Zhang Yunxi nodded: “Not bad.”

Before coming to the school, she had prepared herself for a big battle. She didn’t expect to just watch a show, and it turned out to be quite satisfying.

The person who made false accusations was punished, and the one who wanted to hit Zhao Mo got beaten up.

Ah.

Indeed, winning without lifting a finger is the most satisfying.

Seeing Zhao Rencheng still standing there, Zhang Yunxi awkwardly rubbed her nose, then straightened up and said seriously: “As the captain of our village’s militia, you’ve done an excellent job. You’ve managed to intimidate the villagers and quickly uncover the truth of the matter. As the parent of the victim, I deeply admire you.”

Zhao Rencheng seemed about to say something but stopped himself.

Er Gouzi: “Hahaha…”

Zhao Mo pursed her lips, trying to hold back her laughter.

For some reason, even though her aunt was praising him, it somehow felt sarcastic.

Zhao Rencheng said irritably: “I thank you for your admiration.”

“Ah, you’re welcome.”

Zhang Yunxi waved her hand politely.

Actually, she was quite surprised.

So the villagers were really that afraid of him.

Even the children would quickly confess their mistakes when they saw him.

Impressive!

Zhao Rencheng was speechless. “Go back to work. You haven’t earned your four work points today, have you?”

Zhang Yunxi’s smile faded. “Today, my Zhao Mo’s heart was hurt. I need to stay with her.”

“She’s not that fragile,” Zhao Rencheng said. “Go on.”

Zhang Yunxi was annoyed.

She walked forward sullenly.

But she didn’t forget to call out to Er Gouzi: “You were super cool today. Come find me later with Zhao Mo, and I’ll give you both some candy.”

“Okay, Auntie, you’re the best!”

Er Gouzi was delighted.

Zhao Rencheng suddenly realized why Zhang Yunxi got along so well with Er Gouzi.

Both of them were thick-skinned!

Zhao Rencheng didn’t quite understand.

How could such a nice girl be like this?

It completely overturned his first impression of her.

At first, he thought she’d be a delicate, pampered girl.

The second time he saw her, she was holding a knife, bold and clever.

The third time, she was crying and demanding her money back, quite cunning.

Later, he felt like the little girl was full of mischief.

Quite interesting.

Zhao Mo glanced at Uncle Zhao, feeling that the way he looked at her aunt was a bit strange.

Zhao Rencheng was about to ask Zhao Mo why she was staring at him.

Just then, the postman arrived, pulling a letter out of his green bag and handing it to him. “Brother Zhao, you have two letters.”

“Alright.”

Zhao Rencheng took the letters and told Zhao Mo to go home. He then headed to the village office.

The people who wrote to him were either his former comrades, the old leader from the cowshed, or the middleman who helped him connect with the black market for buying and selling leather shoes.

Zhao Rencheng opened the middleman’s letter first.

It read: “Money is possible, but the deadline is tight.”

The middleman was a child he had once saved. Over the past year or so, it was through his mediation that Zhao Rencheng had been able to earn money for the old leader.

Last time, fearing the old leader’s health might take a turn for the worse, Zhao Rencheng had asked the middleman if he could secure a three-thousand-Yuan order.

A three-thousand-Yuan order.

He could make two thousand Yuan from it!

Zhao Rencheng was quite satisfied with the response, but when he opened the next letter, his heart sank.

The old leader’s leg was indeed in bad shape, and the pain kept him awake day and night.

If they wanted to find a doctor he trusted to perform the surgery, remove the tumor, and install a prosthetic, Zhao Rencheng would need to earn two thousand Yuan before the doctor left. The doctor willing to perform the surgery was a military doctor who had come from the capital to train local doctors!

The military doctor was taking a huge risk, but he simply didn’t have the money to buy the materials needed for the old leader’s surgery.

If they were to proceed with the surgery,

Zhao Rencheng would have to provide the money!

