RYEY – Chapter 145 The Stir Caused by Egg Fried Rice

“Damao, the commune leaders and the public security bureau leaders are here to give you a commendation.”

Chen Damao’s eyes lit up. So, there was not only a ten-yuan reward, but also a certificate!

A bright red certificate with his name on it was handed to him, along with a bundle tied in red silk—containing a towel, a tea mug, and a lunch box.

Although the commune didn’t give out a certificate, they did hang a military canteen around Chen Damao’s neck. Both the canteen and the tea mug had the bold red words “Prize” printed on them.

“Thank you, leaders of the commune, thank you, leaders of the public security bureau. I will work even harder. As long as the security team exists, I’ll stand firm at every post.”

The commune leaders were very satisfied with his answer, and the public security bureau leaders nodded repeatedly. If it weren’t for his low level of education, they would have considered recruiting him into the police force.

Chen Weidang and Cuihua were as proud as if they themselves had received the award. At Li Huan’s signal, Cuihua hurried to the kitchen to make a few cups of brown sugar water.

Chen Weidang, meanwhile, took out the cigarettes Li Huan had slipped him and began distributing them: “Leaders, please have a smoke. Leaders, please drink some tea.”

After sitting down, smoking a cigarette, and drinking a cup of tea, the leaders exchanged a few pleasantries. Learning that spring plowing was beginning today, they didn’t want to waste more time and soon took their leave.

Li Huan quickly followed to see them off. Once they reached the village entrance, with no villagers around, he pulled out six or seven fountain pens from his pocket.

These pens were something Cheng Qiao had stumbled upon in a warehouse—a box of thirty-six, all of them the famous Hero brand fountain pens from back in the day.

“This… my wife and I got when we went to Huizhou. On the train, someone didn’t have food and traded these pens with me. I don’t have much use for so many, so I’d like to ask the leaders to help me ‘digest’ a few.”

“This is a good item. I’ll take two. Here’s ten yuan for you.”

Li Huan knew fountain pens were expensive—the supply and marketing cooperative sold them at five yuan apiece. But taking money wasn’t his intention; otherwise, why bring them out in the first place?

“Old leader, I exchanged these with food. If you give me money, wouldn’t that make me guilty of profiteering? Just one each, I don’t have more.”

At that, a genuine smile spread across the commune leader’s face. Not because a fountain pen had bought him off, but because he had spotted a young man good at building relations with the masses.

“Work hard. If you’re gold, you’ll shine sooner or later.”

The commune and bureau leaders left satisfied. Li Huan returned to the village and picked up his plow again to continue the unfinished work.

At noon, Cheng Qiao brought lunch to the field. She saw Li Huan had already taken off his old cotton coat and sweater, working in just a thin thermal shirt.

“Li Huan, wash your hands and eat. Put your coat back on. If the cold wind blows, you’ll get sick.”

Li Huan obediently put the cotton coat back on, but not the sweater—he figured he’d get hot again while working, so why bother.

Today’s meal was plentiful: a large lunchbox full of golden, oily egg fried rice—who knew how many eggs Cheng Qiao had put in—plus a tea mug of hot-and-sour soup and a big bottle of mushroom meat sauce, all perfect with rice.

“Cheng Qiao, you eat so well! Such a big lunchbox of fried rice—can the two of you even finish it? How about sharing some with me?”

Xu Laidi, haunting them like a ghost, came up to Cheng Qiao’s side, staring fixedly at the lunchbox in her hands while swallowing hungrily.

“Xu Laidi, do you know that your man, Chen Dazhu, took Wang Qin to the county hospital?”

Noticing Xu Laidi’s obviously swollen belly, the smile on Cheng Qiao’s lips vanished instantly. She glanced sideways at her, voice cold.

Xu Laidi’s heart gave a jolt. Chen Dazhu had told her he was going to relieve himself. In the countryside, even excrement was valuable, usually kept for fertilizing private fields.

But he’d been gone so long… She had thought maybe, since the house was far, he’d cooked lunch after going. She hadn’t expected him to actually escort that slut Wang Qin to the hospital!

“What’s wrong with Wang Qin? Why’d she need the hospital?”

“Your man said she was hit on the head by Chai Jianmin, so he went with her to get it bandaged.”

Xu Laidi’s first thought was that Wang Qin’s head injury was actually caused by Chen Dazhu, just to make Chai Jianmin pay, while also giving Wang Qin an excuse for leave.

One had to admit, Xu Laidi knew them both too well—their every move couldn’t escape her eyes. But even if she guessed the truth, what could she do? Without money or power, she was helpless.

“I’m hungry. Can you give me some food?”

“I’m not your parents, and I’m not your man. If you want to eat, cook it yourself, or borrow some from the villagers and return it at year’s end.”

“Cheng Qiao, are you really going to ignore all these years of friendship? We grew up together. I’ve never mistreated you.”

At that, Cheng Qiao’s eyes instantly reddened. Without thinking, she raised her hand and slapped Xu Laidi hard across the face.

“You…! The village head’s wife hit me! Help—!”

Xu Laidi froze for a second, then spun around and ran along the ridge, shouting as she went. Chen Weimin immediately stood up, dragging his two sons to intercept.

Auntie Wang also rushed up onto the ridge, shouting loudly: “Xu Laidi tried to snatch Cheng Qiao’s lunch! Xu Laidi is a robber!”

Gou Sheng’s mother happened to be nearby and had heard everything clearly. She too jumped up onto the ridge and joined Auntie Wang in shouting.

It was lunchtime, so except for those who had gone home, the people remaining in the fields gathered with their rice bowls to watch the scene. Xu Laidi hadn’t expected Auntie Wang to pop out again and was momentarily speechless.

“Xu Laidi, that handprint on your face was from Cheng Qiao, wasn’t it? Folks, take a look! The moment she becomes the village head’s wife, she dares hit people. Isn’t she just using her husband’s position to throw her weight around?”

“Bullshit, Chen Weimin! Don’t twist things for personal revenge. Your own daughter Chunhua was a homewrecker, even a murderer, and she deserved her punishment. If your son goes astray, it’s a father’s fault. Stop blaming others—you shameless man.”

Ever since Auntie Wang learned to read, she had been fond of using idioms. Her phrase, “If the child is not taught, it’s the father’s fault”, earned applause from Wang Xiangyang and others. The clapping made her even more energetic, spittle flying as she argued Chen Weimin into silence.

He wanted desperately to rip that foul woman’s mouth apart, but thinking of his wife Zhaodi still lying on the kang groaning, he forced himself to endure.

Fenqiu wanted to speak up, but seeing the situation, he obediently returned to his spot, bit angrily into his coarse cornbread, and cursed inwardly—others were eating egg fried rice, while he was stuck with this. No justice!

Sensing the tide turning against her, Xu Laidi quietly backed away, heading toward the village entrance. Hungry, and with no lunch from Chen Dazhu, she decided to cook for herself. But that slut Wang Qin—she would definitely settle accounts with her later.