Chapter 19

Not everyone qualifies to be a teacher. Although this is a rural village, most of the villagers have only attended literacy classes.

Well, some have not even attended those, and only a small portion of the children have ever gone to school.

After all, schooling requires tuition fees, and the yearly fees aren't cheap. Additionally, there aren't many children who are naturally gifted with intelligence.

For instance, the only one who has been able to get into high school is Li Linxi from the Li family.

Maybe others have the potential, but primary and middle schools both require tuition fees. On top of that, middle school students have to board at the commune, meaning additional costs for tuition and living expenses.

Not every family can afford that. Even those who can afford it often find that their children aren't academically gifted, which is infuriating!

Take the captain's three sons, for example. When they were in primary school, they only cared about catching shrimp in the river and couldn't even pass the middle school entrance exam.

Despite their frustration, the family had no choice but to have their children work on the farm. At least they could earn enough to support the household.

The people most excited about this news were the educated youth. Back in the city, they had attended school.

Considering themselves superior, they believed they were the ones who truly knew how to study. Actually, scratch that—they were the only ones qualified.

Teaching? Leave that to them!!!

This question had come up before, but they had been told that the brigade school already had teachers, so there was no need for them. Instead, they were told to get back to farming.

But now they heard… hey, there's finally an opening! And the rumor is that the teacher gets paid a salary, not work points!!! Pay attention: salary! Money!!!

Although it wasn't much, the job wasn't exhausting either, certainly not as hard as farming.

Excited at the prospect of being able to support themselves, everyone was buzzing with excitement.

"I wonder if they'll let us become teachers?"

"Why wouldn't they? Who in the village is more qualified than us?"

"Exactly. We're the ones who've studied the most. We definitely know how to be teachers better than them, don't we?"

"But what if the villagers don't want us? And what if the commune sends down its own teachers?"

"That's true…"

The educated youth, who had been excited and proud just moments ago, were now starting to feel anxious as they exchanged concerns.

They furrowed their brows in frustration, all wondering if they had what it took to teach at the village school.

At the same time, they worried that if they were eligible, then all the educated youth at their post would also be qualified.

So, would they have to compete against each other?

How infuriating.

Sitting on a low stool nearby, Luo Liangce listened to their conversation and furrowed his brows slightly. Indeed, if the educated youth were allowed to become teachers, who among them would end up being the lucky one?

As he glanced at the other educated youth who might become his competitors, his brows lowered, hiding a trace of wariness in his eyes.

There was no chance of returning to the city; they had heard that their brigade didn't have any spots for returning. It had been years already.

He could only try to improve his life and find a lighter job. Who would willingly face the hard work of farming?

His eyes flickered with thought, and when he finally looked up again, he had returned to his usual refined and scholarly demeanor.

After the group disbanded, Luo Liangce got up and left, heading for the brigade captain's house.

No one paid much attention to him leaving, but when they saw him entering the captain's house—on the day off from work, no less—it caught some eyes.

"Hey? Why's Luo going to the captain's house again? Weren't they on bad terms before?"

"Yeah, things got pretty bad back when Su Qianqian made a scene. They almost came to blows."

"Maybe they made up? After all, he's the brigade captain. What if Luo's come to his senses?"

"Pff, why don't you say it was Su Qianqian who came to her senses?"

"Who knows? But if he's proposing, why's he empty-handed?"

The villagers were bored. Without other forms of entertainment, their days were spent farming or gathering firewood.

So, even a small incident could become a hot topic, with gossip spreading for days. If someone's chicken egg was stolen, they'd talk about it for two days—let alone the possibility of Luo reconciling with the captain's family for marriage!

Tsk, who could understand what that Su girl was thinking, wanting to marry an educated youth?

Hadn't she learned anything from the woman in the neighboring brigade who was abandoned by an educated youth and now lived in misery?

Their gossip was harmless, but when word got back to the educated youth, their faces darkened.

The feud between Luo and the captain's family had been intense, even dragging the other educated youth into it.

And now, Luo was proactively visiting the captain? And right when there was talk of recruiting teachers?

The answer was obvious: Luo was trying to sneak ahead and secure the position for himself. How shameless!

Even after being humiliated by the captain's family, he shamelessly went back. No dignity.

Their suspicions were confirmed when Luo returned that evening with a satisfied smile. They could tell, even without asking, that the negotiations had been successful, right???

Damn it!

That night, two or three more educated youth, carrying packages sent from home, visited the captain's house.

Unfortunately, they returned dejected.

It was clear the captain's response had left them disappointed and deflated.

The next day, while Jiang Manzhu was out gathering pigweed with Xiaobei, she overheard some villagers saying that the teaching position had already been filled—by Luo Liangce.

Jiang Manzhu: ??? That fast?

"How did they decide on Luo? Who made the decision?" Jiang Manzhu asked the woman, confused. How had she not heard this rumor?

"Didn't Luo visit the captain's house yesterday? We thought it was about marriage at first, but who knew it was about the teaching position…"

The woman was quite the gossip and eagerly shared the news with Jiang Manzhu, seeing that she wasn't in the loop.

