Chapter 33.1: Shu Gen’er “leave home” la

In the village, elderly people who lived to a certain age and were still lively and energetic often had some special abilities.

For example, Zhao Er Nai was particularly eccentric.

Among the women in Zhao Village’s Production Team, the words of someone as odd as Zhao Er Nai were generally regarded with skepticism.

So, after hearing the rumor, the women went home and secretly asked the older generation about the “village guardian.”

The older generation, few of whom didn’t believe in something or other, had all “experienced” some strange occurrences and enjoyed talking about them.

Once the elders gave their “education,” the women’s reaction was always: “Oh, really? There’s actually something to that?”

So what is a village guardian? It’s someone who protects the village from disasters.

If the village’s famous “Shu Gen’er” is truly the village guardian, then it’s not misfortune at all. It’s actually a blessing!

The old locust tree at the entrance of Zhao Village was the main gathering place for the women of the Production Team and also the hub where gossip spread.

The next time the women met, they exchanged information, pretending to laugh and chat casually, acting like they didn’t care, but secretly, they all leaned toward believing it rather than dismissing it.

It wasn’t that they were easily fooled, but this level of superstition had deeply ingrained itself in their bones.

Every generation of people raised in this land had grown up hearing stories about the Five Great Immortals—Hu, Liu, Bai, Huang, and Hui.

How deeply ingrained was it?

In these times of material scarcity, chickens and ducks were important family assets. If one got injured, the mischievous children in the house would receive a good beating.

But if a yellow weasel stole something, even though the villagers would curse and grumble, they would just chase it away—not kill it.

Now, with the “Cultural Revolution” and the push to eradicate the “Four Olds,” superstition was no longer openly accepted, so the villagers practiced it in secret, carefully and discreetly.

Basically, if it required money, they believed in science. But if it didn’t cost anything, they’d prefer to believe it rather than doubt it.

It was all about flexibility.

…………

Wang Lao San’s wedding date was rescheduled and would be held in the same way at Lao Wang’s house courtyard, with everyone from the village coming to help.

Zhao Ke, as usual, kept her hands to herself. Those who disliked her still did, but this time, the male members represented by Zhao Si Ye didn’t point fingers at her.

Male Member: “What a joke, point fingers at her? Who would want to lose face if they’re comfortable enough?”

So, Zhao Ke and Zhao Yunyun sat comfortably on the seats, munching on sunflower seeds.

Zhao Yunyun leaned in and eagerly asked, “When is Shu Gen’er coming?”

“Crack.”

Zhao Ke cracked open the seed, popped the kernel into her mouth, and then said, “I don’t know, but I’ve told him.”

Zhao Yunyun was doubtful, “Do you think he’ll remember?”

“He should,” Zhao Ke thought Shu Gen’er had a good memory.

Zhao Yunyun stared at the road, her eyes suddenly lighting up. She waved her hand and shouted, “Shu Gen’er, come here, I’ve got sunflower seeds for you!”

The name “Shu Gen’er” had been quite a hot topic among the women these past few days. Women washing, chopping, and frying vegetables all stopped in unison, raising their heads to look.

Aunt Dong, the new bride’s mother, even eagerly walked over to the fence, sticking her face through the slats to peek.

Shu Gen’er stood at the intersection, hesitating, not moving toward the large banquet at Old Wang’s house.

Yeah, Director Zhao told him to stop here.

Zhao Yunyun saw him and shouted even louder, “Shu Gen’er, I’m calling you, can you hear me?”

Shu Gen’er, expression blank, had heard, but couldn’t move.

Zhao Yunyun seemed displeased by his disobedience, stood up, and walked toward him.

She was a bit scary.

She was coming closer…

Shu Gen’er couldn’t help but glance at Director Zhao, feeling lost.

Zhao Ke knew this was a bit of a predicament for a child with limited mental ability, and her conscience didn’t feel great.

So, Zhao Ke chose to turn a blind eye, raising her hand to cover her face and pretending not to notice Shu Gen’er’s pitiful look.

Zhao Yunyun was already right in front of Shu Gen’er, “Why aren’t you responding when I speak?”

What… what… what was she going to do again?

Shu Gen’er nervously took a step back, forgetting what he was supposed to do, looking toward Director Zhao.

Director Zhao didn’t look at him.

Zhao Yunyun, like a bully, grabbed Shu Gen’er’s arm, “Let’s go.”

Shu Gen’er shrank back his hand, suddenly remembering, and started struggling with all his might.

Zhao Yunyun tugged at him, pulling him roughly, “What are you doing? We’re going to eat.”

“No, no, I’m not going…”

Director Zhao didn’t allow it.

Shu Gen’er struggled harder.

