Chapter 80 A Win-Win Situation

Chapter 80 A Win-Win Situation

In the dead of night, Tang Yuan and the others woke up, holding lanterns and flashlights as they stood in their plot of land, looking at Aunt Zhang covered in rotting leaves and vegetable scraps, all speechless.

Naturally, they also saw the vegetables in the garden that had been destroyed.

Grandma Feng, fearing Dad Tang would be embarrassed and that Tang Yuan, as a junior, wouldn't dare to question Aunt Zhang, shouted, "Zhang Lianhua, why are you here ruining our vegetable garden in the middle of the night? What were you thinking? Has your brain been soaked in manure?"

Although the ruined vegetables weren't worth much, with vegetables being abundant and most fed to pigs, the act itself was deeply unpleasant.

Aunt Zhang refused to admit it. Her mind was muddled from the compost pool, and she kept crying and making a fuss, "I don't know what happened, I don't know what happened, I must have been possessed."

She remembered Tang Yuan's episode and immediately felt more confident, "I must have been possessed, and somehow ended up here in the middle of the night. Did you do this to me?"

Tang Yuan sneered. Pretending to be crazy and blaming others? Do you think I won't kick you back?

You're not my aunt.

When Dad Tang saw his sister-in-law, he first looked puzzled, then shocked upon understanding the situation, disbelieving, and then extremely awkward.

He couldn't blame his sister-in-law, but her actions made him very uncomfortable.

This is still the Feng family's vegetable garden.

Even if it were their own, she shouldn't act like this.

How deep must her hatred for us be?

He couldn't figure out what he had done wrong to make her hate them so much.

Grandma Feng said, "This matter can be big or small; we can't just let it go. Feng Chen, go invite Grandma Tang and Uncle Tang over, and talk to the team leader tomorrow morning."

Aunt Zhang started wailing loudly, which was particularly eerie in the middle of the night.

Her entire body, head, and face were covered in filth, with dirt in her eyes, mouth, and nose. She wanted to wash off in the river right away, but these people wouldn't let her go.

They were trying to drive her to death.

Just then, Uncle Tang came over with a flashlight, calling out, "Second Brother?"

Dad Tang responded, not as excited as before when seeing his older brother.

Uncle Tang waved his flashlight anxiously, "Second Brother, I heard what sounded like your sister-in-law's voice? This woman has been sleepwalking lately, every night for several days. When asked during the day, she says she didn't go out."

Upon hearing this, Dad Tang became worried again, "Older Brother, you should get Zhonghe to look at her quickly."

Uncle Tang replied, "What's there to see? It's a minor issue, not worth spending money on. I'll keep an eye on her. Last night, I was too tired and fell asleep without watching her."

Tang Yuan was speechless, impressed by how quickly Uncle Tang came up with the sleepwalking excuse.

Alright then.

Aunt Zhang started crying when she heard Uncle Tang approaching, looking both terrified and aggrieved.

Grandma Feng, with a stern face, didn't give any face, only saying to Uncle Tang, "Look at the damage done to our vegetable garden. There better not be a next time. Besides, it's fortunate Feng Chen was home. If he wasn't, and you fell into the compost pool, we wouldn't hear you, and you might lose your life."

The compost pool wasn't that deep, but falling in meant getting stuck in thick fermentation material, similar to quicksand, which could suck one down. In the dark of night, panic and fear could easily lead to suffocation.

Uncle Tang, feeling guilty, kept apologizing.

Grandma Feng said she was old and couldn't see well at night, so she went back to sleep.

She immediately had Daya and Mother Tang help her back, avoiding any suggestion that Mother Tang should clean Aunt Zhang.

Sure enough, Mother Tang followed Grandma Feng, leaving Uncle Tang somewhat displeased. Why wouldn't they clean his wife? How heartless!

Uncle Tang helped up the filthy Aunt Zhang, irritated, "For a moment, you couldn't be watched, and you wandered out."

Aunt Zhang sobbed, "I, I was dreaming, I didn't know, waaah, I'm so scared."