Jiang Manzhu elongated her response, "Oh, I see. So, he pulled some strings?"

There were no permanent enemies, only permanent interests. Luo must have offered the captain something in return for securing the position.

"Was the village school built by the villagers?" Jiang Manzhu asked out of curiosity.

"Of course not. It was set up by the commune. The old principal was also sent by the commune. He's quite strict, and many kids are afraid of him."

The woman shook her head as if even she was a bit scared of the old principal.

Jiang Manzhu raised an eyebrow, seeming to understand something. "I see. Have you ever met the principal? Is he really that strict?"

While gathering information, Xiaobei was nearby, fiddling with some grass. This root seemed edible? It tasted kind of sweet.

With his other hand, he absentmindedly tossed some pebbles. He wasn't sure how much time had passed, but he was starting to get hot under his two layers of clothing.

When Jiang Manzhu finally emerged, she seemed… quite happy? Xiaobei didn't know how to describe the phrase "full of fighting spirit," but he could tell she was excited!

"Xiaobei, did you ever go to school?" Jiang Manzhu asked as they walked home.

Xiaobei tilted his head, puzzled by her question. After a moment of thought, he nodded. "I did, but then I stopped going."

Talking about this seemed to stir up unpleasant memories, and his mood visibly dimmed.

"Why are you upset? Is it because you want to go back to school? Or… were you bullied in the past?" Jiang Manzhu originally thought that the question was about not allowing Xiao Bei to go to school or missing the old days.

But her brain quickly caught on. With Xiao Bei's personality, going to school would likely mean getting bullied by the village children, who, influenced by their parents, would think Xiao Bei was stupid and worry they'd catch it by association.

Jiang Manzhu lovingly patted Xiao Bei's head. "Our Xiao Bei is so good. It's those kids who don't know any better. They're the bad ones."

He might be a bit immature, like a five- or six-year-old, but he wasn't the type to throw fits or act out like someone mentally disturbed.

He was obedient, well-behaved, understanding, and even diligent in helping with chores—truly a little angel.

"See, don't the other kids like you a lot now? That just shows that our Xiao Bei is amazing now." Jiang Manzhu coaxed him, worried he might cry from feeling wronged.

Even nowadays, people still discriminated against those they deemed "stupid."

The Li family already treated Xiao Bei quite well. From what she had heard, in many places, if a family had a child who was mentally slow, they'd either send them to a welfare home or even drown them.

"Yes." As soon as Xiao Bei thought of his current playmates, the look of grievance on his face disappeared, and his eyes lit up, full of energy again.

Jiang Manzhu also began thinking about the school hiring teachers. If she could be hired…

It wasn't that she was dead set on cutting pigweed every day—it was just an easy task.

But as easy as it was, it earned very few work points. If it weren't for her mother-in-law being kind and her younger brother-in-law being understanding, she wouldn't even have enough to eat.

The pay for teachers wasn't great, but at least it was better than working in the fields. It wasn't as exhausting, and it came with a salary.

Even if she had to hand over a bit of money for meals, she wouldn't feel like she was freeloading, and she wouldn't worry about getting kicked out.

Moreover… it would give her more time to study!!!

The thought excited Jiang Manzhu, making her heart race. Yes, she couldn't let someone else take this opportunity all for themselves.

Luo Liangce, huh? Just because he had connections with the brigade leader's family? Had he forgotten that he was the one who spread rumors, tarnishing Su Qianqian's reputation in the village?

Right! Why would the brigade leader still want to give Luo Liangce the teaching job when the whole village had heard him slander Su Qianqian?

It didn't make sense. What kind of life had Su Qianqian led in the village? Everyone knew, and many of the village girls were probably jealous of her.

It was clear how much the brigade leader's family adored Su Qianqian. There was no way they'd help a man who had smeared her name.

Either the aunt had lied, or Luo Liangce had offered the brigade leader some benefits!!!

From what the aunt had told her, several other educated youths had gone to see the brigade leader because of Luo Liangce, but they had left looking quite dejected.

"Xiao Bei, do you want to go to school with sister-in-law?" Jiang Manzhu quickly made up her mind to go and talk to the principal.

Whether or not she succeeded was one thing, but whether she had the courage to try was another.

If you wanted to live a good life, could you just sit around with your mouth open, waiting for pie to fall from the sky?

Xiao Bei looked surprised. "Go to school? Sister-in-law, I haven't gone to school for a long time. What would I do at school?"

Xiao Bei was a bit resistant, indicating he didn't have fond memories of school, which also hinted at him having experienced school bullying!

"It's not you going. It's sister-in-law. But I don't want to go alone. Would you be willing to come with me? I'll make you some steamed egg custard for lunch today, how does that sound?"

Jiang Manzhu smiled gently. It wasn't that she didn't dare to go, but she was worried that if she left Xiao Bei unsupervised, those unreliable kids might take him down to the river to catch fish or shrimp.

After all, Li Linxi had repeatedly told her to take good care of Xiao Bei—she couldn't let anything happen to him.

