Daily Life in the 70s-Chapter 52 - Harbor No Ulterior Motives

It’ll be convenient for keeping in touch.”

Xu Min frowned slightly and seriously corrected her, “Minmin, don’t misunderstand.

There’s nothing improper going on between Comrade Yang Peiqiong and me.

As Yang Peiqiong Comrade said, we were just discussing school matters.”

Yang Peiqiong looked helplessly at her, “Minmin, I know you’re speaking out of frustration.

You know we’ve had dealings with Xu Min before because of that loan, and we’ve developed a bit of a friendship.

I shamelessly came to him asking about these matters, precisely because I didn’t want anyone to misunderstand like you are doing now.

So, I chose this place.

You can vent all you want at me, just don’t say things out of frustration that will lead to misunderstandings.”

Yang PeiMin covertly took a moment to assess Yang Peiqiong’s attire, which unlike her usual plain and nondescript clothes, today she wore a brand-new apricot-yellow cotton-padded jacket, paired with a rose-red scarf, which stood out even from a distance.

She also noticed a Shanghai-brand watch on her cousin’s wrist.

Even that watch was expensive, costing as much as her father, Yang Dajiang’s four months’ wages.

She couldn’t be sure what Yang Peiqiong was thinking.

If she said she liked Xu Min, then before she’d gone out of her way to create opportunities for herself and the educated youth.

If she said she didn’t like him, then now she was all dolled up, secretly meeting with him.

Was there something important?

In any case, she knew that Yang Peiqiong did not have good intentions.

Yang PeiMin waved her hand and shook her head, “No, cousin, please don’t try to link Xu Min with me anymore.

Before, it was because of my naivety that I was deceived in a moment of carelessness.

Whatever little friendship I had was spun into a love affair by you.

That almost ruined me, but thankfully I came to my senses in time and avoided becoming the laughingstock of the village.”

Xu Min couldn’t bear to see even a hint of ‘fear’ on her bright, moon-like face.

He was somewhat in disbelief, “Minmin, are you saying all the affection you had for me before was fake?”

He didn’t know if others felt the same, but after falling ill, Yang PeiMin had become even more beautiful.

The previous air of frivolity and arrogance was gone, replaced by serenity and composure.

The old Yang PeiMin was like a decorative fake flower—dull and scentless despite its looks, a shame to waste, but regrettable to throw away.

The new Yang PeiMin was different, lively and attractive through and through, like a fragrant flower.

Xu Min was proud and confident.

He came from a working-class family, was an excellent university student himself, and was handsome.

He was not like those rural people with mud-stained feet.

Yang Peiqiong looked at her with the shock of seeing a monster, “Minmin, why would you think that of me?”

Just then, Xiao Niu, having played enough, came over and tugged at Yang PeiMin’s hand, looking up at her with yearning eyes, “Eat, eat.”

Yang PeiMin knew she was hungry, “Alright, Xiao Niu is hungry, isn’t she?

Let’s go home and eat Fanfan.”

The truth of the matter was as it stood, no amount of excuses or cover-ups would fool her.

Nor could she force them to admit their ill intentions.

So there was no point in her wasting words here.

Didn’t they see that little Xiao Niu was hungry?

She took Xiao Niu by the hand and, without a backward glance at them, headed in the direction of home.

Yet, Yang PeiMin thought about calling some people over to watch while the two were still here—that would really be satisfying.

“Minmin, be clear with what you’ve said before you go!”

“Minmin, don’t leave; you haven’t answered me yet.”

They really were of the same ilk, even shouting the same thing.

“Xiao Niu?” The little niece slowed down.

Without minding the two behind her, Yang PeiMin stopped to look at her, “What’s wrong?”

Xiao Niu was not yet three years old and could only speak in one- or two-word phrases, not yet able to express herself fully.

Moreover, the child was somewhat shy, and at this moment, she was silent, her innocent eyes looking at her, maybe unable to convey her feelings.

“Are you tired?” Yang PeiMin smiled, picking her up, “There, does aunty holding you make you feel less tired?”

“Minmin!” Xu Min took a step forward, wanting to say something.

Yang PeiMin glanced at him with a mocking look, “Comrade Xu, one ought to know oneself.

This kind of incessant pestering is truly contemptible.”

Xu Min’s face turned crimson; it seemed it was the first time he was being mocked like this, feeling both humiliated and enraged.

“Minmin, you have changed.” Yang Peiqiong’s face showed disappointment, “Brother Xu used to be so good to you, giving you notebooks, study materials, and cloth tickets that he himself couldn’t bear to use.

Even when his own clothes were coming apart at the seams, he wouldn’t take a new piece for himself.

How can you say such things?

As human beings, we must have a conscience.”

In fact, those things were just meant for bartering other goods he needed, such as grain or cloth shoes.

Whatever flattering words were said, they were given to the original owner, who was simply too caught up in the web of affection he’d spun to see clearly.

“These items from Xu Min have all been returned, haven’t they?

Haven’t you mentioned it to your cousin?

See, here comes another misunderstanding,” Yang PeiMin lifted Xiao Niu in her arms, a bit higher.

For all the child wasn’t heavy, wrapped in her bulky clothes, she still had some weight.

With that, she stepped forward and walked away.

“Yang PeiMin!” Xu Min stepped forward to block her path.

“What now?” Yang PeiMin’s eyes were filled with disgust; this man was like a persistent fly.

“Is this harassment?”

A deep voice intervened, and the person in front of Xu Min was suddenly pulled away.

“Brother Shen!”

It was Shen Yiguang who had arrived, and Yang PeiMin’s eyes lit up.

Shen Yiguang had thrown Xu Min to the ground, eliciting a cry of pain from him, “Who are you?

Can soldiers just beat people like that?”

Yang PeiMin enjoyed watching him teach a lesson to such scoundrels.

After a few good kicks, Xu Min could no longer cry out.

“You, this…don’t hit him anymore, he might be killed,” Yang Peiqiong hurriedly shouted, yet she did not come over to stop it.

“Don’t misunderstand, he just wanted to say a few words to my sister, he wasn’t harassing anyone.”

“Ask Minmin if you don’t believe me.

She knows.

Minmin, say something!

Xu Min was even your boyfriend before; you can’t just ignore this trouble!”