Chapter 21: You’re Su Tangxue?

Zhang Yunlan saw that the other party was a woman too, so she didn’t press the issue further.

As she pulled up her pants, she studied the person in front of her. This young woman’s face was as delicate as a peeled egg, completely unlike those of them who toiled in the fields every day. Just one look, and it was obvious she hadn’t suffered much in life.

She had been in Shanghe Village for five years, yet she had never seen this girl before. Could she be new?

Only when she heard Lu Shan call out “Su Tangxue” from behind did her brain finally catch up. This unfamiliar beauty in front of her was the very Su Tangxue that Wang Xifeng had complained about yesterday.

It was because of this woman that she had been harshly scolded by Wang Xifeng. She was still upset about it.

Seeing Su Tangxue was about to leave, Zhang Yunlan quickly called out to stop her.

Su Tangxue turned back, looking confused.

“You’re Su Tangxue?”

“Yes, I am.”

Zhang Yunlan took a self-righteous tone. “You haven’t apologized for what just happened.”

Su Tangxue subtly frowned. “I already did.”

“I didn’t hear it. That doesn’t count.”

Thinking that it was indeed her fault, Su Tangxue held her temper and apologized again.

“Be more careful next time. This time I let it slide, but next time if it’s someone else, a simple sorry might not be enough.” Zhang Yunlan said haughtily.

Su Tangxue felt Zhang Yunlan was exactly that “someone else.” Normally, people would just walk away after being walked in on like that, not act all entitled.

“Oh? Then you should be careful too. This time it was me. Next time, someone else might think that rustling in the bushes is a wild boar or something and shoot an arrow. You might not even be around to hear anyone apologize.”

“You… you’re impossible!”

Zhang Yunlan still wanted to say more, but then a voice called out from the grass behind her.

It was then that Su Tangxue realized this woman was Zhang Yunlan. According to the book, Zhang Yunlan was a sent-down youth assigned to Shanghe Village. Losing hope of returning to the city, she set her sights on Wang Xifeng’s brother, Wang Baogui.

Wang Baogui was considered quite successful in Shanghe Village—he worked at a county factory.

To marry him, Zhang Yunlan went out of her way to please Wang Xifeng.

In the novel, she always had a nasty attitude toward other women.

Liao Haimei looked furious as she scolded Zhang Yunlan, who had been slacking off. “Zhang Yunlan, even something as easy as cutting pigweed and you still make it complicated. Next time, I’ll have the team leader assign you to clean the pigsty. Let’s see if you still want to be lazy then!”

Cutting pigweed was the easiest task, even a child could do it. Yet Zhang Yunlan didn’t appreciate it and still tried to shirk her duties.

Liao Haimei couldn’t understand what was going through her head.

Faced with Liao Haimei’s scolding, Zhang Yunlan lost all her earlier arrogance.

Liao Haimei was an older sent-down youth and not someone she could afford to offend. She had no choice but to lower her head and mumble a few reluctant words.

“Still talking back? I’ll report you tonight and have you reassigned to clean the pigsty!”

“No, Sister Haimei! I was wrong. I’ll get right back to cutting pigweed!”

Liao Haimei rolled her eyes at her. “Hmph, I hope you mean it this time.”

Meanwhile, Su Tangxue had been pulled away by Lu Shan.

She jogged back to her fourth brother and saw him holding a bird’s nest. When she leaned in, she saw four newborn chicks inside.

“Oh my god, Fourth Brother, where did you find this?”

Lu Shan pointed to a tall tree nearby. “I climbed up and took it just now.”

Su Tangxue looked at the five-meter-tall tree, then at her brother’s proud face.

Now she understood why their second uncle always wanted to beat him up.

This boy really deserved a beating!

“Fourth Brother, you took the nest down—what about the mama bird?”

“No need to worry. She’s in my pocket.”

As he spoke, Lu Shan pulled out a dead sparrow. “I shot her down just now.”

Su Tangxue stared at the lifeless bird in his hand, choking on her words.

What was she even supposed to say?

“So what about the chicks in the nest?”

Lu Shan thought for a moment. “If you like them, you can raise them.”

“Okay, then I’ll take them home and raise them!” Su Tangxue took over eagerly.

“Little sis, those birds won’t get tame. Once their wings grow, they’ll fly away. You’d be better off raising a dog.”

Su Tangxue was busy playing with the chicks in her hand and completely ignored Lu Shan, just nodding absentmindedly.

“Little sis, you stay here and play. I’m going to catch more rabbits.”

Now that she had her new pets, Su Tangxue didn’t even look at Lu Shan. She just waved a hand without looking up. “Go ahead, Fourth Brother. Just be careful.”

She sat under the tree waiting for Lu Shan. Meanwhile, Zhang Yunlan and the others were cutting pigweed nearby.

Su Tangxue looked up—there were about seven or eight people, one of whom was a child.

After greeting her, Liao Haimei directed everyone to start working.

Zhang Yunlan swung her sickle under the blazing sun and, seeing Su Tangxue lounging in the shade, felt it was unfair.

Fuming, she inched closer and closer to Su Tangxue with the sickle in hand.

Just as Su Tangxue finished playing with the chicks and looked up, she saw Zhang Yunlan approaching with the sickle.

“Move aside. If you’re not working, don’t block the way. This sickle isn’t smart—you get in the way, don’t blame me if you get cut.”

Su Tangxue looked out at the large field of pigweed, all lush and green. Yet Zhang Yunlan didn’t cut elsewhere and insisted on coming over to her side. If that wasn’t deliberate, then what was?

“Big sis, come over to my spot. It’s cooler here.”

Su Tangxue turned and saw the little boy from earlier. He was sitting in a shady spot.

So she carried her bird’s nest over and sat beside him.

She looked him over carefully—his arms were thin, and he looked severely malnourished. Yet earlier she had seen him carrying a basket of pigweed bigger than himself. She couldn’t help but be impressed by his strength.

“Hey kid, what’s your name?”

Bored, Su Tangxue started chatting with the child.

Unexpectedly, he wasn’t shy and answered right away.

“Big sister, everyone calls me Gouwa (Doggie).”

Su Tangxue’s eyes widened. “That’s your name?”

“No, but that’s what they all call me.”

“Kids your age usually play all day. Why aren’t you playing with them?” she asked curiously.

“The more I do, the less my mom has to do. That way, she won’t be so tired.”

In that moment, Su Tangxue felt deep admiration and compassion for the boy. He was so filial and bore responsibilities no child his age should have to carry.

Just as she opened her mouth to say something, Zhang Yunlan’s shrill voice drowned her out.

“Gouwa! You’ve rested long enough—get back to work! Or do you want your work points taken away?”

Su Tangxue watched as the little boy beside her silently picked up his sickle again.

“Rest a little longer. The sun is too strong—you’ll get heatstroke.” Su Tangxue grabbed his arm, eyes full of concern.

He had just sat down—hadn’t even warmed the spot—and now Zhang Yunlan was yelling at him.

She probably saw the boy chatting with Su Tangxue and took out her frustration on him.

Su Tangxue was disgusted by Zhang Yunlan’s behavior.

“It’s okay, big sister. I have to go work,” Gouwa said, gently pulling away.