Everyone in the room was standing up for Shen Yueyue. Even the male comrades from the neighboring dormitory felt sorry for her. If it were not for the fact that men and women should keep their distance, they would have rushed over to comfort her personally. In everyone’s eyes, Shen Yueyue was undoubtedly a gentle and kind-hearted female comrade.
“Fine! So you’ve finally admitted the truth! My… my mother even gave birth to a son for your family to carry on the family line. Why don’t you mention that?” Shen Ruoruo was so angry that, if her injured leg had already healed, she would have wanted to fight the Female Lead on the spot.
“Anyway, I can’t work right now. If you refuse to support me, I’ll write home and tell the family. I’ll have them come here and teach you a lesson.”
Having no other options, Shen Ruoruo could only threaten her in this manner.
The Female Lead cried pitifully in front of everyone, and all eyes immediately turned toward Shen Ruoruo in reproach.
At that moment, Li Lezhi happened to walk in through the doorway. The male Sent-down Youth immediately noticed her.
Zhao Guoqiang greeted her politely.
“Sent-down Youth Li, just got back from work?”
“Mm, why is everyone gathered at the entrance?”
Li Lezhi knowingly asked the question.
“Shen Ruoruo just came back from the hospital in town and is causing a scene at the Sent-down Youth point.”
Zhao Guoqiang looked utterly helpless.
He could not help thinking that as more and more people arrived at the Sent-down Youth point, managing them had become increasingly difficult. These new Sent-down Youth had only been here a few days, yet they had already created plenty of drama. The entire Sent-down Youth point had become the village’s favorite topic of gossip.
The thought of not knowing when he would be allowed to return to the city left him with no mood for further conversation.
After nodding to everyone, Li Lezhi stepped inside and happened to meet Shen Yueyue’s pretentious expression.
The moment their eyes met, Shen Yueyue’s face flushed with anger and humiliation. Her hatred intensified even further. She wanted nothing more than to get rid of her stepsister immediately, and at the same time she transferred some of that resentment onto Li Lezhi.
She hated how Li Lezhi always seemed to witness her most embarrassing moments.
Ever since her rebirth, she believed she should stand above everyone else, becoming heaven’s favored child and the center of attention wherever she went.
However, Li Lezhi knew nothing of Shen Yueyue’s thoughts, nor did she realize that Shen Yueyue hated her even more now. She understood even less about the Female Lead’s twisted mentality.
It could only be said that the thinking of a Female Lead was often very different from that of ordinary people.
“Sent-down Youth Shen, you’re back from the hospital?” Li Lezhi asked politely, completely ignoring the Female Lead.
Shen Ruoruo shot Shen Yueyue a cold glance and replied sarcastically,
“That’s right. I just got back from the hospital. If it weren’t for certain people, I wouldn’t have had to stay there for so long. I would have returned long ago.”
Hearing this, Shen Yueyue’s tone became even more pitiful, her voice as soft and fragile as willow branches swaying in the wind.
“Ruoruo, how can you say that? I know you’re upset, but I was only thinking of your well-being. You were injured, and no one was more worried than I was. I just wanted you to stay in the hospital longer and recover properly, so I didn’t go pick you up.”
As she spoke, tears once again slid down her cheeks.
The surrounding Sent-down Youth immediately showed sympathetic expressions.
Someone quietly muttered, “Sent-down Youth Shen is truly kind. She’s obviously the one being wronged, yet she’s still so concerned about her younger sister.”
Li Lezhi stood nearby and watched coldly.
She had already seen through the Female Lead’s tricks and inwardly sneered.
Shen Yueyue really is a master of manipulation. With just a few words, she turns herself into the victim every single time.
Still, Li Lezhi could not be bothered to involve herself. She simply returned to her place and ignored the argument.
The entire day passed with Shen Yueyue playing the innocent victim while Shen Ruoruo continued arguing with her.
