CHAPTER 61: CHAPTER 61: BEAT HIM TO DEATH

Wang Nan looked hesitant, and Yi Chichi immediately understood—this was something difficult to say.

She didn’t press further and just reminded seriously and softly, "Hide the stuff well yourself."

Wang Nan was stunned, looked up at her, "Isn’t it a collateral?"

"No need."

Yi Chichi waved her hand; using valuable items as collateral was not something she’d stoop to.

"Just write an IOU."

Wang Nan acknowledged and swiftly wrote the IOU with pen and paper.

The format was very neat, detailing the date of the loan, the lender, and the latest repayment date—all clearly stated.

This showed she genuinely intended to repay.

With no red ink to imprint her hand, Yi Chichi was about to offer some ink, but Wang Nan looked around, saw the charcoal sticks in a ceramic jar, and her eyes lit up. She grabbed a piece of charcoal, blackened her fingers, and pressed a few dark fingerprints onto the IOU.

This maneuver left Yi Chichi amused and she couldn’t help but joke, "I thought you’d bite your finger and use blood instead."

"I’m not that foolish."

That was the truth, after all. The purpose of imprinting was just to leave a mark, and anything that can color could be used as a substitute.

There’s no need for ink specifically.

Handing over two banknotes and a ten-jin national grain ticket to her, Yi Chichi asked, "Will it arrive in time if you send it back?"

"I don’t know."

Wang Nan was also troubled as she spoke of this. "I don’t have any other good solutions right now. I just hope the money and tickets I send back can slightly ease the pressure at home."

Completely alleviating it was impossible since a skull surgery is no small matter.

There are plenty of expenses.

"Alas!"

She let out a deep sigh, expressing her helplessness, "I hope my sister will be alright. She’s only fifteen."

Yi Chichi could only comfort her that things would be okay.

Even in the future with advanced medicine, craniotomy is risky, and in this era, the risk is only greater.

Wang Mei’s condition requires surgery.

Just like Wang Nan said, hopefully her sister will be okay!

After borrowing money and tickets, Wang Nan stood up to leave.

Seeing her leaving empty-handed, Yi Chichi quickly called her back, "Come back, take your lucky gourd with you."

Without mentioning the lucky gourd, Wang Nan hadn’t thought of it. Now that it was mentioned, she didn’t rush to leave but instead leaned in to whisper to Yi Chichi.

"Chichi, is this lucky gourd valuable?"

Yi Chichi quickly nodded, "Valuable! Anyway, hide this lucky gourd well, and don’t tell anyone about it."

Afraid that Wang Nan might impulsively trade the lucky gourd for money, she softly advised, "Don’t lose your head; this thing can’t be shown to people right now."

It would have to wait until after the reform and opening up.

"No wonder the old lady told me to hide it well."

She murmured softly, looking at the lucky gourd with changed eyes, "Chichi, why don’t I sell it to you?!"

As soon as she spoke, she thought it was a good idea.

Looking at Yi Chichi, her eyes suddenly lit up with enthusiasm, "You know its value and won’t shortchange me. Plus, my sister urgently needs money for her illness. What do you think?"

Yi Chichi politely declined with a smile, as she didn’t wish to engage in such transactions with people she knew well.

It could easily lead to problems.

Even if this lucky gourd was made of imperial jade, it wouldn’t change her mind.

Wang Nan felt a bit of regret when she was refused, but she didn’t insist and left with the gourd.

The next morning, after breakfast, she braved the icy wind to send money and grain tickets home via the commune.

Two hours later, she ran to the brigade’s medical office, looking panicked.

"Something has happened!"

She said, trembling and with a pale face.

"What happened?"

Aunt Ma and the others immediately perked up, a gossiping eagerness stirring as they settled Wang Nan down and handed her a cup of hot water before asking about what happened.

Yi Chichi and Liu Lan perked up their ears.

"That Lin Zhiqing next door was publicly shamed with a placard."

After drinking a couple of sips of hot water and feeling alive again, Wang Nan remembered what she saw at the commune, still feeling scared, "He was publicly shamed, beaten pretty badly, and his hair was shaved."

Suddenly, everyone’s eyes were focused on Aunt Ma.

"Aunt, didn’t you get any news about such a big thing?"

Aunt Ma was taken aback, "I had no idea."

It seemed odd, considering her reputation for being well-informed, it was bizarre for her not to know about this incident.

"Hold on, I’ll go find out."

Before the words were out of her mouth, she was gone like the wind.

She didn’t even take her embroidery basket.

In a few minutes, she rode her bicycle past the entrance.

Heading towards the neighboring Red Flag Brigade.

Yi Chichi’s jaw almost dropped; she thought gathering news meant asking the village women, but it turned out she went to the neighboring brigade.

Aunt Ma really went all out for rumors.

As a single woman without a significant other, Liu Lan didn’t lag behind when it came to gossip either.

"Wang Zhiqing, why was Lin Zhiqing publicly shamed?"

"For being a loose woman."

Recalling Lin Zhiqing’s blank face, Wang Nan shuddered.

She didn’t know the details enough to comment, but she knew something, "Lin Zhiqing had a really rough day today."

Everyone fell silent.

There was nothing really to say.

Because there was nothing they could do.

"You’ve got to watch your behavior."

Aunt Niu seized the chance to give them a lecture, "Between men and women, the woman is always at a disadvantage. Don’t play around until you’re ready to talk marriage; otherwise, your life could be ruined."

"And also, don’t touch young men who are taken; they’re toxic!"

Yi Chichi subconsciously touched the medicine pouch she carried, caught by Yu Qingqing’s sharp eyes, "Why are you carrying a small pouch?"

Hmm?

Aunt Niu and the others looked over following her gaze.

Then they all saw Yi Chichi’s pouch.

Her forehead was lined with black marks, "This isn’t a pouch, it’s an herbal medicine sachet."

"Nonsense, real sachets are pretty and embroidered; yours is just a dusty old bag."

Yi Chichi just thought Yu Qingqing had a knack for argumentative spirit.

"Yes, yes, yes, just an old rag pouch."

She was too lazy to argue, settling with the fact that the medicine sachet was an old rag pouch, then deftly diverted the topic, "What’s the plan if a taken young man doesn’t steer clear?"

Aunt Guihua had a fierce expression, "Beat him to death."

She hated men who had flings; if her husband dared to fool around behind her back, there’s nothing else to say but she would definitely batter him within an inch of his life even if she couldn’t kill him.

Wang Nan, earnest, said, "There’s a difference in strength between men and women; can’t win in a fight."

"Are you stupid? If you can’t handle him alone, won’t you call for help?"

Aunt Guihua rolled her eyes and said irritably, "Besides eating, your mouth can yell for help, shouldn’t care about face over such trivial useless things. Scream for help, and naturally people will assist."

As she spoke, she added, "Our village doesn’t have many strengths, but it’s united."

This meant that if something like that really happened, the whole team would help out.