Chapter 7

Sun Lei shrugged. “Yang Shuming, I’ll admit it—I do like Wen Jiao. Wen Jiao’s so beautiful, every guy in our educated youth camp likes her. But we’re not as low as you—spreading lies to ruin her reputation.”

“You’re trying to pressure Wen Jiao with rumors, so she’s forced by gossip to be with you.”

Yang Shuming’s scheme exposed, his face froze in shock and fear. He stood rigid, unable to defend himself.

Hu Shufang glared at him, gritting her teeth.

The rumble of a tractor grew louder. Liu Cuihua grabbed Wen Jiao’s hand. “Jiao, are you really going to the commune to see the leaders?”

Wen Jiao turned toward Zhou Zhanghuai. He stepped over and said, “If we just let this go today, people will think they can slander you anytime.”

Wen Jiao looked at him gratefully. “I don’t want to just let it go. Why should I swallow their insults? Before I leave here, I need justice.”

Zhou Zhanghuai nodded. “Good. We’ll go to the county revolutionary committee, not just the commune. We’ll also report how Lingtou Brigade treats the educated youth unfairly.”

He figured if they went to the commune, the officials there might shield the brigade leader.

The educated youth erupted with excitement.

Sun Lei raised his arm. “Comrades, get on the tractor! With the commander standing up for us, we’ll go to the county and speak out together!”

He was the first to dash over and climb onto the tractor. Others followed, scrambling aboard.

Zhou Zhanghuai took Wen Jiao’s hand and helped her up.

Shen Qiuju hurried to push her elder son. “Zhanggui, what are you standing around for? Go help Zhanghuai and Jiao! She’s already part of our Zhou family. We can’t let anyone bully her.”

Zhou Zhanggui came to his senses. “Right, Mom. I’ll go to the county with them!”

His wife Tian Baoxia urged him too. “Go on, hurry.”

But Zhou Zhanghuai stopped his brother from climbing up. “No need, brother. If too many of us go, it’ll look like troublemaking. Don’t worry, I can handle it.”

Zhou Zhanggui thought it over and stepped back. “All right, we’ll wait at home.”

As the tractor full of educated youth rolled away, Niu Guixian suddenly felt weak-kneed and slumped onto the ground, mouth agape.

Hu Qinghui squatted nearby, holding his throbbing head in anger. It was over—completely ruined by this foolish wife. His position as brigade leader was finished.

Shen Qiuju, watching the tractor disappear, called her family. “Zhanggui, Baoxia, let’s go home and cook. Today we’ll make braised pork to celebrate our second son getting a wife.”

The twin grandsons clapped happily. “Yay, going home! Grandma’s making braised pork!”

Shen Qiuju waved to Liu Cuihua. “Come along, Cuihua, join us for dinner.”

Liu Cuihua glanced at Hu Qinghui’s family, sighed, and followed Shen Qiuju’s family out. Others soon dispersed too. In less than a minute, the courtyard was empty.

Hu Shufang gave Yang Shuming a furious look, slammed her door, and locked herself inside.

Hu Shufen shot her parents a glance, then ran after her sister and bolted the door behind them.

“Shufang, tell me,” Hu Shufen demanded, “why isn’t that wench Wen Jiao dead? I nearly fainted seeing her at the youth camp today! I thought I’d seen a ghost! Didn’t you say last night you pushed her into the river? How did she not drown? She can’t even swim!”

Hu Shufang rolled her eyes. “How should I know? I really did push her, but I panicked and ran. How could I know she’d survive? That tramp’s got a tough life.”

Hu Shufen plopped onto the wedding bed, scolding her sister. “How could you just leave? You should’ve stayed to make sure she drowned! See? I told you she’s a curse. Now she’s ruined my marriage prospects and wrecked your wedding feast.”

“And if she goes to the county and they believe her, Dad could lose his position as brigade leader. Then you and Yang Shuming can forget about going to Anyang City. If they cancel his quota to return to the city, you two are stuck in this mountain valley forever.”

Already fuming, Hu Shufang exploded. She shoved her sister off the bed. “You’re useless! You let that tramp steal Zhou Zhanghuai away from you. If he stood with us, would things have gone this far? It’s only because he’s backing her that she dares to complain to the county. Without him, she wouldn’t even dare to squeak!”

Sitting on the floor, Hu Shufen wailed. “How was I supposed to know she’d show up and steal my man? It’s Mom’s fault too! She said Zhou Zhanghuai was impotent and no woman would marry him. I made a bunch of outrageous demands, so of course he turned me down. And just now, Mom cursed Wen Jiao in front of everyone. Zhou Zhanghuai lost face—no wonder he’s furious and going to report us. If you want to blame someone, blame Mom and her big mouth!”

Hu Shufang clutched her pounding head, thinking fast. If Wen Jiao wanted to make trouble, she wouldn’t let her off either. “Wen Jiao probably doesn’t know about Zhou Zhanghuai’s condition, right?” she asked suddenly.

Hu Shufen blinked. “Probably not. If she did, would she still want to marry him?”

Hu Shufang raised an eyebrow. “Then let’s be generous and tell her. A woman like her would never agree to a man who can’t do… that.”

Hu Shufen grinned. “Smart! If she finds out he can’t perform, she’ll definitely break off the engagement. Then Zhou Zhanghuai won’t protect her anymore. Maybe he’ll even come back to me. And Dad could keep his brigade leader post.”

Hu Shufang looked out the window. “Sister, keep watch. When Wen Jiao returns, tell me—I’ll talk to her myself. I want to see how she reacts.”

Hu Shufen jumped up. “Got it. I’ll keep an eye out. Uh… Shufang, can we eat now? I’m starving! We prepared so many dishes, all sitting in the backyard untouched. What should we do with them?”

Hu Shufang’s lips twitched. After a pause, she said, “Tell the cooks to pack everything up. Yang Shuming and I will deliver it door-to-door to apologize.”

Hu Shufen gave her a thumbs-up. “Clever. No waste, and we win people over. If the county really sends investigators, the neighbors will speak for us.”

Hu Shufang smirked. “You’re not stupid either—you figured out what I was thinking. Go on, and fill your stomach while you’re at it.”

Hu Shufen nodded. “Okay. I’ll eat first, then bring you some. Oh—what about brother-in-law? He’s sitting in the living room sulking. Do we feed him?”

“Don’t bother,” Hu Shufang snapped. “He’s useless. When the food’s packed, I’ll take him with me to deliver it.”

“Got it.” Hu Shufen left the room. Passing Yang Shuming, she gave him a scornful glance, snorted, and hurried to the back door to tell the cooks to portion out the food.

Hu Qinghui came into the backyard and saw his eldest daughter gnawing a chicken leg, grease all over her mouth. He sighed. “Eat up. Stuff yourself. We might be down to sweet potato porridge from now on.”

Hu Shufen looked up cheerfully. “Don’t worry, Dad. Shufang has a plan to keep your brigade leader job. You’ll see.”

Hu Qinghui frowned. “What plan? They’ve already gone to the county. What can we do now?”