Chapter Eleven: The Western Sunlit Yard

Since his wife, Han Xiuxia, was brutally beaten by him and left disabled, losing her womanhood, twenty-seven-year-old Wang Hongbing had lived a bachelor’s life.

He emerged from his hallucinations and returned to reality.

He thought of Caiyun, his most outstanding student in the literacy class—she was not only intelligent and eager to learn but also very beautiful.

Her sweet smile and those two adorable dimples often intoxicated him. When her expressive eyes smiled softly at him, he felt as if his heart was being stolen away. Her fair cheeks and alluring little mouth frequently stirred within him an uncontrollable desire.

From the way Caiyun usually looked at him, he sensed that she liked him. Especially the last time she came knocking at his door, choosing to visit when his wife had gone back to her mother’s home with their child. Although she ultimately hesitated and left, a fleeting gesture revealed her true feelings—she liked him.

He thought that night, Caiyun might have been afraid that Caifai would come looking for her or that his parents, who often sat outside to cool off, might return home at any moment. Hence, she dared not stay.

Tonight was a perfect opportunity. The threshing ground was far from the village, and in the deep, quiet night, it was just the two of them in the open field. She should have no reservations.

Thinking of this, a wave of heat surged through him.

He guessed Caiyun might be anxiously waiting for him to arrive, so he immediately got up and headed toward the canteen. As he neared the entrance, the lights inside went out, and he heard the sound of the door being locked.

This only strengthened his belief that Caiyun had been standing at the door waiting for him and, upon seeing him approach, hurriedly turned off the lights, locked the door, and ran toward him.

Excited beyond measure, he quickened his pace and rushed forward: “Caiyun, have you been waiting for me all this time?”

“For what? Are you drunk again?”

Wang Hongbing thought to himself, just pretend all you want. You locked the door the moment I got here; you simply couldn’t resist.

“My darling, I’ve missed you so much.” He pulled Caiyun tightly into his arms, his drooling mouth redolent with strong alcohol scent thoroughly covering her face.

“Hongbing, stop it,” Caiyun struggled, pushing him away.

“You’re so beautiful, so enchanting. You know, if I don’t see you for a day, I feel like I’ve lost my soul, unable to eat or sleep. I know you like me too. Tonight is a great chance—don’t miss it.”

“Don’t flatter yourself. Who likes you?”

“You can’t fool me on this. The last time, right after my wife left, you came to look for me that very night. You haven’t forgotten, have you?”

“I came to catch up on lessons. Don’t get the wrong idea.”

“Then why did you hold me so tightly when I pushed you onto the bed?”

“That was just a moment of impulse.”

“Like likes like. Don’t be afraid to admit it. It’s just the two of us now. You can let go completely and love boldly.”

“Don’t dream. I won’t do anything to betray Caifai.”

“He’s the one who betrayed you first. He and my wife had a child. What are you afraid of?”

“I don’t believe it. Caifai isn’t that kind of man. He wouldn’t do such a thing.”

“You’re wrong. I didn’t tell you in detail at my place that day, but do you know? Caifai asked my wife whether the three big heads were his children. My wife forbade him from mentioning it again, saying if she found out, she’d kill her.”

“So your wife admitted it?”

“Isn’t that obvious? She even told Caifai about the time you and I were intimate that night.”

“What did your wife say?”

“She told everything and said she saw with her own eyes your shirt buttons undone.”

At this point, Wang Hongbing recalled an occasion when Caifai, after fetching water from the well, inexplicably kicked Caiyun a few times and called her a harlot. Afterwards, Caifai often followed her around. When Caiyun asked why, he never explained. Now she finally understood the reason.

“So, don’t keep touching me like that. If Caifai catches you, he won’t spare you,” Caiyun warned Wang Hongbing.

“I don’t care. No one can stop me from loving you.”

“Aren’t you afraid Caifai will kill you when he finds out?”

“Not afraid! For love, even as a ghost, I’d be dashing!”

“You’re definitely drunk. Let go of me!”

“People don’t get drunk just from alcohol; it’s you who made me drunk. Right now, my heart burns like a blazing fire; my blood boils. I wish I could swallow you whole to express my love.”

Saying this, he pushed Caiyun onto the straw mat...

In a critical moment, Caiyun was forced to do something extremely dangerous. Suddenly, Wang Hongbing cried out in pain and writhed...

Seizing the chance, Caiyun hurriedly escaped.

