Shen Que had no idea that his little darling was currently calling someone else “brother.”
If he knew, he would probably go mad.
At this moment, he was still immersed in the beautiful dream that once he returned, he would be able to marry Ruan Liuzheng.
On the other side, Ruan Liuzheng did not expect that not long after she returned to the educated youth dormitory, someone came looking for her.
“Educated Youth Ruan? Are you there? The brigade leader said there’s a phone call for you at the brigade office. He asked you to go over.”
Ruan Liuzheng quickly put on her cloth shoes. “Alright, I’m coming.”
As she stepped outside, she saw Kong Youping handing her a flashlight.
“It’s dark at night. Use this.”
Ruan Liuzheng nodded. “Thank you, Educated Youth Kong.”
Kong Youping watched her leave and scratched his head with a silly smile, which just so happened to be seen by Chen Wenjuan.
Chen Wenjuan’s face darkened as she turned and walked away. What a vixen—she had only been here a few days, and even the educated youth team leader had been charmed by her.
Holding the flashlight, Ruan Liuzheng quickly made her way to the brigade office, where she indeed saw Deng Yuanchao smoking his pipe, surrounded by swirling smoke.
His face was full of worry.
“Educated Youth Ruan, pick up the phone. It’s from the town police station.”
Police station?
Ruan Liuzheng was confused, but she walked over and took the call.
The phone signal in this era was very poor, filled with constant static.
On the other end, a police officer spoke with a distinct local accent.
“Comrade Ruan Liuzheng, right? This is Shuangshan Town Police Station. There is a comrade named Shen Rongrong here—do you know her?”
Ruan Liuzheng froze slightly, but before she could respond, a sharp, piercing female voice erupted through the phone, loud enough to almost rupture her eardrums.
“Ruan Liuzheng, you little slut!!”
A burst of noise followed—clearly, Shen Rongrong had been restrained, her voice turning into angry, unwilling sobs.
“Comrade Ruan?”
Ruan Liuzheng said coldly, “Officer, sorry, I don’t know any psychopath.”
Then she bang hung up the phone.
The officer on the other end stared at the disconnected line in shock for a few seconds.
It was the first time he had ever seen someone hang up on the police so decisively.
He then turned to look at the raging Shen Rongrong, who was being restrained.
His expression turned serious.
“You said your belongings were stolen and you don’t even have household registration. For now, we can’t release you.”
Then he added, “Handle her as a drifter for now.”
Shen Rongrong was so furious her teeth were trembling.
Ruan Liuzheng, you bitch. You bitch. You shameless bitch.
She cursed over and over until she finally wore herself out.
Then she burst into loud tears.
Waaah…
Ruan Liuzheng, I hate you. I hate you so much.
Deng Yuanchao watched as she hung up the phone so neatly and was a little surprised.
“Did the police finish speaking?”
Ruan Liuzheng gave a slightly puzzled, shy smile.
“It should be a mistake? I do have a younger sister, the daughter of my adoptive mother, but the street office director sent her to the desert back then.”
Deng Yuanchao took a puff of his pipe and frowned slightly.
“Assigned by the street office?”
Ruan Liuzheng lowered her head slightly. “Yes, brigade leader. I’ll head back now.”
Deng Yuanchao waved his hand thoughtfully. “Go on.”
No one was foolish. This Educated Youth Ruan was also a pitiful person.
After leaving the brigade office, the smile on Ruan Liuzheng’s face disappeared instantly, replaced by coldness.
She hadn’t expected that Shen Aiguo had actually managed to send Shen Rongrong to Zhengyang Brigade.
He really had some ability.
Since that was the case, she needed to prepare thoroughly.
If Shen Rongrong dared to interfere with her plans, she had plenty of ways to make her suffer in silence.
As for whether she would tell Shen Que…
Heh. That woman probably wanted nothing more than to separate her from Shen Que.
Now that Shen Rongrong had come to the educated youth compound, there would likely be more conflicts. That woman’s brain wasn’t exactly sharp—she might end up being used as someone else’s pawn.
Well then.
If the enemy advances, she adapts.
Fearless.
After returning to the educated youth dormitory, Ruan Liuzheng listed out all the possible situations that could occur once Shen Rongrong arrived.
For each scenario, she also wrote several corresponding strategies.
Looking at the several pages of neatly written notes, her sense of security increased even more.
A successful doctor should always list every possible complication in advance, then think of solutions—both standard procedures and emergency measures.
One must never be careless.
Meanwhile, at the Public Security Bureau, their efficiency was still decent. Within a single day, they had confirmed Shen Rongrong’s identity and called Deng Yuanchao to come pick her up.
He felt extremely stifled.
With no choice, he drove a bullock cart to fetch this so-called “connected case.”
Yes, that’s right—he had been specially informed that this new educated youth, Shen Rongrong, was the daughter of a military officer.
Unfortunately, they misunderstood something.
Deng Yuanchao himself was a retired soldier, and in his younger years he had already suffered from this kind of backdoor favoritism.
What he hated most in his life was nepotism.
If you’ve got connections, why don’t you just stay home instead of coming down to the countryside?
Since you’re here, then you’d better be prepared to work hard and contribute to the revolution and the country.
He would not spoil these bad habits.
If you’re so capable, why don’t you get your father to arrest him instead?
Fuming, Deng Yuanchao arrived at the Public Security Bureau with the bullock cart.
Already irritated, his mood sank further when he saw Shen Rongrong.
She was dirty, disheveled, carrying a strange odor, and her face was covered in dark blotches.
It was mentally exhausting just looking at her.
The previous batches of educated youths, at least, had decent appearances.
What on earth was this one?
So ugly he would lose his appetite for three days.
Yet Shen Rongrong, completely oblivious to his disgust, carried herself with the airs of a young lady.
“Team Leader, I’m a little hungry.”
Deng Yuanchao: “……”
Fine. Ugly and stupid. No brains at all.
He pulled out a coarse corn cake from his bag and handed it to her.
Shen Rongrong took it, and even before biting, she could already smell a strange odor.
When she finally took a bite, the texture was dry and hard, like chewing rubber.
The rough grains scraped against her teeth, making them ache.
Her expression instantly changed.
“Team Leader, this cake is too hard to eat.”
As she spoke, she even tried to throw it away.
Deng Yuanchao’s face darkened instantly.
“Eat it if you want to. Don’t eat it if you don’t. Starve, then.”
Shen Rongrong’s eyes immediately filled with tears at the scolding, but she didn’t dare speak again.
All the way, she endured in silence until they arrived at Zhengyang Brigade.
Deng Yuanchao dropped her off at the village entrance.
“The three rows of houses over there are the educated youth quarters. Go there yourself.”
Shen Rongrong felt an unprecedented humiliation.
Grinding her teeth, she walked toward the dormitory.
Just as the educated youths were returning from work, she saw Ruan Liuzheng—smiling brightly, carrying a sickle, and chatting happily with others.
The last string in Shen Rongrong’s mind snapped.
She rushed forward.
“Ruan Liuzheng, you bitch, I’m going to kill you!”