Chapter 7: He Actually Came Up with That

Chapter 7: He Actually Came Up with That

Zhou ManCang had vaguely heard about the dispute involving the Shen family, but since it didn’t reach him directly and didn’t affect the grain distribution, he decided to pretend he didn’t know anything.

As the saying goes, a family head needs to be a bit deaf and blind, and the same goes for the village leader—he’s like the head of the entire village.

But who would have thought that the fire would eventually reach him.

At first, Zhou ManCang tried to shirk responsibility by saying that this matter had been decided among Shen Shaoyuan and his brothers, and that it was inconvenient for the village cadres to interfere in the family affairs of commune members. However,

Shen Laoqi, who was usually meek and mild, was acting like he had lost his mind today. Not only was he unusually talkative, but he was also particularly difficult to deal with.

In the end, he even resorted to threats, saying that his daughter had lost her mother at a young age and had been living a hard life with him, eating rough food and sleeping in the open. Now that she had finally grown up, if anything were to happen to her because they were living in a leaky house, he would hang himself at the entrance of the village office.

Threatening to hang himself at the village office entrance.

He actually came up with that!

Zhou ManCang looked at the frail and pale Shen Moer and finally, hearing the murmurs of the surrounding villagers—“This father and daughter are really pitiful,” “Although it’s a family matter, the production team can’t just ignore it,” “The people’s production team can’t ignore the people”—reluctantly nodded and said, “You should first discuss this with your brothers. If you can’t reach an agreement, the production team will help mediate.”

Shen Shaoyuan, well-versed in the art of knowing when to stop pushing, immediately let go of Zhou ManCang and thanked the commune members who had spoken up for him. He then shouldered the bags and baskets, calling Shen Moer to leave with him.

Watching the thin figures of the father and daughter, Aunt Chen sighed sympathetically, “Sigh, both father and daughter are meek and mild. They really can’t manage without help.”

Zhou ManCang couldn’t help but say, “If he were really that meek and mild, would he have thought of threatening to hang himself at the village office?! Blabbering on and on. How come I never noticed he was so talkative before!”

While others might be afraid of Zhou ManCang, the village leader, Aunt Chen wasn’t afraid at all. “Even a cornered rabbit will fight back. Even the most meek and mild person will resist when pushed to the brink of survival. Shen Laoqi only has Moer as his only child. If something were to happen to her, wouldn’t he want to hang himself? If the production team cadres don’t give him justice, what else can he do but hang himself at the village office?”

Zhou ManCang was left speechless and after a while, waved his hand, “Hurry up, it’s your family’s turn to collect the grain.”

The educated youths were the last to receive their grain distribution. A group of them had watched the entire scene unfold and, listening to the gossip of the other commune members, pieced together what had happened.

While the male educated youths admired Shen Lingling, the female ones, particularly Wang Qiutong, weren’t impressed. Wang Qiutong had once quarreled with Shen Lingling over a pretty dress.

Although Shen Lingling eventually backed down, Wang Qiutong didn’t feel good about buying the dress because the incident had been spread around, making Shen Lingling look generous and kind, while Wang Qiutong was seen as willful and temperamental.

Shen Lingling and Wang Qiutong had run into each other at the county department store. With no one else around, it was clear who had spread the rumor.

“Hmph, not only did she take over the house, now she’s grabbing the grain, pushing her own uncle and cousin to the brink of death. So kind-hearted, isn’t she?” Wang Qiutong sneered. The villagers were all fools, unlike her, who had long seen through Shen Lingling’s true face.

Zhang Zhiqiang, with a dark face, said, “Wang Qiutong, don’t talk nonsense behind people’s backs just because you have a conflict with Comrade Shen Lingling. There might be a misunderstanding. Besides, family matters are decided by the elders. It has nothing to do with Comrade Shen Lingling.”

Wang Qiutong shot him a sidelong glance. “You keep mentioning Shen Lingling, but does she even notice you? Stop flattering yourself!”

