Chapter 16: Stealing Rice, Zhou Sinian Strikes

Ming Dai trudged along with the sack slung over her shoulder, her steps unsteady, but her heart much more at ease. The foundation for a good life had already been laid; as long as nothing unexpected happened, she ought to get along amicably until the college entrance exam. She had truly arrived in a good place—though the locals were wary of outsiders, the leadership was fundamentally decent; as long as one didn’t go looking for trouble, life could be quite agreeable.

But of course, there were always those who liked to stir up trouble.

Up ahead, Liu Yan approached with Liu Daye and Zhang Xiaojun, chatting and laughing. Upon seeing Ming Dai struggling under the weight of her sack, Liu Yan smiled and stepped forward. “Comrade Ming, what did you get? Want some help?”

Ming Dai feigned exhaustion, barely lifting her head, shaking it slightly as if too tired to speak, and walked right past without a word.

Liu Yan’s face stiffened, resentment flashing across her eyes.

Sensing Ming Dai’s reluctance, Liu Daye thought for a moment. “Why don’t I help you carry it? But you’ll have to wait until we come back from collecting our grain.”

Internally, Ming Dai rolled her eyes—what a sanctimonious hypocrite. In this biting cold and wind, why would she wait here for him? She shook her head again and pressed on, gritting her teeth.

Zhang Xiaojun, impatient, spoke up. “Alright, Comrade Ming can clearly manage on her own. Let’s hurry up and get our grain—I’m starving.”

The two men immediately walked off, not showing the slightest intention of helping.

Under the complicated gaze of the older educated youth, Ming Dai returned to the blue-brick, tiled house. She put her things away, glancing at her bundle—sure enough, there were signs it had been tampered with.

Heh, a dog can’t change its ways.

Fortunately, she had locked the zipper underneath; Liu Yan had found nothing for her trouble.

Too tired to cook, Ming Dai opened her bundle, sneaked out a few egg cakes and a bottle of milk, and quickly ate while no one was around. Night was falling; with this meal, she could skip dinner.

She sat on the heated brick bed, closing her eyes to rest. The stove would have to be lit, of course, but she had no intention of doing it with Liu Yan—she’d surely try to shirk the work. Ming Dai decided to wait and see: after tonight, would the three of them dare to touch Zhou Sinian’s belongings? If they did, all three would be thrown out. If not, she’d follow Fang Rou’s example and look for a place to stay elsewhere—Secretary Liu’s home was a good option.

With her plan settled, she closed her eyes and waited for the drama to unfold.

When Liu Yan finally staggered inside, exhausted from carrying a sack of coarse grains, she saw Ming Dai already wrapped in her quilt, apparently asleep on the kang. Her anger flared, and she was tempted to cause trouble, but the memory of Ming Dai’s earlier look stopped her in her tracks.

Liu Yan put her things away, checked her own sack, and, finding her luggage untouched, gave a satisfied snort before leaving. Ming Dai didn’t even open her eyes—such theatrics!

Soon after, Liu Yan joined Liu Daye and Zhang Xiaojun in the kitchen. They naturally made use of the firewood stacked by the stove. Liu Yan, hands empty, saw the cloth bag in Liu Daye’s hands and was secretly delighted, though she affected concern. “Comrade Liu, Comrade Zhang, do either of you know how to cook?”

Liu Daye scratched his head and glanced at Zhang Xiaojun; in truth, neither of them did. Liu Yan, now in her element, offered sweetly, “I do. Let me help you.”

Liu Daye was more than happy to accept—he’d always thought kitchen work was beneath a man. Zhang Xiaojun, on the other hand, saw right through Liu Yan’s attempt to freeload, but since the grain had been found on the kang, letting her share the meal didn’t bother him.

Found on the kang? These two had no shame!

Liu Yan, delighted, took the bag and began pouring rice into the pot. The pile grew ever larger, and neither man stopped her. At last, she steeled herself and emptied the whole bag; surely, this was rice they’d brought from home, since today’s ration was only cornmeal. Rice wasn’t just a “fine” grain—it was a precious one!

So the three shameless ones sat in the kitchen and ate a whole pot of rice.

From her room in the east wing, Ming Dai inhaled the rich aroma of rice and thought with satisfaction that a good show was coming tonight.

As night fell, with no oil lamps and nothing else to do, everyone chose to sleep early. Liu Yan slipped in under cover of darkness, saw the blackness where Ming Dai’s things were placed, and knew she was already asleep. Curling her lip, she felt the icy kang, shivered, but steeled herself and climbed up. She slipped under the quilt with her clothes on, too cold to bother undressing. That would have to do for now; tomorrow she’d find a way to trick the dim-witted girl next door into fetching more firewood.

She wanted to sleep in a warm bed—she wasn’t about to shiver herself to sleep again.

After days of train rides and walking, Liu Yan couldn’t hold out; she fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

But Ming Dai remained awake, waiting for Zhou Sinian’s return.

Just as she was about to succumb to sleep herself, a sudden commotion broke the silence—a wail shattered the night, followed by another.

It had begun!

Ming Dai sat up, wrapped herself tightly in her quilt, and hid behind her bundle, eyes fixed on the door.

The wailing outside continued, then gradually faded, replaced by the sound of two heavy thuds.

The next moment, the door to the west wing was flung open, and a tall, shadowy figure burst inside.

Startled by the noise, Ming Dai shrank behind her bundle, holding her breath.

Liu Yan, her head peeking out, shrieked in terror—a piercing scream that grated on the ears like sandpaper.

The shadow moved instantly, grabbing Liu Yan by the hair and dragging her out of bed. Ignoring her screams, he hauled her into the courtyard, where the familiar wailing resumed, followed by another heavy thud.

A moment later, the shadow returned.

Even in the darkness, Ming Dai could feel his gaze fixed on her, the predatory stare of a beast tracking its prey—every hair on her body stood on end.

Ming Dai opened her mouth. “I didn’t eat your rice.”

The shadow slipped closer, sniffing the air near her face.

Ming Dai was speechless—was he really identifying the rice thief by smell?

Still, to avoid a beating, she cooperated, opening her mouth.

After a long moment, the figure, apparently satisfied, neither struck her nor left.

As Ming Dai wondered what he wanted, her stomach growled.

“Are you hungry?” she asked. The shadow gave no reply, merely withdrew his head but stood his ground.

Ming Dai thought back—she’d eaten egg cakes earlier; perhaps he had smelled that.

“I’ll give you something to eat if you promise not to hit me,” she bargained.

The shadow made no sound, no movement.

Waiting a moment, Ming Dai slowly reached out, untied her bundle, rummaged inside, and took out a small white cloth bag, handing it over. “Egg cakes. You can have them.”

After a pause, a dark hand accepted the bag.

With that, he left, and Ming Dai let out a long breath. That should count as passing the test, right?

Her nerves finally relaxed, Ming Dai could no longer resist her fatigue and drifted off to sleep.