He Had Misunderstood

The few of them came back to their senses. Looking at Zhao Qiancheng's frost-covered face, they could not help shuddering and hurriedly began begging for mercy.

"Secretary Zhao, we—we just felt it wasn't fair for Jianguo. We didn't mean anything else."

"Yeah, Uncle Zhao. Jianguo is such an outstanding man, yet Educated Youth Jiang is always ordering him around. Everyone just couldn't stand it, so we, we..."

"Bullshit! You think you're that kind-hearted?"

Qin Fengying rushed forward and shoved them hard. Caught off guard, the women were pushed straight down the field ridge, landing on hard clods of dry earth. They grimaced in pain and panted heavily as they looked at her, yet none dared utter a harsh word.

"W-What are you doing? Can't you talk things out? Why are you hitting people at the drop of a hat?"

"What am I doing? You tell me what I'm doing!"

Qin Fengying stood with her hands on her hips, glaring furiously at them. "You dare spread rumors about my son? Believe it or not, I'll have his uncle arrest every last one of you..."

"Enough!"

Zhao Qiancheng cut her off. Then, with his hands clasped behind his back, he walked forward and gave the women a cool, indifferent glance before looking toward the Educated Youth Station. "Remember this well. This is the last time. If I hear anyone wagging their tongues again... hmph!"

He left his words unfinished. After merely shooting them a fierce glare, he turned and strode away. Qin Fengying stared at her husband's retreating back, her eyes filled with disbelief. She had never expected him to let it go just like that.

The breath in her chest had nowhere to go, but she did not dare make a scene either, afraid of truly angering Zhao Qiancheng and suffering for it herself. She spat viciously at Li Chunlan and the others before hurrying after him.

The women were left sitting pale-faced in the field, looking at one another with trembling lips, too frightened to speak.

After Qin Fengying caught up with Zhao Qiancheng, she saw that his face was still dark and gloomy. Though somewhat intimidated, she cautiously asked, "Honey, what do you think about this matter with Jianguo?"

At her words, Zhao Qiancheng's anger deepened. He clenched his teeth, the veins on his forehead standing out one by one. "Go to the Educated Youth Station and call Jianguo back. Make sure no one sees you."

"Okay!"

Having received her orders, Qin Fengying immediately turned at the crossroads and hurried toward the Educated Youth Station. Zhao Qiancheng watched his wife leave, then turned around, went home, got on his twenty-eight-inch bicycle, and headed for town.

When Zhao Jianguo carried Jiang Hongmei back to the Educated Youth Station, Lu Xiaoyue and the others were making dinner. Seeing the two chatting and laughing, their faces nearly pressed together, everyone was stunned.

They had never imagined the two would be so bold. Though things had not been controlled as strictly in recent years, and young people were encouraged to fall in love freely, these two had gone far too overboard.

Li Jiaojiao looked at them with utter contempt. The anger she had been unable to vent in the field today had finally found an outlet. She immediately said without courtesy, "Comrade Zhao, you should at least mind your image. You're unmarried, and so is she.

"But Jiang Hongmei goes around every day saying Gu Yu is her fiancé, while you are merely her close friend. The two of you acting like this..."

She raised a hand and pointed at them, giving a scornful laugh. "What are you doing? Putting a green hat on Gu Yu?"

Their faces immediately turned ugly. Zhao Jianguo felt the arms around his neck slowly withdraw, and anger surged within him at once. He rebuked her in a deep voice, "Educated Youth Li, you've at least gone to school and seen something of the world, yet I never expected your thoughts to be so filthy! You're exactly like those village women!"

"Heh! My thoughts are filthy?"

Li Jiaojiao pulled her lips into a cold smile, nearly rolling her eyes into the sky. "Zhao Jianguo, let me tell you, it is precisely because I've studied and received an education that I know what propriety, righteousness, integrity, and shame are. And besides..."

She tilted her head to look at the man before her, her gaze shooting toward him like icy blades. Her words were even less polite.

"Don't keep looking down on people by calling them village women all day long. When you insult someone, think clearly about whether you were born to and raised by a village woman yourself. Your whole family digs food out of the earth, yet you look down on village women. What a joke!"

