Chapter 24: Director Zhao is thin-skinned

Aiya, look at all those sons!

As soon as Zhao Ke reached the yards of the two families, she was stunned by the sheer number of male members in Aunt Dong’s family.

Several sons from the Wang family were holding back Aunt Dong, while her grandsons surrounded them, angrily glaring at Aunt Sun, who had apparently “bullied” their grandmother.

In contrast, Aunt Sun’s side only had Uncle Sun trying to mediate and herself. They were clearly outnumbered and disadvantaged.

Zhao Ke observed the situation. Apart from their messy hair and a few scratch marks on their faces, there were no serious injuries. Seeing this, she wasn’t in a rush to intervene.

Nothing too serious—no big fights or bloodshed. Minor issues.

Zhao Ke raised her voice to address the nearby onlookers, “If you’re late for work, aren’t you afraid of losing work points?”

Watching a commotion wasn’t as important as earning work points, so the gathered crowd quickly dispersed like startled birds and beasts, leaving in a hurry.

The men from Aunt Dong’s family grew anxious too, worried the two women might start fighting again. Zhao Ke, being a young girl with slender arms and legs, might not be able to hold them back.

Zhao Ke asked both Aunt Dong and Aunt Sun, “Aunt Dong, Aunt Sun, are you two still going to work? Skipping work will cost you work points.”

Getting docked work points for fighting wasn’t worth it. Aunt Dong shot Aunt Sun a fierce glare, not even bothering to fix her hair, and hurried off to the fields.

Before leaving, Wang Xiangping looked worriedly at Dong Ni’er, but Aunt Sun grabbed Dong Ni’er’s hand, preventing her from exchanging any glances with him.

Wang Xiangping walked away dejectedly.

A tear fell from Dong Ni’er’s eye, hitting the ground.

The two of them seemed like a pair of star-crossed lovers—almost reminiscent of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl or Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai^[1]From the tragic romance Chinese legend Butterfly Lovers. .

Zhao Ke shifted her gaze back and asked Aunt Sun, “Auntie, should I go talk to the Team Leader for you? Maybe you can rest today?”

Dong Ni’er softly tried to persuade her, “Mom, how about you take a break? I’ll go to work instead.”

But Aunt Sun firmly pulled her along, saying, “You’re not going either. Today, we’re both staying home!”

Then she looked at Zhao Ke, her tone softening slightly, “Zhao Yatou, can you help us ask the Team Leader for a day off?”

If a member wanted to skip work, they needed the Team Leader’s approval. Otherwise, it would be treated as an unexcused absence.

Since Zhao Ke was the women’s team leader, it was much easier for her to get approval than if they went themselves.

Xu Lan stepped in, “I’ll go. I need to head to the school anyway. Zhao Ke, you stay here and chat with them.”

With that, she left in a hurry.

Zhao Ke glanced at Aunt Sun and Dong Ni’er, “How about inviting me inside for a chat?”

Aunt Sun glared at Dong Ni’er, “What’s the point of airing family troubles?”

It was clear she wasn’t too keen on letting Zhao Ke into the house.

But Zhao Ke couldn’t just leave, so she pressed on, “You’re not going to start fighting again, are you? Constant arguments and fights reflect poorly on everyone.”

Aunt Sun grumbled angrily, “It’s all because of that old hag, spewing filth like a sewer!”

“You’re not much better,” Zhao Ke remarked fairly. “In an argument, if even one person backs down a little, things wouldn’t escalate so much.”

“Why should I let her bully me? Do I look like someone who’s easy to push around?”

With her temper flaring, Zhao Ke decided she needed to follow them inside and talk it out. “I’ll just be shameless and sit in your house for a bit. You can’t kick me out, can you?”

Of course, Aunt Sun couldn’t kick her out, but she wasn’t exactly thrilled about it. “What would a young girl like you understand about these things?”

Zhao Ke wasn’t having it. “Not being married doesn’t mean I don’t understand reason. And I’m definitely neutral—I’m not taking sides.”

Zhao Ke spoke with righteousness, purely for the sake of harmony among the members, with only a hint of curiosity.

Reluctantly, Aunt Sun led her inside.

Dong Ni’er poured Zhao Ke a bowl of water.

Zhao Ke thanked her and asked Aunt Sun, “What exactly happened between you two?”

Aunt Sun huffed angrily, “I noticed something wasn’t right between Dong Ni’er and their family’s fourth son, so I went to the Wang family and said I wouldn’t allow them to date.”

