Chapter Seventeen: Han Li Turns Hostile

But once everyone sat down at the dinner table, the new educated youths realized how naive they had been.

Most of them had brought some treats from home, prepared by their families for the journey. Traditionally, when the veteran educated youths cooked to welcome newcomers, gratitude would prompt the new arrivals to share these treats. They might not be the finest delicacies, but they were enough to satisfy the old hands’ cravings.

Yet, when the veteran educated youths found nothing offered, biting remarks began to circulate. Their meaning was unmistakably clear: the new arrivals lacked any sense of propriety. Not only did they fail to share specialties from their hometowns, they didn’t properly express thanks for the help received. The food cooked that day was supplied by the old educated youths, and even the vegetables were grown by them. The newcomers, in their eyes, were freeloaders, and the tone was so caustic it left an unpleasant taste.

Many who arrived at the educated youth compound alongside Han Li bowed their heads in embarrassment, remaining silent. They were young and didn’t know how to retort, especially since they truly had eaten someone else’s food.

Meanwhile, Sun Yong and Jiang Xiaoli, the two team leaders, stood by, saying nothing, as if they hadn’t understood the exchange.

Han Li, though he intended to keep a low profile and live quietly like a carefree fish, wasn’t about to endure such humiliation, letting others trample on him without protest.

He slammed his chopsticks down, and if the table hadn’t been so heavy—lest he accidentally hurt someone—he might have flipped it over in classic Crow Brother style.

“I know these days, no one’s household has grain to spare, but did I ask you to treat everyone to dinner today?” he said. “You wanted to make a good impression, so you went out of your way to invite us.”

“If you couldn’t afford to do it, you should’ve said so beforehand. Do you really think we’re the type to freeload?”

“Playing both sides—wanting the credit and complaining behind our backs. Who were you targeting with those words?”

“In a moment, let’s tally up today’s meal. Whatever share we owe, we’ll pay.”

“If this happened in Beijing, you’d be spat on the minute you stepped outside. What a joke.”

Jiang Xiaoli spoke up: “Comrade Han Li, please don’t be upset. No one really meant anything by it.”

“Everyone was a bit tired after today’s work, and since dinner was late, they just complained a little out of frustration.”

Han Li cut her off: “Enough. I’m not a three-year-old who can’t tell good from bad. Some things don’t need explaining.”

“From today on, it’s clear we shouldn’t eat together. I, for one, absolutely won’t.”

Someone snickered nearby and muttered, “If you’ve got guts, don’t use the pots we bought. What a braggart.”

The light was dim, and Han Li couldn’t tell who spoke, but it didn’t stop him from flaring up.

“Was that iron pot bought by you alone?”

“If it was, you have the right to stop me from using it.”

“If not, you’re undermining democracy—you’re a dictator.”

“Let’s take this to the village committee and show everyone what a democracy-wrecking tyrant looks like.”

“Whoever just spoke, please step forward and tell me: was the iron pot bought solely by you?”

...

Han Li’s pointed remarks silenced everyone. Only someone with a death wish would dare respond. They now realized Han Li was nothing like the kids who’d come before; he refused to be manipulated.

Most of the new educated youths looked at Han Li with gratitude. Their age betrayed their inexperience; they’d never faced such a situation. A few, however, showed disapproval or even annoyance, thinking Han Li had ruined their chance to fit in. If Han Li paid for the meal, they’d have to follow suit.

Sun Yong forced a laugh: “Comrade Han, aren’t you planning to build your own house anyway? Sooner or later you’ll have to buy your own pots—don’t sweat the small stuff.”

“Besides, there’s no one here like you described. Maybe you just misheard.”

“You’ve been traveling for days; in a bit I’ll take the boys to wash up by the river, then we should all get some rest.”

“If you want to shop in the county tomorrow, you’ll need to get up early—miss the ox cart and you won’t make it.”

No one mentioned grain or the iron pot again, and Han Li had no patience for their charade.

“Enjoy your meal. When it’s time to wash up, Captain Sun, please call me.”

Han Li returned to his room, pulled out some biscuits from his travel bag for dinner, and took a bit of sugar from his stash to make himself a cup of sweet water.

Sugar truly was a strategic commodity; after drinking a cup of thick syrup, he felt a comforting warmth spread through him.

After Han Li left, some of the veteran educated youths couldn’t help but ask, “Is Han Li really planning to build his own house? What’s his family situation?”

“Exactly. If he’s so well-off, why did he come here in the first place? I bet the money isn’t clean.”

Hao Hongmin, hearing where the conversation was headed, nudged Yang Xiuying with her elbow.

“I’m full now. Can I ask—how do the women wash up?”

Li Hongxia replied, “There’s water in the courtyard tank. You just take a basin and wipe yourself down in your room.”

Hao Hongmin, Yang Xiuying...

“Thanks, then we’ll head back. After days on the road, our bodies feel like they’re falling apart.”

With that, the two left the table. Jiang Xiaoli then said, “These two women will be building their house with Han Li as well—so let’s be careful what we say.”

Her comment embarrassed the two; their earlier remarks about Han Li had inadvertently implicated them.

After eating, Han Li stepped out into the courtyard. The air in the room was unbearable.

Once everyone had finished dinner, they headed to the river to wash up. It was too dark to see anything, but judging from the sounds, there were quite a few people.

Han Li scrubbed himself twice, then lathered up thoroughly. He felt utterly refreshed, as if reborn.

The price, though, was his brand-new bar of soap—those educated youths used up more than half of it. This was an item that required a special ration ticket, and even then it wasn’t easy to buy. Han Li became more determined than ever to move out soon.

Returning to the compound, Han Li began to worry about sleeping. The stench in the room was so strong that one night would marinate him; by morning, he might as well be ready for the grill.

While Han Li fretted, one of his roommates rolled up his mat and headed outside.

Han Li asked, “Are you going somewhere else to sleep?”