Hearing her insult him like that, Zhao Jianguo's rage flared even higher. He opened his mouth, ready to spew venom. "You cheap bitch..."

"Jianguo!"

Jiang Hongmei called out to stop him. She then gently patted his shoulder and whispered in his ear, "Don't be impulsive. Put me down first."

She said this not because she feared Zhao Jianguo would lose out, but because she worried that if he made too fierce a scene with the people at the Educated Youth Station, it would be awkward for her to remain there.

Laughably, that big fool Zhao Jianguo actually thought Jiang Hongmei was worried about him. His heart became as sweet as honey, and he quickly obeyed, lowering her to the ground.

But the moment Jiang Hongmei's feet touched the ground, she hissed in pain, her body swaying as she was about to fall to one side. Zhao Jianguo hurriedly caught her, then glared resentfully at Li Jiaojiao. "See that? Hongmei hurt her foot and can't walk. That's why I carried her back."

After thinking about it, he added, "Why am I even explaining this to you? People with filthy minds see filth in everything."

"You're the filthy one!"

Li Jiaojiao retorted loudly, refusing to yield. Jiang Hongmei sneered inwardly, but outwardly pushed him with disapproval. "Jianguo, how can you say that about Jiaojiao?"

"Shut up. I don't need your fake kindness."

Li Jiaojiao pointed at her and cursed, "How did I never realize before that you're so good at putting on an act?"

Seeing her so ungrateful and still trying to criticize Jiang Hongmei, Zhao Jianguo's gaze instantly turned cold and vicious. He stared at her dead-on. "Li Jiaojiao, if you dare bully Hongmei again, believe it or not, I'll make your life worse than death!?"

Frightened by his cannibalistic expression, Li Jiaojiao shuddered. Her face instantly changed from red to ashen white, and she calmed down somewhat.

That was right! Zhao Jianguo was the son of the Brigade Secretary and the Women's Federation Director, and his uncle was in the Militia Company. She was merely an educated youth sent down to the countryside, far from home and the emperor. If he truly decided to trip her up, her family would not be able to protect her at all.

At that thought, regret swept through Li Jiaojiao like towering waves, making her sway uncontrollably. Her complexion grew even worse.

Seeing that she knew fear now, Zhao Jianguo gave a disdainful sneer, his eyes full of smug satisfaction. "What? Cat got your tongue? Too scared to speak now?"

At his words, Jiang Hongmei lowered her head to conceal the mockery in her eyes. Li Jiaojiao's eyes reddened, but she stubbornly kept them wide open as she met his gaze, forcing herself not to shed a single tear.

Lu Xiaoyue's heart ached at the sight. She hurried forward and supported her friend. "Jiaojiao, are you alright?"

"I-I'm fine!"

Li Jiaojiao turned her head slightly, her voice somewhat hoarse. Lu Xiaoyue could not stand Zhao Jianguo bullying her any longer and shot him a glare.

"Comrade Zhao, Jiaojiao's words may not have sounded pleasant, but they were not without reason. You two..."

"My son will be taught by the Zhao Household. It isn't for outsiders to point fingers at him. Just mind yourselves."

The sudden voice made everyone turn toward the sound. They saw Qin Fengying storming into the Educated Youth Station. She stopped in front of Zhao Jianguo, her face dark as she looked at him. "Come home with me."

"Mom..."

Zhao Jianguo was dissatisfied. His mother was calling him out like that in front of so many people—did he not have any pride?

Jiang Hongmei, standing beside him, was likewise displeased by Qin Fengying's arrival. After all, coming at a time like this would affect her plans.

"Did you hear me? Come back with me!"

When Qin Fengying saw that he still had not moved after so long, anger immediately appeared on her face. The people at the Educated Youth Station feared getting caught in the crossfire and instinctively shrank back, trying to make themselves as inconspicuous as possible.

Zhao Jianguo, however, was deeply dissatisfied that his mother gave him no face. Just as he was about to talk back, Qin Fengying impatiently grabbed him and strode outside. "Move! Stay away from this place from now on."

Seeing her taking him away, Jiang Hongmei thought that if Zhao Jianguo went home and truly obeyed his family's arrangements to marry a village girl, would that not ruin her entire plan? She immediately limped forward in a panic, wanting to stop the mother and son.

