CHAPTER 43: CHAPTER 43: SORRY, I DIDN’T MEAN IT

The next day, Xu Qinghuan heard the broadcast and was about to continue sleeping when Qiao Xinyu called her up, "You need to go to the county. Get up quickly and go to the intersection to catch the bus. Otherwise, are you going to walk to the commune?"

Xu Qinghuan suddenly awoke.

At that moment, the door was slammed open with a bang, and Duan Qingmei came in from outside, "Who used the water last yesterday? The water in the tank is all gone. Didn’t you think to save some for cooking breakfast this morning?"

She didn’t know why she was in such a bad mood and kicked the shoe in front of her outwards, which flew up and landed on Xu Qinghuan’s bedding.

Xu Qinghuan lifted her eyelid and looked at her coldly.

Qiao Xinyu was also very angry and said, "When we came back yesterday and were about to boil water for a bath, there wasn’t a drop left in the water tank. We wondered if you intentionally didn’t leave any water for us."

Duan Qingmei fired back at Qiao Xinyu, "Who didn’t leave you water? After boiling it yesterday, there was clearly half a tank left."

Lu Nianying’s eyes flashed with laughter as she said, "Then it must be a misunderstanding, Qingmei. Wait, I’ll go call someone to fetch water, or else you won’t get breakfast and will be late for work."

Xu Qinghuan and others have yet to collect their food rations. If they couldn’t provide food this morning, the educated youths’ place definitely wouldn’t cook for them.

They didn’t plan to eat at the educated youths’ place either. As newcomers, the things they brought were incomplete, so they needed to buy more outside.

But Duan Qingmei and her group were different. They had work, and tardiness meant losing work points.

"Wait!" Xu Qinghuan glanced at the shoe on her quilt, "Who on earth wasted all the water in the tank yesterday on purpose? Are we not going to get to the bottom of this?

Also, are you planning to let it go with just an apology for hitting me with your shoe?"

Duan Qingmei’s face didn’t look good. She originally aimed for Yu Xiaomin, but her aim was off and hit Xu Qinghuan’s bedding.

However, apologizing was difficult for her.

If she didn’t apologize, she feared Xu Qinghuan.

Eventually, she hesitated for a long time and stiffly said, "I’m sorry!"

She glared at Xu Qinghuan with resentment in her eyes.

A newcomer,

Xu Qinghuan didn’t even look at her, "Louder, I didn’t hear you!"

Lu Nianying interjected, "Qinghuan, for my sake, let’s just forget it. Qingmei has already apologized, there’s no need to be relentless."

Xu Qinghuan picked up the shoe and threw it at Lu Nianying’s face, hitting her squarely. Covering her face, she trembled with anger, her eyes wishing to swallow Xu Qinghuan whole.

Xu Qinghuan smirked sarcastically and said perfunctorily, "Sorry! I didn’t mean it!"

"You did it on purpose!" Lu Nianying shouted angrily.

Qiao Xinyu chimed in, "Lu Zhiqing, for my sake, just let it go. Qinghuan has already apologized, there’s no need to be relentless."

Poof!

Yu Xiaomin couldn’t help but laugh out loud, and Xu Qinghuan also found it hard to suppress her laughter.

She said to Duan Qingmei, "This is the last time. Dare to provoke me again, and ’sorry’ won’t be enough."

Duan Qingmei took a deep breath and finally lowered her head, "Sorry!"

With that, she turned and ran out.

Outside, the male educated youths were also in an uproar, "Clearly, we fetched a large tank of water yesterday. How is it gone?"

That’s collective life for you; no one wants to put in extra effort or benefit others.

The ones who fetched water yesterday were Liu Zhijian and Huang Dahai; the former is a bookworm with lice visibly crawling on his collar, and the latter appears honest but is quite cunning.

The disgruntled one was Huang Dahai.

Today, it’s Zhang Tieshan and Zhou Changsheng’s turn to fetch water.

However, the usual practice is that yesterday’s water should at least last until breakfast on the following day, because fetching water early in the morning could be too rushed.

Zhang Tieshan patted Huang Dahai’s shoulder, "Let it go. It must have been used up by those who came back late yesterday. Could you please go fetch two more buckets?"

Xu Qinghuan walked out and overheard this, saying coldly, "Last night, the water we used was the water I fetched myself. There wasn’t a drop left in the tank. I don’t care who used it all, but don’t blame us."

Zhang Tieshan was at a loss for words and unhappily said, "It’s no big deal. We’re not blaming you for anything. It’s used, it’s used. You newcomers don’t know the rules. Break once, and it’s okay as long as it’s corrected."

Xu Qinghuan scrutinized him and sneered, "Captain Tieshan is broad-minded, but we don’t need it. After all, we’re not the ones who broke the rules."

Lu Nianying emerged with her face in tears, "Huanhuan, I just spoke a fair word, and you threw a shoe at me. Isn’t this excessive?"

She wanted to publicly shame Xu Qinghuan.

Xu Qinghuan restrained the urge to slap the woman and, with a face grim enough to drip water, said, "Lu Zhiqing, we barely know each other. If I were you, I’d definitely stay away from me. I do all this for your own good;

After all, when you keep approaching me, this is the only way I can think of to keep you away. Do you understand my good intentions?"

Qu Qiongfang frowned and said, "Xu Zhiqing, we’re all educated youths from this place, coming from all over. It’s fate that brought us together. Lu Zhiqing wanting to be friends with you doesn’t harbor ill intentions. Is there any need to treat someone like this?"

Chen Dewen laughed scornfully, "Zhiqing Qu, if I were you, I’d keep quiet. Flaunting righteousness without knowing anything, who are you trying to impress?"

Qu Qiongfang was the elder sister at the educated youths’ place, part of the senior class, down in the countryside for seven years, and joined at the same time as Zhang Tieshan.

Of their batch of educated youths, some returned to the city, some got married, and some married local female members. Now, only four remain at the site.

Relying on her seniority, Qu Qiongfang dared to reproach Xu Qinghuan, but who knew she’d be mocked by this newly arrived Chen Dewen, making her face very unpleasant.

"Chen Zhiqing, how can you say such things? If you’re unhappy with me as Vice Captain, just say so." Qu Qiongfang was furious; the newly arrived educated youths were seriously rebellious.

Xu Qinghuan said, "Vice Captain Qu, what Chen Zhiqing said represents my thoughts. Don’t advise others to be good without understanding their hardships. You, with your age, should understand better than me.

My grudge with Lu Zhiqing is complex. If possible, I’d never want to see her for my entire life. Seeing her around me makes me want to hit her, so indeed, this is for her good!"

Some male educated youths were asking Chen Dewen about Xu Qinghuan and Lu Nianying’s grudge. Xu Qinghuan deliberately mentioned it on the train in front of many people, preparing for this day.

Chen Dewen didn’t hide it. With Dai Yifeng’s confirmation, soon everyone’s gaze toward Xu Qinghuan was filled with sympathy and understanding.

Lu Nianying cried, "I know I wronged Qinghuan. I wanted to be good sisters and make amends. Who knew she wouldn’t accept it? Woo, Qinghuan, can’t you forgive me?

If I had known my mom was your mom, I definitely would have had her care for you more, look after you more, and not let you suffer so much. Whenever I think about how you lost your mom because of me, I feel so hurt."