Chapter 100: Chapter 100

Everyone ate until they were full, and like usual, Bai Ruyun did some needlework, then everyone went to bed early.

Since there was work to be done the next day, they all went to sleep willingly. Even Bai Ruchuan, who was usually the most rambunctious, went straight to bed without causing any trouble.

Early the next morning, after Bai Ruxue woke up, she cooked rice, heated the pan to fry eggs, made a pot of fried rice, and reheated the leftovers from last night. The five siblings and Wang Cuihua finished breakfast early on.

"Mom, when we leave for work, make sure to lock the door so Grandma can’t get in! She might come over while we’re not home!" Bai Ruxia reminded her mother.

"Don’t worry, I’ve put away all the things in the house. Even if she gets in, what can she do?" Bai Ruxue smiled at the wary Bai Ruxia. She had already stored away all the rare items and grains in the space; besides, her mom wouldn’t have time to cook for them while watching the two kids. They’d come back and cook for themselves at noon.

Moreover, every household was only having two meals a day at this time, so she prepared some snacks for her siblings to secretly eat if they were hungry while working.

"Big sister is still the smartest!" Bai Rushan complimented his third sister after taking a look at her.

"Let’s go, let’s go! We’ll be late!" Bai Ruchuan was a little excited because it was the first time going to work after the new year, and he missed many of his little buddies.

"Wear more clothes! It’s still very cold outside!" Wang Cuihua shouted from behind.

The excited kids had already dashed out of sight.

"Mom, don’t worry! I’ll keep an eye on them! I left you some twists in the kang cabinet; remember to eat them at noon! We’re off!" Bai Ruxue said to Wang Cuihua before leaving.

When they arrived at the brigade headquarters, many people were already there, chatting in small groups.

Every day before work, we had to come to the headquarters to pick up tools, take attendance, and assign tasks. Even more people were here today, happy that the brigade was starting work early, except for Bai Ruxue.

Because working meant earning work points, which meant getting food, they wouldn’t have to go hungry every day.

After the New Year, although there was relief grain to support them, many families still didn’t have enough to eat, saving grain and having soupy congee with every meal. It was just cornmeal mush, also known as congee.

"Xiao Xue, over here, over here!" As soon as Bai Ruxue arrived, the little ones had already found their playmates. She was looking around when Wang Xuehua called her, and next to her was An Quanzi’s eldest daughter, An Liangliang. The three of them were the best of friends.

"Here I come!" Bai Ruxue walked over to them, but just as she was about to reach them, Zhao Hongmei suddenly appeared beside her, blocking her way.

"What do you want?" Bai Ruxue asked, her tone cool.

"Comrade Bai Ruxue, do you know that Comrade Zhang Yuan has returned to the Capital City?" Zhao Hongmei asked loudly.

Bai Ruxue didn’t respond to her, just stared at her, waiting for her to continue.

Zhao Hongmei, knowing Bai Ruxue wouldn’t answer her, went on, "I told you long ago, he wouldn’t want a country bumpkin like you. He has plenty of money; what’s a bicycle, sewing machine, or watch to him? He’s just playing with you poor folks, see, he went back to the Capital City to get married and left you behind!" Zhao Hongmei said smugly, as if Zhang Yuan was going to marry her instead.

Getting married? How did she know, or is she making it up? Zhang Yuan never mentioned going back to the Capital City for this reason!

"Ha... you’re butting into business that doesn’t concern you! A young intellectual acting so recklessly in public, making things up, where’s your integrity?" Bai Ruxue replied calmly.

"Who said I was making things up? It was written in Zhang Yuan’s letter. We were all there when he read it, and Li Jianshe even said he was getting married!" Zhao Hongmei shouted louder, looking around for Li Jianshe to testify for her.

"Zhao Hongmei, are you saying that the young intellectual Zhang Yuan left Bai Ruxue to get married?" Next to Bai Ruxue, Qian Tiegang from the west courtyard chimed in, never one to shy away from trouble.

"Yes! That’s exactly it!" Zhao Hongmei nodded.

Qian Tiegang, who was from Bai Ruxue’s west courtyard, was twenty years old, usually idle and barely earned any work points, and still had no partner.

He always had some thoughts about Bai Ruxue; he sulked at home on the day of her engagement, as his parents had grudges with Bai Daliang’s couple, and they locked him inside, not letting him out.

After that, he would often sneak to the wall to peep, but Bai Ruxue was rarely at home, and with Zhang Yuan visiting three times a day, he never got a chance to talk to her.

"That bastard, how dare he abandon his fiancée to get married, that’s too much!" Qian Tiegang muttered, but inside he was delighted. With Zhang Yuan, the young intellectual, gone, did he have a chance? He didn’t care that Bai Ruxue had been engaged.

Qian Tiegang muttered to himself, and no one really paid attention to him.

"Zhao Hongmei, you should watch your mouth! Zhang Yuan just went back to the Capital City to visit his grandparents! Don’t think everyone’s as sordid as you!" Bai Ruxue said mockingly, then ignored Zhao Hongmei. By this time, Wang Xuehua and An Liangliang had also come over.

"Exactly, look at your own appearance, fantasizing about someone else’s partner and now spreading rumors—you’re just asking for it, aren’t you?" Wang Xuehua said protectively, standing in front of Bai Ruxue.

"Li Jianshe, come over here!" Embarrassed by the remarks, Zhao Hongmei spotted Li Jianshe in the crowd and called him over.

With so many people going to work, all gathered here to watch the commotion, Bai Ruxue didn’t care, but Zhao Hongmei did care about her face.

Li Jianshe acted as if he didn’t hear, continuing to chat with the other two young intellectuals, which made Zhao Hongmei anxious, and she ran towards Li Jianshe.

"Li Jianshe, didn’t you hear me calling you?" She shouted desperately, feeling almost suffocated by the eyes watching her from all around.

"I heard you!" Li Jianshe had noticed the commotion here early on. Seeing that Comrade Bai Ruxue didn’t believe Zhao Hongmei’s claim, he didn’t bother to intervene.

"If you heard, why didn’t you come over?" With no one else to vent on, Zhao Hongmei let her temper loose on Li Jianshe.

She thought that Li Jianshe, usually amiable and lively with everyone, wouldn’t embarrass her.

But unexpectedly, "Why should I listen to you?" Li Jianshe’s indifferent sentence caused the people around to burst into laughter.

Furious to the point of tears, Zhao Hongmei gritted her teeth and asked Li Jianshe:

"Li Jianshe, just say whether you mentioned that Zhang Yuan was going back to the Capital City to get married when he read the letter?"

In her embarrassment, even Liu Lili, who was usually close to Zhao Hongmei, distanced herself, not daring to step in.

"Comrade Zhao Hongmei! You can’t go around saying things carelessly! I was just joking with Comrade Zhang Yuan! We’re close buddies, I was just kidding—why are you making a big deal out of it? Besides, I didn’t even see Zhang Yuan’s letter!" Li Jianshe said, and finally looked at Bai Ruxue, evidently explaining to her. Find the newest release on novel_fіre.net

From beginning to end, Bai Ruxue never believed Zhao Hongmei’s words, so her expression was indifferent. In fact, Zhao Hongmei’s eager performance appeared to her as nothing more than a clown act, not worth caring about or watching.