Wealthy Beauty in the 60s
Chapter 79 - 78 Your Pants Are Dirty

Chapter 79: Chapter 78 Your Pants Are Dirty

December had already turned bitterly cold, yet this place neither saw snowfall nor frost, and hail was unheard of.

But Xia Xiao still felt extremely cold, particularly at night, so she would directly burrow into Yang Xuehua’s quilt.

"This winter is so harsh, it’s freezing to death," Sun Yuhua couldn’t help shivering.

"Yes, it’s cold even here; the north must be even colder," Xia Xiao said, pausing before reflecting on natural disasters. She realized with a chill that, with such cold here, many people would likely freeze to death this winter.

There were not a few who perished from hunger and cold.

With the New Year came the occasion for celebration. Thanks to the Guangming Production Team’s bountiful harvest, it was awarded the title of an advanced collective. Educated Youth Xia, Gao Jiaxing, and others were also recognized as advanced individuals. At the county’s evening award ceremony, Educated Youth Xia was asked to sing a song.

She chose to perform "Listen to Mother’s Stories of the Past" once again, though she had never sung at the county before, she was willing to give it a try.

Despite the chaos in the county, the evening event was bustling. Every production team had submitted routines to be judged and ranked.

There might not have been many rewards, but being honored was a matter of pride.

"Dong Meihua said, "Xia Xiao, you sang that last year. Can’t you change the song?"

Xia Xiao laughed, "That’s the only one I sing well."

"No matter, the people in the county haven’t heard it," Yang Xuehua said.

On New Year’s Day, the sun shone brilliantly, warming the air suddenly. Xia Xiao and the Guangming Production Team attended the county’s evening event.

The remote area’s gathering was simple and unembellished, but it fit the era’s penchant for simplicity.

It could be said that this year’s county gathering spotlighted the Guangming Production Team. Xia Xiao’s rendition of "Listen to Mother’s Stories of the Past" also won thunderous applause.

The host asked, "Educated Youth Xia, could you share with us how you fought off the thief?"

"Sure," Xia Xiao replied, proficient in storytelling.

She recounted how the Guangming Production Team had combated the thief, how she had wielded a brick to smash him, saving the female educated youth, how she had found firearms, etc. She glossed over certain details, exaggerating the production team’s bravery where appropriate.

"I’m not a courageous person, but the production team is our collective, not something personal. Each of us has the responsibility and duty to protect it, so we must unify. Only when everyone stands together, can we form an indomitable force. When the thief came, showing weakness and fear would have been futile; only strength could confront the threat. Since failure meant death, I gambled with my life, as would anyone when their life is in jeopardy."

Xia Xiao’s words earned widespread praise. She stepped down from the stage, right into Liu Haihua and Liu Yue, who were waiting for her.

Liu Yue said, "You really sing terribly."

"Thanks for the compliment, though not as eye-catching as your dance," Xia Xiao responded with a smile, acknowledging Liu Yue’s dance performance from the night.

"You!" Liu Yue covered her chest angrily and stormed off after shooting Xia Xiao a glare.

Liu Haihua said, "You got lucky this time," then left too.

Xia Xiao, lost for words, didn’t take Liu Haihua and Liu Yue’s remarks to heart.

"Xia Xiao, over here," Wang Aihua called out. Xia Xiao made her way over to the Guangming Production Team’s area.

Yang Xuehua patted Xia Xiao’s shoulder, "Well said."

Li Shengmei turned her face away, saying nothing.

Xia Xiao sat with the others to watch the evening program. Although called an evening event, it was held around four or five o’clock and concluded by five.

As soon as it ended, Xia Xiao left with the group, and Gao Jiaxing caught up with her, calling, "Xia Xiao."

"What’s up?" Xia Xiao said as she continued beside Yang Xuehua and the others, "You go ahead, I’ll walk back with Gao Jiaxing in a bit." After that, she walked over to Gao Jiaxing.

Yang Xuehua and the rest were used to Gao Jiaxing and Xia Xiao’s rapport and had no worries, so they departed.

Gao Jiaxing said, "Your pants are dirty."

"Hmm? What?" Xia Xiao asked, looking back as she questioned again.

"Your pants are dirty at the back," Gao Jiaxing repeated.

This time, Xia Xiao understood. She was startled and indeed saw a large patch of red blood on her pants.

"Oh no," Xia Xiao exclaimed, her first thought not embarrassment but concern for the stool she had just sat on.

"Where are you headed?" asked Gao Jiaxing.

"I’m going to clean the stool," Xia Xiao replied, planning to enter her space later to change her trousers and prepared for her monthly cycle there.

Plus, she needed to clean the stool – it would look terrible otherwise.

Xia Xiao hadn’t expected her period to come at that moment, but she was relieved it was just past five in the afternoon, and as everyone was eager to get home before dark, it was unlikely anyone would notice her condition in the fading light.

That would have truly been embarrassing.

"You don’t have to, I’ve already cleaned it up," Gao Jiaxing said, clearly uncomfortable.

Xia Xiao’s face turned crimson.

"You shouldn’t have done that. You could have just told me," Xia Xiao stammered, unsure of what else to say.

"I’m telling you now, am I not? Especially since I happened to be sitting right behind you," Gao Jiaxing replied.

"Thank you," Xia Xiao murmured sheepishly, not having expected her life’s first period to be discovered by a man.

In her previous life, she had discovered it while bathing and used her mother’s sanitary pad. Now, it was Gao Jiaxing who noticed, adding an awkward twist to the situation.

"Wait until later to go back. When it’s darker, no one will be able to see clearly," Gao Jiaxing advised.

"Brother Gao, you go on ahead, I’ll be fine," Xia Xiao insisted, eager to get to her space.

"How can I let you go back alone when it’s about to get dark? By the way, do you have the necessary supplies in your dorm?" Gao Jiaxing questioned further.

Xia Xiao understood immediately and nodded.

"If you don’t have any, you can ask my mother," Gao Jiaxing added.

Xia Xiao’s face flushed once again. She suddenly saw Gao Jiaxing as an oddity and couldn’t help asking curiously, "Brother Gao, how do you know about these things?"

It wasn’t strange for Xia Xiao to be curious; it wasn’t like decades later when sanitary pad ads were everywhere. His knowledge baffled her.

"Why ask so many questions? I just know," Gao Jiaxing said, looking away, his own discomfort evident.