Su Xiaoqin's mindset had become twisted. In her view, if she wasn't living well, no one else should.
However, the Hongxin Brigade had Su Xiaotian, who was living an incredibly comfortable life.
Cherished by her entire family, doted on by her grandfather and grandmother, and treated like a precious gem by her brothers, Su Xiaotian was both the object of Su Xiaoqin's envy and her jealousy.
On several occasions, she had seen Su Ciliang and Su Sangong carrying Su Xiaotian up the mountain, running along the path. Su Xiaotian, on their backs, would laugh freely, her voice trailing behind like a string of silver bells.
This sight filled her with such envy and jealousy that she felt like her heart was being clawed.
"She's so old already, and she still needs to be carried!"
"Shameless, living a life like a capitalist lady!"
"People like her should be beaten, should be criticized."
In the corners where no one could see, Su Xiaoqin would curse Su Xiaotian fiercely.
But her curses were meaningless. Instead, they only served to highlight how doting and affectionate Chi Yiyuan was towards Su Xiaotian.
Chi Yiyuan was a child of the "black five categories" from the capital.
Yet, such a child was so handsome, a youth as refined as the moon and as graceful as the breeze, causing an immeasurable stir in this small mountain village.
Educated individuals in the brigade had once said that no amount of praise in the world could adequately describe Chi Yiyuan.
And the simple girls of the Hongxin Brigade would dream of Chi Yiyuan in their sleep.
But this kind of person was cold to everyone else.
At first, Su Xiaoqin thought it was because he was from the "black five categories" that he didn't want to talk to people.
But when she saw the warm smile he gave Su Xiaotian, she realized it wasn't that.
Chi Yiyuan didn't speak to others out of inferiority due to his background; it was because he looked down on these people.
Why? A child of the "black five categories," what right did he have to look down on them, people of eight generations of poor peasants?
A child of the "black five categories," after living in the countryside for these past few years, living in a cowshed, how could he still live so freely and at ease?
Because of Su Xiaotian's care!
That's right, she had seen it. It was because of Su Xiaotian's care.
Su Xiaotian's family was very close to those in the cowshed, and they would affectionately call the people who looked after the cowshed "Grandpa" and "Grandma."
How could this be?
She had felt from the beginning that Su Xiaotian's family's relationship with the cowshed was unclear, so she had reported it, but nothing came of it.
She wanted to set everything right; she absolutely had to bring Chi Yiyuan down from his pedestal, to eradicate all his pride.
She also wanted Su Xiaotian to know that associating with a "black five categories" child came at a price.
Su Xiaoqin refused to admit that she had these thoughts because she envied and was jealous of the good lives Su Xiaotian and Chi Yiyuan were living.
With these thoughts in mind, Su Xiaoqin began to secretly observe the movements of Su Xiaotian and the others.
She did indeed see that Su Xiaotian and the others had gains every day when they went up and down the mountain. She tried to search the mountain herself, but each time she returned empty-handed.
Because she spent the whole day on the mountain and returned empty-handed, Liu Xiuying even scolded and hit her several times.
But she truly didn't know what on the mountain could be eaten or exchanged for money.
Su Xiaoqin thought she was being very secretive, but she didn't know that Su Xiaotian had already found out from the moment she started secretly observing them.
How did Su Xiaotian know?
Did she need to ask? Naturally, the trees told her.
Su Xiaotian had secretly communicated with the trees, asking them to inform her promptly if anyone with ill intentions was around her.
Su Xiaotian was very annoyed by Su Xiaoqin's secret observations, but she didn't want to conflict with Su Xiaoqin for the time being, so she felt quite dejected.
Seeing Su Xiaotian unhappy, Chi Yiyuan wove a grasshopper out of straw for her to play with.
"Xiaotian, look, isn't this grasshopper beautiful?" Chi Yiyuan held the lifelike grasshopper and dangled it in front of Su Xiaotian.
Su Xiaotian was indeed captivated by the grasshopper woven from straw.
"Yiyuan gege, did you weave this? It's so beautiful, it looks alive." Su Xiaotian's face was full of smiles, sweet and endearing.
Chi Yiyuan smiled and said, "Yes, do you like it?"
"I like it, I like it so much. Yiyuan gege, can you weave other small animals too?"
"Yes, whatever you like, I'll weave it for you to play with." Chi Yiyuan's tone was full of indulgence.
