Tang Zhirou, seeing Jiang Wanwan and Xiao Heng, signaled Zhao Jiani. Zhao Jiani nodded and charged at Jiang Wanwan.
Jiang Wanwan panicked but couldn’t avoid it—Zhao Jiani was too fierce.
Splash!
She fell into the water.
Next, Zhao Jiani was pushed in by Su Mengyao.
Su Mengyao hadn’t planned to act, but the situation forced her. She also called Yang Wei to save Zhao Jiani.
Splash!
Xiao Heng was shoved into the water by Tang Zhirou—he needed to save Jiang Wanwan, locking them all in the conflict.
“Help!”
Jiang Wanwan flailed, calling for Xiao Heng, but he clenched his teeth and swam toward the steps.
She was utterly disappointed—this man was heartless, yet she still liked him!
She splashed and shouted, while the man swam farther away.
Screams rang out; chaos ensued.
Those catching eels rushed ashore. Zhang Weiping, hearing Zhao Jiani’s cries, ran fastest.
Seeing the scene, his eyes reddened. Zhao Jiani was being carried by an ugly old man toward the steps.
“Jiani!”
Zhang Weiping jumped in, trying to snatch her back—he wouldn’t let her reputation be ruined.
But he couldn’t swim!
And as he plunged in, Yang Wei swam away with Zhao Jiani. Zhang Weiping thrashed, surfacing to shout, “Help!”
Huo Nanting’s gaze darkened. He jumped in, quickly grabbing Zhang Weiping and swimming him to shore.
Tang Zhirou saw her chance and jumped in front of Huo Nanting—would he save her?
Splash!
A heavy object hit the water, sending ripples.
Huo Nanting wiped his face, saw it was her, and called Xiao Heng, “Xiao Zhīqīng, go save your partner!” Then he swam past Tang Zhirou.
Xiao Heng had reached the steps. Seeing Tang Zhirou in the water, he quickly swam back, ignoring Jiang Wanwan entirely.
Jiang Wanwan’s tears streamed as Zhou Jianjun led her away.
Tang Zhirou was extremely disappointed—she hadn’t expected Huo Nanting to be so cold. A delicate beauty in front of him, and he didn’t save her!
Though Xiao Heng saved her, she wouldn’t marry him.
Yet everyone assumed the two women were a pair!
Xiao Heng told everyone Tang Zhirou was his partner. That evening he spoke to Huo Nanting, who clarified he had no feelings for Tang Zhirou—they were just neighbors. Xiao Heng was reassured.
Now, both women, trying to harm their enemies, ended up hurting themselves. Neither gained anything.
The three rescued women struggled against their captors. Zhao Jiani couldn’t marry Yang Wei—an old, ugly man wasn’t worthy.
Jiang Wanwan also rejected Zhou Jianjun—not only was he less handsome than Xiao Heng, his family was poor.
Zhou Jianjun was just saving people; he liked the low-profile Shen Mingyue. But if Jiang Wanwan forced him, he would marry her.
Seeing her move eight zhangs away upon reaching shore, she likely wouldn’t force him.
“Let me go!”
Zhao Jiani was still held by Yang Wei, who shouted he and Zhao Zhīqīng were “skin-contact intimate” and that she should marry him.
He did want to marry her but had accepted 30 yuan from Jiang Wanwan to escalate the situation and ruin Tang Zhirou’s reputation.
The target switched to Zhao Jiani, and Jiang Wanwan insisted she too should have her reputation ruined.
“You’re my wife! Let’s go get you changed!”
Yang Wei dragged her along. Zhao Jiani struggled, calling for Zhang Weiping to save her.
“Let her go!”
Zhang Weiping rushed, pulling Zhao Jiani back. She hid behind him, frightened.
Yang Wei shouted, “Everyone saw! I saved Zhao Zhīqīng! We embraced—she should marry me!”
The onlookers stayed silent—they sided with Zhao Jiani.
Some villagers jeered—partly for fun, partly thinking skin contact meant marriage, and some were Yang Wei’s relatives hoping he’d marry her.
“Zhao Zhīqīng and Yang Wei are intimate! So close!”
“Almost kissed!”
“Zhao Zhīqīng is rubbing him up!”
“She should marry him!”
“All sorts of nasty talk—let you city educated youths see what a flood of spit can do!”
