Understanding Su Changjiu's intentions, Su Xiaotian followed her towards the riverbank with a sense of peace.
Why go? Wasn't it because Su Xiaotian had learned that a quarter of the planned one-month work period had already been wasted?
The head of the work team assigned this time was completely clueless and bossed everyone around aimlessly.
She had recently read some books on water conservancy projects, and if there was an opportunity, she could try to combine theory with practice.
Su Shouwen watched his younger sister skipping along with Su Changjiu, and his heart felt heavy!
Why was his little sister so easily fooled?
She was coaxed by the team leader and followed him to the riverbank.
No, after they got home, he had to have a good talk with her, telling her not to trust anyone so easily, not even the team leader!
As Su Xiaotian walked, she recalled the situation by the river in her mind.
According to her observations, the weather forecast might be correct; heavy rain would come soon.
At that time, how to divert the rainwater into the river according to the terrain would be a problem.
How to dredge the river channel to ensure it could smoothly pass through the flood would also be a problem.
It seemed that careful planning was still needed.
Grandpa Chi and Grandpa Du clearly didn't understand these things, so she could only discuss it with Uncle Shen. Although Uncle Shen was an expert in agriculture, it was evident that he also had some knowledge of water conservancy projects.
Su Xiaotian wanted to find someone to discuss with because she lacked confidence in herself.
She was the embodiment of "talking on paper"; she seemed to understand many things, but in reality, she didn't understand much.
She would bring the three of them along then.
Before they even reached the riverbank, they heard a stranger cursing.
Su Xiaotian listened carefully, and the tone was one of looking down on villagers.
"You are all villagers, what do you know? You haven't even eaten a bowl of white flour noodles, and you dare to refute me? You think you're capable? If you're so capable, why don't you take charge?"
"Do you know who I am? I am a technician from the county, the person in charge of this river channel renovation!"
"Find your team leader, what kind of important person is he that he's not with me on the river channel and dares to run around? I will report him to the commune!"
"Ignorant fools, just listen to me obediently, don't cause trouble, or I'll make sure you regret it!"
...
The man's incessant voice reached Su Xiaotian's ears, and she couldn't help but frown.
What was this person's deal? Was he crazy?
There's a saying, "A strong dragon doesn't suppress a local snake." Wasn't he afraid someone would put a sack over his head later?
Thinking of putting a sack over the refined Comrade Li, Su Xiaotian couldn't help but smile.
That smile was so charming and adorable.
Su Changjiu was depressed. Was this kid crazy?
How could she be happy listening to someone curse?
Did she know that among those being cursed were her three fathers?
"Xiaotian, it's not good for you to smile like that!"
Su Xiaotian realized then that she had laughed out loud.
Yes, it really wasn't good; it seemed like she was gloating.
She gently tugged at Su Changjiu's sleeve and asked, "Team Leader Uncle, is he like this every day?"
"Yes, little girl, you can't stand it, right?"
Su Xiaotian thought to herself that it would be strange if she could stand it; she had never met anyone like this.
When coming to work, why couldn't they cooperate? Why did they have to act as if they were superior?
Was it because they were from the county that they were so arrogant?
Did they really think they were someone important?
And they dared to boast that they were technicians?
What kind of technician? Didn't they know their own limits?
With such little ability, they flaunted it?
Her third brother, an amateur, after listening to a few days of lectures from some amateur big shots in the cowshed, could see that what he said was problematic.
"Team Leader, we can't encourage this kind of person's arrogance. Let's find someone to beat him up later!" Su Xiaotian continued to smile.
Su Changjiu was startled and stumbled, looking around instinctively.
How could this little girl dare to say anything?
That person was sent by the county. If he got beaten up, not only would his term as team leader be over, but the entire Hongxin Brigade might suffer.
Su Xiaotian let out a delicate snort.
"If we don't beat him up on our own territory, he'll always have opportunities to go out. We'll deal with it then!"
Su Changjiu was speechless. Why did this little girl want to hit people instead of being a soft, well-behaved baby?
It must be because her brothers were bad influences!
Thinking this, Su Changjiu glared at Su Shouwen.
Su Shouwen had also heard his little sister's words and was terrified.
When did his little sister become so violent?
Even if that were the case, why was the team leader glaring at him?
It was Xiaotian who suggested putting a sack over someone and beating them up, not his idea.