The military doctor would then secretly purchase the materials and stage a fake surgery with his closest family members to cover the cost of the surgical equipment.

Starting tomorrow, the doctor would only be here for ten more days!

Earning two thousand Yuan in ten days.

It was an almost impossible task!

Even if he slept only five hours a day, plus six hours for cooking, eating, and bathing,

He could make one pair of shoes per hour.

Sixteen pairs of shoes a day.

Each pair of leather shoes sold for thirteen Yuan. For three thousand Yuan s’ worth of shoes, he’d need to make about 230 pairs.

In ten days, he could make at most 160 pairs!

Unless he worked non-stop, which Zhao Rencheng knew was impossible.

He currently had about three hundred Yuan on hand.

That would cover another twenty pairs.

But he’d still be short by forty pairs!!!

Zhao Rencheng clenched the letter. He couldn’t give up on the old leader. He wasn’t just the leader who had promoted him; he was a hero of the people!

Zhao Rencheng tried to think of ways to cut down on sleep or save time on eating and bathing.

But…

Ten days with only four hours of sleep.

And making shoes was physically demanding work. Zhao Rencheng wasn’t sure if he could handle it.

He could push through, maybe.

But what about the remaining twenty pairs?

If all else failed, he could borrow money from the Brigade leader, the accountant, or some of his peers. He had a job and could repay the debt. They might… be willing to lend him the money!

Maybe…

Perhaps if he improved his shoemaking speed, he could finish the order and avoid borrowing.

After all, Zhao Rencheng had been in the village long enough to know that most people didn’t have much money. Life was tight, and not everyone had enough to eat.

Zhao Rencheng had a headache, but he couldn’t afford to waste time. He needed to go ask for leave, cross a mountain to the neighboring city’s black market, and get pigskin, cowhide, and the small tools needed to make shoes.

Once he made up his mind, Zhao Rencheng went to find the Brigade leader.

“Uncle, I’ve told you before that after I was shot, I developed some complications, which is why I had to come back.”

“What’s wrong?”

Brigade leader Zhao looked at him with concern. “Has your injury flared up again?”

“Yeah, I’m not feeling well. I’m struggling to keep going. Can I take ten days off?”

“This isn’t just about taking time off. Shouldn’t you go to the hospital? You’re still young; we can’t afford to let any long-term damage set in.” Brigade leader Zhao had watched his nephew grow up and was extremely proud of him. He was also terrified something might happen to him. “You can’t go alone. I’ll call your brother and have him accompany you to the provincial hospital.”

“No, when I was in the military, I saw a specialist. I already have the medication. The doctor said I just need to take the medicine and rest for ten days. I need peace and quiet. No one should disturb me. After ten days, I’ll be fine. It’s nothing serious.” Zhao Rencheng paused, then added, “I get dizzy easily. If someone comes to see me, it might upset me.”

“That serious!”

Brigade Zhao was startled. “Alright, don’t worry. I’ll make sure no one from the village bothers you. Rest well. Is ten days enough? Do you need an extra day or two?”

“…That would be good.”

“What about your meals? Should I bring you some food?” Brigade leader Zhao asked, his slightly cloudy eyes filled with worry and concern.

“No, I’ll cook for myself. If you come, it’ll be too noisy. I get irritated easily, and that affects my nerves.”

“Alright, alright. We won’t disturb you. Wait here, I’ll go home and get you some eggs. You need to nourish yourself when you’re sick.”

Brigade leader Zhao hurried off to get the eggs, still shocked that such a condition existed. But Zhao Rencheng had always been the hardest worker since he was a child. If he wasn’t at his limit, he wouldn’t have said such things.

…

In Chinese period novels, “in the cowshed” (牛棚, niúpéng) refers to political persecution during the Cultural Revolution, where people labeled as “class enemies” were detained, humiliated, and forced into labor or “thought reform.” It symbolizes disgrace and suffering.