Chapter 18: Don't Be an Eyesore to an Old Man Like Me
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Just as Ji Ling had expected, she and Professor Lian burst into laughter. Shen Yi stood to one side, feeling his flesh crawl, bitterly regretting his decision. How could he have let these two meet? Wasn’t he only making trouble for himself?
Bah, Shen Yi, you complete idiot.
He cursed himself inwardly, sulking in silence.
“All right, I’ve made the paint for you. Take it and give it another coat. Now go, go! Don’t stand there blocking an old man’s view. And as for this young lady, don’t bring her here again. If you two dare come back, I’ll break your legs.”
As Professor Lian spoke viciously, he rummaged through a drawer and brought out a fine-quality fountain pen. It was the very one he had... No, he shouldn’t think about it. The more he thought, the worse he felt.
Professor Lian handed the pen to Ji Ling. “Keep it safe. The two of you should live well together. Nothing matters more than that.”
Shen Yi and Ji Ling exchanged a silent glance. The old man really was all hard words and soft heart.
When they emerged from the dilapidated house, night had fallen completely.
“Are you taking me home?” Ji Ling raised her eyes, her gaze lingering over Shen Yi’s face.
“Ahem. Yes, I am.” Shen Yi felt that his cultivation was still far too shallow. How could a single airy sentence make his ears burn?
Ji Ling giggled, her body trembling with laughter. The redness spread visibly across Shen Yi’s face and neck.
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Along the way, Shen Yi told Ji Ling a little about Professor Lian. It turned out that he had once been a teacher at a school in the capital. Later, disaster befell his family, and he himself was sent down to this place. Over the years, his family members had died or drifted away until he was the only one left in the Lian family.
Listening to Shen Yi, Ji Ling could not help feeling a deep respect for the old man. The two of them sighed over his fate for a while.
As soon as they reached the vicinity of the Ji family home, they saw Village Chief Hua and Party Secretary Li standing there. Each held a glowing cigarette ember, chatting halfheartedly while repeatedly glancing down the road they had come from.
The moment Party Secretary Li saw Ji Ling, he rushed toward her. Shen Yi nearly kicked him on reflex.
“Ahem, Ling girl, you—you’re back. Out supervising the work this late, were you?” Party Secretary Li stopped just in time, rubbing his shiny bald head with an ingratiating smile.
Yet he was somewhat puzzled. He had just come from the mural and had not seen the two of them there.
“Hmm. Party Secretary Li, is something the matter?” Ji Ling asked, taking the initiative when she saw his expression.
“Well, it’s just that I was wondering whether you might help me think of some performance that could show my own devoted revolutionary spirit.”
Seeing Village Chief Hua’s indescribable expression, Ji Ling immediately understood. Party Secretary Li must have heard that Zhao Xianghong had asked her to add another performance to the program. Since she had agreed, he wanted to imitate her.
“The program schedule has already been finalized, so we definitely can’t add another act. Besides, our main event comes later.” Ji Ling looked at Party Secretary Li, whose spirits had visibly fallen, then thought for a moment. “Still, it’s not as if there’s no solution.”
The head that Party Secretary Li had just lowered instantly lifted again. “What solution? Tell me.”
“Those red corn cobs over there.”
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This time, not only Party Secretary Li but also Village Chief Hua and Shen Yi failed to understand.
“You can use corn cobs to make a picture—perhaps a portrait of the person you admire most—and then leave a message at the end, such as ‘From So-and-So of Such-and-Such Village,’” Ji Ling explained.
After hearing her out, Party Secretary Li slapped his thigh and roared with laughter. “Wonderful! Brilliant! How did I not think of that? We don’t have to use only corn cobs, either. We can use other crops to create displays as well. It would serve much the same purpose as a ceremonial formation.”
Ji Ling snapped her fingers and praised him without the slightest stinginess. “Party Secretary Li really is clever. You understand the moment someone points it out. I’ll have to ask for your guidance in the future.”
Party Secretary Li and Ji Ling exchanged a glance before bursting into laughter.
Village Chief Hua stood beside them, utterly bewildered. He felt a little indignant, but then he glanced at Shen Yi and his sense of superiority returned. That foolish young man probably had no idea what was going on either. At least he shared a comrade’s friendship with Ji Ling; that foolish boy was merely a hired hand.
Still, when on earth were those people from above finally coming?
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