When Dong Huimin returned to the Educated Youth compound, she felt as if her entire body reeked of urine. It was utterly disgusting. She couldn’t even wait for hot water to be heated and simply washed herself with cold water. The nights at the end of August were already chilly, and after bathing in cold water on top of the shock she had suffered, she fell ill the next day.
It was Tan Yanping who helped her find the village barefoot doctor, who prescribed some medicine for Dong Huimin.
At two o’clock the following afternoon, the area outside the brigade office was packed with people. Everyone knew the university slot had nothing to do with them, but they still wanted to watch the spectacle.
The brigade secretary rode his bicycle back from the commune and immediately posted the notice on the brigade bulletin board.
A literate villager read the announcement aloud. When everyone heard that Xiao Mandong had earned the slot by saving someone’s life, helping the hospital troubleshoot an equipment failure, and making outstanding contributions, the crowd erupted. No one had expected the spot to go to an Educated Youth who had only arrived a few months earlier.
Those who had hoped for the opportunity but failed to secure the slot spoke with unmistakable bitterness.
“Brigade Secretary, Educated Youth Xiao has only been here a few months. She isn’t qualified to receive this slot.”
“We’re going to report this! We’ve been here for so many years. Why wasn’t this decided by election? Why did the commune recommend someone directly? It’s unfair!”
“That’s right! If not an election, then draw lots. That’s how it was done in previous years.”
The brigade secretary himself had no idea what was going on this time. He had long since realized that the university slot was merely a formality and that the candidate had already been chosen behind the scenes. But before the result was announced, he couldn’t ask any questions. Even he had been surprised by today’s outcome. Now, he genuinely wanted to know just how powerful Xiao Mandong’s backer was.
The brigade secretary knocked on the wooden bulletin board.
“What are you making such a fuss about? This is an official red-headed document from the commune. Every sentence is backed by evidence. If you’re dissatisfied, go complain to the commune yourselves.”
In the crowd, Sun Wenbin clenched his fists until his knuckles cracked. He had never imagined that Xiao Mandong would be leaving so soon. What was he going to do now? Where had that damned woman hidden his treasure?
The Old Kai Sun Wenbin had been waiting for still hadn’t shown up, and he was nearly frantic.
Sun Wenbin’s eyes shifted as an idea came to him. He called Wang Yuanyuan over, and the two of them quietly slipped away.
Sun Wenbin led Wang Yuanyuan to the small shed overlooking the fields. He pulled out an object from inside his clothes. Wrapped in several layers of handkerchiefs was a finely crafted silver bracelet.
Wang Yuanyuan’s eyes lit up when she saw it. It was truly beautiful. The entire band was engraved with continuous scrolling floral patterns, the lines deep, even, and exquisitely executed. Two sections of the bracelet were also inlaid with tiny bat and curling-grass motifs. Although Wang Yuanyuan didn’t understand much about such things, she knew that this was no ordinary piece.
She lowered her head shyly, her cheeks flushing red, and extended her hands—roughened and covered in calluses from farmwork—hoping that Sun Wenbin would put it on her himself.
Wang Yuanyuan had never imagined that Sun Wenbin would treat her so well, or that he would give her something so valuable.
Seeing her expression, Sun Wenbin sneered inwardly. This woman was truly stupid. Did she really think she dared to accept this thing? She had no brains at all.
Although he cursed her in his heart, his eyes were filled with affection.
“Yuanyuan, do you want to make Xiao Mandong lose everything?”
Hatred filled Wang Yuanyuan’s eyes. If it weren’t for Xiao Mandong, how could that lecherous man have taken advantage of her? She wanted nothing more than to hack Xiao Mandong into a thousand pieces.
“Tonight, go to Xiao Mandong’s house. Tell her you came to congratulate her on getting the university slot and apologize to her. Promise that after she leaves, you’ll be a good older sister and help her take care of Xiao Manxue. Then find an opportunity to hide this bracelet in her house. Make sure no one sees you.”
Wang Yuanyuan froze. “Why hide it in her house? Isn’t this supposed to be a gift for me?”
Her eyes immediately filled with aggrieved tears. What did Sun Wenbin mean? Now that Xiao Mandong was going to university, did he want to get together with her and dump Wang Yuanyuan? How could she allow that? She absolutely wouldn’t let Xiao Mandong steal Sun Wenbin away. Sun Wenbin was the only person in the world who treated her well. No one else could take him from her.
Sun Wenbin wiped away the tear at the corner of her eye and affectionately tousled her hair.
