Chapter 10: Another Encounter with Song Qing
Early the next morning.
Before dawn, wisps of smoke began to rise from the kitchens of every household, and the Tang family was no exception.
Tang Banxia fried two eggs, steamed four sweet potatoes, reheated the leftover egg pancakes from last night, and made a cup of malted milk—thus breakfast was complete.
After eating her fill, she dragged a reluctant Wen Mubai off to work.
Passing by the Educated Youth Center, they happened to encounter the young intellectuals heading out.
“Tang Comrade, Wen Comrade,” Wang Haijun greeted them warmly.
“Comrade Wang,” Tang Banxia nodded politely, then pulled Wen Mubai away without lingering, not at all inclined to exchange pleasantries.
Xu Guiming, watching their aloof demeanor, sneered, “Serves her right.”
Serves her right for choosing a pretty boy with no prospects. Serves her right for having to apologize for him everywhere, day in and day out.
Liu Liyun’s face was dark, “Don’t say that about Banxia. She has her troubles. Who told Wen Comrade to have a good background? She had no choice.”
“Pretentious!” a female intellectual mocked, “Disgusting!”
With that, she ignored Liu Liyun’s unhappy expression, slung her water jug over her shoulder, and headed off to work.
Most of the girls followed her, no one paying Liu Liyun any mind.
Since Tang Banxia’s outburst half a month ago, Liu Liyun’s reputation among the educated youth had plummeted. She’d never been particularly popular, and now life was even harder.
For this, she hated Tang Banxia bitterly.
On the other side, Tang Banxia was unaware of their quarrels.
At that moment, she faced a pitiable little girl barring her path, almost amused by the absurdity. “What did you say?”
Song Qing’s eyes brimmed with tears, “Comrade Tang, I beg you. I’ll pay you back. After I buy medicine for my mother, I promise I’ll repay you with the rest.”
“Are you alright?” Tang Banxia wore a mocking expression. “If you’re sick, go take your medicine. Don’t come here and have an episode.”
With that, she walked past her.
But Song Qing wouldn’t give up. She darted ahead, knelt down with a thud, “Comrade Tang, I beg you. I’ll kowtow if I must. Please lend me some money. When I grow up, I’ll definitely pay you back.”
This spectacle drew the villagers heading to work. Seeing Tang Banxia’s mocking face and Song Qing kneeling before her, they assumed Tang Banxia was bullying Song Qing.
“What’s going on here?” A sturdy village woman pushed through the crowd, glaring at Tang Banxia, “What are you doing, Comrade Tang? Don’t act high and mighty—coming to our Guyue Village and bullying our girls?”
“Comrade Tang, what’s happening?” Aunt Hu passed by and asked.
Tang Banxia felt this was a disaster out of nowhere. She handed her water jug to Wen Mubai and yanked Song Qing to her feet, “Come on. You said you need money for your mother’s medicine. I’d like to know—is this your family’s idea, or yours?”
Dragging Song Qing to the drying yard, Tang Banxia made no effort to be gentle, tossing the girl in front of Old Lady Song, “Aunt Song, if your family is truly in trouble, you can tell me. But what’s the meaning of sending a little girl to play the victim in front of me?”
“What?” Old Lady Song looked bewildered.
Tang Banxia took a deep breath, “Your granddaughter blocked my path this morning, asking me for money to buy medicine for her mother.”
“Never mind that I barely know her. Even if I wanted to lend money, you have a ten-year-old girl ask me? Would you dare lend in my place?”
She swept her eyes across the crowd. “Would any of you dare lend?”
“And you, Sister Sun, did you see me bully her? Did anyone see me lay a finger on her?”
“We educated youth came to the countryside to help build it, not to be treated like this.”
“What, I get asked for money, and if I refuse, I’m accused of bullying village girls?”
“If you’re going to slap labels on me, at least find a decent excuse!”
Tang Banxia’s words made the sturdy woman blush and retreat back into the crowd.
Many villagers were left speechless. Aunt Hu frowned and looked at Song Qing, “Qing, is that true?”
