Chapter 26: Director Zhao values harmony.

The next day, Yu Xiulan knocked on Zhao Ke’s door bright and early. “Still not up? Everyone’s already at the yard!”

Half-asleep, Zhao Ke cracked her eyes open and fumbled for her watch. It was only 5 a.m.!

“Why so early?”

From outside, Yu Xiulan replied, “Every household has to work. Who wants to waste a whole day and lose work points?”

Zhao Ke, too groggy to think, remained completely still.

Yu Xiulan called again, “Moved yet?”

After a few seconds of stillness, Zhao Ke sluggishly responded, “Moved.”

“Well, hurry up and get ready,” Yu Xiulan’s voice trailed off as she walked away. “You’re young; you shouldn’t make people wait, got it?”

Got it…

Zhao Ke, like a sleepwalker, got up. Halfway through folding her quilt, she buried her face into it.

It was way too early.

How was this supposed to be relaxing? If this continued, she might accidentally train her biological clock, and then what about her lazy mornings in the future?

The thought of her young self showing up at 4 or 5 a.m. every day, among the elderly chatting near the drying yard or under the old locust tree…

Terrifying.

The thought jolted Zhao Ke fully awake.

“Eat something first to fill your stomach,” Yu Xiulan called out, handing her a boiled egg.

“Do you have any for yourselves?”

“We do, just eat already,” Yu Xiulan urged.

Only then did Zhao Ke sit down to peel the egg. She paired it with some pickled vegetables and finished a bowl of millet porridge before being rushed out the door.

By the time they arrived, plenty of Production Team members had already gathered outside the courtyard.

Even the women who usually hung out under the old locust tree had moved to the courtyard.

“Zhao Yatou is here!”

All eyes turned to her.

Zhao Ke nodded to the members in the yard, then casually warned a group sitting near the well, “Be careful, don’t fall in.”

The crowd chuckled. “We’re adults. How could we fall in?”

One member, eager to prove his point, intentionally leaned back near the edge.

“Well, you never know. Better safe than sorry.”

As soon as Zhao Ke finished speaking, the man misjudged and pressed against thin air, his upper body teetering over the well.

Everyone nearby gasped.

“Hey!”

“Watch out!”

The man frantically grabbed the winch frame above the well, his backside stuck awkwardly in the opening, his face filled with fear.

Though he didn’t actually fall in, the tense moment quickly dissolved into laughter. Everyone doubled over, poking fun at him.

“Serves you right for showing off!”

“Didn’t listen to advice from your elders, huh? You paid the price!”

“Hahaha…”

Zhao Ke, who had been startled too, found it hilarious to suddenly be regarded as an “elder.”

She entered the office, grabbed a broom, and gave the place a quick sweep. Then she pulled the desks together into a row, creating a larger open area.

While tidying up, Zhao Ke noticed that the family of Zhou Xiuli, the Wang family’s second daughter-in-law, had arrived early too. She invited them in.

The Zhou family came with five people: The Zhou parents and her three brothers.

Zhao Ke greeted them warmly and offered them seats.

The office was empty at the moment, with plenty of chairs to spare. They could sit wherever they liked.

The Zhou family’s three brothers looked at Zhao Ke, such a young girl, and exchanged glances, their eyes full of doubt.

Father Zhou and Mother Zhou, however, had seen Zhao Ke the day before sitting at the main table of the Production Team and even speaking with the Zhao village Team Leader. They didn’t underestimate her too much.

Mother Zhou said, “Director Zhao, you don’t support the Wang family giving twenty yuan as betrothal money to Lao San’s prospective in-laws, right? You must speak up for Xiuli today.”

Zhao Ke didn’t express her opinion and instead pulled a chair in front of them, making small talk. “Back when Er Sao married Er Ge, what were the conditions like?”

“What conditions could there have been back then? The Old Wang family didn’t give anything. Xiuli brought just a rolled-up bedding and two sets of clothes when she married.”

Zhao Ke asked, “Did you approve of Er Ge at the time?”

