Chapter Twenty-Four: Wickedness Meets Its Match

"Wife, wasn't Chen Hao showing off how well-off his family is? After that stunt with the roasted chicken, I bet his face turned green. Hahahaha..."

As he cycled back with his wife, Liu Weidong couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Oh, stop it. Did you buy the bicycle and the watch just to spite Chen Hao? We have much better uses for our money; why would you spend it on these?"

Although Lou Yanru tapped his back with her small fist, her face was filled with happiness.

"I’ve found other ways out for the village, so we don't need to worry about food for now. Our main job is to study hard and prepare for the college entrance exam. I want my wife to be the first educated youth from Qianjin Commune to become a university student."

Lou Yanru couldn't help but lean her face against Liu Weidong's back, listening to his strong, steady heartbeat. Married for two years, she had never felt as secure as she did now, nor had she ever been so confident about their future.

After finishing her studies, Lou Yanru lay on the heated brick bed, still staring at the watch. The luminous dial and hands glowed faintly in the darkness.

"Weidong, are we being too flashy? Even Uncle Jianguo doesn't have a watch. What will the villagers think when we go back to the settlement?"

"Wife, you don't understand. This is called the power of an example. I want the villagers to see that they shouldn't just rely on those few work points. Changing our lives depends on good national policies, as well as on studying hard and working diligently. Doesn't the radio play that song all the time? 'Happiness doesn't fall from the sky; socialism won't just arrive on its own.' Everyone shouts the slogans loud enough to shake the sky, so why not live by them?"

Lou Yanru couldn't help but hug her husband tighter. Lately, Liu Weidong had shown so many positive traits that she felt as if she were in a dream. Unknowingly, she had transformed from a woman who shouldered half the sky into a little woman who relied on her husband for everything. She found it hard to imagine how she would have managed her intense studies and the upcoming exam without him.

The next day, after dropping his wife off, Liu Weidong called the Second Production Team as usual and received some exciting news. The seed store had called that morning to say the castor seeds would be delivered before noon. Liu Weidong hurried to contact the Agricultural Research Institute.

When Secretary Zhang from the Institute heard the seeds had arrived, he told Liu Weidong to wait in the city and that he would send a car and a technician to pick him up. While waiting, Liu Weidong bought cigarettes, liquor, and canned goods; he couldn't afford to be rude to the technician coming to provide guidance.

Technician Wang was about the same age as Liu Weidong, and the two hit it off immediately.

"Weidong, Secretary Zhang specifically instructed me that whether your castor bean trial plot succeeds concerns the large-scale promotion across the entire Jiang region. Our institute is providing the laboratory equipment, pesticides, and fertilizers for free to ensure the trial's success."

"Please tell Secretary Zhang not to worry. Our team has made the trial plot a top priority; we’ll take better care of it than our own children."

Technician Wang was to be stationed at the Second Team until the seedlings sprouted. As soon as they arrived at the village, Liu Weidong’s first task was to arrange a dormitory and laboratory for Wang at the village primary school. Since the school was on break, the night watchman was the only one there, so lodging wasn't an issue.

Seeing that the Institute had provided everything, Wang Jianguo was so happy he could barely contain himself.

"Uncle Jianguo, I’m leaving two hundred yuan with you for Technician Wang’s meals. He’s an expert from the city, so send someone to the county to buy some fine flour. Don't slight him."

"Weidong, you’re being too formal. Secretary Zhang specifically told me not to add any burden to the village, and that he’d eat whatever the team members eat."

Liu Weidong gave a bitter smile. "That won't work. Our team was hit by floods, and the members can't even get enough cornmeal porridge. You’re helping us immensely by teaching them how to plant, so how could we let you go hungry?"

After unloading the supplies, Wang Jianguo sent Xu Hui to show Technician Wang the land. Wang sighed, "There's still no word on Yanru’s permanent status. If something goes wrong, I won't have the face to look at her."

Liu Weidong paused. "Uncle Jianguo, has that woman named Li Hong been made permanent?"

Wang Jianguo shook his head. "Not yet. That matter has been put on hold. I heard it's because Li Baotian got drunk, fell into a ditch, and is now hospitalized at the commune clinic."

Liu Weidong smirked. "How is the firewood collection going? How much have we gathered?"

At the mention of firewood, Wang Jianguo's eyes lit up. He led Liu Weidong to the threshing floor, where a small mountain of wood was piled up—at least a hundred cubic meters. Liu Weidong inspected it; the ends were cut square, the sizes were correct, and it had clearly been carefully selected. He nodded repeatedly.

"Selling this batch of wood will be enough to buy tens of thousands of pounds of grain. Our village can hold out for a few more months."

With that, Liu Weidong pulled out the receipt from the Chinese medicine station. "Uncle Jianguo, while things aren't too busy, mobilize the women and children to go up the mountain and gather herbs. We’ve suffered a disaster this year, so we must increase income and reduce expenditure. We can't just beg for food from the village."

Wang Jianguo nodded and tucked the invoice into his pocket. After arranging everything, Liu Weidong called the seed store to get their bank account number and then asked Sun Wang to take him to the commune clinic.

As he walked toward the clinic, Liu Weidong pondered Lou Yanru’s situation. Zhao Lijun should have already spoken to the county leaders. Li Baotian was likely using his injury to stall, knowing full well the real purpose behind Yanru’s permanent status, and was just playing games with him.

As soon as Liu Weidong entered the ward, he saw Li Baotian lying in bed with one leg suspended and bandages wrapped around his head and arm. Liu Xiufen was sitting by the bed, feeding him porridge. Seeing Liu Weidong, Li Baotian immediately began to groan.

Liu Xiufen, unaware of the affair Liu Weidong had witnessed, snorted when she saw him and stood up to wash the lunch box.

"Director Li, your injury seems quite serious. With you hospitalized, has the work at the Educated Youth Office come to a standstill? When will you fulfill your promise to me?"

"Ouch... my back, my head hurts... Weidong, your uncle’s body really isn't what it used to be. As soon as I feel better, I'll stamp the papers for Yanru." Li Baotian whimpered, closing his eyes and playing dead.

Liu Weidong chuckled. "Funny thing, you and your wife haven't seen the photos yet, have you? I’ve been dreaming of Li Hong’s naked body and that scar on your backside for days. Your wife has been very kind to me, treating me like her own nephew. Such nice photos—I really ought to show them to her."

Saying this, Liu Weidong opened his leather bag and shoved a six-inch black-and-white photo right into Li Baotian’s face.

"Nephew, what are you doing? Don't..." Li Baotian was so terrified he nearly fell off the bed. Just then, Liu Xiufen’s cursing could be heard from the doorway.

"Liu Weidong, you little brat, what do you think you're doing? You followed him to the hospital to bully him? I'll fight you to the death!"