Chapter 119: Moral Blackmail?

After witnessing Wu Lili’s condition, the squad leader uttered a few words, but they proved utterly ineffective, and then he too lost his temper.

“Wu Lili, you’d better get up and work now, or you’ll be the first person this autumn harvest to have your work points deducted, and it will be recorded that you disobey labor assignments and shirk duties. I advise you to think carefully.”

Wu Lili saw that no one came to her defense, which was completely different from what she had expected.

Meanwhile, everyone else was bent over working, with only a few people standing off at a distance, pointing and watching her.

So she bit her lip, wiped away a tear, stood up, and resumed working. There could be no black marks on her record.

This wasn’t just about returning to the city smoothly; it also concerned her prospects for promotion once she got back.

At this moment, she was not the only one gritting her teeth and persevering. The new educated youths already felt as if their backs no longer belonged to them.

Some even began kneeling to pick beans because it reduced the pain caused by bending over.

The entire village was busy, even the group of children led by Tiedan followed behind the adults, gathering fallen bean stalks from the fields and those scattered during loading, piling them in heaps.

The older educated youths had few issues, but several new educated youths had their work points deducted due to passive resistance.

Han Li’s body was somewhat unusual, and because he constantly shifted his posture while working, he never experienced such discomfort.

With his sickle swinging swiftly in both hands, his harvesting speed was no less than that of the village veterans.

As his skill increased, his speed grew even faster, but Han Li deliberately restrained his pace.

At noon, no one was allowed to return home; everyone had to eat hastily in the fields.

Villagers and older educated youths ate and drank as usual, but almost all the new educated youths lay on the ground like fish thrown ashore.

Hao Hongmin and Yang Xiuying, after some time of hardening themselves, still looked utterly dispirited.

They had specially baked pancakes yesterday after discussing among themselves and even exchanged with villagers for the spiciest sauce they usually enjoyed.

Now, they mechanically tore off pieces of the large pancakes and stuffed them into their mouths bit by bit.

If not for the malted milk powder they mixed into their water and drank to help swallow, they would barely manage half a pancake.

Meanwhile, He Mi was also nibbling on a pancake everyone had made, but hers secretly contained pork jerky as well as spicy sauce.

Every time she bit into the pork jerky, she felt a deep sense of satisfaction.

The threshing ground was comparatively easier, as they had to frequently turn the bean stalks brought by villagers and shoo away the birds that came to cause mischief.

By the end of the morning, the Yun sisters, who had started comfortably, gradually felt numbness in their legs.

The lunch break was brief, and everyone was quickly called back to work.

As evening approached, the scene began to polarize.

Many villagers had already finished the three large ridges assigned to them and had their work points recorded by the scorekeepers.

Afterward, they would help their family members harvest, striving for the whole family to earn ten points, as ten was the highest possible score.

[At this point, some experts might dispute, saying there was a quota work points system then. However, according to the most authoritative sources, the quota system was only implemented nationwide after September 3, 1975, due to various circumstances at the time. Currently, the principle was that everyone exerted collective effort, and individual exceptions were absolutely not allowed.]

Han Li dared to complete the three large ridges assigned to him among the villagers, then called the scorekeeper to check and record.

After his points were entered, he thanked them and planned to go to the threshing ground to help Yun Yingying.

But when he called for the scorekeeper, Wu Lili saw him and immediately blocked his way.

“Comrade Han, I didn’t expect you to work so fast. Could you help us out a bit? After all, we’re all new here and don’t know what to do—we’re clumsy. Look, I even cut my toe.”

Wu Lili intended to have Han Li help her work but cleverly dragged all the new educated youths into it.

Because it concerned collective interest, if Han Li refused, he would be seen as opposing everyone.

The educated youths nearby heard Wu Lili’s words and thought, “Oh, what a good opportunity! If Han Li agrees, we can relax a little and earn more points.” None of them spoke up for Han Li; their eyes were full of expectation, clearly hoping he would agree immediately.

Han Li felt a trace of disdain rise within him as Wu Lili blocked his path. If she was only capable of this, then his previous worries were utterly unnecessary. But before he could speak, a middle-aged woman beside him sharply retorted.

“Why should Comrade Han help you? On what basis? When it comes time to distribute grain, will you give him the share he earned through his labor?”

