The moment those words entered Wang Xiuying's ears, she stopped abruptly. Then she spun around, "No!"
Her voice was sharper than Yang Yufen had expected. A storm of emotions churned in Wang Xiuying's eyes as she glared at her, "You know exactly how much I care about Li Guoqiang." Her fingers tightened unconsciously, "He is the only man I have ever truly wanted, since I was young, I dreamed of marrying him." Her voice trembled slightly.
"I saw him first, I knew him first, I spent my youth thinking about him. So why should Chen Meilan, who entered his life later, be the one standing beside him today? If Heaven had any fairness, shouldn't I have been given a chance first?"
Hearing those words, for a moment, even Yang Yufen was startled by the intensity in her expression.
Wang Xiuying continued in a lower voice, "For years I stayed away because of one mistake." A shadow flashed through her eyes, "I didn't dare approach him, I thought time would wash everything away. But now, I am no longer a young girl. The years keep passing. If I continue waiting, this desire will become nothing more than a dream I can never reach."
Silence fell between them. Yang Yufen swallowed nervously, then she hurriedly nodded, "You're right." Her voice immediately softened, "Who in this village doesn't know how much you liked him back then? When Aunt Chunhua made him work in the fields, you would always find excuses to stay nearby, guarding him like a mother hen guarding her chicks. If any girl tried to speak to him for too long, you'd chase her away."
A trace of amusement entered her eyes, "Back then, half the village girls were afraid of you."
Wang Xiuying's face darkened. She immediately caught the sarcasm hidden beneath the words, "If you know all that, then stop asking foolish questions."
Yang Yufen hurriedly waved her hands, "Yes, yes. My mistake. I won't say such things again."
Then she leaned closer with a calculating glint flashing briefly through her eyes, "And actually, I wasn't trying to give you false hope." Her tone became increasingly persuasive, "I truly believe Li Guoqiang and Chen Meilan won't remain the same forever."
Wang Xiuying's gaze sharpened.
Yang Yufen noticed immediately and continued, "Think about it, years have passed, Chen Meilan no longer possesses the advantages she once had. The hardships of life leave marks on everyone. Day after day in the fields, year after year worrying about food and clothing..." Yang Yufen shook her head, "Who can remain unchanged?"
Wang Xiuying remained silent. Yet she listened carefully.
Seeing this, Yang Yufen became even more confident, "Besides... Men are men. The old people always say, 'A flower admired every day eventually becomes part of the scenery.' and that is what happened with Chen Meilan, her beauty and youth has become a story from the past."
"And than there is also her personality. Men seek excitement and novelty. And Chen Meilan's temperament is far too soft. She's timid and llways yielding. Can a man like Li Guoqiang truly enjoy living with someone like that forever?"
Yang Yufen clicked her tongue, "I don't think so. A woman ugly and timid, what man liked indulging such woman?"
As she spoke, Wang Xiuying's expression gradually eased. The frustration she had felt earlier seemed to loosen slightly. A faint spark of hope flickered back to life.
Perhaps... Perhaps Yang Yufen was right.
Perhaps she had judged too quickly.
Perhaps Li Guoqiang's cold attitude today truly had something to do with the crowd.
Sensing the change in her expression, Yang Yufen immediately struck while the iron was hot, "If you ask me... You shouldn't meet him in front of everyone. Find a chance to speak with him alone, somewhere quiet. Then you'll see his true feelings."
After a pause she added flatteringly, "After all, you're no longer the village girl from years ago. You're a city woman now. You've seen the world. What man wouldn't be moved?"
Wang Xiuying's eyes brightened. The image formed instantly in her mind.
A private meeting... No villagers... Just herself and Li Guoqiang. The thought alone made her heartbeat quicken.
"Good." A faint smile curved her lips. Then she seemed to remember something. Her gaze fell upon Yang Yufen, "Speaking of which... I remember you always loved sweets."
Yang Yufen's eyes widened immediately, "Xiuying, you still remember? Yes, I still do." She sighed dramatically, "But what can I do? I'm just a rural woman earning work points. I haven't tasted proper sweets in years. I haven't even had brown sugar for nearly three years."
She glanced at Wang Xiuying from the corner of her eye. The meaning behind her words could not have been more obvious.
Wang Xiuying instantly saw through the act. A trace of contempt flashed through her eyes. What a greedy woman. But she suppressed her disgust. After all, Yang Yufen might still prove useful.
Slowly, she reached into her pocket. Her fingers brushed against a carefully wrapped piece of candy. For a brief moment, hesitation appeared in her eyes.
Even in the city, this was not something ordinary people could casually buy. Yet after a moment's consideration, she forced herself to take it out. White rabbit candy appeared in her palm.
The moment Yang Yufen saw it, her breathing quickened.
Wang Xiuying felt a pang of reluctance. Giving something this precious to Yang Yufen felt almost wasteful. Still, she maintained her elegant smile, "This isn't much." She placed the candy into Yang Yufen's hand, "But you can have it."
