The group collected their thoughts, but upon seeing Zhao Qiancheng’s icy expression, they trembled and began to plead.
"Secretary Zhao, we... we just felt it was unfair for Jianguo, that’s all."
"That’s right, Uncle Zhao. Jianguo is such a talented man, yet he’s constantly being ordered around by educated youth Jiang. We couldn’t stand to watch, so we just..."
"Bullshit! You people have such good intentions?"
Qin Fengying rushed forward and shoved them hard. Caught off guard, the group tumbled off the ridge and onto the dry, hard dirt. They winced and gasped in pain, staring at her, but dared not utter a single harsh word.
"You... what are you doing? Can’t you talk things out? Why jump to violence?"
"What am I doing? You know exactly what I’m doing!"
Qin Fengying stood akimbo, her attitude arrogant, and glared at them. "You dare spread rumors about my son? Do you believe I’ll have his uncle round you all up?"
"That’s enough!"
Zhao Qiancheng cut her off. He walked forward with his hands behind his back, cast a cold, indifferent glance at the group, and looked toward the Educated Youth Point. "All of you, remember this: this is the last time. If I hear anyone whispering behind people’s backs again... Hmph!"
He didn't finish his sentence, merely shot them one final, fierce glare before walking away. Qin Fengying watched her husband’s retreating back, stunned. She never expected him to just let it go.
A surge of frustration welled up in her chest, but she dared not make a scene for fear of provoking Zhao Qiancheng. Spitting at Li Chunlan and the others, she hurried to catch up to him.
Left behind, the women sat in the field with pale faces, looking at one another, their lips trembling as they remained silent.
After catching up to Zhao Qiancheng, Qin Fengying saw his dark, gloomy expression and felt a twinge of fear, but still asked cautiously, "Husband, what are you thinking regarding Jianguo’s situation?"
Zhao Qiancheng’s anger flared further at the mention. He clenched his teeth so hard the veins in his forehead bulged. "Go to the Educated Youth Point and call Jianguo back. Make sure you avoid being seen."
"Oh, right!"
Having received her orders, Qin Fengying turned at the intersection and headed toward the Educated Youth Point. Zhao Qiancheng watched his wife leave, then turned, headed home, mounted his bicycle, and rode toward town.
***
When Zhao Jianguo carried Jiang Hongmei back to the Educated Youth Point, Lu Xiaoyue and the others were cooking. Seeing the two of them laughing and chatting, their faces almost pressed together, everyone was stunned.
They could never have imagined these two would be so brazen. Although the rules had relaxed in recent years and young people were encouraged to pursue free love, this was just too excessive.
Li Jiaojiao watched them with undisguised contempt. Thinking she could finally vent the frustration she hadn't been able to unleash in the fields earlier, she spoke without restraint: "Comrade Zhao, at least try to maintain some sense of propriety. Even if you aren't married, Jiang Hongmei spends every day telling everyone that Gu Yu is her fiancé and you are just her 'dear friend.' What is this...?"
She gestured toward them and scoffed. "What are you doing? Are you trying to cuckold Gu Yu?"
Both of them turned ugly at this. Zhao Jianguo felt the arms around his neck slowly retract and, overcome with rage, snapped, "Educated Youth Li, you’ve had a few years of schooling and seen the world, yet I never expected your mind to be so filthy! You’re no different from those village gossips!"
"Ha! My mind is filthy?"
Li Jiaojiao sneered, rolling her eyes toward the heavens. "Zhao Jianguo, let me tell you, it’s precisely because I’ve studied and received an education that I know what propriety, justice, and shame are! And another thing..."
She tilted her head, her gaze piercing the man like an ice blade, her words showing no mercy.
"Stop looking down on people by calling them 'village gossips.' When you curse others, think carefully: weren’t you raised by a village woman yourself? Your own family digs for food in the dirt, yet you look down on village women—it’s laughable!"
Hearing her insult him so directly, Zhao Jianguo’s fury intensified. He opened his mouth to spout abuse, "You bitch—"
"Jianguo!"
Jiang Hongmei called out to stop him. She patted his shoulder lightly and whispered in his ear, "Don't be impulsive. Put me down first."
She didn't say this out of concern for Zhao Jianguo, but because she was worried he would cause too much trouble with the others at the Educated Youth Point, making it awkward for her to stay.
Ironically, the fool Zhao Jianguo thought she was genuinely worried about him. His heart felt as if he had eaten honey, and he obediently set her down.
Unexpectedly, the moment Jiang Hongmei’s feet touched the ground, she let out a painful hiss and swayed as if to fall. Terrified, Zhao Jianguo caught her, then glared furiously at Li Jiaojiao. "Did you see that? Hongmei hurt her foot and can't walk, that’s why I carried her back."
After a thought, he added, "Why am I even explaining myself to you? People with filthy minds see filth in everything."
"You’re the one who’s filthy!"
