AYLS – Chapter 94

Lin Qiao had been through similar experiences herself, so she felt absolutely no sympathy for Li Yan’s predicament. After all, she had gone through it too, and wasn’t she doing just fine now? Feeling empathy for Li Yan, she figured Li Yan would be fine as well.

So whatever needed to be done, it should just be done. Just like when Teacher Sun had taught her to raise chickens back then—doing the dirtiest, most exhausting work, and learning from the experience of hard labor.

After Li Yan finished feeding the chickens, she still hadn’t recovered. Her body was trembling, her face still pale. Lin Qiao told her to drink some water and then clean the inside of the house. After all, it had been closed up all night, and the place was a complete mess.

After cleaning, it was best to sprinkle lime around; this was something that had to be done every day.

Li Yan looked at Lin Qiao through streaming tears, then glanced down at her own fair, slender hands.

These hands were meant for writing, brewing tea, arranging flowers, and even dancing.

Now, they were being used to feed chickens and sweep chicken droppings.

These hands were no longer clean!

Li Yan’s tears flowed harder and harder. She didn’t move, didn’t speak.

“…” Lin Qiao touched the goosebumps on her own arms and thought to herself that if she had had this kind of skill back then, Gu Huayuan probably wouldn’t have let her do farm work at all.

Ah, you can’t compare people to people.

Unfortunately, Comrade Li Yan’s little trick didn’t work on this female comrade. Lin Qiao comforted her, “It’s really no big deal. You’ll get used to it. We got through it before, didn’t we?”

“After some time, you’ll realize that labor is the most honorable thing. We have to overcome difficulties to make sure we always have a meal to eat.”

Su Weizhen spoke plainly, “If you really feel you can’t adapt, you can just go work in the fields.”

“…” Li Yan wiped her tears, grabbed a broom, and went into the house. As she stepped over the threshold, the stench almost made her stumble.

Lin Qiao and Su Weizhen: “…”

Alright, as long as she’s willing to work, that’s fine. They wouldn’t be picky. Once Li Ermie gets back, she can show her the ropes.

In the morning, Lin Qiao was busy with her own chicken-raising duties, while keeping an eye on Li Yan, worried she might not do the work properly and mess things up.

Before the end of the workday, all the tasks were already done. Lin Qiao let Li Yan go home. After all, she was working for free; as long as the work was completed, there was no need to wait around until the end of the day.

Hearing this, Li Yan ran home without a second word.

Su Weizhen walked over and, seeing Li Yan’s panicked retreat, asked Lin Qiao, “Do you think she’ll come back this afternoon?”

Lin Qiao shrugged, “I don’t know. There’s no pay, so we can’t force her.”

The two then discussed visiting Li Ermie at noon, planning to bring her some gifts.

Su Weizhen also intended to bring some items. Although there had been past grudges, they were behind them now. Out of respect for Lin Qiao, she wouldn’t be too picky.

Being neighbors, it made sense to bring something.

She had some red dates and peanuts in her stash, which could help nourish the blood. She could also send some cloth coupons, so that when Li Ermie’s belly grew, she could still make clothes.

After deciding what to bring, they each went home to get ready after work.

When Lin Qiao got back, Gu Huayuan had also returned. She rummaged through her things, preparing to deliver gifts to Li Ermie.

Gu Huayuan was cooking and, upon hearing this, just hummed and then mentioned that Zhang Tuo said Li Yan went to the chicken farm today, asking if anything had happened.

Lin Qiao chuckled, “Nothing really happened, though she might have been frightened. It’s dirty and messy over there, and her face was pale all day. I told her to go home early, but I don’t know if she’ll go back this afternoon. You even lied to me before, saying she went voluntarily—I don’t think that’s true.”

Gu Huayuan said, “That’s what Zhang Tuo told me. Maybe he didn’t know the actual situation.”

“Probably. I thought I found someone with the same mindset, but I overestimated. Looks like I’ll have to sweep the chicken dung myself from now on.”

Gu Huayuan laughed, “Maybe she’s willing. You were crying and whining before too, but later you did fine, right?”

