Chapter 25: Beaten Beyond Recognition

In the time it took to finish a meal, the news of Lin Xinyou’s suicide attempt and Lin Jingyue’s violent outburst had spread throughout the entire brigade. Everyone tacitly chose not to discuss it further, fearing they might bring trouble upon themselves.

“From today onwards, I won’t be eating with you all anymore.” At that moment, Lin Jingyue was preparing lunch. Jiang Xun and Zhou Yan’s stove was finally usable, and somehow, they had managed to procure an iron pot and a clay jar.

“If you don’t feel like cooking, I could make something and bring you a bowl,” Jiang Xun offered, concerned she might not be in the mood to cook.

“No need.” Lin Jingyue smiled, her lips pressed together. She didn’t mind in the least letting others see her gloating—after all, Lin Xinyou still owed the original owner her life. A little schadenfreude was nothing.

Jiang Xun didn’t press further, just smiled back, his eyes sparkling. “Then I won’t disturb you.”

“Mm-hmm.”

Chen Chunlan had missed the earlier spectacle, and now, seeing Lin Jingyue so carefree, she curled her lip. “Some people, their own sister’s life or death is uncertain, yet they still have the appetite and leisure to cook and eat.”

She spoke in a low voice.

But Lin Jingyue, with her sharp ears, caught every word. “If you’re feeling so compassionate, go see for yourself. If not, then keep your foul mouth shut, or I won’t mind stitching it closed for you myself!”

“You—” Chen Chunlan sputtered.

“Hmm?” Lin Jingyue’s gaze was cold.

Reluctantly, Chen Chunlan dropped her eyes. The others had their own thoughts but none dared provoke Lin Jingyue, not after seeing Du Jianguo’s battered face.

From the window, Du Jianguo glared outside at Lin Jingyue, who was busy cooking, his expression dark and cold. This damned woman had made a fool of him—he’d make sure she’d regret it if she ever fell into his hands.

Meanwhile, Lin Jingyue hummed a tune as she lit the fire and cooked. She had been gathering firewood from the mountain these past few days, so she had enough to use.

She didn’t need much for herself—a bowl of rice, a sweet-and-sour fried egg, and some smoked pork stewed with cabbage.

Simple dishes, but satisfying. She used the rice from her own hidden stash—the grains were excellent, rare in these times, and she had no plans to sell them for now. If she ever got the chance to travel farther afield, to bigger places, she might consider it, with a new identity and a fresh start. For now, if she sold anything, it would only be fruit or meat.

After all, she wasn’t short of money.

When her meal was ready, Lin Jingyue took it inside to eat. Outside, the other educated youths could smell the aroma of meat drifting from both sides, but all they had was thin porridge, their faces miserable, cursing under their breath.

In the afternoon, after resting for half an hour, Lin Jingyue slung her basket over her back and headed up the mountain to gather more firewood.

Meanwhile, at the hospital, Lin Xinyou was being rushed into surgery.

The brigade leader and party secretary had not left—if Lin Xinyou couldn’t be saved, things would become serious.

Lin Xinjian’s eyes were red; he had clearly been crying. Zhao Hua felt miserable too. Sun Zhiyuan had paid the medical fees and was now waiting anxiously as well.

They all felt utterly drained.

Inside the operating room, Lin Xinyou drifted in and out of consciousness, her head unbearably heavy, unable to wake. Scenes from her life flashed before her eyes, and finally, she slipped into darkness.

Back in Qingshan Brigade, Lin Jingyue went about her work as usual. Everyone knew she and Lin Xinyou were at odds.

No one said much—at most, they muttered in their hearts that she was cold and heartless. But no one dared voice it aloud, afraid of ending up unrecognizable, like Du Jianguo.

Auntie Hua and Auntie Liu, aside from occasionally glancing sidelong at Lin Jingyue, kept quiet most of the time.

Lin Jingyue was only too glad for the peace.