“Mom—” Dong Ni’er said sadly, “What’s wrong with Si Ge?”

“What’s good about him? Look at their family’s situation. How could I let you marry into that and live a hard life?”

Dong Ni’er argued back, “Who’s doing well? Aren’t we poor too?”

“That’s not the same! Other families are poor, but theirs is dirt poor—they don’t even have enough to eat!”

“That’s not true! I can earn work points, can’t I provide for myself?”

“And do you eat for yourself?” Aunt Sun jabbed her finger angrily at Dong Ni’er’s forehead. “You’ll work like an ox and a horse over there, and then come back to your parents’ house begging for food?”

Zhao Ke quickly interrupted, “Mother and daughter, you can’t say things like that in the heat of the moment. Talking about ‘begging for food’ hurts feelings—it’s not that serious. At most, it’s just freeloading a little.”

The mother and daughter both fell silent: “…”

Doesn’t that hurt feelings too?

Covering her face, Dong Ni’er burst into tears and ran into the house.

Hearing her daughter’s sobs, Aunt Sun also felt bad, but she remained stubborn. “This morning, Lu Dongmei started being all sarcastic the moment she saw me. She even said she wouldn’t approve of Hei Ni’er^[2]Dark/black girl either. I got so mad that I threw a few insults back, and then we started fighting.”

Hearing Dong Ni’er crying even louder inside, Aunt Sun raised her voice deliberately, making sure Dong Ni’er could hear: “And who am I doing this for? Wang Laosi’s^[3]Laosi – Old fourth mother doesn’t approve of you at all. What good would come of it for you?”

Zhao Ke pushed a bowl of water toward her. “Have some water.”

Aunt Sun picked up the bowl, took a big gulp, slammed it back on the table, and said with a sour face, “I’m doing this for her own good, but she doesn’t appreciate it. Zhao Yatou, you tell me, how can anyone live without money?”

Zhao Ke nodded. “You’re right, you can’t live without money. When my grandparents were sick, my parents couldn’t even scrape together a few dimes. They were so stressed their mouths got ulcers.”

“Exactly.” With Zhao Ke agreeing, Aunt Sun began to recount the hardships of life. As she talked, her eyes started to redden.

Dong Ni’er came out with swollen eyes and began wiping her mother’s tears. “Mom, don’t cry… It’s my fault.”

Aunt Sun lightly hit her a couple of times. “Your elbow bends outward!^[4]To side with outsiders rather than one’s own”

Choking back tears, Dong Ni’er said, “I just like Si Ge!”

“You’re a grown girl—aren’t you embarrassed…”

Zhao Ke pulled Dong Ni’er to sit down and calmed them both down before asking Aunt Sun, “Auntie, you’re unhappy with the Wang family’s situation and dislike Aunt Dong, but do you have any issues with Si Ge himself?”

Dong Ni’er raised her tearful eyes to look at her mother.

Aunt Sun pursed her lips and, after a long pause, said, “The men in their family are all honest and hardworking. Wang Laosi is diligent too, but there are just too many mouths to feed. The older they get, the more expensive it gets. There’s no hope for a future like that.”

“I’m not afraid of hardship,” Dong Ni’er declared.

Aunt Sun got angry again. “You—”

Before the conversation could spiral, Zhao Ke stepped in. “If you can live a sweet life, why choose bitterness? Don’t act on impulse—think it through carefully.”

“You see how clear-headed Zhao Yatou is,” Aunt Sun said, grudgingly admiring her.

Zhao Ke shamelessly accepted the compliment and stayed to chat with them for a while. She repeatedly reminded them to “talk things out and don’t get physical” before leaving the Sun family.

As she walked home, she realized she’d been so caught up in the conversation that she’d forgotten about her muscle soreness.

With little to do at the team office, Zhao Ke put on a straw hat, grabbed her bike, and headed to the fields.

When Aunt Dong saw her, she pretended not to notice and kept her head down, weeding.

Zhao Ke approached her. “Aunt Dong, I’d like to have a word with you.”

Aunt Dong ignored her.

Zhao Ke kept her tone controlled but firm. “Aunt Dong, I looked into the situation. No matter what, you can’t say things like that about Dong Ni’er.”

Aunt Dong froze, then stiffened her neck. “What I said was true. Her daughter can’t have children—why else is Dong Ni’er finding it so hard to get married?”