Lin Qiao proudly said, “That’s because I’m disciplined and strong-willed. You think everyone’s like me?”

“Hmm, Lin Qiao comrade is indeed exceptional. Aren’t you going to deliver something to Li Ermie? Hurry up, eat early. I made you sesame oil steamed eggs.”

Hearing that, Lin Qiao swallowed hard and dashed out with the items.

Su Weizhen, being closer to Li Ermei’s house, had already arrived and was seated. When she delivered the gifts, Li Ermei was overjoyed, insisting they not be so formal and placing the items on the table.

Su Weizhen sat nearby, asking about her situation.

Li Ermei rubbed her belly, “Everything’s fine. The doctor said it’s less than two months, just pay attention to yourself.” She glanced at Instructor Chen, who was cooking nearby. “The doctor said I need to be careful if anything feels off, especially eat well and get nutrition. My life’s been hard, and my health has suffered. It wasn’t easy to get pregnant this time.”

Su Weizhen knew she was speaking for someone who had been through it—she understood completely.

Her husband, Xu Yuanzheng, was particularly understanding and just smiled in agreement. “Of course, you need to take care. The child is important. Luckily, your family can support it. In the past, you had to save, but now you can’t. You have to spend on the child. Kids need good food.”

Li Ermei was touched. “You’re right. For example, I really want meat today, but it’s not really me—it’s the baby.”

At that moment, Lin Qiao rushed over with her gifts and said to Li Ermei, “Li Ermie, I brought meat coupons. When you want meat, just go buy it. Don’t be frugal.”

Li Ermei was moved beyond words. Today, after some persuasion, Old Chen had finally agreed to let her cut the meat.

Seeing Lin Qiao, she thought, even more reliable than her husband.

Pregnant, she became emotional and her eyes reddened. “Lin Qiao, you’re really the best. Unlike some people, having a child doesn’t even get me a decent meal.”

Instructor Chen felt extremely awkward.

Lin Qiao said, “Don’t worry. Instructor Chen will be a good father. People change when they become parents.”

“Who can say for sure?” Li Ermei complained, looking at Instructor Chen.

Instructor Chen smiled awkwardly, “Why don’t you two just eat at home?”

Lin Qiao and Su Weizhen both stood, refusing. Lin Qiao said, “No need, He’s cooking at home. I need to hurry back and eat. We still have work this afternoon.”

Su Weizhen also said she needed to return to cook; Old Xu’s cooking wasn’t reliable.

Li Ermei then asked, “While I’m gone, is the chicken farm very busy?”

“Not really. Someone helped this morning,” Lin Qiao replied.

Hearing that, Li Ermei suddenly panicked. She had just gotten pregnant and only left for half a day—someone was replacing her already?

“Who?”

Lin Qiao said, “Comrade Li Yan.”

“Her?!” Li Ermei widened her eyes in shock. “No way. Someone who faints just going into the fields can still manage chickens?”

Su Weizhen said, “I’m not lying. She really went and did well this morning. And she said she was working for free.”

Li Ermei, having been through this before, thought Li Yan was just playing the long game to catch a big prize. She grumbled, clearly dissatisfied, “She’s probably not doing it well. You can tell just by looking—she’s not a real worker. I must go this afternoon. I won’t be at ease if I don’t.”

Lin Qiao asked, “Is your body really up for it? Maybe you should rest a few more days.”

“I’m not that weak. The doctor said as long as I eat properly, I’ll be fine.” She glanced at Instructor Chen as she spoke.

“…I asked someone to buy some good food.”

“That’s more like it.” Li Ermei snorted, then took Lin Qiao’s hand. “I have to go this afternoon. I’m fine. I can even teach that Li Yan to work.”

Lin Qiao said, “Maybe she won’t come in the afternoon. Her face didn’t look good this morning.”

Li Ermei thought to herself that it would be better if she didn’t come, muttering, “No problem. If she doesn’t come, someone still has to work. I’ll do it myself then.”

“Ermei, you really…” Lin Qiao was moved and squeezed her hand. “You’re a good comrade.”

Su Weizhen stood nearby, wishing she had a handful of sunflower seeds to munch on while watching Li Ermei perform.

