Chapter 76 Second Watch

Chapter 76 Second Watch

Fu Mingze sent Zheng Jiamin to the educated youth group to get the account book, while he himself headed towards the village entrance. On the way, he casually grabbed a child, gave him five cents, and asked him to call Zhou Chuntao and Xu Wei to the brigade headquarters from the foot of the mountain.

The brigade headquarters office was quite crowded. Brigade Leader Zhou ManCang, accountant Ding Shouchang, militia captain Zhou Qingguo were all there, and even the rarely seen Women’s Director Shen Hehua was present.

Zhou ManCang now smiled from ear to ear whenever he saw Fu Mingze: "You’ve been to the fields, haven’t you? The wheat is growing very well, I noticed it’s much sturdier than in other fields. Everyone has been working hard recently, but things should ease up a bit now, and we can take a breather, slowly waiting for the wheat to mature and be harvested."

Ding Shouchang chuckled: "Indeed, it’s been tough. I’ve noticed that Fu Zhiqing has tanned a lot recently."

Zhou Qingguo was holding his adorable baby girl Congcong, who was clutching a Lu Ban lock in her hands, drooling as she played with it. The Lu Ban lock occasionally fell to the ground, and Zhou Qingguo would pick it up and put it back in his daughter’s arms, saying: "For a man, getting tanned is no big deal. I think Fu Zhiqing looks just fine now."

Zhou Qingguo thought Fu Mingze was too pale before, like a cream puff, and didn’t look very masculine at all.

Shen Hehua, using her age as an excuse, complained about sitting in the office all day causing back pain. She also said that women’s work couldn’t be accomplished just by sitting in the office; it required getting out among the people, visiting them. So, she usually didn’t come to the brigade headquarters much, but in the past few weeks, out of the ten times Fu Mingze came, she was there seven or eight times.

Ding Shouchang had whispered to Zhou ManCang behind her back, wondering what had gotten into her recently, suddenly changing her ways.

Shen Hehua was a bit older than Zhou ManCang, her hair neatly combed, and her clothes clean and pressed, making her look younger than her actual age. She seemed quite amiable, smiling as she chimed in: "Fu Zhiqing is good-looking, whether he’s tanned or pale. The young couple are the most handsome pair in our brigade."

At her words, Zhou ManCang and Ding Shouchang couldn’t help but glance at her.

Having known each other for years, everyone knew Shen Hehua’s personality could be summed up in five words: no benefit, no effort.

Moreover, Shen Hehua not only didn’t do anything without benefit, but she also couldn’t be bothered to engage with people without benefit. Such a straightforward and active compliment was rare for her. Without exaggeration, if anyone else had said it, it would have been just a polite compliment, but coming from Shen Hehua, it meant the person being praised was of benefit to her, or at least someone she thought highly of.

However, Zhou ManCang and the others quickly understood; Fu Mingze’s experimental plots were doing well, so it was normal for Shen Hehua to think highly of him.

Just as they were talking, Zheng Jiamin came in. He greeted the brigade cadres and handed the notebook to Fu Mingze.

Fu Mingze flipped through it a few times. The accounts began when Xu Wei borrowed the first thirty yuan, using Zhou Chuntao’s illness as an excuse. The time, place, the reason for borrowing, and the amount borrowed were all clearly recorded.

Fu Mingze now had a seat in the brigade headquarters, right next to Ding Shouchang. He grabbed another stool and had Zheng Jiamin sit down. The two of them sat in front of the desk, waiting.

Ding Shouchang thought they had something to discuss. Seeing them seated, one leaning back in his chair and the other with his head down, neither speaking, he felt a bit puzzled. Then, looking up, he saw Zhou Chuntao and Xu Wei walk in.

Zhou Chuntao smiled and asked Zhou ManCang: "Brigade Leader, why did you call for me and Xiao Wei?"

A while ago, she had gone to Zhou ManCang to complain about how hard life was, wanting him to arrange for Xu Wei to join the brigade’s elementary school. Zhou ManCang had refused, but hadn’t closed the door completely, saying he knew their family of three was struggling, and if there were any light jobs available, he would consider them first.

As relatives from the same clan, and with her brother Zhou Qingguo being the militia captain, Zhou Chuntao believed Zhou ManCang would favor and take care of them. So, when the child came to fetch them, she immediately brought Xu Wei along.

Zhou ManCang was puzzled: "I didn’t call for you?"

Fu Mingze stood up: "Brigade Leader, we’re the ones who called for Comrade Zhou and Comrade Xu."

Zhou Chuntao’s smile faded a bit when she saw Zheng Jiamin next to Fu Mingze, but she still asked: "Fu Zhiqing, what’s the matter calling for us?"

Fu Mingze nodded, looking at Zhou Chuntao: "Comrade Zhou, you know what this is about, right? Shall we talk in the yard?"

If they could return the money promptly, Fu Mingze didn’t necessarily insist on resolving it at the brigade headquarters. He asked this to give them some face.

However, Zhou Chuntao clearly didn’t think so. Her eyes darted, and she sneered: "What’s there that can’t be heard? Isn’t it just about my Xiao Wei borrowing a few yuan from Comrade Zheng Zhiqing? Isn’t it natural for a man to spend money on a woman when they’re in a relationship? What, Comrade Zheng Zhiqing regrets it now and wants to ask for the money back? We haven’t settled accounts with you yet, and you dare to settle accounts with us?"

She was quick to react, immediately turning the tables and accusing them first.

