Tong Jiaojiao apologized twice but received no response, leaving her feeling ashamed.

Seeing that the matter was resolved, the captain concluded: "This matter is over. However, we must prevent such incidents from happening again. If anyone is found to have attempted to spread rumors, slander, or defame others in the future, that person will be punished more severely."

Comrade Tong Jiaojiao, we hope that you will deeply understand your mistakes through this punishment and actively correct them. After we leave, you are not allowed to cause any more trouble for Lin Zhiqing; otherwise, you will be punished even more severely.

The captain gave a heads-up in advance to prevent Tong Jiaojiao from retaliating against Lin Qingyan after he and the sixth squad leader.

The captain, feeling he had made the arrangements, asked them, "Do you have anything else to do?"

No one spoke. "Since everything's alright, the sixth squad leader and I are leaving now."

Wang Qiang replied, "Take care, uncles."

Then they sent the brigade leader and the sixth squad leader out of the educated youth settlement.

The remaining educated youth in the courtyard all focused their attention on Lin Qingyan and Tong Jiaojiao.

Through this incident, they all gained a new understanding of Lin Qingyan.

She looks the most delicate, but she's also the most formidable.

Fortunately, they didn't try to bully Lin Qingyan just because they thought she was weak; otherwise, they would probably be the ones getting a lesson now.

At the same time, we also realized Tong Jiaojiao's true nature; she was not only spoiled and arrogant, but also had many bad intentions.

It's best to avoid having too much contact with this kind of person, and to be on guard in general, lest she spread rumors and frame you.

By then, it was completely dark when Du Xiaoyue returned from outside.

She saw that the yard was full of people, and then she saw that Lin Qingyan was holding a kitchen knife, so she quickly ran to Lin Qingyan.

"Qingyan, what's wrong?"

"Tong Jiaojiao was being mean and said bad things about me, so I got into a fight with her, but it's all settled now. By the way, why are you back so late?"

"I wanted to earn more work points, so I asked the squad leader to give me more work. That's why I came back late after finishing."

Lin Qingyan knew that Du Xiaoyue's family was large, and she was the eldest child, so she must want to earn more work points to exchange for more money and food to send home.

"It's alright now. Go wash your hands and go inside to rest for a while."

"Um."

Even after the captain and the sixth squad leader left, the matter was not over.

Just as Tong Jiaojiao was about to turn around and go back into the house, Chen Lu called her back.

"Tong Zhiqing, stop right there."

Tong Jiaojiao had been scolded by the brigade leader for a long time and didn't want to be scolded anymore, especially not wanting to see Chen Lu's sour face.

She said impatiently, "What?"

Seeing that she had a bad attitude, Chen Lu didn't bother to argue with her.

Chen Lu said coldly, "What do you want? Of course, I want to tell you about what happened today. You think it's over after the brigade leader reprimanded you? As a member of the educated youth, you have disgraced us all."

Tong Jiaojiao retorted, "Don't lecture me. Anyway, I'm moving out in the next couple of days. Once I'm gone, it'll be none of your business."

"If you're so capable, then move out and never come back."

"I never planned to come back, thinking who would want these few dilapidated houses."

After making a fuss for a while, Song Qingfang and Shen Tengfei had finished cooking. Everyone sat down to eat, but Tong Jiaojiao remained inside, refusing to come out. Jiang Meihong, out of consideration for their neighborly relationship, called out to her, but she didn't come out, so she stopped calling.

After finishing her meal, Lin Qingyan was about to return to her dormitory when a tall, slender figure suddenly blocked her way.

Yi Zhiheng bowed deeply to her, his voice filled with deep apology as he spoke.

"I'm sorry, I've dragged you into this."

Lin Qingyan shook her head: "No, you did nothing wrong. You helped me with the work today, so I should thank you."

He gave a low hum, and just as Lin Qingyan was about to ask him other questions, he ran away again as if avoiding a plague.

"Yi Zhiqing," Lin Qingyan called out, but Yi Zhiheng didn't even turn his head.

Lin Qingyan stood there blankly, watching the boy "escape" back into the house. She couldn't understand why this child, who had always wanted to help her, was hiding from her and afraid of her getting close.

Lin Qingyan stood in the courtyard for a while, but couldn't get any clues, so she went back inside.

Because of her recent fight with Tong Jiaojiao, Tong Jiaojiao was still unconvinced when she entered the room. Upon seeing her, Tong Jiaojiao glared at her and gave her a provocative look.

She always carried that handbag with her, and casually pulled out a gleaming kitchen knife from it, brandishing it a few times in front of Tong Jiaojiao with a fierce look in her eyes.

"If you really want me to chop you into mincemeat, why don't you just come over here."

Her fierce aura suppressed Tong Jiaojiao's last bit of arrogance, and she sat back on the kang with a sullen face, not daring to provoke her in any way.

Seeing that Tong Jiaojiao had backed down, she put the kitchen knife back into her bag and looked at the other people in the dormitory.

"You don't need to be afraid. My cleaver is only aimed at people like Tong Jiaojiao who are foul-mouthed and itchy and want to go against me. I won't offend others unless they offend me. I, Lin Qingyan, am not an unreasonable person, but I won't tolerate those who try to bully me."

No one spoke in the dormitory, and the air was quiet for almost a minute.

Afterwards, the educated youth went about their business. Lin Qingyan was a little tired. Dealing with Tong Jiaojiao earlier, and then confronting Tong Jiaojiao after the brigade leader and squad leader arrived, had been very physically and mentally exhausting. She felt a tightness in her chest and quickly sat down on the edge of the kang to rest. However, she tried her best to maintain a steady breathing and a peaceful expression so that others would not notice anything unusual about her.

Tong Jiaojiao sat alone with her head down, not saying a word.

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