Dad Tang sincerely cared, "Older Brother, take Sister-in-law to the hospital for a check-up. Sleepwalking can be serious. Didn't a child in the Leap Forward Team climb a tree while sleepwalking and break their leg when they woke up and fell?"

Uncle Tang sighed repeatedly, helping Aunt Zhang away.

Dad Tang, still worried, escorted them for a while.

Tang Yuan sniffed, the smell of the compost pool lingering. She said to Feng Chen, "We should cover the compost pool to prevent anyone from accidentally falling in."

Aunt Zhang had intentionally caused trouble and fallen in by accident today, but if someone else stumbled in another day, it could be dangerous.

Feng Chen: "I'll find a stick and make a cover for it."

By midnight, the moon was high in the sky, casting a bright silver glow over the earth, making everything clear and bright.

Tang Yuan was in high spirits, linking arms with Feng Chen, "This has kept me awake."

Feng Chen chuckled, "Shall we... take a walk?"

Tang Yuan: "There are mosquitoes."

They walked for a few minutes, indeed encountering mosquitoes, and hurried back home.

Feng Yi was sleeping soundly, completely unaffected by all the commotion earlier. Her sleep quality was excellent.

The next morning, Tang Yuan got up early to cook breakfast, while the others went to work.

Feng Chen tended to their plot of land.

Grandma Feng told Tang Yuan, "I'm going to chat with your grandma."

She knew that Tang Yuan despised Auntie Tang greatly and that Tang Yuan had no affection for the Tang family at all. That was why she had been so firm last night.

If Tang Yuan had any feelings for the Tang family, she naturally wouldn't have spoken that way, making it seem like she wasn't giving face.

By saying those things, she was also warning Auntie Tang and Uncle Tang not to cause trouble again; otherwise, it would be too late if something really happened.

She believed that by being unkind, they would rein themselves in, after all, they still cared about their reputation.

She also knew that Dad Tang was truly honest. Although he tolerated his eldest son a lot, he wouldn't deliberately think that her not giving face to his eldest daughter-in-law meant not giving face to him. He rarely thought ill of others.

Granny Feng left with Daya. Daya went to the pig farm while she went to the Tang family's house.

Hmm, Feng Yi was still sleeping. This person usually slept until seven or eight o'clock. It was only five now, and even the rooster couldn't wake her up.

Tang Yuan felt that her sleep quality was pretty good, but seeing Feng Yi made her feel inferior.

Granny Feng went to the Tang family's house and happened to meet Granny Tang coming out to fetch straw to cook.

Granny Tang wanted to pretend not to see her as before, but then she remembered that her second son's family was still staying at the Fengs' and that Tang Yuan and Feng Chen were engaged. She switched between pretending not to see and looking surprised, causing her face to twitch.

"Going out this early? Why?"

Granny Feng: "To talk to you."

Granny Tang was very surprised. "To me?"

Granny Feng: "Yes, when did your eldest daughter-in-law start sleepwalking?"

Granny Tang: "Don't talk nonsense. Who's sleepwalking?"

Although she had many conflicts with her eldest daughter-in-law, Granny Tang still protected her own and didn't want outsiders to say bad things about her family.

Sleepwalking wasn't a good thing; it was almost like having a mental disorder.

Granny Feng: "What, you didn't know? She sleepwalked to our vegetable garden last night and went crazy, even falling into the compost pit."

Granny Tang was stunned and then understood what had happened.

No wonder she heard her eldest son and daughter-in-law come back from outside in the middle of the night. She thought her eldest daughter-in-law was being dramatic and needed her husband to accompany her when she got up at night.

This morning, her eldest daughter-in-law said she wasn't feeling well, a bit of a cold, and hadn't gotten out of bed. She couldn't help but think that perhaps her eldest son and daughter-in-law, despite their age, were still doing inappropriate things at night.

Why can't you do it on the bed?

It turned out that she had gone crazy in Tang Yuan's vegetable garden last night, fallen into the compost pit, and then bathed in the river, which caused her cold.

Damn!

Granny Tang's old face turned red and then pale, hot and cold. She was truly embarrassed.

Seeing her face turn ugly, Granny Feng quickly said, "I just wanted to let you know, nothing else. Don't get angry. I'm worried that she might become bolder and cause real trouble. Those vegetables aren't worth much, right?"

