Chapter 14: Hitting people with a fire poker.

There was no electricity at home, and Comrade Yu Xiulan was reluctant to light the kerosene lamp or candles. As dusk approached, Zhao Ke could only lie on the kang, trying to fall asleep.

*Knock, knock, knock…*

The sound of someone knocking on the window.

Zhao Ke looked up, and a tall, hunched, dark figure was reflected on the window.

The knocking continued, and the person outside spoke in a suppressed voice, “Er Jie, are you asleep?”

It should have been somewhat terrifying, but instead, it made him appear very timid.

The layout of Zhao Ke’s house was such that the old house facing north and south was the main room. It had originally been Zhao Ke’s grandparents’ room, but after Yu Xiulan and Zhao Jianguo got married, they built an additional room next to the old house.

After Zhao Ke’s grandparents passed away, Zhao Ke and the others grew older, and the couple moved into the main room while they moved to the annex.

Although the main room and the annex were separated by a kitchen, if Zhao Feng kept going on, it would definitely cause trouble for their parents.

Zhao Ke put on her outer clothes and got up, opening the window a small crack. “What’s up?”

Zhao Feng carefully glanced back, then, with a silly smile, spoke through the crack in the window, “Er Jie, is it convenient? Can I come in to talk?”

Zhao Ke closed the window, put on her clothes, and let Zhao Feng in. “Speak.”

Zhao Feng didn’t step inside but stood by the door, softly asking, “Er Jie, can I borrow Da Jie’s lesson plan book?”

What would he want to borrow the lesson plan book for?

Zhao Ke rolled her eyes in the dim room. “Why are you being so awkward just before the big moment?”

“I was going to borrow it at noon, but it got delayed. You don’t need it tomorrow or the day after, so can you lend it to me first?”

Zhao Ke didn’t move and asked back, “Do you want to deliver it now?”

Zhao Feng nodded, “Zhuang Lan can wake up early tomorrow to look at it.”

Zhao Ke almost wanted to applaud her brother. He was so considerate, thinking of everything, but sadly, the two protagonists spent every day together, growing close over time. It had nothing to do with him.

“Er Jie, is it okay?”

“Okay, why wouldn’t it be?”

Zhao Ke took the lesson plan book out of the drawer. “I’ll take it to her.”

Zhao Feng said, “Ah.”

“What’s with the ‘ah’? You’re a man, going out at night to look for a female educated youth. What would people think if that got out?”

Zhao Feng quickly said, “I’m just worried it’s unsafe for you to walk alone at night.”

“Why aren’t you worried about falling into a pit on flat ground?”

Zhao Feng was speechless and stayed quiet for a long time before saying, “Then… should I go with you?”

“No need.”

Zhao Ke was determined to keep him separate from Zhuang Lan. Otherwise, what would be the point of delivering it herself?

“Really don’t need it?” Zhao Feng trailed behind her as she went out, speaking in a very low voice.

Zhao Ke opened the kitchen door, grabbed a fire poker from the stove, and waved it in the moonlight, signaling Zhao Feng, who was blocking the door, to move.

Zhao Feng quickly stepped aside but accidentally kicked a bucket at the kitchen door. It made a loud “clang.”

In the next moment, a scolding voice came from the old house: “Are you stealing?!”

Zhao Feng hurriedly covered his mouth.

Zhao Ke calmly replied, “Ma, Zhao Feng and I are doing a big clean-up tomorrow. You and Dad should get up early and put all the dirty clothes and blankets on the kang.”

Yu Xiulan’s anger subsided. “Alright, go to bed early.”

Zhao Feng asked, “When did we say we’re doing a big clean-up?”

He had planned to go to school to watch Zhuang Lan’s class tomorrow…

Zhao Ke saw through him and straightforwardly said, “With Da Jie’s personality, when she comes back, won’t she clean up everything at home and outside? Isn’t that what a holiday is for? If you don’t do it, who will?”

Indeed, Zhao Feng nodded.

