Chapter 21: Stirring Up Trouble

By the usual time, both Mu Xingjue and Xu Xingyu should have returned, but they had yet to appear even as darkness fell.

"Si Min, you stay here and wait. I’ll go check the fields where they were working," Su Yao said, her tone laced with concern.

"Alright, take care of yourself," Ye Simin replied. She wasn't worried about Su Yao, knowing full well that she could handle herself.

Su Yao took a flashlight and followed the path to the junction. Suddenly, a figure lunged from the shadows, shoving her onto a haystack. Before she could steady herself, another person pinned her down, preventing her from moving.

"Educated Youth Su, Educated Youth Su, it’s me, Jiang Guo. I’ve liked you for a long time," he whispered, lowering his head as if to kiss her.

Su Yao raised her knee and struck him squarely in the groin. Jiang Guo collapsed onto the ground, writhing in agony.

"You bitch! You dared to kick me! Ugh, it hurts so much!" he wheezed. "I’m telling you, I won't let this go. If you’ve ruined me, I’ll kill you!"

Su Yao stood up and shone her flashlight on him. Jiang Guo raised a hand to shield his eyes. "Jiang Guo, is it? Who put you up to this?"

"No one put me up to anything! I like you and want to be with you," Jiang Guo lied, fearing that if he admitted to a plot, Su Yao might report him to the authorities. Claiming he was just a lovestruck suitor would surely keep him out of jail.

No sooner had he finished speaking than Su Yao unleashed a flurry of blows. She shook her hand out and asked, "Still like me?"

Jiang Guo let out a series of wails. "I do! I like you even if you beat me!"

Su Yao delivered another round of expert strikes. She knew exactly how to hit—causing excruciating pain without leaving any visible marks. Jiang Guo wanted to keep his mouth shut, but the agony radiating through his body rendered him speechless.

Suddenly sensing someone nearby, Su Yao prepared to strike again; if anyone saw her with this scoundrel, she would never hear the end of it.

"Don't attack, it's me," Mu Xingjue said quickly, catching her hand.

"It's you? Why are you back so late?"

Mu Xingjue didn't answer immediately. Instead, he dumped the unconscious Yang Hui onto the ground, leaving her beside Jiang Guo. With that done, he took Su Yao by the hand and led her away.

Not long after they left, several people approached, wielding flashlights and torches. From a distance, Li Zhaodi’s voice could be heard: "Team Leader, I’m telling you, I saw someone over there, and there were lights. Don't let those sluts carry on like that out in the open."

Wu Hongtao’s expression darkened. Nothing good ever came of Li Zhaodi seeking him out. Last time, she had "caught" her eldest son with an educated youth, only to force the woman into marriage. He dreaded who her target was this time.

"Li Zhaodi, which girl has your youngest son set his sights on this time? You shouldn't be helping with such dirty business, aren't you afraid of—" He stopped himself, as talk of divine retribution was discouraged these days.

"Exactly, Li Zhaodi. You're harming others and yourself," another added.

"Shut your damn mouths! I didn't harm anyone. I just saw people rolling in the hay. Who said it was my son? Even if it was, that little hussy must have seduced him!" Li Zhaodi chuckled to herself. Su Yao was beautiful and wealthy; once she married her son, she would seize all that money. That bicycle and those fine clothes were a complete waste on the girl. And once Su Yao was part of the family, she wouldn't have to toil in the fields anymore; the girl’s work points alone would be enough to support her mother-in-law.

Cui He, following behind, worried whether Su Yao had been caught. If that brute Jiang Guo had succeeded, it would be a tragedy.

Before they reached the haystack, they heard unmistakable, scandalous sounds. Li Zhaodi beamed. "Oh my, Educated Youth Su! I know you like my son, but you really shouldn't be doing such things out in the open!"

Hearing her mention Su Yao, Wu Hongtao panicked. Su Yao was his family's benefactor; he couldn't let her be ruined by Jiang Guo. "Li Zhaodi, what nonsense are you spewing? You're so far away, how could you see anything?"

"I'm not spewing nonsense! It's Su Yao. My son has been helping her every day; it's only natural she’d take a liking to him," Li Zhaodi blustered.

Those who had worked near Su Yao rolled their eyes. "Helping," indeed—he’d only ever stood around asking if she needed a hand, never actually lifting a finger.

As they drew closer, the noises grew louder. Someone jeered, "I never knew Educated Youth Su was so loose. That sound is quite seductive."

"Indeed, and she has such a nice figure. Jiang Guo is a lucky bastard."

"What a harlot. Can't do it at home? Had to be out here."

"What do you know? It's just the passion of young lovers."

"Shut up! Have you even seen who it is?" Wu Hongtao barked. "Stop slandering Educated Youth Su!" But deep down, he was terrified it might actually be her.

Someone rushed ahead with a torch to get a better look. When they reached the haystack, they realized it wasn't Su Yao, but Educated Youth Yang.

Still, Yang Hui had a fine figure, and seeing her pale skin and curvaceous form, some couldn't help but let their eyes wander. Someone pretended to wake the pair, taking the opportunity to grope Yang Hui, which only made her cry out louder.

When Wu Hongtao and the others arrived, the torchlight illuminated the scene. Seeing it wasn't Su Yao, a wave of relief washed over him. He ordered the two separated. They quickly regained consciousness, and upon seeing the crowd, Yang Hui shrieked, scrambling to cover herself with her clothes.

Blushing, she lowered her head and whispered, "Please don't blame Educated Youth Mu. We... we are courting, and we just couldn't help ourselves."

The crowd was stunned. A sharp-witted villager laughed aloud. "Educated Youth Yang, don't just be shy—look up and see who you're actually courting!"

Yang Hui blinked, looked up, and gasped. "It’s you? Why are you here? You... you were supposed to be Su Yao! You—I—ah! Jiang Guo, you bastard! You animal!"

She swung a hand to slap him, but Jiang Guo, still sore from Su Yao’s beating, was too slow to react. However, Li Zhaodi was there. Seeing her son struck, she retaliated, slapping Yang Hui across the face. "You little slut! How dare you hit my son? You shameless thing, you seduced him!"

Yang Hui was no match for Li Zhaodi. "Stop! I didn't seduce him! I was meeting Educated Youth Mu! He is my partner, your son molested me!"

"Nonsense! Educated Youth Yang, stop trying to ruin my reputation," a calm voice cut through the chaos. Mu Xingjue walked out from behind the crowd, holding Su Yao’s hand. "My partner is Su Yao. Don't go saying things that cause such misunderstandings."