Chapter 18: Director Zhao emphasizes a distinct style.

The villagers were like crying children, getting more and more lively under the coaxing of their elders, with new tricks emerging at every turn.

If Zhao Ke weren’t the Women’s Director, she would have just stood to the side and enjoyed the show.

But now that she was the Women’s Director, she had to step in.

Zhao Ke walked over and gently patted her mother’s shoulder.

Yu Xiulan flinched, then turned and said, “I’m busy, don’t cause trouble.”

Zhao Ke patted again.

Yu Xiulan, irritated, snapped, “What are you doing?”

Zhao Ke, in a good mood, reminded her, “Mom, didn’t you forget something?”

“I can…” Yu Xiulan’s words stopped abruptly, and her face turned as purple as pig liver.

The surrounding people also fell silent, the heated atmosphere of the argument evaporating.

Had she forgotten?

Now, the Women’s Director was Zhao Ke, not Yu Xiulan.

The others realized they had left Zhao Ke aside earlier, and felt a little awkward.

But unlike the young girls, the older women didn’t feel shy for long. One even scolded, “Look at you, why didn’t you say anything?”

And they blamed her.

Zhao Ke stifled the twitch at the corner of her mouth and humorously replied, “I didn’t grow two legs? Didn’t I walk out on my own?”

The other woman was momentarily speechless, then retorted without hesitation, “You’re just a young girl, what can you manage?”

Not just her, the other villagers also had similar distrustful expressions.

Yu Xiulan felt uncomfortable. She could scold her own daughter as she pleased, but who were they to?

Zhao Ke gently held her mother’s wrist and said calmly, “It’s fine, it’s normal.”

Yu Xiulan’s defense was cut off before she could finish. She realized that as the Women’s Director now, she shouldn’t overshadow her daughter’s authority. She lifted her chin, signaling Zhao Ke to take charge.

But she didn’t stand far away, staying just two steps behind, watching closely.

One, to let these sharp-tongued women know that even though Zhao Ke was a young girl, she still had Yu Xiulan backing her.

Two, in case Zhao Ke didn’t handle things well, she was ready to step in at any moment.

The village was small, so as soon as something new happened, more and more people gathered to watch and point fingers.

Zhao Er Nai didn’t care how many people were watching, lying on the ground as comfortably as she would on her own kang.

Zhao Ke raised her voice, “No need to argue. There’s a question that needs to be clarified first.”

Zhao Er Nai ignored her.

The others didn’t seem too interested either.

Aunt Dong, who was watching the drama, chimed in, “What’s the question?”

The villagers who were watching all echoed, “Yeah, tell us.”

“Did Er Nai give the gift to get votes for Hu Hezhi? Everyone accepted it, so that means you agreed to vote, right?”

Everyone knew exactly what was going on, but Zhao Ke still had to ask.

Why?

The relevant people exchanged glances but didn’t respond.

They didn’t answer, but someone else chimed in, a watching villager called out loudly, “Of course, everyone knows that, right?”

Zhao Ke nodded and continued, “This behavior is bribery and accepting bribes in an election. Er Nai, Tian Shen’er, and the other uncles and aunts, do you all acknowledge that?”

Even the less educated villagers knew what bribery meant, and their expressions shifted.

Zhao Er Nai suddenly sat up, throwing a tantrum, “What? Are you going to report me? You’re forcing me to death!”

Tian Ghuizi also spoke sarcastically, “High school graduates are different. We’re all from the same Production Team. If we accept two pounds of corn or beans from the same village, is that bribery?”

The others looked at Zhao Ke with disapproving expressions.

When people share a common interest, they quickly unite against an outsider.

And when the villagers overheard Zhao Ke’s words, the chatter among the onlookers grew louder.

“The young people are really bold.”

“We’re all from the same Production Team; how can it get this big?”

“Yeah, we see each other every day. How are we going to get along after this?”

“So what happens with bribery and corruption?”

“I don’t know…”

Yu Xiulan, hearing the discussions, quickly nudged Zhao Ke, “We’re all from the same village, why are you saying this?”

“Aren’t we mediating a dispute?” Zhao Ke replied matter-of-factly. “Of course, we need to clear things up from the root. Otherwise, it’s just a mess, and nothing will be resolved.”

She was still young and lacked experience in handling such matters, which made Yu Xiulan frown. “Internal village matters aren’t that serious.”

Zhao Ke looked back at the crowd and suddenly made an expression as if she had just realized something. “Oh, I didn’t explain clearly, it’s my fault.”

“Our village is small, so sending some food is a light matter. The worst that can happen is that they get elected, and if someone reports it to the commune, they might get removed.” Zhao Ke kept smiling, then paused before changing the subject, “But Hu Hezhi didn’t get elected, did he?”

That’s right, Hu Hezhi didn’t get elected.

Tian Ghuizi and the others, along with the onlookers, immediately relaxed at Zhao Ke’s comment.

But Zhao Er Nai’s family couldn’t smile.