Mother Zhou sighed, “We thought the Wang family was full of strong laborers. If they worked hard, life would get better. Who would’ve thought…”

They earned less than they spent, with more mouths to feed every day, and grew poorer and poorer.

Zhao Ke nodded slightly, then looked at the Zhou family’s sons and smiled. “You can tell at a glance that the older brothers of your family are capable. Life at home must be pretty good, right?”

“Good? Not really. We’re also a big family. I’d like to help Xiuli’s kids, but I can’t even spare any rations.”

Zhao Ke roughly understood the situation. Turning to the Zhou family’s three brothers, she flattered them, “It’s clear your family is harmonious. You older brothers truly care for your sister and feel bad about her hardships.”

In the countryside, people loved hearing words like “harmonious” and “united” about their family. Zhao Ke, with her youthful face and sincere demeanor, put the Zhou family completely at ease. During their casual chat, they revealed quite a bit about Zhou Xiuli’s life with the Wang family.

From their biased statements, Zhao Ke gathered that Zhou Xiuli was a bit sharp and assertive—she had to have her say in matters and refused to suffer losses. However, she was sweet-talking and knew how to please others. Her words carried some weight with Aunt Dong.

She had a good relationship with Wang Lao Er, Wang Xiangwen.

Her interactions with her sisters-in-law weren’t bad, but Zhao Ke guessed it was largely due to Zhao Huahua, one of her sisters-in-law, being naturally accommodating.

“Why didn’t Er Sao come with you today?”

The Zhou family belonged to another Production Team, and they likely wouldn’t often come by. It made sense for her to accompany her family.

Mother Zhou said, “The Wang family argued quite a bit last night. She wasn’t feeling well, so she stayed home. With her family here, it’s enough.”

Whether she was truly unwell or just pretending, having her family there to back her up while she stayed out of the spotlight was actually quite smart.

Someone was peering in through the window. Zhao Ke walked over and knocked on the window.

The person chuckled awkwardly and backed away but didn’t leave entirely, still staking out the best spot to watch the commotion.

Zhao Ke saw other members of the Wang family arriving: Wang Changhe, Aunt Dong, Da Sao Zhao Huahua, Zhao Si Ye, her parents and younger brother.

She opened the door and invited them in.

Zhao Ke greeted them one by one, then, noticing the absence of the Wang brothers, asked, “What time did they leave for Pan Village to pick people up?”

Aunt Dong replied, “They left at first light to avoid delaying work.”

“Then they should be back soon.”

Zhao Si Ye, leaning on his cane, ordered Zhao Ke, “What’s the point of you sitting here alone? Go call Xinshan over so we don’t hold things up.”

Though many in the Production Team liked to show off their authority, only Zhao Si Ye pulled rank on her so blatantly, using his age and seniority as leverage.

Zhao Ke kept her smile. “Si Ye, don’t underestimate me. I’m a Women’s Director. Running errands would be a waste of my abilities.”

As she spoke, she opened the window, scanned the area, and spotted Zhao Si Ye’s grandson, who was five years older than her. She didn’t hesitate to delegate. “Chengzi Ge, could you go to the Team Leader’s house and let him know the Pan family will arrive soon?”

Zhao Cheng readily agreed and ran off toward the courtyard gate.

Zhao Ke closed the window and said cheerfully, “See, Si Ye? It’s just a matter of saying the word.”

Zhao Si Ye: “…”

Not one to back down, she deflected his order onto his grandson.

Everyone else in the room saw this exchange. When they addressed Zhao Ke afterward, they were noticeably more cautious.

For now, only the Wang, Zhou, and Zhao families were present. Occasionally, the Zhao and Zhou parents exchanged remarks aimed at Wang Changhe and Aunt Dong.

Zhao Ke mediated between them, keeping the atmosphere generally calm.

Before long, the Wang brothers returned with the Pan family.

The Pan family didn’t just include the parents, Pan Xiulian, and her brother but also two uncles who came to back her up.