Zhao Yunyun was nearly unable to hold onto him, wondering if it was enough.

Just as she hesitated whether to let him go, a rough hand reached from the side and slapped Shu Gen’er on the back of the head.

“You little troublemaker, coming out here to cause trouble again!”

Zhao Yunyun was startled and involuntarily let go of her grip.

Shu Gen’er was single-minded; he could only focus on one thing at a time. Now, his mind was completely occupied with running. Once freed, he darted off like a large rat.

He was used to being beaten and scolded, but now that he was running, Zheng Guangmei cursed, “So disobedient…”

Zhao Yunyun wasn’t pleased by her words and continued with her drama, running after him while shouting, “Shu Gen’er, why are you running? Come back here…”

Both of them ran incredibly fast and vanished in the blink of an eye.

Zheng Guangmei cursed at the air for a few moments, but it was pointless. She turned around and saw the members watching her. Unashamed, she walked over with Liu Xiaobao.

“Dong Saozi, what can I do?”

Zheng Guangmei asked enthusiastically, but didn’t actually offer to help.

In the countryside, it is said that happy events come without invitation, while funerals come on their own. However, Zheng Guangmei always made sure to stay away until the work was almost done before showing up, pretending to lend a hand, and then eating with gusto.

Normally, when she did this, the women didn’t bother with her.

This time, however, Zhao Er Nai shot her a glance and said, “Why didn’t you come when the food was being served? At least you wouldn’t have to put on an act.”

Zheng Guangmei, thick-skinned as always, responded, “Oh, I had some things at home, or else I would have come earlier.”

Other women couldn’t help but smile derisively.

Aunt Dong, however, was all smiles and laughter, her joy undeterred by Shu Gen’er’s absence. “Today, my Lao San will definitely go smoothly, hurry up and get to work, don’t delay the banquet.”

Hearing this, the women stopped paying attention to Zheng Guangmei and got back to work.

But they subtly distanced themselves from Zheng Guangmei.

At first, Zheng Guangmei was pleased that no one was nagging her about being late, but as she spoke to anyone, it felt like she was talking to the air. Some even deliberately turned away to speak to others while she was talking.

Zheng Guangmei wasn’t one to hold back, so she asked them directly what they meant—did they have an issue with her?

A wedding had to go smoothly; otherwise, the future would be full of trouble.

Aunt Dong, busy as could be, snapped irritably, “Why are you always so fussy? Don’t cause trouble on my son’s big day.”

Other women quickly chimed in, saying Zheng Guangmei was overthinking things, and who had time for such nonsense.

Zheng Guangmei could only hold her temper and stand by the side, unable to say a word, completely left out.

Her idleness was nothing like Zhao Ke’s.

Zhao Ke was comfortable, while she was not.

Meanwhile, Zhao Yunyun was chasing Shu Gen’er down the road, panting for breath. “Shu… Shu Gen’er… enough… enough… huff… stop running…”

Shu Gen’er stopped at the doorstep, waiting obediently for her to catch up.

It took almost a minute before Zhao Yunyun finally reached him, holding her leg and gasping for air. “You can really run…”

Shu Gen’er beamed with pride and, upon receiving the compliment, entered the yard and crawled into the bean stalk cave, rummaging around.

“What are you doing?”

Zhao Yunyun looked up, puzzled.

Shu Gen’er pulled out a notebook and excitedly handed it to her, eagerly watching her reaction.

“What’s this?”

Zhao Yunyun took it, flipped it open, and was stunned. “What is this?!”

Is it some sort of ancient text?

Zhao Yunyun got dizzy just by looking at it and handed it back to Shu Gen’er. “Where did you get this from? I don’t want it, here, take it back.”

Shu Gen’er hung his head, holding the notebook.

He must have felt disappointed.

Zhao Yunyun cleared her throat and said, “I don’t like this, give it to Zhao Ke instead. Do you have anything else?”

Shu Gen’er looked up. “I have more!”

He said, and then ran back, crawling into the bean stalk cave again.

Curious, Zhao Yunyun followed him, only to discover that the cave was actually divided into two rooms. Last time, the bean stalks must have blocked the view, and they hadn’t noticed.

Now, Shu Gen’er brought everything out and set it down in front of Zhao Yunyun.

Zhao Yunyun looked at the various scraps, along with various shapes of branches and stones… She finally chose a smooth stone. “This one’s nice, I’ll take the stone.”

Shu Gen’er smiled widely, picking up all the stones and handing them to her. “Here!”

Zhao Yunyun accepted the stone, kicked it into her pocket, and then felt a handkerchief. She remembered there was still a reward, so she took it out.

She opened the handkerchief, picked up a piece of rock candy, and gestured for Shu Gen’er to open his mouth.