The other female educated youths couldn’t help but laugh.

Wang Qiutong’s words hit Zhang Zhiqiang where it hurt. He was rendered speechless and after a long while, managed to stammer out, “Unreasonable!”

*

Shen Moer had no idea about the disputes after they left. The father and daughter carried the grain back home, and while it was still not dark, they reheated the leftover porridge from noon and had it with some snacks for dinner.

Soon it became dark, and Shen Moer located the sole oil lamp in the house and lit it.

The father and daughter sat facing each other, looking at the only source of light in the dark room, and for a while, neither spoke.

After a long moment, Shen Shaoyuan suddenly reached out and tapped the glass cover of the oil lamp, sighing, “This glass is somewhat similar to glazed pottery. Even in our Great Liang, not to mention such poor families, even ordinary wealthy households can’t afford glazed ware.”

Shen Moer also reached out and tapped it. “Glazed pottery isn’t as thin and transparent as this.”

Shen Shaoyuan: “It’s indeed perfect for a lamp cover.”

Shen Moer: "Replacing window paper is even better."

In the original owner's memory, many houses in the commune were fitted with "glass windows."

Shen Shaoyuan nodded: "This kerosene is also excellent."

Shen Moer also nodded: "It's best that we don't end up as rebels' victims."

The father and daughter looked at each other, sighed simultaneously, and then spontaneously laughed.

During the day, they were busy adapting to their new identities and had no time to think much. At night, with only the two of them and the dark surroundings, it felt like they were back in the treasury, living in constant fear.

Surviving great calamities and arriving in another world... anyone would be dazed for a few days.

Fortunately, both of them had easy-going personalities that allowed them to adapt to circumstances. A few casual exchanges were enough to comfort each other.

The house was poor, and the village seemed poor too, but this other world had many advantages over Great Liang. They had survived, and with their abilities, was there any reason to fear not living well?

Although unspoken, both father and daughter understood each other's thoughts.

"Since we are here, let's make the most of it."

Since Heaven has given them this chance to live, they should make the most of it.

Back in the royal palace, they could enjoy evenings drinking wine, admiring the moon, reading books, playing music, and watching performances. But now, with just this one kerosene lamp and lamp oil being costly, it was best not to fuss and just go to bed early.

The sun had been strong today, and the mats had dried, but the bedding was still a bit damp.

Even if everything had dried, the father and daughter would still avoid the worn-out mats and bedding. Without a word, they both went into the treasury.

The treasury contained beds and bedding, the bed made of winter-warm-summer-cool golden nanmu wood, and the bedding made of the best silk cotton and brocade from Great Liang, all items they were accustomed to using.

However.

"What if the bedding gets dirty?" Shen Moer asked her father while lying on the smooth, soft bedding, separated by a screen.

Shen Shaoyuan was stumped by her question.

We can't wash them outside, but leaving them unwashed is even worse.

After a while, he said: "Living in the treasury isn't a sustainable solution. We need to find a way to repair the house and buy some new bedding."

Shen Moer responded but didn't say anything more, her mind circling around the events of the day until she fell asleep.

The next day, Shen Shaoyuan reluctantly went to work with a hoe, but Shen Moer didn't have to go.

The team leader had said that due to the recent heat, there wasn't much fieldwork. Starting today, apart from strong laborers, women, especially the elderly, wouldn't be required to work. Since Shen Moer had fainted in the field, she naturally didn't have to go.

However, Shen Moer wasn't idle at home.

As a princess, she could afford to be carefree, spending her free time boating or seeking shade. But now, in this other world, as a common farm girl—no, a poor peasant family girl—if she remained as carefree as before, she would likely starve or freeze to death.

After breakfast, Shen Moer dismantled the hastily sun-dried bedding from yesterday.

She took the cotton quilt outside to air further, also finding a stick to pat it, though the cotton had already hardened, and the patting did little good.

She took the quilt cover to the well, washed it carefully, and hung it on the bamboo pole outside the door.

