Chapter 46

Chapter 46

Since the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers University quota fell to the Rongshan Brigade, it has been widely discussed.

The locals in the brigade didn't pay much attention, but the educated youth were busy running around for this matter, making the cadres' homes much busier than usual.

Some people even went to the brigade leader for letters of introduction, directly going to the town or commune to make connections, all actively trying to secure this quota.

In contrast, the locals in Rongshan Brigade were much calmer, as this quota was designated for the educated youth.

There was a reason for this consideration. In other brigades, many could return to the city in previous years—either through quotas given by higher-ups or by finding connections themselves.

Or those with outstanding abilities and remarkable performances would be transferred to work in government offices or factories in the town or commune.

Their Rongshan Brigade seemed to have been forgotten; over the years, out of so many educated youth, only a few managed to leave the brigade. This led to their brigade having the largest number of educated youth nearby, totaling thirty-eight.

Five of these educated youth had married and settled down locally, like primary school teacher Sun Qin.

Most of the others also held positions within the brigade, such as scorekeepers or team leaders.

However, most of the educated youth still wanted to return to their hometowns, thus they were always actively striving for the opportunity to go back.

Being able to attend the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers University was everyone's highest aspiration, as it meant a bright future with guaranteed jobs and livelihood.

Unlike those who only received return-to-city quotas, whose futures were uncertain.

Due to insufficient job positions in the city, they might not find work after returning, especially for families with many children. The limited job positions of parents couldn't be given entirely to their children, leading them to face livelihood issues upon returning.

But attending university was different; after graduation, they would definitely be assigned jobs, securing a stable future.

Tang Qingqing had heard rumors that the brigade was planning to give the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers University quota to Zhai Hongyi. It was said that this possibility was quite high, as Zhai Hongyi had been commended several times, and even the commune leaders knew his name.

After finishing the homework assigned by Zhai Hongyi, Tang Qingqing called him outside the house to avoid disturbing Wang Heizi and Tang Qiaoqiao who were studying.

"Brother, are you going to college?"

"That's just everyone's wild speculation; the brigade cadres haven't talked to me yet."

"If they do talk to you, will you go to study?"

Zhai Hongyi raised an eyebrow: "Do you not want me to go?"

How rare the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers University quota was! No one had considered not taking it.

Tang Qingqing's question clearly implied something else.

Realizing her question was inappropriate, Tang Qingqing understood that based on the current information, anyone who wasn't crazy wouldn't give up such a great opportunity. Her question revealed her true thoughts.

From what she read in books, the college entrance examination would resume next year, and according to Zhai Hongyi's grades, he had a good chance of getting into university through his own abilities.

However, students from the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers University were somewhat awkward, as some barely knew how to read and were recommended without proper qualifications.

Thus, their abilities were generally average, and they couldn't learn much.

Previous university graduates were fine, but when they encountered those admitted through the college entrance examination, it became very awkward, affecting their future promotions.

Although Tang Qingqing believed that Zhai Hongyi's abilities wouldn't hinder his progress, a more 'orthodox' background would certainly benefit his development.

Moreover, if he performed well, he could go to a better university.

Good universities not only had strong faculty and a good learning environment but also allowed students to build important social networks during their studies.

Yet, Tang Qingqing couldn't easily advise Zhai Hongyi to give up this opportunity. Firstly, she couldn't explain her source of information; secondly, what if Zhai Hongyi failed the exam?

While the treatment of recommended and exam-admitted university students differed, at least they would graduate as university graduates, changing their fate.

If Zhai Hongyi failed, Tang Qingqing's rash advice might ruin his future.

After all, nothing is certain in life; what if the exam questions were in his blind spot, or something unexpected happened during the exam, causing him to miss the opportunity?

Tang Qingqing couldn't bear such responsibility, so she quickly waved her hands in denial:

"How could I? Such a rare opportunity."

Zhai Hongyi looked at the distant mountains. Far from the village, life here was inconvenient, but the scenery was beautiful.

The view from the door was picturesque, refreshing and uplifting.

"Do you think I should go?"

Tang Qingqing was torn; this choice was too difficult, and any answer seemed inappropriate.

"So conflicted? You'll miss me?"

