Yang Milan's work was as easy as ever. In the morning, he registered the production tasks of each villager group, then returned to the brigade headquarters to do translation work.
When it was nearly noon, he went back home to cook.
Originally, his mother-in-law Zhang Guiying would prepare lunch for them and deliver it to the fields when she brought meals to Old Li's family.
But Yang Milan really couldn't get used to the Li family's bland food. So yesterday, he asked Li Mercy to tell his mother-in-law that she no longer needed to cook for the couple.
His reasoning was solid—he planned to set up his own household so people wouldn't say he was just living off his wife's family.
Li Tau and Zhang Guiying thought this was a good idea, so they agreed.
For lunch, Yang Milan simply made a tomato-and-egg stew, ordered two bowls of noodles, and brought the meal to the brigade headquarters.
Before leaving, Yang Milan told Li Mercy to wait for him at the brigade headquarters at noon.
Yang Milan arrived carrying lunch. Just as he was about to enter, he heard a familiar voice inside:
"Chen Gang, don't talk nonsense. I believe in my man. He would never betray me!"
-
Then a man's voice followed:
"Xiao Wei, I'm not lying to you. Yang Milan and Shen Chenlu must be having an affair. They were together at the youth site yesterday…"
It was Chen Gang!
That bastard was deliberately trying to stir trouble in front of Li Mercy. His intentions were clearly malicious.
How could Yang Milan let him succeed? He strode quickly to the door and with a loud "bang," kicked open the flimsy wooden door of the brigade headquarters, storming inside aggressively.
"Chen Ergou, you're a disgrace to the men of our Babaoliang Brigade! Gossiping behind people's backs like some petty old woman. Do you even have any shame?"
Chen Gang's nickname was Ergou. He hated it the most. Hearing Yang Milan call him that felt like a slap to the face. Rage burned in Chen Gang's eyes.
"What? You dare to do such things and I can't speak out? What kind of logic is that?"
Chen Gang showed no embarrassment at being caught. His tone was defiant and his face firm. Clearly, he didn't take Yang Milan—the city-educated youth—seriously at all.
"Then tell me," Yang Milan said coldly, "what exactly did I do?"
"Otherwise, I'll report you to the commune!"
Yang Milan pressed on:
"You know the consequences of slandering an educated youth, don't you? If this continues, you'll be jailed for at least two or three months!"
"Yang Milan, you think I was raised to be afraid of threats? I'm telling you—so what?" Chen Gang sneered.
He relied on his father's position in the commune and didn't fear Yang Milan's warnings at all.
The families of educated youths usually lived better than peasants in the countryside. At least they had one or two workers in the household who could provide commercial grain.
But once those youths were sent down, they couldn't necessarily compare with the peasants anymore. After all, they now lived as dependents.
"Not good enough? Then I'll just beat you up!"
As he spoke, Yang Milan shoved the lunch box into Li Mercy's hands and slapped Chen Gang hard across the face.
Chen Gang was stunned. He never expected the usually polite Yang Milan would actually dare to hit him. Out of reflex, Chen Gang swung a punch.
But Yang Milan pulled his hand back at the last second—so Chen Gang's fist landed squarely on Milan's nose.
Yang Milan cried out as blood spurted, and he staggered backwards.
At once, blood gushed from Yang Milan's nose, staining his work clothes bright red.
Li Mercy froze for a moment, then screamed. She dropped the lunch box and rushed forward to check on her husband.
When she saw his face and mouth covered with blood, she panicked, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Milan, what's wrong? Don't scare me!"
Seeing his wife's panic, Yang Milan suddenly felt guilty. He had been too focused on teaching Chen Gang a lesson and forgot that Mercy was right there, terrified.
Yang Milan discreetly pinched Li Mercy's thigh and gave her a reassuring glance. He parted his lips and whispered three words:
"Cry louder."
Li Mercy was clever. At once, she understood what he meant.
She immediately raised her voice, wailing as she accused Chen Gang:
"Mr. Chen, what right do you have to hit my husband? Just because he didn't listen to your gossip?"
"It's one thing to hit someone, but you struck so viciously—you clearly wanted to kill him!"
"Chen Gang, don't think you can do whatever you like just because your father is the captain!"
Li Mercy's shrill cries quickly drew the villagers near the brigade headquarters. One by one, they gathered to see what was happening.
When they arrived, they saw Yang Milan on the ground, covered in blood, while Li Mercy wept bitterly beside him.
At once, everyone's gaze fell on Chen Gang, their eyes filled with suspicion and judgment.
Chen Gang panicked. He hadn't expected Yang Milan to dodge mid-slap, nor for him to look so weak, collapsing from just one punch.
Because Li Mercy's body shielded her husband, Chen Gang didn't notice the subtle exchange of looks between the couple.
Although Chen Gang liked to bully people, he was a coward at heart—he only dared pick on the weak and feared the strong.
But who was Yang Milan? He was Li Mercy's husband, Li Tau's son-in-law.
Even though Li Tau often scolded this "good-for-nothing" son-in-law, at the end of the day, Milan was family. Li Tau would never allow him to be bullied by outsiders