The wronged young boy could only follow behind the little girl who intended to use violence against others, thinking about how to make her give up such bad ideas.
The three of them walked to the riverbank, where Comrade Li was currently cursing.
Li Zhiguo was in the middle of a furious rant when he saw the team leader and Su Shouwen appear. He stopped cursing at others and directly attacked Su Changjiu.
"Team Leader Su, you are a failed team leader. Your members have ideological problems. I must report this issue to the county leaders and have your entire brigade undergo collective study and transformation."
Su Changjiu's mood was utterly exasperated.
When did their Hongxin Brigade, which was doing perfectly fine, have ideological problems? Even if some members had issues, most members were good.
How did it come to the point where the entire brigade needed collective study and transformation?
At this moment, he suddenly remembered what the little girl had said earlier about putting a sack over this person and beating him up.
Considering the feasibility of this idea, he couldn't help but lower his head to look at Su Xiaotian, whom he was holding by the hand.
Su Xiaotian was confused by the team leader's gaze. What did the team leader mean?
Why did that look seem so frightening?
"Team Leader, I haven't done anything wrong, have I?"
Su Xiaotian couldn't help but ask in a low voice.
Su Changjiu quickly waved his hand, "No, no."
Not only was she not wrong, but her thoughts were excellent and absolutely correct!
Seeing Su Changjiu's gaze drift towards the little child beside him, Li Zhiguo became even more furious.
He also turned his gaze to Su Xiaotian, but with just one look, his cursing stopped abruptly.
This little girl was too beautiful, fair-skinned, and wearing nice clothes, even better than children in the city.
He suddenly stopped cursing, and everyone looked at him strangely.
Su Changjiu also looked at Li Zhiguo in confusion.
He was cursing so well, why did he suddenly stop talking? What was going on?
Li Zhiguo's gaze remained fixed on Su Xiaotian. This little girl was exactly to his taste.
No one knew that Li Zhiguo actually had a hidden hobby: he liked young girls, especially those around seven or eight or nine years old.
The prettier, the more he liked them.
This time, when he came to the countryside, he had also observed secretly. Indeed, it was a rural place, and there were no good-looking girls.
For this reason, his temper grew worse day by day, and he couldn't help but curse.
Unexpectedly, such a beautiful little girl with big eyes, even prettier than a New Year's picture, suddenly appeared before him.
"Whose little child is this? She's so beautiful." Li Zhiguo swallowed and suppressed the stirrings in his heart as he praised Su Xiaotian.
Su Xiaotian felt uncomfortable under Li Zhiguo's gaze.
She subconsciously hid behind Su Changjiu.
Only when she was behind Su Changjiu did Li Zhiguo's frightening gaze disappear.
Li Zhiguo stopped cursing and said a few more words. Although he still sounded condescending, his tone had improved significantly.
But Su Changjiu clearly felt that Li Zhiguo would mention Su Xiaotian intentionally or unintentionally in his words.
An honest and simple countryman like Su Changjiu couldn't understand what dark thoughts Li Zhiguo had in his mind.
He thought that Li Zhiguo might also like Su Xiaotian, the child. After all, many people in the brigade liked Su Xiaotian.
It was possible that this person from the county also liked Su Xiaotian.
How could he know that some people's hearts were ultimately dark?
That evening, Su Xiaotian took out a pen and seriously drew diagrams, meticulously marking key points.
Afterward, she took the drafted sketches to Shen Zizhen.
Shen Zizhen didn't cook for himself but ate with the other few people in the cowshed.
Their three families took turns cooking.
Dinner was simple: boiled sweet potatoes.
In the past few days, because the work team was in Hongxin Brigade, those of them living in the cowshed dared not eat anything special.
Day after day, it was either sweet potato porridge, boiled sweet potatoes, or hard cornmeal buns that were hard enough to chip a tooth.
But for the long-term consideration, this was unavoidable.
Su Xiaotian looked at the obvious signs of hunger on everyone's faces and felt a pang of heartache.
It was all because of those clueless people. If they hadn't come, everyone in Hongxin Brigade would be living comfortably.
"Xiaotian, why are you here at this time?" Chi Yiyuan saw Su Xiaotian and quickly put down the sweet potato he was holding and stood up.
"Brother Yiyuan, Grandpa Chi, Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle Shen, are you eating?"
