Lin Zhen packed a few Mutton buns and two pounds of coarse grain, then headed toward the cow shed.
The sky was already dark, and he deliberately chose a secluded path to avoid being seen.
The Ping’an Brigade didn’t go out of its way to make life hard for the individuals relegated to the cow shed, unlike some other places. The brigade leader didn’t believe in creating unnecessary trouble, often saying, “The villagers are tired enough from work—who has the energy for nonsense?”
As a result, while the people living in the cow shed had tough and impoverished lives, they weren’t subjected to extreme humiliation.
However, their status made villagers hesitant to approach them.
Back when Lin Zhen left the brigade, there were three residents in the cow shed: an elderly doctor, a university professor, and another individual whose background remained unclear. He wasn’t sure if the number of residents had increased since then.
Lin Zhen navigated the darkness easily, his sharp eyes adjusting well to the night. Soon, he reached the cow shed and knocked on the door.
The door was opened by the elderly doctor with graying hair.
“Old Doctor Ji, long time no see,” Lin Zhen greeted.
The old man squinted slightly at Lin Zhen’s tall figure. It didn’t take him long to recognize who it was, especially since news of Lin Zhen’s return and leg injury had spread, even reaching those confined to the cow shed.
Lin Zhen had first met Old Doctor Ji during his teenage years when his mother fell ill but refused to go to the hospital because of the cost. Desperate, Lin Zhen had snuck out in the middle of the night to seek help from the doctor. Since then, he had been secretly bringing food to the cow shed.
“Come in,” Old Doctor Ji said with a sigh, stepping aside to let him enter. He glanced around to ensure no one else was nearby before shutting the door tightly.
News of Lin Zhen beating up Wang Shu spread quickly, and by the next morning, it was a hot topic in the village.
The women in the village often worked in groups, whether it was at home or out gathering firewood in the mountains. Gossip flowed freely during these shared tasks.
Song Wei and Heidan were also heading to the mountain to collect firewood that day. However, Song Wei wasn’t doing it for herself—her stockpile was already sufficient for the winter.
Instead, she was gathering firewood for Lin Zhen.
She’d noticed his concern about firewood the previous day, but delivering it directly to him would undoubtedly spark rumors. To avoid unnecessary chatter, she sought help from the brigade leader.
The brigade leader responded, “You don’t have to go yourself. I’ll have my son and daughter-in-law help out.”
Song Wei insisted, “Let me join them. All I ask is that they help deliver the firewood afterward.”
Thus, Song Wei, Heidan, and the brigade leader’s eldest son and daughter-in-law set off together.
The brigade leader’s eldest son, Jiang Wenyong, was married and had a son and daughter. The younger son, Jiang Wenwu, was still unmarried.
As they made their way up the mountain, Jiang Wenyong’s wife, now familiar with Song Wei, couldn’t resist bringing up yesterday’s events.
“It’s such a pity I wasn’t there. I would’ve loved to see it for myself,” she said, visibly disappointed after hearing Song Wei recount the story.
“But how did you think of tying up old lady Niu? When my father-in-law told us about it, we were all stunned!”
Song Wei explained with a chuckle, “Old lady Niu loves to exploit her status as an elder to act shamelessly. I figured that if Lin Zhen so much as touched her, she’d throw herself to the ground and cry foul. Tying her up seemed like the safest way to keep her from making a scene.”
“You’re amazing! I wouldn’t have been able to pull it off—she’s surprisingly strong for her age,” Jiang Wenyong’s wife admitted, shaking her head in admiration.
As they chatted, the group reached a large dead tree.
“I’ll chop it down,” Jiang Wenyong said, grabbing an axe.
The tree was thick and sturdy, though it had died for some unknown reason. Jiang Wenyong started hacking at it, the sound of his axe echoing through the forest.
After about a third of the tree had been chopped, Song Wei suggested, “That’s enough, Big Brother Jiang. Chopping any more will take too long.”
An axe wasn’t as efficient as a proper saw, and continuing would only waste time.
Jiang Wenyong pushed against the tree experimentally and shook his head. “It’s not enough. It still won’t fall.”
“Let me try,” Song Wei said, rolling up her sleeves. “Step aside for a moment.”
Jiang Wenyong hesitated. “It’s only a few cuts, will it work?”
“Let me see if it works. If not, you can keep chopping,” Song Wei replied calmly.
Once the others moved back, she positioned herself against the tree trunk. With both hands firmly on the wood, she exerted her strength.
Veins stood out on the backs of her hands as she pushed.
The tree groaned under the pressure, creaking loudly. Bit by bit, the dead tree leaned in the direction Song Wei was pushing, before finally crashing to the ground with a thunderous sound that startled a flock of birds into flight.
Both Jiang Wenyong and his wife were dumbfounded.
“I’ve heard people say she’s strong, but seeing it in person is something else. That’s unbelievable,” Jiang Wenyong’s wife whispered in awe.
Even Jiang Wenyong, a grown man, looked a bit sheepish. Her strength easily outmatched his.
The group’s excitement only grew when they spotted a wild chicken darting out of the underbrush in panic.
“Wild chicken!” Jiang Wenyong’s wife shouted, dropping everything to give chase.
Heidan wasn’t far behind, his little legs pumping as he yelled, “Sister Song! Sister Song, the wild chicken!”
Song Wei joined the chase, picking up a rock to throw at the bird.
Before she could use it, the chicken, overwhelmed by the commotion, crashed headfirst into a tree and collapsed.
Jiang Wenyong was closest and quickly grabbed its wings.
“Got it!” he exclaimed triumphantly.
The wild chicken wasn’t much in terms of meat, but everyone was delighted nonetheless. Even Heidan, who had recently caught a wild goat, grinned ear to ear.
On their way back, the group found the chicken’s nest and collected four blue-green eggs, which Heidan happily carried in his basket.
After securing the chicken, the adults returned to chop up the tree for firewood, their faces glowing with satisfaction.
Jiang Wenyong’s wife was already planning dinner. “You have to come over tonight, Song Wei! My mother-in-law makes the best chicken stew—she’ll add some mushrooms, and it’ll be delicious.”
“Don’t mind if I do, but don’t regret inviting me. I eat a lot!” Song Wei teased with a laugh.
Jiang Wenyong’s wife grinned. “What’s there to regret? You found the chicken with us—if not for you, it might still be hiding in the bushes.”
With their loads of firewood and the chicken secured, the group happily made their way back down the mountain.
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