C11 Chapter 11

“Bro, where are Mom and Dad working?” It was still early, and Wenmei wanted to go lend them a hand.

“They’re planting beans over by the hillside. Why don’t you head back and rest first?” Wenguang knew that if his little sister got worn out, their grandma would definitely show up at their place tonight and raise hell.

“I’m fine—I’m not tired. I’ll go check on them and bring them some water.” As Wenmei spoke, she hitched up the canteen slung over her shoulder.

“Alright, go ahead. If you start feeling tired, come back and take a break.” When Wenguang realized he couldn’t talk her out of it, he let her go.

Wenmei said goodbye to Wenguang and went to find Aixiang and the others. This plot was newly cleared land. From far off, she could see Xianming, Aixiang, and a few others turning over the soil, while Wenbing and a handful of kids trailed behind them, picking up rocks.

“Wenbing, come here!” Wenmei told Wenbing to take the bugs she’d caught back home to feed the chickens, while she went to bring water to Aixiang and Xianming.

Handing the canteen to Aixiang, she said, “Mom, Dad—go drink some water under that tree and take a break.”

“Mei, you’re done with your work?” Aixiang took the canteen, looking surprised.

“Yeah. I came to see if you needed any help.” Wenmei swept the field with her psychic power—there were rocks everywhere.

“We don’t need help. You should get back and rest.” Aixiang thought Wenmei had come over here to slack off and didn’t want anyone talking, so she tried to send her home.

“Mom, don’t worry. I really did finish my work—and I did a great job. I got full credit, and a few of the aunties can vouch for me. You go rest. I’ll help you for a bit.” Wenmei reached for the hoe in Aixiang’s hands.

“No, no. You can’t handle this kind of work—you’ll hurt yourself. Just sit under the tree and rest.” Wenmei’s words moved Aixiang so much that she pulled her over to sit in the shade.

“Hey, let me tell you—didn’t I say this morning that someone was crying half the night? Well, this morning some folks went to do laundry and saw Sunn from the sent-down youth group come out of the river, soaked from head to toe. Scared them half to death. Now they’re saying she’s possessed by a water spirit. So for the next few days, don’t go to the sent-down youth dorm to look for her.” Sunn Tiantian was always sweet-talking Liu Wenmei out of her good stuff, and Wang Aixiang couldn’t stand her.

“Okay. I won’t have anything to do with her anymore.” Liu Wenmei had been wondering how to tell her family she didn’t want to hang around Sunn Tiantian, and now she had a ready-made excuse.

Looks like she’d underestimated Sunn Tiantian. With a drug that strong, she actually managed to stay in the river all night—she had to give her that.

Judging by Wang Aixiang’s attitude, there was no way she was going to help them. Liu Wenmei decided to head up the mountain and take a look around.

“Sis, where are you going?” She hadn’t taken more than a couple steps before Liu Wenbing caught up from behind.

“I’m thinking about going up the mountain to see what I can find. You coming?” Liu Wenmei knew there wasn’t much near the foothills. She wanted to go deeper, but if she brought Liu Wenbing, she’d be stuck circling the outer edge.

“No. I’ve still got to help Mom and the others. I’m earning work points today. And if you go up there, don’t go too far in—there are wolves, and wild boar too.” Liu Wenbing wanted to go with her, but when he thought about the work points, he decided against it.

“Got it.” After she answered, Liu Wenmei quickened her pace toward the edge of the mountain.

“Wenmei, come here a second.” Before she even reached the crossroads, her uncle’s daughter, Liu Wenju, was crouched behind a tree, waving her over like she was trying not to be seen.

“Wenju, what is it?” There was no one around. Liu Wenmei didn’t understand what Liu Wenju was hiding from.

“Come on—I’ll take you somewhere.” The moment Liu Wenmei stepped closer, Liu Wenju grabbed her hand and pulled her off in one direction, like she was afraid Liu Wenmei might bolt.