Chapter 44 Zhou Linghui, are you a pig-brain?

Li Xiaoqing continued, "I felt something was amiss, so I asked her a few more questions, but she wouldn't tell the truth. She just took a shower and went to sleep."

I noticed she had a fever early this morning, and I tried to get her out of bed to see a barefoot doctor, but she refused.

When it was time for her to go to work, I had no choice but to ask her for leave, thinking I would come back at noon to see if she would feel better.

I was surprised to find her fever had worsened when I got back. I tried to comfort her a couple more times, but she wouldn't listen and even fainted, which is why I came to find you.

After hearing this, Jiang Feiyan frowned slightly.

She remembered that in the original book, Sister Linghui never fell into the pond and never had a fever.

Could it be that her appearance disrupted the entire plot?

However, she did recall one detail, which took place a little over a month after she went to the countryside.

It seems to be about how the male lead, Xiao Feng, gave the female lead, Zhang Pan'er, a gift, which was discovered by the vicious cannon fodder, Zhou Linghui, who then became extremely jealous.

Then, during a struggle, Zhang Pan'er was pushed into the pond.

Xiao Feng witnessed this scene and even slapped Zhou Linghui across the face.

However, this is based on the premise that Zhou Linghui in the original book had become paranoid and distorted in her mindset due to some previous events, which led her to do this.

Linghui is now simple and kind-hearted, and gets along well with everyone. Logically, she wouldn't intentionally hurt anyone.

But the timing of the events matches up... so, based on her guess...

It's highly likely that Linghui fell into the pond because of Xiao Feng.

A hint of coldness flashed in Jiang Feiyan's eyes.

If that's the case, she definitely won't let Xiao Feng off the hook!

---

Fortunately, the village is not far from the town; it only takes an hour by oxcart.

After settling Zhou Linghui in the hospital, Li Xiaoqing took an oxcart back home.

The town clinic, in the afternoon.

Zhou Linghui woke up groggily to find herself lying in a hospital bed with an IV drip in her hand.

Jiang Feiyan sat with her eyes closed, resting against the side.

"Yanzi..." Zhou Linghui called out weakly.

Jiang Feiyan immediately opened her eyes: "What's wrong? Are you thirsty?"

Zhou Linghui nodded: "Mm."

Jiang Feiyan opened the thermos on the bedside table, poured some water into the lid, and held it to her lips.

Zhou Linghui took a small sip, and her eyes lit up – it was sweet!

Just then, Jiang Feiyan's gentle voice came from beside her: "I specially made you some brown sugar water. Drink more so you can recover faster."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Linghui's nose tingled, and tears streamed down her face: "I'm sorry, Yanzi, I shouldn't have acted recklessly..."

"I know you were just acting impulsively." Jiang Feiyan smoothed the stray hairs from her forehead and said softly, "Tell me what happened when you're feeling better."

"I'm much better now, let me tell you."

Zhou Linghui just wanted to tell her everything now, otherwise it would be too uncomfortable to keep it all inside.

Jiang Feiyan hummed in agreement: "Then speak slowly, don't get excited."

Zhou Linghui: "Xiao Qing should have told you that she saw me coming back completely soaked last night, right?"

Jiang Feiyan: "Hmm, she said you fell into the pond. How could you fall into the pond when you were perfectly fine? You weren't pushed in, were you?"

"I really did fall in by myself." Zhou Linghui gave a bitter smile, then continued:

"I pushed Zhang Pan'er and accidentally lost control of my strength, which caused me to fall in."

Jiang Feiyan frowned: "What exactly happened? Tell me quickly."

"You remember when I brought you pastries, right?" Zhou Linghui glanced at her, then continued somewhat guiltily:

"Actually, Xiao Feng did need my help. He borrowed 20 yuan from me, saying he needed to go to town to buy something. I softened and agreed to lend it to him."

Jiang Feiyan: ......

Xiao Feng really knows how to borrow 20 yuan with just a bag of spoiled pastries.

"I told you, you wouldn't admit it then, but did he return it to you later?"

Zhou Linghui was taken aback: "No, there was another time before that I didn't pay back either."

Jiang Feiyan was a little angry: "What? You borrowed from him before? So how much money did you borrow from him in total?"

Seeing that she was angry, Zhou Linghui hesitated and said, "I borrowed it twice... a total of 30 yuan."

“I remember when you went to the countryside, Aunt Wu only gave you 40 yuan and a few coupons. You spent 5 yuan when we went to the town's supply and marketing cooperative to buy things.”

So you mean, after just over a month, you only have 5 yuan left?

Jiang Feiyan was completely speechless.

Fortunately, Aunt Wu was worried that Sister Linghui was spending money recklessly and didn't give her too much. Otherwise, at her rate of borrowing money, no amount of money would be enough.

"But I have a question. Li Xiaoqing said she rarely sees you and Xiao Feng interacting privately. How did you lend it to him?"

Zhou Linghui bit her lip: "Xiao Feng said he was afraid that it wouldn't be good if people saw him asking me for money, and that it would make him lose face."

So... I always waited until he was asleep, then sneaked over to see him.

Jiang Feiyan's breath hitched, and she couldn't help but curse out loud:

"So you actually believed him? Are you out of your mind?!"

Oh, he asked you to borrow money, and you still have to consider his situation?

Have you ever thought about going to see him alone late at night?

If someone finds out, your reputation will be completely ruined!!

Zhou Linghui opened her eyes, shook her head, and said with tears streaming down her face:

"I know... but I just can't refuse his request... I like him so much."

"Then, how is your borrowing money related to your relationship with Zhang Pan'er?"

Jiang Feiyan sighed; she genuinely didn't want to see Linghui so upset.

A few days later, I discovered that the money I lent to Xiao Feng had been used to buy a set of women's clothes in town.

Zhou Linghui continued, "I saw it by chance. I thought it was a gift for me, and I was happy for a long time."

But after waiting for several days, he still didn't make a move.

Just as I was about to ask him, I discovered that he had given the clothes to Zhang Pan'er.

Seeing Zhang Pan'er looking so smug in her new clothes, I couldn't stand it and secretly followed her to confront her.

We happened to be passing by a pond, and then...

Jiang Feiyan continued, "Then you argued with her for a bit, pushed her, and lost your balance and fell into the pond?"

Zhou Linghui nodded: "Yes, that's right."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Feiyan's face darkened.

It was just a push; how could it have caused someone to fall into the pond with such force?

Things are probably not that simple.

It seems she'll have to have a good talk with this Zhang Pan'er...