Chapter 5: Settling Old Scores and New Grudges Together

He turned to look at Zhou Xuejun, his gaze cold and sharp. "Speak up, did you steal it or not? Confess honestly!"

Zhou Xuejun felt suffocated under that imposing presence. Swallowing nervously, he lowered his head and stammered.

"I... I just borrowed it, I never intended not to return it..."

Yang Jinyue shot Zhou Xuejun a fierce glare, muttering under her breath, "Useless fool!"

Su Xiaoyun snorted disdainfully, unwilling to waste words on her. She reached out her hand decisively. "Enough nonsense. Give it back! If you don't, I'll report you to the commune for theft!"

The villagers watching nearby whispered among themselves. "I never expected Zhou Xuejun and Yang Jinyue to look so honest but secretly engage in such petty thievery."

"Yesterday, Zhou Xuejun claimed he and Yang Jinyue were innocent, but by nightfall, they were clinging to each other and stealing Su Xiaoyun’s bracelet as a gift. What scoundrels!"

"I can't believe Zhou Xuejun is involved with two women at the same time like this..."

Suddenly, someone eager to stir trouble shouted, "Zhou Xuejun has committed the crime of being a rogue! Drag him to the town!"

What?! A rogue crime?

The very thought made Zhou Xuejun’s legs go weak. It was a consensual matter! How could that be a rogue crime?

Being convicted of rogue behavior meant execution!

Zhou Xuejun had no desire to die.

Spotting the faint smile playing on Su Xiaoyun’s lips among the crowd, he realized what was happening.

In a panic, he pointed at Su Xiaoyun. "It’s her! The party secretary framed me!"

"This whole thing is a trap set by Su Xiaoyun! The bracelet wasn’t stolen; it was willingly given to me. I haven’t committed any rogue crime. And with Jinyue... um..."

Before he could finish, Yang Hongfu, the production team leader, arrived with others and gagged Zhou Xuejun.

Yang Hongfu stepped forward. "Zhou Xuejun is too much of a scoundrel. Tie him up and throw him into the pigpen!"

His main goal was to protect his daughter's reputation, intending to handle the matter quietly with a small punishment.

"Xiaoyun, you must be mistaken. Zhou Xuejun and Jinyue were just close, exchanging a few words. That’s not a rogue crime."

Yang Hongfu approached Su Xiaoyun with a smile. "You must have seen wrong. Everyone has to work tomorrow, so let's not make a scene."

Su Xiaoyun clearly heard the threat beneath his words.

"Leader, you really are blind and ignorant, only blinking but never seeing."

There is a saying: when the lice are many, you don’t fear the itch. She had long since offended the Yang family, so she might as well settle both old and new grudges now.

"Captain Huo just arrived in Shigang Village. He doesn’t know anyone and won’t show favoritism. Why not let him judge this fairly?"

"Agreed."

Su Xiaoyun was surprised by how readily Huo Congjing consented.

Yang Hongfu was left speechless, unable to respond.

---

He dared not provoke the military.

Yang Hongfu shot a sharp glare at Yang Jinyue, cursing inwardly, "Worthless brat."

"Let’s make a deal and settle this privately," he sighed and looked at Su Xiaoyun.

Seeing that Huo Congjing remained silent, clearly waiting for her decision, Su Xiaoyun spoke.

"Leader, your daughter has been cheating me out of money and ration tickets for years. Today, Zhou Xuejun even gave me an IOU. If I settle the debt, he must return my bracelet and pay me a hundred yuan."

"A hundred yuan!!!"

Yang Hongfu was stunned and nearly lost his words. Working a full day on the production team earned only seventy to eighty cents; a year’s total was just a few dozen yuan. A hundred yuan was like a death sentence!

"Fine, I’ll pay," he said, intending to bargain, but meeting Huo Congjing’s steady gaze, he swallowed his pride. "Jinyue, give her the bracelet now!"

Yang Jinyue angrily took off the bracelet and slammed it at Su Xiaoyun’s feet, cursing loudly.

"Useless junk! Who cares!"

Before Su Xiaoyun could pick it up, Huo Congjing bent down, retrieved it, cleaned it, and handed it to her.

Su Xiaoyun nodded in thanks. The most important thing now was to clarify this matter.

