Chapter 48

Chapter 48

Before Zhai Hongyi could speak, his staunch supporter Wang Heizi jumped up.

"A moment of confusion is enough to accuse someone, a moment of confusion is enough to steal and pilfer, so does that mean killing someone would also be just a moment of confusion?!"

Tang Xingqiang also sprang forward, shouting, "If you have the guts to do something bad, then you should have the guts to admit it! Being both bad and cowardly is even more disgusting!"

Wang Heizi: "If you care so much about him, fine, next time there's any allocation, we'll forget about them in a moment of confusion!"

Tang Xingqiang: "When the scorekeeper records fewer work points for you, see if you don't go after them!"

Wang Heizi: "If you sympathize with him so much, are you planning to do the same thing later to pave your own way?"

Tang Xingqiang: "Your scheming can be heard by people from the neighboring commune!"

The two children echoed each other, making those who sympathized with Li Zhiyi retreat, red-faced and speechless.

Zhai Hongyi reached out, grabbed the collars of the two children, and gently pulled them back.

The two children were not yet done scolding but did not say anything further.

These educated youths usually liked to pontificate, thinking the villagers were crude and uneducated. They had long wanted to give them a good tongue-lashing, and this was finally their chance.

Zhai Hongyi glanced at the educated youths and said, "Is there anyone else who thinks I shouldn't pursue this?"

At this point, no one stood up, all silently distancing themselves from the person who had spoken earlier.

Tang Xingqiang and Wang Heizi snorted simultaneously, their faces full of mockery.

One of the educated youths felt humiliated, having been silenced by two village children, and stood up again.

"Where there is room for mercy, show mercy. We're not saying there shouldn't be punishment; we can criticize and educate him, but there's no need to involve the Public Security Bureau."

Zhai Hongyi showed no emotion, "Anyone else who thinks this way?"

With someone taking the lead, a few others who were close to Li Zhiyi or disliked Zhai Hongyi also stood up.

"Anyone else?"

After no further response, Zhai Hongyi spoke again:

"Since you are so magnanimous, it seems you are willing to share responsibility with Li Zhiyi. Fine, personally, I won't pursue his false accusation against me. As long as you can remain united like this, giving up your return-to-city quotas and Workers, Peasants and Soldiers University quotas."

Upon hearing this, the educated youths all jumped up.

"What gives you the right?!"

"Zhai Hongyi, how can you be so vindictive?!"

"If you don't want to, just say so; why pretend to be generous?!"

Zhai Hongyi smiled, "What? Feeling the pain now? If I were falsely accused, the punishment would be much worse than this!"

Someone still couldn't help muttering, "You're fine now."

"I am fine now, and he is fine too. But guess what might happen next time there's a quota? With no punishment, an apology would suffice, and you'd get a chicken. Don't talk about compensation; who would be willing to sell? This is no different from forced buying and selling!"

Upon hearing this, the educated youths' faces turned grim, especially those who thought they deserved the return-to-city quotas.

"Are you deliberately stirring up trouble because you can't return to the city, hoping to disrupt our educated youth point and prevent future allocations? If you can't be happy, neither can anyone else!"

This struck a chord with everyone, and the educated youths became noisy. The earlier comments didn't bother some, but this last one hit home.

If this situation persisted, they would lose all hope for the future, and they finally became anxious.

Zhai Hongyi's face showed mockery, his expression sinister.

Seeing this, the team leader shook his head and instructed the militia to take Li Zhiyi away and escort him to the local police station.

Before leaving, the team leader sternly told the educated youths,

"When someone makes a mistake, they must be punished. This is not only for the victim but also to warn everyone that certain things cannot be done. You are all educated; think about the logic behind this."

After the team leader left, Zhai Hongyi entered the educated youth point, hastily packed his belongings, rolled up his bedding, and carried a large bag out.

Seeing this, Wen Xuelan became anxious, "Comrade Zhai Hongyi, what are you doing?"

Others chimed in, "Those opinions were just from a few people; we support your ideas."

"Yes, truth becomes clearer through discussion. We came here to learn from each other. If there are misunderstandings, we can clear them up; there's no need to leave the collective."

As the group leader, Tian Hongsheng also said, "Comrade Zhai Hongyi, we sincerely apologize."

Wang Heizi, being quick-witted, went to help Zhai Hongyi carry some smaller items, muttering,

"Forget it, living here is too dangerous. Being falsely accused and subjected to demands, what's the point?"

