Chen Yanran always appeared gentle and approachable on ordinary days, yet Xu Ying consistently carried herself with an air of superiority. Along with her irritable temper, it was easy for people to associate her with unpleasant imagery.
"Yanran, it's because you're too nice that Xu Ying bullies you like this. Sending a letter to Dong Zhiqing isn't anything shameful, yet she has the nerve to pick a fight with you.
Pah, the team leader's family indulges her. Once she leaves the team leader's house, I'd like to see who else will pamper her." These were the words of Chen Yanran's little follower.
As soon as these words came out, several Youth Corps members who disliked Xu Ying's attitude—acting superior even though she was just a country girl—echoed, "Xu Ying really is unreasonable.
You were just delivering a letter to Wen Zhong, and she still had the audacity to get angry. In my opinion, she's just vain. Dong Wen Zhong isn't even her boyfriend, yet she acts as if she's his legit wife."
The matter of Dong Wenzhong's injury was quickly forgotten, but Xu Ying's unreasonableness lingered in discussions.
Zhang Qiuling really disliked Chen Yanran's green-tea behavior, full of sinister motives.
She sneered and said, "Chen Yanran, why didn't you save Xu Ying but instead took on the label of a lifesaver?
Could it be that you're hoping to gain the team leader's favor, to sneak away from your duties?"
Chen Yanran, struck where it hurt, looked embarrassed, and following the exposure of this matter, her reputation in the Youth Corps dropped rapidly.
She had been very prudent these past few days but didn't expect this issue to be brought up again. She looked at Zhang Qiuling's bunk, her eyes filled with sinister anger.
"Zhang Qiuling, I was confused at the time, but I've already apologized. Why are you still harping on about it?" Chen Yanran said, her eyes reddening and her shoulders beginning to shake as she was on the brink of tears.
"I just can't stand some people who have corrupt intentions and try to smear others at every turn," Zhang Qiuling finished speaking and covered herself with her blanket to sleep.
Chen Yanran was left speechless with anger.
Dong Wenzhong was awakened by pain in the middle of the night. His right hand hurt terribly, and thinking of the severe beating he endured, his teeth itched with hatred. He couldn't even see who it was, nor did he hear whose voice it was.
Barely making it to dawn, Dong Wenzhong heard some unwelcome news.
"Wen Zhong, our commune is hiring teachers. I hear each village gets three spots. If we could secure one, we wouldn't need to work the fields anymore," Chen Yanran's eyes shone brightly.
She hadn't considered that Dong Wenzhong was badly injured in bed, unable to move his right hand. Hearing this news was like adding frost to snow.
With his battered body, how could he possibly participate in the competition?
Dong Wenzhong looked at her with a heavy heart, "Yanran, I'm in no shape to compete, but you can. Study hard during this time, and you'll surely get in."
Chen Yanran felt a bit disappointed upon hearing he couldn't go, but she recovered quickly.
Yes, she could still go.
She was already exhausted from the strenuous farm work; the initial enthusiasm she had when first coming to support the countryside had long faded.
"Wen Zhong, don't worry. I'll definitely work hard. Once I become a teacher and get a salary and provisions, our life will surely improve."
Dong Wenzhong felt very relieved upon hearing this—it wasn't in vain that he had refrained from getting together with Xu Ying for her sake.
But soon, Chen Yanran's brows furrowed. She looked at Dong Wenzhong, conflicted, "Wen Zhong, but we've already offended the team leader's family. Will they let us participate in this competition?"
This competition involved five or six villages, each with three spots, but only two teachers were needed.
With so many competitors, Chen Yanran worried she might not be chosen.
If Xu Ying could help them, they would have a much better chance than if Chen Yanran competed alone.
Dong Wenzhong knew what she was worried about, but Xu Ying had changed completely and wasn't listening to him anymore.
Thinking of Xu Ying, he asked, "Yanran, did you really hear Xu Ying's voice yesterday?"
Chen Yanran's eyes widened as she hurriedly nodded, "I'm a hundred percent sure it was her. Did she cause your injury?"
Dong Wenzhong chuckled and shook his head, "Definitely not Xu Ying. With her frail body, how could she possibly hit me?"
"I suspect it was a man who hit me because right after I stepped out of the house, he covered my mouth and dragged me away."
Dong Wenzhong still couldn't figure it out. He had been in Xujia Village for over a year and hadn't offended anyone; why would someone target him and assault him so brutally?
He was filled with great resentment toward his assailant and decided he would not let this go easily. If he ever caught the person who hit him, he would retaliate tenfold!
After talking with Dong Wenzhong, Chen Yanran ran towards the team leader's house.
She stood hesitantly at the door, afraid she might run into Grandma Xu, that shrewish woman.
The news about Yushan Commune recruiting teachers had spread early in the morning.
Many eligible people from the Youth Corps had already gathered at the team leader's door to sign up.
When Sun Yunjuan saw Chen Yanran standing there without entering, she approached and asked, "Yanran, are you also signing up for the teacher recruitment at Yushan Commune?"
Chen Yanran nodded.
Sun Yunjuan, curious, asked, "Then why don't you go in? Half of the Youth Corps has already signed up. If you're too late, there might not be any spots left."
After hearing this, Chen Yanran hurriedly ran into the Xu Family's courtyard.
Inside, Xu Ying was sitting in a recliner, basking in the sun, her leisurely demeanor painfully stinging Chen Yanran.
She couldn't understand what was so good about Xu Ying. In rural areas, the preference for sons over daughters was extremely strong; why was it the complete opposite in the Xu family?
Although her own family did not favor sons over daughters, her parents did not cherish their daughter as much as Mr. Xu and Mrs. Xu cherished theirs.
Otherwise, they wouldn't have allowed her to be sent to the countryside in the first place.
"Yanran, if you're still going to register with the team leader now, you can't offend Xu Ying. What if she tells the team leader not to let you participate?" Sun Yunjuan advised.
Biting her lip, Chen Yanran knew this was true, and reluctantly entered the house.
Xu Ying lay on the lounge chair in the courtyard, her mind constantly spinning. Her family was better off than many others in the village but still far behind the city folks.
Therefore, she needed to find a job as soon as possible.
"Mom, I'm going to the county, so you don't have to make lunch for me," Xu Ying said as she got up and left the courtyard.
Grandma Xu arrived with duck eggs she hadn't yet given to her beloved daughter.
Watching this scene, Chen Yanran was almost biting her teeth to pieces.
Xu Ying left her home and headed straight to her grandmother's house.
Her uncle had a bicycle; his family used to be well-off, and his eldest son once worked as a permanent staff member in a factory in the county before falling into hard times.
However, before that, he had bought a bicycle for the family.
Xu Ying's heart pounded non-stop as she reached the Old Xu Mansion.
She had always been scared of her own grandmother. According to her parents, Grandma Xu used to teach etiquette in a wealthy family and was particularly strict with the younger generations.
Xu Ying always felt nervous whenever she saw her.
But in this lifetime, Xu Ying knew her grandmother was strict for their own good. "Grandpa, Grandma, I'm here to see you."
Smiling, Xu Ying took out several duck eggs from her storage space and entered the yard.
Hearing her cheerful voice, Grandma Xu immediately stood up from her chair.