Bai Fumei in the ’70s Chapter 19
Translated by Serena Love
Proofread by Soupysuspicions
Edited by Ladyhotcomb
Chapter 19
“Originally, you had a chance. You have a good temperament and handle social relationships well. If it were up to a vote, you surely would have been chosen. But just then, when the leader was right there, what were you doing?”
Zhou Jiazhen expressed both indignation and regret.
Zhao Lanxiang was both amused and surprised, as she hadn’t realized such an opportunity existed.
But when she reflected on it carefully, she remembered that in her previous life, Jiang Li hadn’t attended university anytime soon.
The so-called “college students” who attended the workers, peasants, and soldiers university were chosen from local residents, whether they were workers, farmers, or members of the People’s Liberation Army. After receiving several years of education, these students would return to farm production.
But seeing Zhou Jiazhen’s disappointment, Zhao Lanxiang couldn’t help but reassure her. “It’s okay, I don’t care about it.”
She truly wasn’t interested in the selection for the workers, peasants, and soldiers university and had never considered applying in the first place.
Zhao Lanxiang was aware that in 1977, the college entrance examination system would be reinstated, allowing people to attend college based on their own merits rather than needing a recommendation.
Despite the presence of many talented individuals among the workers, peasants, and soldiers University students, the quality of students varied due to the increasing instances of backdoor admissions. This led to a future lack of recognition for the qualifications from these universities. The distinction between being recommended for college and earning admission through personal effort was clear.
At this time, the workers, peasants, and soldiers University was highly sought after, with some people investing all of their blood, sweat, and tears to gain admission. However, this path didn’t appeal to Zhao Lanxiang. For her, it represented a way to leave rural life and access commercial grain, symbolizing a significant social advancement. The sacrifices ordinary people made for such opportunities were often immense.
[T/N: “commercial grain” refers to the food that was sold in the market, thus they don’t plant it themselves, a.k.a. they have moved up in the world and no longer need to work in the field.]
Taking a sip of water, she smiled and said, “This opportunity should be reserved for those who truly need it, to create a positive impact. Would you dare think that I’m in such a position?”
Zhou Jiazhen was about to protest but fell silent for a long moment before responding, “I wouldn’t dare to assume.”
Zhao Lanxiang played with her dry hair, her apricot eyes sparkling, “While I did hope to be elected, studying isn’t worth it for me. Even without a college degree, I’ll achieve my dreams. The path may be torturous, but the future is bright.”
Zhou Jiazhen playfully tugged at Zhao Lanxiang’s ponytail, pretending to scold, “Pei, pei, pei, we’re all old girls here anyway, who dares dream of studying at a University now?”
Zhao Lanxiang passed the kettle to Zhou Jiazhen, “Come, drink some water before we get back to work.”
After the break, work resumed. Zhao Lanxiang bent over the trenches, digging at a pace so slow that she was still working long after others had finished.
Suddenly, Zhou Jiazhen nudged Zhao Lanxiang’s arm and asked in surprise, “Look over there, why is He’s second son here?”
Zhao Lanxiang looked up to see He Songbai descending from the mountain for some reason and was now standing behind her.
He casually said, “I’ve finished my work.”
Zhao Lanxiang asked, “If you’re done, why are you here?”
Her lips curved slightly.
He Songbai replied, “My sister sent me to help you.”
Zhao Lanxiang’s hands tightened, and her smile faded.
“Oh, then I should thank your sister for her concern... but she already assisted me this morning; there’s no need for more help this afternoon.”
When He Songbai heard that, his thick black eyebrows furrowed. As if puzzled by this woman, who was such a troublesome creature.
Zhao Lanxiang turned away, gripping her shovel to resume digging.
He Songbai glanced around, lowered his voice, and said, “You’re not strong. Don’t pretend to be. Just wait for me. I can’t help you when there are more people around.”
