Chapter 55: Wait for My Word

She hadn’t done anything, yet she kept becoming the target of others’ anger and retaliation. Lin Xinrou and Wang Xueping were two peas in a pod. When Jiang Xun learned her thoughts, he didn’t ask for reasons. “Then I’ll make a trip to town.”

The public security investigation wasn’t going to conclude so quickly. Lin Xinrou’s return might indeed bring a different outcome. Moreover, the hospital’s certificate…

Jiang Xun’s eyes darkened. “Wait for my news.”

“Thank you for your trouble,” Lin Jingyue curved her lips slightly.

Jiang Xun paused. “There’s no need for courtesy between us.”

Lin Jingyue arched her brows high, then her smile widened, a soft blush tinting her eyes.

Jiang Xun was stunned for a moment, then filled with joy. “Wait for me to come back.”

His excitement lent his voice a husky, low timbre.

Lin Jingyue rubbed her ear and nodded.

Jiang Xun left the brigade quietly, unnoticed by anyone.

Lin Jingyue didn’t linger to watch the commotion, but returned to the Educated Youth Point.

The place was empty and silent; she entered, shut the door, and continued writing at her desk.

She had submitted a short story, but its fate was unknown—she couldn’t put all her eggs in one basket.

As she wrote, Lin Jingyue gradually became absorbed.

Two hours later, the others returned. Chen Chunlan’s loud voice carried through, and Lin Jingyue caught the gist of it.

The public security officers still hadn’t reached a conclusion; they were expected back tomorrow. The matter wasn’t terribly serious but complicated enough.

Once the officers left, the brigade leader and the Party secretary cast dark looks at Wang Xueping and Yang Ming.

Any hope of becoming an advanced brigade had evaporated!

Besides, in the countryside, disputes were always handled privately. Who would report them to public security?

It wasn’t as if murder or arson had been committed—nothing so heinous!

Not only the leaders, but everyone in the brigade looked at Wang Xueping and Yang Ming with peculiar expressions.

Wang Xueping had foreseen this before reporting to the authorities. She looked at Yang Ming. “Do you regret it?”

They were bound to be ostracized by the brigade, and many unfair things would surely come their way.

Yang Ming felt conflicted, but regret wasn’t quite the right word. “It’s fine. After a while, I’ll ask my family to figure something out, and we’ll return to the city.”

But he failed to realize that even if opportunities arose in the city, without the brigade leader’s stamp and certificate, he’d have no way to leave.

Wang Xueping had thought of this and sighed. “There’s no rush about returning to the city. Let’s keep it quiet from our families for now. Trust me—within three years, we’ll definitely go back.”

She spoke with certainty. Yang Ming never blamed her; he smiled. “Alright, I trust you.”

So what if they were treated unfairly? With their families backing them, they had nothing to fear.

“Some people are truly something—reporting to public security just like that.” Seeing the two return, Chen Chunlan couldn’t help but roll her eyes.

She felt uneasy too. How had Wang Xueping suddenly become so forceful?

“If you keep mouthing off, do you want me to tear your lips off?” Wang Xueping’s face darkened.

“I’m not in a good mood, so best not provoke me, Chen Chunlan. I remember everything.”

Chen Chunlan felt rattled under Wang Xueping’s gaze, inexplicably unsettled. What things? What did she mean?

Could Wang Xueping have found out about the drugging incident?

Thinking of Wang Xueping reporting to public security, Chen Chunlan grew increasingly nervous. Surely that incident hadn’t been exposed as well?

Sun Liangdong glanced at Chen Chunlan suspiciously. What else was she hiding?

“You? You think I’m afraid of you?” Chen Chunlan puffed out her chest, but her bravado rang hollow.

Wang Xueping no longer looked at her, addressing everyone instead. “I know you don’t understand, and you don’t approve of my reporting to public security. But my reputation was ruined by Qian Guihua. After finally getting married, I still have to deal with Lin Xinrou’s constant provocations. It wasn’t intentional—I just gave her a gentle push. Who could have expected…”

She looked like someone forced into a corner. “If this matter falls on me again, how could I survive? Rumors kill invisibly. Today, they say I pushed her and caused her miscarriage; tomorrow, I’ll be drowned in everyone’s spit. All that awaits me is a dead end…”

Her words left everyone speechless.

On reflection, they could see her point. Wang Xueping’s reputation had been decent, until Qian Guihua branded her a loose woman.

Fortunately, Yang Ming didn’t mind and married her, but Lin Xinrou kept provoking.

If anything, Lin Xinrou had it coming—stealing someone else’s man and shamelessly flaunting it in front of her rival. Her current predicament was self-inflicted.

Seeing some faces soften, Wang Xueping relaxed and kept up her performance.

The brigade would surely ostracize them; she couldn’t afford to alienate the Educated Youth Point as well.

Otherwise, they’d truly be left without support.

Zhou Yan sidled up to Lin Jingyue. “Where did Jiang Xun go?”

“He went to town for some business; he’ll be back this afternoon,” Lin Jingyue answered quietly.

Zhou Yan considered this, then asked no more.

By afternoon, just after two o’clock, as everyone prepared to head out for work, more public security officers arrived at the brigade.

The brigade leader and Party secretary looked grim.

But the Party secretary’s mood shifted upon seeing Lin Xinrou return with the officers.

“My goodness, even the Party secretary’s daughter-in-law reported to public security!”

Driven by curiosity, everyone lingered to watch, skipping work.

The brigade office was surrounded layer upon layer. The brigade leader’s face was thunderous. “No one’s eating? Get to work! Anyone standing here loses a day’s work points.”

“……”

The members reluctantly headed out to the fields, glancing back every few steps.

“The Party secretary’s daughter-in-law is pale as a sheet—she’s suffered badly this time!”

“Do you think it was the Party secretary’s wife tormenting her?”

“Maybe not. Just a few days ago, I saw the Party secretary’s wife grumbling as she steamed eggs for Lin Xinrou.”

At that, everyone quieted, exchanging glances.

It was true—the Party secretary’s wife was harsh, but her daughter-in-law carried her grandson. She wasn’t crazy.

“Besides, Lin Xinrou only worked two days at a time, then rested a day. Did any of you get that when you were pregnant? You worked every day—none of you miscarried.”

Their gazes grew subtle. Indeed, back then they had no eggs, barely enough to eat.

“So, it must have been Wang Xueping who pushed her and caused the miscarriage!”

“Didn’t she have a hospital certificate?”

Everyone looked at each other, confused.

But soon, after work, it became clear. The certificate Wang Xueping obtained was issued by mistake; the one Lin Xinrou brought back was correct. Her miscarriage was caused by trauma—

By Wang Xueping’s push.

Regardless, Lin Xinrou intended to pin the blame squarely on Wang Xueping. As for Qian Guihua, she had her own plans.

When Jiang Xun returned, Lin Jingyue was at the Educated Youth Point. She hadn’t gone to collect pigweed today.

“Are you hungry? Shall I make you some noodles?” She had old duck and radish soup simmering on the stove.

The broth was nearly ready.

Jiang Xun smiled. “I am hungry—dried noodles are fine.”

Straightforward Lin Jingyue replied, “I wasn’t planning on kneading dough anyway.”

“……”

A while later, she served him a large bowl of noodles, rich broth topped with tender duck meat—he ate with relish.

After finishing, Jiang Xun finally recounted what happened in the county town.

[Author’s note] Lin Jingyue: Every time the dogs fight, they drag me into it. Lunatics.