Tang Xingqiang added, "Exactly! Being smeared without doing anything wrong, who would want to stay in such a mess?"

The educated youths turned green with anger; these kids were asking for a beating.

Not wanting things to become too tense, Tang Qingqing said, "Comrade Zhai wants to deeply understand and help the impoverished farmers, so he plans to live and eat with them. This will help him better understand our needs and thoughts, ensuring that no one would boldly steal chickens from the farmers over a quota, thinking it's no big deal."

Her words made everyone uneasy, but Tang Qingqing and her companions followed Zhai Hongyi away without further ado.

Zhai Hongyi had long planned to move and live with Old Liu, even repairing a nearby cave to make it habitable.

Although living on the mountain is inconvenient, it's also quiet, and I can have my own room.

At the youth commune, seven or eight guys all sleep on one bed, not only crowded but with some snoring and others grinding their teeth. And there are those who don't care about hygiene, not washing their feet before sleeping, making the stench unbearable when they take off their shoes.

Zhai Hongyi has always been very disgusted by this, but he still endured it for the sake of collective spirit.

Tang Qingqing knows that he isn't as cold on the surface and doesn't want to be aloof from these fellow youths; it's just that they don't share common interests.

Now that this incident has happened, Zhai Hongyi finally made up his mind to leave.

Tang Qingqing is very happy, especially since her master is getting older and less mobile.

His place is far away, and if something happens, no one would hear him call for help.

Having someone around to look after him would give Tang Qingqing peace of mind.

Old Liu saw Zhai Hongyi with his bags and wasn't surprised. Instead, he took out ten eggs and a piece of cured meat, asking Tang Qingqing to cook them all.

Though not explicitly stated, she guessed that Old Liu was celebrating Zhai Hongyi's move.

Since Zhai Hongyi started cooking at Old Liu's place, all the condiments were well-stocked. He often went to the black market and brought back many good things.

Tang Qingqing cooked garlic stir-fried meat, tomato and egg, cucumber salad, and shredded cabbage. The steamed buns were made by Zhai Hongyi.

With his strong hands, Zhai Hongyi kneaded the dough into a firmer texture.

The white flour was also brought back by Zhai Hongyi in large quantities, allowing them to eat wheat bread every day.

However, both Zhai Hongyi and Wang Heizi had big appetites, and even Tang Qingqing could eat a lot now, so they still needed to supplement with mixed flour buns or steamed sweet potatoes.

They weren't yet at the level where they could freely eat white flour buns, but they were already better off than many families in the village.

This was Tang Xingqiang's first visit to Old Liu's house. This time, Tang Qingqing didn't stop him from coming along.

Upon arriving at Old Liu's house, he was particularly well-behaved, helping with firewood and setting the table, bustling around to avoid being sent away.

When Tang Xingqiang smelled the food and saw the dishes on the table, he felt his efforts were worth it.

When Tang Qingqing invited him to eat, Tang Xingqiang pretended to refuse, saying he would go home instead.

Tang Qingqing saw through his act and said, "Come over and eat. Your saliva is almost forming a puddle. What are you pretending for?"

Even Wang Heizi, who used to clash with him, now feeling more mature, said, "You did well today. Come over and join us."

As the host, Old Liu welcomed him, and Zhai Hongyi directly gave him a white flour bun. Only then did Tang Xingqiang happily sit down.

Biting into the white flour bun, Tang Xingqiang closed his eyes in bliss.

He reached for the cured meat but remembered something and quickly changed direction, picking up the garlic sprouts instead.

If this were at home, Tang Xingqiang would have grabbed the meat as fast as possible, or else there wouldn't be any left.

Among the three brothers, each one was quicker than the last, and Tang Jianjun, being an adult, would grab even more.

Grandma Wu doted on her grandsons, but her favorite was the eldest, Tang Xingwang, so she would help him get food.

Zhao Dahua might not compete with the children—she would let go if they reached for the same piece—but she was quick herself.

Every meal was like a race, with everyone grabbing the best food first, leaving only pickled vegetables and such.

But here, no one fought over food. Though everyone ate quickly, there was no competition, just faster eating.

Tang Xingqiang, though young, could tell the difference.

He had to restrain his desire for meat, fearing that if he overdid it, his sister wouldn't bring him again.