After saying that, she didn't continue to provoke Granny Tang, knowing that the latter envied her good relationship with Tang Yuan.

Granny Feng then went to the labor room for a stroll, checked on the pig farm, and then went home for breakfast.

But Granny Tang was truly furious, shaking with anger. She stopped fetching straw and stormed home, grabbed a firewood stick, and rushed into the east room to beat Auntie Tang.

"Ahh—" Auntie Tang screamed in pain, "What are you doing, hitting people!"

Granny Tang angrily said, "You troublemaker who never does anything right, if you don't want to live here anymore, go back to your mother's house!"

Granny Tang's accumulated resentment finally erupted. Her eldest daughter-in-law had been sowing discord between her eldest son and the second son, between her and her eldest son, and even between Tang Wen and Tang Wu, and between the two daughters-in-law.

How could there be such a person, constantly causing trouble in her own home?

The men of the family were working in the self-cultivated fields, Uncle Tang, Tang Wen, and Tang Wu were not at home, and the eldest daughter-in-law was taking care of the children inside. Tong Xue was still nursing her child.

Tong Xue was upset that the Tang family didn't allow her to attend the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers University and had been using an excuse of illness to avoid work for the past few days.

Hearing Auntie Tang being beaten, no one intervened.

Granny Tang gave her eldest daughter-in-law a thorough beating. Despite her age and lack of strength, Auntie Tang, though a bit sick, was still agile enough to dodge.

At least she didn't dare hit her mother-in-law, fearing the village's disapproval and criticism from the brigade.

After being beaten by her mother-in-law, she became more obedient and dared not "sleepwalk" to Tang Yuan's self-cultivated field to cause trouble.

Originally, Tang Yuan wouldn't have allowed Tong Xue to attend the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers University, and with Auntie Tang's antics, it was even less likely.

Soon, the new educated youths would arrive, and Tang Bingde would lead the skilled commune members to build the educated youth dormitories.

They needed to finish building them before the autumn harvest to avoid delaying the harvest.

This time, there was government funding, special approval from the brick factory, and wood support from other brigades coordinated by the commune, so the construction progressed quickly.

With materials and manpower, building houses was fast.

Originally planned for three rooms, they added four more, providing ample space for the educated youths.

Once the dormitories were built, the educated youths from the county started arriving.

At this point, Tang Yuan had selected the two candidates for the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers University. They would buy tickets to school in a few days.

Tang Yuan had already chosen the candidates. Having He Jianhua conduct investigations was just for show to convince the commune members.

One candidate was Tang Zhonghe's younger brother, Tang Zhongping. Although he wasn't particularly smart, he loved learning and was diligent, making him suitable for attending the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers University.

As for Liu Jinhui, both Secretary Liu and the accountant wanted him to take over as the brigade's accountant.

Since you've already made the arrangements, why go to the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers University? Can't you still become an accountant without going?

Tang Yuan gave the other spot to a female educated youth who had little presence.

When this list came out, Secretary Liu was not pleased. He personally came to find Tang Yuan.

He couldn't find her at home, so he went to the pig farm, but she wasn't there either. Finally, he found her and Feng Chen at the newly designated site for the mushroom greenhouse.

Secretary Liu: "Tang Yuan, how did you choose this list?"

I have no objections to your selection of Tang Zhongping, but shouldn't the other spot go to someone from the Lius?

One from the Tangs and one from the Lius, that's always been the way.

Tang Yuan smiled and said, "Grandpa Secretary, the leaders asked me to choose, so I followed my own criteria. We select one from our own brigade and one from the educated youths. Xia Xiaoguang is a female educated youth with little strength and poor health, which often makes her lag behind in work. However, she loves learning and has always excelled academically. Even after coming to the countryside, she hasn't stopped reading and writing."

If it weren't for Xia Xiaoguang's poor health, she would have been assigned to the pig farm long ago.

As for the other educated youths, they've been here too long and have become difficult to manage, so she didn't choose them.

She paused, then looked at Secretary Liu and continued, "Originally, making her a primary school teacher would have been good."

