It was already well into April. The major farm work was done, and the weather was getting hotter by the day.
Every afternoon, a dozen or so old ladies would gather under the big banyan tree in the village to chat. Each brought her own small stool and would sit there for most of the afternoon.
"Hey, that Qingqing from the Yu family, I heard she's gone to school in the commune? She's already 18. Instead of staying at home and getting married like a proper girl, she's gone to school. What a waste of time!"
"Yeah, and the Yu family actually agreed. That's really strange."
"Hu Qingqing never went to school before. How come she suddenly decided to go to the commune school?"
"Didn't you hear? Hu Qingqing got into the commune school because the village head arranged it for her. Remember when the village head's granddaughter fell into the water? Hu Qingqing just happened to pass by and saved her. That's a life - saving grace! Getting into school is nothing compared to that!"
The chattering of the old ladies startled the chickens pecking at the ground. The chickens flapped their wings and squawked as they flew about two meters away, kicking up a cloud of dust.
"Screech—"
Hu Qingqing pedaled her bike straight into the middle of the old ladies. They were so scared that they quickly picked up their stools and moved aside.
She pressed the brakes. The wheels stopped just 10 centimeters away from one of the gossiping old ladies. The old lady didn't have time to dodge and sat down on the ground in fright.
"Ouch!"
"You little girl! Can't you see where you're going? If you can't ride a bike, don't ride! Hitting someone is no joke!" someone shouted from behind.
Hu Qingqing put one foot on the ground and turned to shout back, "My eyes are just fine, Aunt Cai. I haven't seen you for a few days, and your head's getting even balder. I've told you not to stick your nose into other people's business. Thinking too much will make your hair fall out!"
Aunt Cai's face darkened as she reached up to touch her head.
Hu Qingqing turned back and said with a smile to the old lady sitting on the ground, "And Grandma Zhang, you're only 55 this year. Your arms and legs are still strong. How come you're already so muddle - headed? Tell me where you heard that rumor. My going to school in the commune has nothing to do with the village head. I got in on my own merit!"
"I'm telling you, if you keep spreading rumors, don't blame me for getting angry. Ever since I hit my head, it's been hurting all the time. When I get angry, it hurts even more, and when it hurts, I feel like hitting someone. I remember your grandson is also studying in the commune, right? Hmm, I'll remember that."
What do you mean you'll remember?
Grandma Zhang looked terrified, as if imagining her eldest grandson getting beaten black and blue at school.
After threatening Grandma Zhang, Hu Qingqing didn't care what she thought. She took out a few pieces of paper from her small satchel.
"See this? This paper was written by the principal of the commune middle school himself to encourage me, the top scorer in Nan County! He told me to keep it up! And these are my test papers. See these scores? Can your grandchildren get such good grades? If I don't go to school, who should?"
Hu Qingqing showed the papers one by one. The first one was the encouragement note she asked Song Ming to write for her, and the others were her test papers with big, bright red scores that even the old ladies with failing eyesight could see clearly.
This move really stunned the old ladies present.
Hu Qingqing carefully put the papers away. She still had to send them to the capital later.
"I'll only say this once. I, Hu Qingqing, got into school on my own. I'm just naturally smart. In this county - wide exam, I was the top scorer, and Principal Song even gave me a ten - yuan reward!"
As soon as she said this, there were gasps in the crowd.
Ten yuan! You could get ten yuan just for taking an exam!
Oh, why couldn't their eldest grandsons get such a reward? It was snatched away by this little girl, Hu Qingqing.
Hu Qingqing got back on her bike. "If my grandma and the others hadn't stopped me from going to school before, I don't even know how much money I would have earned to support them by now. They're just born without the luck to get rich!"
The old ladies thought this made sense. Grandma Fang really didn't have the luck to get rich. This non - biological granddaughter was much better than her biological grandson. She could even get a bonus for her exam results.
Hu Qingqing showed her white teeth. "Grandma Zhang, remember what I just said. I'm not joking."
Grandma Zhang shivered.
Hu Qingqing hummed a tune and rode away from the village's "information center". The cloth bag fixed with a bike clip on the back seat swayed but didn't fall off at all.
...
Hu Guihua took a sip of sugar water and patted Grandma Fang's hand.
"Alright, this matter is almost settled. Later, we'll let Xiuxiu and that young man from the Xu family meet more often so they can get to know each other. Nowadays, it's all about free love, not like the old days when you didn't see your spouse until you lifted the veil. Am I right, in - laws?"
Grandma Fang nodded repeatedly.
Feng Xiang hesitated a bit.
"This... They've only met once, and they're not even engaged yet. Letting them meet alone, isn't that a bit inappropriate?"
Hu Guihua gave her a sideways look. "What do you know? That young man from the Xu family is from the city. He's seen so many beautiful girls in his life. Besides, with me around, are you still afraid they won't get engaged? That young man from the Xu family won't get away. What era is it now? You act as if meeting someone is going to kill you. Feng Xiang, you can't be like this. You'll have a son - in - law from the city in the future."
A son - in - law from the city!
Feng Xiang's heart burned with excitement at the thought. If her daughter married into the city, she'd be like her younger sister - in - law, a city dweller.
The people in the factory were so envious of her.
A son - in - law from the city was great!
Grandma Fang also said, "The mother - in - law - to - be is right. The two young people should meet more often to build their relationship. Otherwise, how can they live a good life in the future?"
Hu Guihua patted Grandma Fang's hand.
"You, mother - in - law - to - be, understand. You're walking on the path of the new society."
Grandma Fang looked quite proud.
Feng Xiang nodded repeatedly, saying that she'd go to the county in a few days to talk to her daughter.
Just as Hu Qingqing arrived at the Yu family's place, she heard voices coming from Grandma Fang's room. She didn't pay much attention and carried her books towards her room. Just then, she saw someone coming out of Grandma Fang's room.
She took a quick look. It was a fat old lady she didn't recognize. She had a round face, high cheekbones, and her eyes were almost slits. She looked shrewd and untrustworthy.
Hu Qingqing glanced at her twice and then walked straight into the room.
Seeing this, Hu Guihua squinted her eyes. Her already small eyes were almost invisible.
She looked displeased.
"Mother - in - law - to - be, who's that?"
Grandma Fang: "She's the daughter of my adopted daughter."
Hu Guihua: "She's such a big girl, but she doesn't even know how to greet people. Mother - in - law - to - be, even though her parents aren't around, you should teach that girl some manners. Otherwise, she won't be able to get married in the future."
Grandma Fang and Feng Xiang: "..."
Who would dare?
They didn't want to court death.
Ever since that axe was taken into her room by this evil spirit, it had never come out again. They could only use a firewood knife to chop firewood at home.
Grandma Fang nodded reluctantly.
"Yes, yes. I'll talk to her later."
Hu Qingqing stood behind the door and heard the whole conversation clearly. She didn't care about this little bit of offense. After all, even if the Yu family had twice the courage, they wouldn't dare to provoke her now.
But who was that fat old lady?