“I’m Zhao Jiani’s fiancée! We’re already engaged in the city! You dare separate us? I’ll report you to the commune!”
In the heat of the moment, Zhang Weiping said this. Zhao Jiani had no objection—as long as she didn’t marry Yang Wei. She added, “I’m Zhang Weiping’s partner. We’re already engaged. You’re ruining a match; any son born will be cursed!”
The jeering villagers went silent. When someone had an official claim, no one could interfere; separating a couple would bring misfortune.
Yang Wei and his relatives muttered for a bit, and his aunt finally said, “Yang Wei’s reputation has been damaged; Zhao Zhīqīng should provide financial compensation!”
Zhang Weiping whispered with Zhao Jiani, realizing that refusing to pay might not work. To get rid of Yang Wei, Zhao Jiani agreed to pay 20 yuan.
But Yang Wei demanded 50, and after bargaining, they settled on 40. They planned to go back to the educated youth dormitory to collect the money immediately.
Meanwhile, Xiao Heng stuck close to Tang Zhirou, keeping quiet about the rescue. Everyone already knew their relationship, so there was no need to embarrass Tang Zhirou.
Tang Zhirou also didn’t pursue Jiang Wanwan further; dragging it out would only hurt both sides.
Jiang Wanwan walked alongside Wang Na, who had a smirk on her face, clearly enjoying the spectacle.
Su Mengyao stayed far away, a little fearful that Zhao Jiani might retaliate. But since she had helped Jiang Wanwan ruin Zhao Jiani’s reputation, it was worth 100 yuan, and she expected more pay for future schemes.
Sure enough, Zhao Jiani handed the money to Yang Wei, then went back to her room to change. She waited outside Su Mengyao’s door, and as soon as it opened, she stormed in and landed a punch that made Su Mengyao’s nose bleed.
“I told you not to push me!”
“How dare you push me!”
“Let’s see if I don’t beat you to a pulp!”
Bam! Bam! Bam!—fists rained down on Su Mengyao like a shower.
Su Mengyao wasn’t one to back down either; she fought back. Jiang Wanwan joined in, too—had Zhao Jiani not pushed her, she wouldn’t have ended up in Zhou Jianjun’s arms, and Xiao Heng wouldn’t have liked her!
“Tang Zhīqīng!”
Zhao Jiani shouted, and Tang Zhirou joined in. She grabbed Jiang Wanwan by the hair and slapped her mercilessly.
The four fought violently, tossing the room into chaos. Wang Na hid in a corner, afraid of being hit by mistake.
By the door, more people gathered—some tried to break up the fight, some just watched.
Those pulled apart cursed loudly, the shouting threatening to tear the roof off.
Outside, Village Chief Liu listened for a while, feeling a pounding headache. Pushing someone into water was despicable and must be punished—what if someone drowned?
Inside, the four women stopped yelling when Village Chief Liu entered.
His sharp eyes scanned them, and he said bluntly, “I’ve heard everything clearly. No need to debate who’s right or wrong. All four of you are locked up for three days. Follow me to the confinement room!” He stomped toward the door.
“I was pushed in by Su Mengyao! Why am I being locked up?” Zhao Jiani shouted at his back.
Village Chief Liu’s voice was stern: “Zhao Zhīqīng gets four days. Speak another word, and it becomes five, and so on!”
Zhao Jiani’s eyes widened. “What!”
“Five days!”
She shut her mouth—Village Chief Liu wasn’t a pushover. Without some authority, he couldn’t manage so many people.
“Follow! No taking anything with you!”
He barked, and the four stomped out. Jiang Wanwan grabbed some paper, Tang Zhirou retrieved a few things, and they went to the so-called confinement room—two storerooms beside the cattle pen.
Inside were some farming tools, scattered weeds on the floor, and a makeshift urinal.
Village Chief Liu had them enter two by two, locking the doors. “Reflect properly in there. Pushing someone into water is murder—you could get shot! Next time, I’ll send you to the public security office, and the militia will handle you!”
The four had intended to complain about the poor conditions, but Village Chief Liu’s words silenced them.
After he left, they muttered about the mosquitoes—they’d probably get eaten alive.
Too tired to curse people, they spent the time swatting and cursing mosquitoes instead.