Chapter 11

In the spacious and bright main hall of the Luo family home, Wei Yanzhen and Luo Yisen sat across from each other. Deng Zhilán looked a little puzzled, wondering silently what business still needed to be discussed.

Wei Yanzhen didn’t hesitate and got straight to the point:

“Starting tomorrow, we’ll be going to work in the fields with everyone else.”

“But… my wife is currently pregnant. I’m not asking for special treatment, but I do hope, Captain Luo, that you can assign her to some relatively light tasks.”

Upon hearing this, Luo Yisen immediately understood. So this was the reason Wei Yanzhen had come to him. He couldn’t help but feel a bit of appreciation for the Wei family’s straightforward approach.

“There are easier tasks, sure, but I don’t have the final say. You’ll need to talk to the people involved directly.”

Luo Yisen continued, “Sister Xu is also pregnant. Her husband is the brigade accountant, and they live on the east side of the village. Go talk to her about it.”

Wei Yanzhen nodded. “Got it. Thanks, Captain Luo.”

Luo Yisen waved his hand. “We’re all part of the same brigade—no need to be so polite.”

After wrapping up the discussion, Wei Yanzhen and Deng Zhilán returned home and updated the Wei parents on the situation. Then, Wei Yanzhen was about to head out again, but Deng Zhilán stopped him.

“Yanzhen, take this sugar with you. I’ll go with you. Since we’re asking for a favor, we shouldn’t go empty-handed.”

The couple left together and made their way to Sister Xu’s home on the east side of the village.

Sister Xu warmly welcomed them inside. When Wei Yanzhen explained the purpose of their visit, she looked troubled:

“Watching the warehouse gate isn’t exactly light work either, and honestly, I’ve been managing just fine by myself…”

Her belly was clearly much larger than Deng Zhilán’s—she looked close to giving birth. Her hesitation wasn’t genuine; she was clearly trying to bargain.

Wei Yanzhen immediately took out a bag of brown sugar and a tin of malted milk powder.

Back when they had just arrived in Songling City and stayed at the guesthouse for two days, they had bought these items—originally meant to nourish his wife during her pregnancy. Now, they finally came in handy.

“Sister Xu, you’re due soon. These things are for you to help strengthen your body.”

“When my wife gives birth later, the warehouse duty will be yours again.”

These words were exactly what Sister Xu wanted to hear. The malted milk and brown sugar were rare luxuries. Her husband was stingy with money and would never have bought them for her!

She had already planned to rest for a while after childbirth and to nurse the baby. By the time she was ready to return, that little wife would be giving birth, and then she could reclaim the warehouse post.

“Alright, my belly’s too big now—I do need to rest. Your wife can take over the warehouse duties!”

With the matter settled, Wei Yanzhen and Deng Zhilán thanked her and headed home. The Wei parents were relieved and happy to hear it had been resolved.

The next day, Deng Zhilán reported for work at the warehouse.

The Dongfeng Brigade’s warehouse stored various grains and tools. It was already summer, so to prevent the grain from molding or attracting pests, a large ceiling fan was always running to keep the air circulating.

Deng Zhilán’s job was to guard the entrance, prevent unauthorized access, and record tool checkouts. It was light work.

Meanwhile, Wei Yanzhen went to the fields with his family, parting ways with Deng Zhilán for the day.

Before leaving, he couldn’t help but feel reluctant. He dropped his rake, walked over, hugged her, and gently ruffled her hair while giving instructions:

“If anything happens, just shout for me in the fields.”

“There’s a lounge chair in the warehouse—if you feel tired or your back starts hurting, lie down and rest.”

“Come home at noon—I’ll cook for you, don’t go in the kitchen.”

…

The man babbled on as if he wanted to say everything he ever could in this one moment. Deng Zhilán didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

“Alright, it’s time. Captain Luo and the scorekeeper are already out in the fields. Don’t be late.”

Only then did Wei Yanzhen kiss her lightly on the forehead and leave—taking a few steps, looking back three times, full of reluctance.

Deng Zhilán waved him off and didn’t head back inside until his figure completely disappeared from view. Then she settled comfortably into the lounge chair at the warehouse entrance.

The fan above spun with a gentle whir, sending a cool breeze her way. The feeling was indescribably pleasant…

Elsewhere, Song Yitao was walking toward the warehouse, humming a cheerful tune.

After tidying up her room last night, Captain Luo had informed her that she needed to report to the warehouse today to collect her tools.

But from a distance, she spotted someone sitting at the warehouse gate—it was Deng Zhilán?!

“Well, well, guarding the warehouse now?”

“Weren’t you once a factory worker at a textile mill? Now you look like an old farmer!”

Song Yitao stepped up, mocking Deng Zhilán without a shred of courtesy. Her words came out like rapid-fire bullets.

“Tsk tsk tsk, looks like Wei Yanzhen isn’t treating you that well after all. I thought he wouldn’t even let you work!”

Deng Zhilán ignored her, head down, focused on recording tool assignments in her notebook.

When she got to Song Yitao’s name and saw the words “manure bucket” written next to it, she couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

“You don’t even know what time it is. Late on your first day of work—not my problem!”

Only then did Song Yitao look up and notice the large clock hanging at the warehouse entrance—it was already past 7 a.m. She quickly glanced at the watch on her wrist.

She realized with a jolt that her watch was more than half an hour slow.

“Crap!” Her face changed instantly. Without time to argue, she turned and ran toward the team’s assembly point.

But just as she ran off, Deng Zhilán hurled a wooden bucket after her, landing it squarely on her head.

“Yitao, don’t forget your tool for work!”

Suddenly, a vile stench hit her nose. Song Yitao nearly threw up. She pulled the bucket off her head only to find it coated with dried manure!

She wanted nothing more than to go back and fight Deng Zhilán, but she knew if she didn’t show up at the fields soon, she’d get scolded for being late.

So she swallowed her anger and humiliation and ran toward the fields while cursing Deng Zhilán in her head.

When she finally arrived at the worksite, everyone had already left for the fields. Luo Yisen frowned as he saw her panting and breathless:

“Comrade Song, late on your first day of work—not a good look.”

Song Yitao lowered her head and explained, “Captain Luo, my watch was slow. I didn’t mean to be late.”

Seeing her attitude was sincere, Luo Yisen said, “Just don’t let it happen again. I’ll have Xiao Jun wake you up in the future.”

“Your assignment today is fertilizing the fields—you brought a manure bucket, good. Go catch up with the team.”

With that, Luo Yisen picked up a hoe and went back to tilling the land. Song Yitao was so furious she wanted to smash the manure bucket over his head.

She could only take a deep breath, suppress her frustration, and join the others in the fields.