CHAPTER 168: 167: MUTUAL DISLIKE (CHAPTER 1) MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE, GIRLS.

Wang Changjiang saw that Ye Ling wasn’t leaving him any face, knowing it was because of yesterday’s incident at Zhang De’s house. Thinking of this, he didn’t feel guilty at all. Wang Changjiang didn’t interfere in the matter at Zhang De’s house because he had his own personal interests. He also knew what the outcome would be if he didn’t intervene. Now that Zhang Juanzi was gone, Wang Changjiang felt his intentions had been seen through, so whenever someone brought up the matter at Zhang De’s house, he couldn’t help but feel guilty.

Seeing Ye Ling standing up to him so boldly now, he naturally assumed it was because of this. But isn’t it true that when people feel guilty, their voices tend to get louder? "Ye Ling, don’t think that just because you’re a child, you can fool around. I’m telling you, behaving like this, not knowing your place, can you really bear the responsibility for the consequences?"

"The villagers are all honest people, and there are no criminals. From what Uncle Wang says, it seems like someone wants to harm me. I don’t understand how speaking a few truths can bring me any bad consequences. Besides, since coming back from the city, I haven’t offended anyone in the village, so what could go wrong? If something really does happen in the future, then I’ll have to go find Uncle Wang. After all, if anyone is offended, it would surely be Uncle Wang, since he always thinks my words are unpleasant and that I have done things with bad consequences."

Ye Ling’s words were clear: You keep talking about bad consequences for me, so listen carefully now. If anything bad happens, it’s your doing. Now, with so many people in the room watching, let’s see what you can do to me?

After what happened with Zhang Juanzi, Ye Ling was no longer willing to tolerate Wang Changjiang. This person was truly heartless, willing to be so cold-blooded to others for his own selfish gains. Such a person really wasn’t worth respecting.

Wang Changjiang, an adult, how could he not understand these words? But he never expected Ye Ling to call him out so directly. For a moment, he was stunned. Originally, he did want to play some tricks, but after hearing what Ye Ling said, he had to be careful not to be tricked by others. Otherwise, wouldn’t all the blame fall on him if something happened?

"You little girl, look at what you’re saying. Your Uncle Wang is only doing this for your own good. If he didn’t treat you like his own child, why would he bother talking to you like this? You see, as soon as he speaks, you get angry, that’s how it is. Why would your Uncle Wang do something so thankless? Think carefully, why is Uncle Wang taking you all to make money like this?" Si Jun stepped in to mediate, pausing with a difficult look on his face, "Take selling things at the bus station, for example. Others in the village also do this but never make money. How come only you all are earning? How do you think the village people feel? They’ll just watch? The villagers are honest, but what if someone is envious? Ye Ling just mentioned, could it be the villagers are jealous? And if that really is the case, as the team leader, your Uncle Wang can’t say it outright. Just coming to remind you means he’s already being watched, so how could he say it directly? You’re not a child, you should understand some things."

Ultimately, Si Jun turned the conversation back, making Wang Changjiang appear very aggrieved.

Ye Ling inwardly laughed, knowing Si Jun’s skill with words, able to turn dead into alive. Now it seemed he was twisting the facts, leaving Ye Ling unsure of her standing. "Uncle, you’ve also said I’m not a child, so I understand what’s going on. I appreciate your and Uncle Wang’s goodwill today, but I’ve made up my mind. If there’s money to be made, why not make it? Should I really live a poor life just because some people talk?"

"Si Jun, you heard her. It’s not that we’re not helping, it’s that she doesn’t appreciate it. Let’s leave," Wang Changjiang said coldly as he walked away, "Though I’m the team leader, I can only manage things publicly. I can’t control what people do privately. Besides, your Ye Family isn’t farming in the team now, so whatever happens, it’s none of my business. You manage yourselves."

"No need to worry, Uncle Wang." Ye Ling smiled as she watched them leave.

Zhao Guodong angrily cursed, "What a worthless person, what’s a team leader worth anyway?"

Just as Wang Changjiang stepped out, Zhao Guodong’s voice was loud, naturally he heard it, turning his face livid with rage, while Si Jun advised beside him, "Don’t bicker like a child."

Ye Ling wasn’t afraid of offending people, "No need to worry, I’ve vaguely heard this production team is going to dissolve, eventually people will manage their own land. So, who knows if that team leader will even have the position next year."

When Ye Ling said this, she deliberately raised her voice, seeing Wang Changjiang turn back from the courtyard to glare into the house, knowing he had heard her. She smiled back, as she wasn’t lying. In 1983, production teams would dissolve, and former production team leaders would become ordinary villagers, losing their privileges. Next year was going to be 1982, no matter how much he tried to bounce back, it was only for another year, Ye Ling was confident in this.

Zhang Linong raised an eyebrow but didn’t ask more.

Zhao Guodong was curious, "Really? Where did you hear that from?"

"I just heard it someplace." Ye Ling didn’t tell the truth, "Alright, originally planned to take the village’s cart to town, but it seems we can’t now. Let’s sell the vegetable buns for another day today, then we’ll go to town together tomorrow."

"Sounds good to me," Wang Ping, who was already hungry, said, "Let’s cook first. These busybodies delayed our meal."

Ye Ling laughed, called Lining to the kitchen with her.

After Wang Changjiang left, Ye Ling’s words echoed in his mind, but he felt awkward bringing it up in front of Si Jun. Once they parted ways and he returned home, he sat silently on the kang.

"What’s wrong? Did that girl from the Ye Family speak ill of you?" Dong Chunhong, walking in from the outer room, saw her husband’s demeanor and knew he had been unmasked.

"Do you think the production team could disband?" Being a team leader for years, Wang Changjiang had grown accustomed to it, and if suddenly, he was nothing, he wouldn’t know what to do.

Dong Chunhong was startled, "Why bring that up?"

"Just now at Ye’s house, their girl didn’t listen to advice. As Si Jun and I were leaving, I heard her inside talking about the production team disbanding next year," Wang Changjiang analyzed, "It’s not that I believe what a child says, but she’s been in the city, so her news is bound to be earlier than ours. That’s why I have to think about it. If what she says is true, my role will disappear when the team disbands!"

When he was a team leader, he could control others, but once he was no longer a leader, would those he offended still fear him? Now it seems, regardless of whether what Ye Ling said is true, preparations must be made ahead of time. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to qidian.com to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)