She continued, "There’s a second matter. Tonight, with the villagers and Captain Huo as witnesses, I want you to write two documents for me."

"One is a release of liability, stating I am not acquainted with Zhou Xuejun and Yang Jinyue, and whatever they do has nothing to do with me. If any trouble arises in the future, do not involve me."

"The other is a certificate proving my bracelet was stolen by Zhou Xuejun and Yang Jinyue. As an exemplary educated youth, I am willing to give them a chance to reform. But if they do not repent, I can report them to the commune at any time!"

Yang Hongfu, either out of anger or embarrassment, bit his teeth and said, "Fine, I’ll write it."

By the time these matters were settled, it was nearly eleven o’clock.

The villagers gradually went home. Su Xiaoyun prepared to return to the communal dormitory. After just a few steps, Huo Congjing’s low voice sounded behind her.

"Comrade Su, let me escort you back."

Su Xiaoyun was taken aback. "Wouldn’t that trouble you, Captain Huo?"

She had only known Captain Huo for a few hours after all...

The man replied calmly, "It’s late. As a woman, it’s unsafe for you to return alone."

Are soldiers usually so considerate?

Su Xiaoyun responded in confusion, "Ah, okay, thank you."

"You’re welcome."

Watching them walk farther away, Yang Jinyue’s eyes burned with jealousy. Why did all the good things always happen to Su Xiaoyun?

Back in the communal dormitory, Feng Wanqing, exhausted from the day’s work, was already asleep.

Su Xiaoyun wiped off the sweat and had just laid down when the system’s voice sounded: [You have not drawn your lottery today. It will expire. Please draw in time.]

"Draw, draw, draw!"

[Arranging a blind box lottery for the host. Please choose.]

Three exquisite gift boxes appeared before Su Xiaoyun again.

This time, she carefully chose the middle box. "This one."

[Congratulations! You have won fifty yuan! It has been stored in your system space and can be withdrawn anytime.]

How much???

Su Xiaoyun thought her ears were malfunctioning and hurriedly opened her system space, staring at the reward for a long moment.

Having only arrived two days ago, she had already drawn a pound of cornmeal, a ration ticket, and fifty yuan. With Yang Hongfu’s hundred yuan compensation, it was quite a sum!

Su Xiaoyun smiled beautifully.

The next day.

While Su Xiaoyun was tidying up in the dormitory, Feng Wanqing stormed into the courtyard, cursing loudly, "Filthy mouth! If you’re so dirty, go wash in the ditch instead of spreading harm here!"

Su Xiaoyun rushed out. "Wanqing, what’s wrong?"

"Wanqing, Yang Jinyue is slandering you!" Feng Wanqing said, then splashed a basin of dirty water toward Yang Jinyue.

"Still not leaving? Fine, I’ll wash you myself!"

Su Xiaoyun didn’t want Feng Wanqing to get involved. Wanqing had already been “sent down” and had a hard life. She couldn’t afford to make enemies.

Su Xiaoyun quickly comforted her. "It’s okay, Wanqing. If dogs bite us, we can’t bite back. Just treat her words as nonsense."

She was almost done soothing Feng Wanqing when Yang Jinyue’s sharp, aggrieved voice rang out.

"You didn’t see last night. Su Xiaoyun shamelessly clung to Captain Huo and even made him escort her home!"

Last night, Li Bingcheng and some villagers, seeing the matter resolved, had left before Su Xiaoyun, hurrying home.

The incident was embarrassing, and out of respect for Yang Hongfu, no one spoke of it.

Now, Yang Jinyue was seizing the opportunity to twist the truth again.

Someone whispered, "Jinyue, you can’t say that. Captain Huo is from the military. No matter how shameless Su Xiaoyun is, she wouldn’t do that."

Yang Jinyue raised her voice.

"Don’t you know what kind of person Su Xiaoyun is?"

"She clung to Xuejun before because he was educated. Now that Captain Huo just arrived in Shigang Village, she’s trying to climb the social ladder, shamelessly sticking to him!"

Su Xiaoyun never expected Yang Jinyue to drag Captain Huo into her slander just to smear her.

Fine, no face given, no face taken. She would not let this pass!