Li Jiaojiao retorted loudly. Jiang Hongmei sneered inwardly, though she pretended to disapprove, pushing him lightly. "Jianguo, how can you say that to Jiaojiao?"
"Shut up, I don't need your fake kindness."
Li Jiaojiao pointed at her and shouted, "How did I never notice you were such a fraud before?"
Seeing her refuse to back down and continue berating Jiang Hongmei, Zhao Jianguo’s eyes turned cold and cruel. He stared her down. "Li Jiaojiao, if you dare bully Hongmei again, believe me, I’ll make your life a living hell!"
Li Jiaojiao shuddered under his murderous gaze. Her face drained of color, turning from red to ghastly white, and she sobered up instantly.
That’s right—Zhao Jianguo was the son of the brigade secretary and the head of the Women’s Federation, and his uncle was in the militia. She was just an educated youth sent to the countryside, far from home. If he really decided to sabotage her, her family wouldn't be able to protect her at all.
As this realization set in, regret swept over her like a tidal wave, causing her to sway unsteadily, her face growing even paler.
Seeing her fear, Zhao Jianguo sneered dismissively, his eyes full of triumph. "What? Mute now? Suddenly afraid to speak?"
Jiang Hongmei lowered her head to hide her sarcasm, while Li Jiaojiao’s eyes brimmed with redness. Still, she stubbornly stared him down, forcing herself not to shed a single tear.
Lu Xiaoyue, feeling heartache for her friend, stepped forward to support her. "Jiaojiao, are you okay?"
"I... I’m fine!"
Li Jiaojiao turned her head away, her voice raspy. Lu Xiaoyue, furious at Zhao Jianguo for bullying others, glared at him.
"Comrade Zhao, what Jiaojiao said might be harsh, but it isn't without merit. You two..."
"My son is something my Zhao family will teach. Outsiders have no business pointing fingers. You’d better mind your own affairs."
A sudden voice made everyone turn. Qin Fengying strode aggressively into the Educated Youth Point. She stopped in front of Zhao Jianguo and looked at him with a dark, gloomy face. "Come home with me."
"Mom..."
Zhao Jianguo was annoyed. How could she call him out like this in front of so many people? Didn't he have any face?
Jiang Hongmei was equally displeased by Qin Fengying’s arrival; the woman was going to ruin her plans if she wasn't careful.
"Did you hear me? Come back with me!"
Seeing he wouldn't budge, Qin Fengying’s anger flared. The other educated youths, terrified of being caught in the crossfire, subconsciously shrank back to minimize their presence.
Zhao Jianguo was about to retort, but Qin Fengying grew impatient. She grabbed his arm and began dragging him away. "Let's go! And stop coming here so often!"
Seeing her about to drag him away—what if his family forced him to marry some village girl?—Jiang Hongmei panicked. She limped forward, trying to block the mother and son, but Qin Fengying, quick and sharp, shoved her to the ground. She let out a cry of pain: "Ah!"
"Hongmei!!"
Zhao Jianguo broke free from his mother’s grip and quickly knelt to help her up. Jiang Hongmei pouted and leaned into his embrace, sobbing softly.
"Director Qin, what... what did I do wrong to make you hate me so much? Boo-hoo... please tell me, I will definitely work hard to change!"
Zhao Jianguo was heartbroken. "Don't listen to her, my mom doesn't hate you. She didn't mean it."
"..."
The other educated youths felt a chill of disgust. They were speechless, rolling their eyes to the heavens. They couldn't believe Zhao Jianguo was so brain-dead in his obsession with Jiang Hongmei.
Qin Fengying was trembling with rage. Every time she thought about the things people had said about her son in the fields, her liver burned with fury. She wanted to skin Jiang Hongmei alive.
She rushed forward, ripped the girl from her son’s arms, shoved her toward Li Jiaojiao and the others, and then grabbed hold of Zhao Jianguo, who was trying to reach for her again. She roared:
"If you don't come with me right now, I’ll go out there and expose all her dirty laundry! I’ll make sure everyone in the Hongqi Commune knows that our brigade’s educated youth, Jiang Hongmei, is serving two men at once!"
"Mom! What are you talking about?"
Zhao Jianguo stared in disbelief, turning toward his mother. He couldn't accept that the woman who usually doted on him and took his side was not only threatening him in front of outsiders but also treating such a pure, kind-hearted girl this way.
Resentment flared in his heart, completely ignoring her well-meaning intentions.
Seeing him refuse to move and acting as if she had wronged him, Qin Fengying felt her heart go cold. She shoved his hand away and stormed off, teeth gritted. "If you want to stay with her, then stay until you’re satisfied! I’m going to the commune right now to ask everyone: if an educated youth has a bad reputation and is two-timing men in the brigade, will she be sent to prison?"
Terrified that she was serious, Zhao Jianguo chased after her. "Mom! Mom! Don't do anything reckless! I’ll come with you, just don't treat Hongmei like that!"