"I want little rabbits, little dogs, little chicks... Yiyuan gege, can you weave whatever you can, and I'll find a box to put them all in!"
Chi Yiyuan pinched Su Xiaotian's nose and said, "Still so greedy, wanting so many!"
Su Xiaotian giggled and said, "I know Yiyuan gege is the most capable, he can do anything!"
Being flattered by the little girl, Chi Yiyuan felt immensely pleased.
After Su Xiaotian said this, she glanced towards the distance.
This glance, seen by Su Xiaoqin, made her feel as if a hundred claws were scratching at her heart.
She had never said it, but she actually liked Chi Yiyuan. However, back in the brigade, due to Chi Yiyuan's background, it was not appropriate to get too close to him.
Later, she went to the county town. She had originally thought there would be many youths in the county town who were better looking than Chi Yiyuan, but after actually going there, she realized that there was no one in the county town who could compare to Chi Yiyuan.
But the person she longed for, the person she liked with all her heart, had his eyes only for Su Xiaotian.
She couldn't accept it, absolutely not!
Since she couldn't have him, Su Xiaotian shouldn't have him either.
If she couldn't ruin Su Xiaotian, then ruining Chi Yiyuan would be fine too.
Su Xiaoqin's face was filled with resentment, her hands clenched tightly, as if she had made up her mind.
**********
Su Xiaotian and the others were more cautious than before when they went to the mountain every day. After finding good things, they wouldn't carry them directly down the mountain. Instead, they would find a hidden spot to store them, and the three Su brothers would go back at night to carry them home.
In this way, Su Xiaoqin couldn't find anything amiss. She thought that the few times before, Su Xiaotian and the others had perhaps gotten lucky and found some things, but they were definitely not valuable.
"Yiyuan gege, I think Su Xiaoqin has been acting strange lately. You must be careful," Su Xiaotian said solemnly to Chi Yiyuan after class.
Seeing Su Xiaotian's serious little face, Chi Yiyuan couldn't help but smile. "You little girl, you can tell when others are acting strange?"
Su Xiaotian frowned and said, "Of course I know. You have to listen to me. I think she might be planning something against you."
He didn't doubt her words at all.
After all, Su Xiaoqin was someone who would directly report those who had helped her, let alone him!
"I know. Don't worry, I'll protect myself well, and I'll protect Grandpa and the others too."
Hearing Chi Yiyuan's assurance, Su Xiaotian felt much more at ease.
"I won't send you the good things I've found recently for now. I'll wait a few days."
Su Xiaotian felt regret. Why was it that others who transmigrated could get portable spaces or something, but she didn't?
If she had a portable space, many things could be stored there, wouldn't that be much safer and more convenient?
But then she thought, Su Xiaotian felt she was thinking too much and being too wishful.
Portable spaces weren't something that could be obtained easily.
Being able to get a system that guaranteed her family wouldn't worry about food and clothing was already very fortunate.
Never mind, given their family's current status, even if they had some good things, no one would likely suspect anything.
In fact, things were just as Su Xiaotian had speculated. Su Xiaoqin went to the commune to report them again, but the people at the commune had learned their lesson.
After clarifying that the report was about the Su Chuan family, they immediately stated that they would investigate in a couple of days.
But Su Xiaoqin, who returned to the Hongxin Brigade, waited for two days, then another two days, and still no one came to investigate the matter.
She had to suspect that the people at the commune had lied to her.
She went to the commune to report again. This time, she only reported the "black five categories" child in the Hongxin Brigade, stating that although he lived in a cowshed, he had no worries about food and drink and lived comfortably.
In Su Xiaotian's opinion, this time the commune must come forward to resolve the issue. Who knew that the commune people still said they would investigate in a couple of days.
With the experience of the previous time, Su Xiaoqin knew that this was just an excuse, and the commune people would probably never go to the Hongxin Brigade to investigate.
"Comrade, are you really going to investigate?" Su Xiaoqin asked unwillingly. "That 'black five categories' child is corrupting others in the brigade to seek benefits for himself. If you don't intervene, I fear it will lead to great disaster."
If she couldn't have him, Su Xiaotian definitely shouldn't have him. Ruin Chi Yiyuan, ruin Chi Yiyuan!
Su Xiaoqin's heart was screaming wildly.
"Little girl, we know what you're saying. We will definitely go and investigate. We've been a bit busy these past few days." The cadre at the commune patiently said to Su Xiaoqin.