Tang Qingqing's fair face turned slightly red. Since awakening, she no longer bore the heavy labor she used to, though she still participated in the brigade's production work. Compared to tending sheep under the scorching sun, she rarely spent long hours in direct sunlight anymore.

This gradually restored her skin to its original color, making her complexion fairer.

With almost daily eggs and milk, her nutrition improved, making her rounder and taller. In less than a year, she grew nearly fifteen centimeters, now standing at 153 cm, looking more like a young lady rather than a child.

This made her more convincing when hired for tracking.

Hearing Zhai Hongyi's words, Tang Qingqing didn't know how to respond.

Zhai Hongyi realized his words sounded frivolous and quickly changed the subject:

"I won't go."

Zhai Hongyi's attitude was firm, which reminded Tang Qingqing of what he had said before.

"Brother, you can't really want to stay here for the rest of your life, right?"

They had known each other for so long. Despite Zhai Hongyi often appearing indifferent, deep down, he was just as passionate as Wang Heizi described him—secretly lively.

He wasn't someone who could settle down quietly. Ever since spring, he had started dealing with all sorts of goods again.

Eggs, duck eggs, even goat milk, and wild vegetables from the mountains—he would dig them up and sell them at the commune's black market, full of energy. Clearly, he wasn't someone content with just doing ordinary work.

Zhai Hongyi didn't know where the future would lead, but given this great opportunity, why wasn't he seizing it? Tang Qingqing was curious. After knowing him for so long, she could roughly guess that his behavior was closely related to his family.

Although his family cared about him and often sent him things, it seemed there was more to it than met the eye.

Zhai Hongyi remained silent, his gaze fixed on the distance.

Seeing him like this, Tang Qingqing knew he had no intention of speaking.

Privately, Tang Qingqing talked to Wang Heizi, "I really don't know what Brother Yi is thinking."

Wang Heizi, however, was unconcerned: "He has his own plans. There must be a reason for his actions. Even if he gives up this opportunity, he won't end up poorly."

Wang Heizi was the one who least wanted Zhai Hongyi to leave. Since meeting Zhai Hongyi, he felt like he had become a different person.

Most notably, he had more money in his pocket, and learning from Zhai Hongyi had made things interesting.

Now, Wang Heizi could recognize many characters and was particularly good at math. He felt his mind had become sharper.

"Do you think our brigade will actually give the spot to Brother Yi?"

Wang Heizi shook his head. "Who knows? Every time the spots come around, it gets chaotic. Brother Yi often earns commendations, but he's also frequently criticized for individualism and free-thinking.

There are many knowledgeable youths in our brigade, and many have been here for years. Brother Yi hasn't been here long, so it's uncertain if he'll get the spot."

As the grandson of the brigade leader, Wang Heizi had some insight.

He understood his grandfather's character well and knew he wouldn't make decisions based on a single factor.

Zhai Hongyi had many strengths, but his flaws were equally apparent.

Every time they worked, he finished his tasks and never pushed himself further.

Given the current emphasis on the spirit of dedication, not being criticized was already a sign of the brigade's tolerance.

If they truly intended to give the spot to Zhai Hongyi, they wouldn't have deliberated for so long without reaching a conclusion.

"Heizi, you should prepare to return to school and continue your studies."

Wang Heizi stared in disbelief. "Why are we talking about me now?"

"I think Brother Yi will eventually leave us. I'll go out to study too, leaving you alone in the brigade."

Wang Heizi didn't argue, not wanting their trio to break apart.

Before meeting Zhai Hongyi and Tang Qingqing, his life was aimless. Only after joining them did he find direction.

Whether it was doing business with Zhai Hongyi or tracking with Tang Qingqing, everything was more interesting than his previous life.

Though these activities weren't easy and often stressful, he enjoyed them. No matter how hard or tiring, he found satisfaction when things went well.

Tang Qingqing continued, "Your family can afford to send you to school. You should cherish this opportunity. I'm telling you straight: if you study hard, you might be able to escape this mountain village."

Wang Heizi believed Tang Qingqing wasn't exaggerating and fell into deep thought.

He didn't want to stay in this mountain village either. He dreamed of exploring the city and seeing the world outside, as the educated youths described.

To him, the commune was already beautiful and desirable, but they said it paled in comparison to the big cities.

