Chapter 11: Seeking to Resolve the Problem

“Captain Ye, do you think I’m fit to join the army? My name is Fang Xiaofeng. I’m sixteen, just started high school, and I’m our class’s sports committee member. I can play basketball, and climbing walls and rooftops is no problem at all.”

Qiu Dazhu raised an eyebrow. “Climbing walls and rooftops as a plus? Seems like anyone can do that.”

Wang Jianguo curled the corner of his mouth. He seemed to have caught a hint of something unusual—perhaps an unconventional path.

That afternoon, Director Wei from the Educated Youth Office, along with the elderly female comrade who had come earlier that morning, came to visit Fang Xiaoying.

Seeing Fang Xiaoying still unconscious, and hearing the female doctor somewhat exaggerate her condition, they both furrowed their brows.

Su Qiao even shed a few tears, causing Director Wei’s brow to knit into a deep crease.

This matter needed to be resolved quickly. He feared the news might spread and unsettle all the educated youth in Hongqi Commune.

These youngsters, when their heads get hot, are capable of anything.

The more Director Wei thought about it, the more uneasy he felt. He promptly went to find the commune secretary.

Secretary Zhong was also troubled. Recalling the scene from that morning only strengthened his mother’s belief that beautiful women were trouble.

“Hmph!” The more Secretary Zhong thought about it, the angrier he became. In a fit of rage, he grabbed the phone and called Xiangyang Brigade.

He first scolded the brigade captain and the village chief, then urged them to come to the commune health center immediately. “If you don’t resolve Fang’s case today, I’ll hold you accountable to the very end.”

Liu Changfu and Chang Yongchang were nearly scared to death by the commune secretary.

Liu Changfu hadn’t been to the commune health center that morning and was unaware of the situation. After hanging up, he asked Chang Yongchang, “Old Chang, what exactly happened with Fang’s case?”

“What happened? If I told you, your jaw would drop.”

“I’ve been through every storm. Back in the day, I wore split-crotch pants and, alongside my grandfather, delivered intelligence to our team. Before I was even as tall as a gun barrel, I had already joined the Children’s Corps. When my grandfather and father fought the enemy, you were still clinging to the doorstep…”

“Brother, stop it. There’s a lady here.”

“Ah.” Realizing he’d gone off-topic, Liu Changfu quickly pressed, “Come on, what really happened?”

“It’s that Fang’s mother who showed up.”

“That’s it? You’re scared for nothing.”

“Brother, you don’t know how frightening Fang’s mother is.”

“What? She uglier than Xiao Hui?”

(Xiao Hui is a mentally ill woman, neglected by her family, filthy and foul-smelling—considered the ugliest woman in Xiangyang Brigade.)

“You’re wrong, brother. Fang’s mother is even more beautiful than Fang herself. But…”

“But what? Can you just speak plainly? All this beating around the bush is worse than a good woman.”

“Well, I’m telling you, Fang’s mother is formidable. She single-handedly took down Chen’s mother-in-law and her two daughters-in-law. Even the three men of the Chen family were left speechless by her.”

“No way!” Liu Changfu was skeptical. “The Chen family’s arrogance doesn’t spare even the two of us. And Fang’s mother managed to take them down?”

“Really, brother. I wouldn’t lie to you. The funniest part is, Old Chen threatened to kill her. You know how Fang’s mother responded?”

“How?”

“Fang’s mother said, ‘Oh dear, why don’t you go lead the police to the grave and tell them which grave you killed someone in?’”

“Pfft—”

“Ha ha ha!”

“My goodness, Fang’s mother sure has a sharp tongue.”

Everyone around burst out laughing.

“That’s nothing. I heard from bystanders that Fang’s mother treated Chen’s mother-in-law and two daughters-in-law like she was just playing around.”

“I saw it with my own eyes,” said Aunt Li, who had been quietly chuckling. She smoothed her hair before continuing with glee, “Today I went to the commune to help my eldest niece with breastfeeding—you know she married into the commune.”

“Come on, tell us how Fang’s mother took down Chen’s mother-in-law and daughters-in-law!” one woman, close to her, couldn’t help but urge.

Aunt Li didn’t want to keep them in suspense; she wanted everyone to share in her amusement.

“You wouldn’t believe it. That Chen woman and her two daughters-in-law are despicable. Fang Xiaoying was still unconscious, but they dragged her out. Little Li, another educated youth, was protecting Fang Xiaoying.

I thought those two would be in big trouble, but just then, a very beautiful woman appeared out of nowhere.

Heh, I later found out it was Fang Xiaoying’s mother.”

“Oh.”

“Fang’s mother is fierce. She kicked Chen’s mother-in-law flying with a single kick, then…”

Aunt Li pulled in two familiar women and imitated Fang’s mother’s moves—one shove, then tossing aside.

“Fang’s mother’s moves were impressive. With one throw and a forward leap, she pinned Chen’s mother-in-law and her daughters-in-law beneath her, slapping them so hard the whole street heard nothing else but the smacks and their shouts. At first, they cursed at her, but Fang’s mother only got fiercer, slapping harder, and eventually switched to punching.”

“I didn’t see that part,” said Village Chief Chang, embarrassed to admit it in front of the villagers. “But when Fang’s mother confronted the Chen men, I saw everything. Her words cut like knives. Our fiercest women combined couldn’t match her.”

“Village Chief, don’t boost her morale and diminish our own,” a habitual complainer protested.

“Trash King, you can’t deny it—Fang’s mother didn’t utter a single curse. That alone puts you to shame.”

“Enough, Old Chang, stop dragging this out. We still have to go to the commune. If we’re late, we’ll get scolded.”

“Yeah, let’s go.”

When Liu Changfu and Chang Yongchang arrived at the commune health center by horse-drawn carriage, Secretary Zhong was already waiting at the entrance.

Liu Changfu saw Secretary Zhong’s hair slicked back, his gray Zhongshan suit crisply pressed, and his polished leather shoes reflecting images like mirrors.

The two men quickly bowed and greeted, “Secretary Zhong.”

“Secretary Zhong.”

“Hmph.” Secretary Zhong stared at them with a scowl and reprimanded, “Due to recent social issues, the higher-ups are tightening control. I expect you two to handle Fang’s case well. If possible, resolve it within our jurisdiction and avoid escalating it.”

“What if she makes unreasonable demands?” Liu Changfu wanted to get ahead of any trouble.