Chapter 84.2

It turned out that one cannot play games with intellectuals. Once things get serious, they can turn the tables on you while remaining blameless. Anyone who hears about what happened today would praise her for being open and straightforward.

This echoed what her husband often said, what was it called again?

Open conspiracy.

Yes, it’s an open conspiracy.

Considering their good relationship over the years and being neighbors, Wang Xiuzhi finally advised Hu Mei, “Xiao Hu, don’t keep arguing with Comrade Lu. You can’t fight against the bigger picture. The matter with Old Song has already been decided. What’s the point of continuing this argument?”

However, Hu Mei didn’t appreciate the advice and angrily retorted, “Oh, I see! You two have started to curry favor with Lu Nong and have turned against me, right?”

“I’m just voicing my frustration. Did you not see that when Lu Nong arrived, Director Leng immediately assigned my work to her?”

Liu Erniu was infuriated by Hu Mei’s indignant attitude, “How is that even yours? Didn’t you fail the interview? Director Leng was just letting Lu Nong give it a try; that’s perfectly reasonable!”

Hu Mei was convinced that Liu Erniu and Wang Xiuzhi had switched their allegiance to Lu Nong. When they were at the Pei family, they didn’t support her and instead hindered her. Now that they were outside the Pei family, they were blaming her.

Clenching her fists, Hu Mei turned and walked away, leaving Liu Erniu and Wang Xiuzhi behind.

“What kind of person is this?” Liu Erniu fumed, “If I try to persuade her again, my mother-in-law will bully me to death.”

Wang Xiuzhi: “…” There’s no need to swear such an oath.

Meanwhile, after returning home, Director Leng couldn’t help but chuckle at how a single comment from Lu Nong had flipped the situation. 

That Xiao Lu has some narrow-mindedness. Hu Mei was no match for her.

“Mom, what’s so funny?” Director Leng’s daughter, Li Li, asked curiously, while her brother, Li Ke, also glanced at her, intrigued.

Director Leng recounted the events at the Pei family, which piqued Li Li’s interest in Lu Nong. She already knew Lu Nong was good-looking, but hearing her mother speak made her realize that Lu Nong also had a good character, making her a worthy friend.

However, Li Ke shook his head while laughing, echoing his mother’s sentiments, “She’s worldly but not cynical, smooth yet still innocent.”

Director Leng nodded in approval of her son’s assessment, “She’s truly a likable and clever person. Pei Ji’an is fortunate.”

“What are you two talking about?” Li Li inquired, looking from her mother to her brother.

Li Ke shrugged, while Director Leng tapped Li Li on the forehead, “I told you to study more, but you just wouldn’t listen. Xianglan can’t learn from you in the future. She loves to study. You are not allowed to let her take care of Xiao Peng anymore. Do you hear me?”

Li Li was so annoyed by her mother, “What’s the point of a girl studying? You can just marry a good husband and live a good life. Look, I’m doing fine now, aren’t I?”

Director Leng frowned, “You live a good life because of your father.”

“Yes, whether a woman lives a good life ultimately depends on her father and brothers. What’s the point of studying? Even the college entrance examination has been suspended.” Li Li had her own reasons.

Director Leng fell silent, sighing inwardly. Her daughter was born a decade earlier than her son. During her childhood, the country was engulfed in war, and she and her husband feared that their daughter would suffer, so they left her in their hometown to grow up.

However, when they brought her back after peace was restored, the child’s thinking had been shaped by the old traditions of valuing sons over daughters and the belief that women shouldn’t be educated. This led to her disinterest in studies and lack of ambition.

Feeling guilty, they raised her with leniency, but eventually, their daughter became someone who could not change, and despite being grown, she could barely read.

They had no choice but to find her a simple and honest husband, hoping she would live a peaceful life.

Now, changing her daughter’s mindset seemed impossible, but she couldn’t let her granddaughter fall behind because of it.

Director Leng steeled herself and said sternly, “You can rely on your father to live comfortably, but can your daughter rely on her father for her entire life?”

Li Li was embarrassed. Her husband was honest and upright, but if you compared him to her father, he didn’t even measure up.

“That’s because you two picked him for me, and now you’re complaining that he lacks ability,” Li Li grumbled. Then she argued assertively, “Our Xianglan will rely on her brother and Xiao Peng in the future.”

Director Leng laughed at her, “You have a brother too, why don’t you ask your brother if he’ll support you?”

Li Li glared at Li Ke, urging him to say something nice.

Li Ke remained calm, replying seriously to Li Li, “Aren’t you always quoting Grandma’s old sayings? There’s an old saying that a married daughter is like spilled water. I’ll have my future wife and daughter to support, so don’t count on me.”

Li Li was furious and threw a book at Li Ke.

“After all this talk, isn’t it just to let Xianglan study?” Li Li challenged. “Didn’t Mom say that Lu Nong is clever? How many years of school did she go through? Mom, why don’t you tell us?”

Director Leng was taken aback. She actually didn’t know Lu Nong’s educational background. She had forgotten to ask earlier.

Seeing this, Li Li smirked, “You don’t even know, yet you use her as an example to criticize me. She might not have read a single book and is just naturally smart.”

“Wait, I’ll call now,” Director Leng said, annoyed by her troublesome daughter. She picked up the phone and called the personnel department. “Hello, is this Old Zhang? I want to inquire about Lu Nong, the wife of Deputy Division Commander Pei…”

Lu Nong’s identity records weren’t classified information; at least someone of Director Leng’s rank had the right to know.