“You silly girl. My family has plenty of antiques like this. In the future, they’ll all be yours. You may not know this, but engraved designs like these are considered part of the Four Olds. Wearing one outside could get you into trouble.”
“If you hide it in her house, I’ll report her to the Revolutionary Committee. Once their people find the bracelet during a search, she’ll be in serious trouble. All her property will be confiscated, and she might even be sent away for reeducation. Needless to say, she can forget about going to university.”
Sun Wenbin knew that someone on the Revolutionary Committee was on their side, though he didn’t know exactly who. Still, as soon as that person saw the bracelet, he would understand Sun Wenbin’s intentions. It was their way of communicating—the act of framing someone served as a coded signal.
Once Xiao Mandong was taken away, she would be forced to hand over everything she had and would likely suffer terribly in the process.
“Is that really true?”
Wang Yuanyuan felt that she had truly seen too little of the world. She honestly hadn’t known that this kind of pattern could be considered part of the Four Olds. No wonder her aunt’s bracelets had all disappeared in the past.
“Would I lie to you? You’re my wife. I’m even planning to write home and tell my family about us. I’m going to marry you.”
Wang Yuanyuan was so thoroughly deceived that her bones seemed to melt. She nestled into Sun Wenbin’s arms.
But Sun Wenbin had no interest in playing around with her at that moment. His heart was crawling with impatience. He had to act tonight, and he was afraid that waiting any longer would cause complications.
Suppressing his irritation, Sun Wenbin gently pushed Wang Yuanyuan away.
“Go quickly. This can’t wait. Do it now, before anything unexpected happens.”
Wang Yuanyuan was also extremely nervous. She knew herself well enough to realize that if she went alone, Xiao Mandong wouldn’t even let her through the door.
After saying goodbye to Sun Wenbin, Wang Yuanyuan returned to the Educated Youth compound.
“I’d like to go congratulate Xiao Mandong. Does anyone want to come with me?”
She asked tentatively.
Tan Yanping wanted to go and take a look as well. She figured that Xiao Mandong would probably give up the slot to someone else. After all, Xiao Mandong had to look after Xiao Manxue, and she probably wouldn’t feel comfortable letting her younger sister go to university alone. If she could simply leave Xiao Manxue behind, she wouldn’t have followed her younger sister to the countryside in the first place. Tan Yanping wanted to ask whether Xiao Mandong was willing to sell the university slot.
Jing Chunxiang also wanted to go. Her family favored sons over daughters. Although her family lived in the city, her parents had only allowed her to attend school through the first grade. Thus, Jing Chunxiang understood that the university slot had nothing to do with her. She simply wanted to offer her congratulations.
Dong Huimin, meanwhile, also felt that Xiao Mandong would probably give up the slot. However, she intended to go alone, since there were many things that would be easier to discuss in private.
Each of them had her own motives as they headed together toward the stone house. By then, the stone house was already quite lively.
“Educated Youth Xiao, I know you have a lot against me. Please, I beg you—can’t you take pity on me? I’ve already paid the price for what I did. I know you definitely won’t be going to university. After all, only one person can go. If you leave, Manxue will be here alone, and you certainly won’t be able to bear that.”
“As long as you’re willing to give me the university slot, name your price. My mother will definitely agree to pay.”
Xiao Mandong watched Hu Guizhen with a half-smile.
“Hu Guizhen, what gave you the impression that I’m an easy person to deal with?”
“Educated Youth Xiao, I know you’re a kind person. Cripple Liu beat me until I lost my child. He promised that if I didn’t report him to the police, he would divorce me. Life will be impossibly hard for me after the divorce. Give me this opportunity, and I’ll have a way to survive. Please, I’m begging you—give me a chance to live.”
Hu Guizhen kept playing up her misery, hoping Xiao Mandong would feel some sympathy. Surely Xiao Mandong wouldn’t be so heartless when she was already this pitiful, would she?
“You’ve got it wrong. I’m not kind at all. I hope the people I hate suffer misfortune, that those who curse me lose their voices, and that everyone who hurts me gets what they deserve. How could I possibly give such a precious chance to turn your life around to you? You’d better go home.”
As she spoke, she grabbed Hu Guizhen and pushed her toward the gate.
The moment she opened it, Wang Yuanyuan and the others happened to arrive.
clutching her stomach, Wang Yuanyuan shoved Xiao Mandong aside and rushed into the courtyard. “I can’t hold it anymore! My stomach hurts!”
With that, Wang Yuanyuan dashed toward the toilet in the backyard.
