Chapter 22: They Are Husband and Wife

"On what grounds?" Yang Jinghua sneered.

By now, the group was nearing the bulletin board. Zhou Linyao, who had been sitting there all day, stood up to greet them.

Yang Jinghua stopped in his tracks, casting a scornful look at these young educated youths who had been making an endless fuss, completely lacking any self-awareness.

Finally, he fixed his gaze on Wu Siqi, the most dim-witted of the lot, and mocked, "On the grounds that Comrade Fang and Comrade Xiaomu have made significant contributions to the farm as soon as they arrived, of course."

"If you lot had that kind of capability, you wouldn't need to make such a racket here; I would have arranged everything for you personally."

"Can you do that?"

"Do you have that kind of ability?"

Unlike his earlier gentle demeanor, Yang Jinghua seemed like a different person now.

Zhou Linyao, who had risen to greet them, froze in her steps, not daring to move an inch further.

She looked at the group with suspicion. She couldn't understand how, in just half a day, they had managed to infuriate the director of the Educated Youth Office.

Did they not realize that once they arrived at the farm, their future would depend entirely on the favor of their superiors?

Clearly, they hadn't thought of that.

Wu Siqi was still stubborn. "Bu-but that doesn't mean they should be the only ones assigned a private room."

"Besides, who says we don't have ability? It's, it's just that you haven't seen it yet." Wu Siqi didn't want to admit defeat, and she certainly didn't want to live a life of hardship.

When educated youths were sent to the countryside, they all slept in large shared dormitories.

Crowding seven or eight people into one room was already considered good conditions.

If the environment was poor and the dormitory small, it was common for ten or twenty people to be crammed into a single room.

Before heading to the countryside, Wu Siqi had made inquiries.

She was afraid of suffering and feared poor living conditions.

Therefore, among the available locations, she had picked and chosen, selecting the Red Star Farm—a place that, while relatively difficult, offered room for advancement.

Her expectations were overly idealistic, and with relatives nearby serving as military officers, she figured that with her own abilities and the backing of her family, she could live better than most, even on a farm.

She never expected that on the very first day, an accident would occur.

And this accident—

Wu Siqi’s face twisted as she glared at Mu Wanguan.

It was all because of this bitch! If not for her, if not for her!

"Keep looking, and I'll gouge your eyes out." Mu Wanguan stepped out from behind Fang Yinnian.

Her face was innocent, and a smile played on her lips, but the words she spoke were… exceptionally chilling.

Wu Siqi’s breath hitched, and her face turned deathly pale.

She didn't know if the others felt it, but she felt as if a sharp blade were thrusting toward her, wrapped in murderous intent.

It felt as if the slightest movement on her part would cause her to vanish into thin air.

Cold sweat broke out on her forehead instantly.

Breathing suddenly became painful.

Just as Wu Siqi thought she was about to be killed, that innocent, mocking laugh rang out again.

Mu Wanguan snorted. "Hmph, weakling."

Fang Yinnian’s brow twitched, a sense of helplessness washing over him. As others began to focus their attention on Mu Wanguan, he stepped in front of her once more.

"Comrade, if you have any complaints, feel free to direct them at me." Fang Yinnian looked at Yang Jinghua, appearing to ask, though he was actually stating a fact. "If I recall correctly, the farm has a policy that any formal employee who is married is entitled to a separate living space."

"Isn't that right, Director Yang?"

"That is correct." Yang Jinghua’s face was expressionless, his eyes carrying the oppressive weight of a superior. "Section Chief Guo has already expedited your personnel file, and Director Zhou has signed off on it. Therefore, by the day after tomorrow, you will be a formal employee of the farm’s machinery plant. And since you are already married to Comrade Xiaomu, you two may be assigned a small, separate living space."

"…Ma-married?" Wu Siqi gasped, taking two steps back in shock.

The others were equally stunned. After all, Fang Yinnian was capable; if he were married, why would he come all the way to a farm in Heilongjiang?

Was work in the capital really that scarce?

Huang Jian knew that if he didn't step in now, the situation would spiral out of control, and he would be implicated as well.

He gave a bitter laugh. "We didn't expect Comrade Fang and Comrade Mu to be married at such a young age. If you had told us earlier, we wouldn't have made such a scene."

This phrasing made it sound as if all the blame lay with Fang Yinnian for not informing strangers of his marriage.

Mu Wanguan thought the same, so she poked her head out to ask, "Do you mean that as long as we told you we were married, you wouldn't be acting like lunatics here?"

The term "lunatics" echoed again, leaving everyone stunned. Fang Yinnian and Yang Jinghua nearly burst out laughing.

This girl.

Don't be so funny.

Huang Jian’s expression stiffened. "Comrade Mu!"

"Why are you shouting so loud?" Mu Wanguan clenched her fists, lowered her head, raised her brows, and challenged, "Do you want to fight?"

Everyone: "..." Who is fighting you!

Why don't you follow the script?

Only Fang Yinnian’s gaze fell on her tiny clenched fists, then up to her brow.

For some reason, seeing Mu Wanguan like this made her seem even more like a rebellious child.

"Ahem, do you have any other questions?" Yang Jinghua stifled a laugh as he asked the troublemaking youths. "If not, you can head to the Second Youth Dormitory."

Yang Jinghua’s gaze was cold. "I had originally thought that since your group was small, I would arrange for you to stay in the First Youth Dormitory. It was renovated not long ago and is quite spacious."

"But since you all seem to have such strong opinions, it just so happens that the educated youths have recently organized an exchange meeting. The president and vice president are both in the Second Dormitory; I’m sure you’ll have much in common."

Huang Jian opened his mouth to refuse, but upon hearing about the exchange meeting and the president and vice president, he held his tongue.

"Baofeng, come here!" Yang Jinghua beckoned to a young man running over from not far away. "Take these people to the Second Youth Dormitory and arrange their lodgings."

"Oh? The Second Youth Dormitory?" Chen Baofeng, a junior clerk at the farm's youth office, was surprised to hear the director change the arrangements. However, he quickly nodded and said, "I understand. Follow me."

After settling the troublemakers, Yang Jinghua turned to Fang Yinnian and Mu Wanguan. "I’ll take you to the family living quarters."

"You came just in time. Someone moved out of the family quarters two days ago, leaving a small room vacant..."

The sunset slowly descended, dyeing the sky in orange and red.

The orange light spilled from the heavens, falling upon Mu Wanguan, who was being shielded by Fang Yinnian, as if forming a protective dome around her.

Zhou Linyao followed behind Wu Siqi and Liu Xiaoyan, bringing up the rear. She still hadn't involved herself in the commotion.

She seemed the same as when she had arrived—not provoking anyone, and not being provoked.

But as they parted ways with Mu Wanguan and her husband at the entrance, Zhou Linyao couldn't help but look back at Mu Wanguan.

The young girl, with her naive and innocent eyes, seemed to have always been well-protected.

Untainted by the world, untouched by disputes, and free of schemes.

Why are some people so lucky?

Bloodshot lines crawled into Zhou Linyao's eyes, and her nose stung with the sharpness of a needle. Finally, unable to bear it any longer, she forced herself to look away.

Zhou Linyao looked up at the sky, thinking, And why is my life so miserable?