But Secretary Liu thought that being a teacher or a doctor was a benefit that should be reserved for the local villagers, especially those close to him, rather than given to outsiders.

Secretary Liu indeed looked displeased.

Tang Yuan, however, was unfazed. "Since she isn't a primary school teacher, I think it's good for her to go to the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers University. Now, part of their allocation principle is 'from the commune, back to the commune.' When she returns, she can directly work at the commune."

The 'from the commune, back to the commune' principle is actually meant to solve the allocation issues for the less educated workers, peasants, and soldiers.

Some students recommended by the brigades and communes are so poorly educated that even after two or three years at the university, they haven't learned much and cannot take on important positions. Therefore, they must return to where they came from.

Those with real skills will naturally be given more important jobs right away.

Tang Yuan believed that Xia Xiaoguang had strong learning abilities, but she never had the chance to show them. If she went to the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers University, she would definitely stand out.

Then the state would assign her a more suitable position, and she wouldn't have to stay in the countryside.

Of course, she wouldn't tell Secretary Liu the truth.

Secretary Liu was still dissatisfied.

Tang Yuan explained, "Secretary, if Xia Xiaoguang worked, she wouldn't earn five work points a day, barely enough to support herself. The brigade would have to subsidize her food. If she doesn't have a better future, she'll never repay the debt to the brigade. By sending her to university, she can have a better future, earn a salary, and easily repay the debt to the brigade. This is beneficial for the brigade."

Of course, she had another important reason. Although Xia Xiaoguang was weak and earned few work points, she was self-reliant and never thought about marrying someone just to be supported. This was something Tang Yuan admired.

She didn't say this aloud, as it might seem like she was criticizing Tong Xue and the other female educated youths who married local men.

In reality, most female educated youths, no matter how hard their lives were, would never marry local men casually. At most, they would form families with other male educated youths and settle down permanently in the brigade.

Many male educated youths, however, couldn't bear the loneliness and, after a couple of years in the countryside, feeling hopeless about returning to the city, would marry daughters of local officials or wealthy families.

Female educated youths willing to marry local men were few, so most of their marriage partners were local women.

And those female educated youths who did marry local men were mostly lazy and looking for an easy life.

As for the restoration of college entrance exams in 1977, Tang Yuan felt that Xia Xiaoguang going to the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers University now wouldn't waste her opportunity.

Tang Yuan believed that if Xia Xiaoguang had real skills, she would graduate and become an official in 1976. The 1977 graduates would be her subordinates, and since she loved learning, she could continue her education and pursue a master's degree.

The key point was that if she didn't go now, her health might deteriorate over the next few years, and she might die.

Secretary Liu thought Tang Yuan was unreasonable and only spoke nonsense, but seeing that she wouldn't budge, he was helpless despite his anger.

He couldn't help but lament that he was getting old and couldn't handle things anymore.

However, when Tang Yuan's reasoning spread, the villagers found it convincing.

"Right, Xia Xiaoguang loves reading. It's perfect for her to go to university."

"After earning money, she can repay the debt to the brigade, which is better than some people who owe forever."

Anyway, since university wasn't an option for them, letting an educated youth go was fine, perhaps even better than letting another villager go.

The educated youth dormitory was buzzing with disbelief. How could such a good thing happen to Xia Xiaoguang?

Xiao Fei and Chen Bo, who had returned from labor reform at the brick factory, were very unhappy.

Chen Bo: "So, being capable is wrong? Whoever is capable and doesn't owe the brigade money can't go to university, while whoever owes money can?"

Xiao Fei agreed, "Exactly, we should also owe money then."

Xia Xiaoguang was also bewildered. She had no presence and hadn't spoken much with Tang Yuan, let alone tried to please her.

How did this great opportunity fall on her?

Isn't it said that nothing good falls from the sky?

Other educated youths also asked her, "Xiaoguang, do you... know Tang Yuan? When did you get so close to her?"

Xia Xiaoguang shook her head. "No, I've hardly spoken to her."

Song Huazhang, seeing them arguing and speaking ill of Tang Yuan—whom he was grateful to for saving him—maintained order and said coldly, "Is it because of the debt? Are any of you as good at studying as Xia Xiaoguang? If you're not satisfied, take an exam and compete."

