Chapter Seventy-Nine: Feng Shuya's Methods

Rehearsing for the performance was the most important matter in recent times. Since Feng Shuya had become the village chief, the responsibility for this task weighed even heavier on her shoulders. A new leader must make an impression, and this, her first act, needed to be bold and decisive.

Tao Haiying had not left the performance troupe. After hearing what Shuya had to say, she was deeply shaken, especially since she was a girl with a keen mind.

The second program was now being prepared, involving three main participants: Sha L’er, Luo Yinxing, and Feng Shuya herself. This was a small stage play entitled “Under the Same Blue Sky.” Sha L’er and Yinxing played two rural youths who went to the city to work. Having not completed their schooling, they were compelled to leave home to earn a living—one girl’s father was gravely ill and needed medical expenses. The hardships of working life were the main focus of the play, portraying the joys and sorrows, pains and hopes, the bitterness and sadness of these young laborers. Feng Shuya played a city girl, a university student, who befriends the two rural workers, shares in their tribulations and joys, helps them through difficulties, and ultimately persuades them to return home and start their own business, contributing to the new countryside.

The play, though divided into five acts—really just five scenes without need for curtains—was meant to be deeply moving. The main roles were Sha L’er and Luo Yinxing’s. Neither attended school, so after finishing their chores, they had plenty of time to rehearse. Familiar with the hardships of working away from home, they quickly got into character, and the result was excellent.

Most of the rehearsals could take place at home, so progress was swift. Luo Yinxing, in particular, showed a natural talent for acting—genuine and unaffected, able to summon tears at a moment’s notice.

“Luo Yinxing, you truly have a gift for acting,” Feng Shuya couldn’t help but praise her. She was delighted, for this short play was the heart of their performance, and she was confident it would win them high marks.

But aside from rehearsing, Shuya had many other matters to handle.

Tao Haiying and her mother came to see her. Haiying carried a large hen in her arms, and as soon as her mother saw Feng Shuya, she collapsed to her knees, weeping.

“Director Feng... please, save my son Gaolong…”

The woman could say little, only cry. Feng Shuya frowned, but gently lifted her up and helped her to a seat.

“Auntie, it isn’t that I don’t want to help, but they committed a serious crime. I can’t do anything to save them… Please, don’t kneel. It won’t help. I’m not a judge, and even a judge must abide by the law.” Feng Shuya’s tone grew a little cold. “Haiying, help your mother…”

Tao Haiying’s mother’s hair was half-white; she looked to be well over fifty.

“Director Feng… Gaolong is my only son. If he goes to prison… how will I go on living… oh, why did Sha L’er have to be so cruel…”

“Auntie, you don’t blame your son for his misdeeds, but you blame Sha L’er?” Feng Shuya’s patience wore thin. “Did Sha L’er provoke your son? If your son had killed Sha L’er, would you be happy? Is that how the world works?”

“I… I’m not really blaming Sha L’er… but, oh heaven, what am I to do…”

“Teacher Feng, please don’t blame my mother. She doesn’t know what to say,” pleaded Tao Haiying, who had visibly lost weight these past few days.

“I don’t blame your mother. But just think—you vent your anger on Sha L’er, not reflecting on your own actions. Was it Sha L’er who made your brother attack him? Was it Luo Yinxing who provoked them? Sha L’er and Luo Yinxing are the victims, but in your hearts they’ve become the criminals. Is there any justice in that?” Feng Shuya put on an indignant air. “With thinking like this, even if I had any influence in court, I wouldn’t use it.”

“Teacher Feng… Director Feng… I was wrong… We don’t blame Sha L’er, only our own foolish son… Please, save Gaolong…”

“Enough, Auntie, don’t cry,” Feng Shuya softened her tone. “As the village chief, I do have a responsibility to help. I can try to plead for a lighter sentence, but really, you should ask Sha L’er. He is the victim—if he speaks for you, it will help much more than I can.”

“Thank you, Director Feng… but… would Sha L’er really help us?”

Hearing Shuya’s willingness to plead their case, a bit of color returned to the old woman’s face, but the thought of asking Sha L’er made her uneasy.

“Go home for now; I will talk to Sha L’er. In a few days, we’ll make a trip to the county.”

The old woman left with tearful gratitude, leaning on her daughter. Feng Shuya tried to make them take the chicken with them, but Haiying’s mother refused adamantly, believing a single hen could atone for her son’s crime.