Everyone was delighted to see the little girl.
"Would you like to eat a sweet potato?"
Su Xiaotian shook her head, "We're cooking at home, I'll eat when I get back."
"Then why are you here?" Chi Yiyuan knew that the young girl was not one to visit without a reason, especially not during someone's mealtime, so he asked.
"I'm here to find Uncle Shen!" Su Xiaotian quickly took out the drawings she was holding and said.
Shen Zizhen looked at Su Xiaotian holding a roll of paper and couldn't help but ask curiously, "You're looking for me? What is this?"
"Uncle Shen, this is the river channel I've planned for our Hongxin Brigade. Please take a look and see if it's suitable!"
"Isn't the work team in charge of repairing the river channel? You're just a child, don't get involved."
Shen Zizhen didn't want Su Xiaotian to worry about these matters, especially since the people from the work team were not receptive to advice.
If Su Xiaotian really proposed such suggestions, those people would likely get angry.
"Our brigade's waterways do have problems, especially with some families having blocked waterways. If it rains heavily, it will be dangerous," Su Xiaotian said solemnly.
She had no other choice. If that Comrade Li had any ability, she wouldn't bother with all this. But since there was no other way!
"However, Xiaotian..." Chi Ge also didn't quite agree.
He had lived for most of his life and had seen all sorts of people. Although he had only glanced at Comrade Li Zhiguo from afar, he knew that he was definitely not a good person.
It was best to stay far away from such people.
"I went to see today, that Li Zhiguo is a complete waste, he doesn't understand anything. I think we should make our own renovation plan. Then, outwardly, we'll follow his commands, but inwardly, we'll do things our way."
Su Xiaotian felt that doing this was definitely feasible.
Shen Zizhen fell silent.
After a long while, he said, "You are a good child, but this matter should not be done by you."
"The shoot that stands out in the forest will be destroyed by the wind."
This little girl, Xiaotian, was too outstanding. If outsiders found out, it might not be a good thing.
"Aren't I here to find you? Later, I'll borrow your hand to give this drawing to the team leader," Su Xiaotian said with a smile.
Du Tonghe looked at the girl's smiling face and couldn't help but shake his head. This girl didn't know that the team leader had already seen through her.
In fact, the team leader was even intentionally or unintentionally helping her cover up.
"Isn't this not good?" Shen Zizhen felt that this was a contribution, and he couldn't take all the credit.
If word got out, what would people think of him, Shen Zizhen?
"It's okay, Zizhen, just accept it."
"Uncle Shen, I want my third brother to come and work with you on this, is that okay?" Su Xiaotian also stated her other objective.
Shen Zizhen recalled Su Sangong, that perceptive young man, who was talented and understood things quickly!
"Yes, let your third brother come, but he has to learn diligently, and I'll test him!" Shen Zizhen said with a smile.
He himself hadn't expected that in just a few months, his thoughts would change so much. His heart, which had already died, had somehow revived.
"Then I'll have my third brother come find you after dinner. You can look at it first, and I'll be going back now."
As Su Xiaotian spoke, she waved goodbye to everyone.
Chi Yiyuan quickly said, "Xiaotian, shall I walk you back!"
"I'm familiar with this road, I don't need Brother Yiyuan to escort me. Brother Yiyuan, hurry up and eat!" Su Xiaotian waved with a smile.
Chi Ge said to his grandson, "Don't escort her. There are outsiders in the brigade recently. Let's try not to interact with other families to avoid implicating them."
Although the work team came to repair the river channel, who knew if they were also tasked with monitoring them.
"That's right. Xiao Yuan, you are still too young and don't understand many things!" Du Tonghe also agreed wholeheartedly.
After being reminded, Chi Yiyuan also thought of it.
In the past two years, the people of Hongxin Brigade had accepted them, the residents of the cowshed. He even had the illusion of being accepted by everyone in the world, and he had forgotten that in front of outsiders, distance was the best protection.
Chi Yiyuan fell silent, thinking about something.
Su Xiaotian skipped along the road she had walked countless times, occasionally chatting with the small flowers and grass, and greeting the big and small trees.
Suddenly, she heard a reminder from a big tree: someone was following her!
[Author's Note]
This is the last day of the month. Tomorrow will be the last month of the year. Reflecting on myself, it seems I haven't done anything...