It was fine. There was still the day after tomorrow. Hu Hezhi wasn’t going to substitute teach, and Zhuang Lan would still be there…

However, Zhao Ke immediately added, “The day after tomorrow, you’ll go with me to the mountain to pick some mushrooms and wild vegetables, and see if we can find anything with meat. I don’t know if Da Jie has been eating well this week…”

Zhao Feng: “…”

It made sense. There was no way to refuse.

Looks like he wouldn’t get to see Zhuang Lan teach…

This time, Zhao Ke didn’t tease him. She let him go back to sleep like a good sister.

Zhao Feng dejectedly turned around.

The only place in the village with electricity was the team committee, because they had spent a large amount of money installing a telephone and a loudspeaker to announce notices, read the news, and occasionally, the commune would send people to organize the villagers to watch movies.

Zhao Ke walked on the dirt road in the village, with almost no light on either side of the road. It was all eerily quiet.

This road was one she had walked countless times since she was a child. Zhao Ke remembered there was a house with a dog. As she got close, it suddenly trotted a few steps, its footsteps thudding heavily on the ground.

“Woof, woof, woof…”

The dog’s response was sharp, barking continuously.

The owner’s scolding voice carried from inside the house, as if waking the night. Several other houses around her started to stir.

The instigator, Zhao Ke, smiled as she listened to the noise behind her.

Adults occasionally had childlike hearts, like messing with people’s sleep in the middle of the night.

Zhao Ke was in a good mood, her steps light.

The educated youth station was located in a more secluded area, and the farther she walked towards it, the more trees lined the sides of the road.

After walking for a while, Zhao Ke began to feel something wasn’t right behind her. Her steps slowed, and she suddenly stopped, turning around.

Under the moonlight, a gust of wind blew, the tree shadows swaying and rustling.

Other than that, there was nothing.

But for some reason, it felt a bit eerie.

Maybe it was a mouse?

Zhao Ke, still suspicious, turned back around and continued forward.

After taking a few steps, she heard the sound again, this time clearer, as if something had been kicked—like a clod of earth.

“Who?!”

Zhao Ke called out, “Come out!”

There was no response, and no shadow of anyone.

Zhao Ke’s gaze moved back and forth between two thick trees, and after a while, she looked away.

It seemed she had just been overthinking. She turned back and continued walking.

This time, her steps were neither fast nor slow, but deliberately placed under the shadows of the trees.

Her figure would occasionally disappear into the darkness, and then reappear behind a tree, vanishing from sight.

After a moment, a man emerged from a shadow not far away. He looked left and right, not seeing Zhao Ke’s figure. He quickly walked a few steps forward, stopping at the spot where Zhao Ke had disappeared.

“Where did she go?”

Zhao Ke emerged from behind the tree, and a chilling voice sounded from behind the man, “I’m behind you.”

“God!” 

The man screamed in fear, jumping up and leaping away.

At first, Zhao Ke thought it was Zhao Feng, who was worried about her and secretly following behind. When the man got closer, she recognized him as Chen San’er, the village troublemaker.

“Chen San’er, why aren’t you at home in the middle of the night? Who are you trying to scare out here?”

Chen San’er slapped his chest to calm his beating heart, stammering, “How… how is it you?”

Zhao Ke’s voice squeezed out through her teeth, “Who did you think it was?”

“Of course, it’s an educated youth,” Chen San’er said confidently, “Other girls might blush and keep quiet when teased, and the ones who are a bit bolder would scold you in a soft voice, but who’s like you? If I’d known it was you, I would’ve run away from far off.”

“You think you can follow an educated youth? Are you saying it’s okay to do something wrong?” Zhao Ke, trying to provoke him, raised the fire poker. “Come here!”

Of course, Chen San’er wasn’t going to come over. He quickly turned and ran, saying, “You’re walking alone in the dark, who’s to blame for scaring people?”

Zhao Ke chased him, shouting, “Say that again!”

Chen San’er didn’t dare respond.

“Don’t run if you’re so brave.”

“I’m not stupid!”

Zhao Mian was good-looking, and all the village boys liked to approach her. Chen San’er had also been cheeky before, and had been chased by Zhao Ke with the fire poker all over the village, just like now.

The only thing missing was Zhao Feng beating the drum^[1]Backing somebody up..