After all that trouble, the election was tarnished with the label of bribery, and Hu Hezhi didn’t even get elected. Not only was Zhao Fangfang’s face red with embarrassment, but Zhao Er Nai also fidgeted uncomfortably on the ground.

At Zhao Er Nai’s house, her parents, hiding behind the crowd, overheard the villagers mocking their family and quickly retreated into their home.

As for Hu Hezhi, it was as if he had been slapped out of nowhere. With a loud “bang,” he slammed the window shut and didn’t open it again.

“Then why did you bring up bribery?” 

A voice from the onlooking villagers suddenly shouted.

Zhao Ke thought to herself, although they were like monkeys being watched in the middle of the scene, the more villagers there were watching, the more likely a few would play along as supporting roles.

“I just want to remind you, it’s a minor issue for now, but if something worse happens, like a bloody incident, then the situation escalates, and that would be a case of wrong on top of wrong.”

Zhao Ke glanced at Zhao Er Nai, who shot her a glare. Unfazed, Zhao Ke said, “Er Nai, are you really going to drop dead ah?”

Zhao Er Nai yelled with all her might, “If anyone stops me from doing well, I’ll die right in front of them!”

Zhao Ke understood, “Well, if that’s the case, no one can be with you day and night. Since I can’t stop you, I will respect your wishes.”

Zhao Er Nai looked at her in disbelief, “What did you say?!”

Zhao Ke, being exceptionally understanding, patiently repeated, “I respect you.”

Zhao Er Nai immediately started slapping the ground, crying and wailing, “What kind of Women’s Director is this? How can you be so irresponsible? My life is so miserable!”

Zhao Er Nai, who was acting like she wanted to die, didn’t actually want to die. She was probably just afraid of it.

The more people stopped her, the more she would get worked up.

Zhao Ke wasn’t so idle as to indulge the old woman in her drama. Turning to Tian Guizhi and the others, she said, “I don’t care who voted for who, accepting bribes is still a mistake. If you all start fighting, don’t think things will end well.”

Tian Guizhi and the others exchanged glances. The woman who had fought with her husband earlier, Jin Li, said awkwardly, “Who would start fighting?”

The others also agreed that they wouldn’t resort to violence.

Since there wouldn’t be any violence or injuries, it was just a minor issue.

Out of the corner of her eye, Zhao Ke spotted Zhao Feng in the crowd and waved at him.

Zhao Feng… didn’t want to be the center of attention, but he dared not disobey his second sister, so he obediently walked out.

“Go home and bring me my tea thermos, and get me a stool,” Zhao Ke suddenly remembered her mother was also there, so she corrected herself, “Get two.”

Changshan Saozi, who was watching, asked, “Zhao Ke, what do you need the stools for? I have one at home, and it’s closer.”

Zhao Ke smiled and replied, “Since we haven’t settled the argument yet, I’m going to sit here and supervise, so things don’t escalate.”

“Huh?” Changshan Saozi was confused, “You’re still arguing?”

Zhao Ke smiled but didn’t answer.

Zhao Feng understood immediately and called over his friend, asking him to borrow a long bench from Changshan Saozi.

His friend, the same one who had urged Zhao Feng to get a job, was named Zhu Jianyi.

Zhu Jianyi stepped away from the crowd with Zhao Feng, glanced back, and skeptically asked, “Zhao Feng, do you think someone like your second sister can actually get married?”

Zhao Feng glared at him, “What’s wrong with my Er Jie? She’s very reasonable.”

Reasonable, huh?

Zhu Jianyi first brought back the long bench and gently placed it behind Zhao Ke, watching as she dragged the bench with one hand and sat firmly on it at the side of the road.

She looked like she was truly prepared to watch the argument unfold.

Zhu Jianyi: “…”

Who can keep arguing like this?

Zhao Ke was completely at ease, patted the space next to her, and called out, “Mom, come sit here.”

“…”

Yu Xiulan turned her head away. I’m not your mother, don’t call me that.

At this moment, from the back of the crowd—

“Move, move aside.”

Zhao Feng, holding the tea jar handle in one hand and pressing the lid down tightly with the other, raised it above his head and squeezed through the crowd. He quickly walked over and handed it to Zhao Ke, “Second sister, this is corn husk tea. Here.”

Zhao Ke took it and asked, “Mom’s not sitting, are you sitting?”

These families were already at the edge of the village. She sat at the intersection leading out of the village, which meant that the other three intersections were crowded with people, but this one only had her.

This scene was no less attention-grabbing than the village’s Production Team meeting earlier in the morning.

Zhao Feng couldn’t sit still, waving his hands, “No, no, no…”

Then he quickly retreated back into the crowd.

It didn’t matter.

Zhao Ke was determined to enjoy this spectacle today.

Zhao Ke slid to the middle of the long bench, holding the white tea jar. She crossed her legs and said to Zhao Er Nai and Tian Guizhi, “Er Nai, Aunt Tian, you can continue.”