"Okay, I'll go with sister-in-law." Xiao Bei immediately nodded. The egg custard didn't really matter; what mattered was that he had to protect his sister-in-law.

Of course, the egg custard would also be delicious, hehe.

Carrying a small water bottle, Jiang Manzhu led Xiao Bei lightly along the road, encountering quite a few people along the way.

From their home to the school, they passed through other villages and fields, where people were still working.

When villagers walking along the main road saw them, they'd ask in surprise, "Where are you going, Educated Youth Jiang?"

"Just taking Xiao Bei out for a walk," Jiang Manzhu replied cheerfully, without revealing her real purpose.

Xiao Bei knew they weren't talking to him, so he didn't butt in. He waited until the people had left to continue telling his sister-in-law about the games he played with his friends.

Though childish, Jiang Manzhu listened patiently to Xiao Bei's enthusiastic stories, occasionally chiming in with a few words of agreement, which made Xiao Bei even happier.

They headed in the direction of the old clinic, which was about a 10-20 minute walk from home.

When they arrived at the school gates, Jiang Manzhu looked at the two-story, somewhat old primary school and focused on the classroom to the far left on the first floor.

Hmm, it wasn't exactly a classroom—it was the office.

The first room on the left was the principal's office, and the second was the teachers' office.

"Xiao Bei, come here." Jiang Manzhu led him over, handed him the water bottle, gave him some candy, and told him to sit obediently in the shade.

"If anyone tries to bully you, come find sister-in-law, okay? I'll be over there in a bit." Once Xiao Bei was settled, she walked over and knocked on the door.

The primary school principal, Zeng Jianbai, was currently fretting over his students' grades, which weren't as good as the neighboring brigade's. He had even been scolded at a recent meeting at the commune.

Did he want this? Of course not. He also wished the students at his school could ace the elementary to middle school entrance exams and outperform everyone.

The problem wasn't that the students weren't bright, but that they couldn't afford to continue their education!

With a face full of worry, Principal Zeng sighed. The teacher who was leaving to return to the city wasn't of much concern to him.

It wasn't hard to find a new teacher. Besides, the students in that teacher's class weren't performing particularly well.

If she had been outstanding, with over half her class passing the exams, Principal Zeng would have taken action long ago. But now…

Hearing the knock on the door, he assumed it was a teacher with something to discuss. He looked up to see a young girl and asked with curiosity, "What's the matter? The classrooms are on the right side."

Thinking it was a parent who had come to the wrong place, Principal Zeng was still polite and courteous.

"Principal, I'm here to see you. I'm Jiang Manzhu, an educated youth from Yan City, currently married into the Li family in the Leap Forward Brigade." Jiang Manzhu introduced herself, emphasizing the latter part—"high school graduate."

A subtle reminder to the principal that she had passed the elementary to middle school and middle to high school entrance exams and that she was now a local.

Principal Zeng was no fool. Hearing her words, he put down the files in his hand. "Oh? How long have you been here?"

"This is my third year, but I understand the importance of education. Even though I'm here in the countryside, I've continued studying." Jiang Manzhu walked closer. "Principal Zeng, you've worked tirelessly, educating and nurturing the children in our brigade. Even Linxi from our family was once your student and went on to pass the high school entrance exam."

Principal Zeng had heard many compliments, but the key part of her words was the last bit—passing the high school entrance exam? Linxi? Li Linxi??

Yes, she had said she married into the Li family. Li Linxi… was a good kid. When he passed the exam, he had even come to share the good news.

"Linxi is indeed a good child—diligent and focused on his studies…" Principal Zeng sighed, his impression of Jiang Manzhu improving a little.

It was just a pity that no other students were as outstanding as him.

Jiang Manzhu then got to the point. "Principal, I heard that a teacher at the primary school is returning to the city. Are you looking for a replacement?"

"We are, but not just anyone can be a teacher. It takes skill to properly educate students. Otherwise, it would only harm them."

Principal Zeng was polite but distant, clearly not convinced of Jiang Manzhu's abilities.

He wasn't about to hire just anyone who volunteered.

"The principal is right. They say children are the future of the country, and if the youth are strong, the country will be strong. However, the teachers who educate the children must also be excellent. I wonder what criteria the principal uses to select teachers? Will there be an open exam in the village to recruit teachers?"

Jiang Manzhu proactively offered a suggestion, posing it as a question. Of course, she knew there was likely some agreement between the principal and the village leader.

"I heard that this year's elementary school graduation exam results weren't great. Among all the elementary schools under the commune, only one middle school exists, so every student has to compete to get in."

Jiang Manzhu's words made the principal frown slightly, and he looked at her with a sharp gaze.

He wasn't a fool. He certainly understood the meaning behind her words. Such a straightforward and obvious statement lacked persuasion, making it clear to everyone what her intentions were.

An exam-based selection process? It's not a bad idea…

The principal, Mr. Zeng, maintained a calm and composed expression, as if he wasn't interested in her suggestion, and gestured for her to leave.

Jiang Manzhu didn't insist on getting an answer from the principal. Step by step? Gradually? She didn't have much of a relationship with the principal anyway, and staying too long might irritate him.