But Zhao Feng had grown stronger now, and if he knew Chen San’er had scared his sister, he’d block him at home and give him a good beating.

Chen San’er shivered and ran even faster.

Zhao Ke chased for a while, but the distance between them kept growing. She picked up a clod of earth and threw it at Chen San’er’s back.

Chen San’er let out a loud cry.

Zhao Ke kept running and picked up a few more clods, throwing them at him without missing.

Chen San’er covered his head and ran frantically, “I really didn’t mean to do anything, I was just playing around.”

“Is this fun?” 

Their commotion wasn’t small, and the lights in nearby houses came on.

Chen San’er looked around, afraid of being caught. He stopped, raised his hands in front of his chest, and quickly begged, “Jie, you’re my real Jie, please spare me, I beg you.”

Zhao Ke also stopped, leaning on the fire poker to catch her breath.

Chen San’er’s eyes shifted slyly, and while Zhao Ke wasn’t paying attention, he bolted again.

This time, he ran without holding back, sprinting for his life. Within a few blinks, he had disappeared from view.

Zhao Ke was still catching her breath and didn’t chase after him.

A man and a woman walked out of the house. The man held a kerosene lamp in one hand and a long stick in the other. The woman, squinting at the light, asked in surprise, “Zhao Ke? What are you doing here?”

“Chang Shan Ge, Saozi,” Zhao Ke’s breathing was still a little heavy. She raised the notebook in her other hand, “I’m delivering the lesson plan notebook to Zhuang Zhiqing.”

Chang Shan looked puzzled, “Isn’t the educated youth spot at the east end?”

Zhao Ke had passed the educated youth spot on her way here, but she had already walked far past it.

Zhao Ke told the truth, “I ran into Chen San’er, so I chased him over.”

When Chang Shan Saozi heard this, she became angry and said, “That Chen San’er, always sneaking around and causing trouble. I wonder whose family is suffering this time.”

Zhao Ke hadn’t seen anything in Chen San’er’s hands, so she didn’t agree with her. She waved her hand to say goodbye, “You two should go back to sleep, I’m going to the educated youth spot.”

Chang Shan Saozi’s tone immediately softened, “You’re such a good person. Others are fighting over the teacher position with you, and you’re still lending them lesson plans.”

Zhao Ke wasn’t a saint. The main reason was that there was really no need to hide anything. Now, with Chen San’er causing trouble, it made it seem like she was trying to make a scene, so she said, “Zhuang Zhiqing is very serious. Although she’s just a substitute teacher, none of us wants to delay the children’s education.”

Chang Shan Saozi complimented Zhuang Lan casually, then asked, “Didn’t you have your brother send it for you?”

Zhao Ke shook the fire poker, “It’s fine, I brought my weapon.”

Both of them laughed. “Alright then, go ahead.”

Zhao Ke turned around and walked back, quietly walking alone, regaining her thoughts.

The Chen San’er portrayed in the novel was no different from the one she knew—sly and underhanded, sneaking around and causing trouble, making him hated by everyone in Zhao Village.

The production team had always tolerated Chen San’er for two reasons: one, his father was a good man, and two, he hadn’t committed any major crimes, so they usually just gave him a good lesson and let it go.

But in the novel, his end was tragic. He was sentenced to death for “harassing” a female educated youth.

The female educated youth he harassed wasn’t the female lead, Zhuang Lan. Chen San’er only made a few flirtatious comments toward her. The one he actually bullied was someone else.

The lights at the educated youth spot were on. Zhao Ke walked into the educated youth compound and knocked on the door of the female educated youth’s room.

“Creek—”

The door opened, and it was Zhuang Lan, who looked surprised. “Zhao Ke?”

Zhao Ke nodded, “Sorry to disturb you so late.”

“It’s alright, it’s alright.” Zhuang Lan opened the door wide and invited her in.

Zhao Ke didn’t go inside; she just nodded to the two female educated youths inside and her gaze stopped on the veteran educated youth, Fang Jing, from the 1970s before quickly turning back to Zhuang Lan. “Don’t go inside with the bugs. Close the door. Let’s talk outside for a bit.”

