After Jiang Jiyuan escorted Song Yunqiao to the entrance of the educated youth dormitory, he placed the things on the ground.
“Comrade Song, if it were anyone else who fell into the water, I would still have saved them. You don’t need to feel burdened by this.”
After saying that, Jiang Jiyuan turned and left without looking back.
Song Yunqiao glanced at the items on the ground and sighed. She had no choice but to carry them back inside first. What she didn’t know was that Jiang Jiyuan, walking away at that moment, actually felt a little disappointed.
Overnight, news about Ma Xiaoping pushing Song Yunqiao into the water spread through the village.
When Ma Xiaoping heard about it, her face turned green. She had clearly acted very secretly—there shouldn’t have been anyone who noticed her at the time.
After hearing the rumors, Wan Changsheng went to question her. As the educated youth team leader in Houhe Village, he knew that if this reached the commune, he would be held accountable.
“Comrade Wan, you must believe me! How could I have pushed Comrade Song into the water?” Ma Xiaoping immediately began acting pitiful again.
“I understand, but the whole village is talking about it now. If this spreads further, it will have a bad impact,” Wan Changsheng said.
He disliked dealing with Ma Xiaoping because she cried at the slightest thing—and as expected, her eyes were already red.
Just then, Song Yunqiao appeared at the right moment.
“So it was you, Ma Xiaoping! I was wondering why it felt like someone pushed me at the time—it was you!”
Ma Xiaoping panicked for a second but quickly steadied herself.
“Song Yunqiao, what are you talking about?!”
“Don’t play dumb with me! You were the one who pushed me into the river!” Song Yunqiao said loudly.
Ma Xiaoping hurriedly defended herself. “No! You fell into the river and I tried to save you—I fell in with you! I was scared too!”
“Then why were you holding onto me and dragging me down in the water?” Song Yunqiao pressed coldly.
“I was just scared after falling into the water and grabbed you instinctively!”
“Weren’t you supposed to know how to swim? Why were you scared once you were in the water?”
“It happened so suddenly—I panicked!”
Ma Xiaoping was already struggling under the pressure.
Then Gu Guanghua suddenly spoke up.
“Didn’t you say you couldn’t swim?”
Everyone turned to look at him. Gu Guanghua looked a little uncomfortable and coughed.
“When I saved her, she personally told me she couldn’t swim.”
With that statement, the situation turned even more unfavorable for Ma Xiaoping.
“You’re still denying it!” Song Yunqiao said sharply. “You pushed me into the water just so I would die, so you wouldn’t have to repay the money and could even take my belongings!”
Ma Xiaoping was completely panicking now. Her mind went blank.
“No… that’s not it… that’s not it…”
“If this is how you treat people, Comrade Wan, I can’t stay in the same house as her. I’m reporting this to the commune.”
Wan Changsheng saw her reaction and understood the situation more or less.
He nodded in agreement.
“No! Don’t! I can’t leave!” Ma Xiaoping grabbed him in panic.
Wan Changsheng was startled and immediately pulled his hand away, his expression dark. “Comrade Ma, please respect yourself.”
Seeing this, Ma Xiaoping turned to Gu Guanghua again.
“Comrade Gu, you know me! I didn’t push her—I really didn’t!”
Gu Guanghua quickly stepped back, keeping his distance.
Ma Xiaoping froze. Looking at the wary expressions around her, she suddenly laughed like she had lost her mind.
Then her gaze locked onto Song Yunqiao—and she suddenly lunged at her like a madwoman.
“It’s all because of you! If you hadn’t kept forcing me to pay back the money, I wouldn’t have thought of pushing you into the water!”
Song Yunqiao grabbed her to defend herself. Wan Changsheng rushed forward to pull Ma Xiaoping away, while the other male educated youths were urged to help.
“Why are you all just watching? Come help!” Wan Changsheng shouted.
Ma Xiaoping struggled violently, almost like she had gone insane, but she was eventually restrained.
Even then, her mouth wasn’t covered. She began confessing everything herself while cursing Song Yunqiao.
The female educated youths were clearly frightened. Even Song Yunqiao hadn’t expected her to suddenly break down like this.
Somehow, Ma Xiaoping’s rage suddenly shifted toward An Yanyan.
She stopped scolding Song Yunqiao and instead began insulting An Yanyan.
“You think you’re so pretty and go around seducing men—you’re nothing but a…”
An Yanyan’s eyes immediately turned red. Unable to take it, she covered her face and ran out.
Seeing this, Jiang Xueming couldn’t stand it anymore. He grabbed a rag from somewhere and stuffed it into Ma Xiaoping’s mouth, finally silencing her.
After things calmed down, everyone looked at each other in awkward silence.
Ma Xiaoping’s insults toward Song Yunqiao were just accusations of being scheming, but toward An Yanyan they were vicious slanders. The atmosphere became extremely uncomfortable.
Wan Changsheng tied her up and went to report to the village head.
After hearing everything, the village head’s face turned dark. This had gone too far—even attempting murder. Someone like this could not stay in their village.
Soon, Ma Xiaoping was taken to the commune by the village head and Wan Changsheng. She never returned to Houhe Village again. It was said she was sent to a very harsh labor farm.
The matter quickly spread through the village and became the hottest topic for days.
With no entertainment in the countryside, even the smallest gossip would spread everywhere.
In short, Ma Xiaoping dominated the village “headlines” for several days.
Song Yunqiao finally enjoyed a few peaceful days.
One afternoon after work, she walked home with He Suxia as usual when they heard someone mention that Jiang Jiyuan had been taken away by commune officials.
A figure flashed through Song Yunqiao’s mind, and she felt a faint sense of worry.
“Xiaoxia, you go back first. I’ll come later.”
She was about to leave when He Suxia grabbed her.
“Where are you going?”
“To the village head’s house.”
“Is it because of Jiang Jiyuan?” He Suxia asked carefully.
Song Yunqiao nodded.
He Suxia hesitated, clearly wanting to tell her not to get too involved with villagers, but—
“I understand. He saved my life before. It’s only right that I go ask about it.”
Seeing her resolve, He Suxia didn’t stop her anymore. “I’ll go with you.”
Song Yunqiao knew she was worried, so she agreed.
When they arrived at the village head’s house, before they even went in, they saw Ji Peilan walking out with a lost and dazed expression.
Song Yunqiao quickly ran over.
“Auntie, what happened?”
Ji Peilan looked exhausted.
She glanced at Song Yunqiao, then slowly shook her head.
She didn’t know what had happened either. She had only heard rumors in the village and rushed over, but the village head wasn’t home.