Chapter 18: A Dispute—Could Fang Yinnian Really Curse Someone?

“Comrade Fang Yinnian!” Guo Changjiang hurriedly ran back. “Comrade Fang Yinnian, quickly, come with me to the power plant.”

Grabbing Fang Yinnian firmly and ignoring the others, Guo pulled him along. “As long as you fix the generator, the day after tomorrow you can go straight to the machinery repair shop to work. You won’t need to participate in the young intellectuals’ farming training.”

“No way!” Wu Siqi screamed, blocking their path.

As Wu Siqi stood there, the positions of the young intellectuals around her became clear.

Originally, the young intellectuals didn’t stand like this. The three male young intellectuals had always stood together in a cluster. This female intellectual and another simply dressed girl stood together; Fang Yinnian stood with Mu Wanwan, who was assigned to farm work; and in the corner, a cold and aloof female intellectual kept to herself.

Now, with Guo Changjiang running back to pull Fang Yinnian away with the promise that he wouldn’t have to go farming but would be given a job instead, the three male young intellectuals who had been huddled together surprisingly moved closer to the girl blocking the path.

Even the simply dressed girl, who had originally resisted this arrogant female comrade, now pressed close behind her.

How interesting.

Guo Changjiang hadn’t directly interacted with the young intellectuals sent to the countryside for a long time. Earlier, Yang Jinghua had reported some complaints to him, but he hadn’t taken them seriously.

But now...

“Do you think ‘no’ means ‘no’?” Guo Changjiang released Fang Yinnian. His eyes, marked by the passage of time, seemed to see through people’s hearts. “If he can’t do it, do you think you can? Do you know how to fix generators or machinery?”

Wu Siqi, feeling guilty, tried to shrink back in fright.

But the next moment, she caught sight of Mu Wanwan, standing proudly behind Fang Yinnian, looking at her with satisfaction. Her mind went blank, and she retorted, “I don’t know how, so what if he does!”

“There are eight of us young intellectuals sent down here. On what grounds do you pick him and give him special treatment?”

“Don’t think I’m clueless just because I’m new here. My parents told me that besides farming, the farm also has offices in various factories,” Wu Siqi said, raising her hand and pointing at Fang Yinnian and Mu Wanwan behind him. “Are you giving them backdoor favors just because they flatter you?”

With that thought, Wu Siqi pointed directly at Mu Wanwan.

“Is it because she said she wanted to farm earlier and we didn’t go along with you, so you’re punishing us?”

Earlier, when Mu had said she could farm, Wu Siqi had found it strange.

That Mu woman clearly knew even less about farming than she did; she looked like a pampered lady. How could such a delicate girl know how to farm or work the fields?

Now it seemed that was her plan all along.

As soon as Wu Siqi finished speaking, the atmosphere turned tense.

Huang Jian, Liu Xiaoyan, and even Zhou Linyao, who had stayed out of it until now, eyed Mu Wanwan with suspicion.

Mu Wanwan didn’t care at all. Only Fang Yinnian, when he noticed everyone’s gazes, stepped in front of Mu Wanwan.

He raised his eyes; their coldness was like ice. “Do you have any brains?”

“If not, then I suggest you crack open your skull and pour water inside to see if there’s anything but air in your head.”

The others were speechless.

Was he insulting them?

Mu Wanwan was curious too. She felt that Fang Yinnian was very angry at this moment.

But why was he angry?

These people were just shouting nonsense; even she wasn’t upset. Why would Fang Yinnian be?

Mu Wanwan blinked and looked up at him.

Just like that first night they met, the man’s tall, upright silhouette in the sunlight resembled an invincible mech warrior.

How marvelous.

She was actually sensing the strength and bravery of a mech warrior in a human from ancient Blue Star.

“You—you dare to insult people!” Wu Siqi snapped back, stomping her foot in anger.

Fang Yinnian remained expressionless. “Oh, so your skull actually contains a little cerebellum.”

