Volume One, Chapter 20: I’m Tired of Saying How Envious I Am

The construction of the biogas digester in Shen Family Village was nearing its end.

The application submitted on the very first day had caused a sensation among the entire commune leadership. Shen Zhiyi was truly a person accustomed to wielding a pen; the application document was exceptionally well-written, concise yet impactful, logical, and structured. It clearly outlined the purposes of the biogas digester, its development prospects, and all essential precautions. The accompanying blueprints were vivid and realistic, giving the project an air of high feasibility.

The leaders immediately filed an application with their superiors, and the materials Shen Zhiyi requested were gathered and delivered shortly thereafter. As for the livestock farm the village also planned to build, the leaders gave their approval with a wave of their hands. The higher-ups were paying close attention to this matter, as it was considered the largest project for the Xinghua Commune in recent years. Commune leaders would frequently drop by to check on the progress. With the backing of the leadership, the brigade members worked with even greater enthusiasm. The nearby livestock farm was also taking shape.

Seeing this grand display, Old Mrs. Shen felt increasingly uneasy, though she remained stubborn. "That little girl is really good at fooling people... Normally, even if she made a laughingstock of herself, it would just be within the brigade. But now? If she can't pull it off, let's see how she cleans up this mess! In the future, I won't even dare to say I’m from the Shen Family Brigade for fear of being ridiculed. I can’t afford to lose face like that!"

Someone who could no longer stand it retorted, "Then why did you let your eldest son come help? Didn't you say your family wouldn't get involved?"

Old Mrs. Shen’s resolve wasn't firm, but her tongue certainly was. "That’s just because I feel sorry for the girl. My Zhigang is kind-hearted; he’s afraid she’ll have no one to help her and end up humiliated. After all, she does call me Aunt and him Big Brother..."

The person who had been speaking with her stopped, unwilling to say more. Looking at the team working vigorously nearby, they wondered how she could call this "having no one to help." Almost all the strong laborers in the brigade were here. Some who arrived late couldn't even find work and stood by, waiting for an opportunity. Just yesterday, in the time it took him to turn around, his shovel had been snatched away by someone else, and there was no getting it back.

While things were bustling here, the Shen family courtyard was equally lively. At that moment, under Shen Zhiyi's guidance, the Second Brother was modifying and assembling a generator. The leaders from the machinery factory had also come to observe, signaling to Shen Zhigao to work hard, promising that once finished, it would finally be time for him to become a permanent employee.

The Second Brother didn't have to go to the factory these days; he stayed home to help Shen Zhiyi. The leaders had all but explicitly stated that if this project went well, he would not only gain permanent status but might even be promoted to a technical position. The factory leaders were afraid of losing talent and wanted to offer some incentives early on to ensure he stayed.

Once this news spread, the entire Shen Family Brigade was once again shrouded in a sour atmosphere. People were tired of being envious. The eldest sister-in-law, Li Xiuying, felt just as bitter. Returning to see her husband diligently hovering around his younger sister, running errands at her beck and call, her anger flared. She began to act passive-aggressive, directing her complaints at her husband through thinly veiled metaphors: "What’s the point of being so eager? You treat her like a sister, but she doesn't treat you like a big brother! She skips over you whenever there’s something good. You keep her in your heart, but she doesn't have you in hers..."

Shen the eldest, whose face had been full of smiles, instantly darkened. He gave Li Xiuying a warning look. "If you’re idle, go clean the latrine in the backyard!"

Li Xiuying made quite a racket, and soon, the faint sounds of an argument between the couple drifted from the backyard.

Shen Zhicun shouted, "What are you dissatisfied about? Who are you pulling that face for? When Little Sister heard about the recruitment and sent word for me and Second Brother to go to the commune, who was it that blocked me from going? Do you want me to say it out loud?!"

Li Xiuying was speechless, but still defended herself, "Who told her not to speak clearly at the time? How was I supposed to know she was asking you to go for a trial?"

"Is your brain made of paste? If she had said it clearly, do you think it would have been our turn?!" The eldest brother was furious. "Every time Little Sister asks me to help with something, you obstruct me at every turn. If I help her fetch bathwater, you have to run your mouth. I don't get it—I’m her own big brother, what’s wrong with doing things for her?!"

"I... I’m doing this for your own good! You’re my man; is it wrong for me to care about you?" Li Xiuying was irrational but defiant, even feeling wronged herself.

Shen the eldest sneered. "You sure care about me—every few days you tell me to go work for your family. I work from dawn until dusk, and if I want to take a breath and drink a bowl of water, you’re right there handing me more work. But your brother, he lies around from morning to night like a cripple, and I’ve never seen you make him do anything." The more he spoke, the fiercer his anger burned. "Li Xiuying, I married you, I didn't sell myself to your family!"

Li Xiuying glared. "He’s my own brother, I only have one brother. His health is poor; you’re his brother-in-law, what’s wrong with helping him?"

"Then I, Shen Zhicun, only have one little sister! She’s my own sister, and her health is weak, so what’s wrong with me helping her with some work?!"

It was unclear what else the couple said, but soon Li Xiuying’s sobbing could be heard. Shortly after, the eldest brother emerged and said to Shen Zhiyi with a look of apology, "Little Sister, your sister-in-law isn't thinking straight. Don't pay any mind to what she says. You are my only sister; a brother should naturally protect and care for his sister. Don't let it weigh on your heart."

Shen Zhiyi nodded, offering a few comforting words with a smile, and said nothing more. The eldest brother returned to his work, yet his heart was complex. Of the three brothers, the third brother and the little sister were twins and the closest. But in the past, he and the little sister had also been very close. Back then, she was willing to tell him everything. They would share any good things among the four siblings. That time had been the most carefree. When exactly did things start to change? Perhaps it was after he got married.

Shen Zhicun knew that although Shen Zhiyi said she didn't mind and truly harbored no resentment toward him, their relationship could never return to what it once was. It wasn't just his relationship with his sister; his bond with his second and third brothers had also changed. Li Xiuying was right about one thing: he had not been a very good big brother.

With the help of his two brothers, Shen Zhiyi quickly finished assembling the generator set. Everything was prepared. Now, they just had to wait for the biogas to ferment. In the summer, the fermentation process was rapid, and the pressure gauge readings rose steadily every day. Finally, on the eighth day after feeding the digester, the pressure index reached Shen Zhiyi’s requirements.