Earlier, he saw Tang Qingqing scoop a large spoonful of tomato and egg into Old Liu's bowl, mostly eggs and few tomatoes.

Old Liu wasn't pleased: "I have hands; I don't need your help."

Wang Heizi: "You do have hands, but they shake. You can only pick up tomatoes. You can't chew the cured meat, so you should eat more eggs."

Zhai Hongyi didn't say anything but scooped another spoonful of eggs into Old Liu's bowl, nearly burying the tomatoes.

Seeing this, Tang Xingqiang understood that this place was different from home, where everyone was considerate.

Just then, a piece of cured meat landed in his bowl. Thinking it was Tang Qingqing, he was surprised to see it was Zhai Hongyi.

Tang Xingqiang's eyes widened, not expecting the usually cold Zhai Hongyi to give him meat.

"Help yourself to whatever you want."

The voice was calm, but Tang Xingqiang was almost moved to tears.

Wang Heizi scooped tomato and egg into his bowl, mostly eggs and few tomatoes:

"You spoke up today; that was good. If you were still as naughty as before, you wouldn't even be allowed in the yard, let alone eat with us."

As a reformed troublemaker, Wang Heizi felt confident facing Tang Xingqiang.

Though Wang Heizi admitted he wasn't always obedient, he wasn't as annoying as Tang Xingqiang, who always tried to take advantage of others, tricking other kids out of their candy.

Today, seeing his effort, Wang Heizi decided to temporarily overlook past grievances, but if he caught him cheating again, his fists wouldn't hesitate.

Tang Xingqiang nodded firmly and declared, "I will align myself with the organization!"

"Hurry up and eat," Tang Qingqing said.

Tang Xingqiang began to munch on the steamed bun while devouring the meat and eggs in his bowl, feeling so happy that his legs were almost trembling.

This is what life should be like!

"Sis, your cooking is amazing. Why haven't I seen you cook at home?"

After stuffing himself until his belly was round, Tang Xingqiang lay on the kang, patting his full stomach, feeling incredibly satisfied.

Compared to the food at home, the meals here were like heaven; even the pig slop couldn't compare.

It wasn't just the lack of meat; it was also the skill involved.

Tang Qingqing said, "Did you see how much oil I used? To make it taste good, you need plenty of oil. Do you think I could do that at home?"

Tang Xingqiang thought about it and clenched his fist, swearing, "If I ever get rich, I'll fill a whole room with oil and meat. Let's see who dares to say there isn't enough."

Although the chicken theft had been resolved, Jiang Pei'e's case remained unclear.

After the team leader returned from the local police station, Tang Qingqing went to inquire about the situation.

"Li Zhiyi admitted to stealing the chicken and intentionally framing Zhai Hongyi, but he refused to admit assaulting Jiang Pei'e."

Li Zhiyi had planned this carefully. He knew Tang Qingqing could trace people through footprints. If someone's belongings were stolen, they would definitely ask Tang Qingqing for help.

That's why he came up with this scheme, but he didn't expect Tang Qingqing to look beyond just the shoe prints, which exposed him.

During interrogation, when asked if he had done anything else, he adamantly denied it.

He claimed he only wanted to frame Zhai Hongyi and take away his spot at the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers University; he wouldn't do anything else.

"He's stubborn. Even when we caught him before, he didn't confess. Assaulting a woman is a more serious crime, so he definitely won't admit it."

For stealing chickens, he only needed to pay compensation, which wasn't a big deal.

As for framing Zhai Hongyi, since no actual harm was done, the punishment wouldn't be severe, though his record would look bad, making it hard to find work if he returned to the city.

His chances of being recognized as an exemplary member of the team were now slim.

However, he would likely face only criticism and education, not long-term detention.

But the assault case was different. It was a serious crime, and the punishment would be far more severe.

The team leader disagreed, "You underestimate Chief Zhang. He's an experienced officer, and few can withstand his interrogations. Even if someone tries to be stubborn, he can tell."

Tang Qingqing frowned, "Are you saying the person who assaulted Jiang Pei'e isn't Li Zhiyi?"

"Chief Zhang thinks it's very likely. They're still investigating further. He's also sent someone to examine the scene for any other clues."

"I'm going to continue examining the scene to see if I can find any leads."

The team leader said, "Don't worry about this case. Chief Zhang will handle it."

Tang Qingqing sensed something was off, "Why? Why can't I be involved?"