Yang Yufen stared at it in disbelief. Her eyes nearly popped out, "W...White Rabbit Candy?" Her voice rose involuntarily.
The famous candy from Shanghai. A luxury that most villagers had only heard about. For a moment, Yang Yufen felt as though she were holding treasure.
Watching her reaction, Wang Xiuying's sense of superiority returned. The humiliation she had suffered earlier finally eased somewhat.
And Yang Yufen's smile grew wider and wider. Neither woman noticed the calculating thoughts hidden behind the other's eyes.
Behind Wang Xiuying, Li Fengying stood frozen in place. By now, she was so stunned that she could hardly find her voice.
She was only eleven years old, but she was not foolish. After listening to the entire conversation, she understood far more than the adults around her realized.
For a moment, she simply stared at her mother's back. A strange feeling stirred inside her heart. She had never imagined that her mother harbored such thoughts for a married man. If someone else had told her this yesterday, she would never have believed it. Yet now she had heard it with her own ears.
At first, the revelation left her shocked. But then a that figure surfaced in her mind. The tall man she had seen earlier near the production warehouse. As she recalled his appearance, the shock in her heart gradually transformed into something else.
Something exciting.
Initially, she had been somewhat annoyed by his cold attitude toward her mother. After all, she had never seen anyone speak to Wang Xiuying so indifferently. But after hearing what this ugly woman said, she suddenly felt it all made sense.
If that man truly held such an important place in her mother's heart... Then perhaps her mother's persistence was understandable.
The more she thought about it, the faster her heart beat. A ridiculous but irresistible thought emerged.
What if... What if her mother really succeeded? What if one day she and that man became a family? Wouldn't that mean... He would become her father?
The thought struck her like a bolt of lightning. For years, Li Fengying had buried a wound deep inside her heart.
In Anshan, she had grown up under countless curious glances and whispered rumors about not having a man in her family. Be it school or inside the Railway Parts Factory residential compound.
There were always people asking questions and gossiping. Some children mocked her openly. Some adults did it behind her back. And there had even been a few sharp-tongued old hags who called her names she would never forget.
One old woman had once pointed at her and muttered, "A child without a father is like a kite without a string."
Another had warned her grandson not to play with her. Though they never said the words directly to her face, Li Fengying had heard enough. Each sentence had left a scar.
Over the years, she had learned to raise her chin proudly. She had learned to pretend she did not care. But deep inside, she cared, very much. She had always wanted a father.
Someone she could point to proudly and who would stand behind her and most importantly someone who would silence those mocking voices forever.
Many times she had wanted to ask Wang Xiuying about her father. But each time she swallowed the question. She feared hurting her mother.
Yet now, for the first time in her life... Hope appeared.
And what a hope it was. Li Fengying's cheeks flushed slightly. The image of Li Guoqiang became clearer and clearer in her mind.
His broad shoulders, upright posture, the calm authority he carried naturally. Even standing among dozens of villagers, he seemed different. Like a pine tree rising above ordinary brushwood.
Strong... Reliable.... Unshakable...
More handsome than any man she had ever seen in Anshan. Even the factory cadres she occasionally encountered seemed ordinary compared to him.
For some reason, merely imagining him as her father filled her with an indescribable sense of security. If she truly had such a father, wouldn't all those old hangs have to sollow their words? Wouldn't those children who mocked her finally be forced to shut their mouths?
The thought alone made her want to laugh aloud. A bright future suddenly unfolded before her eyes.
Meanwhile, Yang Yufen carefully tucked the White Rabbit Candy into her pocket. Her movements were so cautious that one might think she was storing a piece of gold. The candy rested against her chest. Only then did she finally feel reassured.
She looked up at Wang Xiuying and hurriedly said, "Then I'll take my leave. I still need to earn work points in the fields." She patted her pocket subconsciously before continuing, "If you need anything, just come find me. My house is at the southern end of the commune. Ask anyone and they'll point the way." A flattering smile spread across her face, "Anything you need, just say the word."
With that Yang Yufen did not linger any longer. She turned around immediately and strode away with remarkable speed. Her steps were so hurried that she looked almost comical. Not once did she glance back. She was genuinely afraid. Afraid that Wang Xiuying might suddenly change her mind and White Rabbit Candy would somehow find its way back into Wang Xiuying's pocket.
Watching Yang Yufen's retreating figure, Wang Xiuying sneered softly. A trace of contempt flickered through her eyes. Yet despite her disdain, she did not stop the woman.
Because she knew one thing very clearly. Sometimes the easiest people to use were precisely those who could be bought with a petty gains.
Beside her, Li Fengying quietly lowered her head. No one noticed the excitement hidden in her eyes. Nor did anyone know that a seed had already been planted in the young girl's heart.
A dangerous and beautiful dream.
The atmosphere inside the County Grain Bureau was unusually oppressive that morning. Even the clerks moving through the corridors unconsciously lowered their voices, afraid that a careless word might invite disaster. The source of that suffocating pressure came from the director's office.