"But I learn much more following Brother Yi than I would in school."

"Our brigade lacks proper educational resources. In the outside world, classes are organized by grade level, unlike here. Besides, Teacher Sun isn't a good teacher, but Old Principal is much better. Once you master third-grade material, you should join Old Principal's class.

Then we can take the entrance exam for the commune's middle school together. Don't you like going to the commune? Middle school will make it even easier."

The town had a middle school, but its quality couldn't compare to the commune's.

Tang Qingqing aimed for the commune's middle school, so despite finishing fifth-grade courses, she planned to consolidate her knowledge and aim for admission next year.

Zhai Hongyi no longer focused solely on textbook content; he incorporated other subjects and taught her English, emphasizing spoken skills.

According to Zhai Hongyi, language is a tool for communication, and being able to speak and listen is crucial.

Thus, Tang Qingqing dared to speak English from the start, even if she made mistakes.

Wang Heizi found it fun and joined in, and Tang Qiaoqiao didn't lag behind.

Among the three, Wang Heizi had the best language talent. He was bolder than Tang Qingqing and Tang Qiaoqiao and learned faster. Tang Qiaoqiao was the slowest due to her shyness, fearing embarrassment.

Wang Heizi pondered seriously, "If Brother Yi doesn't leave, I'll keep learning from him. I really don't want to go back to the classroom; it gives me a headache."

"That's because the teachers before weren't good."

"Anyway, I have no good memories of school. I'll stick with Brother Yi for now."

Tang Qingqing did not force the issue. After all, she could still learn a lot by following Zhai Hongyi.

Their brigade's primary school was indeed too harsh on the students. Younger children were difficult to manage and required patient guidance from teachers.

However, Sun Qin's teaching was truly terrible. She always had a stern face, as if everyone owed her money.

While there was no abuse, her attitude was far from ideal.

Worse yet, she often taught incorrectly.

When Tang Qingqing was in her class before, she heard Sun Qin make several mistakes.

At the time, Tang Qingqing raised objections but ended up being reprimanded instead.

Tang Qingqing had also reported the situation to the old principal, but it made no difference.

Sun Qin was a tenured teacher, so they couldn't fire her. At most, they could give her a few words of advice, but if she ignored them, there was nothing more they could do.

The old principal tried to talk with Sun Qin, but she refused. Besides, with her abilities, she couldn't teach higher grades either.

So, that was how things stood.

The enthusiasm for learning among the children in the brigade was being stifled by this irresponsible and incompetent teacher.

Until the spots at the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers University were finalized, the young educated youths' hearts remained in suspense, even though everyone said the spot would likely go to Zhai Hongyi.

But until the results were announced, everyone still held out hope.

During this period, complaints against Zhai Hongyi increased, accusing him of being too liberal and individualistic, and not following organizational arrangements.

Zhai Hongyi paid no heed to these criticisms. After all, it wasn't the first time he had been accused of such things, and he continued with his usual routine.

Still, he reduced the number of times he visited the black market to avoid trouble.

Wang Heizi was very upset: "Why hasn't there been any news after all this discussion? Our Brother Yi is becoming like a rat everyone wants to chase away."

Zhai Hongyi had expressed his determination to stay rooted in this land, but no one believed him.

Previously, when there were slots for returning to the city, some young educated youths had sworn they wouldn't leave and would build a better countryside with their fellow peasants, dedicating themselves to the land.

They claimed that even if the slot fell to them, they wouldn't depart.

But once the slot did fall to them, their previous promises were like empty words, and they left without caring about others' ridicule.

For just one return-to-city slot, people used tactics to mislead others and secretly maneuvered behind the scenes. It was even worse for the university slots.

Thus, even if Zhai Hongyi genuinely felt this way, no one believed him, thinking instead that he was too cunning.

"Hasn't your uncle heard anything yet? Why has the discussion taken so long?" Tang Qingqing asked.

"Who knows? Perhaps there are too many suitable candidates, and the brigade officials haven't reached an agreement."

Deciding who gets the return-to-city slot isn't up to one person; it's the result of discussions among the entire production team officials, then submitted for review above, and only finalized after approval.

After determining the candidate, there's a public announcement period during which issues can be raised to ensure fairness.

