Chapter 307 - Chapter 307: A Wall
Chapter 307: A Wall
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
He Yulan’s mother-in-law glanced at her daughter-in-law but said nothing. Instead, she turned her head and looked at her old man from afar with an unreadable expression.
She wanted to go too.
Despite wanting the same thing, He Yulan’s mother-in-law remained silent, if only to preserve her dignity.
“Big Sister is amazing!” Su Xiu was stunned.
“She is, isn’t she?” Su Qing went over the feelings of discomfort that she had felt while seated amid the crowd. It was as if she were sitting on a bed of thorns. She dared to look anyone in the eye for fear of what she might see reflected in them. Su Wen’s fearlessness was a source of inspiration, and she could not help but admire her.
‘One day,’ she told herself, ‘I’ll be as brave as Big Sister is.’
Zhou Hengyang observed the situation from his spot in the corner of the courtyard, his hands in his pockets. While he may have seemed lazy leaning against the courtyard wall, his demeanor was anything but, with his eyes narrowed and threatening. Intense desire pooled within those obsidian depths as he stared hungrily at the woman at the center of attention.
It seemed as if he could not get enough of her.
“Alright, everyone. Quieten down.” Li Youcai and the village’s department director stepped on stage.
Su Wen had a general idea of how the speech would go, as far as speeches in the 1980s went anyway. First, they would recite some inspirational quote, bearing the hallmarks of patriotic duty to one’s country, before moving on to serious matters, including some emotional display by their village chief, Li Youcai. Afterward, the crowd would be expected to applaud.
Yet, some people insisted on recording the process.
After Li Youcai gave his speech, the village’s department director took over.
This was Su Wen’s first time participating in a village meeting since transmigrating. Moreover, according to her memories, it was one of the most important because it involved land distribution. Naturally, everyone was paying attention. Finally, the results of the votes were announced.
Li Youcai had led his team, going from door to door to survey and gather the villagers’ votes, so much of the legwork had already been completed. The votes were conclusive and jointly approved the division of land based on the consensus he and his team obtained.
No one objected to the results.
Su Xuewu then took the reins as the village accountant and reported the specifics regarding how the land was measured, etc. Many villagers were involved in the process, so they had ample opportunity to ensure accurate measurements. Once confirming that all was in order, the villagers signed the official document, pressing their fingerprints on the land distribution deeds.
One by one, the representatives of each household came forward to sign and press their fingerprints on the official deeds. Those who were illiterate were asked to press their right and left thumbs, affixing their acknowledgment to the document.
Soon, it was Su Wen’s turn. When she pressed her thumbs against the papers, she felt something amiss. It was all going too smoothly; it did not make sense! Su Wen was not surprised the other families had not run into trouble. She was, however, surprised that it had been smooth sailing so far for hers.
Su Wen snuck a few glances toward Su Xuewu, Su Xueqiang, and the others. True enough, they were exchanging furtive looks.
They had to be up to something bad!
The signing of land deeds ended quickly. After which was the time to draw the lots. That did not go as well. Those who obtained favorable lots were overjoyed, laughing and jumping to their heart’s content, but not everyone had equal luck. Those who did not draw good lots left looking crestfallen.
One such family saw the husband’s wife dragging him by the ear for what would later be a painful chastisement for his abysmal luck.
Order descended into chaos in the courtyard. It was so noisy that Su Wen felt the beginnings of a headache. The courtyard was not very big, to begin with. It got to the point that Su Wen decided to excuse herself to get some fresh air. That was when she bumped into someone.
To say she had bumped into someone might have been an understatement since it felt like she had crashed into a wall, causing tears to pool in her eyes.
Fortunately, Zhou Hengyang caught her before she crumpled into a heap on the ground.
“When did you arrive?” Su Wen recognized the scent of the person she had bumped into. Now that she thought about it, it made more sense.. Other than that certain someone, who else could make her feel like she had slammed into a wall?