But Qin Fengying, quick-eyed and quick-handed, shoved her to the ground. Jiang Hongmei immediately cried out in pain, "Ah!"

"Hongmei!!"

Zhao Jianguo anxiously broke free of his mother's grip and rushed forward, carefully helping Jiang Hongmei up. Jiang Hongmei pursed her lips and naturally leaned into his embrace, sniffling and whimpering softly.

"Director Qin, w-what did I do wrong? Why do you dislike me so much? Sob... Please, please tell me. I'll definitely try my best to correct it!"

Zhao Jianguo's heart broke at once. He hurriedly comforted her, "Don't talk nonsense. My mom doesn't dislike you. She didn't mean to do it."

"..."

The educated youths all felt a chill run down their spines, utterly speechless. Their inward eye-rolls nearly reached the heavens. None had expected Zhao Jianguo to be so infatuated with Jiang Hongmei that he had become this mindless.

Qin Fengying's eyes also reddened with rage. When she recalled what everyone had said in the fields about her son, her liver hurt with anger, and she wanted nothing more than to flay Jiang Hongmei alive.

With that thought, she rushed forward, yanked Jiang Hongmei out of her son's arms, and shoved her toward Li Jiaojiao and the others. Then, amid everyone's startled cries, she gripped Zhao Jianguo tightly as he tried to go help her again and roared at him.

"If you don't leave with me right now, I'll go out at once and expose every bit of her disgrace. I'll let everyone in Red Flag Commune know that Educated Youth Jiang Hongmei from our brigade serves two husbands all by herself!"

"Mom! What nonsense are you talking about?"

Zhao Jianguo's eyes widened. He turned in disbelief toward Qin Fengying, who was panting heavily and glaring at him. For a moment, he could not accept that his mother, who usually doted on him and took his side, was not only forcing him in front of outsiders but treating a pure, flawless, kind-hearted girl like that.

Hatred immediately rose in his heart toward her. He never once considered her painstaking good intentions.

When Qin Fengying saw that he not only stood there without moving but even looked as though she had wronged him, her heart turned cold as well.

She immediately flung his hand away and stormed outside, gritting her teeth as she said, "If you want to keep her company, then keep her company to your heart's content. I'm going to the Commune right now to ask everyone whether an educated youth with poor conduct, who plays both sides in the brigade and serves two husbands by herself, should be arrested and thrown into prison!"

Seeing that she was serious, Zhao Jianguo hurried after her and grabbed her. "Mom! Mom! Don't act recklessly. I'll go back with you. Don't treat Hongmei like that."

At his words, Qin Fengying immediately turned to Jiang Hongmei, who had fallen against the other educated youths, and threatened viciously, "You shameless little fox spirit, I'm warning you—stop clinging to my son. Otherwise, I'll skin you alive!"

Then she dragged away Zhao Jianguo, who wanted to speak but held back. At that moment, she had completely forgotten that not long ago, she had wanted to match her son with Jiang Hongmei.

After they had gone far away, Li Jiaojiao furiously shoved Jiang Hongmei, who was leaning against her and Lu Xiaoyue. "Get off!"

Unexpectedly, the shove sent her sprawling backward. Whether she had truly struck her injured foot or something else had happened, Jiang Hongmei clutched her leg and began crying out as if her heart were being torn apart. "It hurts! My foot—"

Li Jiaojiao's face went pale. She was about to step forward to help her, but then remembered that she had barely used any force. How could this woman have fallen so badly or been injured so seriously? She immediately glared at her, then pulled Lu Xiaoyue away.

Seeing that the two of them had left, the other educated youths were even less inclined to stay. Pretending not to see anything, they returned to their rooms one by one, leaving Jiang Hongmei alone, half sprawled on the ground and crying without stop.

In the past, no one would have been so cold or suspicious. But over the past few days, the people at the Educated Youth Station had grown sick of her performances and assumed she was once again pretending to be pitiful to win sympathy.

Still, she could really howl. She cried for half an hour without pausing. In the end, Wang Hongbo, the group leader of the Educated Youth Station, could not bear to watch any longer and asked two girls to help her back to her room to lie down. Only then did she quiet down.

