Chapter 20 The Deceived Girl in the 1970s: Fake vs. Real Daughter Story (20)

The team leader’s face immediately darkened. What did they think he was, some kind of greedy official?

Lu Ze wished he could slap a hand over Lu Chuan’s mouth. His brother was beyond saving. Every time it involved Feng Qingqing, he lost all sense of reason. Maybe it was time to write home and ask if they could have him reassigned—just separate him from Feng Qingqing.

They’d already offended everyone in the brigade. If things continued like this, life here would only get harder.

The team leader glared at Lu Chuan and said coldly, “Ye Xiaoxiao didn’t bribe me, and I wouldn’t take a bribe even if she did. The condition is simple: earn at least six work points per day. If you don’t, you’ll be docked ten. And after that, you go back to working in the fields.”

He turned to Feng Qingqing. “And what about you? After all, if anyone switches, it’ll only be the female comrades. The men still have to work the land.”

Feng Qingqing hesitated. If she agreed to those conditions, wouldn’t that mean she’d have to work hard every day? She might even get docked points if she couldn’t meet the target.

But wasn’t switching jobs supposed to help her avoid working hard in the first place?

She weighed her options. In the fields, there was still a chance of someone helping her. But if she switched jobs, who would help her finish the work? What if she couldn’t keep up and they deducted her points?

The team leader was probably bluffing. He’d said they’d dock work points today too, and yet they still gave her one point.

Thinking this through, Feng Qingqing straightened up and put on a brave face. “Team leader, we came to the countryside to support rural development. Since Comrade Ye Xiaoxiao can do it, I believe I can too. I trust you wouldn’t deliberately assign me tasks I can’t finish just to dock my points.”

The team leader: Tsk… these city kids are crafty with their words.
What did she mean by that? That if she couldn’t finish the task, it was his fault for making it too difficult?

He didn’t like people who tried to play mind games.

“If you’re really worried, let me make this clear: everyone gets the same assignment. If others can complete theirs and you can’t, that’s your problem. Slacking off like today won’t fly anymore. You should’ve had points deducted today, but since it was your first day, we let it go. Starting tomorrow, that won’t happen.”

He looked her straight in the eye. “Don’t play little tricks. Since you’re here in the countryside, work properly. If you can’t even feed yourself and end up owing points, don’t blame anyone but yourself.”

Feng Qingqing dropped her gaze and looked pitiful.

Then Lu Chuan jumped in, “Team leader, are you trying to dock points to take them for yourself? Isn’t it supposed to be you get what you work for? Who ever heard of deducting points like this?”

The team leader was livid. “Well, now you have. If you don’t like it, go report me to the commune. I don’t care if you switch jobs or not—there are plenty of others who would love the opportunity.”

“You—”

Lu Ze quickly covered Lu Chuan’s mouth with his hand and said with a forced smile, “Team leader, it’s Comrade Feng Qingqing who wants to switch jobs. Whether she does or not is up to her. Please don’t take Lu Chuan’s words to heart.”

Then he dragged his brother away. Heaven knew what mess Feng Qingqing might stir up next—and how Lu Chuan would react.

The others remained behind to watch the show, their eyes now on Feng Qingqing.

Feng Qingqing: …

The team leader asked again, “So? Are you switching or not? I need a clear answer so I can assign tasks tomorrow.”

Zhang Yumei raised her hand. “Team leader, can I switch?”

She’d finally seen things clearly—following Ye Xiaoxiao wouldn’t lead her wrong, and she’d never end up shortchanged.

The team leader’s face tightened. Light duties were limited and mostly reserved for the elderly, children, or pregnant women. He couldn’t just assign them all to the educated youth.

He glanced at Li Wenli, who had arrived with the others. “What about you? Do you want to switch too?”

Feng Qingqing glanced at them both. If she were paired with Li Wenli, she wouldn’t have anything to worry about. She could just get Li Wenli to finish her portion too, and whether or not she could handle the load wasn’t her concern. She could always offer her a little benefit later or have her father’s connections do her father a favor.

She looked at Li Wenli, giving her a meaningful look.

Li Wenli had been tempted, but when she saw Feng Qingqing’s gaze, she immediately understood what was expected of her. She pretended not to see it and quickly replied, “No need for me, team leader. I got used to the fieldwork today—if I switched jobs now, I’d just have to adapt all over again.”

Feng Qingqing gritted her teeth. That wretch. Think you can escape me that easily? Dream on.

Seeing that, she also backed down. “Team leader, I’m used to the work now too. I won’t switch. But… can I be paired with Li Wenli tomorrow? We’ve known each other since we were kids, and we help each other stay motivated and finish work faster.”

Li Wenli clenched her jaw and prayed the team leader would say no.

But the team leader nodded. “Sure, that’s fine.”

As for Zhang Yumei, since Feng Qingqing wasn’t switching anymore, the team leader agreed to let her take the slot.

The next morning at the worksite, Ye Xiaoxiao was surprised to see Zhang Yumei. She greeted her with a calm nod.

Zhang Yumei beamed. “Comrade Ye Xiaoxiao! I’m Zhang Yumei—but just call me Yumei. Can I call you Xiaoxiao? I just got transferred here. Anything I should watch out for?”

Xiaoxiao was curious. “Why’d you switch jobs? Didn’t you go with that group?”

Zhang Yumei snorted. “That bunch? Total idiots. Lu Chuan only has eyes for Feng Qingqing. Li Wenli is just her little lapdog. The only one with any sense is Lu Ze, but he’s always busy cleaning up after his brother. I couldn’t stand it anymore. I want to move out like you did. Got any tips?”

Xiaoxiao asked, “So you’ve given up on Lu Ze?”

Zhang Yumei: … Can we not bring that up?

She had decided to move on, but it still stung a little. Old habits die hard.

Xiaoxiao sighed dramatically. “Good. You might still be saveable. Let me give you a bit of advice: stay far, far away from that group. Otherwise, your life will be nothing but trouble.”

Zhang Yumei nodded. Honestly, the moment she gave up on Lu Ze, her head cleared right up.

Her younger siblings were still small, and though her eldest brother was already working, her family had sent her down here because they couldn’t support her in the city. Originally, she was supposed to be assigned to a spot near the provincial capital—close to home.

But then Lu Ze followed Lu Chuan, and Lu Chuan followed Feng Qingqing… And she, in turn, followed them here.

After everything that had happened these past few days, she regretted it to death.

Damn that Lu Ze. If he didn’t like her, why bother being so nice? Couldn’t he tell she liked him?

In truth, this one couldn’t entirely be blamed on Lu Ze. He really hadn’t noticed. Even if he’d vaguely suspected something, Feng Qingqing had cleverly misled him into thinking Zhang Yumei liked Lu Chuan.

After all, Zhang Yumei had always hovered around Lu Ze, and out of courtesy, she treated Lu Chuan a little better too. No wonder people misunderstood.

So now the relationships in this tangled little drama had become a complete mess, thanks in no small part to Feng Qingqing’s manipulations.

All three girls liked Lu Ze.
Lu Ze cared most about Lu Chuan.
Lu Chuan liked Feng Qingqing.
Feng Qingqing liked Lu Ze and, to eliminate her rivals, made Lu Ze think Zhang Yumei liked Lu Chuan.
And Li Wenli? No one ever paid her any mind; she was just the sidekick tagging along behind the real players.