After saying this, she opened the tea jar, took a sip, and chewed on the corn husks.

Zhao Ke didn’t spit it back into the tea jar but instead spat it on the ground, then looked up at the crowd, as if asking: Why isn’t anyone arguing yet?

The crowd: “…”

She didn’t seem like a supervisor at all; she clearly looked like someone watching a show, sitting in the VIP section.

But who would want to be the one putting on the show?

Zhao Er Nai couldn’t continue anymore. She got up from the ground and stood next to her granddaughter, let alone the others who didn’t have thick enough skins to stay.

Jin Li had just argued with her husband, stubbornly saying she wouldn’t return the things, mainly because her husband’s attitude had stoked her anger. But in reality, it wasn’t like she absolutely refused to return them.

She glanced at the other families, then at the spectators who were waiting for a spectacle. She gave a dry laugh and said, “Well… Zhao Ke is a high school student, educated. She makes a good point, it’s indeed wrong to accept the gifts. I’ll return them, but I’m definitely not wrong for not voting for Hu Hezhi.”

At this, the other families exchanged glances and quickly agreed, saying similar things: It’s fine, they couldn’t be seen as guilty just because they hadn’t voted for Hu Hezhi.

Tian Guizhi was getting anxious, “What are you doing? Why return them?”

She didn’t want to spit out what she had already accepted.

Zhao Er Nai was also anxious, “Of course, they should be returned! Why not?”

Was an argument about to break out?

Zhao Ke held the tea jar, slightly leaning forward, eagerly watching the two.

The spectators, influenced by her enthusiasm, became excited to watch, while some busybodies took sides, encouraging both parties:

One moment they supported Tian Guizhi: “Exactly, why return them?”

The next, they supported Zhao Er Nai: “Everyone else is returning them, how can you not?”

It was all about creating tension, enjoying the drama.

Zhao Er Nai and Tian Guizhi’s families: “…”

How had the people in the Production Team suddenly become so annoying?

Zhao Fangfang quietly tugged at Zhao Er Nai’s sleeve and whispered, “Grandma, just return a little, don’t let people laugh at us.”

Zhao Er Nai, stubborn, replied, “I’m not afraid of them laughing!”

Zhao Fangfang bit her lip, “I’m tired.”

As soon as Zhao Er Nai heard this, she quickly supported her, “Is your stomach okay?”

Zhao Fangfang shook her head and called out again, “Grandma…”

Zhao Er Nai’s face showed reluctance as she waved her hand and said to Tian Guizhi, “Alright, alright, I’ll just consider it charity for a beggar!”

The crowd watching hissed, “Tch—”

But Tian Guizhi didn’t disappoint, furious, “Who are you calling a beggar?!”

The onlookers looked on with eager anticipation.

Tian Guizhi’s husband yanked her away, “Alright, alright, why are we bothering with an old shrew like her?”

The crowd looked disappointed and turned their attention back to Zhao Er Nai, waiting for her reaction.

Zhao Er Nai was indeed angry, but after being treated like this, she wasn’t sure whether to explode or hold it in. She gave a fierce glare around her and yelled, “Did you put salt in your crotch? Get lost!”

The crowd chuckled and slowly began to disperse.

The scene had lost its charm.

Zhao Ke sat in the middle of the long bench, sipping corn husk tea, without moving.

Why had the argument stopped?

Could it be that she would never be able to just enjoy the spectacle anymore? Could she no longer savor the simple pleasure of watching?

Zhao Ke picked up her tea jar, sipped slowly, and sighed, “As expected, once any fun turns into part of the work, it becomes dull and boring.”

Tch.

“Smack!”

“Ah!”

Suddenly, Zhao Ke felt a blow to the back of her head. She hurriedly pulled the tea jar away, but water still splashed onto her shoes, “Mom, why did you hit me?”

Yu Xiulan placed her hands on her hips, “Stop pretending to be a big shot, hurry up and give the bench back to Changshan’s family.”

Some of the villagers were still nearby, and Changshan Saozi was also watching them, laughing.

Zhao Ke smiled at them, then turned to her mother to complain, “Comrade Yu Xiulan, I have to criticize you. This is in public. Aren’t you hindering me from establishing authority among the villagers?”

Yu Xiulan itched to hit her, but since she was the women’s director now, she held herself back, “Fine, fine, I won’t hit you in public anymore.”

Zhao Feng approached, trying to protect his own interests, “Mom, can you leave some face for me in front of others?”

Yu Xiulan gave him a single word, “Scram.”

“…Alright.”

Zhao Feng picked up the bench and left ahead of everyone like a sycophant.

Zhao Ke walked home leisurely, holding the tea jar.

Yu Xiulan couldn’t stand her acting all old-school and rolled her eyes. Then, she couldn’t help but feel a mix of disappointment and pride, thinking: Zhao Ke may not be doing anything proper, but who knows, she might actually do better as the Women’s Director than I did…