Though their house was run-down, it had some advantages. Next door was the courtyard of a landlord, the outer wall of which had been demolished. A row of rooms had been turned into the production team's office, and not far from the door was the well.

The well used to be inside the courtyard. Since the wall is gone, it's essentially in a public area, which certainly makes things convenient for Shen Moer's family.

Nearby commune members also come to draw water, but it’s nowhere near as convenient for them as it is for Shen Moer’s family. After all, their house was originally part of the landlord’s property, so it’s much closer than others.

Shen Moer was quite satisfied.

After the bedding was aired out, Shen Moer cleaned both the inside and outside of the house. Then, she grabbed a bamboo basket and put on her broken straw hat with only one side of the brim before leaving the house.

Shen Moer walked from the west side of the village to the east. It didn’t take long before she arrived outside the village school.

Following the call to “bring schools to the homes of poor and lower-middle-class farmers,” many communes have set up schools in recent years. The village school in Yangliu Commune opened the year before last and currently has only two classes and two teachers.

One of them was Shen Lingling, and the other was the veteran educated youth Cheng Tao. Both had high school educations, which was quite impressive for the village school in Yangliu Commune.

These days, it was common to have village school teachers with only a junior high or senior primary school education. Having two high school-educated teachers was quite remarkable.

In fact, as a local high school graduate, Shen Lingling had the opportunity to enter government or enterprise units. Of course, she had secretly taken the exams but unfortunately failed to pass.

The villagers didn’t know about this.

But when the village opened an elementary school, she, being the only high school graduate, naturally became a teacher.

Shen Lingling's academic performance was actually average, which was why she repeatedly failed the recruitment exams. After numerous setbacks, she now valued her position as a village school teacher. Last year, when a teacher from Songshu Commune was transferred to the district school, Shen Lingling saw a chance for career growth. She secretly hoped to be transferred to the district school, or even a county or city school.

Therefore, when she saw Shen Moer appear outside the village school, Shen Lingling’s heart skipped a beat.

She remembered that Shen Moer had her eyes on this job!

Just as the test papers and awards were handed out, the children cheered, shouting “holiday!” and “goodbye, teacher,” before quickly dispersing. Distracted by her thoughts, Shen Lingling barely noticed the students as she hurried towards Shen Moer. “Shen Moer, what are you doing here?”

Shen Moer looked at her innocently and said, “This is a village place. Is there a rule that says commune members can’t come here?” After a pause, she added, “Why are you so harsh? Are you going to pick on me again?”

Shen Lingling: “...”

Angrily, she said, “Don’t make things up. When have I ever bullied you?!”

Shen Moer muttered, “Not letting me borrow your house and taking our food—doesn’t that count as bullying?”

Before Shen Lingling could argue, she continued, “Anyway, I’m here to see Principal Cheng. It has nothing to do with you.”

She snorted, ignoring Shen Lingling, and turned to Cheng Tao. After a brief conversation, they headed into the nearby teachers' office.

With her suspicions, Shen Lingling always felt like Shen Moer had some hidden agenda. Hesitating, she wondered if she should go over and check what was happening, but by the time she decided, Shen Moer had already come out with a smile on her face.

Shen Moer didn’t spare her another glance and walked away briskly.

The more Shen Lingling thought about it, the more something felt off. After much contemplation, she steeled herself and went into the office to subtly ask Cheng Tao what Shen Moer had come for.

Cheng Tao, who wore glasses and looked mature, had a teasing smile on his otherwise serious face as he said, “Shen Moer came to borrow high school textbooks from me. She said you guard your textbooks like they’re your eyes and wouldn’t lend them to her. She plans to study hard with those books, using the dedication of ancient scholars to outdo you. Haha, you two sisters are quite something.”

Shen Lingling: “...”

Shen Moer had never asked her for the textbooks!

Even if Shen Moer had asked, Shen Lingling wouldn’t have lent them, but the fact was that Shen Moer had never even brought it up!

Liar! That two-faced person is lying!