In other words, he was surprised she understood his insult.

Mu Wanwan laughed and scratched him teasingly on the back, signaling, “If you can talk, say more.”

She loved listening.

Fang Yinnian’s cold eyes froze for a moment, then flashed with helplessness.

If there weren’t so many people around, he really wanted to take a cane to this rebellious brat.

Was this the time to make a scene?

“You—you all!” Wu Siqi shouted.

“Enough,” Guo Changjiang snapped coldly, then turned to Yang Jinghua. “Manage them.”

Then he faced Fang Yinnian again. “Comrade Fang Yinnian, this matter came up suddenly. Please come with me to the power plant. Afterwards...”

“We’re going too!” Wu Siqi, having repeatedly opposed and received no response, was furious and blurted out, “Who knows if you’re pulling some shady tricks, just letting him tinker with the machine and claiming it’s fixed.”

“If he can fix it, we have nothing to say. But if—”

“I don’t care!” she even cursed.

Yang Jinghua, having watched the drama, finally felt balanced inside.

He had said the young intellectuals would make trouble; Guo still didn’t believe it.

He put a hand on Guo Changjiang’s shoulder. “Alright, Guo, if they want to watch, let them.”

“You—”

Yang Jinghua raised an eyebrow at Guo. The two shared decades of comradeship, and Guo swallowed words that almost escaped his mouth.

Guo Changjiang said coldly, “You can go, but once Comrade Fang Yinnian finishes repairing the generator, you all must go plow the fields deeply.”

The newly arrived young intellectuals didn’t initially need to plow deeply.

Because the workload was heavy and the time long, and most of the young intellectuals were city kids who had never learned sowing, the newcomers were first led by the older young intellectuals to do simple auxiliary work and training.

But now...

Wu Siqi trembled slightly, hesitating.

Not only her, but a few other silent young intellectuals also struggled over whether to wade into this mess.

“Are you going or not?” Guo Changjiang turned and gestured. “If not, we’re leaving. Comrade Fang Yinnian—”

“I’m going! We’re all going!” Unable to stand the provocation and the disregard, Wu Siqi snatched Liu Xiaoyan and took a step forward.

Guo Changjiang didn’t bother with them. He was very anxious now; if the generator wasn’t repaired quickly, the farm’s losses would be incalculable. Later, he still had to report upwards, find the office director, and contact leaders of various departments. There was no time to waste on such nonsense.

“Let’s go.” Guo called to Fang Yinnian, then noticed him clinging to Mu Wanwan and suddenly recalled that Fang Yinnian seemed to be married.

Could this beautiful girl be his wife?

No wonder he kept teasing her.

“Comrade Mu, you come along too. As for you...” Guo coldly glanced at the young intellectuals, snorted, “If you want to come, follow us.”

“But don’t regret it.”

With that, Guo Changjiang strode away briskly.

The power plant of Red Star Farm was located to the left rear of the main office area, near the family quarters and the first young intellectual dormitory.

To get there, one had to go around from the main office area.

Huang Jian and the others left behind were stunned for a moment, but Huang Jian gritted his teeth and forced a smile. “We better go take a look. Youngest Wu is impulsive; to prevent her from angering the leaders, we can watch over her.”

“Are you all coming together?”

Deng Xiongwei was silent and looked at Peng Zhaoliang.

Peng was impulsive; when Huang Jian said they were going, he nodded. “Then let’s go.”

Two of the three men went, and Deng Xiongwei had no choice but to follow.

However...

The three looked toward Zhou Linyao, who hadn’t spoken or joined them.

“Comrade Zhou, are you coming?”

Zhou Linyao was indifferent. “No.”

She quickly lowered her eyes and weakly said, “I’m tired, don’t want to move.”

She asked Yang Jinghua, who hadn’t left yet, “Director Yang, should I wait here or...?”

“Wait here,” Yang Jinghua said, passing by the three men. “After they finish, I’ll come back and take you all to the young intellectual dormitory.”