Chapter 15 Testify for Her

“This bitch! I won’t let her get away with this!” Jiang Li reluctantly left Mu Jingxun’s embrace, thanked him, and got off the train. Mu Jingxun’s ears were slightly red as he replied, “You’re welcome.” When Jiang Li had fallen into his arms, he had smelled a faint, sweet fragrance.  The scent was pleasant; his heart beat faster. He had met many women, but none had given him this feeling.

Liu Yulan, seeing Jiang Li get off safely without falling, was disappointed.  It was a good opportunity, but she had failed. It was all Mu Jingxun’s fault; if he hadn’t interfered, Jiang Li would have fallen. Liu Yulan got off the train, but as soon as she did, Jiang Li slapped her. Jiang Li, unlike the original owner, wasn’t someone who would take things lying down. Liu Yulan had tried to harm her; Jiang Li had to retaliate.

 Liu Yulan screamed in pain, “Jiang Li, you hit me!” Jiang Li sneered, “You tried to harm me, and I can’t hit you back? Liu Yulan, you pushed me, didn’t you? If it weren’t for Mu Jingxun, I would have fallen.” Liu Yulan denied it. “Many people were getting off; I accidentally bumped into you. It was unintentional. You’re being excessive.” Sun Wenwen, seeing a chance to discredit Jiang Li, said, “Jiang Zhiqing, you’re being petty.

Liu Zhiqing accidentally bumped into you, and you hit her.” She glanced at Mu Jingxun, hoping to influence his impression of Jiang Li.  Some educated youth thought Jiang Li had gone too far. Mu Jingxun stepped forward. “Liu Zhiqing, I saw you deliberately push Jiang Zhiqing.

Why are you lying?” Bai Ziyong testified, “Yes, I saw you push her.” Another female educated youth, seeing Mu Jingxun and Bai Ziyong testify, also spoke up.

 The onlookers, initially thinking Jiang Li was wrong, now felt Liu Yulan was at fault.  She had deliberately pushed Jiang Li; if Jiang Li had fallen, she could have been seriously injured.  Jiang Li only slapped her back; she got off lightly.

  She hadn’t repented and even framed Jiang Li. It was fortunate that witnesses were present. Jiang Li looked at Mu Jingxun and Bai Ziyong. She had planned to use a truth-telling charm on Liu Yulan, but they had helped her. She would repay their kindness.  She gave the female witness a protective charm. 

Seeing no one supporting her, Liu Yulan angrily covered her face. Sun Wenwen’s face burned. She had tried to damage Mu Jingxun’s impression of Jiang Li; now, he probably thought she was foolish. After getting off the train, those going to Anfeng County boarded a bus. The bus ride to the county took about an hour. The roads were bumpy, and many educated youth got carsick. Jiang Li, however, was unaffected.

She had given Mu Jingxun and Bai Ziyong balance charms; they weren’t carsick either. The bus finally stopped in Anfeng County.

  The county’s Youth League office staff were waiting for the new arrivals. They assigned them to their destinations and gave them a 40 yuan subsidy.  The subsidy was lower in Northeast China because of abundant resources.  In poorer areas like Northwest China, the subsidy was 80 yuan.

Everyone was happy to receive the subsidy.  The educated youth then learned their assigned destinations. Jiang Li, Liu Yulan, Sun Wenwen, Mu Jingxun, and Bai Ziyong were all assigned to the Shengli Production Brigade of the Hongqi Commune in Anfeng County.

 Sun Wenwen and Liu Yulan’s faces fell; they hadn’t expected Jiang Li to be assigned to the same place. Mu Jingxun and Bai Ziyong were pleased; they found Jiang Li interesting and thought their time in the countryside would be more fun.

 “Mu Jingxun, Bai Ziyong, Jiang Li, Sun Wenwen, Liu Yulan, come here.” A deep, middle-aged voice called out. It was Li Changping, the brigade leader of the Shengli Production Brigade. Jiang Li and the others went to him, carrying their luggage. Li Changping looked them over. He was satisfied with Mu Jingxun and Bai Ziyong; they looked tall and strong and were well-dressed, indicating they were wealthy.

Wealthy people were good; they wouldn’t need to borrow grain from the brigade if they couldn’t earn enough work points. Li Changping nodded, then looked at Jiang Li. Initially, seeing her frail physique, he wanted to frown, but seeing her carry several large packages without any strain, he realized she wasn’t as simple as she appeared.

 She was also well-dressed, putting his mind at ease.  Although she was a female educated youth, she wouldn’t be a burden on the production team. When Li Changping looked at Sun Wenwen and Liu Yulan, his disdain was evident.