Reborn in 1966

Chapter Sixteen: Exposure

Mr. Shen was a very cultured man. He would not argue back when others said unpleasant things. For example, when Secretary Tian said some unpleasant things to him last time, he only told Mrs. Shen when he got back. The couple did not tell their elderly mother. They just said that their younger brother was getting old and they needed to find a wife to start a family.

Although the Shen family had a rightist father, the family had always maintained a good reputation, so finding an ordinary wife shouldn't be a problem. Shen's mother told Shengquan's sister-in-law about this and asked her to help keep an eye out for a suitable one. Grandma also frequently visited Shengquan's uncle's house for this matter. Peiyin, who accompanied Grandma on these visits, knew the ins and outs best.

However, things didn't go as planned. There was a young woman who was interested in her son, and her father was strongly against their relationship, which meant that Uncle Shen's path to marriage was destined to be very difficult.

The wheat harvest is almost here, and the production team has been busy these past few days leveling the threshing ground and repairing tools and equipment. The fields are a sea of ​​gold, and the wind blowing through the wheat fields makes the farmers dream of a bountiful harvest.

On a bright early summer morning, under the sycamore tree, Pei Yin leaned lazily against her wicker basket, listlessly watching the dappled sunlight filtering through the thick, green sycamore leaves and falling on the ground.

Outside the courtyard wall, the daughter of Party Secretary Tian was whispering to her second uncle.

Miss Tian said, "Shen Shengqin, we were seen going to the park the other day, and now everyone at the factory is asking me about my boyfriend. I think you should have your aunt go to my house to propose to my parents."

Uncle Shen said, "You know how we got there. You should talk to them properly and tell them that we're not a good match."

Miss Tian chuckled twice and said, "We know what's going on. Whether others know or not is up to them, I don't care. What's wrong with us? I'm unmarried and you're unmarried, neither of us has a boyfriend."

Uncle Shen said, "Comrade Tian Lingling, what is your class background and what is mine? My brother is still labeled a rightist. It's really not suitable for you to marry into our family."

Miss Tian said, "Whether it's suitable or not isn't up to others to decide, it's up to me. If you don't come to my house to propose soon, you'll be in trouble once those rumors reach our village."

Hearing this, Pei Yin sighed. This Miss Tian really doesn't care about anything for her love. Taking Pei Tian and Pei Zhi to the park was probably intentional on her part. She probably brought the Shen family along because she knew someone there.

Uncle Shen sighed and said, "Lingling, at worst I won't find a wife and will remain a bachelor. You're a grown woman, sigh..."

After a moment of silence, Pei-Yin saw her grandmother coming from the backyard. She stretched out her arm and called out to her grandmother, "Oh, oh, oh!" Her grandmother put down the winnowing basket and said, "Oh dear, Pei-Yin, do you need to poop or pee?"

Outside the courtyard wall, my second uncle said somewhat flusteredly, "My mother is at home, you should leave quickly."

Pei Yin was picked up by her grandmother and urinated. Her second uncle entered the house with his head down.

Grandma said, "Why are you running around outside all day long? It's so inconvenient!"

Uncle Shen said, "The workers' propaganda team is rehearsing a program. They'll be performing in the fields a few days after the wheat harvest."

Grandma said, "Your mother asked your sister-in-law to keep an eye out for you. You're not getting any younger, you need to find a wife and settle down."

My second uncle said, "Mom, don't say anymore, I'll go boil some water for you."

Grandma saw her second uncle go into the kitchen, patted Peiyin's head, and said, "Little Peiyin, what's wrong with your second uncle? He's not worried about himself at all. Getting married is such a big deal. Look around our village, who else is like your second uncle?"

Pei Yin sighed and thought to herself, "Grandma, your youngest son is being coveted. That Party Secretary Tian is so famous in the surrounding villages, he probably won't have a good time finding a wife."

Grandma saw Peiyin sighing along with her and said with a smile, "You little rascal, why are you sighing with Grandma? It's not good for a young child to sigh like that."

Just then, Shen's father rushed into the yard and saw his grandmother and Pei Yin there. He asked, "Mother, has Shengqin come back yet?"

Grandma asked curiously, "Why are you back at this hour? Shengqin is boiling water in the kitchen. What's wrong?"

Mr. Shen waved his hand and strode into the kitchen. Pei Yin vaguely heard her father talking to her second uncle. Mr. Shen deliberately lowered his voice and said a few words. Pei Yin heard a loud noise coming from the kitchen. Her grandmother also heard it and ran to the kitchen door with Pei Yin in her arms. She saw Mr. Shen standing there, but her second uncle had fallen on the firewood. There were a few firewood branches on his head, and he looked a bit disheveled.

Grandma entered the kitchen and said to Shen's father, "Shengsi, what's wrong? Why are you hitting him? Shengqin, what happened?"

Neither of the brothers answered their mother's question. Father Shen sighed and said to Uncle Shen, "Shengqin, you're in your mid-twenties now. This whole family, young and old, has had a tough time. If you really think we're having a hard time, then hurry up and settle things properly. Don't leave any loose ends that people will gossip about, and that will upset everyone. If you think we're having an easy time, then do whatever you want. At worst, your father and I will do some more hard and tiring work."