The next morning, the production team held a mobilization meeting for the Great Steelmaking Campaign. All members attended. They were instructed to prioritize work supporting the “Marshal of Steel’s Account,” focusing on steel production with the goal of “surpassing England in five years and catching up with America in ten.”

In accordance with the commune’s steelmaking directives, able-bodied laborers were drawn from various teams to join the commune’s steelmaking effort. Yang Shaowen, secretary of the Wangjiayu team, proposed a new idea: to raise funds locally to build earthen blast furnaces for steel production.

Secretary Zhou of the commune greatly praised this initiative, calling on all teams to learn from Yang and adopt various measures to advance steelmaking, assisting the commune in meeting its targets on time.

The team decided to build nine “earthen blast furnaces” west of the Wangjiayu production team’s threshing ground. Aside from commune funding, the remainder of the cost would be raised through a one-yuan contribution from each member, payable within two days.

The members were excited by the ambitious goal of “surpassing England and catching America,” eager to contribute. But the fundraising was a difficult matter.

Caifai approached team leader Wang Hongkui about the funds. “Leader, my pigs and chickens have all been requisitioned by the team. Didn’t you say everything would be covered by the commune from now on? Why are you asking us for money again?”

Caifai felt the leader’s word was unreliable.

“This is a special task; special measures apply,” Wang Hongkui replied.

“My family really can’t spare the money now. Can I delay payment?”

“That’s not possible. The steel campaign is urgent. We can’t afford a day’s delay. The team must report progress daily to the commune.”

“I’m in trouble. How about I give you an IOU and pay you back as soon as I get the money?”

“Everyone’s struggling. Look at the mute family—they sold their tables and stools to raise funds.”

“We don’t have any tables or chairs to sell either.”

“What about your big wooden door?”

“You want me to sell the door? Without a door, how can this be a home?”

“Well, figure it out. Fundraising is a directive from above. No exceptions.”

Caiyun asked Caifai to borrow money from his younger brother, Fafu. Caifai knew Fafu might have some money but wasn’t the decision-maker.

Caiyun approached Fafu’s wife, Li Qingying, smiling and asking for help: “Second Aunt, I want to ask a favor.”

Qingying said, “Don’t tell me it’s about borrowing money.”

“You’re so sharp—one word and you know I came to borrow money.”

“I also know you’re still occupying one of our six rooms and haven’t returned it.”

“What are you talking about? When did we ever occupy your house?”

“The elders said that the six rooms were split evenly between the two brothers—three each. You can’t deny that, can you?”

“The elders said that would be after you both had children. Now, with just the two of you, two rooms are enough.”

“Are you here to borrow money or to annoy me? What’s so great about having children? Aren’t you still going to borrow money? If you have guts, don’t ask me.”

“There are only two brothers in the Chen family. If I’m in trouble, who else can I turn to besides you?”

“Don’t put it so nicely. You know I like Yulan. How about you let me adopt her?”

“That girl is closer to me than to you. Whether I adopt her or not, it’s the same.”

“I want her to call me ‘mom.’”

“That’s a big matter. I need to discuss it with Caifai first.”

“Fine. Once you two decide, come back to ask me for money.”

Caiyun returned home and told Caifai about Qingying’s thoughts. Caifai thought it was a good idea. After all, their own brother wouldn’t mistreat the child.

Caiyun was a bit uneasy. Qingying was only twenty-seven, and once she had her own child, she feared Yulan might suffer.

After Caiyun left, Qingying waited for her reply. The next day, when Caiyun still hadn’t come, Qingying grew impatient and took the initiative to visit her.

“Big brother, where’s sister-in-law?” Qingying asked Caifai.

“She went to the canteen. What’s up?”

“I want to adopt Yulan. What do you think?”

“Caiyun told me. I think it’s a good idea, but Caiyun seems a bit worried.”

“What’s there to worry about? Even if I have children in the future, I’ll treat her as my own because I love her.”

“Caiyun and I both know you like Yulan. What’s so good about that? You don’t even share your food with her. You save it for her to eat, making sure she grows fair and plump.”

“She’s growing up, taking the best traits from both of you. Her face looks like yours—tall and strong. Her features and skin resemble her mother’s. Even her smile and dimples are like her mother’s. Her temperament is good and endearing.”

“That’s why Caiyun is a bit reluctant. Talk to her again tonight. If she agrees, I have no objections.”

“Try to persuade her some more. I’ll have Fafu talk to her as well.”

“All right, I’m going to build the ‘earthen blast furnaces’ now.”

“Go ahead.”