Only Lin Qiao believed her words.

After the two of them left, Li Ermei threw another tantrum, blaming Instructor Chen for her poor health and how now even work was being taken from her. If she weren’t sick, she wouldn’t have needed a day off and could have kept working at the unit.

Having this job was hard enough. She had endured long days in the fields, then still had to go to the chicken farm. She had persisted for so long.

“It’s all your fault, Old Chen. It’s all your fault.”

Instructor Chen looked helpless. “It’s not that bad. I didn’t say you couldn’t work.”

“As time goes on, things will definitely change,” Li Ermei said, getting worked up. “Anyway, I’ll eat well and drink well. From now on, I’ll only send a maximum of twenty [meals] home each month. The meat ration is mine, and all other allowances for health, I’ll keep for myself!”

“And what about our family…” Instructor Chen thought of his elderly parents and young nieces and nephews.

“Then let your son and I starve to death,” Li Ermei shouted. “If you don’t want to raise him, I’ll find my child a stepfather.”

Instructor Chen’s face darkened. “Li Ermei, don’t say that! That’s my child.”

“If you won’t raise him, then who’s your child? My poor baby can’t even have a good bite to eat in the womb, and his father doesn’t care about him.”

“When he’s born and grows up, I’ll sing ‘Little Cabbage’ to him. He has no father’s care before birth, and after birth, only his mother. Having a father or not is the same…”

Li Ermei ended up crying over her own words.

Instructor Chen panicked, worried it would affect her and the baby. “Don’t cry. Let’s talk calmly. We can discuss it, can’t we?”

“No discussion. It’s your family or this family. Wuuu…”

“If you don’t agree, I’ll live at the chicken farm, and the child will grow up with the chickens, calling the rooster dad, eating chicken feed. My poor child…”

“Fine, fine, I agree. I agree. We’ll do it this way first, okay?”

Li Ermei felt relieved hearing him give in. “We’ll keep doing it this way from now on.”

Instructor Chen thought to himself that they would settle the rest after the child was born. He couldn’t risk upsetting her now.

A year at most. For now, he would let the family bear a bit of inconvenience. His parents and siblings would surely understand. He could write a letter later to explain the situation.

On the other side of the compound, Zhang Tuo’s household was also in chaos.

Li Yan went home and washed herself repeatedly. Since she didn’t know how to light a stove, she used cold water, shivering all over. She wrapped herself in a quilt, still feeling the lingering smell on her body. She felt utterly broken, thinking she’d never be clean again and that the smell would stay with her forever.

When Zhang Tuo came back, she started blaming him, saying he was heartless and unfeeling. Combined with the afternoon at the chicken farm, her anger clouded her mind, and she spoke without restraint. In the end, she said, “You’re torturing me on purpose because I don’t love you.”

After saying this, she froze, realizing she’d said something she shouldn’t have. Some truths could remain unspoken, but once spoken, it was over.

Hearing this, Zhang Tuo wanted to comfort her but swallowed his words, nodding angrily. “Fine. You finally admit it. You never loved me, did you? Finally admit it.”

Although he knew the truth, he had never asked Li Yan, and she had never said. He had clung to a small hope, which is why they got married. That was why he had persisted so far. But Li Yan’s words snapped him awake.

Zhang Tuo laughed at himself. “Torture you? If I wanted to torture you, would I even have brought you here?”

“Fine. If you say I’m torturing you, then so be it. You go back to the chicken farm or the fields. I won’t care about your business anymore.”

He packed a few clothes and essentials and left.

Li Yan cried, “Where are you going?”

“I’m going to the dormitory. I won’t bother you, and you won’t say I’m torturing you. Don’t worry about meals; I’ll eat at the cafeteria.”

Then he left.

Li Yan stubbornly said nothing, tears streaming as she watched him leave. She looked around the empty room, feeling a mix of fear and loneliness.

That afternoon, Li Ermei indeed did not see Li Yan arrive.

She was thrilled, working happily while telling Lin Qiao, “See? I’m reliable. Some people talk a big game but don’t show up.”

