Chapter 16 Disdain

The abbot's female educated youth said, "Director Li has adjusted the program schedule. Educated Youth Dong had something come up, so her performance is moved to the end; it's your turn now."

Once again, it was Li Shengmei. Xia Xiao nodded indifferently. After all, this was her last performance. The sooner she got it over with, the better. But when she turned her head, she saw Li Shengmei hugging Dong Meihua in a warm and intimate manner, like mother and daughter, which took Xia Xiao by surprise.

Right away, Xia Xiao began to step onto the stage. She was dressed in a grey-blue outfit and wearing Liberation shoes, with her hair parted into two large braids. Without a microphone, she just cleared her throat and sang from the stage.

Fortunately, at that time, the production team didn't have a camera, and no one had cell phones; otherwise, just the thought of her own appearance made Xia Xiao cringe.

But in that era, everyone looked that way, and after getting used to it, it seemed fine.

"The moon travels through clouds that look like white lotus flowers, the evening breeze brings waves of joyful singing, we sit beside tall stacks of grain, listening to mother's stories of the past…"

Xia Xiao's voice was clear and ethereal, sweet and pleasing to the ear. Her spirit had drifted far away, and her thoughts returned to a previous life, reflecting on her short existence.

Everyone at the venue fell silent. No one spoke at this time; they all listened attentively to Xia Xiao's singing, as if drawn into the scenes described in the song.

Working for the landlord, cold and hungry in winter, dressed in rags, eating wild vegetables and grain husks, it was as if everyone had returned to that time, experiencing the hardships and bitterness of the past.

Nowadays, as everyone sat beside tall stacks of grain, watching Xia Xiao sing on the simple stage, they were immersed in the song, moved by the emotions carried in Xia Xiao's voice.

At this moment, Xia Xiao, in everyone's eyes, looked like a sweet and tender child, her voice as pure and delightful as a child's, crisp and engaging, as if nestled in her mother's embrace, listening to her mother tell the stories of the past.

As the song ended, the sound of applause followed.

"Beautiful."

"Educated Youth Xia, sing one more."

Everyone shouted and clapped. Xia Xiao smiled slightly and composedly said, "There are plenty of wonderful performances today, and I'm always at the brigade; there will be other opportunities. Let's continue to enjoy the exciting performances that follow."

After saying this, Xia Xiao stepped down from the stage without singing another song. Mainly because the only other song she could sing besides "Let's Row the Oars" was not something she knew how to sing, and the village children were performing that very song, so Xia Xiao wouldn't sing it either.

"Have you noticed that Educated Youth Xia is getting prettier?"

"Yes, I think she's much more attractive than when she first arrived."

"True that, being from the city, she has a quality that people from our village just can't match."

"Mmm, all the educated youths from the city are good-looking."

"It's just that Educated Youth Xia is a bit too petite, she looks like a child who hasn't grown up. If she were a bit taller and fairer, maybe she would be as beautiful as Educated Youth Sun."

"Educated Youth Sun's family must be high-ranking officials, I bet, judging by her proud demeanor. It's difficult to approach her."

"Yes, Educated Youth Sun is too cold."

"Then Wang Aihua isn't bad, she's most straightforward and easygoing."

"Yang Xuehua is not bad either, she's like someone who could be a teacher."

"I think Dong Meihua is the best, this girl looks like she carries fortune, and she's diligent with work, sweet with words, and any family's son who could marry Dong Meihua would be lucky."

Xia Xiao heard these discussions from afar and smiled slightly without taking them to heart. After all, she was mentally older and not really a thirteen-year-old girl, so she did not bother to take offense.

But suddenly, a voice came through, which Xia Xiao recognized as Li Shengmei's voice, she listened as Li Shengmei said loudly:

"Indeed, Dong Meihua looks like she carries fortune. Among these girls, each one is better than Educated Youth Xia. Educated Youth Xia is short and skinny, has no chest, no backside, no strength, is not good at work, and is spoilt rotten. Any family that marries a daughter-in-law like her is asking for trouble."

As Li Shengmei spoke, she deliberately looked in Xia Xiao's direction, clearly intending for Xia Xiao to hear.

Even with Xia Xiao's good temper, upon hearing Li Shengmei speak about her this way, she felt displeased.

Xia Xiao unconsciously clenched her fists, wanting to rush over and give Li Shengmei a piece of her mind, but she still restrained herself with her reason.

Now, on New Year's Eve, when everyone is in a festive mood, no matter who was right or wrong, if she argued with Li Shengmei, she would be the one to come off worse. Not to mention the status of Li Shengmei's family in the village, which was not lower than that of the team leader. It would be unwise for her, an outsider educated youth, to confront Li Shengmei, especially since she still had to live here for many years and did not want to ruin her reputation in the eyes of the villagers.

If she truly rushed over, she would fall right into Li Shengmei's trap.

Xia Xiao did not see Zheng Xianghong and thought to herself if Xianghong were here, she would definitely stand up for her. But then she considered that she really wasn't the daughter-in-law candidate among these women, and even though Xianghong was kind to her, she probably wouldn't approve of her if she were to become Xianghong's daughter-in-law.

Suddenly, Xia Xiao felt a bit dispirited, somewhat lonely, and even a bit ridiculous. Why should she care about their opinions? She didn't even want to be their daughter-in-law.

While listening to those women speaking there, with Li Shengmei's mouth not even stopping, Xia Xiao hummed in her heart dismissively, pretended not to hear, and walked away. As she looked up, she saw Gao Jiaxing and He Xuebing not far away. Thinking of Li Shengmei's words, Xia Xiao suddenly felt a defiant impulse: You say marrying a daughter-in-law like me is asking for trouble? Well, I'll just have to marry your son.

Xia Xiao knew this thought was juvenile, but she had taken a liking to He Xuebing. Initially, because Xuebing was Li Shengmei's son, Xia Xiao had tried to put the notion out of her head, but now Li Shengmei's words gave her the impulse to be with Xuebing.

However, Xia Xiao did not forget that she was only thirteen now, while He Xuebing was already seventeen, one year older than Gao Jiaxing.

"Educated Youth Xia, my mother has always been blunt with her words, don't take what she says to heart," He Xuebing said apologetically to Xia Xiao.

Li Shengmei had spoken so loudly on purpose, and it was hard for the people around not to know. But the He family had a special status in the village. Although Xuebing's father had a lame leg, he was a retired military officer, who had connections not only in the army but also in the county town.

Otherwise, how could Li Shengmei with her mannerisms, reportedly illiterate, hold the position of Women's Director in the production team?

"It's okay, Director Li just looks down on me. I know. Director Li has someone in mind for her daughter-in-law already. Mr. He, it seems your lucky day is approaching," Xia Xiao said with a smile.

Gao Jiaxing glanced at Xia Xiao and thought her smile seemed fake, obviously unhappy, yet she forced a smile.

He Xuebing touched his head and chuckled, "My older brother isn't even married yet, it's not my turn. I have just joined the army, I'm not considering marriage so soon; it'll probably be after a decade or so."