Spring planting had begun, and Xu Ning was digging in the fields with the village aunties and the young women from the youth commune.

The grass hadn’t yet grown, so there was no need to cut pig grass. Xu An followed the village children, collecting the roots that had been unearthed, while Xu Mo trailed behind Xu An, picking up the scraps.

During a break, Wei Lanlan, Yang Xiaomei, and Xu Ning sat together chatting. Lin Miao, Gu Wenjing, and two other young women from the commune gathered nearby, with several children scavenging around them for roots.

Lin Miao took a piece of candy from her pocket and offered it to Xu Mo. “Here, little friend, have some candy. Where are you from? What did your parents do before?”

Lin Miao thought to herself that these people would be returning to the city in a few years, and making connections now could be beneficial later.

However, Xu Mo ignored her question, choosing instead to move to another spot to continue gathering roots, distancing herself from Lin Miao. The hand that held the candy remained suspended in the air, leaving Lin Miao feeling somewhat awkward.

Gu Wenjing, visibly annoyed, exclaimed, “Lin Miao, why are you bothering with that little brat? None of them are good people.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Xu An, who was picking up grass roots beside her, accidentally stumbled and fell against her. The basket on his back landed on her head.

The basket wasn’t heavy; it was filled with grass roots. Xu An quickly went to retrieve it, but in his haste, he accidentally pushed the basket back onto Gu Wenjing’s head.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” he exclaimed, tugging at the basket. “I thought everyone was digging over there and didn’t see you sitting here.”

As he pulled down the basket from Gu Wenjing’s head, her hair got tangled in the gap.

Gu Wenjing screamed in pain, shouting, “You little brat, get away! Take your dirty hands off me! If you pull my hair again, I’ll beat you up!”

Lin Miao, standing nearby, immediately got up to help remove the basket from Gu Wenjing’s head. However, the more they tugged, the messier it became, and they ended up pulling out a strand of Gu Wenjing’s hair.

Gu Wenjing stood up, raised her hand and slapped Xu An. Xu Ning, from behind, grabbed her hair and pulled her down to the ground, taking Lin Miao, who was standing next to her, down as well.

Xu Ning sat on top of Gu Wenjing and began to slap her face repeatedly.

Xu Ning, still striking Gu Wenjing, said between slaps, “This is what you get for being so mouthy! I warned you last time not to bully the kids. Since you can’t control yourself, I’ll teach you a lesson on behalf of your parents!”

Lin Miao, finally regaining her composure, got up from the ground and pulled at Xu Ning’s arm, exclaiming, “Xu Zhiqing, what are you doing? Why are you hitting people?” She yanked Xu Ning hard to the side.

Feeling Lin Miao tugging at her, Gu Wenjing, still struggling beneath Xu Ning, kicked Lin Miao in the calf.

Xu An grabbed the back of Lin Miao’s clothes, pulling her backward, while Xu Mo stepped forward and bit Lin Miao’s hand that was holding Xu Ning. Er Dan and another child clung to Lin Miao’s legs, trying to pull her away. Lin Miao cried out in pain and let go.

Her cry snapped the nearby young women and the older ladies out of their stupor. Several of them hurried over to separate the tangled mess, and soon the young men also came running over upon hearing the commotion.

Gu Wenping saw the disheveled state of Gu Wenjing and Lin Miao, with Lin Miao’s bun undone and Gu Wenjing’s face swollen, her hair a complete mess.

“What’s going on? Who started this?” he shouted. Before Xu Ning could respond, the village head arrived, having heard that a fight had broken out among the youth.

Seeing the village head approach, Xu An immediately began to recount the events, “Uncle Village Head, when I was over there picking up grass roots, I saw the aunts and the young people digging in front…”

“I didn’t see anyone sitting nearby, and the basket accidentally bumped into Gu Zhiqing’s head, getting caught in her hair.

I apologized to her, but she called me a little brat and said she would beat me up and slapped me. Then my sister came over to pull her away.

Gu Zhiqing started fighting with my sister, and Lin Zhiqing also rushed in to help Gu Zhiqing attack my sister.

I grabbed her clothes to stop her from hitting my sister, but then the aunts came and pulled us apart.”

Gu Wenjing retorted angrily, “You’re lying! You deliberately put the basket on my head. Xu Ning yanked my hair from behind and dragged me to the ground, then sat on me and slapped my face!”

Xu Ning rolled her eyes at her and said, “If you hadn’t gone to slap my brother first and insulted him, would I have hit you? You’re such a big person—how can you bully a child? Have you no shame? And you had Lin Miao helping you, attacking me while I was alone!”

Lin Miao hurriedly explained, “I wasn’t helping Wenjing hit you; I was planning to break up the fight!”

Xu Ning immediately retorted sarcastically, “You were going to break up the fight? More like you were taking sides, letting Gu Wenjing hit me!”

“When Gu Wenjing tried to slap my brother, why didn’t you step in? Hmph, what kind of person are you? Just because I didn’t let you stay at my house last time, you’re holding a grudge, aren’t you?

Do you know why I didn’t let you stay? It’s because you lack basic awareness.

Uncle Village Head, I request to be separated from Lin Miao and Gu Wenjing at work. I’m afraid being around people like them—sneaky and underhanded—will affect my work ethic.”

Gu Wenping glared at Lin Miao and said, “Xu Zhiqing, your words are impressive. You claim they hit you, but how come you have no injuries? My sister’s face is swollen from where you hit her.”

Xu Ning looked at him defiantly and replied, “In a fight, it’s always about you hitting me, and me hitting you. Of course, you’d prefer it if I got hit.

But what can I say? They couldn’t stand their ground; both of them couldn’t even handle me. Not only are they poor fighters, but they’re also not very good at work.

Both of them are bigger than me, yet I still earned more work points. If you’re embarrassed by them, why don’t you teach them better at home? Why ask me? Am I supposed to just stand there and let them hit me? I’m not crazy,” she said, rolling her eyes at him.

Gu Wenping was speechless.

This farce ended with the village head deciding to transfer Lin Miao and Gu Wenjing to the group of the young men.

(Tl/SakuRa: I looove how cool Xu Ning is! She’s so fierce!!! Also the kidsss xD)