughts, or else she might have spat at them.

What’s the matter? You guys have particularly big faces, huh?