Meanwhile, on their way back, Song Wei and Li Juan encountered some trouble.
The reason was that Song Wei heard Luo Yecheng's voice.
Her ears were sharp; upon hearing Luo Yecheng talking to a strange woman, she immediately whispered to Li Juan,
"Shh, who's Luo Yecheng talking to? Let's sneak over."
Li Juan's eyes widened: "Could it be Jiang Xiaowan?"
After all, the two were getting married, and it wasn't impossible for them to secretly meet late at night.
Song Wei shook her head: "It's a strange girl's voice."
Hearing her words, Li Juan immediately covered her mouth, afraid of making a sound.
She saw Song Wei tiptoeing, her movements remarkably practiced, stealthily approaching a certain spot.
Li Juan: ...
Wouldn't that be inappropriate? After all, it's someone else's secret.
But after hesitating for less than five seconds, she couldn't resist her curiosity and stealthily followed Song Wei in that direction.
Then, at Song Wei's signal, she hid behind a large tree.
The conversation over there became increasingly clear.
"Luo Zhiqing, are you really going to marry Jiang Xiaowan? What about me? You know I've always liked you. What do I lack compared to Jiang Xiaowan?"
The woman's voice was clearly accusatory and angry.
"You accepted the gifts I gave you and said I was the cutest girl. Were all those things you said to me before just lies?"
Wow!
Song Wei and Li Juan exchanged glances. This was a big surprise!
However, Li Juan's eyes were more shocked than Song Wei's.
"Xiaocao, calm down. What I said before was true, of course. You are the cutest and most resilient girl I've met in Ping'an Brigade.
But Xiaocao, matters of the heart are not something I can control. You know I'm just a penniless educated youth now. I'm just a burden to you. Your parents won't allow me to be with you."
"Then let's elope!"
the woman blurted out, her voice trembling with tears. "I love you, Brother Yecheng! Why can Jiang Xiaowan marry you but I can't?"
Luo Yecheng's voice remained gentle as he coaxed her, "It's impossible, Xiaocao. Even if we elope, where can we go without the brigade leader's letter of introduction?
If you come with me, we won't have a place to stay or even food. Worse still, if we get caught, we might both be arrested or sent to a labor camp.
Even if you haven't seen people who have been arrested, you must have seen those living in cowsheds, right? Life in a labor camp is several times worse than that. Do you really want to live like that?
Even if you're willing, I don't want to drag you down like that. You're a very good girl; I'm not good enough for you. I'm sorry, Xiaocao."
Xiaocao immediately hugged Luo Yecheng and cried, crying quite sadly, but she didn't mention eloping with him again.
Clearly, Luo Yecheng's example was very successful.
"Brother Yecheng, you're so kind. Even at a time like this, you're still thinking of me. But I really can't bear it, I can't bear you marrying Jiang Xiaowan. You're so good, how could Jiang Xiaowan be worthy of you!"
Song Wei and Li Juan, who were eavesdropping, were both speechless.
Was this girl out of her mind?
She couldn't possibly actually believe Luo Yecheng's words, could she?
Yes, she truly believed him.
Luo Yecheng was probably afraid of being discovered if he stayed too long, so he coaxed the girl named Xiaocao to leave first.
Only then did he hurriedly leave and return to the educated youth compound.
After Luo Yecheng had gone some distance, Song Wei and Li Juan emerged from behind a tree.
Li Juan looked furious: "How could he do this!"
Song Wei, however, wasn't surprised at all: "Luo Yecheng treats people who have feelings for him like meal tickets; he's incredibly good at living off women."
Li Juan also remembered that Song Wei had been a victim of Luo Yecheng before.
"Should we expose him? If he keeps going like this, he'll ruin the reputation of all of us educated youth."
Although reluctant, the actions of one educated youth always implicate others in the village.
Moreover, in this countryside, the educated youth from the city needed to unite to avoid being bullied by some villagers who were xenophobic.
So, strictly speaking, the interests of the educated youth were intertwined; once their reputations were ruined, all of them would be disliked.
Song Wei: "How can we expose him without evidence? We don't even know who the girl he was talking to is."
They had only heard voices; it was late at night, and they were hiding, so they couldn't see each other's faces clearly.
"And even if we knew who it was, without evidence, even if we spoke up, Luo Yecheng wouldn't admit it, or the girl wouldn't admit it either. In the end, we'd be the ones who got tainted.
After all, the girl's family wouldn't just stand by and watch their daughter's reputation be ruined; she still needs to get married. Wouldn't the girl's family eat us alive?"
Li Juan also thought about how fierce the villagers were and shuddered.
"So... then let's just leave it at that?"
Song Wei: "Let's leave it at that for now."
She stroked her chin, thinking. She needed to think of a way to let Jiang Xiaowan know about this. Getting revenge on that scumbag was something worth putting her mind to.
Li Juan didn't mention it again, but the next day her gaze towards Luo Yecheng was complicated.
Luo Yecheng noticed Li Juan looking at him and assumed he was charming enough to have captivated her.
He walked up to Li Juan with a gentle smile: "Li, do you want to go to work together?"
Li Juan quickly shook her head and ran to Song Wei, grabbing her arm.
Oh my god, had he found out something?
Luo Yecheng's gaze naturally fell on Song Wei.
His smile froze for two seconds, but quickly returned to his affectionate gaze.
"Song Wei..."
"Don't look at me like that."
"Pfft..."
Her words successfully made Luo Yecheng's expression freeze, and a male educated youth brushing his teeth in the yard sprayed water out.
"Excuse me, please continue." Gao Le shrugged slightly as he continued brushing his teeth, but his ears were perked up.
Hahaha... What kind of adjective was that for Song Zhiqing? It's hilarious!
Luo Yecheng: "Song Wei, can we sit down and talk this out peacefully? I think you must have some misunderstanding about me."
Song Wei: "Oh, I don't want to waste time. As for misunderstandings, I know it's definitely not a misunderstanding."
"Have you prepared your tickets? When are you going to pay me back?"
Luo Yecheng was furious, his face flushed. "Incomprehensible!"
He then turned and strode away.
Song Wei clicked her tongue, her eyes and tone full of disdain. "Trying to act like a scholar, turning your back on me? You're just a farmhand."
Luo Yecheng stumbled at the threshold and almost fell flat on his face.
"Song Wei!"
Luo Yecheng's angry roar came.
"Why are you calling me your creditor?"
Li Juan asked curiously as Luo Yecheng slunk away.
"Um... what did that look mean?"
Gao Le was also curious.
Song Wei: "Don't you think he looks at the dog with such affection?"