"It's not that you can't, but this case isn't suitable for a young girl like you."

Tang Qingqing protested, "Why not?"

The team leader looked at her intently, and she immediately understood.

"What's the problem? Finding out the truth is the most important thing."

The team leader saw her determination and relented.

But despite repeated examinations, Tang Qingqing found no suspicious clues, leaving her frustrated.

The officer investigating the case shook a paper bag, smiling, "Don't worry, we won't let the culprit escape."

Inside the bag was the stone used to hit Jiang Pei'e.

"What can we learn from this stone?"

"The stone might have fingerprints. Each person's fingerprints are unique, so finding them can lead us to the culprit."

Tang Qingqing knew about the uniqueness of fingerprints, which is why people often pressed their thumbs on contracts instead of writing their names.

"But there's nothing on the stone."

She had examined it before and only saw Jiang Pei'e's blood.

"As long as someone touches it, there will be traces, just invisible to the naked eye. We need special methods to reveal them."

Tang Qingqing found this fascinating and wanted to understand it better.

"Brother, if I touch something, does it leave my fingerprints? Even if I can't see them, they're still there?"

Zhai Hongyi nodded, "Yes, our hands leave sweat and oils, creating traces wherever we touch."

"What method can reveal these fingerprints?"

"Different surfaces require different methods. One method I know is called fuming, using iodine vapor to reveal fingerprints on paper."

Tang Qingqing was amazed and looked at him with admiration, "Brother, you know so much!"

"It's chemistry. When you go to high school, if the school has the facilities, you can conduct related experiments. It's not a big deal."

"Chemistry? What's that?"

Chemistry is the study of substances at the molecular and atomic levels, focusing on their composition, properties, structure, and transformation rules; it is a science that creates new substances and is a natural science. ①

Tang Qingqing felt like she knew each word individually, but when put together, they seemed like gibberish.

"Brother, I don't understand."

"This subject is very interesting. The experiments in chemistry are incredibly fascinating. You'll start learning it in junior high school. Once you begin, you'll discover its wonders."

Zhai Hongyi thought for a moment and then added, "Have you heard of exorcising spirits or retrieving objects from hot oil before?"

Before Tang Qingqing could respond, Tang Xingqiang spoke up: "I know, I know! My grandmother secretly went to a shaman to exorcise spirits!"

After saying this, he quickly covered his mouth, knowing that if this got out, his grandmother would be in trouble.

This was superstition!

Although Grandma Wu wasn't as kind to him as she was to his elder brother, she was still quite good to him. Tang Xingqiang didn't want anything bad to happen to his grandmother.

Wang Heizi said, "What? The wind was too strong just now; I didn't hear clearly. What did you say?"

Tang Xingqiang hastily corrected himself: "I just said that I think I've heard the elders mention something like this before, and it scared me!"

Tang Qingqing held back her laughter at the cleverness of these two kids.

Zhai Hongyi couldn't help but chuckle and continued:

"All of these things use chemical principles to deceive people. Exorcising spirits and retrieving objects from hot oil are all nonsense; anyone can do them."

Wang Heizi and Tang Xingqiang's eyes lit up. Wang Heizi, being closer to Zhai Hongyi, eagerly pulled him aside.

"Brother Yi, when will you show us a trick?"

Tang Xingqiang chimed in, "Brother Yi, if you know these tricks, you could make a lot of money!"

Everyone's gaze turned to Tang Xingqiang, making him tremble like a quail.

Tang Qingqing sternly criticized him: "Tang Xingqiang, deception is wrong. A gentleman should earn money through proper means. We must never engage in such behavior."

Wang Heizi added, "There are so many legitimate ways to make money. Why focus on deceiving people, which could lead to disgrace?"

Though Zhai Hongyi didn't speak, the pressure in his gaze made Tang Xingqiang feel afraid.

Fear was secondary; he was more worried about being excluded from the group.

Tang Xingqiang relied on being Tang Qingqing's younger brother to stick with them.

He was young and couldn't contribute much, always fearing being left behind. He truly wanted to stay with the trio.

If asked who the most prominent people in the area were, it had to be the trio.

"I, I, I didn't mean to deceive anyone," Tang Xingqiang mumbled, trembling.

Tang Qingqing warned, "Better not have another thought like that, or you won't be following me anymore."

Tang Xingqiang nodded vigorously, "Sister, don't worry. I won't do those things!"

