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Several things happened in Qijia Village as we were about to leave Taoyuan County.

Lin Xiaoru actually returned from the commune and actively participated in the review, even taking over Huang Jingli's review materials.

Fortunately, Huang Jingli is usually very hardworking, so even though she gave away her study materials, it didn't have a big impact.

Huang Jingli was scared. She worried that she would study hard and then be reported by Lin Xiaoru. Even if she got into university, she might not be able to attend.

Cui Ying frowned, disliking Lin Xiaoru intensely. She reeked of prostitution and was not a respectable woman!

As for Huang Jingli, Cui Ying neither liked nor disliked her.

Now that she heard Lin Xiaoru threatening Huang Jingli and Huang Jingli not resisting, she disliked her even more.

"They've already given you the information, why are you still ordering others around? Can't you do your own work?" Cui Ying said, frowning, unable to stand Lin Xiaoru bullying others.

Lin Xiaoru was well-liked in Qijia Village and the county town, except for a few times when she suffered at the hands of He Tiantian. She was popular with everyone else, especially men. Now, hearing Cui Ying say this, she was very unhappy.

Lin Xiaoru looked Cui Ying up and down. Although Cui Ying was fairly good-looking and had a commanding presence, her clothes and demeanor were ordinary. She assumed Cui Ying was just an ordinary person and scoffed, "Oh, you can't stand it? You can tell Huang Jingli not to do it!"

After saying that, Lin Xiaoru narrowed her eyes and looked at Huang Jingli threateningly, telling her to be sensible.

Huang Jingli lowered her head in fright and said, "Cui Ying, thank you. Xiaoru and I are from the same place. She doesn't want to do it, so I'll help her with some. It's no trouble at all."

"You..." Cui Ying became even angrier upon hearing this. "Since you don't appreciate it, then forget it. Anyway, you're the one who suffers and gets tired, and it doesn't affect anyone else."

Hearing this, Lin Xiaoru became even more smug: "I heard that. In the future, when you do good deeds, you should also be careful and not meddle in other people's business."

"Hehe, you're ruthless!" Cui Ying laughed and turned to leave.

Offending her will have dire consequences.

After returning to her room, Cui Ying drew a talisman for bad luck. She couldn't give it to Lin Xiaoru yet; she would give it to her on the day of the exam so that Lin Xiaoru would fall asleep as soon as she entered the exam room.

Still want to go to university?

Let her fail the exam!

As for Huang Jingli, Cui Ying couldn't be bothered with her.

Huang Jingli was grateful for Cui Ying's protection and privately told Cui Ying, "Thank you for protecting me during the day. It's just because of my landlord background that Lin Xiaoru threatened me. If I don't listen to her, she will report me. In that case, all my hard work in reviewing will be for nothing."

Cui Ying was taken aback, and then she understood why Huang Jingli, a rather smart girl, was bullied by Lin Xiaoru and had to compromise.

"Since that's the case, then you'd better take care of yourself." Seeing that Huang Jingli had her reasons, Cui Ying wasn't as angry as before. "By the way, I have some reference materials here. If you want to see them, you can ask me for them."

Huang Jingli nodded and smiled, "Thank you, Cui Ying. Which university are you planning to apply to?"

Cui Ying remembered her previous discussion with her senior classmate; they had decided to follow He Tiantian and Huo Yingjie, so they planned to apply to universities in Nanshi. This wasn't something to be ashamed of, so Cui Ying didn't intend to hide it from Huang Jingli.

"Brother Huashan and I are preparing to take the college entrance exam in Nanshi. What about you?" Cui Ying asked. Because they weren't familiar with each other before, she didn't know that Huang Jingli's hometown was also a county under Nanshi.

"I'm also taking the college entrance exam in Nanshi. If I do well, I'll apply to Nanshi University. If I don't do so well, I'll apply to Nanshi Agricultural University and Nanshi Normal University. I believe that with my efforts, I'm sure I can get into a university and leave this place," Huang Jingli said firmly. Qijia Village wasn't bad, but Huang Jingli had a feeling that she couldn't stay here forever; she wanted to go back to the city.

Upon hearing this, Cui Ying smiled and said, "Alright, let's work hard together."

"Yes, let's work hard together." Huang Jingli smiled. Although Lin Xiaoru bullied her in Qijia Village, she had other friends. As long as she worked hard, she could always overcome the difficulties.

Lin Xiaoru then went even further, bullying Huang Jingli.

However, Huang Jingli became more determined with each setback. While outwardly obedient, she inwardly despised Lin Xiaoru and looked down on her even more. She didn't study seriously; her cleverness was entirely wasted on causing trouble for others.

There were many simple questions that Lin Xiaoru couldn't answer, so Huang Jingli had to explain them to her.

The other members of the educated youth settlement taught students during the day and studied at night, all very diligently. Everyone saw Lin Xiaoru's behavior but didn't interfere much. In the eyes of outsiders, Lin Xiaoru and Huang Jingli were like Zhou Yu beating Huang Gai—one willing to hit, the other willing to be hit.

Since that's the case, why should others meddle in other people's business?

This is the situation at the educated youth settlement, and Qi Shuli's home is even more lively.

Qi Shuli hesitated for a long time about whether to let Li Mingkai take the exam. He wasn't like Qi Zhenzhen, who was easily fooled by Li Mingkai.

Judging from Li Mingkai's actions, Qi Shuli could clearly see that Li Mingkai's heart wasn't in the countryside. If he got into university, he would inevitably have more ulterior motives. Li Mingkai was an outsider, a son-in-law who had married into the Qi family. He might not care about Li Mingkai, but he couldn't ignore his daughter, or his twin grandchildren.

If Li Mingkai gets into university and leaves, his daughter will become an abandoned wife, and his grandchildren will become fatherless children. How pitiful!

No, Qi Shuli began to plan. He couldn't let Li Mingkai leave Qijia Village. It would be good for him to stay quietly in Qijia Village as a teacher.

In this way, she can not only spend time with her daughter and grandchildren, but also help them establish their own household.

Li Mingkai thought his little schemes were unknown to others, but little did he know that they had all fallen into the eyes of Qi Shuli, that old fox, who had already devised a plan to deal with him.

He Tiantian learned some things about the educated youth in Qijia Village. Hearing about their efforts, she thought of the ruthless and cunning Liu Lingli, and then of Li Yuanyuan. Everyone's fate had changed.

When everyone came, they were all young people who were fifteen or sixteen or seventeen or eighteen years old, and now they have become young people in their twenties.

As we get older, our mindset changes too.

When they responded to the national policy of sending people to the countryside, they were full of vigor and high spirits.

After years of trials and tribulations, everyone's ideals and reality clashed fiercely, shattering their beliefs and making them realize their true situation.

Now, all they want is to escape this place, this foreign land that has drained their energy and consumed their youth!

He Tiantian's mindset in her previous life was somewhat similar to theirs, but in the end, due to her own weakness and the shamelessness of Qi Jianguo's family, she once again gave up her ideals and life.

******

I highly recommend my friend Xuan Gongzi's new book, "101 Days of Sweet Love: Young Master, It's Getting Dark." It's a different kind of sweet romance novel, spoiling you rotten and making you feel incredibly satisfied. The handsome CEO is completely different from those flashy, shameless women!