Chapter 24: A Family of Deviants

Lin Jingyue and her companions rushed to the riverside, where Lin Xinrou had already been rescued. She was sobbing and wiping away her tears, her face deathly pale, as if she had suffered a tremendous grievance.

“Xinjian, Brother Zhao Hua, my reputation is ruined—I can’t go on living. You must go to the police and tell them someone has slandered me, trying to drive me to death…” She choked out between sobs, a flicker of hatred in her eyes.

Unwilling to be associated with a peasant, she had no choice but to resort to such measures. At this moment, Lin Xinrou’s heart was full of resentment toward Sun Zhiyuan; she hadn’t been in any real danger—why did he have to rescue her?

“Don’t worry, sister. If anything happens to you, I’ll avenge you!” Lin Xinjian’s eyes were red with tears, filled with hatred.

The people nearby shuddered. They knew he wasn’t just saying empty words. Even Qian Guihua, who had been cursing moments before, fell silent, afraid to speak further.

Zhao Hua, looking at Lin Xinrou with tears streaming down her pale face, felt as though his heart was drowning in pain. He agreed at once and turned to report to the authorities.

The brigade leader and Sun Zhiyuan arrived a few moments later, their faces dark and grim, especially Sun Zhiyuan, who looked utterly exhausted.

“Mother, what more do you want?” he asked.

Qian Guihua’s eyes widened. “I didn’t do anything! This wretched girl suddenly got close to me, dragged me here, and jumped into the river without a second thought! It’s not my fault…”

She glared at Lin Xinrou, feeling a chill in her heart. This little vixen was truly reckless—not caring for her own life just to implicate her!

“Xinjian, we city youths have no relatives or support here. If we’re wronged, all we can do is report it to the police. Please, take care of things for Mother and Father…” Lin Xinrou wailed pitifully, as if she might jump into the river again at any moment.

“Qian Guihua!” The brigade leader’s expression was black as thunder. He turned to Sun Zhiyuan. “Take your mother home at once!”

“Comrade Lin, I’ll help clear up the rumors in the brigade. You’ve come to support rural development. As brigade leader, I won’t let you be wronged.” He looked at Lin Xinrou.

The city youths had caused enough trouble in recent years; if something truly happened, he could hardly escape blame.

“Comrade Lin, on behalf of my mother, I apologize. Please accept this as a token of compensation for your suffering. I hope you won’t hold a grudge against her.” Sun Zhiyuan, resigned, handed over four feet of military-green fabric meant for his wedding.

He would just have to buy more for Comrade Wang tomorrow.

“You little wretch, don’t you dare accept it!” Qian Guihua glared so fiercely at Lin Xinrou it was as if she wanted to burn a hole through her.

Lin Xinrou shrank back. “Comrade Sun, there’s no need. You saved me, I…”

“It’s a bit funny, actually,” a malicious voice suddenly interrupted Lin Xinrou’s performance. “Comrade Lin, I remember you can swim. Why did you need someone to save you after falling in the river?”

Her expression froze instantly.

The crowd grew quiet, staring at her in disbelief.

Lin Jingyue glanced at the speaker, Du Jianguo, and let out a cold laugh. She remembered on the train, he had defended Lin Xinrou, but in just ten days, he’d changed his tune.

“What nonsense are you spouting?” Lin Xinrou retorted. “I…”

“It was your own sister who said you could swim. All the new city youths know it.” Du Jianguo glanced at Lin Jingyue, who was watching the scene with detachment.

Trying to stay out of it? He disliked both these sisters. Lin Jingyue, dragged into the mess for no reason…

The crowd turned as one to Lin Jingyue. “Comrade Lin, can your sister really swim?”

Lin Xinrou shot her a look of pure hatred, as if she wanted to devour her alive.

Lin Jingyue gave a cold laugh. “Du Jianguo, is this the only petty trick you know?”

Then she turned to Lin Xinrou. “What’s wrong? You had the nerve to drag me into the water before—are you saying the river could really drown you?”

Her words were a tacit admission that Lin Xinrou could swim.

Du Jianguo’s face turned ashen, and he glared at Lin Jingyue darkly.

But at that moment, no one noticed him.

Qian Guihua suddenly realized what had happened and lunged at Lin Xinrou, claws outstretched. “You little wretch, so you did it on purpose! I knew something was off when you jumped into the river—turns out you planned it, you heartless thing…”

Lin Xinrou hurried to hide behind Zhao Hua, who was caught off guard and scratched across the face by Qian Guihua, leaving several bloody marks.

The crowd shuddered—how much force had she used?

“Brigade leader, this little wretch tried to frame me! She must not get away with it—send her to the hardest labor camp for reformation, that’s right, let her do the toughest, most exhausting work…” Qian Guihua, the party secretary’s wife and somewhat knowledgeable, pointed at Lin Xinrou with gritted teeth.

The brigade leader and others looked at her with condemnation and disdain.

Lin Xinrou’s heart turned cold. Her reputation couldn’t be destroyed for nothing, especially if she gained nothing in return. Suddenly, she glanced at the large stone by the riverside, gritted her teeth, and cried out, “Xinjian, you must report to the police and write to Mother—tell them your sister was driven to death by the people of Daqingshan!”

Her shrill voice was edged with malice and desperation.

Before anyone could stop her, she flung herself at the stone with finality.

A loud crash. Blood splattered across the stone!

Those present felt as if their throats had been seized—deathly silence fell over the crowd.

The party secretary, arriving late, felt a chill run down his spine. “Quick, get a cart! Take her to the hospital—hurry!”

“Someone help!” The brigade leader snapped back to his senses, his face as black as the bottom of a pot.

No one had expected Lin Xinrou to be so extreme—this time, she truly sought death.

Lin Xinjian and Zhao Hua stared in shock. When they realized what had happened, they were terrified at the sight of Lin Xinrou, her fate uncertain.

She was carried away by a group of hands, leaving behind only a few stunned onlookers.

The village’s most notorious gossips were as silent as chickens.

Qian Guihua collapsed, limp and weak. She hadn’t expected that she would actually drive someone to death.

“Lin Jingyue…” Du Jianguo called out instinctively as he saw Lin Jingyue coldly turning to leave.

With a thud, Lin Jingyue, unable to bear it any longer, spun around and landed a fierce kick right in his chest, sending Du Jianguo flying and crashing hard to the ground.

Those who hadn’t left yet were frozen with horror.

Just how much strength did it take to send someone flying like that?

Lin Jingyue strode over to Du Jianguo and rained blows on him like a shower of fists.

Du Jianguo howled in pain. “Stop, I was wrong! I’ll never dare again, Comrade Lin…”

Lin Jingyue snorted and stopped. “It’s up to you if you want to continue—let’s see whether your bones are tougher or my fists.”

She looked at him coolly, then swept her gaze over the crowd, flicked her braided hair, and strode off with a flourish.

…

What sort of people had the city youth point sent over this time?

A whole family of lunatics—one tries to kill herself at the drop of a hat, another resorts to violence at the slightest provocation.

Best not to provoke them.