“Thank you so much!”
Team Leader Chen Aidang held Su Wanqing’s dirty hands tightly, his eyes red, overwhelmed with emotion and at a loss for words.
But after all, he was a cadre, and he quickly calmed himself, looking seriously around the cowshed and lowering his voice:
“Today’s success is all thanks to Su Zhiqing! But if this spreads outside, it won’t do her any good. Only our team needs to know. Listen carefully—just say it was luck, that the cow pulled through on her own. At most, you can say Su Zhiqing was brave and helped a little. Anyone who gossips or makes up stories outside, don’t blame me for being harsh!”
On the surface, it was a warning, but in reality, it was protecting Su Wanqing.
The villagers, all sharp-minded, immediately understood the leader’s meaning and nodded in agreement.
“Don’t worry, Team Leader, we’ll keep our mouths shut!”
“Exactly! Su Zhiqing did it for the team—we can’t let anything happen to her!”
The commotion lasted until midnight before finally settling down.
Early the next morning, the news of Su Wanqing’s “great achievement” had already spread throughout the entire Hongqi Brigade.
Everyone understood that, after last night, Su Zhiqing had completely changed in their eyes.
She was no longer just a delicate city girl—they now saw her as someone capable, brave, and a bringer of good fortune to the team (a mother of twins).
As soon as Su Wanqing stepped out of the dorm, she ran into several aunties, their smiles ten times warmer than before.
“Oh, little Su Zhiqing is awake! You must be exhausted from yesterday!” Aunt Ma grabbed her hand without permission, overflowing with affection. “You really did well! You’ve made our Hongqi Brigade proud!”
“Exactly!”
No one mentioned the specific details of the delivery anymore, but the respect and closeness were genuine.
Liu Cuihua even carried a steaming bowl of egg custard and pressed it into Su Wanqing’s hands.
“Su Zhiqing, this is just a little token from me—please accept it! If it weren’t for you yesterday, our Lao Chen would have been in a panic!”
Su Wanqing couldn’t refuse and accepted it, her heart warmed.
She knew that after last night, she finally had a foothold here.
Outside this peaceful scene, a venomous glare fixed itself on Su Wanqing.
Lin Zhaodi, carrying half a bucket of sour water, stood not far off, her nails digging into her palms.
Why?!
Why does all the glory go to Su Wanqing?!
Yesterday she had tried to use Dr. Li as a weapon, but he ran off, and she became the laughingstock of the village.
Now, Su Wanqing not only received enormous gratitude but also got 100 work points!
One hundred work points!
Enough for her to eat well for months!
And her? Her points were almost gone, and she still had to do all the dirty, exhausting work!
Every compliment the villagers gave Su Wanqing felt like a sharp slap across Lin Zhaodi’s face.
“She really isn’t to be underestimated—Su Zhiqing is not only beautiful but incredibly capable!”
“Exactly! Unlike some people who only gossip all day, useless and cruel!”
Listening to this, Lin Zhaodi trembled with anger. She threw down the sour water bucket heavily and ran toward the other side of the “knowledge youth” area.
She found Lu Zhenting in a corner, reading, his face equally dark.
“Lu Zhiqing!” Lin Zhaodi burst into tears immediately, crying in frustration. “I can’t take it anymore! That Su Wanqing—why her? Just because she’s pretty? Gu Zhiqing is smitten with her, and now the whole village fawns over her! What… what are we supposed to do?!”
Lu Zhenting lifted his eyelids, looking at her snotty, tearful face. A trace of disgust flickered in his eyes, but his tone was gentle: “Comrade Lin, don’t worry. I’ll think of a way to get revenge for you.”
“Really? Lu Zhiqing, you’re so good.” Lin Zhaodi’s attachment to Lu Zhenting grew stronger.
Luckily, this man hadn’t been swayed by that little vixen.
“Of course it’s true. How could I let you be wronged?” Lu Zhenting needed to keep this foolish Lin Zhaodi on his side for his plans.
He had witnessed everything yesterday—the glory Su Wanqing received and Gu Yanshen’s unreserved protection made him nearly insane with jealousy.
Why Gu Yanshen? A simple country boy, why does he have Su Wanqing’s favor?!
How could he compete with Gu Yanshen?
Sniffling, Lin Zhaodi said, “But what can I do? No one believes me now. They’re all on that fox spirit’s side!”
“So you can’t rely on words alone.” Lu Zhenting closed his book, a cold, calculating smile curling his lips. “If you want to make sure she never recovers her position, she has to commit an unforgivable crime.”
Only then could he step in as the savior and claim all of the Su family’s assets.
Lin Zhaodi’s eyes lit up: “What crime?”
“Stealing public grain,” Lu Zhenting said slowly, word by word. “There are three bags of cornmeal in the knowledge youth warehouse. You know the penalty for stealing public grain here—enough to send her to a labor farm for life. She’ll never recover.”
Lin Zhaodi’s heart raced—this plan was vicious! And brilliant!
“Great! I… I’ll steal the grain tonight and hide it under her bed!” she said excitedly.
“Not yet.” Lu Zhenting stood slowly, dusting off his pants, eyes glinting with calculation. “This is only step one.”
He leaned close to Lin Zhaodi, whispering like a serpent:
“Do you think Gu Yanshen is dead? Su Wanqing is clever. If she senses anything wrong, the first person she’ll go to is Gu Yanshen for help. My real plan is to take both of them down together!”
Lin Zhaodi froze: “Together?”
“Yes.” Lu Zhenting’s smile turned more sinister. “You steal the grain; I’ll organize the ‘catch.’ Think about it—late at night, a man and woman alone in a room… In this era, the crime of ‘immoral relations’ is far worse than a few bags of grain. Even if they speak out, no one will believe them! One guilty of theft, the other of immoral conduct—they’ll both be ruined, never able to recover!”
This “two-birds-with-one-stone” plan made Lin Zhaodi gasp.
Too cruel!
Lu Zhenting was ruthless!
But the thought of dragging both Su Wanqing and Gu Yanshen into the mud filled her with excitement and delight, replacing all fear.
“Good! Lu Zhiqing, let’s do it! I’ll follow your plan!” she said through gritted teeth, eyes wild with madness.
By evening, the village, noisy all day, finally settled into quiet.
Su Wanqing washed up by the well, the evening breeze brushing her face, cool and pleasant.
It had been a tiring day, but her mood was unexpectedly light.
As she wiped her face with a towel, a tall figure silently appeared beside her.
She didn’t even need to turn to know who it was.
Gu Yanshen handed her something bright red.
Su Wanqing paused, seeing it was an apple.
Big, round, and fragrant.
“For you.” His voice was low, emotionless.
“An apple?” Su Wanqing was pleasantly surprised—this was a rare treat. “Where did you get it?”
“The team leader gave it,” Gu Yanshen said succinctly. “Washed and clean.”
Su Wanqing’s heart warmed. She reached for it, and their fingers accidentally brushed, making them both recoil as if burned.
She lowered her head, looking at the apple in her hand, lips curving into a smile.
This man was…
Just as this tender, intimate moment lingered, a shrill alarm blared in her mind:
[Danger!!! Level 1 Alert!!! Lu Zhenting and Lin Zhaodi’s scheme will be executed tonight!!!]
[Target 1: Frame you for stealing public grain! Target 2: Catch you and Gu Yanshen in a compromising situation!! Ruin both of you completely!!!]