Chapter 20: The Madman and the Red Scarf

Leaving the Educated Youth Point, it was almost time to start work. Although it was the slack season and people were allowed to take leave, most families still wanted to work to earn labor points, since those were tied to their food rations.

So, when the two of them stepped out from the Educated Youth Point, everyone who saw them was left gaping in astonishment.

What was going on here?!

Why had the harbinger of disaster changed his clothes?

And who was that child following behind him?

Could it be that this lunatic had stolen someone’s child?

It really looked that way!

Hurry and tell the brigade leader! The madman has stolen a child!

By the time Liu Dazhu and Liu Qingmin rushed over, Mingdai and Zhou Sinian had just arrived at the brigade office.

Seeing the two of them, Mingdai greeted them cheerfully, “Uncle Brigade Leader, Uncle Secretary!”

Liu Dazhu stared in amazement at the unlikely pair before him, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. “Am I dreaming? How come I see Mingdai’s girl standing with the harbinger of disaster?!”

Liu Qingmin’s mouth dropped so wide an egg could fit inside. “Maybe I’m dreaming too, because I see it as well!”

They exchanged glances, then turned to look at Mingdai, who was greeting them so enthusiastically.

How had she ended up entangled with the harbinger of disaster?

Liu Dazhu eyed Zhou Sinian warily and didn’t dare approach; he waved Mingdai over instead.

Mingdai gave Zhou Sinian a few words of instruction, then ran over.

“Uncle!”

Liu Dazhu looked dreamily at Zhou Sinian, who was standing in place. Though he didn’t look pleased, at least he hadn’t moved!

“Girl, tell your uncle, how did you get him to be so obedient?”

Mingdai pouted and quickly recounted what had happened yesterday.

After listening, Liu Dazhu immediately understood Fang Mingyang’s intentions.

Heh. When it came to ruthlessness, country folk couldn’t compete with city people.

All for a house, he dared to risk four people’s lives?

If Mingdai hadn’t been well-behaved, wouldn’t she have been beaten up by this harbinger of disaster?

With those slender arms and legs, could she have survived it?

Liu Dazhu made a mental note of this incident. He still couldn’t trust the Educated Youth Point.

While Mingdai, covertly dropping hints, continued trying to brainwash Liu Dazhu.

“Uncle, I don’t know why he didn’t hit me or why he listens to me. Maybe it’s because I gave him food? But he’s not always obedient—he tried to snatch my breakfast this morning.”

Liu Dazhu looked from Zhou Sinian to Mingdai and felt troubled.

“Girl, this is a tough one for me. You don’t know—this harbinger of disaster hits everyone!”

He sniffled; he himself had been beaten!

He’d been the one to fetch Zhou Sinian from Xiahe Village. Zhou Sinian hadn’t wanted to come, so he’d carried his bundle to stop him running away, and had been beaten all the way back! He was fifty-three, and even his own father hadn’t hit him like that, but now he’d been thrashed by a lunatic!

How aggrieved he felt!

Mingdai quickly shook her head. “Uncle, what are you saying? How could I trouble you? You’ve helped me so much already! I told you because I’m new here and don’t know if being with him is right, or if it will affect Liujiawan’s reputation. After all, he doesn’t always listen to me, and I’m afraid I won’t be able to control him and bring shame on the village.”

Oh, what a good girl!

Liu Dazhu and Liu Qingmin shook their heads hastily.

“Girl, if he causes trouble, the whole commune is used to it. No one will blame us, as long as he stays in our brigade. Don’t worry about the rest. I’ll think of a solution for your food rations. If he wants to eat, let him, or else I’m afraid he’ll hit you.”

“That’s right! Mingdai, if you can’t get enough to eat, just come eat at my house or the brigade leader’s house.”

Liu Qingmin glanced at Zhou Sinian, who was already growing impatient, and added, “But don’t bring him along!”

Mingdai’s eyes reddened as she looked gratefully at the two of them. “I’m not afraid! I have you, uncles!”

Lowering her voice, she moved closer. “Uncle, don’t worry. Before I came, my father’s superior took pity on me, afraid I’d go hungry here, and promised to send me food as long as I paid for it. He works at a hospital and has connections; everyone goes to him for favors. I brought my father’s pension with me. I have money and can buy food. Uncle, don’t save food for me! At times like these, making sure my aunt and the others have enough to eat is your real responsibility! I can take care of myself!”

Liu Dazhu and Liu Qingmin felt even more distressed. What a good girl!

Why did she have to get entangled with the harbinger of disaster?

When they learned the two were going up the mountain to collect firewood, Liu Dazhu promptly sent someone home to bring their family’s cart and woodcutting tools.

Everyone nearby looked on with envy. That handcart was tightly managed by the brigade leader and never lent out except for grain deliveries. But now he was lending it to the new Educated Youth on her first day!

How strange was that?

As for the harbinger of disaster, they all pretended not to see.

Finally, with the crowd whispering behind them, Mingdai pushed the cart and followed Zhou Sinian up the mountain—looking for all the world like a child oppressed by a madman.

Alas! What a pitiful girl!

To be stuck with a lunatic!

Zhou Sinian thought, “You know, really, you’re right. This is the first time since I lost my mind that someone’s tried to take advantage of me—and actually succeeded!”

Leaving the village, without any buildings to block the wind, the northern gale slapped them hard in the face.

Mingdai pressed her lips together to keep from swallowing the wind and took a red headscarf from her crossbody bag to tie around her head.

All the young women and wives in the village had one, so it didn’t look out of place.

She gripped the cart handle and continued on; it was much warmer now.

After a few steps, Zhou Sinian suddenly stopped and stared fixedly at the red headscarf on Mingdai’s head.

Blocked by him, Mingdai stopped the cart, observed him for a moment, then pointed to her headscarf. “You want one too?”

Immediately, his eyes lit up.

He wanted it.

If she refused, they’d end up in a standoff, doing nothing—and she might even get beaten. So, Mingdai promptly smuggled another one out of her bag.

This one was green.

She offered it, but Zhou Sinian wouldn’t take it.

Tentatively, Mingdai tried tying it on his head, but he dodged, still staring intently at her head.

Left with no choice, Mingdai took off her own and handed it to him.

Sure enough, he snatched it up and deftly tied a bow under his chin.

Ha, so what if you can tie a bow!

She tied the green one on herself but accidentally made a tight knot.

So what if you can tie a bow—good for you.

Having gotten the red headscarf, Zhou Sinian strode ahead, leading the way.

Mingdai jogged behind, pushing the cart to keep up.

On the mountain path, many villagers gathering firewood stared in confusion.

Where had the lunatic gotten a red headscarf?

And who was that child following him?

Tsk tsk, poor thing—probably dragged along by the lunatic to work!

Zhou Sinian didn’t care in the slightest about their stares and marched on.

Mingdai hurried to keep up and had no energy to respond to anyone else.

Thus, throughout Liujiawan, up and down the mountain, the story spread like wildfire: one of the new Educated Youth, a pitiful child, had been targeted by the lunatic.

Mingdai, the little unfortunate, followed the madman all the way to the foot of the mountain.

Looking up at the nearly vertical cliff ahead, Mingdai was left in disarray, battered by the north wind.