Surrounded by several people, Lin Xiaoru didn't dare to talk back. She had delivered the letter to the commune's complaint box yesterday, but she had heard that the complainant wouldn't be identified! If she had known someone had spoken out about her, Lin Xiaoru wouldn't have submitted the complaint letter in the first place!

Although she wasn't well-liked at the educated youth settlement before, at least there wasn't a complete falling out! Even if she talked behind people's backs or slacked off, it wasn't a big deal.

"I...I..." Lin Xiaoru tried to argue, but seeing that so many people already knew, she had no way to deny it. She pushed Ye Xiaofan away, ran back to her room, and locked the door.

Huang Jingli was mending clothes. She didn't have any new clothes, only old ones, which she patched up to get through the winter.

"Why are you in such a hurry?" Huang Jingli asked curiously, chewing on a loose thread, looking quite puzzled. Lin Xiaoru was slow at everything except eating.

Lin Xiaoru remained silent, trembling all over. From the attitude of the educated youth, she could already imagine what kind of situation she would face in Qijia Village!

"What's wrong with you?" Huang Jingli asked again, putting down her needlework and walking over to touch Lin Xiaoru's forehead.

Lin Xiaoru shrank back, avoiding Huang Jingli's touch, and said, "Don't touch me!"

Huang Jingli was startled and didn't understand.

Since Lin Xiaoru wasn't going to say anything, Huang Jingli didn't ask any further. Who knew what mischief this young lady was up to? Her presence here would only annoy Lin Xiaoru; it was best to leave and find some peace and quiet.

Huang Jingli wanted to go out to cook, as she didn't want to stay with the neurotic Lin Xiaoru.

"Don't open the door," Lin Xiaoru snapped. "I told you not to open the door, did you hear me?"

Huang Jingli was so frightened that she kept backing away. The more Lin Xiaoru tried to stop her from opening the door, the more scared Huang Jingli became. Worried that Lin Xiaoru was having a fit, she quickly opened the door and ran out.

"Get out, get out, all of you get out!" Lin Xiaoru shouted. "Get out, and if you're so capable, don't ever come back."

Huang Jingli turned pale with fright and looked at Sister Wu in the courtyard. Wang Lei and the others stammered, "What happened? What's wrong?"

"Lin Xiaoru exposed He Tiantian's affair with postman Niu Dajun, and the county revolutionary committee sent people to arrest He Tiantian. If it weren't for Secretary Qi, He Tiantian would have been arrested," Sister Wu said. "We all know what kind of person He Tiantian is. Besides, Niu Dajun gave He Tiantian a ride on his bicycle a few times, and yet he accused her of having an affair. It's clearly fabricated, a malicious slander against an innocent person!"

Huang Jingli was stunned and startled. Lin Xiaoru had really sent out the whistleblower letter. But how did Sister Wu and the others know that it was Lin Xiaoru who sent it out?

"Are you sure it was Lin Xiaoru who wrote it?" Huang Jingli asked, voicing her doubts. Wasn't it said that the whistleblower's information wouldn't be disclosed?

“Zhou Sihai said it in front of everyone, and now the whole village knows. You need to be careful in the future. Getting so close to Lin Xiaoru will only lead to trouble sooner or later,” Sister Wu said loudly, not caring that Lin Xiaoru inside the house would hear.

Hearing this, Huang Jingli became even more frightened. If Lin Xiaoru could report He Tiantian, she could also report her family background! Her face turned even paler, her legs went weak, and she didn't know what to do!

"Yes, we dare not speak to Lin Xiaoru anymore," Ye Xiaofan echoed. Lin Xiaoru is poisoned, so we must be careful.

Just then, Zhao Dajiao arrived and asked, "Where is Lin Xiaoru?"

Sister Wu, Ye Xiaofan went to the kitchen to cook. Only Huang Jingli is in the yard.

Huang Jingli shuddered when she saw Director Zhao, and stammered, "In...inside the house..."

"Then come inside with me. I have something to say to Lin Xiaoru," Director Zhao said, wanting to see what Lin Xiaoru had to say!

Huang Jingli followed Director Zhao into the house.

Director Zhao gave Lin Xiaoru a disdainful look and said, "Lin Xiaoru, Secretary Qi said we're leaving at 2 a.m. to go to the commune and confront He Tiantian and Niu Dajun. If you don't go, it means you're guilty and admitting to a false report, and you'll be punished."

Lin Xiaoru was even more frightened after hearing this, but after thinking it over, she had already come up with a plan. That was to resolutely deny any wrongdoing; if she did, she would be punished. At most, she could say that the reported content was found to be inconsistent after verification, but she would resolutely deny any intention to deliberately slander anyone.

He Tiantian was sitting in the back seat of Niu Dajun's car. In their hometown, this was something that could only be done when dating, which is why he reported it, to prevent He Tiantian's actions from affecting the conduct of all the educated youth in Qijia Village.

Lin Xiaoru meant well and didn't make things up out of thin air.

“Director Zhao, I’ll go with you.” Lin Xiaoru said, squinting her eyes. “I will never back down. I’m doing this to uphold the integrity of the educated youth.”

Director Zhao was taken aback. Lin Xiaoru was quite a talent. After such an incident, she thought Lin Xiaoru would be too ashamed to face anyone, but she was surprisingly calm!

"Now that you know, then don't be late," Director Zhao said. What will happen tomorrow will be judged by history, and she doesn't need to waste her breath here.

"Yes, Director Zhao," Lin Xiaoru said calmly. Now that she had found a solution, she was no longer afraid.

After Director Zhao left, Huang Jingli asked in a low voice, "Xiaoru, why did you report He Tiantian? She didn't offend you at all. We're from the same hometown, and she even gave us jujubes, wild vegetables, and wild rabbits. Have you forgotten all that?"

Lin Xiaoru looked at Huang Jingli with disdain and said scornfully, "It's not just for me. There are so many people, how much could I possibly eat? You better watch out, I can report He Tiantian, and I can report you too. If you don't listen to me, hehe, I'll make sure you suffer even more than He Tiantian."

Huang Jingli was most afraid of Lin Xiaoru's threats, and for a moment she was so frightened that she couldn't speak.

Seeing that she had frightened Huang Jingli, Lin Xiaoru felt a surge of smug satisfaction, a perverse pleasure rising within her. She narrowed her long, thin eyes and said with a forced smile, "He Tiantian is quite something; she's well-liked in the village. Secretary Qi, Director Zhao, and the other villagers all help her. But you, you're not much better off than me. So if you don't behave yourself, I'll make you regret it."

"No...no...I will obey." Huang Jingli trembled. Lin Xiaoru was a vicious and wicked person. She couldn't resist for the time being, so she could only endure the humiliation. She would definitely take revenge in the future.

Huang Jingli secretly made up her mind!

Lin Xiaoru!

You think you're so smart, all you do is bully me!

But I, Huang Jingli, am not one to be bullied. I've always been tolerant before, thinking you'd back down, but I was wrong. My tolerance only made you more insatiable. He Tiantian's situation has further reminded me that I can no longer be soft-hearted towards you. (To be continued.)