Hearing him, Qin Fengying turned back toward the girl sprawled on the others and threatened viciously, "Shameless vixen! I’m warning you, stop pestering my son, or I’ll peel your skin off!"
She dragged the reluctant Zhao Jianguo away. At that moment, she completely forgot that, not long ago, she had been the one trying to set them up.
Once they were gone, Li Jiaojiao shoved Jiang Hongmei, who was leaning on her and Lu Xiaoyue. "Get off!"
The shove sent Jiang Hongmei tumbling. Whether she actually hit her injured foot or not, she grabbed her leg and began to wail heart-wrenchingly. "It hurts! My foot—"
Li Jiaojiao turned pale. She was about to help her up, but realized she hadn't used much force. How could she have fallen so hard? She shot her a glare, then grabbed Lu Xiaoyue and left.
The other youths, seeing them leave, were even less inclined to stay. They pretended not to see anything and returned to their rooms, leaving Jiang Hongmei alone on the ground, crying endlessly.
In the past, they wouldn't have been so cold, but they had spent the last few days watching her perform. They only assumed she was playing the victim again for sympathy.
However, she wouldn't stop howling. After half an hour, the group leader, Wang Hongbo, finally couldn't take it anymore and asked two girls to help her back to her room, which finally brought an end to the scene.
After today, however, their impression of Jiang Hongmei had plummeted even further. It was unlikely she would ever be able to mend her relationship with the Educated Youth Point.
***
Half-Mountain Courtyard.
Shen Jianan handed the lunchbox to Gu Yu and instructed him seriously, "Brother Gu, go and return quickly. I have something I need to discuss with you."
Seeing him so serious for once, Gu Yu frowned. Was the boy in trouble? He asked with a hint of urgency, "Can’t you say it now?"
Shen Jianan paused, then smiled and shook his head. "It’s a bit complicated. When you get back, we’ll sit down and talk it over slowly."
Gu Yu nodded. "All right then."
He took the lunchbox and left. Shen Jianan tidied the room, then sat quietly on the *kang*, calling out in his mind for the voice that had appeared that morning.
But no matter how he cajoled or threatened, the voice did not return. Shen Jianan felt uneasy. He didn't believe that a "plot spirit" with such skewed values would let him and Gu Yu go so easily. There were surely traps waiting for them.
Therefore, he had to find a way to make his and Gu Yu’s "roles" in the story so essential that they couldn't be replaced. Only then could they counterbalance the leads and survive in this novel world.
"What should I do?"
Shen Jianan frowned, leaning back against the *kang*, analyzing their situation.
The original owner’s parents hadn't mentioned getting him back to the city yet. Their own promotion probably hit a snag, so they wouldn't dare make any moves for a while.
As for Gu Yu, his situation was even more complex. Although his aunt had married a high-ranking official and his uncle was abroad, the Gu family was in a precarious position. Without absolute certainty, they wouldn't act lightly.
So, they had to rely on themselves.
As the boy pondered, the familiar sound of footsteps entered the courtyard. He sat up abruptly as Gu Yu pushed the door open, bolted it, and sat down beside him.
"Alright, what is it you want to discuss?"
Shen Jianan bit his lip, picking at his fingers. "Brother Gu, we offended Jiang Hongmei, which means we offended Zhao Jianguo. Life in the Hongqi Commune won't be easy from now on. We can't just sit here and wait to be picked off. We have to find a way to stop them from finding fault with us."
He looked at Gu Yu, his expression serious. "Don't think I’m just being paranoid. I truly believe Zhao Jianguo will come after us for Jiang Hongmei’s sake.
"When that happens, do we fight back or not? If we do, with Zhao Qiancheng’s vicious, protective nature, he will definitely get involved. We’d be lucky to escape with our lives. Especially you—your background is sensitive. One mistake, and you could be ruined. If we don't fight back, the result is the same. Either way, it’s a dead end. Are you willing to accept that? I’m certainly not!"
He paused, looking at Gu Yu’s dark expression. "Also, even if my parents are in trouble, as long as it’s not a major crime, they will eventually pull through. Then, returning to the city or doing anything else will be easier.
"But you’re different. Aside from your aunt and uncle, everyone in your family is undergoing reform in different places. If you are gone, is there any hope left for the Gu family?
"Brother Gu, you’re so smart. Have you thought about how your aunt, all the way in the capital, could manipulate people to handle your situation? Her capabilities must be extraordinary."
The boy lowered his voice, his words landing like heavy hammers on the other man’s heart. "Brother Gu, do you remember that educated youth named Liu in the Xiangyang Brigade? His situation was worse than yours, and he had a sister, too, who married even better than your aunt..."
Before Shen Jianan could finish, Gu Yu’s face had turned deathly pale. He suddenly recalled the words his aunt had once passed to him: "Xiao Yu, just stay alive. Don't think about anything else."
He looked at the boy in front of him, his eyes bloodshot. So, he had misunderstood the meaning of those words all along.
"Tell me, what is your plan?"
"All right..."