Building a rapport? That would take time.

At the same time, she couldn't come across as too calculating in front of the principal. What if she got the job and he later felt that she was too cunning?

Being straightforward and obvious, she was a "sent-down youth" who married into the village and intended to settle there permanently.

All she wanted was to remind the principal of the importance of elementary school teachers. Beyond the village's production brigade, there were also several elementary schools under the commune competing.

Did he want temporary relief, or was he willing to work hard to stop other principals from mocking him?

Jiang Manzhu was confident, and indeed, she left a deep impression on the principal.

If she didn't have any skills, how could she dare to recommend herself?

After the young woman left, Principal Zeng sipped his tea in deep thought. Indeed, the village leader had recommended her as a talented individual.

But how could he be sure she was truly talented? After all, she was a "sent-down youth." What if she just idled her days away back in the city? It was hard to tell.

He couldn't take this lightly. If his students continued to perform poorly, those above might replace him as principal.

Children are the flowers of the nation's future, and if the youth are strong, the country will be strong…

The next day, he went to the commune and copied dozens of mixed elementary and middle school test papers to bring back. But that's for later.

At this moment, Jiang Manzhu walked out of the principal's office, and Xiaobei was still sitting in the shade, waiting for her.

Seeing her approach, Xiaobei stood up and ran over. "Sister-in-law, are you done?"

"Yes, let's go home." Jiang Manzhu, like a job seeker who had just received a "wait for further notice" from an interviewer, wasn't nervous at all. Instead, she smiled optimistically and called her little brother to go home.

Xiaobei hadn't eaten his candy yet. He planned to fill a large bottle with water later, dissolve the candy in it, and enjoy the sweet taste.

Of course, Jiang Manzhu didn't care about that. Once she gave the candy to Xiaobei, it was his to do with as he pleased.

After they got home, Jiang Manzhu checked the time. The clock hanging high in the main hall showed it was already 11 o'clock.

"Xiaobei, I'm going to do the laundry. You go to the vegetable garden and pick some green onions and Shanghai cabbage. We'll stir-fry them with the meat." The weather had cooled down a bit, and since they hadn't finished the meat yesterday, she salted it to preserve it.

"Okay." Xiaobei obediently nodded. This was simple enough. As long as he could recognize the vegetables, and given that he always picked a full basket each time, this was no problem for a brave and smart boy like him.

Jiang Manzhu, still a bit worried, asked with concern, "Xiaobei, can you manage picking the vegetables by yourself?"

Xiaobei: How could he not be able to pick vegetables? He was amazing!

After doing the laundry, Jiang Manzhu also helped wash the vegetables. Cough, cough—if only they had picked the vegetables in the morning. By noon, the vegetables had already wilted.

But that didn't matter. No one in the family was picky, and when stir-fried with the meat, the aroma would cover up any signs of wilting.

A bowl of egg custard, sprinkled with green onions, released the unique fragrance of eggs, tempting anyone's appetite.

Take Xiaobei, for instance. Sitting at the table, his eyes were fixed on the bowl of egg custard that his sister-in-law had made just for him.

Important detail: it was his, and his alone!

When Liu Jumei and Lin Xi returned and saw that Jiang Manzhu had made a bowl of egg custard just for Xiaobei, no one was jealous.

However, Lin Xi had a question. "Why did you suddenly make egg custard for Xiaobei today?"

This hadn't happened before. Was it because Jiang Manzhu had asked Xiaobei to do something?

"Lin Xi, are you jealous that Xiaobei got egg custard? Don't worry; I'll make you a bowl tonight too." Who would have thought Lin Xi could be jealous over a bowl of egg custard? He was the main male lead, after all. How could he envy his little brother over something so small?

If you were two or three years old, it might make sense, but at your age?

Still, considering she was older, she should at least show some concern for her little brother-in-law.

Fine, I'll make you a bowl too. Happy now?

Lin Xi: Is that what I meant?

"Xiaobei, where did you and your sister-in-law go today?" Lin Xi knew he wouldn't get the answer he wanted from Jiang Manzhu, so he turned to Xiaobei.

Feeling slightly uneasy about eating the egg custard all by himself, Xiaobei planned to share half with his brother.

Hearing Lin Xi's question, he responded without thinking, "I went to the school with my sister-in-law today."

The school?

Lin Xi immediately understood. "You heard the school is hiring a teacher? Do you want to apply?"

"Lin Xi, what are you talking about? I was just thinking about earning some extra income for our family. If I become a teacher, we'll have a new source of income, and our days will be much better."

Jiang Manzhu righteously answered, her tone full of the sentiment that everything she did was for the family, which made her words quite comforting.

Unfortunately, Lin Xi was the one listening. He didn't believe Jiang Manzhu had such noble intentions.

She just thought there was no future in cutting pigweed. At least being a teacher came with a salary.

Save up some money, and in the future, it would make doing anything easier.

"So, did it work out?" Lin Xi was indifferent to her little schemes, casually asking about the outcome.