Her back ached, and she couldn’t help but straighten up, wiping the sweat from her brow and using her straw hat to fan herself. The scorching sun was enough to fray anyone’s nerves.

She grabbed the water bottle beside her and gulped down a mouthful of spring water, finally soothing her parched throat.

After work, she quickly washed up, changed into clean, cool clothes, and flopped onto her bed, sighing at the hardships of life.

After sighing enough, she reluctantly dragged herself up to do laundry.

When she saw Chen Chunlan and Xie Wenjuan squatting by the well doing laundry, she paused, picked up her wooden basin, and turned to head for the river.

“Comrade Lin, I’m almost done. You can do your laundry here,” Xie Wenjuan called out, always wearing a pleasant smile, adept at getting along with everyone.

Lin Jingyue smiled back. “No need, I’ll go to the river. Thank you.”

“Look at her, acting so aloof. You’re just wasting your kindness,” Chen Chunlan muttered, only daring to speak once Lin Jingyue was out of sight.

Xie Wenjuan merely smiled, but inwardly, she was already a little annoyed.

“Comrade Lin, over here!” By the river, Auntie Chun, who was also doing laundry, waved her over.

Seeing there was a spot beside her, Lin Jingyue hurried over and set down her basin. “Thank you, Auntie Chun.”

Auntie Chun was the kindest person to her in the whole brigade.

“No need to thank me, it’s nothing at all,” Auntie Chun scolded Lin Jingyue for being so polite. “Oh, this is my daughter Cuihua. She’s about your age.”

The girl beside her was seventeen or eighteen, with fair skin, a round face, and delicate features.

The brigade leader’s surname was Li, so this must be his daughter, Li Cuihua. She had attended middle school and wasn’t married yet.

“Hello, Cuihua.” Lin Jingyue greeted her with a smile.

Li Cuihua blushed. This Comrade Lin really was beautiful when she smiled.

“Hello, Comrade Lin,” she stammered.

“You can call me by my name.”

“Then I’ll call you Jingyue?”

“Of course.”

That’s how easy it was for young women to become friends. Before long, they were chatting happily. As she left, Li Cuihua even said she’d visit Lin Jingyue at the educated youth dormitory when she had time.

Carrying her clean laundry, Lin Jingyue returned to the dormitory.

In the middle of the night, a sudden clap of thunder split the sky, and a steady rain began to fall.

The dormitory had been built only two years ago, so naturally it didn’t leak.

Still, Lin Jingyue found the noise annoying, so she wrapped herself in her quilt and retreated into her hidden space, where there was a simple bed.

Lying on the wooden boards, she mused about getting a proper bed in there someday, with a thick cotton quilt.

Drowsiness overcame her, and she drifted off. When she woke the next morning, it was already past six, and the rain was still falling outside.

Since it wasn’t harvest time, there was no need to work in the rain; they could rest.

Yawning, Lin Jingyue poured hot water from her thermos to wash up.

Breakfast was simple: hot steamed buns from her secret stash, a cup of malted milk, a big meat bun, an apple, and half a plate of yesterday’s fried eggs—more than enough.

After breakfast, with nothing else to do, Lin Jingyue took out the books she’d found at the junk market and began to read.

She had no intention of returning to An City and planned to settle in the capital, so the university entrance exam was her way back to the city.

She had to be prepared.

Time passed quickly as she flipped through her books, and before she knew it, it was noon. She stretched her aching neck.

As soon as she emerged from her space, she heard a commotion outside.

It was Wang Xueping and Chen Chunlan.

That Chen Chunlan was like a stick stirring up trouble—she was everywhere.

She’d managed to offend so many people—one wondered what went on in her head.

Lin Jingyue didn’t bother listening. No doubt it was Chen Chunlan mocking Wang Xueping over her troubled marriage prospects.

Gradually, the noise outside subsided.

The next day, the rain stopped, and it was time to return to work. Lin Jingyue really didn’t want to struggle in the muddy fields, so she took on the task of gathering pigweed instead.