Chapter 57

Chapter 57

Huo Huaichuan extended his hand to Gao Mingzhu and said in a low voice, “Come here.”

Gao Mingzhu walked over, thinking he wanted to say something to her. Unexpectedly, as soon as she got close, he grabbed her wrist, gently pulled her, and she fell into his arms, and he held her tight.

Somehow, leaning against his chest, Gao Mingzhu couldn't help sensing he was panicked—he was genuinely scared, scared that something might happen to her.

As she racked her brain for a way to comfort him, Huo Huaichuan had already loosened his hold slightly, resting his chin on her head. His voice was hoarse and full of self-reproach: “I’m sorry. I don’t have the ability to protect you…”

“What are you talking about?” Gao Mingzhu quickly looked up, cupped his face, and said seriously, “Aren’t you protecting me? Didn’t you just get someone to look into it? So I don’t have to take the risk myself. Isn’t that protecting me?”

She paused and her tone softened: “Besides, I don’t necessarily need your protection. Although I’m a girl and might be physically weaker than men, my will is not weak, I’m not stupid, and I can take care of myself…

I’m not saying this because I don’t want your care; what I’m trying to say is, as husband and wife, we can be partners working together as a team. When you’re down, I’ll support you; when I’m struggling, you help me. Isn’t that a better kind of marriage?”

This had always been Gao Mingzhu’s belief.

She was raised to believe that women should be independent and stand on their own, and she never thought she had to rely on anyone.

Before coming to the countryside, she wanted a partner who was her equal, supporting each other and moving forward together.

The current situation, though the material conditions were a bit different from what she’d imagined, was still similar to her philosophy.

But Huo Huaichuan was different. In the social environment he grew up in and the education he received, although they all shouted that women hold up half the sky, society still assumed women were the weaker sex, and men, especially husbands, were supposed to be the backbone of the family, protect their wives, and give them the best possible life.

He didn’t argue back, though.

His legs were already gone. How could he protect her? It was already a lot if he wasn’t a burden.

He was quiet for a moment, then lowered his voice and said, “Stay away from Lin Xiangsong and Lin Tianxiong for now. Don’t go head-to-head with them. Try to avoid being alone with them, and be alert at all times.”

Gao Mingzhu nodded: “I know. They still think I’m a fool and don’t take me seriously, so they won’t be too guarded against me.”

Only then did Huo Huaichuan feel a little relieved.

…

The Lin family was obviously bent on taking Gao Mingzhu down.

In just one day, rumors spread through the whole team that Gao Mingzhu didn’t know the first thing about accounting and got the job purely through connections.

The next morning, the brigade was full of discussions about Gao Mingzhu.

“Did you hear? Gao Mingzhu actually showed up for work at the team office!”

“What? She really went?”

“Not only that! I heard Lin Tianxiong tested her and she couldn't answer a single question. So embarrassing! And then she had the nerve to say city learning was different from what they do here!”

“She's got some nerve! Shouldn't city learning be better? She can't even make heads or tails of our village accounts?”

“Right! She said give her a month to learn, and if she still can't, she'll step down.”

“Why should we? Who does she think she is, asking us to wait a month while she learns? In that case, can I be the accountant too? Let me take the job first, then give me a month to learn?”

“That's so unfair! I don't agree to her being the accountant!”

“I don't agree either! How can someone who doesn't know money management handle our finances? This is everyone's money. Who'll make up for any losses?”

“Right! She can’t do it!”

“Let's go to the office and have it out with them!”

“What good would that do? Even the village chief can't stop it! If we want to raise a stink, we have to go to the commune!”

“The commune... Ah, maybe we should wait and see...” At the mention of the commune, some people chickened out.

After all, the commune carried authority, and besides, Gao Mingzhu had policy priority on her side.

“Then let's wait a few days. If she still can't, we can raise a fuss then—it's not too late.”

“Right, a month is too long. Just a few days! If she can't do it by then, she can't blame us for being harsh. We'll go to the commune!”

…

The villagers put off going to the commune and decided to give her a few days, but they made sure to give her dirty looks.

In the morning, Gao Mingzhu rode her bicycle from home to the brigade office. Along the short few-hundred-meter road, plenty of people rolled their eyes at her and muttered under their breath.

Gao Mingzhu caught bits and pieces but paid them no mind.

She knew exactly what she was capable of. Once the Lin family's dirty secrets came to light, her reputation would bounce back, and she'd have the accountant job locked down.

But on the surface, she played along, putting on a frosty expression as she arrived.

She parked her bike under the eaves and had just untied the account books from the back seat when she turned and ran into Lin Xiangsong and Lin Tianxiong.

Lin Xiangsong seemed in a good mood and greeted her with a smile: “Mingzhu, coming in to work?”

Gao Mingzhu stopped and responded with a cold “Mm.”

She figured that was enough to give Lin Xiangsong face, but she didn't even look at Lin Tianxiong, who had nodded hello, brushing him off completely.

Lin Xiangsong glanced at the account books in her hands, a glint of curiosity in his eyes, but he maintained a smiling expression: “You're so diligent—you even took the account books home last night?”

“I said I need to learn, so of course I have to be diligent.” Gao Mingzhu’s tone was not very good, with a hint of impatience.

Lin Xiangsong went “Oh,” and stared intently at her expression: “So, did you find any pattern?”

A flash of indignation mixed with awkwardness crossed her face. She lifted her chin and said flatly: “I’ve seen quite a bit. Don’t worry, I won’t let you take my accountant position easily!”

That look screamed that she hadn’t understood a thing, but she was too stubborn to admit it.

Lin Xiangsong and Lin Tianxiong exchanged a glance. That old fox Lin Xiangsong gave a knowing smile and put on a tone of earnest advice: “Mingzhu, you've got it all wrong. Sure, we wanted to compete for this position before, but now Tianxiong's planning to take the teacher exam in July to teach at a school, so he won't be staying. If you can really learn it, then you can keep the position; if you find it too difficult…”

He nudged Lin Tianxiong: “Tianxiong used to work at the county grain station, so he has a solid foundation. He can teach you, right, Tianxiong?”

Lin Tianxiong had been staring at her. At this, he quickly nodded: “Yeah, if you have any questions, just ask anytime.”

So he had worked at the grain station before—no wonder!

Gao Mingzhu’s eyes flickered. No wonder the team had lost so much grain over the past two years—Lin Tianxiong must have had a hand in it.

This time, the defiance on her face softened a bit. She still put up a tough front, but her tone wavered: “…We’ll see.”

With that, she walked past them and headed up to the office.

Lin Xiangsong and Lin Tianxiong watched her back until she disappeared down the hall, then exchanged a glance and moved on.

"Her attitude seems to have softened a bit today," Lin Tianxiong said with his eyes narrowed.

"Mhm," Lin Xiangsong also noticed, looking at his son with some pride. "I told you long ago, this girl responds better to kindness than to force."

Ever since Gao Mingzhu came to Qingshui Brigade, almost everyone coveted her looks and figure, yet she always treated everyone with indifference.

Surprisingly, on only the second day, her attitude had softened.

Lin Xiangsong couldn't help feeling proud—his son really has charm!

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