Wu Lili replied, “Isn’t it normal for us new educated youths to help each other? Besides, I’m talking to Han Li here; what does it have to do with you?”

“It has nothing to do with me, but I can’t stand seeing Comrade Han taken advantage of. Everyone earns points according to work done—work done equals points earned. If you don’t complete your tasks, you deserve point deductions. Han Li has already worked hard to finish his tasks; why should he work for you for nothing? After helping you, will he then have to help other educated youths? Let’s hear you talk sense—this young girl’s got no manners, always thinking nonsense every day.”

The middle-aged woman’s words made the eyes shining with expectation around them lower their heads. The reasoning was sound, and most people wouldn’t shamelessly resort to moral coercion.

Wu Lili stubbornly replied, “Villagers finish their tasks and then help their families. Why can’t Comrade Han help us cut some bean stalks? If he doesn’t help, isn’t that being uncooperative?”

The woman snapped, “You’re really shameless, young lady. If you want to freeload off Comrade Han, just say so.”

Han Li interrupted her, saying, “Auntie, let me speak. Wu Lili, if you want me to help, just say it plainly. Why drag everyone else into this? It’s unnecessary. But since you’ve brought it up, I’ll help the comrades a bit to avoid accusations of being uncooperative. However, comradeship has degrees of closeness. Hao Hongmei and Yang Xiuying came on the same bus with me, and I’ve fought wild wolves with He Mi. So if I help anyone, it’s them. As for you, Comrade Wu Lili, I’ll support you in spirit. Keep it up! You must finish your tasks before dark, or you’ll lose several days’ worth of points. That would be pitiable.”

After speaking, Han Li greeted the auntie and the scorekeeper before walking away. Passing by Wu Lili, he whispered,

“You’re quite skilled at moral coercion. Bet you’ve used this trick to get your way many times before. But I can tell you clearly now, even without Auntie defending me, I wouldn’t fall for it today. If you want help from me, just make a straightforward offer. But this is the only time; if it happens again, I’ll make sure you regret it. Remember, we’re all here for education. No one is superior to another. I’m not your father; there’s no need to indulge you.”

Han Li spoke quickly and clearly without pausing his stride.

Wu Lili was filled with anger. This Shanghe Village was definitely against her. Since arriving, she had few smooth moments.

Her usual tactic of pretending weakness didn’t work here, and moral coercion was futile.

After all her efforts to speak up, she only made things easier for others.

Indeed, Han Li was now helping He Mi cut bean stalks.

To silence Wu Lili’s accusation that he was uncooperative, Han Li chose to help just one person.

Helping He Mi was purely coincidental—her location was the first stop on his way back.

Since there was one person per three ridges, they both worked silently, focusing on cutting the bean stalks.

Even with Han Li’s help, by the time He Mi’s task was done, the sky was already darkening.

Han Li took a sip from the water bottle He Mi handed him, looked around at those still busy, and said,

“I’ll go check the threshing ground. If you’re free, call the scorekeeper to record your points.”

“Okay, I’ll help you prepare the meal later.”

“Sounds good.”

When Han Li arrived at the threshing ground, Yun Yingying and a few others were using pitchforks to pile bean stalks.

All the crops at the threshing ground had to be spread out in the sun and ventilated during the day, then piled up at night to prevent dampness from rain.

This cycle repeated until the crops were about ninety percent dry, after which they were threshed, winnowed, stored, handed in as public grain, and finally distributed.

Han Li took the pitchfork from Yun Yingying and quickly helped them stack the stalks into neat piles.

Surprised and pleased, Yun Yingying fetched a broom to sweep up scattered beans behind them.

Stacking was a troublesome task; after piling high, they covered the stacks.

Since plastic sheeting was almost entirely imported and scarce at the time, Shanghe Village used straw mats covered with wooden boards to keep the stacks dry during rain.

By the time all this was done, night had fallen completely.

PS: Had something to attend to today, next chapter will be posted a bit later.

Thanks to Youfang Daoren You Sifang for a 500-point reward.

Thanks to Xiaose Nei Wai for a 100-point reward.

Thanks to Reader 20200620084241532 for a 100-point reward.

(End of chapter)