Chapter 19: Determined to Become Zhou Sinian’s Patron!

After recalling who Zhou Sinian was, a plan gradually took shape in Mingdai’s mind. Coupled with last night’s and this morning’s encounters, she could now judge that this plan was feasible.

Others might not know Zhou Sinian’s condition, but Mingdai, with her medical family background, understood it all too well. Through her probing and observations, she was certain: he truly suffered from a nervous disorder, or more precisely, mania.

Thirty percent of his illness stemmed from injuries after the war, compounded by a lack of psychological support. More importantly, he was under the influence of drugs. In other words, someone was medicating him, driving him insane.

Adding in what the book mentioned—that some people did not want him to return to the city—it was easy to deduce that his presence blocked certain powerful interests.

Zhou Sinian’s condition was dire; the drugs had already damaged his brain. His grasp of common sense was muddled, and he was relying on habits just to get by. If he wasn’t treated soon, he might lose consciousness entirely, always teetering on the edge of losing control. Perhaps this was also why, in the previous life, he died unexpectedly in the mountains.

Now, watching Zhou Sinian licking the candy wrapper in the sunlight, Mingdai felt a pang of sympathy.

She had always harbored a fondness for soldiers; no matter how lazy she’d been before, if there was a military doctor’s consultation, she would attend. She thought such lovable people deserved respect.

Though she didn’t know what kind of soldier Zhou Sinian once was, the fact that he was dubbed “King of Soldiers” and a “human weapon” spoke volumes—he was outstanding, and thus deserved even more respect.

What’s more, she appreciated Zhou Sinian’s status and needed someone like him to provide cover for herself. To the rest of the Red Flag Commune, he was an untouchable menace, but to her, he was a personal bodyguard!

She could find Zhou Sinian’s bottom line and coexist with him peacefully. If Zhou Sinian listened to her, it was as though she held the ring through the nose of a wild bull. Then, in the brigade, even in the entire commune, who would dare to provoke her?

By then:

If she wanted to eat meat, she’d eat meat—after all, it was Zhou Sinian who wanted it and forced her to make it!

If she didn’t want to go to work, she wouldn’t—after all, Zhou Sinian didn’t want her to go!

If she wanted to visit the commune, she’d go—after all, it was Zhou Sinian’s idea!

If she wanted to eat at a restaurant, she’d do so—after all, Zhou Sinian insisted!

Most importantly, she would have the perfect excuse to monopolize the brick house.

Compared to those black-hearted people in the front yard, wasn’t the mad Zhou Sinian far more adorable? Just thinking about it made her happy!

For all these conveniences, Mingdai was willing to take care of Zhou Sinian and cure his illness. The King of Soldiers should not die here.

Having made up her mind, she walked forward with a gentle smile.

“After we finish eating, shall we go collect firewood?” she coaxed.

Zhou Sinian stared at the candy wrapper with a look of deep grievance, unable to understand where the delicious thing that had nearly made him bite his tongue had gone.

Mingdai patiently explained twice more, and sure enough, Zhou Sinian’s gaze shifted to her.

“After we finish eating, shall we go collect firewood?”

Slowly, Zhou Sinian gave his first response to her. He didn’t speak, but he nodded.

Mingdai was satisfied. It seemed the time was ripe to take his pulse. At the very least, she needed to help him recover some basic common sense, otherwise communication would be impossible.

Yesterday, when she’d gone to the brigade headquarters, the captain had told her that new educated youth were allowed three days to rest before being assigned work. In previous years, it had only been one day, but this year, since Mingdai had arrived and was much to the leadership’s liking—and with it being winter, when there wasn’t much work—Captain Liu generously granted two extra days.

Mingdai planned to spend all three days gathering firewood. She wasn’t short of food; she’d brought plenty with her. But she lacked firewood that could be openly displayed.

So, when Mingdai and Zhou Sinian appeared together, the educated youth in the front yard were left gaping in astonishment.

Fang Mingyang’s precious enamel mug fell to the ground and cracked, but he was too stunned to pick it up, merely staring at the pair as they approached.

Zhou Sinian led the way, dressed in a new outfit. The clothes were obviously made for a man in his fifties or sixties, paired with black cotton shoes. Though rustic, they were far better than his previous attire, which was leaking cotton everywhere and still damp.

Mingdai followed behind, her face blank and eyes dull, looking as though she had suffered a heavy blow.

As they passed the entrance to the educated youth quarters, she suddenly turned to Fang Mingyang. “Captain, while we’re away, let everyone fetch their luggage. It wasn’t easy convincing him to leave.”

Fang Mingyang glanced at Zhou Sinian, who had also paused and was glaring coldly in their direction, and couldn’t help shivering. Forcing down his fear, he asked, “Why didn’t he hit you?”

As soon as the words left his mouth, Fang Mingyang realized his mistake. Before he could recover, Mingdai glared at him indignantly, as if she’d expected this all along. “Captain, you really were hiding something from us!”

Fang Mingyang was annoyed by the accusation, but he knew he was at fault. He braced himself to explain. “Comrade Ming, it’s not that I meant to hide it from you—it was just too awkward to say. Zhou Sinian only hits people if they touch his things. I thought you were all of high moral character and wouldn’t stoop to meddling with his belongings, so I didn’t mention it.”

Mingdai’s expression softened, though suspicion lingered. “Really?”

Seeing that she was appeased, Fang Mingyang quickly nodded, thinking to himself how easy young people were to placate.

Mingdai relaxed. “Alright, I knew you were a good man, Captain Fang.”

The “good man” pressed on, “Why does he listen to you so well?”

Mingdai replied with a troubled air, “I don’t know. I was very tired last night. After receiving my things, I ate some sponge cake and went to bed. The next thing I knew, I was woken up by a commotion. After he beat up Comrade Zhang and Comrade Liu, he burst into our room. Luckily, we hadn’t lit the heated bed and were sleeping in our clothes—otherwise, Comrade Liu would’ve been dragged out of her blanket and utterly humiliated. She got beaten, and I was terrified, curled up in the corner, not daring to move. Then he came to me, stared for a long time, and finally, I gave him the leftover half of my sponge cake, and he left. This morning, when I was cooking, he came out again and ate my breakfast.”

She finished with a worried sigh. “You know I was only given twenty jin of fine grain—how can that feed two people? Captain, can you help me? Please don’t let him eat my food.”

Fang Mingyang felt a twinge of sympathy. “I really can’t help with that.”

Mingdai looked anxious, then her eyes brightened. “Then can I join your meal plan? That way, I won’t have to worry about him eating my rations!”

“No!”

Several voices rang out in unison. All the educated youth who’d been eavesdropping shouted their refusal. What a joke—if she joined, wouldn’t Zhou Sinian follow? Over their dead bodies!

Rejected so flatly, Mingdai’s eyes reddened, but she persisted, asking Fang Mingyang once more, “Really not possible?”

Fang Mingyang shook his head firmly.

Utterly dejected, the young girl walked away, red-eyed and glancing back at every step, trailing behind the towering Zhou Sinian, appearing even more pitiable.

Fang Mingyang could only sigh and turn to mourn his broken enamel mug.

Mingdai, touching her eyes, curled her lips into a secret smile: The Oscars truly owe me a golden statuette!