Song Qing mumbled, “I’ll pay it back.”
The crowd buzzed—just as Tang Banxia had said.
Old Lady Song’s face turned pale then red, gripping Song Yu’s hand tighter without realizing. She prized her dignity above all else, and now, thanks to her granddaughter, she’d lost both pride and face. “Song Qing!” she barked.
She grabbed Song Qing and slapped her hard on the back, twice, three times...
“Enough, Aunt Song. If you keep beating her, you’ll hurt the girl,” Aunt Hu intervened, then turned to Song Qing, “Qing, hurry and apologize to Comrade Tang.”
Song Qing sobbed out, “I’m sorry.”
Tang Banxia snorted coldly and said nothing, leading Wen Mubai away through the crowd.
This heroine—does she think the whole world owes her? Dancing in front of me, how amusing!
“Are you angry, Sister?” Wen Mubai asked.
Tang Banxia gave him a sidelong look, “What are you thinking? Would I get angry over something so trivial?”
It was merely a chance to make a point.
Wen Mubai visibly relaxed.
Tang Banxia didn’t give it another thought, but someone else wasn’t so easily appeased.
That night, when the village was silent and still, Wen Mubai nimbly scaled the wall, found the Song family house, and lay in wait.
When Old Song the Third came out to the latrine, a sack was thrown over him, followed by a flurry of fists and kicks. Only after venting his anger did Wen Mubai snort coldly and return home to sleep.
The next day, as Tang Banxia went to work, Aunt Hu gossiped with her.
“Oh, you wouldn’t believe it—Old Song the Third was beaten so badly, one leg’s broken and he’s still lying on the kang, moaning.”
Tang Banxia listened with relish, providing the occasional emotional response, “Really?”
“Absolutely. I wonder who had it in for Old Song the Third, beating him up like that in the middle of the night,” Aunt Hu remarked.
“Indeed~” Tang Banxia agreed.
Old Song the Third was Song Qing’s father. Who knows who took revenge on him. “Didn’t the Song family send him to the hospital?”
“As if they could afford it~” Aunt Hu replied, turning over bundles of wheat straw. “Hospitals aren’t places for us villagers.”
Tang Banxia helped turn the straw alongside her, “So they’re just leaving it?”
“They’re doing what they can.” Aunt Hu helped Tang Banxia turn a few bundles. “Old Song the First went to Muzi Village early this morning to fetch Old Li. He should be back by now.” She shaded her eyes and looked at the sun.
“Ah, there they are.” She glanced down and saw Old Song the First leading a trembling old man down the road.
“Old Li is the only barefoot doctor in these parts. When we’re sick, he gives us medicine and it’s enough.”
Tang Banxia listened and made a mental note.
But she wondered if her status might affect things—she’d have to find out someday.
At noon, after work, she took a detour past the Song family’s house.
Sure enough, there was a commotion.
She paused and listened for a while. Song Qing was making a scene, insisting her father be sent to the hospital, but no one in the family supported her, so she was throwing a tantrum.
After a while, Tang Banxia lost interest. She called Wen Mubai and was about to leave, when someone stopped her.
She frowned at the sturdy village woman before her, “Sister Sun? Do you need something?”
Sister Sun hesitated, then pressed two tomatoes and several cucumbers into Tang Banxia’s hands, “Comrade Tang, these are for you.”
With that, she turned and went home.
Watching her retreating figure, Tang Banxia laughed softly, “Perfect—tomato and egg soup for lunch, with a side of smashed cucumber.”
“I’ll follow your lead,” Wen Mubai said, apparently in high spirits.
Tang Banxia noticed, “You’re in a good mood?”
“Of course. When I’m with you, I’m happy every day.” Wen Mubai’s words were honey-sweet.
Tang Banxia was delighted, waving her little hand, “We’ll add fried eggs to lunch, then.”
Ah, limited as the conditions may be.
Wen Mubai didn’t mind at all, “Wonderful, wonderful.”
“Comrade Tang!” A shrill cry rang out, and a figure rushed toward Tang Banxia...