Chapter 68: Behind You
Ning Xiyue and Li Xiuxiu had no interest in explaining anything to the naive Liu Yao and continued watching the show unfold.
On the other side, Xia Zhipeng hadn’t received any response from Chen Yechu, and instead saw her chatting enthusiastically with Yu Zhiyu. Undeterred, he tried again:
“Comrade Chen, what do you think? How about I trade something with the team leader for some meat? We can cook and eat together.”
Hearing this, Ning Xiaoxiao was burning with jealousy. A hostile glint flashed in her eyes as she looked at Chen Yechu.
Chen Yechu impatiently raised her brows and shot back, “Don’t talk to me. Stay away. Don’t you know you have bad breath?”
That one sentence was a devastating blow to Xia Zhipeng. He looked utterly stunned. He never expected Chen Yechu would actually reply — but for her reply to be that humiliating?
Xia Zhipeng’s face flushed bright red, and he didn’t dare say another word.
Wang Mengmeng, who overheard it from the side, was stunned too. She started thinking about whether Xia Zhipeng did have bad breath. The more she thought about it, the more disgusted she felt, and she bent over, retching.
Ning Xiyue couldn’t help but laugh. “Chen Yechu is so savage, and Wang Mengmeng’s reaction is just priceless.”
Li Xiuxiu laughed even louder. “Hahaha, Comrade Chen is too funny.”
Liu Yao shivered. “Ew, does Comrade Xia really have bad breath?”
Their laughter must have been too loud, because Chen Yechu suddenly turned toward them. Ning Xiyue and Li Xiuxiu immediately stopped laughing, turned their gazes away, and faced each other instead.
Ning Xiyue looked up at the sky. “The weather’s pretty nice today, huh?”
Li Xiuxiu played along without missing a beat. “Yeah, it is. The moon’s already out.”
“Think she stopped looking?” Li Xiuxiu whispered.
Ning Xiyue sneaked a glance from the corner of her eye. “I don’t know. I don’t see her.”
Liu Yao: “She’s behind you.”
Ning Xiyue: “…”
Li Xiuxiu: “?”
Ning Xiyue looked calmly at Li Xiuxiu and said, “When do you think the pork will be ready? We’ve been waiting so long.”
Li Xiuxiu followed her lead. “It should be almost done. They’re already cutting it into strips.”
Liu Yao clapped her hands. “That’s great.”
Chen Yechu, choosing not to call them out, simply said, “Why are you three here? I just looked around and didn’t see you anywhere.”
“Oh, Yehu, we’ve been here watching the pork. This is a good spot,” Ning Xiyue replied seriously, pointing toward where the butcher Li was working. “See? You can see everything clearly.”
“Really?” Chen Yechu’s eyes shifted to Li Xiuxiu and Liu Yao.
Li Xiuxiu nodded quickly. “Of course.”
Liu Yao avoided eye contact and cheerfully gestured toward the stage. “The team leader’s about to speak. Let’s listen carefully.”
Crisis averted.
Soon after, Ning Xiyue and Aunt Yangliu were called up onto the stage.
“Fellow villagers,” the team leader began, “today, Comrade Ning Xiyue, by a stroke of luck, managed to hunt down two wild boars. Thanks to her, we’re fortunate enough to have some meat to eat. Let us all thank Comrade Ning Xiyue for her contribution to the team.”
As soon as he finished, a thunderous chorus erupted: “Thank you, Comrade Ning Xiyue!”
Ning Xiyue accepted the thanks calmly, without a trace of shyness.
“Now,” the team leader continued, “for the final and most important matter — dividing the meat. According to our usual practice, whoever hunts the animal gets half, and the other half belongs to the collective. This time, there are two boars — one large and one small. Comrade Ning will take the smaller one. Of the large boar, the extra portion goes to Comrade Yang Liu, and the rest will be distributed to the team. Every household, including the educated youths, will receive a small portion. Once again, let us thank both comrades.”
This time, the thanks were scattered and much quieter.
Zhang Dawei roared in anger, “Anyone who doesn’t thank the two comrades and Comrade Ning Xiyue properly can forget about getting any meat! If you don’t want free meat, we’ll give it to those who work hard!”
“Thank you, comrades! Thank you, Comrade Ning Xiyue!”