As soon as Mother Pan entered the Production Team office and saw Zhao Ke sitting alone at the desk, she complained, “Why is it just a young girl here? What does she know?”

Zhao Ke’s smile didn’t falter.

Mother Pan had been giving the Wang brothers sour looks throughout the journey. Worried she might misunderstand Zhao Village as being dismissive, Wang Xiangquan hurriedly explained, “This is Zhao Ke, the Women’s Director of our Production Team. She’s even a high school graduate!”

“Women’s director?!”

The Pan family was astonished that such a young girl could be the Women’s Director of Zhao Village’s Production Team.

Mother Pan outright questioned, “What were your Production Team Leaders thinking? Letting a young girl be the Women’s Director? Isn’t this a joke?”

Since becoming the Women’s Director, Zhao Ke had been immersed in a sea of doubts. But it didn’t bother her; she was happy to swim in it.

“Because I’m young, you think I’m unreliable, right?” Zhao Ke admitted openly. “I am quite young, but if the team members didn’t trust me, they wouldn’t have nominated me for this role. I wouldn’t be sitting here today otherwise.”

The people of Zhao Village knew well why Zhao Ke was chosen, but Production Teams from other villages wouldn’t know the details.

After some thought, the Pan and Zhou families began to suspect that Zhao Ke might indeed be capable.

Not wanting to boast too much, Zhao Ke politely invited them to sit. “Uncle Pan, Aunt Pan, everyone, please sit. The Team Leader will be here shortly.”

She didn’t deliberately assign seats. The Zhou family sat to one side first, followed by the Wang and Zhao families, with the Wang family sitting next to the Zhou family. When Zhao Siye and his group entered, they sat by the window, unintentionally grouping the Wang and Pan families together.

Mother Pan shot Aunt Dong a big glare, yanked her bench noisily, and only sat down with a loud thud after putting some distance between herself and the Wang family.

Apart from Pan Xiulian, who appeared anxious, the rest of the Pan family shared a similar attitude: they intended to intimidate the Wang family.

Aunt Dong, already simmering with suppressed anger, couldn’t hold back her irritation about the Pan family’s last-minute demand for more money, which had embarrassed the Wang family. She retorted sharply, “What kind of people are you? So unreasonable! If word of this gets out, who would dare marry into your family? You’re too greedy!”

Pan Xiulian’s eyes turned red immediately, and tears welled up as she lowered her head deeply.

There was no way the Pan family would let Aunt Dong speak to them like that. The men glared menacingly at the Wang family, and Mother Pan directly started cursing, “Pah! What kind of trash are you? Dirt poor, and yet my daughter is willing to marry into your family. That’s a step down for her!”

The faces of the Wang men turned alternately red and pale, visibly humiliated.

Pan Xiulian choked back sobs, pleading, “Mom, don’t say that.”

But Aunt Dong, quick-tongued as always, snapped back venomously, “A step down? You really know how to inflate the price of pigs…”

The argument exploded in an instant. Zhao Ke raised her hand to intervene, “Don’t say things you can’t take back. It’ll only make things worse…”

But the Pan family only heard Aunt Dong calling them “pigs,” completely ignoring Zhao Ke.

“Who are you calling that?”

“Do you want a beating?”

The Pan men clenched their fists and pressed toward the Wang family.

The Wang family’s Lao Da and Lao Er quickly shielded their mother, while Wang Xiangquan tried to stand between the two sides, attempting to mediate. “Stop fighting, stop fighting…”

In the chaos, Wang Xiangquan took several elbows to his sides.

“Calm down, everyone, stop arguing,” Zhao Ke called out, fearing the situation would escalate into a physical fight. She stood up and cautioned Zhao Huahua, “Sister Hua, step back a bit. Be careful with your belly.”

Zhao Huahua, cradling her pregnant belly, was escorted by Mother Zhao. Both of them nervously retreated to the door to avoid the chaos and eventually stepped outside altogether.

The windows were crowded with onlookers, all eager to watch the brawl inside.

Zhao Ke raised her voice slightly, “Everyone, quiet down!”