The fairness of the Rongshan Brigade chief lies in following procedures, unlike some brigades where the chiefs have absolute power without democratic elections.

Wang Heizi worried: "Brother Yi, do you think someone might smother you with a pillow while you sleep?"

Zhai Hongyi gave him a disapproving look: "Did you study today? You seem too idle. I think you need more homework."

Wang Heizi wailed and begged for mercy from Zhai Hongyi.

Before the university slot was finalized, something major happened in the brigade—female educated youth Jiang Pei'e was assaulted!

In the summer, dawn came early, and by five o'clock, the sky was already brightening.

Many villagers were already awake at this hour, heading out to chop wood or tend to crops, while women took clothes to the river to wash.

Taking advantage of the early morning light, many started their day.

Aunt Gui Hua, being older, didn't sleep well anymore, so she woke up early and carried a large basin of clothes to the river.

It was summer, and daily work left everyone sweaty. If they didn't bathe every day, salt crystals would form on their clothes.

Aunt Gui Hua valued cleanliness and insisted that everyone bathe and change clothes daily, then washed them early the next morning.

One day, Aunt Gui Hua went to the river as usual, walking in the dark.

She knew the path well, aware of every pit and bump.

With the faint light, she could walk the path without stumbling.

Upon reaching the river, she saw the sky gradually brightening.

But this day, she saw someone else there even earlier than her, which initially frightened her, fearing it might be something supernatural.

Though superstition was discouraged, Aunt Gui Hua still believed in ghosts.

She cautiously approached, trying to discern what the figure was and prepared to run if necessary.

Before she could see clearly, she heard a splash. Aunt Gui Hua immediately cried out: "Someone fell into the water! Someone fell into the water!"

Now certain it was a person, she set down her basin and jumped into the water to save them.

In the summer, women bathed in the river for convenience.

Everyone would agree on a fixed time to bathe at a designated place, and men were not allowed to approach during that time; if caught, they would be beaten severely.

This was a long-standing custom, practiced in many places with water. Thus, Aunt Gui Hua could swim as well.

The river was not deep; it was only about six or seven meters wide, and the deepest part was no more than one meter and less than two meters deep.

Even this was during the rainy season; by winter, some sections barely reached above the knees.

Aunt Gui Hua quickly found the person who had jumped into the water. At first, she almost got pulled down by the jumper and frantically kicked in the water while grabbing the hair of the person drowning.

Aunt Gui Hua was used to farm work, and after struggling for a while, she eventually managed to save the person from the water.

Once ashore, Aunt Gui Hua recognized the person—it was Jiang Pei'e, the female educated youth.

Aunt Gui Hua pressed out the water from Jiang Pei'e's stomach, and she gradually regained consciousness.

Seeing Aunt Gui Hua, Jiang Pei'e burst into tears.

"Auntie, let me die. I have no face left to live!"

Aunt Gui Hua knew something terrible must have happened when she heard this. A young woman wouldn't jump into the river for no reason.

When a woman says such things, it's clear what kind of situation she's in.

Aunt Gui Hua hurriedly comforted Jiang Pei'e: "My dear girl, we can't think like that. Think of your parents. If they knew their daughter died far away, it would break their hearts. We shouldn't do things that hurt ourselves and make others happy!"

Jiang Pei'e cried pitifully, "But what should I do?"

"What's the big deal? It's just like being bitten by a dog. Tell me who hurt you, and I'll teach them a lesson!"

"I don't know."

Aunt Gui Hua was shocked. "What?"

"It was too dark, and I couldn't see who it was. I was knocked unconscious and woke up to find... sob..."

Aunt Gui Hua slapped her thigh hard. This made things even more complicated. Not knowing who the perpetrator was meant he could strike again!

Aunt Gui Hua also had a daughter, tall and graceful, and feared the same thing happening to her.

Looking at Jiang Pei'e's head wound, the attacker had been ruthless! The wound was still bleeding.

She didn't care about the clothes she needed to wash anymore and took Jiang Pei'e to find the team leader.

At first, Jiang Pei'e was reluctant, fearing everyone would look down on her if they knew.

"If you're not afraid of dying, why fear these things? Besides, once you return to the city, who will know what happened here? I've heard of educated youths who married and then divorced when they returned to the city. They lived fine lives afterward."

