"ah?!"

Even the sixth squad leader couldn't help but blush, and when he looked at Tong Jiaojiao, his eyes almost popped out of their sockets.

What kind of educated youth came to this brigade?

What a fucking idiot and a scoundrel!

Lin Qingyan continued, "Uncles, what she said not only insulted me, but also you. She even fabricated a story that I had an improper relationship with another male educated youth here. We've been wronged to death by her."

The two captains didn't care about their image at this moment. When had they ever been wronged like this?

It hurts them even more than if they were slapped across the face.

The brigade leader said to Tong Jiaojiao, "Comrade Tong Jiaojiao, you are simply spouting nonsense and lying through your teeth. The day I brought you to the brigade, Lin Zhiqing coughed up blood because she was weak, so I let her ride in the oxcart. If I hadn't let her ride, would I have waited for her to faint on the road? As for you, you were in a hurry to ride in the cart before you even left the commune. You just can't stand seeing others doing well, so you deliberately framed them."

The captain trembled with anger, pointing at Tong Jiaojiao: "Even if you cough up blood, no one will care about someone like you."

The sixth squad leader said, "My relationship with Xiao Lin is completely innocent. I never expected that just arranging some work for Xiao Lin would lead to such rumors. It's utter nonsense. If arranging work means there's an improper relationship, then we village cadres wouldn't need to have any contact with you female educated youths, and we wouldn't care about your lives."

Although Xiao Lin, the educated youth, was sickly, she was not delicate at all. She never asked me to do any light work. I arranged for her to catch insects on the cotton plants because I was afraid she wouldn't be able to handle heavy work.

I heard that a certain newly arrived female educated youth, before even setting foot in the fields, was already making all sorts of demands of her team leader, unwilling to do any hard work, unable to endure any hardship, truly acting like a capitalist's princess. And this female educated youth is you, Tong, how dare you speak ill of Lin?

Tong Jiaojiao was reprimanded by the team leaders and knew she was in for a rough time.

They might as well go all the way and deny it to the death.

"I... I didn't say those things. It was all made up by Lin Qingyan. She's trying to frame me by spreading rumors."

Lin Qingyan sneered: "Tong Jiaojiao, you said that in front of all the educated youth present, and they can all testify that you said those words. It's too late to deny it now."

The brigade leader asked the educated youth next to him, "You all heard what Tong said, right?"

All the male educated youth except Chen Wenbin nodded.

Among the female educated youth, Du Xiaoyue had not yet returned, and Jiang Meihong chose to remain silent because of her relationship with Tong Jiaojiao. The other female educated youth also agreed.

The brigade leader said, "Tong Zhiqing, everyone can attest to the truth of what you said. Not only did you not actively participate in labor, but you also failed to unite with other comrades. You fabricated rumors, framed brigade cadres and other comrades, disrupted the normal atmosphere of the brigade, and promoted unhealthy practices."

According to regulations, you must be given a major demerit, and your name will not be included in any future quotas for educated youth.

"You don't like to work, so from now on I'll make you do more work. I'll punish you by making you carry pig manure in the pigsty for three months to help improve your work enthusiasm and get rid of your bad habits of being reluctant to work and afraid of getting dirty and tired."

When Tong Jiaojiao heard about the punishment the captain would give her, her legs went weak with fear.

She quickly ran to the captain and pleaded with him for mercy.

"Captain, I didn't mean it. I just can't stand it. Why is Lin Qingyan treated so well, but I can't?"

“That’s not called preferential treatment for Lin, we have to consider the specific circumstances of each educated youth. We can’t just ignore their lives. If you were so sick and weak, panting every three steps and coughing every five, and coughing up blood from time to time, we would consider your situation. But are you like that?” The brigade leader was afraid that she would not give up, so he simply said, “How about this, if you can spit out a mouthful of blood right now, and let me know that you are also sick and weak, I will consider reducing your punishment.”

"I... I'm going to vomit."

Tong Jiaojiao didn't mean to vomit; she just gagged reflexively after hearing the captain's words. She almost vomited up, but no blood came out.

People around her looked at her like she was a clown, both hating her behavior and pitying her ignorance.

The captain spoke up: "Comrade Tong Jiaojiao, you intentionally insulted others, so I don't need your apology. But I can't speak for them, so you should apologize to each of them individually."

"ah?"

Tong Jiaojiao was already devastated and in a terrible mood, and now she has to swallow her pride and apologize to others.

The sixth squad leader waved his hand dismissively, saying, "Forget it, an apology is just a formality. It can't put food on the table, it's completely useless. I don't need those empty gestures."

He wished he could slap Tong Jiaojiao a few times to vent his anger, but he had to consider his image.

“You don’t need to, but Lin and Yi do. ​​Tong Jiaojiao, apologize to Lin and Yi.” The brigade leader said to Tong Jiaojiao.

Tong Jiaojiao then looked at Lin Qingyan, and then at Yi Zhiheng.

Lin Qingyan stood upright, holding a kitchen knife, her face grim.

Yi Zhiheng lowered his head slightly, looking completely indifferent.

Of course, she was unwilling to back down to them or apologize.

Besides, with so many educated youths watching, she would lose face if she apologized.

Forget it, those two both have cold faces and don't even look at her. She can just go over and pretend to look at them.

Tong Jiaojiao took small, quick steps and walked towards Lin Qingyan first.

But Lin Qingyan was holding a knife, so she didn't dare to get close to her. She stood about a meter away from Lin Qingyan and said, "Lin Qingyan, I'm sorry."

Lin Qingyan didn't speak and turned her face away.

After making a show of it, Tong Jiaojiao went to find Yi Zhiheng, but Yi Zhiheng didn't wait for her to apologize and had already returned to his dormitory.