"… No, how could I persuade the principal that easily?" Jiang Manzhu pouted. She couldn't tell if the principal genuinely cared about the children. A competitive exam to select teachers wasn't a bad idea, was it?

"It's okay. Our Manzhu is already excellent. If the principal doesn't see that, it's his loss!" Liu Jumei quickly comforted her.

"I think so too." Confident as always, Jiang Manzhu never let herself wallow in self-doubt. There's a saying: instead of exhausting yourself with overthinking, just charge ahead and take down your obstacles. That's how you enjoy life every day.

Seeing that she hadn't become discouraged, Liu Jumei smiled along with her.

Noticing that Xiaobei had scooped a spoonful of the egg custard for her, Liu Jumei quickly refused, "No, no, Xiaobei, you eat."

"I'll have the meat." Jiang Manzhu, seeing that her mother-in-law was reluctant to eat the meat, quickly put a piece into her bowl. "Lin Xi, you should eat more too. You two are the hardest workers. How will you have the strength if you don't eat well?"

Her concern wasn't misplaced. After all, these two were the pillars of the family, and they needed to be well taken care of.

"Mom, didn't we buy brown sugar? Let's make some brown sugar water for you and Lin Xi tonight. When I become a teacher, we can drink it every day."

Jiang Manzhu confidently thumped her chest. Brown sugar water might not seem like much in the modern world, but in these times of scarce resources, it was practically a low-budget version of malted milk.

And malted milk was already a low-budget version of milk powder, which only well-off families with some connections could afford.

"Alright, alright. I'll be waiting for the day you become a teacher." Liu Jumei nodded, smiling warmly and kindly.

However, from her tone, it was clear she didn't really believe it.

Jiang Manzhu didn't mind but looked toward Li Linxi instead. "Linxi, I think you're quite suitable for this. You're even better than that educated youth from the village they mentioned. You're trustworthy, and it's much better than working in the fields."

"And besides, you'll have free time to do other things."

Jiang Manzhu wasn't worried that Li Linxi would compete with her for the teacher position. She simply thought that if she wasn't fit for it, maybe Li Linxi would be?

This teacher position… our family should take at least half of it… Hmm? This line felt familiar yet out of place.

Anyway, Jiang Manzhu thought that being a teacher was far better than being a dirt farmer.

Li Linxi listened to her words. The most important part was, "You'll have free time to do other things," and he was tempted.

It was true that he couldn't always work with his back to the soil, sweating under the sun just to barely feed his family. Even though they could eat, what if something unexpected happened? Then they'd really have no options.

But just as quickly as he was tempted, the feeling faded.

"I heard the captain has already recommended Luo Zhiqing to be a teacher? Didn't they have a huge conflict before?" Liu Jumei frowned, feeling that this matter was tricky. There must have been some benefit given, right?

And it had to be something hard to refuse, otherwise the captain, who hated Luo Zhiqing so much, wouldn't have done it.

Or… maybe the rumors were false, and Luo Zhiqing was just acting to scare off others?

However, by the afternoon, they learned that the village had started spreading rumors clarifying the situation between Su Qianqian and Luo Liangce, the educated youth.

It wasn't that Su Qianqian wanted to break the engagement; it was because Luo Liangce was impotent! Yes, he was impotent!

His health was poor, and he didn't dare let others know. So, he had deliberately let Su Qianqian take the blame.

The rumors outside said Su Qianqian had changed her heart, but in reality, it was him who couldn't… function.

When the people at the educated youth station heard this rumor, they were dumbfounded. Playing this big a game??

Everyone knew that Luo Zhiqing had conflicts with the captain's family, yet he managed to convince the captain, who returned looking like a breeze had passed through him. It seemed he had succeeded and might really become a teacher.

What kind of deal or benefit had been exchanged, they didn't know. But they were filled with jealousy.

Secretly, they tried to inquire from Luo Liangce, hoping to get some information, but Luo kept his mouth sealed tight.

The educated youths sighed in frustration. They too had thought about 'bribing' the captain, offering gifts, but the captain wouldn't accept!

Maybe he thought it was too little, but they had already given the best things they could offer. They had nothing more!

So, all they could do was feel jealous and silently curse the captain's family. "Are you stupid? Luo Liangce has treated you so rudely, and yet you're still licking his boots? Are you dogs? No backbone at all!"

From yesterday to today, the atmosphere at the educated youth station had changed. Especially when they looked at Luo Liangce, everyone had their own little thoughts—jealous thoughts.

Occasionally, two particularly spiteful individuals would wonder how to ruin his chances!

But who could have predicted that in just one day, such news would spread?

Impotent??? A man??? For a man, this was the ultimate insult. And now that the rumor was out, it was like a crushing blow, one that could lead to thoughts of suicide.

The moment the other male educated youths heard this, they froze, then pursed their lips in silence, and finally, they seemed to understand… Oh, this is why my gift didn't work.

If it were me… I couldn't handle it either. Goodbye!

This… this is Luo Zhiqing's fate!

They all gave up on their previous jealousy. However, one question lingered in their hearts: Was Luo Liangce really impotent??