After speaking, he took Zhao Lanxiang’s hoe and began to dig. His strokes were swift and efficient, completing in half an hour what had taken her all afternoon. The pit was deep and tidy, the excavated soil neatly piled.
Sweat beaded on He Songbai’s forehead. He said, “I’ll come to help you later. Be obedient this time.”
With that, he left, his soft voice trailing in the wind.
The word “obedient” left Zhao Lanxiang momentarily stunned.
Her father often used that word, always gently, his face filled with indulgence. In that moment, she found a faint resemblance between them.
Zhao Lanxiang placed her hand over her rapidly beating heart.
Zhou Jiazhen couldn’t contain her surprise, exclaiming that only someone dealing with their girlfriend would work so earnestly.
Zhao Lanxiang hurriedly covered her mouth and said, “The children of the He family are very nice. You should not be prejudiced against them.”
Zhou Jiazhen looked as if she’d been struck by lightning. She said, “You have been deceived by them too. The people who are close to a cinnabar become red, and the people who are close to an ink become black. The old saying is actually true.”
Zhao Lanxiang countered, “I trust my own experiences and what I’ve seen. I won’t blindly believe in gossip. Think about it. You live in the branch secretary’s house, help with chores, and always pay your rent on time. But do they ever help you with your work?”
Zhou Jiazhen muttered, “They’re busy people, they can’t be expected to do such tasks.”
However, Zhao Lanxiang replied, “The secretary’s family doesn’t worry about food or drink. The He family, on the other hand, wouldn’t eat if they didn’t work, yet they still chose to help me finish my work.”
Zhou Jiazhen was at a loss for words.
Zhao Lanxiang sighed, “Let’s get back to work.”
Zhou Jiazhen agreed, “Alright!”
---
The next day, despite Zhao Lanxiang’s reluctance, He Songbai arrived on time to help her. When the senior educated youths saw the pit “she and Zhou Jiazhen” had dug, they were full of praise.
Zhou Jiazhen, embarrassed by the praises, couldn’t confess the truth. Admitting that she and Zhao Lanxiang hadn’t dug the pit themselves would implicate her in Zhao Lanxiang’s deception.
Because He Songbai helped Zhao Lanxiang, he ended up doing her portion of the work as well.
Seeing He Songbai labor so intensely, Zhao Lanxiang felt a pang of guilt. She resolved to buy meat on the weekend and to regularly provide him with food and water every three weeks.
The villagers were envious, remarking, “The He family is truly blessed!”
Ever since the city-educated youth, Zhao Lanxiang, decided to live with the He family, they had been enjoying meals with meat and other delicacies. Previously as thin as refugees, they now dined like the wealthy.
Everyone was exhausted after a long day’s work, but when they returned home, all they had to eat were sweet potatoes and beans, which made their faces turn green with envy and frustration. The stark contrast was painfully obvious.
They couldn’t bring themselves to knock on the He family’s door to ask for food, yet they had to endure the tantalizing aromas every day. Who told them to not have a good relationship with the He familly? Their relationship with that family had never been repaired over the years.
And now they want to beg for meat?
They still had to maintain their faces. How could a mere fragrance compel them to humble themselves before those they considered “bad people” for just a few bites?
So, they would close their doors at mealtime and use their imagination. They pretended the sweet potato and green bean rice in their bowls was meat, using the scent wafting through the air to enhance their meals.
‘Ah! What is that educated youth Zhao cooking? It smells so good every day! If only Zhao Lanxiang had come to our house, it would have been perfect! But since she’s staying with the ‘bad’ He family, we can’t even ask for a sip of their rice water!’ These were their daily thoughts.
As a result, when He Songbai was on his way to finish Zhao Lanxiang’s work one day, he became the target of these resentful neighbors. They seemed eager to vent their frustrations on someone, and while working, they began to make snide remarks.
Sister He was very patient and couldn’t hear their comments due to her disability. No matter how loudly they shouted, she couldn’t hear a word. Their twisted tongues’ attempt to gossip was wasted on her.