As a result of this incident, every Sent-down Youth in the compound developed a poor impression of Shen Ruoruo.
The following morning, they were still at it.
Shen Ruoruo continued making unreasonable demands, while the Female Lead maintained her innocent and delicate image, earning even more resentment toward Shen Ruoruo.
Li Lezhi took one glance before losing interest. After getting ready, she headed out.
Today, she planned to hunt more game in preparation for winter.
Deep in the forest, relying on the agility she had developed through frequent mountain climbing and drinking spiritual spring water, along with her increasingly accurate aim, she quickly caught several wild rabbits.
On her way back, she suddenly heard faint sobbing.
Following the sound, she discovered it was Shen Yueyue.
She was crouched beneath a large tree. Tear stains covered her face, yet a trace of calculation flickered within her eyes.
“Isn’t this Sent-down Youth Shen? Why are you crying here?” Li Lezhi deliberately asked.
Shen Yueyue raised her head and put on a pitiful expression.
“I… I just finished work and came to gather some wild vegetables. Then I got lost and twisted my ankle.”
Li Lezhi nearly laughed.
The lie was truly poorly constructed.
“Then let me take you back.”
Li Lezhi pretended to be kind and offered assistance.
Along the way, Shen Yueyue repeatedly tried to make Li Lezhi fall into various pits, but Li Lezhi skillfully avoided every attempt.
When they returned to the Sent-down Youth point, everyone saw Li Lezhi supporting Shen Yueyue and immediately assumed Li Lezhi had somehow wronged her again.
Li Lezhi could not have cared less.
She had no intention of explaining herself.
Looking at the Female Lead’s aggrieved expression, she was actually happy to use the opportunity to distance herself further from everything connected to the Sent-down Youth point.
Meanwhile, Shen Yueyue believed her scheme had succeeded and secretly congratulated herself, completely unaware that her actions were exactly what Li Lezhi wanted to see.
At the moment, Li Lezhi was only thinking about making it easier to care for her parents once they arrived.
The more entangled she became with the Sent-down Youth point, the greater the risk of being discovered.
Right now, none of the Sent-down Youth would normally interact with the people living in the cowshed. If anyone found out, there was always the risk of being reported.
That was why she was actively looking for ways to distance herself from the Sent-down Youth point.
In the original plot, Shen Yueyue had never met Li’s Father or Li’s Mother, so Li Lezhi was not worried that Shen Yueyue would recognize them.
Over the next few days, she spent her time hunting in the mountains and gathering supplies for winter.
Captain Xu informed her that her house would be completed in another two days. After the heated brick bed had been fired for an additional two days, she would be able to move in.
Li Lezhi immediately requested another day off so she could go into town and buy meat, vegetables, pots, bowls, and other household necessities.
When Captain Xu heard that she intended to buy meat and vegetables, he readily agreed.
He had never expected Sent-down Youth Li to be so generous.
He had assumed she would at most steam a few buns and prepare some vegetables and eggs.
After informing all the workers, everyone became even more enthusiastic than usual.
For farmers like them, they could only look forward to the small amount of pork distributed by the village once a year. The thought of being able to enjoy a proper meat dish naturally excited them.
Seeing their excitement left Li Lezhi speechless.
Had she known this earlier, she would have spoken to the village chief directly. If she had promised meat from the beginning, she might already be living in her new house by now.
The next morning, she rose before dawn once again, put on her backpack basket, and headed for the ox cart.
“Sent-down Youth Li, your new house is almost finished, isn’t it?” an auntie greeted her enthusiastically as she approached.
“That’s right. I’m heading into town now to buy some things I still need.”
Li Lezhi smiled in return.
“I heard you’re planning to invite everyone to a meal once the house is finished?” the auntie asked curiously.
“Yes! They’ve all been working extremely hard. Seeing how much effort they’ve put in, I wanted to buy some meat and vegetables to thank them properly.”
Li Lezhi did not mind others knowing about it.