RYEY – Chapter 96 Wang Qin Arrives

Cuihua shot a sharp glance at Chen Weidang. He pressed his lips into a smile, looked around to make sure no one else was nearby, then reached out and took her hand, striding toward the village.

Cuihua quickly pulled her hand away. As a village official, she had to be especially careful with her behavior; otherwise, she would set a bad example and become the village joke.

Chen Weidang understood the seriousness of the situation and walked ahead briskly, but Cuihua could see from his pace that he was deliberately waiting for her.

Once they reached the village, Chen Weidang began striking the gong and beating the drum, parading through the streets. The villagers knew immediately that something serious had happened when they heard the sound.

Everyone hurriedly grabbed small stools and tea cups, and the families that could afford it even pocketed some sunflower seeds to snack on while listening to the village head’s announcement.

Miao Qing could hardly contain her excitement. She grabbed her mother and headed toward the drying yard. Thinking that the troublemaker might eat peanuts—leaving Cheng Qiao a widow—her heart swelled with satisfaction.

Once Cheng Qiao became a widow, she planned to introduce her to an older man even worse than that rascal, ensuring that Cheng Qiao would never have a good life.

Seeing that most of the villagers had gathered, including Mother Li and Li Le, Chen Weidang waved for them to come forward.

Mother Li and Li Le were extremely tense. From the villagers’ whispers, they learned that Li Huan had killed someone and that Cheng Qiao had been sent to the hospital. They were stunned.

When Li Le realized that these words had come from Miao Qing, she flew into a rage like a little lunatic and grabbed a firewood stick, intending to go to Miao Qing’s house to fight. Her mother tightly restrained her:

“Lele, remember what I said. Your second brother and sister-in-law aren’t here—let’s hold back for now, alright?”

“Yes, Mother. I won’t act rashly.”

Seeing her mother’s eyes bloodshot from worry, Li Le finally calmed down and went to the kitchen to prepare meals. If her brother and sister-in-law returned, she wanted hot food ready for them.

Hearing the drum, Mother Li was so nervous she could barely breathe. Li Le grabbed her hand and led her outside, needing to be mentally prepared for whatever might come.

Miao Qing saw them approaching and smirked slightly. She subtly extended her leg, intending to trip Mother Li, hoping she would fall flat.

But Qian Longkun’s foot stomped firmly on hers. Miao Qing felt the pain but dared not cry out, knowing that if she did, everyone would see her malicious intent.

“Let go of me,” Miao Qing hissed.

“No.”

“I’ll scream that you’re being a pervert!”

“Go ahead, or I’ll scream first—pervert!”

Miao Qing hadn’t expected Qian Longkun to actually shout. In a panic, she tried to retract her leg, but as a girl, there was no way she could overpower him.

Everyone was watching. Zhao Xiaobao pointed at Qian Longkun’s foot and then at Mother Li, who had almost stopped in her tracks. Mother Li was just two steps away from being tripped.

“Miao Qing, what exactly are you trying to do?!”

Cuihua was furious. She had learned from her man that the person who sent the anonymous letter might be Miao Qing. Given Miao Qing’s hatred for Cheng Qiao, she could not have reported with good intentions. Clearly, Miao Qing was trying to cause trouble.

Looking at the position of Miao Qing’s foot, it was obvious she was attempting to trip Mother Li and embarrass her. This was utterly excessive.

“My… my foot was stepped on by him, yet he’s calling me a pervert. Who’s really being a pervert?”

No one spoke. Everyone could see the truth but kept it to themselves. Miao Qing’s father, Chen Fenqiu, was notorious for being an unpleasant man; everyone despised him.

Qian Longkun released his foot. At this point, Miao Qing wouldn’t cause any more trouble. Sure enough, feeling free, she quickly stepped back.

“Brother Longkun, thank you,” Li Le said politely, bowing. Qian Longkun waved it off. Cheng Qiao and Li Huan had helped Zhai Guoliang, and such debts of kindness were remembered.

“Villagers, today I have tremendous news! Tremendous news! Our Li Huan has done meritorious service! He has protected the people and contributed greatly to the prosperity and strength of our nation.”

“Meritorious service? That troublemaker? Weren’t they saying he’s a murderer?”

“Don’t listen to that girl Miao Qing, you fool.”

“I’m a fool? Didn’t you tell me that?”

“Whom should we listen to then?”

“Of course the village head. Miao Qing has been outwitted by Cheng Qiao before.”

“Indeed. Since marrying that troublemaker, Cheng Qiao has gained confidence. His family’s situation has improved as well.”

Hearing the villagers’ chatter, Miao Qing looked up sharply at Chen Weidang. Had she misheard? The troublemaker wasn’t eating peanuts; he had done meritorious service. Meritorious service? What kind of merit? A thug’s merit?

“Miao Qing, go home,” her mother said, taking her hand. She blamed herself for gossiping behind people’s backs. If she hadn’t, Miao Qing wouldn’t have been hit in the back with a stone by Cheng Qiao, and none of this would have happened.

Under Chen Weidang’s loud announcements, Xiangyang Village became lively. However, in the following two days, Chen Weidang did not receive the long-awaited certificate of honor. Instead, he got a notice that more educated youths were arriving.

“Wife, remember what Li Huan said: that educated youth named Wang Qin was the bad person who tricked Cheng Qiao into going to the countryside. You should casually chat in the village, spread the news about her.”

Cuihua nodded. Li Huan had brought many good things last time; taking people’s money to prevent misfortune was the kind of task she could handle.

Wang Qin never expected that, though she was supposed to go to the far northwest, she was rerouted to the place where Cheng Qiao had been sent.

She didn’t realize that a life-ruining disaster awaited her. Cuihua’s idle gossip would seem minor compared to the calamities to come.

At the educated youth dormitory, Han Chunmei and the others were organizing the firewood shed. The village head had already mentioned that three female educated youths were arriving, but the dormitory was too small for three. Two would sleep there, and the third in the firewood shed.

The shed was drafty and had no heated brick bed. Chen Weidang worried about the newcomers freezing to death and tarnishing the village’s reputation, but Li Huan made it clear that Wang Qin had been deliberately sent there.

Thus, if anything happened to Wang Qin, no one would be held responsible. Her name had already been quietly erased from the records. If she died, she simply died.

“Chunmei, no one can sleep here; don’t let anyone freeze to death.”

“Then you sleep here.”

Zhang Yuefang shot a disdainful glance at Xiao Fang. Offended, Xiao Fang immediately fell silent, vowing never to pretend to be kind again.

Wang Qin arrived a day later than the other two female educated youths. When she saw that only the firewood shed remained, with its cold air even with the doors and windows closed, her heart sank.