However, He Songbai was less tolerant. The “care” he received had doubled, and he was not known for his patience.
“That girl is beautiful, and she gives you meat to eat, and a warm blanket...”
“Shut up,” He Songbai said quietly, his low voice carrying a threat.
The person who was speaking was called Wang Xizi. He was a man in his thirties who was poor and unkempt, and who struggled to get along with his wife. Wang Xizi taunted He Songbai again, this time with more fervor. His muddy eyes gleamed with a strange excitement.
The others joined in, booing and laughing loudly.
“The He family is so poor, with only two broken houses left. Even thieves wouldn’t bother with them. I wonder how he thinks he’s worthy of someone from the city...”
Wang Xiuzi grew more arrogant, shaking his head and adding a few more taunting remarks. He Songbai, unable to tolerate it any longer, launched a swift punch at Wang Xiuzi, striking him like a meteor.
That day, Zhao Lanxiang didn’t see He Songbai come to help her with the trenches and rubble as usual.
As the sun began to set, He Sanya ran to Zhao Lanxiang with tears streaming down her face. “Sister, can you help my elder brother? He’s bleeding a lot.”
Pointing towards their home, her face smeared with tears and snot, He Sanya’s distress was evident. Zhao Lanxiang immediately abandoned her cart and rushed to He Songbai’s workplace. There, she found a pool of blood on the ground and several injured people. After calming down, she grabbed the nearest person to ask what happened.
After inquiring about the ins and outs, she hurried to the old He family’s house and pushed open the door to He Songbai’s room. Inside the dimly lit room, she saw He Songbai lying on the bed, only a tuft of his black hair visible under the quilt, the air heavy with the scent of medicinal oil.
Zhao Lanxiang stepped inside and saw that He Songbai had his eyes closed.
She asked casually, “I’ve been so busy lately, I haven’t had a chance to ask – how’s your leg?”
“I need to see your legs,” she added.
He Songbai gripped the quilt tightly, responding lightly, “My legs are fine.”
Zhao Lanxiang lifted the thin quilt covering his body, and examined his wounds. His wheat-colored chest was covered with scrapes, bruises, and deep purple scars. Blood had coagulated at the corner of his eyebrow, trailing down to his cheek, creating a gruesome sight. He looked terrible.
She gently prodded his skin with her fingers.
He Songbai yelled out in pain, and Zhao Lanxiang remarked, “You deserve it. Was fighting really worth it?”
He Songbai frowned. He was sore with pain, even his nerves felt numb. He couldn’t think about anything else, so he replied hoarsely, “They were talking nonsense, so I taught them a lesson.”
Zhao Lanxiang retrieved some more medicine from her room, washed his wounds with alcohol, and applied first aid to him. Finally, she said lightly, “It’s not nonsense.”
The medicine provided some relief to his wounds, but it still left him with excruciating pain, at times nearly causing him to pass out. Overwhelmed by this agony, He Songbai had no energy to think about the woman who had leaned in close to him. How she bent down to gently touch the injuries on his chest, was improper, yet he couldn’t deny the intimacy of the moment.
She pressed so close to him, her warm breath tickling across his skin, sending tingles down his spine. In the dim, quiet room, his uninjured hand instinctively reached out, seeking the comfort of her warmth and softness. The darkness seemed to amplify his other senses, allowing him to catch the subtle scent of her, a delicate fragrance that fought against the overpowering aroma of medicinal oil.
“Wh.. what?” He Songbai pulled back his hand abruptly, as if it had been burned.
Zhao Lanxiang blinked and repeated seriously, “He wasn’t talking nonsense.”
Her clear, apricot eyes were like calm autumn waters, tender and captivating. He Songbai blinked, feeling a throbbing pain in his temples.
She smiled and took his retreating hand, holding it close and pressing her body closer to him. He Songbai felt her softness and warmth, his mind going blank. It was as if his entire being had been struck by lightning, his blood boiling hot within him, threatening to erupt.
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