Shu Gen’er didn’t open his mouth.

“Aren’t you going to eat the candy?”

Shu Gen’er shook his head. “Don’t let Shu Gen’er eat candy…”

Zhao Yunyun acted quickly, and before he could react, she shoved the candy into his mouth.

“Mm.”

Zhao Yunyun smiled proudly. “Sweet, right?”

Shu Gen’er gave a silly grin, almost drooling, but quickly sucked it back in and didn’t dare open his mouth again.

On the mud wall, Chen San’er was lying on top, suddenly calling out, “Zhao Yunyun, give me a piece of candy too.”

Zhao Yunyun quickly shoved the candy back into her pocket and retorted, “Go back to dreaming.”

Then she grabbed Shu Gen’er’s hand. “Don’t stay at home waiting to get scolded. I’ll take you to the health station.”

Chen San’er pulled a blade of grass, stuck it in his mouth, and watched as the two of them walked away.

Zhao Yunyun returned to Lao Wang’s house just as Wang Lao San and the young men from the Production Team were bringing the bride back. Firecrackers went off, cracking and popping.

“How’s it going?” Zhao Yunyun leaned over and shouted in Zhao Ke’s ear.

Zhao Ke turned his head and replied, “Good!”

Zhao Yunyun beamed with pride, then looked at the bride in a bright red dress being carried off the bicycle by Wang Lao San and sighed, “She looks so beautiful. When will I get married…”

Zhao Ke didn’t hear her, following the others into the yard.

Wang Changhe and Aunt Dong invited everyone to sit down, specifically asking Zhao Ke to join the main table.

Zhao Ke wasn’t being shy and sat at the lowest-ranking seat.

The wedding ceremony began, with Zhao Xinshan presiding. He said a few words and announced that the two were now husband and wife.

Below, a group of young, energetic men began teasing, urging the couple to kiss.

The more conservative and traditional elders disapproved, shaking their heads with disapproval.

Zhao Si Ye, whose face was already stern, grew even more serious. “The young people nowadays have no shame…”

“Give her a kiss!”

A shout interrupted Zhao Si Ye’s words, and everyone at the main table turned their attention to the source—Zhao Ke.

Zhao Ke had her hand near her mouth, joining in the teasing.

Zhao Si Ye was furious. “Unbelievable!”

The groom, Wang Lao San, shyly kissed the bride on the forehead, and the atmosphere reached its peak.

Zhao Ke only then noticed that everyone at the main table was looking at her. She smiled and asked, “What’s wrong? Are you not happy?”

Zhao Si Ye: “…”

He turned his head away, not wanting to see it.

Zheng Guangmei had eaten the banquet, but no one engaged with her, leaving her so frustrated she couldn’t digest her food. On her way back, she vented her anger on Shu Gen’er.

She called out for a while, but no one responded, so she had no choice but to leave with her frustration and go to work.

Meanwhile, Zhao Ke returned to the team’s committee office, where she was drawing a map with Zhao Yunyun and talking to Shu Gen’er, who was squatting beside them. “Where are we going every noon from now on?”

Shu Gen’er answered excitedly, “By the river!”

“Right, but what do we do by the river?”

“Don’t go in the river!”

“What if some naughty kids insist on going in?”

Shu Gen’er: “Report them!”

“Shu Gen’er is really smart.” Zhao Ke rewarded him with a piece of rock candy and then asked, “What would you do if a child drowned?”

Shu Gen’er licked the candy in his mouth, speaking in a muffled tone, “Shout for help.”

“That’s right.”

Zhao Ke gave him a thumbs-up.

Shu Gen’er gave a silly grin, then asked, “What’s drowning?”

Zhao Ke and Zhao Yunyun: “…”

Looks like there’s still a long way to go.

The two exchanged a glance, and Zhao Ke explained, “It means falling into the water and shouting for help.”

Zhao Yunyun demonstrated, raising her hands above her head and waving them, “Help! Help!”

Shu Gen’er nodded seriously, memorizing it.

Half an hour later, Zhao Ke asked again.

Shu Gen’er had forgotten.

So Zhao Ke kept reinforcing the lesson and reminded him: if he ever saw a child fall into the water, he must never jump in to help by himself.

Zhao Ke even taught him to find a long branch, then use his hands and feet to cling to a tree and extend the branch to pull the child out of the water.

To be extra sure, Zhao Ke and Zhao Yunyun had him hold onto a tree while they tested it by pulling on him. It was really secure and wouldn’t drag him in, so they let him go.

From that day on, Zhao Ke made sure to give him a little food every day, and Shu Gen’er would wait by the riverbank every day. Whenever a child tried to go into the water, he would run back to shout for help.