After finishing his sentence, Mr. Shen turned and left. Uncle Shen slowly slid to the ground, hugged his knees, and lowered his head, so that his expression could not be seen.

Pei Yin understood somewhat. The rumors had probably reached Shenjia Village, and it was likely that Secretary Tian was upset and was taking it out on the Shen family.

Grandma carried Peiyin to Uncle Shen's side and said, "Shengqin, tell your mother what happened. Your brother has never laid a hand on you since you were little. If he did today, something must have happened. Tell your mother so I can have some idea."

Uncle Shen lowered his head and said, "Mother, it's alright, it's really alright."

Seeing that she couldn't get anything out of her second uncle, Grandma picked up Peiyin and left the courtyard. At that time, the eldest aunt of Shengquan's family was also at home. Grandma carried the child and ran into Shengquan's house.

The grandmother in Shengquan's family wasn't much older than my own grandmother. The two families lived close by and got along well.

As soon as Grandma entered the house, Auntie said, "Auntie, I was just about to go to your house. Come quickly, I have something to tell you."

Grandma said, "Sister-in-law, tell me quickly, and I'll ask you more questions after you're done."

Grandma asked, "Is your son, Shengqin, dating the Party Secretary's daughter?"

Grandma said strangely, "No, that's not true. How could our family's Shengqin be worthy of the Party Secretary's daughter? She has a good class background and is still a worker. Our family can't be considered such a good daughter-in-law."

Grandma said, "Why are those two people strolling in the park together?"

Grandma said, "No, you should say that two days before going to the park, Shengqin took Peizhi and Peitian to the park, and didn't go with the Party Secretary's daughter."

Grandma said, "Oh dear, Auntie, everyone in the village is saying that your son Shengqin is dating Secretary Tian's daughter Lingling, and the two of them have even been seen strolling in the park together."

Grandma said, "That's not true. We know what kind of family we are. Sister-in-law, we just got home and scolded Shengqin. I wanted to ask if the production team has something to say."

Grandma said, "I guess it's because Secretary Tian is giving Shengqin a hard time. He's his only daughter, and everyone in the village knows how much he cherishes her. Now that there are such rumors in the village, I guess Secretary Tian is also angry. I think we should go back and ask Shengqin properly."

Grandma agreed, then carried Peiyin and shuffled back home. Uncle Shen was still boiling water in the kitchen. Grandma, panting, asked, "Shengqin, tell me, did you go to the park with the Party Secretary's daughter?"

Uncle Shen remained silent. Grandma looked at him and said, "Is this all true? Oh dear, we're so lazy. Although our family isn't classified as landlords or rich peasants, your brother is a rightist with a label on him. We need to recognize our own status and keep a low profile. How could you get involved with the Party Secretary's daughter? Besides, she's a worker now, and it's not something our family can even dream of."

Uncle Shen hung his head and said in a muffled voice, "Mother, I didn't, it was all Tian Lingling, I really didn't."

Grandma said angrily, "Don't go around saying that. How will she find a husband if her reputation is ruined like this? Listen to your mother and hurry up and find a decent wife. As long as we get married, these rumors will be dispelled."

Uncle Shen nodded and said, "I'll listen to Mother."

While things are like this on one side, things are not so peaceful on the other.

Tian Lingling is resting at home today. After returning home, she will wash her family's clothes and the bedding. Her younger brother, Tian Aiguo, filled the water tank early this morning. The large water tank is already half empty. Tian Lingling specially bought scented soap from the supply and marketing cooperative in the city. The coarse cotton clothes can be lathered with soap on a wooden washboard to produce white foam. As the foam increases, a refreshing fragrance fills the nostrils. The bright sunshine and the fresh scent of soap make it even better if the clothes in her hands are those of someone she likes.

Humming a song with recent quotes, Tian Lingling diligently washed and dried clothes, her fit figure exuding the intoxicating fragrance of youth.

Secretary Tian entered the courtyard with a gloomy face. The first thing he saw was Tian Lingling's smiling face, which he found extremely irritating.

After coughing twice, Tian Lingling, who had been interrupted, turned her head and called out with a smile, "Dad, you're back."

With a gloomy face, Party Secretary Tian sat down on a small stool under the shade of a tree in the courtyard and said, "Come here, I have something to ask you."

Tian Lingling shook the water off her hands and asked with a smile, "Dad, what's up?"

Party Secretary Tian asked, "Did you go for a walk in the park with Shen Shengqin?"

Tian Lingling said, "Yes, what's wrong?"

Party Secretary Tian said loudly, "What's wrong? You still have the nerve to ask me what's wrong?" After saying that, Party Secretary Tian realized that his voice was a bit too loud, and said, "Come inside and tell me what happened properly."

Tian Lingling said, "What's there to say? It's just going to the park."

Secretary Tian said angrily, "What else is there to say? Lingling, you've completely disgraced me, do you even realize that?"