Zhuang Lan felt a bit uneasy in front of her but obediently followed her out and shut the door behind her.

Inside, Su Limei’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she whispered to Fang Jing, “Fang Jie, why do you think Zhao Ke came to see Zhuang Lan so late? Do you think they’re going to fight?”

Fang Jing glanced at the closed door, silently burrowed back under her quilt, and didn’t say a word.

She was always like this. Su Limei felt a bit disappointed and stared at the door, waiting for any movement.

Outside, Zhao Ke handed the lesson plan notebook to Zhuang Lan. “Zhao Feng borrowed it from me. If you ever need anything, feel free to ask me directly. I won’t turn you down. That fool, though, came to find me like a thief in the dark. Won’t that disturb your preparations?”

Zhuang Lan’s face suddenly turned red as she took the notebook and thanked her.

Zhao Ke waved it off casually. “It’s my elder sister’s, just keep it safe.”

“I won’t ruin it.”

Zhao Ke nodded, briefly glanced at the door behind her, and then casually reminded her, “Zhao Village rarely has outsiders come, and there’s the militia team, so the security isn’t bad. But still, female educated youths shouldn’t go out alone at night. If you happen to run into a wild animal coming into the village, it could scare you.”

Zhuang Lan, startled, asked, “There are wild animals?!”

“Wild boars, bears, and the like. They’ve come into the village before. Over the years, the village chief has occasionally organized the young and strong to go hunt them, so we don’t see them as much now, but you never know when one might decide to wander around.”

Actually, the village also patrolled at night to prevent wild animals from damaging the crops, and anyone who shouted out loud would have people running out of their homes with weapons. 

It wasn’t as unsafe as Zhao Ke made it sound.

So after scaring her a bit, Zhao Ke added, “But it’s usually fine. There are plenty of people in the village, and the wild animals are scared of them too.”

Zhuang Lan sighed in relief and promised, “I’ll pass the message on to them.”

But then she realized something and looked at Zhao Ke with concern. “But you came so late to deliver the lesson plan. Weren’t you scared?”

“…”

Zhao Ke replied with certainty, “Yes, I was scared. Of course I was scared, which is why I brought a poker with me when I left.”

Zhuang Lan was very touched. “If there really was danger, a poker wouldn’t help much.”

It actually would.

The fire poker at Zhao Ke’s house had seen countless battles. It had once been used when the pigs in the production team went wild and broke out of their pen, and now, since there were no children in the house, it had been upgraded to a two-pronged fire poker.

Of course, the most important thing was who was holding it.

In the hands of the girl who, according to Chen San’er, “scolded in a soft voice,” even a knife wouldn’t be much of a defense.

But Zhao Ke didn’t mention any of this to Zhuang Lan.

“I’ve delivered the item, so I won’t stay any longer.”

Zhuang Lan was still worried. “How about I have one of the male educated youths send you?”

Zhao Ke rejected her outright and, after saying her goodbyes, left in a hurry.

Zhuang Lan didn’t notice the tall figure of a male educated youth following Zhao Ke from behind as she went back into the house.

Su Limei asked, “What did she come to see you for?”

Although Fang Jing hadn’t moved, she was quietly listening.

Zhuang Lan waved the lesson notebook in her hand and smiled. “Zhao Ke lent it to me for lesson preparation.”

So it wasn’t a fight. Su Limei felt a bit disappointed. “She’s actually a pretty good person.”

Zhuang Lan carefully put the lesson plan away, nodding with a smile. “Yes, their whole family is really nice.”

Su Limei didn’t think much of it, but Fang Jing, sensitive as always, bit her lip.

Meanwhile, Zhao Ke, walking along, slightly tilted her head.

Coming again?

Chen San’er really didn’t learn his lesson.

Zhao Ke pretended not to notice, taking her time as she turned a corner and quickly hid behind a tree, gripping the fire poker tightly.

As the tall figure slowly approached, Zhao Ke swung the fire poker down.

The person reacted quickly, raising their arm to block, letting out a hiss.

It wasn’t Chen San’er.

Zhao Ke focused her gaze, “Fu Zhiqing?”

TN:

So is Fu Hang also the male lead in this timeline/universe?