In the countryside, offering a fat hen was the highest form of respect.

By afternoon’s end, Feng Shuya had acquired four hens—each household vying to bring her a laying hen with a red comb, all hoping she’d plead their case. She smiled wryly; normally, making a dish with a bit of pork was already troublesome enough. Killing or feeding chickens was out of the question, and four hens left her at a loss.

In the end, Sha L’er got lucky and took them all home in a burlap sack. He couldn’t bear to slaughter them yet—they were laying eggs, after all—but he’d have to keep them penned up for a few days. If released too soon, they’d run off, but after three or five days, they’d know their new home and come back on their own.

Hardly had the chickens been settled when the yellow dog began barking—a visitor had arrived.

“Sha L’er…”

“Tao Haiying… do you need something?” Sha L’er was surprised to see her, momentarily forgetting to open the door.

“Are you not going to let me in?”

Tao Haiying’s former arrogance was gone; as she spoke, tears welled in her eyes, trailing down her cheeks. Sha L’er hurriedly let her in.

“Don’t cry, don’t cry. I really can’t handle it when girls cry.”

At his words, a bittersweet smile broke through Haiying’s tears. Sha L’er led her into the main room and offered her tea, but she shook her head, glancing at the chickens in the yard—one of which was clearly hers.

“So, my chicken has ended up at your house.”

“Oh… is that yours?” Feng Shuya had already told him the chickens’ origins, but he feigned ignorance. “If I’d known, I wouldn’t have taken it.”

“You won’t take my chicken, then?” Haiying teased, wiping away her tears and managing a smile.

“How could I accept a chicken from your family?” Sha L’er joked. “I’m afraid your hen would peck me.”

“Nonsense!” Haiying’s spirit flared for a moment. “My chicken isn’t that fierce. I’m here to ask a favor.”

“A favor? And you didn’t even bring a gift?” Sha L’er grinned. “Shouldn’t you at least have brought a hen?”

“Thick-skinned.” Hearing his banter, Haiying’s mood lightened. “Didn’t you just say you were afraid my chicken would peck you? Now you want it after all?”

“Your hen may have an iron beak, but my teeth are steel. I refuse to believe steel can’t best iron.” Sha L’er continued to joke, his eyes darting now and then to Haiying’s chest, idly wondering if anyone had ever caught those “fat chickens” within. Those plump “little hens” were rather cute, standing so proudly.

“Sha L’er, could you please go to the police station and say a good word for my brother? Teacher Feng said that if you speak up, he’ll get a lighter sentence.”

Sha L’er already knew about this from Feng Shuya. She’d explained her intentions: as the new village chief, she wanted to show both mercy and authority, so the villagers would be grateful and future work would go more smoothly. Sha L’er had no reason to oppose her.

“That’s fine, but you have to bring me a hen… When I go to the county with Teacher Feng, I’ll have to invite people to a meal… looks like I’ll end up losing out. It’s really not worth it.”

“You’ll really do it?” Haiying’s face lit up with joy.

“It’s not as if your brother and I have some deep blood feud. Teacher Feng already spoke to me. If I’d known that night it was him who attacked me, I wouldn’t have called the police… We’re from the same village—if there’s a fight, we can just settle it ourselves. It’s not like I can’t beat your brother.”

Sha L’er put on a magnanimous air.

“You knew full well it was my brother… Now you pretend otherwise.”

“How could I have known? They were wearing masks—I thought it was some roving bandit.” Sha L’er seldom lied, but when he did, it was indistinguishable from the truth.

“You couldn’t even recognize my brother’s voice?”

“They were wearing masks, their mouths covered. Would their voices sound the same as usual?” Sha L’er’s tone grew impatient. “If I were truly heartless, why would I speak up for him?”

“And you claim to be generous… Fine, I was wrong.” Suddenly, Haiying’s manner softened, her face blooming with a smile meant to please him. “I didn’t bring a hen, but I, a great beauty, am here—isn’t that better than a chicken?”

Haiying, all at once, became charming, her face radiating allure.

“But… a hen can be eaten… and you… can you be eaten?”

“Eat, eat, that’s all you think about…” Haiying shot back, arching her ample chest. “Do you want to eat? Go ahead, I’m yours—steam me or boil me, as you please.”

“Uh…”

Sha L’er was momentarily speechless, staring at her proud bosom and swallowing hard.