Zhao Ke had assumed it was just about the nickname “Hei Ni’er,” which was already bad enough. She hadn’t expected something even worse.

“Aunt Dong, it’s one thing if you don’t like Dong Ni’er, but spreading baseless rumors like that will make it even harder for her to find a match in the future.”

“It wasn’t me who started it,” Aunt Dong retorted impatiently. “And you, a young girl, are really acting like you’re in charge.”

Zhao Ke casually pulled up some weeds at her feet and said nonchalantly, “If Dong Ni’er’s reputation is ruined, it’ll be hard for her to find a husband. But if Si Ge’s reputation is ruined, it’ll be even harder for him. If your mouth keeps running like this, you’ll be the one regretting it.”

Worried about her son’s prospects, Aunt Dong angrily tossed aside the weeds in her hand. “You little girl, what’s wrong with you? Is that how you talk to your elders?”

Zhao Ke replied calmly, “If an elder so much as lifts a finger against me, I’d make a claim against you, you know.”

Right on target.

Aunt Dong’s face changed colors like a palette, clearly agitated.

It seemed Zhao Ke’s reputation for “making claims” had deeply impressed the Zhao village members.

Aunt Dong let out a heavy breath and turned back toward the field.

Trailing behind her, Zhao Ke asked conversationally, “Aunt Dong, be honest. Do you really think Dong Ni’er is like her sister and can’t have children?”

Aunt Dong clamped her mouth shut.

Zhao Ke continued talking to herself, “Actually, this kind of thing isn’t hereditary. It’s either Chun Ni’er Jie or her husband who has the issue.”

Aunt Dong’s cheeks tightened.

“Aunt Dong, don’t you believe me?”

Aunt Dong rolled her eyes.

Zhao Ke interpreted her expression. “Do you also think that those who blame women whenever there’s an issue with having kids are actually the ones with the bigger problem?”

Aunt Dong: “…”

This little brat seemed to be targeting her.

With her hands behind her back, Zhao Ke pointed behind Aunt Dong. “Aunt Dong, you left some grass behind. You need to focus while working, or it’ll all be wasted effort.”

Grinding her teeth, Aunt Dong turned back and began pulling at the weeds with a fury that seemed to vent some kind of frustration.

Zhao Ke, oblivious as ever, continued to chatter, “People need to respect the facts. You should confirm whether something is true before spreading it around. Otherwise, it’s just gossiping, and that’s a mistake. If it’s serious, like with Li Dasheng, there are consequences to pay.”

Aunt Dong’s breathing grew heavier, clearly nearing her breaking point.

Zhao Ke twirled a piece of grass in her hand and suddenly asked curiously, “Aunt Dong, do you really have a bias against Dong Ni’er, or are you just upset because Aunt Sun doesn’t approve of Si Ge, and you feel embarrassed, so you’re being petty on purpose?”

Aunt Dong finally exploded, humiliated and furious. “Why are you, a young girl, so naggy?”

Zhao Ke replied, her tone calm and composed, “I’m bored.”

Aunt Dong’s eyes rolled so far back they almost disappeared.

Having thoroughly annoyed her, Zhao Ke left satisfied and went home.

At noon, Yu Xiulan returned home, eyeing Zhao Ke strangely. “What did you do? Why is Aunt Dong complaining to me about you?”

Zhao Ke looked innocent. “I didn’t do anything. I was just doing my job as the Women’s Director, mediating disputes between women.”

Yu Xiulan frowned. “Then why is she asking me to give you more work?”

Zhao Ke shrugged. “Maybe it’s because I’m young and don’t have enough authority.”

“Is that so?”

Zhao Ke nodded.

After lunch, Yu Xiulan went to the Wang family and called out Aunt Dong. “You two families need to sit down and discuss this properly. Fighting? Aren’t you ashamed?”

“What’s there to discuss?” Aunt Dong said stubbornly, like a duck trying to stay afloat. “We’re not discussing anything.”

“Fine, don’t discuss it. Just don’t fight anymore—who cares about you then?”

Yu Xiulan warned her, “Lu Dongmei, let me tell you something. My daughter might be young and thin-skinned, but she’s no match for your old hide. You better cooperate with her work. Don’t think just because she’s too polite to call you out, you can dismiss her. Be careful, or I’ll smack you.”

Aunt Dong: “…How can you say that?”

Who’s old hide?

Who’s dismissing her like she’s nothing?