However, after what happened today, everyone's impression of Jiang Hongmei had worsened. It would likely be impossible for her to repair her relationship with the people at the Educated Youth Station afterward.

Half-Mountain Courtyard.

Shen Jianan handed the lunchbox in his hand to Gu Yu and earnestly instructed him, "Brother Gu, go early and come back early. I have something to discuss with you later."

Gu Yu rarely saw him so serious and unconsciously frowned. Thinking that the youth might have encountered some difficulty, he asked with a trace of urgency, "Can't you tell me now?"

Shen Jianan paused slightly, then smiled and shook his head. "It's a little complicated. When you get back, we can sit down and talk it through slowly."

Hearing that, Gu Yu did not press the matter. "Alright."

He took the lunchbox and quickly left the house. Shen Jianan tidied up the room, then sat quietly on the kang, repeatedly calling for the voice that had appeared that morning in his mind.

Yet no matter how he threatened or tempted it, the voice never appeared again. Shen Jianan felt uneasy. He did not believe that a Plot Lord with such twisted values would simply let him and Gu Yu go. There would definitely be more pits waiting for them to jump into.

Therefore, before that happened, he had to find a way to increase his and Gu Yu's "roles" until they became irreplaceable. That way, they could keep the male and female leads in check, and live well in this novel world.

"What should I do?"

Shen Jianan frowned and leaned back against the kang, silently analyzing their current situation.

The original owner's parents had yet to mention bringing him back to the city. Something had likely gone wrong with their promotion, and they definitely would not dare make any moves in the short term.

As for Gu Yu, his situation was even more complicated. Though his aunt had married a high-ranking official and his uncle was abroad, the Gu Household's circumstances meant that one tug could move the whole body. Without absolute certainty, they would not act rashly. Besides, with the Gu Household's current capabilities, there was little they could do.

Then they could only rely on themselves.

As the youth was pondering, familiar footsteps entered the room from the courtyard. He abruptly sat up and saw Gu Yu push open the door, bolt it behind him, then walk straight over and sit beside him.

"Go on. What did you want to discuss with me?"

Shen Jianan pressed his lips together, lowering his head and picking at his fingers. "Brother Gu, we offended Jiang Hongmei, which means we offended Zhao Jianguo. Life in Red Flag Commune definitely won't be easy for us from now on.

"I was thinking that we can't just sit and wait for death. We need to find a way to stop them from picking fights with us. Otherwise, if we fall into their trap one day, the trouble will be enormous."

He looked up at Gu Yu, his face solemn. "Don't think I'm being alarmist. I truly believe Zhao Jianguo will cause trouble for us because of Jiang Hongmei.

"When that time comes, do we fight back or not? If we do, with Zhao Qiancheng's ruthless habit of protecting his own, he will definitely step in. The two of us might not die, but we'll be skinned alive all the same.

"Especially you. Your identity is sensitive. If there is even the slightest mistake, you could be shot dead. If we don't fight back, the result won't be much different. Either way, we die. But can you accept that? I certainly can't!"

He paused briefly. Looking at Gu Yu's ugly expression, he continued, "Also, even if something has happened to my parents, as long as it isn't a crime grave enough to wipe out the whole family, they'll get through it sooner or later. When that happens, whether I return to the city or do anything else, it will be easy enough.

"But you are different. Other than your aunt and younger uncle, everyone in the Gu Household is being reformed in different places. If something happens to you, does the Gu Household still have any hope?

"Brother Gu, you're so smart. Have you ever thought about how your aunt, all the way in Kyoto, was still able to manipulate others into handling your affairs? Her abilities must be anything but ordinary."

The youth's voice unconsciously softened, but his words struck the other's heart like a heavy hammer. "Brother Gu, do you remember that Educated Youth Liu from Sunshine Brigade?

"His circumstances were even worse than yours. His family also had an older sister, and she married someone with less influence than your aunt..."

Before Shen Jianan could finish, Gu Yu's face had already turned deathly pale. He suddenly recalled the words his aunt had once sent him through someone else: "Xiaoyu, it is enough for you to stay alive. Do not think about anything else."

He looked at the youth before him in a panic, his eyes red as dripping blood. So he had misunderstood what those words meant.

"Tell me. What's your plan?"

"Alright..."