Chapter 252 Ye Ma Gets into a Brawl
Zhang Aiguo now understood that the educated youths were like scattered sand. Even living together daily, they had no affection for each other. When trouble arose, not only did they not help each other, but it was considered good if they didn't drag you down.
None of the female educated youths were willing to take care of Wang Zhenli now, and the male educated youths were inconvenient. It seemed they would have to pay extra to hire villagers for care.
"Alright, stop arguing. It's not easy for us educated youths to gather together, and life isn't easy. In the future, we can only rely on each other to get by. If we keep arguing like this, if someone else encounters a situation like Wang Zhenli's, no one will be there to help. Does anyone want to live a life of isolation?"
No one spoke. Who wanted to live isolated in a strange place? They were already struggling to get enough to eat and were so tired they couldn't stand up straight every day. The thought of being sick and unable to even get a sip of water while lying in bed was truly miserable.
Everyone's mindset shifted, but it hadn't reached the point of voluntarily going to the hospital to care for someone.
Zhao Zhenzhen, in particular, had undergone the biggest change. She doted on Gao Jiaojiao every day, but it was also the result of her labor. She was truly tired. For a moment, she wished she could just marry someone, regardless of whether he was from the city; at least it would be better than being alone.
In the end, Zhang Aiguo found the village chief's wife, who introduced a woman willing to provide care for fifty cents a day.
The educated youth dormitory finally calmed down. Zhao Ling, having lost her last shred of dignity and unwilling to work, could only pester Ji Mingliang, hoping to get a meager meal to fill her stomach.
When the team leader returned home and heard what his son told him, he was so angry he felt dizzy and lay on his bed. Gong Suo'er, that rebellious girl, had managed to ruin this family.
Gong Suo'er was also scared and hid in her room, not daring to come out. She didn't even dare to open the door when her mother brought her food.
Chen Fen was also simmering with anger. She was being slandered by several women in the village, who almost mentioned her by name. She truly didn't expect the Ye family and Bai family to be so direct, leaving no face for her daughter Gong Suo'er at all. They might as well have painted Gong Suo'er as a girl who couldn't control herself around men.
Chen Fen stood at her room door, wanting to call her husband out for dinner, but she didn't dare to make a sound. Although her husband usually didn't involve himself in household affairs, when he did, he could make people lose a layer of skin.
Just then, the courtyard gate was violently pushed open. Leading the group was Bai family's eldest aunt, Dong Huizhen. Today, she was determined to get justice for her son.
Ye Ma (Zhen Yi) and the Bai family wives were all out, and even Ye Shengguo followed the crowd. Behind them were members of the gossip squad, whom Zhen Yi had informed in advance. Since they were going to make a scene, they would do it big after work.
When Chen Fen saw the approaching group, her heart sank, and her face immediately darkened. Were they here to cause trouble?
"What are you here for?"
Dong Huizhen's face was icy cold. Although she hadn't argued with anyone before, she wasn't afraid. Just look at the people behind her.
"Don't you know why I'm here? If you want your daughter to marry my son, you're spreading rumors in the village. Whose reputation are you trying to ruin? Take a look at your daughter's appearance. Even if you gave her away for free, no one would want her."
Chen Fen's face turned red with anger. Her precious daughter, whom she cherished, was being insulted like this. She wouldn't stand for it.
Dong Huizhen's voice was loud. She wanted everyone to hear. Ji Meihuan, the team leader's daughter-in-law, who was in the kitchen, didn't even come out. She didn't want to be embarrassed along with her mother-in-law.
In the room, Gong Suo'er trembled with anger upon hearing the Bai family members insult her like this. She felt so unwelcome and they were even shouting about ruining her reputation.
The team leader heard them and quickly got out of bed. He couldn't let the situation escalate further.
"You're talking nonsense! When did my daughter pester your son? It was Ye Shengguo who hit my daughter for no reason."
"Pah! She chased my daughter asking for her name. When my daughter didn't answer, she wanted to hit her. She deserved it. If anyone touches my daughter, I'll beat her to death!"
Ye Ma rolled up her sleeves. She was here to fight today.
Ye Shengguo immediately dabbed her handkerchief with ginger water, her eyes instantly watering. She couldn't waste her tears and quickly squeezed them out.
"Gong Suo'er is the most unreasonable person I've ever met. She hit me because I didn't answer her questions. But I don't even know her. How could I tell her information about my cousin? Besides, my cousin already has a girlfriend. What if my future sister-in-law misunderstands?"
Ye Shengguo was naturally soft-looking, and with her tears now, she looked like a willow in the wind. The aunts and mothers around hadn't seen anyone cry so beautifully. They immediately began to condemn Gong Suo'er.
Ye Ma, unaware that her daughter had used ginger water and thought she was truly crying, became furious, her hair standing on end.
"Tell Gong Suo'er to come out! Since my daughter arrived at Bai Rong Brigade, she has been sick at home every day. She only went to the river to watch her brothers fish and got into trouble. Let Gong Suo'er come out and tell us properly how we offended her."
Chen Fen, upon hearing that they were still looking for her daughter, was unwilling to comply. With a yelp, she lunged to hit Ye Ma.
Bai family's eldest aunt wouldn't stand for it either and lunged forward to fight, marking the first battle of her life.
The Bai family had more people. Even though the Bai family aunts and Ye Ma had never fought before, they couldn't stand up to sheer numbers. They could be overwhelmed by sheer force.
Seeing her mother being bullied and crying uncontrollably, Ye Shengguo yelled while taking the opportunity to press the most painful pressure points on the other person's body.
To outsiders, Ye Shengguo looked pathetic, crying and trying to break up the fight.
Someone ran to call the village chief, and others went to notify the Ye and Bai families.
In fact, the Ye and Bai families knew that their women had gone out to cause trouble and were ready to provide backup. But when they heard that their precious ones were being bullied and crying, they all rushed out. They didn't even know when the little girl had followed them.
Seeing the women lying on the ground, the team leader's forehead veins bulged. He was angry that his daughter and wife were causing trouble, and even more angry that the Ye and Bai families weren't giving him any face.
"All of you, stop!"
This shout did make the fighting pause, but when they saw it was the team leader, they continued to scuffle.
Chen Fen was truly beaten badly. There were no visible injuries on the exposed skin, but the skin hidden under her clothes must have been injured.
The team leader, seeing that no one was listening to him, felt the greatest provocation. These newcomers really didn't give him face. He wanted to intervene but dared not. As a grown man, he didn't dare to lay hands on them.
"Eldest daughter-in-law, can't you hear me? Hurry up and come out to help."
Ji Meihuan, the team leader's daughter-in-law, rolled her eyes in the kitchen. Her father-in-law was truly biased. Why didn't he call out his troublesome daughter?
Ji Meihuan heavily threw the spatula into the pot and walked out with a displeased expression.
"Dad, shouldn't you have asked Gong Suo'er to come out and solve the problem? Mother is being beaten, but she hasn't come out."
Since her father-in-law was pulling her into this, she also wanted to drag Gong Suo'er out.