Inside, Director Cao Dehai sat behind his heavy wooden desk, his face flushed an angry crimson. The veins on the back of his hand bulged as he slammed a document onto the table, "I sent you to deliver my warning to Chen Deshun!" His furious roar echoed through the office, "And yet you return here preaching their ridiculous predictions to me?"
Standing before the desk, a young bureau employee instinctively lowered his head. Cold sweat trickled down his back. He had only recently entered the Grain Bureau as a temporary employee. He had yet to secure a permanent establishment post, making his position far more precarious than that of ordinary clerks.
In this bureau, even offending a senior office assistant could cost him his future. Let alone provoking the Bureau Director.
Suppressing the panic rising in his chest, he spoke carefully, "Director Cao... I carried out your instructions exactly as ordered. I personally visited Shitou People's Commune. I conveyed your warning to Commune Director Chen Deshun without omitting a single word. I even hinted at the possible political consequences should they insist on changing the planting plan."
He paused before continuing, "But... The commune leadership remained firm. Especially one of the brigade leaders. They said they respected the Bureau's guidance... but they trusted the experience of those who had worked the land for generations. They insisted there would be a severe drought this year. They believe food security for the commune comes first. Only when the people have enough to eat can they properly serve the state."
Every additional sentence darkened Cao Dehai's expression. By the end, his face had become frighteningly cold. A violent rage surged through his chest.
"Absurd!" He struck the desk with such force that the teacup beside him rattled violently, "What arrogance! A handful of peasants dare lecture the Grain Bureau about agriculture? They think years of digging in the dirt make them wiser than the State's experts?" He laughed coldly, "What enormous courage."
The office immediately fell silent. Cao Dehai slowly leaned back in his chair. Yet instead of calming down, the fury inside him only intensified.
For the past three years, since assuming the position of County Grain Bureau Director, he had carefully established his authority over all five people's communes under the county's jurisdiction.
His methods had always been forceful and firm. Sometimes even ruthless. Whenever procurement quotas increased, he ensured every commune complied without question.
Through constant pressure, political discipline, and strict implementation of State policy, he had successfully extracted grain far beyond previous years' targets. Because of those achievements, his reputation among the county leadership had steadily risen. Even the municipal authorities had begun paying attention to his work.
This year, however, represented an even greater opportunity. Across the country, droughts had begun appearing one after another. Food shortages were becoming increasingly severe. Higher authorities feared that declining grain reserves could eventually threaten not only economic stability but also national security.
One directive after another descended from above about increasing production and expand wheat acreage.
To many officials, these orders were pressure. To Cao Dehai... They were opportunity. An opportunity to step beyond this remote county and earn another promotion. Perhaps even transfer to a larger city.
This year, however, he had adopted a different strategy. Rather than relying solely on administrative pressure, he had presented every commune with attractive incentives.
The rewards were so tempting that nearly every commune leadership eagerly expanded wheat cultivation. They practically competed against one another.
Exactly as he had anticipated. It was a far more elegant method than issuing threats. People willingly placed the rope around their own necks.
Even Shitou people Commune, usually overlooked because of its remote location, had received the same encouragement.
He had assumed they would follow the others.
After all... Who would willingly reject such good incentives?
Yet they had not only refused... They had completely overturned the original planting plan. The mere thought made Cao Dehai's temples throb.
He suddenly rose to his feet, "No." His voice was low. "This cannot continue." He began pacing behind his desk. "Shitou Commune contains three production brigades. It is one of the county's larger communes. If they abandon large-scale wheat cultivation, our projected procurement figures will immediately fall."
His eyes narrowed, "The county has already submitted its estimated production figures to the prefectural authorities. If the actual harvest falls significantly below that estimate..." His expression became increasingly grim, "It won't merely embarrass the Grain Bureau. The entire county leadership could be held accountable."
Silence filled the office. After several moments, Cao Dehai suddenly made his decision, "We're going to the Mayor's office." He grabbed his cap from the table, "This matter can no longer be handled by the Bureau alone. We'll report it directly. The county leadership must deal with Shitou Commune personally."
The young employee immediately straightened, "Yes, Director Cao."
Without another word, the two men strode out of the office. The moment Cao Dehai stepped into the corridor, everyone instinctively moved aside. No one dared meet his eyes.
As he descended the bureau's stone staircase, a cold thought gradually surfaced in his mind.
Authority, once challenged could never be allowed to weaken. Today it was Shitou Commune. Tomorrow another commune might follow.
If one brigade leader could openly disregard the Grain Bureau's directives without consequence, what would stop the others?
By then, the authority he had spent three years building would crumble like sand beneath the tide. No.... That absolutely could not happen.
His eyes grew colder with every step. Someone had dared challenge his authority. Such defiance required an example. A harsh one.
Only by crushing the first spark could he prevent the prairie fire from spreading.
As for Chen Deshun and whoever among the brigade leaders had been stirring up this so-called "drought prediction"...
Cao Dehai silently etched their names into his memory.
Sooner or later...
He would make them understand the price of opposing his authority.