Free Web NovelChapter 437: Chapter 437: The Wind Has Changed
The relationship between Chen and Tang was known only to a few who went up the mountain today. Actually, their relationship was only confirmed a couple of days ago. However, the mutual interest over six months had been noticed by everyone, but they never made it public.
Huang now feels that Tang has been shortchanged. She keeps thinking that Tang might get bitten by a poisonous snake today, and Chen Youdao can’t escape responsibility. If Tang gets bitten to death, there would be no threat to him; he could simply turn around and pursue Ni Qingyan without anyone saying a thing.
However...
"But didn’t I hear Chen is going back to the city? If he’s going back to the city, why is he still pursuing Qingyan?"
Someone asked the very question Huang was eager to know, but she feigned ignorance and expressed extreme astonishment, "Back to the city? What city? So there’s a quota for returning to the city? Chen is going back? Why him? It shouldn’t be his turn."
Many villagers looked awkwardly at Huang and the others, most of them turning their gaze to Ni Dahong, the team leader, since the quota for returning to the city was decided by him.
"We simply thought you all went into the deep mountains, violating our team’s regulations, so we excluded you." This was said by an accountant who was part of the team meeting.
Ni Dahong didn’t expect for a moment that he would be put on the spot. He agreed to let his daughter date an educated youth, mainly because of the youth’s high school education. Coincidentally, there was a job position in the county town created by the educated youth office, which could arrange for an educated youth to go, and they figured out a way to arrange it for Chen Youdao.
The most important thing was his daughter’s stubbornness; she was determined to have Chen Youdao. As parents, what could they do? After all, Daihe Village was their domain, and they believed Chen Youdao wouldn’t dare bully their daughter.
But if He and his team’s issue was overlooked, the quota for returning to the city might not be Chen Youdao’s. In the past, Ni Dahong would have certainly stood by his decision; once Chen Youdao was reported, it was his. But now that Ni Yanqing was present, he felt intimidated despite it being his own junior.
Of course, another crucial factor was his son Ni Guangzong. Ni Guangzong’s development in the military depended on the support of Ni Yanqing’s family. So no matter what, Ni Dahong had to sell face to Ni Yanqing, not just that but also flatter him.
"Since it’s a misunderstanding, we need to re-determine the city return quota. This time it’s for our county town," Ni Dahong stated, not forgetting to specify the location, intending for some educated youths to retreat in the face of difficulty.
"It’s for our Daigong County, isn’t it? He, Little He, I remember your mother is from Daigong County, right? You chose to come here because of this." Huang interjected upon hearing this.
Ni Dahong’s expression stiffened. He had forgotten about this, but since the words had been spoken, he couldn’t take them back.
"Wasn’t Chen lying before? Did he falsely accuse others just to get the city return quota?"
"Chen is not that kind of person, right? He’s gentle and sincere. Could there have been some misunderstanding? Maybe he thought He and his group were going into the deep mountains and acted out of concern for their safety."
"That’s possible. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have made such a big scene involving so many people. When He and the others come back, the truth will be revealed."
"True, Chen is all alone, whereas He and his group have many. How could one person falsely accuse so many?"
...
He and several of the educated youths didn’t speak after hearing this because they indeed went into the deep mountains, and their reasoning wouldn’t stand. Even if they backbit that Chen Youdao also went into the mountain, with the support of Ni Dahong’s family, they would gain nothing. However, the situation now was different.
"Wasn’t it said that when Tang was bitten by the snake, Chen was also there? How could he not help but instead go down the mountain to the county town?"
"I think he wronged He and his group to secure the city return quota. By the time they confront each other upon return, everything would be settled, and the job would probably be his. Where would He and his group go to voice their grievance?"
"The most disheartening thing is his indifference to saving a life. Who would dare go up the mountain with him in the future?"
"That child Qingyan is likely to have been deceived by Chen Youdao."
...
Ni Dahong’s face grew even darker, and the women’s leader hurried to smooth things over, "Alright, alright, let’s all disperse. Although it’s just gotten busy, there’s work in the fields too. Anyway, the city return issue doesn’t concern you all; it’s the educated youths’ matter."
The surrounding villagers had no choice but to leave one by one.
"Alright, educated youths, you can all go back now. The team leader has spoken; the city return matter will be reassessed. You should rest after enduring hardships in the mountains." The women’s leader smiled and said, the words pleasing to the ear, and the educated youths also left.
"Yan Qing, sorry to let you see such a scene." Ni Dahong looked at Ni Yanqing with some embarrassment, "Let’s go to your uncle’s place; dinner’s at home."
Ni Yanqing nodded, not refusing, and Ni Dahong breathed a sigh of relief.
"Yan An has become more beautiful." The women’s leader looked affectionately at Ni Yan’an, not forgetting to secretly glance at Yi Roujing and Hua Yiran, "These comrades are also good-looking; we couldn’t find anyone like you in such a large Daihe Village."
"Sister-in-law and Yiran are famous for their good looks in Jing City." Ni Yan’an commented honestly.
"You haven’t finished growing yet," Yi Roujing teased, "Just wait a few more years."
"Really? Sister-in-law’s words are ones I trust the most." Ni Yan’an joked, "If you don’t have the secrets, you must pass them on; sister-in-law doesn’t look like she’s had children at all."
"Hmm, alright." Yi Roujing agreed generously.
"I want too," Hua Yiran quipped, raising her brows.
"My brother likes you just the way you are." Ni Yan’an teased in a low voice, and Hua Yiran’s cheeks flushed red, pretending to want to hit back.
Everyone around them was quite astute, understanding everything clearly. Toward Yi Roujing and Hua Yiran, Daihe Village’s officials were all welcoming.
"Dad, I’ve been looking for you. How come I hear that Youdao’s city return quota is going to be..." Ni Qingyan walked out of the house, unperturbed, but fell silent upon seeing Ni Yanqing appear next.
"Yan Qing, why are you here?" Ni Qingyan’s expression changed almost as quickly as a Sichuan opera face change, though her previous behavior had already been noted by everyone.
"Yan An’s here too." Ni Qingyan immediately linked arms with Ni Yan An, "I was just talking about you yesterday, weren’t you supposed to be here by now? Last year, you had already come by this time."
"I just arrived yesterday, and now I’m here today." Ni Yan An replied with a smile, both Ni Dahong and Ni Qingyan let out a breath of relief and smiled warmly.
