Free Web NovelChapter 440: Chapter 440: The Most Effective
When the group led by He left, they jointly carried away a quarter of a side of wild boar meat, a large wooden basin full of fish, and as many as four buckets completely filled with fish.
Of course, the educated youth couldn’t manage all of that on their own, so Ni Yanqing, Wu Guofang, and a few other strong laborers helped carry it. Ni Yanqing even specially brought a piece of about three jin of wild boar meat, two fish, a bottle of alcohol, and a jar of malted milk powder to Ni Dahong’s home as a gesture of courtesy.
For Ni Dahong’s family, the gifts brought by Ni Yanqing weren’t about greed for food but rather a symbol of closeness. However, compared to before, the gifts were noticeably lighter, making Ni Dahong realize that it might be because of Ni Yanqing’s subtle warning today and that their family might have become a bit too complacent in the eyes of their great-uncle.
The villagers’ attention was drawn to Ni Dahong’s house, yet the educated youth’s point near the foot of the mountain was causing such a commotion without a single villager noticing.
This had nothing to do with Yi Roujing and her friends, but the next day, Huang hurriedly ran to the farmstead, specifically looking for Yi Roujing.
"Roujing, could you possibly go take a look at Tang?" Huang’s face was full of concern. "Although the snake venom has been neutralized, she has a mental problem, refusing to eat or drink, and she looks like she’s losing hope in living. None of us can persuade her. Since you know medicine, could you go check on her?"
Huang had only learned from He last night that, according to the county hospital, if it weren’t for the timely emergency measures, even if Tang had been taken to the hospital, she wouldn’t have made it.
Ding Anmin volunteered to accompany Yi Roujing, while Huang spent the journey complaining about Chen Youdao, saying it was his fault that Tang was in this current state.
"Tang is so foolish," Huang said with some frustration. "Saying things like she’d rather have died from the snake bite—can you believe it? —and she’s thinking about ending her life. She has a family; how can she think about dying over a guy? What’s wrong with her?"
"She just took the college entrance exam with us a few days ago. That’s what really matters. If she passes, she could find any guy she wants," Huang’s personality really resonated with Yi Roujing and Ding Anmin.
"You’re absolutely right. Didn’t you say these things to Tang?" Ding Anmin asked.
"I wanted to, but Little He stopped me," Huang pouted. "He said he was afraid I’d just add fuel to the fire, making Tang even more upset."
"I think she needs a good scolding to wake her up," Ding Anmin clicked his tongue. "There was a woman in our neighbor’s house who was looked down upon and bullied by her in-laws because she couldn’t have children for three years. Finally, when she got pregnant, the family found someone they liked more and caused her to lose the baby."
"Faced with that, she stayed strong without a word, divorced immediately, became a nanny to support herself, and then what?"
"What happened?" Huang’s curiosity was piqued to the max.
"It just so happened that the family she worked for was the county magistrate’s. The magistrate’s eldest son had been injured while serving as a soldier and had a slight limp. At first, he was somewhat despondent. But he was inspired to regain his confidence and transferred to work in the public security bureau. In turn, he became infatuated with the woman, and eventually, they fell in love and got married and had kids."
Huang widened his eyes in disbelief. "Does the magistrate’s family agree to their child marrying a divorced woman who has had an abortion?"
"Yes." Ding Anmin nodded with a smile.
"So was the magistrate’s son really ugly?"
"Zhou Zheng is rugged and tall," replied Ding Anmin, grinning.
"Does he have some hidden ailment?"
"He’s in good health."
"Well, otherwise, how could they have kids?" Huang murmured, as if suddenly comprehending. "That must be true love."
"Exactly," Ding Anmin responded without any hesitation.
"Why do I get the feeling you’re talking like it’s your own story," Huang said suspiciously.
Ding Anmin blinked as if he’d misheard, pointing at himself. "Me?"
"Yeah, not you, I realize now." Huang’s face turned awkward with a bit of embarrassment.
Ding Anmin burst out laughing upon hearing that. "Oh my, you really hit the spot with me."
"I applied for Jing City’s colleges this time. If I get into a university there, I’ll come to find you for some fun," Huang said, smiling brightly.
"Sure, sure." Ding Anmin was extremely pleased.
The three of them had smiles all over their faces, but as they approached the educated youth’s point, their expressions faded a little, due to the sobbing and sounds of a struggle emerging from the courtyard.
The three quickened their pace. When they entered the courtyard of the educated youth’s point, they found Little He exerting all his strength to hold onto Tang, who was trying to bang against the wall of the courtyard.
"Tang Ruhong, if you want to die, don’t drag Little He down with you," Huang shouted angrily before Tang’s strength seemed to melt away, and she collapsed onto the ground.
Huang quickly pulled Tang up and dragged her to the communal room, Yi Roujing and Ding Anmin closely following. Little He also got up and went in, and as soon as the door closed, the other educated youth left in the courtyard were shut outside.
"Tang Ruhong, has something scrambled your brains? You’re a high school graduate. Would you throw your life away over a jerk? What about your parents, brothers, and sisters at home? Aren’t you the oldest sister supposed to be helping them study and write? Can you be your own person? Dependence on a man is useless," Huang admonished angrily.
"You’re worth better. Let me tell you..." Huang recounted to Tang Ruhong the true love story she’d just heard from Ding Anmin.
"Divorced, post-miscarriage women are stronger than you. You shouldn’t be banging your head; you should find a hole to bury yourself in. Have some pride," said Huang, her eyes reddening as she reached the end.
Tang Ruhong, whose eyes were already swollen like walnuts from crying, looked at Huang, incredulous. "You, you don’t look down on me?"
"For what reason?" Huang asked, glaring. "If it’s over that jerk and you’re ready to die, then yes, I’d look down on you; if it’s over the couple of days you dated, then the only person I look down on is the jerk, not you. You’re the victim here."
"Waah—" Tang Ruhong burst into tears, as if she were unloading all her grievances. Although she’d been crying for a long time, this outburst was on another level.
"Alright, it’s okay now, it’s okay." The educated youth outside the door didn’t hear the conversation inside, but hearing Tang Ruhong’s sobs made them all breathe a sigh of relief.
"This stays between us; not a word outside," He instructed in the courtyard.
"Rest assured, leader, we know," Chen Youdao, currently the disgrace of the educated youth’s point, was detested by everyone. Moreover, they’d enjoyed the meat and fish brought by He and his group, so saying anything that would jeopardize their own delights was out of the question.
Inside, Yi Roujing and Ding Anmin exchanged a knowing glance and smiled, confirming that emotional support from close friends was indeed the most effective.