If you don't talk about the selection criteria and just decide who goes, you have nothing to complain about.

Giving a reason just gives you more fuel.

Besides, it's not your turn, you two labor reformers!

Seeing Song Huazhang speak, Chen Bo and the others dared not argue anymore.

Song Huazhang is a sent-down youth from the capital, handsome and wealthy, and he has prestige among the other sent-down youths. Most of the others are from the provincial city, city, or county, and they naturally look up to him.

Even Wu Jin didn't dare to confront him directly back then.

Qin Xuan also said, "I've been here for quite some time now. From my observations, Sister Xia Xiaoguang is the one who loves learning and excels at it the most. If she had taken the college entrance exam back then, she would definitely have been admitted to an undergraduate university."

Xia Xiaoguang whispered her thanks, feeling rather dazed.

Should she go thank Tang Yuan? Should she ask why?

She hesitated for a long time, mustered up her courage, and went to thank Tang Yuan, but Tang Yuan was quite busy, directing people in planning the mushroom greenhouse.

"Tang... Teacher Tang," Xia Xiaoguang originally wanted to call Tang Yuan by her name, but seeing Tang Yuan confidently and skillfully directing a group of men, she felt that calling her by her name wouldn't be appropriate given her status.

Tang Yuan recognized her, took off the handkerchief around her neck to wipe the sweat and dust from her face, and smiled, "Xia Zhiqing, what can I do for you?"

Xia Xiaoguang: "Thank you. I didn't expect you to recommend me."

Tang Yuan laughed, "You're welcome. I recommended you not just because of you, but because it's beneficial for both the brigade and yourself. It's a win-win choice."

Xia Xiaoguang also smiled, "Thank you. I will remember your help and the brigade's support. I will repay the money on time."

Tang Yuan: "It doesn't matter. The amount you owe isn't significant. The brigade will only get better, and no member will go hungry."

Xia Xiaoguang found her impressive. How could an 18-year-old rural girl be so capable?

She couldn't help but feel inspired. At the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers University, she would study hard and make every minute count.

Xia Xiaoguang was happy, and Tang Zhongping was also happy.

He hadn't expected Tang Yuan to choose him either.

But Tang Zhonghe knew it was because he had helped Tang Yuan cover up her feigned madness and division of the family. Otherwise, Tang Zhongping wasn't particularly outstanding, and there was no real reason to choose him.

He was naturally grateful but didn't express it openly. He simply told Tang Zhongping to thank Tang Yuan verbally like Xia Zhiqing did.

As for true gratitude, he would show it through his actions.

Tang Yuan led the brigade in planting medicinal herbs, and he took the opportunity to teach the young and clever members and sent-down youths about planting, caring for, and basic pharmacological knowledge of medicinal herbs. With this knowledge, they could better cultivate the herbs.

Of course, most of his knowledge was learned and taught on the fly, studying late into the night and organizing notes before teaching others.

With his help, Tang Yuan indeed had less work to do.

And with the members familiar with the basic knowledge of the herbs they were growing, they could care for them better.

One day, while Tang Yuan was busy at the mushroom greenhouse site, He Songtao came running over with a bright smile.

"Teacher Little Tang, I'm here to report for duty. Leader Ji said I should follow you and work hard."

He thought, being handsome and smart, he might become the captain of the medicinal herb field or the mushroom greenhouse.

But Tang Yuan looked him up and down and said, "First, change out of your leather shoes and new clothes. You're here to work, not to go on a date."

He Songtao's cheeks turned red instantly, and the surrounding members burst into laughter.

Tang Aiguo laughed, "He Zhiqing is indeed handsome. If he wore these clothes on a date, he'd surely succeed."

"We don't need to borrow him. Even wearing straw shoes, he'd still succeed." The other members laughed heartily.

He Songtao was good-natured and could take a joke. He joined in the laughter, took off his leather shoes, and then removed his newly made light blue shirt, revealing his pale skin.

Tang Aiguo and the others teased, "Oh, take off your pants too!"

Tang Yuan: "..."