With great strength, Aunt Gui Hua bandaged Jiang Pei'e roughly and dragged her to the team leader.

The team leader had just woken up early in the morning when he heard about this incident. He dropped his pipe without realizing it.

"Damn it! If I catch the bastard who did this, I'll skin him alive!"

These were educated youths sent by the organization. If anything happened to them here, the team leader's position would be jeopardized, and there would be severe penalties.

There had been cases before where local people had bullied educated youths, especially women, in remote areas. Some teams in their commune had faced similar issues.

After the organization learned about these incidents, they punished the perpetrators harshly, which led to a decrease in such occurrences.

If something happened in their team, the team leader felt a surge of anger.

Fortunately, Aunt Gui Hua had saved Jiang Pei'e, preventing a tragedy.

The team leader focused on finding the perpetrator immediately.

If this criminal wasn't caught, the young wives and girls in their team would be too scared to go outside.

However, Jiang Pei'e couldn't provide any details about the attacker due to her shock and fear.

The team leader, being a man, didn't want to ask too many questions, fearing he might upset her further, so he asked Aunt Gui Hua to stay with her.

Jiang Pei'e, having been saved by Aunt Gui Hua and helped with her injuries, now relied heavily on her. She felt fearful and distrustful around others.

Jiang Pei'e didn't want to return to the educated youth dormitory, fearing others would discover her state and mock or look down on her.

The team leader allowed her to stay at his home, placing her in his daughter's room.

Jiang Pei'e curled up into a small ball, her eyes vacant and lifeless, looking pitiful.

Seeing her like this, the team leader sighed deeply.

He also had a daughter, and if he knew who had hurt her, he would make sure they paid dearly.

This matter concerned Jiang Pei'e's reputation, so the team leader kept it quiet and told everyone not to spread the news. He then went to find Tang Qingqing.

Tang Qingqing frowned upon hearing about the incident. "How could someone be so disgusting! Uncle, rest assured, I will find the culprit!"

"We'll investigate this privately and keep it under wraps. If the news spreads, Jiang Pei'e might jump into the river again."

Tang Qingqing nodded. "I understand the gravity of the situation, Team Leader."

Tang Qingqing initially wanted to visit Jiang Pei'e to inquire about the circumstances but was told by the team leader that Jiang Pei'e was too traumatized and unstable to be questioned now. Instead, he recounted the details to Tang Qingqing.

"She was assaulted last night and then knocked unconscious. She woke up several hours later."

Feeling awkward discussing these details with a young girl, the team leader asked Aunt Gui Hua to answer Tang Qingqing's questions.

She had been with Jiang Pei'e all along and knew more about the situation.

Tang Qingqing asked curiously, "Why did Jiang leave alone in the middle of the night?"

"She said she needed to use the toilet. She had an upset stomach and didn't want to disturb anyone's sleep, so she went by herself."

Tang Qingqing nodded. If it was just a quick visit, she wouldn't have gone far since there was a chamber pot in the room. But if she had an upset stomach, she would need to go to the distant outhouse.

The outhouse was built by the educated youths themselves. They disliked the smell of the dry toilets, so they built it farther away.

"Did anyone know when she left?"

"At that time, everyone was asleep. She moved quietly, so no one probably noticed."

Now that dawn had broken, the educated youths were waking up, but no one had realized that Jiang Pei'e hadn't returned all night. No one had reported her absence, suggesting they hadn't noticed anything amiss.

"When did she go to the toilet?"

"She doesn't have a watch, so it's hard to say exactly. Probably around eleven or twelve at night."

Educated youths usually stayed up later than villagers, but rarely past ten o'clock.

Jiang Pei'e had just fallen asleep when she felt uncomfortable and got out of bed.

Rongshan Brigade was relatively safe; the team leader managed things strictly, and there were no troublemakers who harassed female educated youths.

Jiang Pei'e didn't think much of it and, feeling severe pain, took some toilet paper and went to the outhouse.

It was a busy season, and the educated youths were working hard to secure spots at the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers University. Everyone was exhausted and slept later than usual, so Jiang Pei'e didn't want to wake anyone else.

Unexpectedly, this time, something happened when she went to the toilet at night.

