“Huo Chen, you’ve started building a house so soon! You must be making a fortune from hunting!” The envious whispers began to spread, their venomous tones cutting through the air.
“That’s right! Everyone should stop working in the fields and go hunting! There are so many wild animals on the mountain; I don’t believe we can’t catch them!” another voice chimed in, fueled by jealousy.
“Exactly! Everything on this mountain belongs to the collective; why should Huo Chen be the only one to benefit?” The chorus of discontent grew louder.
Huo Chen remained impassive, his face a mask of cold indifference. “There are indeed many wild animals in the mountains. And there isn’t much work in the fields right now. You can go if you want.” His words, simple and direct, were a challenge.
The villagers’ minds immediately churned with calculations. More than ten yuan a day from hunting? And building a house for him only cost one yuan a day? Many of the more calculating individuals quickly lost interest in helping with construction. Of the twenty-odd people Xu’s father had gathered, only ten remained.
But Huo Chen was unfazed. He had only enlisted Xu’s father’s help as a formality. Their departure mattered little. Soon, Wu Qingsong arrived with a large group of men, all strong and eager to work. Knowing Xu Ying’s meticulous nature, Huo Chen had opted for floor tiles in the toilet, mirroring the ones used throughout the house. Xu’s father, unfamiliar with such luxuries, curiously inspected them, marveling at the solid, patterned wooden boards that now graced the floors.
With Wu Qingsong and his crew, the construction surged forward with astonishing speed. The project, initially slated for ten days, was completed in a mere five. The first two-story house in Xujia Village stood proudly, a beacon of envy for many who gazed upon it.
Meanwhile, those who had ventured into the mountains for hunting returned in disgrace after just two days. They knew nothing of digging effective traps, and their pitiful attempts resulted in prey easily escaping. Archery was an even greater failure; their arrows flew wildly, missing pheasants and rabbits alike. They hadn’t even caught a single hair. Some, with sheer luck, managed to snare a pheasant, but the effort involved was immense, leaving them bruised and humiliated, nearly falling off the mountain in the process. Suddenly, a newfound humility settled upon the villagers.
Looking at Huo Chen’s grand new home, their thoughts shifted once more. He must have accumulated significant wealth before, they realized, feeling a sting of self-reproach for ever having considered him the poorest in the village. Now, with a house and the prospect of earning hundreds of yuan a month, he would soon surpass even the captain’s family in prosperity. If Huo Chen was a solitary man, could he possibly spend all that money himself?
Thoughts of his marital status began to circulate. Ever since Huo Chen moved into his new home, a steady stream of matchmakers had appeared at his door.
“My dear sister,” one woman gushed to Huo’s mother, “look at my granddaughter. She’s eighteen, still young, but she knows how to cherish a man. If she marries Huo Chen, she’ll take excellent care of him.”
“And my daughter, dear sister,” another chimed in, “though a little older, she’s far more caring. And she’s a quick worker! She’ll be filial and loving, and she’ll truly look after Huo Chen.”
A continuous parade of women poured into the Huo household, each touting the virtues of their female relatives. Even Xu’s mother grew anxious. “Tell me,” she fretted, “what if Huo Chen really marries someone else?”
But Xu’s father remained unperturbed. The way the young man looked at his daughter was the same way he looked at his own wife. There was no mistaking it.
Days turned into weeks, and Xu’s father unconcern from Hou Chen’s steady stream of prospective match remained plagued by another worry, fearing the district leader’s dissatisfaction during the upcoming rural inspection.
Gu Fuying was at her wit’s end. A persistent suitor, somehow discovering her workplace at the supply and marketing cooperative, had begun to waylay her every day after work, relentlessly pleading for a chance to pursue her. His ugliness repulsed her, and the mere thought of a future kiss filled her with nausea.
“What should we do? This can’t go on, with him constantly pestering you,” Xu Qiuye fretted, sharing her friend’s discomfort.
Gu Fuying was beside herself with worry. “Yingying, what do you think I should do?”
Xu Ying offered a solution. “Go and find out about this man’s weaknesses. His long-time neighbors must know his habits. If you respond to him based on his weaknesses or what he hates, even if he’s persistent, he’ll surely become dissatisfied with you and stop bothering you.”
Gu Fuying’s eyes lit up. “Okay, I’ll go find out after work.” For her safety, Xu Ying suggested she find someone to accompany her or help with the inquiries. After all, this man’s relentless pursuit, even after her rejections, hinted at a troubling character. He was too stubborn, perhaps even willing to resort to extreme measures.
Gu Fuying grew even more frightened after Xu Ying’s words. She looked at Xu Ying and Xu Qiuye pleadingly. “You two are my only friends. Can you stay with me?” Resigned, Xu Ying and Xu Qiuye nodded their agreement.
Gu Fuying was overjoyed. “Thank you!”
“It’s nothing,” Xu Ying replied. “You don’t need to thank me for helping a friend.” A wave of emotion washed over Gu Fuying’s face. She thought of her eldest aunt, who would be furious if she knew. If not for her, she wouldn’t be in this predicament.
“Then shall we start tonight?” Xu Ying asked.
Gu Fuying’s gratitude was evident. She was utterly fed up with that man, who was the same age as her father and utterly unappealing. The worst part was his shameless persistence, ignoring her rejections, always wearing a disarmingly simple smile, even as she voiced her distress.
After devising their plan, Gu Fuying and Xu Qiuye hurried back to work. As soon as their workday ended, Gu Fuying bolted like a wild horse set free, practically dragging Xu Qiuye with her as they rushed into the restaurant. Xu Ying, who had just changed and was preparing to leave, greeted them. “Let’s go.”
“Do you know where He Junqing’s family lives?” Xu Ying asked.
“I know!” Gu Fuying nodded. Her aunt had mentioned his whereabouts before, and she had a good memory. That made things easy. Xu Ying and the others hopped on their bikes and, asking for directions, made their way to the vicinity of He Junqing’s village.
They dared not enter the village directly, opting to inquire from afar. What they discovered was shocking. He Junqing, it turned out, was quite infamous.
“He Junqing, you say?” an old woman began, “He’s a hard worker, but he’s incredibly stingy. Did you know he went on a blind date once, saw the girl, and invited her to dinner? Do you know how he invited her?”
“How?” The three women, now captivated, resembled a group of gossiping villagers, and Xu Ying thoughtfully offered a handful of melon seeds.
The old lady, munching on the seeds, recounted the tale with relish. “He asked the girl to bring vegetables and meat to his house to cook! Then he used his firewood and even calculated the money for it! It’s like a knife stabbing you in the back to open your eyes! Can you believe such a person exists?”
Gu Fuying’s face contorted in disgust. No wonder her aunt hadn’t wanted her cousin to marry him. “Any more stories?” she prompted.
“He also chases girls, gives them gifts, and then asks for the money back! He even calls them money-hungry!” The old woman’s voice rose in indignation. “Just a few days ago, he went on a blind date and invited someone to a restaurant for dinner. After eating a plate of dumplings, he followed them and insisted on getting the money back! With him being so stingy, who would dare to marry him? He looks rich, but he’s got nothing to lose!” The old lady’s storytelling was vivid, almost as if she were a professional narrator.