Lin Qiao said, “Well, she didn’t ask for pay. It was free labor. Don’t expect too much. Can you manage now?”

“Yes! I wrapped my nose with this cloth, and it’s no problem.” Li Ermei, wearing her homemade mask, was full of energy again.

Having dealt with the troublesome Li Yan, Li Ermei happily continued talking about dealing with Instructor Chen.

“Anyway, he agreed now. I know he just wants to trick me for a year. Once the baby’s born, he’ll probably go back on it.”

Su Weizhen said, “You already know, and you’re still like this?”

“That definitely can’t be counted that way. I’ll agree for now. Later I’ll collect my own wages — whether to give it or not won’t be up to anyone but me, right?”

She said this proudly, looking at Lin Qiao. “Isn’t my idea pretty good?”

Lin Qiao shrugged. “I don’t know, but if our Gu Huayuan did that, I’d smash his head.”

Whether she actually would was one thing; whether Gu Huayuan would hand it over was another.

Of course, luckily Gu Huayuan hadn’t done anything like that.

Li Ermei: “…Looks like I’m still not ruthless enough.”

Su Weizhen said, “Don’t listen to Lin Qiao — she just talks. You really gonna hit your Old Chen? It’s better to be clever. Just like how it was at my home before — now no one dares to say a word, whether they have money or not they won’t ask.”

Lin Qiao nodded. “Right, be clever. Keep doing what you’re doing; over time it’ll have an effect.”

Li Ermei regained confidence. “Then I’ll keep doing that. If Old Chen still acts like a do-gooder, I’ll for real smash him. Smash him together with my baby.”

Su Weizhen: “…”

That night after work Lin Qiao told Gu Huayuan that Li Yan hadn’t gone to the chicken farm.

“Probably gave up halfway,” she said.

Gu Huayuan replied, “Sounds like they had a fight. I saw Zhang Tuo today — he was in a bad mood, barely said a word to me. I haven’t seen him like that in a long time. I heard he’s gone to live in the dorm now.”

Lin Qiao frowned. “Why run off to the dorm after a fight? That doesn’t solve anything. You need to coax them. But Li Yan’s hard to coax, right? She’s not talkative.”

Gu Huayuan stroked her head. “Don’t worry about it. Their marriage isn’t as simple as we think.”

“I’m not worried — but if you ever get mad and run off to the dorm, I’ll make sure you can never get back in the house.” Lin Qiao threatened.

Gu Huayuan raised a hand. “I promise I won’t.”

Only then did Lin Qiao beam with delight.

Fat Cat reminded, “Player, did you forget? You’re temporary spouses — you’ll go back home later.”

Lin Qiao: “…Shut up!”

The next day Lin Qiao went to work as usual.

She told Li Ermei and Su Weizhen that Li Yan probably wouldn’t come back.

She even guessed the couple had quarrelled because Li Yan thought this place was too hard.

If that’s the case, there’s no point expecting help from her.

Li Ermei gloated, “Better if she doesn’t come — we have enough people here, and even if we hire someone, they should be able to work. She’d just slow things down.”

Su Weizhen said, “You should say less. You’re heavily pregnant and still won’t change your ways.”

“A big belly makes it even harder to change — they say pregnant women get short-tempered.” Li Ermei felt proud rather than embarrassed. “If you have the guts, try getting pregnant and see?”

Su Weizhen snorted coldly, thinking: If I wanted to get pregnant, it wouldn’t be that hard — I’m just not ready right now.

After the small talk they went back to work in order.

The cocks crowed, the insects chirped, and occasional laughter made the chicken farm lively.

The three of them were working, halfway through, almost finishing, when Li Yan quietly appeared at the courtyard gate watching them.

Lin Qiao shuddered at once. Good grief, what is with that look? Her resentful expression was kind of creepy.

Su Weizhen asked, “Comrade Li Yan, why are you here?”

Li Ermei said, “I already finished my work — I don’t need you.”

“…I just want to stay here a bit. It’s kind of quiet at home, I’m scared.”

Su Weizhen, Lin Qiao, Li Ermei: “…”

That face — we’re scared too.