Zhai Hongyi said, "If there's an opportunity, I'll perform for everyone, so they can see and avoid being deceived in the future."

"The principle is simple; it uses chemical reactions to deceive the uninformed. These aren't witchcraft but science."

Wang Heizi asked curiously, "How is it done?"

"Exorcising spirits involves pre-treating yellow paper with clean brushes dipped in alkali water to draw ghost figures. After drying, it looks like ordinary yellow paper. Spraying it with turmeric water causes a reaction, revealing blood-red patterns. For retrieving objects from hot oil, borax or vinegar is added to the oil, making it appear boiling but actually not hot.

Fire burning demons and chewing ghost bones also use chemical knowledge to deceive the public. That's why we need to combat superstition—it's all deception."

Zhai Hongyi explained clearly, but everyone was curious and eager to try it themselves.

Tang Qingqing, Wang Heizi, and Tang Xingqiang looked at Zhai Hongyi with admiration.

Feeling a bit proud, Zhai Hongyi enjoyed the adoration and couldn't resist showing off.

"Heizi, didn't you think my brick-breaking was impressive? Actually, you can do it too."

Wang Heizi's eyes widened, "Me?"

"Brick-breaking uses physics. When I find a brick, I'll teach you, and you'll see it's not that amazing."

Wang Heizi and Tang Xingqiang exclaimed in unison, "It's still amazing!"

Tang Xingqiang's eyes sparkled; next year he would start school, expecting only to learn reading and arithmetic. He never imagined it would be so interesting!

"School is great."

Tang Xingqiang said, "I didn't know school taught these things. It's so interesting! If they had taught this, I wouldn't have skipped classes."

"You're trying to run before you can walk. Wait until you master the basics in elementary school, then you'll understand better."

A few days later, Tang Qingqing heard no more news about the case.

She knew that during investigations, many details were kept confidential. Although she was part of the team, she didn't ask further, figuring she'd learn the outcome eventually.

As soon as Tang Qingqing finished school, Tang Xingqiang rushed over.

"Sister, big news!"

"What is it?"

Tang Xingqiang pulled her aside, looking mysterious: "Jiang Pei'e, the educated youth, has been taken away by the police."

"Ah?"

Tang Qingqing's first reaction was that the criminal had been found and Jiang Pei'e was being taken to identify him.

But then she realized it didn't make sense; Jiang Pei'e hadn't seen who the person was, so she couldn't identify him.

Jiang Pei'e hadn't returned to the educated youth camp during this time. Although the team leader had provided an excuse, many people sensed something was amiss.

Some even speculated that the team leader's son was going to marry Jiang Pei'e, leading to rampant rumors.

"Sis, the case you were investigating before—wasn't it related to Educated Youth Jiang?"

Others might not know, but Tang Xingqiang did. He knew that the case Tang Qingqing had been working on wasn't about chicken theft; it was another case that just happened to coincide with it.

Tang Qingqing didn't say anything, and Tang Xingqiang didn't need her to answer. He could guess what was going on.

If it was being kept under wraps, it must be something that couldn't be openly discussed.

"Why did the public security officers take Educated Youth Jiang away?"

Tang Xingqiang wasn't sure either; he just came over as soon as he got the news to inform Tang Qingqing.

When Tang Qingqing went to see the team leader, he sighed:

"This matter might be different from what we thought. But let's wait for the news from the local police station. If I say anything now, and it turns out to be something else, it wouldn't be appropriate."

Tang Qingqing couldn't understand the situation; why was everything so secretive?

People in the team were already gossiping about why Jiang Pei'e had been taken away by the public security officers and what crime she might have committed.

There were only a few public security officers at the station, and although they weren't wearing uniforms, everyone knew them.

Jiang Pei'e had resisted when she was taken away, but eventually, she was forcibly removed. The women's director also went along with her.

Everyone felt there was something fishy about the whole thing, and all sorts of speculations were circulating.

Just as Tang Qingqing was about to go to her master's house, Aunt Gui Hua suddenly appeared and pulled her aside.

"Aunt Gui Hua, what's wrong?"

Aunt Gui Hua looked around, making sure no one was nearby before whispering:

"Qing, the local police station asked me to keep this confidential. I don't dare tell outsiders, but I can't keep it inside any longer."

"Aunt Gui Hua, do you know something?"

