Chapter 142: Jiang Xiaoli Wants to Treat to Dinner

Village Chief Zhao narrowed his eyes and said nothing. Instead, Brigade Captain Liang leaned closer to him and asked in a low voice.

"Uncle Zhao, do you think this is Zhang Dagang's own idea, or is it that little girl Chaomei's notion? Are the father and daughter trying to get a line to Director Liu through Han Li? If we let Zhang Dagang get his way, I'm afraid he'll try to trip us up."

Village Chief Zhao: "Heh, does it matter? Whose idea it is, does it really matter? Both Han Li and Director Liu are truly smart people. They are low-key, unflashy, and unassuming in their conduct. Aside from mentioning things to us a few times in private, everything is being done strictly by the book. Zhang Dagang isn't worth them making an exception."

Brigade Captain Liang: "Could Zhang Dagang resort to underhanded, crooked ways? Educated Youth Han is right at that young and impulsive age, after all."

"Heh, I still have quite a bit of trust in this kid Han Li. Look at how steady he's been ever since he came to our village. Now that he's also going steady with that female educated youth surnamed Yun, nothing like that should happen. Still, we can't completely guard against Zhang Dagang going down that road—after all, we were the ones who knocked him down into the mud."

"Does Uncle Zhao mean—?"

"Let's wait and see for now. If worse comes to worst, we can ask someone to find a good husband for that girl Chaomei."

Over on Han Li's side, after finishing his conversation with Zhang Chaomei, he continued walking at the back of the line, everything seemingly normal.

However, He Mi and Yun Jingjing would cast glances at Han Li from time to time, vigilance flashing simultaneously in their eyes.

As they neared the Educated Youths' Courtyard, Sun Yong grabbed Han Li and Zhang Xiangjun, insisting they go drink.

Han Li: "Captain Sun, to be honest with you, my head is still hurting from the liquor I drank yesterday. How about we take a rain check?"

Of course Sun Yong didn't want to let Han Li go; he had a bellyful of grievances right now and wanted someone to vent to.

While the two of them were pulling back and forth, Yun Yingying heard them, turned around, and walked over.

"Han Li felt so uncomfortable this morning that he didn't even eat. You guys should get together another day instead."

Once Yun Yingying put it that way, Sun Yong really couldn't say much. However, Zhang Xiangjun failed to escape Sun Yong's invitation and was dragged away with a reluctant expression on his face.

The moment the few of them sat inside the room, before they could even start shooting the breeze, Jiang Xiaoli arrived with Wu Lili, Qi Ruying, and Yuan Hongying.

When the Yun sisters saw Wu Lili, they didn't give her a pleasant look at all. Still, since everyone was here, they couldn't say much either; after all, both sides had just reconciled. To make a big deal out of it would make their sisters look petty.

Wu Lili was filled with utter reluctance right now, but she was also afraid of Sun Yong retaliating against her, so she could only do her best to cozy up to this side.

Jiang Xiaoli said in high spirits, "Thank you all for your tremendous help. Today, I want to play the host and treat everyone to a meal. Comrade Han, may I borrow your kitchen stove and utensils?"

Han Li: "Heh, that's absolutely no problem. Congratulations to Captain Jiang on stepping into the ranks of the working class soon."

"Isn't this all thanks to everyone's help? I'll be bringing back some wine in a moment, so everyone must have a good drink together."

After exchanging pleasantries, Jiang Xiaoli invited everyone to go down to the commune to buy supplies for the dinner party, and this group of women walked more than ten $li$ to visit the supply and marketing cooperative.

Very soon, Han Li was the only one left at home. To prevent Sun Yong from coming over to drag him off for drinks later, he picked up his all-purpose back basket, brought his dogs along, and headed out.

Over at the home of Zhang Dagang, formerly one of the three giants of Upper River Village, any slightly strenuous activity now left him gasping heavily for breath.

Hearing his daughter recount what she had just said about inviting Han Li to dinner, he stroked his tobacco pouch, which he no longer dared to smoke, and said,

"What is your take on Han Li? And what about the partner he's currently going steady with?"

Zhang Chaomei: "Aside from the fact that Han Li looks alright and is quite tall, I can't read anything else into him. The Yun sisters just beat up the new educated youth Wu Lili a moment ago—the older sister held her down while the younger sister hit her. I heard that afterward, Han Li even blamed Yun Yingying for not picking up a weapon."

"If there's an opportunity, invite Han Li over again. We always have to let people see our sincerity, don't we?"

Zhang Chaomei said somewhat reluctantly, "Han Li is just an educated youth sent to our village to rusticate. Is there really any need to invite him over repeatedly?"

Zhang Dagang: "Heh, behind Han Li is Director Liu of the Educated Youth Office, and Director Liu's spouse has recently been promoted."

"So what?"

"Nothing much, but your officially designated position as village accountant is far from secure. Zhao Shengli, Liang Ziqiang, and the rest of them could replace you at any moment. Think about your mother and your younger brother; our family cannot withstand another upheaval."

Zhang Chaomei: "You also said Han Li is a person with his own mind. Why would he recommend me to Director Liu and his wife just because of a meal? Instead of doing that, we'd be better off getting on good terms with the leaders inside the commune."

Zhang Dagang gave a bitter laugh and said, "Who among the people at the commune doesn't give Zhao Shengli some face? Only when someone from the county level is backing you up will those two not replace you at will. It's a pity that you studied in the county seat for several years, yet not a single one of your classmates turned out to be useful."

Zhang Chaomei also gave a bitter smile. "Dad, the people in the county seat don't belong to the same world as us. Many of them have worse tempers than the educated youths coming from the big cities, all of them looking down their noses at everyone else. Country folk like us simply can't catch their eye."

Zhang Dagang: "That's why Han Li is the only person who can help you secure your position as accountant now. The long winter is coming up next; we have plenty of time to slowly win him over."

"Dad, what if Han Li doesn't buy into this routine?"

"Ahem... Chaomei, Dad is washed up now, and I don't even know how many years I have left to live. Your younger brother is still young, and while your mother is alright at managing household chores, she can't handle things outside. From now on, this family will have to rely on you to hold it together. If you lose your position as accountant, our family's days ahead will be terribly hard. You wouldn't want your younger brothers to drop out of school early and come back to the village to earn work points, would you?"

"Dad, you're going to live a long life."

"Ahem... In my heart, I feel so bitter. If someone had been backing me up from behind back then, those two wouldn't have dared to scheme against me like that."

"Dad."

...

At this moment, Han Li was lying by the riverside far away from Upper River Village, looking at the unique beauty of late autumn in the distance. A simple fishing rod stood straight in the river, several dogs ran back and forth around him, and a few sparrows perched on distant treetops chirped incessantly. The entire scene was exceptionally picturesque.

Unfortunately, Han Li had no idea yet that back at his home in Four-Nine City, his father and mother were already quarreling fiercely.

Han's eldest sister, second sister, and younger sister were all hiding in other rooms, cautiously listening to the sounds coming from their parents' bedroom.

The trigger for this argument was a recent letter Han Li had mailed home, in which he mentioned that he was going steady with Yun Yingying.

This immediately got on Han's mother's mind. Although Yun Yingying's family was also from Four-Nine City, and two educated youths marrying wouldn't affect their return to the city, Han's mother still found it a bit hard to accept.