The female educated youths didn't have much to say about it. They vaguely guessed that this might be the reason why Luo Zhiqing was chosen by the captain to become a teacher.

Of course, a few of the less clever ones didn't figure it out. They just thought the situation had taken a turn. Tsk, tsk, tsk…

The people in the village weren't all stupid either. Some had figured it out but said nothing. After all, this was the captain's family's matter, and they whispered, "The captain really loves his daughter, huh?"

There were also those who didn't figure it out and had no idea what was happening. They only knew that this scandalous rumor was more explosive than the time when xxx was caught fooling around with a widow.

Especially the men. They couldn't help but look down on Luo Liangce with disdain.

Look at him… is he even a man?

No one expected this. Tsk, tsk, tsk…

Luo Liangce had never imagined this outcome. Yesterday, he had learned about the teacher recruitment from the tractor driver.

He knew it was likely true, and the captain probably had the authority to select the teacher for the village school.

He knew he had offended the captain enough to be remembered, and though the captain wasn't openly retaliating by assigning him the worst tasks anymore, if he didn't return to the city soon, the captain might get his revenge eventually.

He couldn't gamble on it, but he wasn't willing to bow down and accept a loss either.

But now, with a benefit to gain, he figured an apology wouldn't hurt. After all, the Su family owed him!!!

With this mindset, Luo Liangce had stepped into the captain's house.

Regarding Su Qianqian's reputation, Luo Liangce knew that for a woman, it was hard to marry into a good family without a good reputation… Oh no, it's difficult to marry into a good family.

So, Luo agreed to let all the blame fall on him, and he could admit it in front of the whole village.

However, Luo only had one condition: it must not affect his chance of becoming a teacher. In other words, rumors of improper relationships or bribery must not stick to him.

There was no doubt that the captain and his wife truly cared about their daughter.

For the sake of her reputation, they were even willing to give up a teacher position, and they were fine with pushing all the blame onto Luo. Moreover, they were willing to offer compensation by giving him the wages for the last two months.

As the saying goes, you can't catch a wolf without risking a child.

A quota to return to the city? Nothing had been heard about that this year, and usually, those came after the autumn harvest, to motivate the educated youth to work hard during the busy season.

Otherwise, if they gave the quota before the busy season, the rest of the youths would lose morale, which wouldn't be good for unity or rural development.

Now it was late October, and next year was almost a year away. Aside from the two months of wages, there was still more to gain.

Luo Liangce thought that as long as the condition of not affecting his teacher qualification was met, everything else didn't matter. No big deal!!

However…

"What did you say? The whole village knows now? That I—I'm impotent??" When he first heard this, Luo's face darkened completely, full of anger and disbelief.

He had thought, at most, they'd say he had a bad temper or wasn't hardworking enough.

But now…

Suddenly, Luo felt like his world had collapsed. How could… how could this kind of rumor spread? How could he continue living in the village?

The educated youth who told him pursed his lips, looking at Luo without sympathy. "Why are you yelling at me? I didn't spread it. I was just trying to help!"

Even Yuan Fengxin, a spiteful educated youth, fell silent.

Compared to his own misfortune, Luo Liangce's was much worse, wasn't it?

Suddenly, he thought, if you oppose the villagers, is this the kind of end you'll meet? He recalled that the Li family now had a good relationship with Jiang Manzhu, and many of the village women liked her.

If he made a wrong move, as Jiang Manzhu had suggested, wouldn't he also lose face?

Luo Liangce spent the entire evening with a face as black as coal. Finally, unable to bear it anymore, he ran to the captain's house to demand answers.

"Captain, what's with all these rumors in the village?" Any man would find this intolerable. If it weren't for the fact that he was isolated and powerless, he would've come to fight already.

The captain had been busy all day, thinking that his wife said she would handle the situation. Su Qianqian had also agreed that it was her reputation at stake, and both mother and daughter would handle it well.

Up to this point, the captain had no idea what rumors had spread. He thought it was just minor damage to his reputation.

As long as it didn't affect his chances of becoming a teacher, that's all that mattered. He had already told his wife and daughter that if the reputation-clearing plan didn't go well, they should forget it.

"Didn't you agree to this, Luo Zhiqing? What's the problem? I've already spoken to the principal; you'll be the teacher in a few days."

The team leader saw that Luo Liangce was so angry, and since his wife and daughter didn't say much, he figured that everything had worked out and there shouldn't be any big problems.

With a calm and indifferent attitude, it only made Luo Liangce's face turn red with rage, his eyes filled with anger.

"So, you did it on purpose? Spreading rumors that I'm impotent???" Luo Liangce roared, unable to accept it. This was far beyond what he had expected.

The team leader paused. What? What does he mean by impotent?

He suddenly looked up at Luo Liangce, then quickly turned to his wife and daughter. Was this the kind of rumor they spread?

Do they not understand how much this would hurt a man?

"Fei Ying! What are you saying? Do you know how much harm this does to Comrade Luo? Look at him, he's so angry he's on the verge of tears! What if he jumps into the river and commits suicide?"

