Several villagers who had invested in the tofu shop happened to be in the crowd and immediately stood up when they heard Lin Wanqiu's words. One of them, an aunt surnamed Wang, holding her dividend money, said excitedly, "Wanqiu is telling the truth! My family invested in the tofu shop and received five yuan this month, which is more than I earn in a month in the production team! Wanqiu is a good person, Zhao Jianjun, don't talk nonsense here!"

“Yes, my family got a share of the money too!” another villager chimed in. “Wanqiu not only helped us make money, but also taught us how to grow off-season vegetables. Last winter, my family made a lot of money from our cabbages, all thanks to Wanqiu! Zhao Jianjun, you’re just jealous and trying to ruin Wanqiu’s chance!”

Zhao Jianjun was shocked that the villagers would speak up for Lin Wanqiu, and his face instantly turned ugly. He tried to argue, but was drowned out by the murmurs of the crowd—everyone wasn't stupid; they all knew who was good and who was bad. Lin Wanqiu had brought them real benefits, while Zhao Jianjun only knew how to use underhanded tricks, and no one was willing to stand by his side.

Just then, Shen Tingzhou returned from the tofu shop. Seeing the large crowd gathered at the courtyard gate and Zhao Jianjun's grim expression, he immediately understood what had happened. He walked to Lin Wanqiu's side, took her hand, and looked coldly at Zhao Jianjun: "Zhao Jianjun, if you dare to slander Wanqiu again, or spread rumors and cause trouble, I won't be polite to you. My identity is not something you can slander at will. If you dare to say 'deserter' again, I'll go to the commune and find the old leader to judge this matter!"

When Zhao Jianjun saw Shen Tingzhou, he felt a chill run down his spine. He knew Shen Tingzhou was a former soldier with high combat skills, and he was no match for him. Moreover, he had heard of the old leader Shen Tingzhou mentioned; he was a powerful figure in the commune, and if he really offended him, he would definitely be in trouble.

"You... don't be so smug!" Zhao Jianjun said, his voice trembling with fear. "Even if the villagers help you, I can still report you to the commune! Your off-season vegetables might have been made using some kind of shady method; they're completely against the regulations!"

"A weird method?" Lin Wanqiu sneered, took out a planting notebook she had prepared beforehand, and handed it to the villagers who were watching. "Look, everyone, this is my notebook for growing off-season vegetables. It describes how to build a greenhouse, how to control the temperature, and how to fertilize. It's all scientific methods. The commune's agricultural technicians have all seen it and praised me for doing a good job! Zhao Jianjun, if you don't understand, don't pretend to know here, or you'll become a laughing stock!"

The villagers took the notebook, passed it around, and kept praising it: "Wanqiu is really capable, she can even come up with such a complicated method!" "Yes, this notebook is written in great detail, we can plant it like this in the future!"

Watching this scene, Zhao Jianjun was both angry and anxious, but he could no longer find a reason to refute it. He knew that this time, not only had he failed to get back at Lin Wanqiu, but he had also helped her gain favor with the villagers. Continuing to make a scene would only make him more embarrassed, and he might even get a scolding from his father, Zhao Laoshi.

"Hmph, I'm too lazy to waste my breath on you!" Zhao Jianjun glared at Lin Wanqiu and Shen Tingzhou, then turned to leave.

"Wait!" Lin Wanqiu called out to him, her voice tinged with coldness. "Zhao Jianjun, I won't hold this against you this time, but remember this: if you dare to cause trouble for me or my family again, I will not be polite. We are all from the Hongqi Production Brigade, and we should work together to make a good life, not sabotage each other. If you have any conscience at all, stop playing these underhanded tricks."

Zhao Jianjun stiffened for a moment, but didn't turn around, quickly leaving. The villagers who had gathered gradually dispersed, not forgetting to say goodbye to Lin Wanqiu as they left, their words full of encouragement: "Wanqiu, don't worry, we all support you!" "Yes, go to the county to participate in the selection, you must bring honor to our brigade!"

Watching the villagers leave, Lin Wanqiu felt a warmth in her heart. She turned to look at Shen Tingzhou, a smile in her eyes: "Thank you, Tingzhou. If it weren't for you, I might have panicked today."

“We’re husband and wife, why are you saying these things?” Shen Tingzhou smiled and ruffled her hair. “Besides, you did very well today, you weren’t nervous at all, you’re much better than me.”

The two exchanged a smile, their previous worries and tension vanishing in that instant. Lin Wanqiu picked up the documents and ledgers on the stone table, her confidence growing stronger—Zhao Jianjun's刁难 (difficulties/obstruction) hadn't broken her; instead, it had solidified her determination to participate in the selection. She wanted everyone to know that she, Lin Wanqiu, wasn't someone to be trifled with; that her happiness and honor weren't something anyone could easily steal from her.

Back inside, Lin Wanqiu reorganized the documents and put them into a brand-new cloth bag. Shen Tingzhou sat beside her, helping her check for anything she had missed. The flickering flame of the kerosene lamp reflected on their faces, a mixture of warmth and determination.

“By the way, Tingzhou,” Lin Wanqiu suddenly remembered something and looked up at Shen Tingzhou, “should we talk to that old leader you mentioned beforehand? In case Zhao Jianjun really reports him to the commune, we can be prepared.”

Shen Tingzhou nodded: "I'll go to the commune tomorrow and tell the old leader. But don't worry, the old leader is a reasonable person and won't believe Zhao Jianjun's rumors. Besides, we have evidence, so even if he reports us, he can't do anything about it."

Lin Wanqiu felt relieved and leaned against Shen Tingzhou's chest, her voice soft: "It's so good to have you here. I used to think that I had to shoulder everything by myself, but now I know that it's such a blessing to have someone to share the burden with."

Shen Tingzhou hugged her tightly, resting his chin on the top of her head, his voice so gentle it could melt water: "No matter what happens in the future, I will be by your side. Let's protect this family together, live a good life together, and go to the county to participate in the selection, so that everyone knows that our Shen family is not easy to bully."

The night outside the window grew darker, and a gentle breeze rustled the wild chrysanthemums in the yard, carrying their delicate fragrance. The kerosene lamp inside remained lit, illuminating their clasped hands, warm and resolute. Lin Wanqiu knew that Zhao Jianjun's刁难 (difficulties/obstruction) was just the beginning; many more challenges awaited her in the days to come. But she was fearless—with Shen Tingzhou by her side, the support of the villagers, and the evidence and skills she possessed, no matter how difficult the road ahead, she could overcome it step by step, retain her eligibility for the selection, and strive for the honor that belonged to her in the county.

She gently closed her eyes, leaning against Shen Tingzhou's chest, her heart filled with anticipation. She could almost see herself standing on the county's selection stage, holding the "Wealth Creation Expert" certificate, showcasing the achievements of the Red Flag Production Brigade to everyone, demonstrating the happy life she, Shen Tingzhou, and Nian'an had worked so hard for. Zhao Jianjun's conspiracy was merely a small episode on her road to success, soon to be left far behind, never to cause another ripple.