Time-Travel: The Tragic Cannon Fodder Female Supporting Character Makes a Comeback
CHAPTER 137: The Pretty Educated Youth in the 1970s (5)
After quite a while, Xia Shuang finally came out. She stretched lazily and called out, “Jiang Jin, come in. The village chief has something to discuss with us.”
Jiang Jin warily checked that no one was nearby before following her inside.
The village chief sat weakly in his office chair, unable to straighten his back. His trembling hands clutched his abdomen. There were no visible signs of a beating on his face, but his lips were deathly pale, with a faint bluish tinge.
Xia Shuang rolled her neck. “Now, we can talk about compensation, right? How much are you going to pay us? At least 200 yuan each, and that’s not even counting emotional damages.”
“On top of that, your nephew maliciously slandered us, leaving us emotionally traumatized. We won’t have as much energy to work now, so it’s only fair that you arrange some lighter duties for us, right? This is all because you failed to discipline your nephew properly and let him commit such wicked deeds.”
Hearing her demands, Liu Changgui nearly coughed up blood from sheer rage. Gritting his teeth through the pain, he replied in a trembling voice, “I can arrange lighter work for you, but there’s no way I can pay that much. Go ask around and find out how much the villagers earn in a year! I can offer you 50 yuan each at most as compensation.”
These two were taking advantage of his predicament and making outrageous demands!
Xia Shuang raised an eyebrow. “Oh, so you can’t afford the remaining 150 yuan each? Then how about Jiang Jin and I take turns beating you until the debt is paid off?”
With that, Xia Shuang rolled her wrists. “I’ll go first.”
“Stop! What are you doing? Don’t come any closer! We can still negotiate the compensation!”
Liu Changgui kept shrinking back and dodging her, shouting in fear.
His whole body ached. After all, he was already fifty years old and couldn’t withstand her beating.
Xia Shuang clicked her tongue. “Well? Have you made up your mind now? Two hundred yuan each, paid in full, or would you rather make up the difference by taking a few more beatings?”
“Don’t! I’ll pay! I said I’ll pay, all right?!”
In all his years, Liu Changgui had never been humiliated like this. That little bitch! He would never forgive her for this.
According to the original owner’s memories, the Liu family were all miserly hoarders. They kept their money locked away in a wooden cabinet at home, and by the standards of the 1970s, their savings amounted to at least five or six hundred yuan.
That was why Xia Shuang had demanded 200 yuan each in compensation. She was certain Liu Changgui could afford it.
Sure enough, Liu Changgui said he needed to go home to get the money. But Xia Shuang was afraid he might try something sneaky, so she had Jiang Jin keep an eye on him while she went to the Liu family’s house.
……
When Liu Changgui’s elderly mother heard that something had happened to her son at the production team office and that he urgently needed money for medical treatment, she burst into tears as she dug out their savings box. Clutching it tightly, she hurried to the office with Xia Shuang.
“My son! What happened to you? Where does it hurt? Tell your mother!”
Mrs. Liu had bound feet and couldn’t walk quickly. She stumbled as she entered the office, and the moment she saw her son sitting on a stool looking so weak, she burst into tears.
“Your mother brought all the money we have at home! Hurry and get someone to take you to the county hospital!”
Seeing his elderly mother bring out the entire box of family savings, Liu Changgui felt his temples throbbing with anger. Gritting his teeth, he said, “Mother, I’m fine!”
“Fine? Then why is there no color in your face? You even sent someone to call me over to bring money. Are you hiding something from your mother?”
Mrs. Liu looked bewildered. Frowning, she turned to glance at Xia Shuang. “What’s going on, young lady? Did you make up that story?”
Xia Shuang put on an innocent expression. “But the village chief really did ask me to call you.”
Seeing the warning in Xia Shuang’s eyes, Liu Changgui gritted his teeth and lowered his voice. “Mother, you should go home first. I’ll handle things here.”
Mrs. Liu looked displeased and reached for the wooden box of money on the table. Just then, Liu Changgui suddenly spoke up. “Mother, leave the money here for now. I have a use for it.”
Mrs. Liu didn’t think much of it. As the village chief, her son had plenty of important matters to deal with, and naturally, some of them required money.
Besides, the money would eventually be returned, and sometimes she could even make a little extra from it. So she left the box behind and went home.
As soon as she was gone, Liu Changgui reluctantly took the key from his pocket and unlocked the wooden box. He counted out 400 yuan, leaving almost nothing inside.
Clutching the thick stack of bills tightly in his hand, he could barely bear to part with it. If he hadn’t been forced into a corner, he would never have handed over the money.
Xia Shuang walked over and snatched it from him. “What’s there to be so reluctant about? This is all the mess your Liu family created.”
She swiftly counted out half the money and handed it to Jiang Jin without hesitation, then stuffed the rest into her own pocket.
“The compensation has been paid in full. Remember to arrange lighter work for us tomorrow. I’d advise you not to try any dirty tricks. Otherwise, beating you up won’t be the only way I deal with you. Don’t believe me? Just wait and see.”
Xia Shuang left first, and Jiang Jin followed her out.
Liu Changgui angrily shoved the wooden box off the table, sending it crashing to the floor. His face darkened as he cursed, “Bitch! I only fell for your tricks today because I wasn’t prepared. You think knowing a few dirty fighting tricks means you can do whatever you want?!”
“You dare take a cut of my money? Whatever you’ve swallowed, I’ll make you spit it back out sooner or later. I won’t rest until I’ve taken you down!”
……
Xia Shuang came out first and walked ahead with a relaxed expression, humming a tune.
Jiang Jin had tried several times to speak, only to stop himself each time. He simply couldn’t make sense of it.
They had lived in the same educated youth compound for three years. Although they hadn’t interacted much on a deeper level, they had still been around each other long enough for him to get a general sense of everyone there.
As for Xia Shuang, he had always thought of her as a gentle, pretty, and quiet young woman.
What he had witnessed at the production team office just now had clearly gone far beyond that impression.
He hurried to catch up, walking alongside her on her left. Then he took the money from his pocket and held it out to her.
“You can keep all of it.”
Xia Shuang glanced at him, surprised. “This is compensation we both deserve. We should split it evenly. You can use yours to improve your meals or buy a couple of new outfits. Whatever you need, just get it. Keep the money and spend it little by little.”
The Liu family owed both the original Xia Shuang and Jiang Jin a debt from their previous lives. There was nothing wrong with taking this money.
Jiang Jin pressed his lips together, then shoved the money into her hand and said stiffly, “You’re my girlfriend, so you should keep it. Besides, we only got the money thanks to you.”
Seeing his reaction, Xia Shuang guessed he was too embarrassed to take it, so she put all the money away together.
“Fine, then. Just ask me whenever you need some.”
Jiang Jin nodded, unable to resist asking casually, “Have you learned martial arts?”
Xia Shuang answered calmly, “Yeah. Before I came to the countryside, there was a retired soldier living in the alley near my home. I learned from him for a while, and he taught me quite a few tricks for beating people up.”
“I see.”
Jiang Jin didn’t doubt her explanation. After a moment of reflection, he analyzed the situation. “Liu Changgui has been scared into submission for now, but there’s no guarantee he won’t resort to underhanded tactics later. We need to be more careful.”
Xia Shuang nodded casually. “Mm, I’ll be careful. I know a few moves, so I’ll be fine. You should focus on protecting yourself.”
Jiang Jin was briefly speechless. “...All right.”
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