"Comrade Luo, isn't this what you suggested? Besides, how does this affect your ability to be a teacher? This isn't a moral issue, it's just some minor gossip," Su Qianqian hated Luo Liangce deeply. This was just a small act of revenge—he could handle it!

It wouldn't be too much even if she killed him.

"Qianqian, don't say that. Comrade Luo, we thought about it for a long time. As you said, we can't have an improper relationship, and we also need to clear Qianqian's name. At most, we'll give up those two months' salary as compensation for you."

Huang Yeying hadn't agreed with it much at the time, but when Qianqian cried so pitifully, how could she not soften her heart?

Besides, Comrade Luo was being too strict. He wanted to clear Qianqian's name without hurting himself—how difficult was that?

But then, Qianqian had a stroke of genius and came up with this great excuse. Although it did cause a little harm to Comrade Luo, it wasn't that big of a deal…

After all, Comrade Luo didn't seem interested in the village girls. If he didn't get married here, once he returned to the city, who would remember these little things from the countryside?

At that time, Huang Yeying had convinced herself. The main reason was that Qianqian's crying had softened her heart.

Luo Liangce listened to Huang Yeying's words, his face darkened, and he glared at them as if he wanted to eat someone alive.

Was this something that could be easily compensated for?

He regretted it!

He would rather not have the teaching position if it meant becoming a eunuch in the eyes of others!

Yes, that's right, with these rumors spreading, wouldn't he be seen as nothing more than a eunuch?

"Comrade Luo, don't worry. These rumors are only spreading in our village. I'll go to every household and explain. I'll tell them not to spread it further. Would that work?"

The team leader felt a bit guilty. As a man, he knew how damaging these rumors could be. If it weren't for the fact that he was the team leader, his wife and daughter would be in trouble by now.

If it were him, wouldn't he beat them up in a rage?

"Don't worry, Comrade Luo, only the people in the village know about this. It definitely won't spread." The team leader tried to comfort him. The rumors had already spread, so now he could only do his best to make up for it.

After all, he'd already worked so hard to help out. Comrade Luo should consider himself lucky.

Luo Liangce was furious, extremely angry, filled with rage, but under the circumstances, he could only hold it in.

Leaving the team leader's house, although he didn't encounter many people along the way, the others at the educated youth station kept giving him strange looks.

Especially at night, when his male roommates glanced at him with a strange, unspoken look…

He was livid! He was furious!

That night, he even had a nightmare. In the dream, everyone in the village, no matter where he went, knew that he was "impotent."

But he was perfectly capable! Every morning, he could feel the roaring of his "little brother," ready for action. How could he be impotent?

When he woke up in a fright, his eyes were red. This was just the first day, and he already couldn't take it.

Perhaps the rumors hadn't spread throughout the entire village yet, but when they did…

What if, when he became a teacher, the students heard from their parents? Would the rumors spread to the school?

In the darkness, the quiet night was only interrupted by the sound of animals outside the window.

The thought of this terrifying scenario made Luo Liangce wish he could just die on the spot. He sobbed.

Luo Liangce realized that his mental strength wasn't as strong as he thought. He really couldn't handle this situation.

Lying down again, he couldn't sleep, his mind filled with the scenes from his nightmare.

No, tomorrow, I will clear my name in the village!

But when the next day came, and after a morning of work under the increasingly hot midday sun, exhaustion started to get to him, and he lost his resolve.

If he were truly a tough and hardworking man, he wouldn't have tried to pursue the team leader's daughter just to get an easier job.

But as he worked, those strange glances returned, and once again, his fragile mental state reached its breaking point!!!

The rumors in the village seemed to die down overnight.

Jiang Manzhu didn't pay much attention. She wasn't interested in other people's private affairs.

A day passed, and there was still no word from the principal. But if they insisted on making Comrade Luo a teacher…

For Jiang Manzhu, life went on as usual. Cutting pigweed, doing laundry, cooking… In the afternoon, she diligently studied. It was another productive and uneventful day.

At dinner, no one mentioned Comrade Luo's situation, likely because that wasn't an appropriate topic for the table.

By the third day, when Jiang Manzhu had a conversation with the principal, the team leader welcomed the principal to the village.

"What? An exam? I thought you were going to let me recommend someone! I've already chosen!"

The team leader wasn't happy, but the principal didn't care. "I'm sure the person you recommended is good. But this time, I want to have the school teachers take part in the exam too. For the past few years, our village school hasn't done as well in the entrance exams as other villages, and I've lost face because of it."

The principal wouldn't risk putting himself in a dangerous position just for a personal favor. Rumor had it that higher-ups felt some elementary schools weren't performing well and were preparing to replace their leadership.

When he asked about it, how could the people at the commune give a clear answer? They only hinted that he should focus on teaching well.

Mainly, seeing his grim expression—since he was being pressured by other elementary school principals—they offered some words of comfort. However, the principal misunderstood their reassurance.

Of course, the commune couldn't say, "You can slack off, no one above will notice." So, they played along, encouraging him to work hard.

