Chapter 12: A Display of Authority

The night passed peacefully.
The next morning, Ming Dai woke up early, quietly put away the electric heating pad from under her covers, neatly folded her quilt, and carried her toiletries to the washroom.

It was still early, so the place was almost empty.

She drew some water, dampened her towel and teacup, and then went to the restroom.

Inside her space, she washed up thoroughly and applied a thick layer of face cream before coming out.

By the time she returned, the other three had already gotten up.

She handed them the kettle refilled with hot water, receiving three grateful looks in return.

As expected, by now there was no hot water left in the washroom.

The three went off to wash up while she packed her things, shouldered her bundle, and headed out first.

Outside, the deputy director was already waiting, along with several horse-drawn carts, presumably sent by the various brigades to pick up the newcomers.

Those who had risen early were already waiting outside, some cleverly ingratiating themselves with the deputy director, while the less savvy ones kept to themselves.

Ming Dai, looking dazed and vacant as ever, her thin frame and sallow hair making her appear even more frail, was the very picture of a sickly chick.

The brigade leaders all silently prayed: Please, not in my brigade!

After some dawdling, when the deputy director’s patience wore thin, all the educated youths finally came out, carrying their luggage.

The deputy director made up for the important speech he hadn’t given the previous night due to the cold.

It was a long-winded address, the main point being: Work hard, don’t cause trouble!

He then began reading off names for the different brigades.

“Shanghe Village Brigade: Ma Hu, Shao Xiaojun, Feng Xiaojun...”

“Xiahe Village Brigade: Ge Wei, Hao Jian, Liu Changqi...”

“Liujiawan Brigade: Zhang Xiaojun, Qin Fangfang, Cai Mingcheng, Liu Daye, Ming Dai, Fang Rou, Qi Zhijun, Liu Yan!”

When their names were called, each fell in line like a little chick finding its mother.

Soon, a cluster of “little chicks” was crowded around Liu Dazhu, the Liujiawan brigade leader, and the one he liked least—the sickly-looking Ming Dai—had indeed been assigned to his brigade.

“All right! Take them back!” the deputy director announced, task accomplished. He put his hands behind his back and hummed a tune as he walked away.

The other brigades left with their new members.

Liu Dazhu looked at the four men and four women around him, feeling a headache coming on—especially when he saw Fang Rou and Ming Dai. One looked like a pampered capitalist’s daughter, the other was pale and sickly—neither seemed fit for physical labor.

“Brigade leader?” asked Liu Laosan, the old man in charge of driving the cart. “Are we leaving or not? We’ll freeze to death out here.”

The brigade leader sighed. “All right, put your things on the cart. Let’s head back!” His disdain was obvious.

The educated youths’ faces darkened. Clearly, this was meant to put them in their place.

But it was too cold, and they were new here; none of them dared protest. They all thought it best to just get back and reassess.

Liu Yan, now experienced, quickly hurled her large sack onto the cart and plopped herself down at the back.

Just as the others tried to grab a spot, Liu Laosan barked at them.

“What do you think you’re doing? Who said you could sit?!”

He shooed Liu Yan off the cart.

Liu Yan couldn’t take it anymore—the old man reeked of horse manure, and his hands looked like they hadn’t been washed in days.

“Why can’t we sit?”

Liu Laosan, a toothless little old man known as Third Master Liu and highly respected in Liujiawan, scoffed, “Sit? With all your big behinds? If you all get on, the horse will collapse! Only luggage allowed, no people!”

Being called big-bottomed, Liu Yan was mortified and angry.

But no one at the scene had the inclination to comfort her. In the end, everyone silently loaded their luggage onto the cart and watched as the brigade leader and Liu Laosan sat on either side of the cart and set off ahead.

The rest had to follow behind, braving the icy wind and chasing after the cart. At least they weren’t cold anymore, though soon their feet went numb.

Ming Dai brought up the rear, her face completely wrapped in a thick scarf and hat, moving along quietly at a steady pace.

Beside her, Fang Rou listened to Liu Yan’s sobs with an expressionless face.

In her previous life, she had also made a scene and been called big-bottomed. But she had more spine than Liu Yan—she’d argued with Liu Laosan, even dragged in the deputy director, and was scolded for her trouble.

But she had gotten to ride the cart in the end.

That cart was used by the brigade to take people to the commune. There was no way it couldn't fit them. This was just a show by the brigade leader to intimidate the new arrivals.

She hadn’t understood this before and had unwisely drawn attention to herself. As a result, she’d been targeted by the brigade for a long time before realizing that, out here, the brigade leader was a local tyrant—best not to cross him.

In this life, she would never stick her neck out again. Let someone else make the fuss—she was here to find a life partner.

Qi Zhijun was also unhappy—not for Liu Yan’s sake, but because he felt the brigade leader and Liu Laosan were looking down on them, bullying them.

But he had some sense—he’d grown up in a compound, after all—and since Fang Rou kept quiet, he held his tongue as well.

Yet there was always someone moved by compassion.

After more than an hour’s walk, Fang Rou’s face had gone pale, and Liu Yan, too exhausted to care about her humiliation, had reached her limit.

Qin Fangfang, who seemed used to farm work, was in better shape—her face was rosy, only a little tired.

As for Ming Dai... well, it was impossible to tell, as her whole face was swaddled.

The men were struggling too, especially Cai Mingcheng, who was already thin and now was staggering with every step.

It wasn’t really their fault—they hadn’t eaten since the night before, nor that morning, and with the rush to get here, they were simply worn out.

Zhang Xiaojun, seeing Liu Yan starting to stumble, got a crafty look in his eye and called out, “Comrade! Comrade, are you all right?”

The brigade leader, hearing the commotion, immediately halted the cart.

Liu Yan, realizing her chance, swayed a few times and collapsed as if to faint.

Zhang Xiaojun was delighted—clever girl.

The others gathered around.

Everyone present was sharp, except for the honest Qin Fangfang, who was frightened and rushed to catch Liu Yan, pinching her philtrum with all her strength.

“Comrade! Comrade! My mother says you’ll be fine, just wake up!”

Liu Yan, on the verge of tears from the pain, cursed inwardly but stubbornly kept her eyes closed.

She really was at her limit—exhausted and hungry. She wanted to sit on the cart, not walk anymore.

The brigade leader came over, glanced at the fainted girl in Qin Fangfang’s arms, and knew at once she was faking. Her eyes were darting around beneath her lids.

But he had made his point and didn’t want to waste any more time.

“All right, all of you get on the cart. It’s just a bit of road and already so much fuss—I really wonder what use you’ll be out here.”

This time, no one found his words harsh—they sounded like music to their ears. Forgetting all about Liu Yan on the ground, they scrambled for seats on the cart.

In the end, it was the good-natured Qin Fangfang who helped Liu Yan up.

On the cart, leaning against the luggage, Liu Yan furtively rubbed her philtrum. Damn, that pinch was brutal—so painful she wanted to cry.

The others all let out a long sigh of relief—they were exhausted.

The cart finally picked up speed, and after another hour of jostling, they saw signs of the village at last.

Ming Dai sighed—it took three hours to get to the commune, even with a cart. If they’d had to walk, it would have taken at least five.

This vast, bountiful province truly lived up to its reputation.