“Our educated youth settlement has keys to both the main gate and the room doors, so it’s generally not easy for thieves to get in.”

"So, I suspect that it was someone from here who stole it."

As she spoke, she looked at Luo Jingyan.

Luo Jingyan didn't want to respond, but the other party was clearly targeting her, so she had no choice but to engage.

She asked Du Yinan, "So, Du Zhiqing, who do you think stole your money?"

“Luo Zhiqing, I didn’t want to suspect you, but you and your brother came back from work early. Everyone else was checking if their things were missing, but you didn’t. It’s obvious you knew your things weren’t missing. I can’t think of anyone else but the two of you.”

Luo Jingyan chuckled lightly, "Oh dear, if you hadn't reminded me, I would have been so focused on eating that I forgot to check my things."

She suspected that the other party wanted to frame her and must have made preparations in advance. She carefully lifted the pillow and mattress and sure enough, she saw several ten-yuan bills. She immediately and quietly put them into her space, and then pretended to be shocked and said, "Oh no, my money, my money is gone too, a hundred yuan."

She then looked at Du Yinan: "Du Zhiqing, you were just crying wolf. You must have taken my money and you're trying to clear your name by framing me."

Du Yinan did indeed want to frame Luo Jingyan; she wanted revenge for being badly beaten by Luo Jingyan last time.

She had marked the money beforehand and placed it under Luo Jingyan's mattress. Luo Jingyan said she had no money, so she must have put it in her pocket.

"Luo Zhiqing, you stole my money. Give me back my money."

"I didn't steal yours, you stole mine."

"What makes you think I stole from you?"

"Because you were always the last one to leave the educated youth settlement, who else could it be but you?"

"It wasn't me."

The two were arguing, and Du Yinan said, "Sister Ruyi, since Luo Zhiqing refuses to admit it, I think we should search her things. My money has my name on it, and we'll know as soon as we find it."

“I agree,” Luo Jingyan said. “If they can’t find anything, it will prove my innocence. We should also search Du Zhiqing’s suitcase because she stole my money.”

"Is your money marked?"

"No. What need is there for marking money, Du Zhiqing? You're marking the money, I'm afraid you have ulterior motives."

"I didn't, Sister Ruyi, go ahead and search." This time, Luo Jingyan was determined to be the thief.

She stepped aside: "Go ahead and search me, I didn't steal anything, that's all."

Luo Changtian was also implicated this time, so his belongings and person were also searched.

Finally, 150 yuan was found in Du Yinan's box, while Luo Jingyan and Luo Changtian had less than 30 yuan in total, and none of the bills had any markings.

Du Yinan couldn't believe that she had personally placed the money under Luo Jingyan's mattress when no one was in the room.

how so?

Now everyone understood what was going on.

Du Yinan stole the money and not only wanted to absolve himself of any wrongdoing, but also wanted to extort another fifty yuan from Luo Jingyan.

What a cruel heart!

Shen Ruyi said, "Du, the two educated youths from Luo don't even have fifty yuan on them or in their boxes. How could they take fifty yuan from you?"

Luo Jingyan said, "Sister Ruyi, all our money has been taken by Du Zhiqing. What will we siblings do if we have no money?"

Du Yinan threw a tantrum: "That's my own money, it's not yours!"

Shen Ruyi said, "Du Zhiqing, you are indeed crying wolf, trying to lull others into a false sense of security by striking first. You should return the money to Luo Zhiqing now."

"I won't return it to her; I didn't steal her money."

Luo Jingyan said, "Sister Ruyi, if you can't handle this, let's call the police and ask them to help me get my money back."

“Okay, if you report it to the police, we will all testify for you. We will make sure Du Zhiqing returns the money to you.”

After learning the whole story, Tong Jianxin discussed with Luo Jingyan: "Young Master Luo, if this matter alarms the police, it will give our educated youth settlement a very bad impression. Why don't we have Young Master Du give you the money and apologize to you, and then let this matter pass?"

Luo Jingyan pretended to think, then nodded: "In that case, I won't report it to the police. I'll have Du Zhiqing return the money to me and promise not to do it again. If there is a next time, I will definitely report it to the police and have the thief arrested."

“If she does it again, we will report it to the police.” Tong Jianxin said, “Du Zhiqing, Luo Zhiqing has been magnanimous enough. You should give her the money quickly so you don’t end up in jail.”

Du Yinan was filled with deep regret at this moment.

“Du Zhiqing, if you don’t pay back the money, we’ll call the police and have you arrested. Do you want to carry the stigma of being a thief for the rest of your life?”

Du Yinan wanted to cry, but now that the deed was done, there was no going back. She could only give Luo Jingyan one hundred yuan to put an end to the matter.

Luo Jingyan was delighted to receive the money, which amounted to 150 yuan.

When it came to money, none of the other educated youth dared to say much, not even suggesting that they find a better place to settle down, for fear of being suspected of having ulterior motives.

Afterwards, Du Yinan cried for a long time in the dormitory. Unfortunately, everyone knew she was a thief, and not only did no one comfort her, but they also became wary of her.

The next day, as expected, the brigade leader brought Luo Jingyan a letter of introduction and handed it to her in the field.

Luo Jingyan glanced at it; it still bore the official seal of the Victory Brigade headquarters. She put the letter of introduction in her pocket, planning to send Luo Changtian to school in a few days.

Before the sorghum harvest was finished, Meng Bin returned from the hospital. Tong Jianxin picked him up on his bicycle. Originally, Tong Jianxin didn't want to pick him up, but the brigade leader asked Meng Bin to give him one yuan for travel expenses before Tong Jianxin agreed.

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