Chapter 305 - Chapter 305: Striving Toward One’s Goals
Chapter 305: Striving Toward One’s Goals
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
“If they all possessed your wisdom, Uncle Cai, they would have already become our village chief.” Zhou Hengyang was not in a hurry; he had long guessed this would happen. Why else had he rushed to change his surname?
“Don’t worry. I’m already prepared. The meeting is about to start. Let’s head inside!”
“Alright.” Li Youcai felt more assured, knowing Zhou Hengyang was not anxious. To speak plainly, this matter had little to do with him. The only reason he had stepped in was because of Zhou Hengyang.
As an aside, Li Youcai did not feel ashamed to admit how difficult it was to deal with Su Wen now. She was no longer the Su Wen of the past; she was not so easily bullied as she was before.
What happened regarding Sun Dahai’s matter was only the first of many such incidents that would occur if people continued to anger Su Wen. As the village chief, Li Youcai could not allow the matter to blow up, or he would face the consequences; hence, he supported Zhou Hengyang’s plan unquestioningly.
The courtyard hosting the meeting was packed like sardines. Su Qing had managed to get a seat in the front row for Su Wen. It allowed them to hear whoever it was on the temporary stage that had been erected. In full view of those present was a box from which the lots would be drawn.
To their left was Xu Xiangdong. Seated diagonally behind him was one of Su Wen’s neighbors who lived nearby. In this round of land distribution, all parties had a share, including the five households which had received guarantees.
Most of those in attendance were men.
Xu Xiangdong was the youngest; the rest of the congregation comprised middle-aged men in their forties and fifties. In some ways, it related to the gender roles associated with men and women in the village. Where women ran the household, men were expected to maintain their livelihoods. This included matters such as the division of land.
Among those present, Su Wen was an anomaly.
“Big Sister, I saved you a seat.” Su Qing waved, calling Su Wen over. She quickly got up, saying, “I’ll be off now,” before retreating to stand with the others lining the wall.
Spectators, mostly women who had come to watch the proceedings, formed a line at the back. None of them wanted to miss the selection of a representative to draw the lots out of the box. Su Qing took her place at the back beside Su Xiu, Su Xue, Fifth Sister, Sixth Sister, and Little Sister Su.
Su Qing was glad to be with her younger sisters. Earlier, she had felt uncomfortable seated amid a large crowd of men. Now that she had done her duty by saving Su Wen a seat, she no longer had to sit with the rest and felt much relieved.
Su Wen did not take Su Qing’s actions as a snub against her, knowing her sister well enough to note her anxiety. Su Wen sat where she did like it was the most natural thing in the world; she even looked around leisurely. Even though men surrounded her, Su Wen was neither intimidated nor embarrassed by their presence or her presence among them.
As the village accountant, Su Xuewu stood on stage, hoping to see Su Wen make a fool of herself. However, reality dashed his hopes, leaving him disappointed. Not only did Su Wen comport herself with casual grace, but she also seemed completely unperturbed by her situation.
Man proposes, but God disposes.
If one is not assertive, behaving timidly around others, they open themselves to disdain, giving others the means to take advantage of them. However, if one acts with generosity, presents themselves with confidence, and bears an open mind, no one would dare look down on such a person.
Many people in the crowd were as disappointed as Su Xuewu was. Their plan to see Su Wen embarrass herself had failed. Worse still, some women took Su Wen’s actions as a license to sit with the men, jostling those who would not give way out of their seats and freeing up space around Su Wen.
“Go, go, go. Hurry up.” “Don’t be an eyesore here. Can’t you see this section is for women?”
“Hurry up. Shoo!”
Five women browbeat the men around Su Wen into giving them their seats.
The sight of this deeply amused Su Wen. Those women were all widows. After their husbands died, they chose not to remarry; instead, they became the heads of their respective households. They had probably felt awkward since hardly any women were seated in the crowd. By taking the initiative, Su Wen gave them the courage to find seats for themselves and attend today’s drawing of lots openly..