Aunt Gui Hua slapped her thigh: "Qing, I think I've been fooled! I'm so angry, but I can't talk about it with anyone. I'm afraid if I'm wrong, it would be bad if it spread."

"You know, Aunt Gui Hua, I'm not the type to spread rumors."

"If you have something to say, you can tell me. I promise I won't tell anyone."

"I thought so too, and you're the only one I can talk to about this."

Aunt Gui Hua led Tang Qingqing to a secluded hilltop, acting like she was meeting an underground party member, being very cautious.

She chose a spot where she could clearly see the surroundings, making it impossible for anyone to eavesdrop.

Even Tang Xingqiang, despite his small stature, was noticed and unceremoniously sent away by Aunt Gui Hua.

After ensuring no one was around, Aunt Gui Hua said:

"Qing, I think we've all been fooled by Educated Youth Jiang Pei'e!"

Tang Qingqing widened her eyes: "Ah?"

"I had a feeling something was off, but seeing how Educated Youth Jiang acted, I thought maybe I was being paranoid. But today, when the public security officers came, I realized she's just good at pretending!"

"What's going on? I don't understand."

"You're a young girl, so you wouldn't know or notice. When I rescued Jiang Pei'e and helped her change clothes, I felt something was strange about how clean she was. But I didn't think much of it, assuming she was just too weak to bother."

Tang Qingqing was still confused, and Aunt Gui Hua didn't elaborate further: "Oh well, you'll understand when you get married. Now you'll have some idea."

After saying this, Aunt Gui Hua felt it might not be appropriate and added:

"Don't think I'm a loose-lipped old woman, okay?"

"Of course not, Aunt Gui Hua. I'm not an ordinary girl; there's no need to hide these things."

Aunt Gui Hua sighed with relief, "I knew you were different, which is why I dared to tell you."

"Aunt, do you mean you think Educated Youth Jiang wasn't... still a maiden?"

"Yes, your Aunt Gui Hua has a keen eye. But I thought, how could a young girl joke about her innocence? How could she live with herself afterward? Even though she's not from here and will return home without any issues, it's still not right."

"Huh! Who would have thought it could be like this!"

Tang Qingqing still found it hard to believe, "Aunt Gui Hua, could you be mistaken?"

"I wish I were. Otherwise, I'd be furious. Although the river isn't deep, it can drown someone. When I saved her, I was dragged in and swallowed a lot of water, feeling miserable for days!"

Aunt Gui Hua was quite angry. She didn't mind saving someone, but if it turned out to be a setup, she felt cheated.

"At first, I really felt sorry for her. I have a daughter too. Being bullied so far away, we should care more."

Tang Qingqing nodded. During this time, Aunt Gui Hua had indeed been taking care of Jiang Pei'e.

Aunt Gui Hua also had a hard life, with elderly parents and young children to look after, and she was busy every day.

But since Jiang Pei'e only trusted her, she had to find time to come over.

Yet, she couldn't explain to others why she had to do so, and when the household chores were delayed, she couldn't defend herself even if she was scolded.

"Aunt Gui Hua, you've been through a lot during this time."

Aunt Gui Hua waved her hand. "At first, I felt sorry for her seeing her in that state, but the more we interacted, the more something didn't feel right."

"What exactly didn't feel right?"

"I can't quite put my finger on it, but sometimes it seemed like she wasn't as scared as she should be. Despite going through such hardship, she initially claimed she couldn't eat, but within a couple of days, she was eating heartily and even asked for eggs."

"Really? She actually made such requests?"

"Well, not exactly. She just told me how delicious the eggs were yesterday, saying she hadn't tasted such good eggs in a long time and wondered when she could have them again. At first, I didn't think much of it and gave her more eggs. But then my sister-in-law scolded me, and I started to feel something was off."

Eggs were precious these days. Aunt Gui Hua's sister-in-law saw her bringing eggs home twice, and even though they had separated households, she still couldn't help but comment.

Hearing Aunt Gui Hua recount Jiang Pei'e's words, her sister-in-law rolled her eyes.

"Who doesn't know that eggs are delicious? Does she need to say it? Even I think meat is tasty. If I went to your house for dinner and kept mumbling about how delicious the meat was, what would you think?"

Upon hearing this, Aunt Gui Hua was enlightened.

After this incident, Aunt Gui Hua began to feel something was amiss.

It wasn't that someone who had been hurt couldn't enjoy good food, but the fact that she still had the energy to play tricks suggested she wasn't truly distressed.