But her words were drowned out by the escalating argument.

Members of the Zhou and Zhao families stepped in to mediate and pull people apart, but as they got pushed and jostled, their actions grew rougher.

Zhao Ke shouted several times, but it was useless.

A group of people had tangled together into a brawl.

Some Zhao Village members outside, seeing that things were getting out of hand, rushed in to break it up.

Watching a commotion was entertaining, but being in the middle of one was anything but.

Zhao Ke, exhausted, sat down, massaging her temples and breathing deeply to calm herself.

Harmony is the most precious.

Harmony is the most precious.

Harmony is…

A few seconds later, to hell with “harmony is the most precious.”

Zhao Ke slammed the table, stood up, turned around, and took the gong and mallet off the wall. Raising the mallet high, she struck down with all her might.

“BANG.”

The sound was deafening.

Dust fell from the wall behind her, and the glass in the windows seemed to tremble.

The group of people tangled in the brawl winced in pain from the sound, freezing in place as they all turned toward its source.

Zhao Ke pushed the table aside, carrying the gong in one hand and the mallet in the other. With a stern face, she walked over to the group, not caring who was who, and began thumping them with the mallet. “Didn’t you hear me telling you to quiet down?!”

One mallet strike after another. “Break it up, break it up, break it up!”

Sometimes, it’s not about size or stature, nor about the volume of one’s voice.

Some people, just standing there with a glare, could make others realize that crossing them was a bad idea—they’d charge at you without hesitation.

Zhao Ke was clearly one of those people.

Each person struck by the mallet instinctively backed down, loosening their grip.

The Zhao Village members who had come in to break up the fight quickly stepped back, afraid Zhao Ke’s mallet might hit the wrong person. They retreated two steps away in no time.

Zhao Ke pointed the mallet at the three Wang brothers and the two uncles from the Pan family, looking fierce. “Do you even know where you are? Do you think you’re here to fight? Get outside!”

The Wang brothers and Pan family uncles, scolded by a young girl with the mallet pointed at their noses, turned red with embarrassment.

Wang Xiangquan opened his mouth. “Zhao…”

Zhao Ke planted her hands on her hips. “What do you want to say?”

Wang Xiangquan shut his mouth again.

From outside the window, Chen San’er, who was watching the fun, called out with a cheeky grin, “Come out already! If you don’t, you’re gonna get another thumping~”

The crowd outside burst into laughter.

The seven grown men, thoroughly embarrassed, exchanged glances, shuffled their feet, and walked outside together.

The laughter outside grew louder.

The seven of them glared back at the crowd, but no matter how fierce they tried to look, they were like tigers without teeth—utterly unthreatening, which only made the crowd laugh harder.

Fighting in the office of the Production Team committee…

These people, really…

No wonder Comrade Yu Xiulan was so irritable. Who wouldn’t be in her place?

Zhao Ke’s gaze swept over the remaining people like a knife.

The families’ tempers gradually cooled, and under her sharp eyes, those swept by her gaze instinctively looked away.

Zhao Ke’s eyes fell on the mess on the floor. Her lips pressed tightly together, and her breathing grew heavier.

Even without saying anything, it was obvious she was unhappy.

The three Zhou brothers instinctively reached out to pick up the overturned benches on the floor, and the others began moving as well.

The crowd outside, watching this scene, burst into fresh peals of laughter.

“What are you all gathered here watching?!” Zhao Xinshan’s voice suddenly came from behind the onlookers.

The laughter abruptly stopped, followed by a couple of awkward chuckles as the crowd made way at the door.

Zhao Xinshan stepped inside with his enamel cup, taking in the strange scene.

Zhao Ke sat alone with her arms crossed, while everyone else was tidying up tables and chairs. Wang Lao San was even holding a broom, sweeping the floor.

Zhao Xinshan frowned. “What’s going on here?”

Zhao Ke glanced at everyone and replied, “Nothing, we’ve all been waiting for you.”

Everyone else nodded in unison.

Yes, yes, nothing at all. Whatever she said was absolutely correct.