CHAPTER 27: CHAPTER 27: TROUBLE COMES FROM THE MOUTH

"So you’re not going to treat him like a human being, right?!"

Wu Yongfei had a bewildered look on his face, unable to understand how Yi Chichi could say something so absurd with a straight face.

"I think, maybe it’s not very suitable."

Yi Chichi thought it was very suitable, "Trouble comes from the mouth; if you don’t find a way to shut it, you’ll sooner or later be hit over the head with a stick!"

It’s really not an alarmist talk because there have been cases where people lost their lives due to their mouths causing trouble.

"If you really don’t want to carry a needle, remember three points..."

"Which three points?"

Seeing him full of anticipation, Yi Chichi calmly said, "One: Only look at people’s strengths when associating with them; two: Help others with their difficulties; three: Remember people’s kindness!"

Wu Yongfei fell into contemplation, "I think I get it, but it feels very difficult."

"What’s difficult?"

"When I interact with people, I habitually look for their faults, and I probably can’t see their strengths. Helping others is even more hopeless; I have no ability to help others but only want others to help me. Remembering people’s kindness is no problem, but it’s useless to me since the kindness is not for me."

Candidly speaking, he was bluntly honest.

With a look asking for praise, Yi Chichi covered her cheek and felt a toothache.

Might as well give up.

There’s no saving Wu Yongfei; let him do whatever.

He’ll only realize what suffering means when he finally gets hit over the head.

"I..."

"Shut your mouth!"

Bai Chen didn’t want to hear his nonsense; others are like dead wood that can’t be carved, but Wu Yongfei is like mud that can’t stick to a wall.

Shouldn’t have too high expectations for him.

"Don’t manage him in the future. If he mouths off again, just beat him."

Ge Sujuan immediately raised her hand like a little elementary school student, "What do we do if we girls can’t beat him?"

After exchanging a glance, Qi Yang straightened his sleeves and then grinned, "We’ll give you external support when we’re around. If not, you keep track, and we’ll gang up on him when we return."

Wu Yongfei was dumbfounded; what did he do that was so heinous to end up being ganged upon?

"I think I can still be saved."

"No saving."

Unanimously, there’s no way to save him, and they refuse to try.

A good person, but too bad about that mouth.

If he didn’t speak, he’d be a handsome guy, but once he opens his mouth...

Ha, it’s all a facade.

Nobody was willing to pay him any mind for the next while.

The atmosphere inside the vehicle silently grew still.

In the biting cold wind, the liberation vehicle wobbled all the way to Baoshan Commune.

As the vehicle entered the commune’s main road, a continuous stream of horse-drawn carriages, carts, and tractors loaded with grains came into Yi Chichi and the others’ view.

These were the production teams coming to deliver public grain.

Wang Nan craned his neck to look into the crowd, and Yi Chichi wondered, "What are you looking at?"

"I’m checking if the brigade leaders are here."

Once the public grain task is completed, the team will start calculating workpoints for distribution.

After a year of hard work, they looked forward to this bit of grain.

She calculated her own workpoints with a beaming smile, "My workpoints this year are a bit more than last year."

This wasn’t a joyous topic.

As her words fell, Ge Sujuan and the others all pulled a long face and sighed.

"You’re better off; we don’t even know if this year’s grain distribution will last six months."

Zhou Qiuyu was even more worried, "At least your distribution can last half a year; Chichi and I don’t even know what to do yet."

They came at an inopportune time, just in time for the autumn harvest, counting from the second day they arrived, it’s only been just over a month.

Honestly, they don’t have many workpoints and don’t know if they would even get twenty jin of grain.

"Take it one step at a time; if it really doesn’t work out, first borrow from the brigade office, and return it when the new grain comes in next year."

Yi Chichi was rather calm; she didn’t have many other strengths, but she certainly had a big heart.

Her life principle has always been that apart from life and death, there’s no big deal; matters that can be solved with money are not matters at all; matters that can’t be solved with money, deal with them as they come.

Living people won’t be stifled to death by urine!

Zhou Qiuyu thought for a while and felt it made sense.

"That’s all we can do."

Just then, the liberation vehicle stopped at the entrance of Baoshan People’s Commune.

Yi Chichi and the others, "???"

Why did we stop here?

While puzzled, Xiao Zhang came to the vehicle and called for Yi Chichi, "Comrade Yi, please come with me to meet the secretary."

"...Okay."

She got off the vehicle, greeted Bai Chen and the others, then went with Mr. Zhang to see the secretary.

The secretary of Baoshan Commune was called Zhang Weiguo, a military transfer cadre.

The moment Yi Chichi saw him, she knew that Secretary Zhang had been on the battlefield, the kind that had seen blood and reaped lives.

His gaze as well as the aura and presence around him were similar to her uncle, who had also been on the battlefield and killed people.

Apparently, Tan Wenbin and the others had tipped him off. After Mr. Zhang explained the purpose of their visit, he nodded, "I have a grasp on the situation."

Speaking, he stood up, "Let’s go. I’ll arrange for someone to send you back."

So that Old Liu won’t see Comrade Yi and the others, give them a tongue-lashing, and end up scaring them to tears, which won’t be pleasant.

Yi Chichi looked at Xiao Zhang and saw him nod helplessly, following along.

"Yi Zhqing, you’re a good one. I hope you work well in Baoshan, and if you face any difficulties, you can contact your branch secretary and team leader. If all else fails, you can come to me."

The imposing voice carried no emotion, yet Yi Chichi could hear the warmth in it.

A semi-official speech, the praise at the beginning was genuine.

The subsequent concern was just for listening; if you don’t think about solving issues on your own but only about external help, merits can turn into faults.

In this situation, how should she respond politely?

After pondering for two seconds, she smiled and replied, "Thank you for your recognition, Secretary. My progress would not be possible without the help of the secretary and the branch team. I will strive to improve and kindly ask the secretary to critique my current insufficiencies."

Zhang Weiguo raised an eyebrow; this young Zhqing really had a way with words, so adept with platitudes.

No flaws to be found.

"How old are you?"

Was he trying to chit-chat with her?

"17."

Still a child.

Zhang Weiguo was used to being serious.

Having no daughters and only sons at home, he really didn’t know how to engage with a girl of Yi Chichi’s age, so he could only awkwardly chat.

What could Yi Chichi do, but carefully consider her responses?

After a few bits of chit-chat, they arrived at the office of the officials.

"Xiao Zhou, come out."

The young man in a semi-worn Zhongshan suit with a middle parting heard the call and got up to come out.

"Secretary, you called for me?"

Zhang Weiguo nodded and, after explaining the situation, looked at Yi Chichi, "Yi Zhqing, take care."

The four words, "take care," were said with emphasis, meaning something deeper.

Yi Chichi immediately understood that he was telling her to stay calm and logical in the face of difficulties, to prioritize herself, and not be too reckless.

She earnestly affirmed, then under Zhang Weiguo’s gaze, left with Xiao Zhou and the others.

Just outside the gate, she saw Bai Chen and the others talking to someone.

Upon closer inspection, it was the brigade leaders.

She smiled and went up to greet each one and introduced Mr. Zhang and Mr. Zhou to them.

Unexpectedly, they knew each other.