Zheng Jiamin shot up from his seat, shocked that Zhou Chuntao would lie to his face, and argued: "I’m not in a relationship with Comrade Xu, Comrade Zhou, how can you talk nonsense? We’re entirely innocent. Comrade Xu said her family was in trouble and borrowed money from me. I’m tight on cash now and want it back."

Xu Wei glanced at her mother, her eyes red, and retorted: "Brother Zheng, if we weren’t in a relationship, why would I have taken your money?"

Zheng Jiamin looked at her in shock, as if he was seeing her for the first time today. After a few seconds of silence, he said, "You said the Xu family didn’t let you bring anything, and there wasn’t even money to buy salt at home. I thought about how you, being so young, had to shoulder the family’s burden, so I lent you the money. Later, when your mother fell ill and your brother got injured, you said there was no money for treatment. You also said that if you couldn’t borrow money, your mother would beat you. I lent you the money out of sympathy. I never said I wanted to be in a relationship with you."

He grabbed the account book: "From the time your mother fell ill, I’ve kept a record. I’ve noted down the reasons you borrowed money. If I were in a relationship with you, why would I keep these records?"

Hearing that he had kept accounts, Xu Wei’s face changed slightly, but she quickly steadied herself and said, "Some couples also keep detailed records of their expenses. I didn’t expect you to be like that too."

Zheng Jiamin was not a man of few words, but at this moment, he was somewhat speechless.

Looking at Xu Wei’s pitiful and sad expression, this girl who had always seemed simple and fragile finally revealed her true face. Zheng Jiamin felt both unfamiliar and heartbroken.

The others now had a rough idea of what was going on. Zhou ManCang took the account book from Fu Mingze and frowned as he read it.

The account book was very clear, recording when and for what reason money was borrowed. Zhou ManCang did the math in his head and found that the total was one hundred and twenty-three yuan and sixty cents.

According to Zheng Jiamin, there should have been some unrecorded amounts before. Zhou ManCang took a sharp breath. Even for a relationship, this amount of money was quite shocking.

In their village, when people are dating, the man buying some biscuits, snacks, or a red hair ribbon is seen as generous. In the city, they might watch a movie or have a meal together, but even then, spending more than ten or twenty yuan before marriage is rare.

Zhou ManCang looked deeply at Zhou Chuntao and her daughter. Buying snacks and watching movies are typical dating activities. Buying oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and sending her mother and brother to the county for medical treatment—these are not expenses for a relationship.

He passed the account book to the others. Ding Shouchang glanced at it, his eyes darting, and then handed it to Zhou Qingguo. Zhou Qingguo grabbed his daughter’s hand as she tried to snatch the account book and carefully read through it, his expression not looking good.

After the three of them had read it, no one spoke. Shen Hehua took a look and said, "Honestly, I think Xiao Wei has a point. If you weren’t dating, why would Zheng Zhiqing be willing to give so much money? Now that you don’t want to date anymore, you want the money back. Comrade, this isn’t right. As the leader said, dating without the intention to marry is just fooling around. You clearly don’t want to marry, so isn’t this just fooling around? And now you want to take back the money you gave away? Comrade Zheng, this isn’t right."

Shen Hehua spoke earnestly: "As the women’s director, I have to look out for the women in our brigade. In my opinion, Xiao Wei is pretty, kind, and gentle. If there are no major issues, you should just get married. Once you’re married, your money and hers will all be family money. If you don’t want to get married, then consider this money as compensation for the female comrade. Otherwise, if she accuses you of fooling around, it won’t end well for you."

Zheng Jiamin shook his head: "We were never in a relationship. I don’t like her, and I can’t marry her."

Shen Hehua smiled: "So you don’t want to marry. Then forget about the money. They are a widow and her daughter, and life is indeed hard for them. Consider it as helping them. Helping others is a good thing, isn’t it?"

Zhou Qingguo frowned and interjected: "Aunt Hehua, I disagree with what you’re saying. A relationship is one thing, and money is another. If they were in a relationship and Xiao Wei was bullied, as her uncle, I would definitely seek justice for her. But whether they were in a relationship or not, taking over a hundred yuan from someone is definitely not appropriate."

He looked at Zhou Chuntao: "Sister, you should still have the money saved up, right? Return it to Comrade Zheng."

Her own family not supporting her and even asking her to return the money, Zhou Chuntao gritted her teeth in hatred for her brother who always pretended to be righteous. She simply played the rogue: "It’s gone. It was all spent on medicine for the illness."

She looked at Zhou Qingguo and choked with sobs: "As an uncle, not only do you not help your niece, but you also side with outsiders? Today it’s Xiao Wei being bullied. If it were Congcong being bullied, would you have the same attitude?"

Congcong looked up, confused: "Huh?"

Zhou Qingguo looked at his adorable little daughter and was momentarily speechless.

If it were Congcong being bullied, he would definitely beat someone up first.

Rationally, Zhou Qingguo knew that what Zhou Chuntao and her daughter were saying today didn’t quite hold water. But emotionally, his niece had always been obedient and sensible, and the mother and daughter had already suffered so much in life. Zhou Qingguo really didn’t want to doubt them.

Moreover, who can really say for sure whether they were in a relationship or not?

The office fell silent for a moment, with only the occasional sound of Xu Wei’s low sobbing.

Fu Mingze glanced at the yard outside the door and suddenly said: "Whether they were in a relationship or not, whether money was borrowed or not, since you both have your own arguments, why not let a third party speak?"

Zhou Chuntao sneered: "Whether they were in a relationship or not, don’t they know better themselves? How could others know better?"

Fu Mingze looked at her, smiled, and said: "Exactly. The onlooker sees more clearly. Maybe someone else knows better?"