"Was she assaulted first, then knocked unconscious, or the other way around?"

"She said that as she came out of the toilet, a man covered her mouth from behind, held a knife to her, and dragged her into the hay. Just as she tried to struggle, she was knocked unconscious. When she woke up, her clothes were disheveled."

Tang Qingqing nodded. "Alright, I understand. I'll go check the scene now."

Aunt Gui Hua: "Qingqing, you must catch that beast quickly, or I won't feel at ease."

"Aunt Gui Hua, don't worry. I won't let the criminal get away."

Aunt Gui Hua sighed in relief and couldn't help praising, "No wonder you've been educated; even your words sound different."

Tang Qingqing headed towards the educated youths' toilet. As soon as she approached, she could smell the stench.

But for Tang Qingqing, it was something she had long gotten used to. She calmly covered her nose and examined the footprints on the ground.

The educated youths, unaware of what had happened, saw the toilet cordoned off and Tang Qingqing squatting nearby, staring at the ground. They immediately sensed something was wrong.

"Miss Eagle Eye, what's going on? Why are you here?"

At first, Tang Qingqing didn't realize someone was talking to her. She focused on examining the ground and ignored the voices.

After being called a few more times, she realized they were addressing her.

Without explaining, she simply said, "Go somewhere else."

"Tell us what happened. Why are you investigating near the toilet? Could someone be stealing feces?"

The male educated youth's comment made everyone laugh.

While feces were good fertilizer and sometimes people fought over cow dung, the idea of someone stealing human waste was amusing.

Tang Qingqing didn't respond and continued examining the ground.

Soon, the team leader arrived and sent the educated youths away, restoring calm to the scene.

Team Leader: "How is it going? Any discoveries?"

"Not yet." Tang Qingqing stared intently at the ground, examining every detail.

She carefully inspected bent grass and disturbed pebbles.

"You keep looking here. Take your time. This matter should be kept quiet. I've sent Zhai and Blackie to work elsewhere. I'll send the Women's Committee Chair to accompany you later."

"No need. I can manage alone. In our brigade, we don't need to complicate things."

As the busy production season had begun, the team leader accepted her refusal and left after giving a few instructions.

Tang Xingqiang soon heard the news and rushed over. Usually, Tang Qingqing never brought him along when investigating cases, saying he was too young and would make others doubt her tracking skills.

Tang Xingqiang always regretted this, knowing that Tang Qingqing always had good food during investigations.

Seeing how well-fed and healthy Tang Qingqing looked, he envied her.

He wished he could grow as tall as Zhai Hongyi overnight, but despite his wishes, he remained short.

Now that he knew Tang Qingqing was investigating in the village, he hurried over.

"Sis, I'm here to help."

Tang Qingqing replied, exasperated, "It's so stinky here. Why did you come?"

Tang Xingqiang pinched his nose. "Wang Heizi and Zhai Hongyi were assigned to work. I thought you might need help, so I came. You don't need to be too grateful; just share some rewards with me later."

"No need."

Even if Zhai Hongyi and Wang Heizi were available, Tang Qingqing didn't think it was necessary to call them.

In her own team, Tang Qingqing felt secure and very familiar with the surroundings, so not having helpers wasn't an issue.

Tang Xingqiang disagreed, "Sis, you don't understand. The bad guy hasn't been caught yet. What if he comes back? You're alone here; that's dangerous! At least I can help you send a message."

"Do you know what I'm investigating?"

"I don't. The news hasn't spread, which means it's something sensitive. Since it's sensitive, there's no need for me to ask."

Tang Qingqing admired her younger brother's maturity. Despite his young age, he was quite perceptive.

She didn't try to make him leave anymore, as Tang Xingqiang said, in case the rapist came back, she might not even be able to call for help.

To avoid disturbing the crime scene, the team leader had everyone work elsewhere, leaving this area empty.

The footprints here were very messy, as it was a place people visited daily.

After a long search, Tang Qingqing finally found Jiang Pei'e's footprints but not those of the man.

Following Jiang Pei'e's footprints, she soon reached where the assault took place.

The neatly stacked hay bales were now scattered, indicating a fierce struggle. The attacker must have knocked Jiang Pei'e unconscious.

"Sis, there's a blood-stained rock over here!"