These small details made Aunt Gui Hua increasingly uneasy until the local police station sent someone to take her away. At that moment, many things became clear to her.

Especially when she saw Jiang Pei'e looking half-dead and pretending to be suicidal out of shame, Aunt Gui Hua found it suspicious.

Jiang Pei'e wasn't looking haggard from the trauma; instead, she appeared rosy-cheeked and well-rested due to the good food and rest she had received without having to work.

Pretending under such circumstances seemed awkward.

"But what does she gain from doing this?" Tang Qingqing still found it hard to understand.

"What else could it be? For a spot at the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers University."

"To get a spot at the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers University, she'd sacrifice her reputation? And isn't this framing someone? Besides, the spots aren't given based on who suffers the most."

Spots at the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers University were rare. Jiang Pei'e had been active, but not outstanding, as she often tried to shirk responsibilities and used her intelligence to find ways to be lazy.

The people in the brigade weren't fools. Initially, they thought she was decent, but over time, everyone knew who worked and who didn't.

If they gave her a spot, they would have to explain the reason clearly, or the educated youths wouldn't agree.

Would they say it was because she was assaulted?

While this might evoke sympathy and prevent further investigation, it would leave her with no face.

"If she can't get into the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers University, she could still get a spot to return to the city."

"A spot to return to the city? Does our brigade have any spots this year?"

"With what happened, if she tells the organization, they will definitely approve her return to the city."

Aunt Gui Hua looked at her with an expression that said she was too young to understand. "Qing, our brigade doesn't have those messy things, so you don't know. In my hometown, some educated youths slept with the captain, who was older than their own fathers, just to return to the city. Others took drugs to ruin their health, all to go back."

Aunt Gui Hua sighed deeply. "We understand that being far from home is tough. Some educated youths were forced to join the rural teams; they had electricity and paved roads in the city, unlike our countryside. Our villagers always want to move to the city, so why would they be content here? But some people go too far."

They didn't want such educated youths either, as they couldn't work properly and often caused trouble.

If they worked according to their abilities, they would starve themselves to death.

Moreover, the reason they were sent to the countryside was that they couldn't find jobs in the city. What would they eat and drink there?

Even if the countryside wasn't ideal, they still had food to eat.

On one hand, they sympathized with these people, but on the other, they felt they were ungrateful.

Tang Qingqing still found it unbelievable and hard to accept such behavior.

But thinking about Li Zhiyi framing Zhai Hongyi to prevent him from getting a spot, she realized anything was possible.

After venting, Aunt Gui Hua felt relieved and somewhat embarrassedly said:

"Qing, forget what I said. We don't know the whole situation yet, and if these words spread, it would be bad."

"Don't worry, Aunt Gui Hua. I won't mention it to anyone. You've been through a lot during this time."

Aunt Gui Hua waved her hand. "To be honest, part of me hopes these things are true, or I'd be furious—how can someone play around like this? On the other hand, I hope it's false, at least no one has to go through such a terrible ordeal."

Life for women is hard. They are often unwanted when born and struggle to survive. When they encounter such incidents, their lives are ruined.

While Tang Qingqing was waiting for the results, a theft occurred in town, and she needed to go there.

Tang Qingqing arrived in town, caught the thief, and consulted Chief Zhang about Jiang Pei'e's case.

Chief Zhang's expression was grim. "Jiang Pei'e was previously taken to the clinic. She is still a maiden."

"You mean she wasn't assaulted, and everything she said was fabricated?"

"Yes. During interrogation, she initially claimed she was knocked unconscious by a stone and woke up to find herself assaulted. In her distress, she jumped into the river. After repeated questioning, we informed her that her fingerprints were on the stone. She then changed her story, saying she had intended to fight back, grabbed the stone to hit the attacker, but it was taken from her and used against her."

During the interrogation, Jiang Pei'e kept changing her statements. When pressed, she would start crying, appearing like a victim in an attempt to evade the questioning.

Chief Zhang, an experienced police officer who had handled numerous cases, knew exactly how to deal with someone like her.

Without a word, he sent Jiang Pei'e directly to the health clinic.

The examination revealed that she was still a virgin and that nothing had happened.

Jiang Pei'e then claimed that she thought she had been assaulted because her clothes were disheveled. She did not expect that the person had done nothing, and she did not know the difference between being assaulted and not being assaulted.