“Okay, I’ll wait here. Yeah, I’ll wait for you. Thank you, Old Zhang.”

After hanging up the phone, Director Leng said irritably to her daughter, “Just wait and you’ll know whether studying is useful or not.”

Li Li and Li Ke stopped their banter, put down their work, and waited in silence for the call to come through.

After a while, the phone rang.

Li Li was quicker than Director Leng and picked up the phone. She mouthed, “I’m afraid you’ll backtrack on your word.”

Director Leng rolled her eyes.

“Hello, Uncle Zhang, my mom is right here. Go ahead, I’m listening. Okay, please tell me.”

After listening for a long time, Li Li’s jaw dropped in shock, leaving her speechless.

Director Leng asked from the side, “What’s going on? What did you hear?”

Li Li and Director Leng exchanged wide-eyed looks, closing their mouths in disbelief.

“This child,” Director Leng took the phone, “Hello, Old Zhang, it’s me. Can you repeat that? Uh-huh, I’m listening. Yes, just tell me about her education.”

“Comrade Lu Nong has a university degree and graduated from the History Department of Peking University. Impressive! Her records show she was admitted to Peking University at just fourteen years old, but for some unknown reason, she dropped out and only completed her studies last year.”

“Also…”

Director Leng was stunned after listening. She was sure that Lu Nong must have received an education, but she didn’t expect her to have such a high level of academic achievement, which shocked her. Now that she thought about it, suggesting that Lu Nong become an elementary school teacher was truly underestimating her abilities.

No wonder Lu Nong didn’t compete with Hu Mei. Doing so would only diminish her worth.

Li Ke noticed that neither his mother nor his sister reacted with joy after the phone call, which seemed off. He frowned slightly and asked, “What level of education does she have?”

Li Li, seemingly in a daze, replied, “She graduated from Peking University. They say she’s a genius. Looks like studying really does pay off. At least she married a deputy commander at a young age.”

Li Ke: “…” While the first part of her statement was accurate, the latter part didn’t quite fit. What a troublesome sister he had.

At the Pei family.

After Director Leng and the other three left, Lu Nong collapsed on the sofa. Today, her leisurely days were officially over. She would have to go to the propaganda department’s work whether she liked it or not.

She lamented the loss of her lazy life.

Just as she was sighing over her impending busyness, a voice from outside called out, “Aunt Wu, here’s your mail.”

Lu Nong got up and went to the door. The mailman, blushing, handed her the letters before hopping back on his bicycle and leaving.

There were two letters in total: one from the capital and one from the military, neither having a return address.

Lu Nong’s heart stirred as she first opened the letter stamped from the military, and indeed it was from Pei Ji’an.

The content of the letter was concise; it was a note to assure her of his safety without unnecessary details. He only mentioned that he was well and asked the family not to worry or reply.

After reading the few hundred words many times, Lu Nong couldn’t help but pick up a pen to write a response.

She poured out stories about the interesting and frustrating things she had encountered lately. However, after finishing, her enthusiasm waned as she realized that this letter would never be sent.

She shoved the letter haphazardly into a book on the shelf.

Then she opened the envelope from Pei Zheng and found good news. Pei Zheng had graduated early and was already on his way from the capital, and according to her calculations, he would soon reach the military base.

Lu Nong:！？

Pei Xiaozheng was awesome! He graduated without any fuss.

Outside the mountains, Pei Zheng was limping along the countryside path with his luggage.

Unfortunately for him, the bus he took had broken down. The villagers he traveled with often encountered such problems and, without hesitation, would ask the conductor for a refund and simply walk home with their belongings.

Pei Zheng was forced off the bus by the conductor and driver.

He had to ask the villagers about the final destination of the bus to the military camp, then heft his luggage and follow them on foot.

As they walked, the group gradually dispersed, leaving Pei Zheng alone on the road, still about ten miles away from the destination the villagers mentioned.

Just when misfortune struck, he stumbled into a muddy pit and fell hard.

Pei Zheng sighed, wishing for a car to save him.

Lost in thought, he suddenly spotted a donkey cart approaching from a distance.

Pei Zheng: … Would it be effective to wish for a car now?

The donkey cart was already a surprise. As it drew closer, he waved his hand eagerly and called out, “Fellow comrade, can you give me a ride?”

An old farmer stepped down from the cart. To Pei Zheng’s surprise, he spoke some Mandarin. Seeing Pei Zheng struggling with a large bag and panting, the farmer couldn’t bear to refuse him and said, “Young man, where are you headed? We’re going to the Yushui Brigade, but if it’s out of the way, I can’t take you.”

“To the military stationed here, comrade. Is that on your way?” Pei Zheng replied.

The farmer answered, “As luck would have it, we’re headed in the same direction. You can put your things in the cart and sit for a while. There are a few young educated youth girls in the cart as well.”

Pei Zheng had noticed a few girls on the cart before but hadn’t looked closely. Upon hearing the farmer’s words, he immediately nodded and said, “Don’t worry, I won’t take a seat. I just need to put my luggage on the cart.”

“Alright, put it on then,” the farmer replied.

Pei Zheng placed his belongings onto the donkey cart, unaware of the glint of interest in the eyes of the girls as they looked at him.