This cadre was a middle-aged man, and a very calm one at that. He was not radical, and even disapproved of some of the current phenomena.
But he couldn't say much, so he could only patiently talk to Su Xiaoqin.
He had been at the commune for some time, and of course, he knew that this was not the first time this little girl had come to report people from their brigade.
The first time, this little girl had sought out Cadre Liu. However, Cadre Liu had returned defeated. Not only did he fail to obtain conclusive evidence, but he also had to compensate with money and vouchers.
Recently, this little girl had come to the commune twice. Although the people she reported were different, it was still not what a gentleman should do.
Everyone in the commune knew that the Hongxin Brigade was an excellent place, where everyone united with one heart. But how could such a rotten apple appear?
That's right, in the eyes of this cadre, Su Xiaoqin, who ran to the commune to complain every day, was no different from a rotten apple.
"Comrade, we must maintain our purity and cannot tolerate such harmful elements ruining our poor and lower-middle peasants!" Su Xiaoqin said righteously.
She had heard these words many times when she was in the county town, and now she said them with conviction.
The middle-aged cadre didn't want to listen any further. How had the social atmosphere deteriorated? Wasn't it the fault of these young people who were always thinking of causing trouble?
Originally, things were fine. If they hadn't appeared, perhaps they would have remained fine. But because of their appearance, everyone was in a state of panic, fearing being implicated and harmed.
"Little comrade, your awareness is very high. Rest assured, the commune will go to the Hongxin Brigade in at most two to three days."
Did he know nothing? Director Qian was very clear about the situation in the Hongxin Brigade.
The people living in the cowshed in the Hongxin Brigade did indeed live better than those in the cowsheds of other brigades. Who wouldn't raise chickens?
The chicken farm in the Hongxin Brigade was now the apple of the eye for the commune leaders. They hoped the Hongxin Chicken Farm would get better and better, bringing more benefits to the commune.
In this situation, what was wrong if the people living in the cowshed received an extra three to five jin of grain?
Of course, he couldn't say these words directly to Su Xiaoqin, so he could only patiently persuade Su Xiaoqin to go home.
Su Xiaoqin could see that this person was just placating her.
She felt that complaining at the commune might not be very useful, and it seemed she would have to go to the county town.
But if she went to the county town again, her life would likely become very difficult.
Those who harbored ill intentions towards her would definitely not let her off lightly when she went again, and she might be completely ruined then.
But if she didn't go, Chi Yiyuan wouldn't be ruined.
Although Su Xiaoqin was very dejected, she did not go to the county town directly. Instead, she returned to the Hongxin Brigade and hid herself again.
Su Xiaotian knew that Su Xiaoqin had gone to the commune twice more during this period, but the commune had taken no action, which made her increasingly worried.
Fortunately, at this time, Liang Xiu and Qi Liangying returned home after a two-day rest.
The whole family was lively. Grandma Su repeatedly asked her two daughters-in-law if they had adapted to life in the county town and whether being a worker was better than farming in the countryside.
"Mother, being a worker has its advantages, but there are also disadvantages. We're not at all at ease. We can only be busy in the workshop every day, with no chance to walk even a step further!" Qi Liangying said with a faint smile.
She actually quite liked life in the county town. Although working in the workshop every day was not at ease, it was still better than being exposed to the wind and sun every day as she was in the brigade.
After living in the city for this period, she felt her skin had become much fairer and smoother.
"That's good too. For us farming families, having such an opportunity is not easy. Since you two have gone, you must work hard and not bring shame to our Hongxin Brigade!" Grandma Su said earnestly.
Liang Xiu quickly responded, "Mother, don't worry. My second sister-in-law and I work very hard. The team leader even said that we are the most diligent workers. That's why, when we came home this time, he prepared a bag of sponge cakes for each of us."
After a pause, Liang Xiu continued, "We couldn't take the good sponge cakes, so my second sister-in-law and I took the ones that were made incorrectly."
"Mom, if they're made incorrectly, can they still be eaten?" Su Xiaowu said blankly.
"They're just broken, or cracked. It doesn't affect you eating them," Liang Xiu said to her son impatiently.
This son of hers, really, didn't know how to speak.
Xiaowu didn't care whether what he said was right or wrong. He directly said, "That's good, Mom. Sponge cakes are really delicious. Can I eat them now?"