Chapter Sixty-Four: Competing to Do the Laundry (Rolling on the Ground, Begging for Continued Reading)

Captain: “Nobody wants that thing. If you want it, just take a hammer and knock it off yourself.”

Han Li had planned to knock off just a few, but once he started, he ended up knocking out all the wolf’s teeth. The captain frowned at the sight, and the villagers around burst into laughter.

When Han Li left the committee office, he felt a bit embarrassed. He hadn’t gone far when an aunt called out to him.

“Han, the educated youth, are you going to eat that wolf meat yourself, or will you share it with the folks at the Educated Youth Courtyard?”

Han Li sensed there might be something he didn’t know about, so he asked, “Auntie, is there something going on?”

“What could there be? It’s just the usual with those educated youths…”

“Nothing, nothing at all.” Before she could finish, someone nearby tugged at her sleeve and interjected.

This reaction was quite unexpected for Han Li, but since they weren’t willing to talk, he couldn’t press the issue in the street. He decided to ask around when the chance arose. But the matter of the wolf meat… Han Li began to have a suspicion.

He couldn't help paying attention to it. Though he seemed to have moved out of the Educated Youth Courtyard, his ties to it were still ambiguous; in the eyes of others, they were seen as one group.

Previously, when he secretly hunted wild pheasants for himself, it was fine. But this time, the wolf was killed openly. The villagers knew he’d received a share of wolf meat, so it wouldn’t be appropriate to eat it alone.

As Han Li and his companion walked ahead, the villagers behind began to discuss.

“Why didn’t you let me finish speaking just now?”

“What’s the point? Those educated youths are outsiders anyway. If they start quarreling, it’s just entertainment for us.”

“It’s different. The other educated youths always look down on us. When it comes to working, they drag their feet and aren’t diligent at all, but when it comes to dividing rations, they’re the loudest.”

“That’s right. Some of them aren’t honest either—our eggs and vegetables haven’t been spared by their hands. Still, since they’re children from far away, we don’t make a fuss.”

“Is that so? Sometimes my chickens don’t lay eggs for days. Could they have taken them?”

“It’s hard to say. There are people in our village who like to filch things too.”

“You mean the locals…?”

“I didn’t say who, but everyone knows about it.”

“I’ll tell you, Han is different from the others. He’s tall, good-looking, works efficiently, and likes to listen to us. He also loves children. Whenever he has candies in his pocket, he always gives them to the little ones.”

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“That’s true. Han gave our Iron Pillar candy twice.”

“My Second Girl got some twice as well.”

“My Dog Left…”

By now, Han Li had returned home, with He Mi following behind. Originally, Han Li intended to split the wolf leg with He Mi, but she resolutely refused.

In the end, Han Li decided they would invite Hao Hongmin and the others to dinner that evening, in both their names. The main dish would be the wolf leg. After all, He Mi had been present when the wolf was killed, so she deserved a share.

At this moment, Han Li didn’t realize that the aunties’ idle chatter had greatly improved his reputation in Shanghe Village.

“Make yourself comfortable. I’ll chop up the wolf leg and soak it in water to draw out the blood—otherwise, the smell will be overpowering.”

He Mi said, “Let me do the chopping.”

Han Li replied, “It’s messy work—blood splatters everywhere. I’ll handle it. When it comes to cooking, I’ll leave it to you.”

He Mi confessed, “I’ve never eaten wolf meat before. I have no idea how to make it taste good.”

“I haven’t had wolf meat either, so I don’t know how to cook it or whether it’s any good. Just use the usual method. But according to medical records, wolf meat nourishes the five organs, wards off wind and cold, replenishes exhaustion, invigorates the body, strengthens the marrow, warms the stomach, and is suitable for those with cold and indigestion.”

He Mi, after considering this, tentatively asked Han Li, “I never knew wolf meat had such benefits. Can I invite Qi Zhaodi to join us for dinner tonight? She’s been weak lately, and last time at the Educated Youth Courtyard, she stood up for me.”

Han Li answered, “Don’t mention your share; even if you didn’t have any, as long as you ask, I’d agree.”

With that, Han Li began chopping the meat in the outer room, while He Mi blushed before turning to fetch Qi Zhaodi from the Educated Youth Courtyard. By the time Han Li finished chopping and soaking the meat, they hadn’t arrived yet.

He tossed the wolf meat into water, changed the water twice, and let it soak. He’d never tasted wolf meat, but he had eaten dog meat—and both were canines. He figured the preparation would be similar; if he didn’t use enough chili, the taste wouldn’t be masked.

Finding his own supply of chili lacking, he slung his satchel over his shoulder and headed to Aunt Zhang’s house to barter for more.

Not long after Han Li left, He Mi arrived, dragging a bashful Qi Zhaodi along. They’d taken so long because He Mi was recounting the story of their encounter with the wolf, complete with Han Li’s protection and the dramatic fight. At the crucial moments, she even gestured for emphasis, exhausting herself and blushing.

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Though Qi Zhaodi had never listened to a storyteller, she’d watched movies when the village screened them. She thought He Mi’s tale was even more thrilling than those films. But was storytelling supposed to be so exhausting? Why was He Mi’s face so red? She looked so lovely—words couldn’t describe it.

When the two arrived at Han Li’s house, no one was inside. They sat together on the kang in the inner room. Qi Zhaodi noticed Han Li’s dirty clothes; remembering she still owed him money and would be eating his meat tonight, she felt she should do something in return.

So she gathered up the clothes, put them in a basin, and prepared to go wash them in the yard.

He Mi, seeing Qi Zhaodi’s actions, was startled and quickly asked, “Wait, what are you doing?”

“These clothes must have gotten dirty when Comrade Han took me to the health clinic yesterday. Since I’m free right now, I’ll help him wash them.”

He Mi felt that, even though she hadn’t agreed to Han Li’s proposal yet, the clothes should be her responsibility, and said, “You’re not well yet—don’t wash any clothes. Let me do it.”

Qi Zhaodi responded, “Washing a few clothes is nothing. I still owe Comrade Han a lot of money, so helping him with laundry will ease my mind.”

So that’s how it was. He Mi breathed a sigh of relief and said, “No, you need to recover before you worry about anything else. I’ll wash the clothes.”

After a couple rounds of back-and-forth, Qi Zhaodi couldn’t win the argument and ended up helping with rinsing and wringing out the clothes. While they were busy with the laundry, they heard Yang Xiuying and the others’ voices coming from outside.

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