Chapter 64

Chapter 64

Even though Feng Xia showed her elders zero respect and no manners at all, Xu Sanjin still had to say her piece. She came mainly for her eldest grandson—the same boy who had just been beaten by Feng Xia—nicknamed Dazhu, formal name Li Jianghe—still crying behind his mom.

As the saying goes, the youngest son and the eldest grandson are an old lady's pride and joy. Xu Sanjin doted most on this eldest grandson. Li Jianghe was a real bully out in the streets, but in front of his grandmother, he always played nice, which made her favor him a ton. Whenever there was meat, he never missed out, and she spoon-fed him bite by bite until he got fat as a ball. Now that her grandson was getting older and would soon have to work in the fields to earn work points, Xu Sanjin couldn't stand the thought. Around the same time, Li Meihua had returned to her mother's home and ranted about Feng Xia being an ungrateful brat, which gave Xu Sanjin an idea.

She thought: I am Feng Xia's biological maternal grandmother, and Dazhu is her close cousin who has known her since childhood. Would it be too much to ask this little girl to get her cousin a job in the army?

Thinking this, she said, "Feng Xia, you and your cousin can goof around and fight all you want, but in the end, blood is thicker than water. You're just a girl, all alone in the army with no family to look after you. Your grandmother here feels terrible thinking of you all alone out there. Now your cousin Dazhu has just turned sixteen. See if you can find him some work in the army—they have a mess hall, don't they? Let him work there. Dazhu's got plenty of muscle. This way, you'll have company outside, and I'll feel at ease knowing Dazhu is with you."

Feng Xia rested her chin on her hand, popped a peanut into her mouth, chewed it slowly, then said nonchalantly, "Oh, Grandma, that mess hall ain't easy to get into. Look at Dazhu—he's as wide as he is tall, fat as a pig. If he goes to the mess hall, I'm afraid someone might accidentally mistake him for a pig and butcher him. Better to keep him with the Li family." She looked at Dazhu with undisguised malice, making him shrink back, cowering even further behind his mother.

Xu Sanjin was displeased. Her most cherished grandson was being compared to a fat pig in Feng Xia's mouth. But she didn't dare offend Feng Xia, so she forced a smile and said, "Xia, Dazhu may be a bit fat, but he's strong. Isn't the army fond of good physiques? Put in a good word for him. If Dazhu does well, when you get married, your natal family will be looked up to, and no one will dare bully you!"

Feng Xia sneered. "Tsk, him? Strong? I haven't seen it. I'm only thirteen. What marriage? I don't have that kind of ability. You want me to get a thing like that into the army? Do you think the army is my house, where you come and go as you please? Go daydream at your own place. Why come here and make a scene?"

Her blunt words left Xu Sanjin's face red, and her two daughters-in-law were so embarrassed they almost buried their heads in their clothes, not daring to even glance at Feng Xia. But indeed, old ginger is spicier. Xu Sanjin wouldn't give up. She decided to try again, since her grandson's whole future was at stake.

"Xia, what about finding Dazhu a job in town? Something like Da Chun's would do. Please, find a way. You have so many connections in the army. I'm begging you—can't you take pity on your cousin? He can't work in the fields!" Xu Sanjin switched to a softer approach. If it had been anyone else, they might have agreed, but they were unlucky to be dealing with Feng Xia.

Feng Xia cracked sunflower seeds slowly, her voice slightly slurred. "Oh, Grandma, what are you saying? Find him a position in town? If I had that kind of influence, I'd use it for my own Feng family first. If I were that capable, I wouldn't be sitting here. Every household would be inviting me back to burn incense for me. You envy Feng Chun? Go find her. Why pester me? I don't have that skill. If he doesn't want to work in the fields, I can help him—break his legs and he won't have to. Come on, I'm accurate. I guarantee he'll be in bed for three months. If it's even one day less, I'll go to the Li family personally to make it up to my dear cousin Dazhu."

Her expression was no joke. Her eyes gleamed as she eyed Dazhu's legs, looking eager to try. Dazhu's legs trembled, his calves already aching in phantom anticipation of lying miserably in bed. With a sudden dash, he bolted out the door, his bulky body moving with unprecedented speed.

"Dazhu! Come back!"

His mother called after him and chased out. Xu Sanjin didn't dare mention getting Dazhu a job again. After exchanging a few pleasantries with Zhao Yuee (Old Lady Feng), she quickly left, not even staying for a meal.

For once, Zhao Yuee actually felt a bit pleased with Feng Xia. She had never liked Xu Sanjin—sly and thick-skinned. Seeing her suffer today felt good. She thought this little troublemaker had finally done something right.

With the unwanted guests gone, Feng Xia tightened her coat and went back to bed to sleep.

Before the seventh day of the New Year had passed, a military jeep arrived at the entrance of Daba Village. Xiao Wang, who had come out for supplies, received orders from above: after purchasing, he was to go to Daba Village and pick up Comrade Feng Xia.

Feng Xia's leave was supposed to last until after the Lantern Festival, but something had come up with Wan Fulin. The capital had traded with Bear Country for a batch of the latest model firearms. These guns were equipped with silencers, but they weren't as good as their own. However, the overall performance was twice as good. The higher-ups wanted to exchange their silencer technology for the manufacturing technology of these firearms—a mutual sharing and progress.

At this time, the friendship between Flower Kingdom and Bear Country was relatively stable, unlikely to capsize anytime soon. The other side agreed, but since the silencer's inventor was Feng Xia, and the core technical data was at the Field Army base, the Bear Country weapons experts would arrive at the Field Army base in two days. Wan Fulin had no choice but to call his disciple back—Feng Xia was already entangled in this matter.

Xiao Wang knew nothing of these intricacies. His only job was to bring her back. He parked the jeep at the village entrance—no one dared damage a military vehicle—and asked the chatting old men to keep an eye on it. The elderly men were delighted. Then he went into the village to find her.

Feng Xia's fame in Daba Village was absolute. Xiao Wang found someone to ask, and that person proudly offered to take him to the Feng family. In those days, Xiao Wang's military uniform had a powerful effect—no one would think a soldier was a bad person.

"Hey, the Feng family! A military officer is here! Looking for your Feng Xia! We're coming in!"

With that, the guide led Xiao Wang through the small courtyard gate. It was nearly noon, and the Feng family were all sitting in the main room waiting for lunch. When they suddenly saw a soldier, they were all a bit taken aback.

Xiao Wang greeted them warmly, saying he was looking for Feng Xia. Feng Jinlian, nudged by her mother, snapped out of her daze and ran inside to call Feng Xia. Feng Shizhu excitedly poured Xiao Wang a cup of tea. The whole family stared at him with excitement and admiration, their eyes full of hope.

"Comrade Feng Xia, hello. The leadership sent me to pick you up. I'm sorry, but your leave has to end early."