What could the principal do? He was panicking too. For the sake of his reputation and his job, he had to take action.

It must be because the teachers weren't good enough!

The principal made a firm decision. The village chief tried to dissuade him but sensed that this would be difficult to handle.

"I recommended Luo Liangce, the educated youth. He's a good person, with excellent grades, and I think he's a perfect fit," the village chief suggested, hinting at sneaking in a backdoor opportunity.

"If he's that excellent, then let him join tomorrow's noon exam. If he passes, he's in. If not, are you planning to pay him with work points, Chief?" The principal shook his head. Little brother, I can help you with some things, but not everything—only when it won't affect me.

The village chief frowned—work points? Impossible! Does he look like he has spare money to throw around?

"No way!" Work points were the villagers' food; how could they be given out freely to Luo Liangce?

Sure enough, when the news of the teacher recruitment exam, scheduled for tomorrow at noon in the elementary school, spread through the village, Luo Liangce was stunned.

What? An exam? Teacher recruitment? Wasn't it already decided that I was getting the job?

Suddenly, Luo Liangce understood—it must be because they needed an official excuse. The exam was just for appearances!

He felt proud and smug. Well, it's just a small hurdle. Once the dust settles, he'll be good as new!

Strutting around the educated youth's residence, he declared that he'd be taking the teacher exam tomorrow, unsure if he'd be selected.

Hearing his boastful tone, the other educated youths didn't want to talk to Luo anymore. Hmph! Always showing off in front of them.

They didn't want to listen, but… they couldn't help but feel a bit curious. What if, just what if, Luo wasn't guaranteed the job? Maybe it was all a show?

Well, they had to give it a try—maybe they'd succeed!

Meanwhile, Jiang Manzhu had also heard the news. In fact, the entire village knew—the village chief had announced it in front of everyone.

An exam, huh? Isn't this the same thing she suggested to the principal?

Jiang Manzhu eagerly invited Li Linxi to join the exam. "Linxi, aren't you going to participate?"

Seeing Linxi's calm and indifferent expression, with no interest in the matter, Jiang Manzhu was puzzled. What's up with this guy? Why isn't he tempted? Could it be… he enjoys farming?

Who knew he had such a strange hobby?

She gave him a curious glance but still admired him, thinking, Not everyone can endure such hard work.

No wonder he became so successful later—just look at his perseverance. He deserves his success!

Amazing!

"Hmm, I'm not going." Linxi wasn't uninterested; he had simply weighed the options and decided not to go.

He knew a few of his brother's comrades. During this time, he stayed at home, worried that Jiang Manzhu might do something bad to his mom or little Bei.

If possible…

Li Linxi's eyes darkened, a hint of cold determination flickering before he quickly masked it with a downward glance.

"Mom, you should persuade Linxi more. It's a good job, much better than working in the fields. It's not as hard," Jiang Manzhu said, turning to Liu Jumai, thinking this needed serious consideration.

Liu Jumai also looked at Li Linxi. She had asked him twice before, but Linxi never gave a clear answer.

"Sigh, I can't control him. Let him do what he wants," she said. Children have their own fate. If Linxi doesn't want to, there's no use forcing him.

It's like matchmaking—lately, even the matchmakers didn't want to deal with Linxi's matters anymore.

Jiang Manzhu: … Show some authority as a mother!

Seeing that Liu Jumai couldn't sway Linxi either, she gave up. Fine, do whatever you want; it's your life anyway.

Then, remembering Linxi's behavior earlier, she thought, They were discussing him just now. Why didn't he react at all?

"Linxi, how come you're so different at home compared to outside? You barely talk at home, always so quiet. Do you have something against me?" Jiang Manzhu puffed her cheeks. Her words made both Liu Jumai and little Bei look over at Li Linxi.

Li Linxi: When was I ever different? I'm quiet outside too, just working hard, not sweet-talking people…

"No, I've always been like this. Besides, the things you and mom talk about don't concern me, but I am listening." Li Linxi didn't speak harshly to Jiang Manzhu in front of his mother and brother.

If they had been alone, he would've said, "Don't you know what you've done?" or something like that.

"I knew it! We're all family, after all," Jiang Manzhu nodded contentedly, smiling at Liu Jumai.

Older folks loved to see family harmony. Nothing was better than a happy, united family.

Liu Jumai laughed too. "Yes, yes, we're a loving family… Ahem, Manzhu, didn't you say you have the exam tomorrow? You should go to bed early tonight. I'll wake you up in the morning."

All this talk of family harmony was a bit too blunt for her taste. As an elder, she felt it was improper to say such things so directly to the children in this era. She quickly changed the subject, though the cheerful atmosphere lingered.

"Linxi, did you hear that? We're a loving family, so no more fighting or bickering. Peace brings happiness. They say a harmonious family prospers."

Jiang Manzhu gave Li Linxi a playful nudge, trying to remind him. She wanted to plant the idea in his head—remember, we're family, so stop being so rude to me in the future!

Li Linxi didn't respond, nor did he intend to engage with Jiang Manzhu's message. As long as his mom was happy, that was enough for him.