The team leader’s threat worked — this time the thanks were loud and orderly again.
“Alright, line up by household to receive your share. You get what you get, no complaints. If anyone causes trouble, you’ll lose your share. That’s final. Go queue up with Accountant Zhao to register and collect your portion.”
Once the team leader finished, even those who were dissatisfied didn’t dare speak up. They could only grumble internally.
Everyone wanted their share. The distribution was by the book, and the meat was free. If they caused a scene, they’d lose their portion — no one was foolish enough to pick a fight with meat.
As a result, the chaotic scene Ning Xiyue had imagined never happened. Everyone quietly lined up to receive their share.
Ning Xiyue and Aunt Yangliu’s portions were already set aside.
“Uncle Li, could you cut the meat into strips for me? I want to smoke it into bacon and send some home for my family to try,” Ning Xiyue asked, looking at the half pig that was hers.
Butcher Li grinned, the fat on his cheeks trembling. “Of course. Just tell me how you want it cut. I should be thanking you — thanks to you, I get to eat pork stew today.”
“Thank you, Uncle,” Ning Xiyue said sincerely. She liked this Uncle Li — he was a good man.
Aunt Yangliu pointed at her own portion. “Cut mine too, into chunks.”
“Got it.”
The rest of the meat had already been divided, so all the villagers had to do was line up and collect it from Zhao Anguo. Butcher Li could focus entirely on cutting Ning Xiyue’s pig.
Some kind-hearted villagers, very satisfied with their share, even came to thank Ning Xiyue personally — including the gossip group from the drying team: Aunt Liu, Aunt Zhao, Aunt Zhang, and Aunt Qian.
Aunt Liu patted her chest like a big sister. “Little Xiyue, thank you so much today. From now on, I’ve got your back. Whenever we chat or watch a show, I’ll make sure to call you over.”
The other aunts nodded furiously. “Yes, yes, we’ve all got your back.”
“Then let me thank you all in advance,” Ning Xiyue said, laughing at their antics.
After thanking her, the aunts happily carried their meat home to cook.
Aunt Yangliu nodded approvingly. “Mm, these ones are good — they know to come and say thanks.”
“They’re nice people,” Ning Xiyue agreed.
By then, Butcher Li had finished cutting and was packing up his tools.
Ning Xiyue handed him a set of pig intestines and pig ears. “Uncle, take these home as a little snack to go with your wine.”
“Oh, I couldn’t possibly…” Butcher Li said, though his heart leapt with joy — those were his favorite parts.
“Go on, Uncle. Please, just accept them.” Ning Xiyue pushed them toward him again.
Beaming, Butcher Li accepted. “No complaints here — I’m more than happy. Thank you, Little Ning.”
“No need to thank me, Uncle. I’ll get going now.”
Ning Xiyue had noticed long ago how many times Butcher Li had glanced at those parts. Since she didn’t like them anyway, it was a perfect opportunity to give them as a small favor.
“Alright, go on then,” Butcher Li said, cheerfully heading home with the intestines and ears. No wonder the team leader and his wife liked this little educated youth so much — she was sensible, caused no trouble, and knew when to fight and when to yield. Anyone would like her.
Ning Xiyue didn’t know that giving away parts she didn’t even like had earned her such high praise. At that moment, she was pushing a cart she’d borrowed from the team, loaded with baskets of meat.
Aunt Yangliu had secretly slipped a few extra pieces of her own share into the cart. When Ning Xiyue noticed and pretended to be angry, Aunt Yangliu reluctantly took them back — though she resolved to treat Ning Xiyue even better from now on.
All the educated youths from the commune came by with their tiny pieces of meat to thank Ning Xiyue.
Ning Xiaoxiao saw the cartload of meat Ning Xiyue had and compared it to the pathetic little piece in her own hand. She felt jealous and unbalanced, already scheming something.
Ning Xiyue kept an eye on her, and seeing that she was smart enough not to cause trouble here, felt a little disappointed. What a waste of that piece of meat.
Wu Guifang stepped forward. “Come on, let’s help you carry this back.”
On the way back to the educated youth courtyard, with Aunt Yangliu there, there were no incidents. Everything was peaceful, and no villagers caused any trouble.
Ning Xiyue, however, felt a little disappointed — she had no chance to use her combat skills.