He Songtao: "If you want me to, I will!"

He unfastened his belt and slipped off his pants, revealing his boxers.

The young men whistled, "City folks really know how to show off. Wearing shorts under long pants, do you think you're showing off your cloth coupons?"

Amidst the teasing, everyone suddenly felt a chill.

Oops, they forgot Tang Yuan was still there.

No, they forgot that Tang Yuan was a girl and didn't treat her as one.

Letting the city boy undress in front of Tang Yuan would surely offend Feng Chen.

Tang Aiguo and the others grabbed He Songtao and ran away laughing, "Come, let's build the greenhouse together!"

He Songtao, who could take a joke, quickly bonded with the young members, as if he were one of them.

Tang Yuan watched their retreating backs, wanting to say something.

Originally, she wanted him to raise pigs to temper his character.

These male sent-down youths from the city, each one of them, she planned to send to the pig farm to feed pigs and clean pig feces to temper their characters.

Female sent-down youths mostly worked in the medicinal herb fields and mushroom greenhouses.

Of course, these jobs weren't easy either; they were equally tough.

Since he was willing to build the greenhouse, let him do it. Being a laborer would be even more exhausting.

Although the autumn harvest started again amidst all the chaos, Tang Yuan and Tang Bingde didn't stop building the mushroom greenhouse. After all, there were new laborers available.

The collective still had the same farmland, and there was no need for the newly arrived educated youth to participate in the autumn harvest. Instead, they were tasked with growing mushrooms, tending to the medicinal fields, and helping to feed the pigs.

Although Feng Yi found the smell of the pig farm unpleasant, she would wrap a handkerchief around her nose every day and go there with Daya. She didn't neglect her duties.

However, she could only handle clerical work; she couldn't assist the veterinarian like Daya did when treating the pigs.

With her help, Daya's workload was significantly reduced, allowing her to focus on learning from the veterinarian and treating the livestock.

One evening, as the sky was painted with colorful clouds, Tang Yuan returned to the courtyard and pumped water to wash her hands and feet.

Despite the oppressive heat of the autumn tiger during the day, the well water was refreshingly cool, even feeling a bit chilly on her feet.

Originally, the family had an open well that required lowering a bucket with a rope to draw water. After Feng Yi arrived, due to her lack of strength and poor technique, she kept dropping the bucket into the well, which Feng Chen had to retrieve. Despite this, Feng Yi, eager and clumsy, always enthusiastically offered to draw water, only to drop the bucket each time.

Frustrated, Feng Chen asked Ji Hongyue to install a cast-iron manual pump. Fortunately, the collective had stones and cement, so they set up the pump and pipes and sealed the well platform.

Feng Yi and Daya also returned and went over to wash their feet.

Feng Yi, having lost the fun of drawing water, complained to Grandma Feng about her second brother not being nice to her and lacking patience, saying, "Second Brother is very patient with Sister Yuan Yuan."

Grandma Feng chuckled, "Of course he is! Yuan Yuan is his wife; how could he not be patient? You should find someone who will be patient with you too."

Daya giggled.

Feng Yi blushed and changed the subject, turning to Tang Yuan and suggesting, "Sister Yuan Yuan, it's quite inconvenient to go to the cooperative store at the collective. Why don't we set up a sales point near the labor room?"

Tang Yuan replied, "Isn't there one at Secretary Liu's house? We can buy things there."

Feng Yi pouted, "I don't want to go there."

Tang Yuan thought about it and agreed that Secretary Liu's store was his own, whereas a collective-run store would be better.

As the collective grew and people's lives improved, the members would have more money and the desire to buy things. Going to the commune was inconvenient, so the collective indeed needed a sales point.

The next day, she discussed this with Tang Bingde.

Tang Bingde hesitated, "We should talk to the secretary and have him manage the sales point."

A sales point, a place where money could be earned openly, was something Secretary Liu wouldn't easily give up.

Tang Bingde didn't want to argue over this; he just wanted the secretary to not interfere with farming and the collective's factory.

Tang Yuan agreed. In the planned economy, prices were fixed by the government, so there wasn't much room for underhanded dealings at the sales point.