Tang Xingqiang pointed at the ground, careful not to touch the rock as Tang Qingqing had instructed.

Tang Qingqing drew a circle around the rock. Tang Xingqiang asked curiously, "Sis, why are you drawing a circle on the ground?"

"This way, even if we move the rock, we won't forget where it was originally."

"What's the use of knowing its original location?"

"To better reconstruct the situation."

Tang Qingqing continued examining the scene but still found no suspicious footprints.

This person seemed very cautious, not acting on impulse. If he had been waiting near the toilet, it would have been too much of a coincidence.

Most people wouldn't need to use the toilet at night, especially for a bowel movement. There were urine buckets in the dormitory, so there was no need to come this far.

Since the volunteers ate together, it was unlikely that someone had drugged Jiang Pei'e to predict her midnight bathroom visit.

Tang Qingqing concluded that her reputation was too well-known. Even though the crime might have been impulsive, the perpetrator was very careful, worried about leaving any clues.

Undeterred, Tang Qingqing slowly expanded her search, paying attention to every detail.

Soon, she found a male footprint from a Warrior shoe about five or six meters away from the hay bales.

It was only the right heel, and not very clear.

But this was enough to make Tang Qingqing excited, and she searched more diligently nearby.

Without Zhai Hongyi and Wang Heizi's assistance, her progress was slower. Tang Xingqiang followed her, yawning out of boredom.

He initially thought observing sheep was a joke, but now he realized how tedious it was.

Tang Xingqiang, who had never been interested in tracking, became even less interested after this experience. He would rather die than learn it.

Seeing Tang Qingqing circling the same area, he stopped following closely and started playing with ants.

Meanwhile, Old Lady Zhou went to collect eggs from her chicken coop as usual, only to find neither eggs nor chickens inside!

Old Lady Zhou searched around the coop but found nothing.

She hurried back to ask her daughter-in-law, "Stone's Mom, did you collect the eggs today?"

Stone's Mom was slightly annoyed, "Mom, I haven't gone near the coop. Don't blame me for taking the eggs. Since I married into this family, I've only eaten one egg during my confinement month."

Old Lady Zhou guarded the eggs tightly, as they were one of the few things that could be sold for money. Not even her grandson Stone was allowed near them.

"Then what happened? Why are there no eggs today?"

"We only have two chickens. It's normal not to get any eggs sometimes."

Their two hens usually laid at least one egg each day, but there were always exceptions.

Old Lady Zhou was upset, as she had plans for the eggs, but today there were none.

"Did you see our chickens?"

"They should be in the coop."

"There's only one left; the other is missing."

Stone's Mom wiped her hands and went outside with Old Lady Zhou to check.

Indeed, only one chicken remained, and the fattest one was gone.

A chicken was a significant asset for a farming family.

Especially since this was a hen at the peak of its egg-laying period; someone might not be willing to sell even if offered money.

The mother and daughter-in-law searched for a long time but couldn't find their hen, feeling extremely anxious.

"Where on earth could it have flown off to!"

At this moment, Tang Qingqing followed the footprints and arrived just as she ran into Old Lady Zhou.

Seeing Tang Qingqing, Old Lady Zhou was very excited: "Qing girl, our chicken is missing. Can you help us find our chicken?"

"Auntie, when did your chicken go missing?"

"It was still here last night. This morning, when I went to collect eggs, it was gone. The mother of Shitou and I have been searching for a while now, but we haven't seen a single feather."

Just then, Shitou's mother called out: "There are some chicken feathers here; they must be from our chicken!"

Old Lady Zhou and Tang Qingqing hurried over and saw the chicken feather.

Tang Xingqiang, seeing his sister being dragged off to look for chickens again, stomped his feet in frustration, annoyed that she would get sidetracked halfway through her task!

"Sis, don't forget about what we're doing here!"

Tang Qingqing ignored him and asked, "Auntie, how do you know this feather is from your chicken?"

Old Lady Zhou snatched the feather and confidently said:

"It must be ours. Our chicken is so beautiful; I can tell it's ours just by looking at the feather."

Tang Qingqing looked around, wanting to help them find clues, and noticed a pair of Feili shoe prints on the ground.

These shoe prints were from the same person she had seen before.