Chapter 88: The Revenge Has Not Yet Ended

The courtyard was noisy for a while, then quieted down. Soon after, a gentle rain began to fall, and it was so cold that Lin Jingyue didn’t bother to go outside to look. It was only the next day that she learned what had happened: Sun Liangdong, while working on the reservoir, had his leg shattered by a rock tumbling down from the mountain. The injury was gruesome, blood and flesh mangled, and it looked very serious.

Lin Jingyue and Jiang Xun were in the house together; Zhou Yan had finished his meal and gone back to his own place.

“Sun Liangdong’s broken leg seems unusual,” Jiang Xun said in a lowered voice. The day before, they had gone up the mountain together, made some discoveries, and on their way to the city, they’d taken that road and seen someone skulking about.

“You mean the rock was dropped on purpose?” Lin Jingyue was surprised. “Who would hold a grudge against Sun Liangdong? Aren’t they afraid of hurting someone else?”

There were so many people working on the reservoir—what if the rock missed and hit someone else?

“I’m certain it was deliberate. I was careful; that person only left after seeing Sun Liangdong get hit.” Jiang Xun’s eyes narrowed slightly. “He’s from the brigade.”

“Who?”

“Li Tongchui—the one you beat up.”

Lin Jingyue paused, then remembered who it was: the brigade leader’s nephew, the very one who, along with Sun Tiezhu, had first tried to block her.

“It must be someone bribed him.” Usually, there was no animosity between the two, and even if there were, Li Tongchui, being a lowlife, would simply have someone beat Sun Liangdong up a few times.

Jiang Xun nodded. “I think so too. But I wonder whether it was aimed at Sun Liangdong or at the educated youth.”

“It’s probably Sun Liangdong who offended someone,” Lin Jingyue thought suddenly of a suspect.

Her memory was always sharp; she recalled vividly the events of Wang Xueping’s rebirth day. When someone’s emotions shifted too abruptly, it was a clear loophole. After Wang Xueping woke from her fall into the water, she not only distanced herself from Chen Chunlan but also showed open disdain for Sun Liangdong, who claimed to be her fiancé. The loathing in her eyes was palpable.

That couldn’t possibly happen in such a short time.

So, in her previous life, Sun Liangdong and Chen Chunlan must have wronged her deeply.

She was taking revenge now, it seemed.

But if Wang Xueping was behind it, why use Li Tongchui? Wasn’t she afraid of being exposed?

Lin Jingyue reconsidered. Wang Xueping, reborn, knew a lot. She must have grasped some fatal secret about Li Tongchui.

Probably even Yang Ming didn’t know.

“Have you figured out who it was?” Jiang Xun saw the change in her expression and asked.

“Yes,” Lin Jingyue pointed in the direction of Wang Xueping’s room. “I think it’s her, though I’m not sure.”

Jiang Xun thought for a moment and understood. Wang Xueping didn’t bother to hide her disgust for Sun Liangdong and Chen Chunlan.

“But it’s none of our business,” Lin Jingyue smiled. It wasn’t her leg that got smashed; she had no reason to fight for justice.

“Agreed,” Jiang Xun replied.

They exchanged smiles, the curve of their lips identical.

By noon, the rain had stopped. Wang Xueping sent Yang Ming to town to fetch a package from her family. Yang Ming borrowed Jiang Xun’s bicycle to go. After he’d been gone half an hour, Wang Xueping locked the door and left the educated youth settlement. Lin Jingyue saw her leave but didn’t follow.

In the little grove, Li Tongchui was rubbing his hands, waiting anxiously. Seeing Wang Xueping’s silhouette, he finally relaxed. “I’ve done what you asked.”

“Good. So long as you keep your mouth shut, that matter will stay buried with me,” Wang Xueping said, satisfied.

“Hope you keep your word.”

“Of course.”

Li Tongchui looked at her deeply; this woman was ruthless—her first move took someone’s leg.

“Don’t mention this to anyone, or you’ll regret it. You wouldn’t want to end up like Sun Tiezhu, would you?” Wang Xueping warned again before leaving.

“I know,” Li Tongchui replied gruffly.

Who wants to rot in jail?

He had no idea how Wang Xueping knew about that, but she was formidable.

Wang Xueping relied on her memories from her previous life. Li Tongchui had committed a crime and went to prison, though it wasn’t discovered until three years later. He had inadvertently caused an educated youth to fall from the mountain, and by the time they found him, there was no saving him. Everyone assumed it was a simple accident, and even the youth’s family said nothing.

But three years later, after Luo Jianhua got his college acceptance letter, he reported Li Tongchui. It turned out he had witnessed the incident back then, but for various reasons, he kept silent and endured for years.

When Wang Xueping returned, Lin Jingyue was sitting by the stove chatting with Jiang Xun as he cooked. She was munching on some biscuits.

Hearing footsteps, she looked up, meeting Wang Xueping’s gaze.

She caught the fleeting guilt in Wang Xueping’s eyes, her brows lifting imperceptibly.

When she looked again, Wang Xueping’s eyes were calm.

“Cooking?” Wang Xueping said coolly.

Lin Jingyue felt something odd but didn’t think it was out of place. “Yes.”

With that, the atmosphere was awkward; Wang Xueping nodded and went back to her room.

Lin Jingyue watched her retreating figure, the corner of her mouth quirking.

Sun Liangdong—he must have done something unforgivable to Wang Xueping in their past life.

And Chen Chunlan, too.

Wang Xueping’s revenge wasn’t over yet.

“The roasted sweet potatoes are ready,” Jiang Xun’s voice pulled Lin Jingyue back to reality.

He dug one out of the stove; the skin wasn’t peeled yet, but the sweet scent wafted through the room.

Lin Jingyue quickly put down her biscuits. “Don’t peel it—I’ll do it myself.”

She stopped Jiang Xun. “You don’t know; roasted sweet potatoes must be peeled and eaten bit by bit for the full flavor.”

“Then wait a moment—it’s still hot,” Jiang Xun laughed, brushed off some ash, and placed the sweet potato aside.

Fearing Lin Jingyue couldn’t resist grabbing it, he kept glancing back while working, making Lin Jingyue smile helplessly.

She wasn’t a child, after all.

After a while, Lin Jingyue finally tasted her first roasted sweet potato of winter, squinting in satisfaction.

It was simply… delightful!

Sweet and tender, soft and sticky.

“Try some,” she broke off a piece and handed it to Jiang Xun.

Jiang Xun didn’t particularly like sweet potatoes, but what Lin Jingyue gave him was different.

He lowered his head, ate it, and gazed at Lin Jingyue’s bright eyes. For the first time, he found sweet potatoes delicious—sweet all the way to his heart.

“Is it good?”

“Delicious.”

Just then, Zhou Yan opened the door, intending to check if dinner was ready. He paused.

Suddenly, he didn’t feel hungry anymore.

He went back to his room, closed the door, and grabbed a book. In books, there was a house of gold, and beauties as fair as jade.

He was determined to find his own beauty in the pages.

“I plan to go to town tomorrow. Do you want me to bring anything back?” Zhou Yan asked during dinner.

He was sending some things to his family.

“Pick up two coats for me from the tailor shop on West Street,” Lin Jingyue replied.

She had two coats made there. “I’ll give you the claim ticket later.”

“Alright. Want any food?”

“No, not necessary,” Lin Jingyue shook her head. Jiang Xun’s mother had sent plenty. She didn’t eat much herself.