Shen Qiqi's eyebrows were raised, and her eyes were wide open. This rumor came at a really bad time!

"Spreading rumors? I want to see who is so bold as to ruin my good deeds!" She rolled up her sleeves, ready to fight, like a cat with its fur standing on end.

Lu Qing quickly grabbed her and said, "Qiqi, don't be impulsive. We have to find the source first and then prescribe the right medicine."

Shen Qiqi took a deep breath and tried to suppress her anger. "You're right. To catch a thief, we must first catch the leader. We must first find out the mastermind behind this!" So, she turned on the "Sherlock Holmes Qiqi" mode and inquired about the news in the village.

"Second Aunt, have you heard? Some people say that children educated in the new education system are not filial to their parents!" Shen Qiqi pulled the second aunt from the village and asked anxiously.

Second Aunt was cracking melon seeds, gossiping all over her face. "That's right! I heard it was Wang Mazi who said that. That guy is such a gossip!"

Shen Qiqi ran to the east end of the village again and asked Aunt Li who was washing clothes: "Auntie, have you heard anyone say bad things about the new education?"

Aunt Li shook her head. "I haven't heard of it. If anyone dares to gossip about me, I'll tear his mouth apart!"

Shen Qiqi asked several people in succession, but the answers she got were all different. Some said it was Wang Mazi, some said it was Widow Zhang, and some said it was Sha Zhuzi from the west end of the village...

This rumor spread like a virus, everywhere, but the source could not be found.

Shen Qiqi felt like she had fallen into a maze, with clues everywhere but unable to grasp the key points.

Just when she was about to give up, a sneaky figure appeared in her sight.

The man looked around with a shifty look in his eyes, and when he saw Shen Qiqi, he immediately put on a smiling face and came forward to greet her.

"Qiqi, what are you looking for? I heard that you are investigating a rumor? Let me tell you, I saw Liu the blacksmith acting suspiciously, it must be him!" After the man said that, he ran away.

Shen Qiqi looked at the man's receding back with a frown on her face.

Liu the blacksmith?

He is a staunch supporter of new education!

How could it be him?

"Qiqi," Lu Qing walked over, "How is it, do you have any clues?"

Shen Qiqi shook her head, "Some people say it was Liu the Blacksmith, but I always feel..."

Before she could finish, a sharp voice rang out: "Chen Qiqi! You vixen! Not only did you seduce my man, but now you dare to ruin the reputation of our Lu family!"

The person who spoke was Lu Qing's cousin's wife, a notorious shrew.

She put her hands on her hips, pointed at Shen Qiqi's nose and scolded her, attracting many villagers to watch.

Shen Qiqi sneered, "I ruined the Lu family's reputation? Which eye of yours saw me ruining the Lu family's reputation?"

My cousin's wife stiffened her neck and said, "It's you! You're doing that new education thing and you've corrupted the children! Now everyone in the village is saying you have bad intentions!"

Shen Qiqi's eyes turned cold, and she stared at her cousin's eyes closely, "You, who told you to say that?"

My cousin's wife's eyes flickered noticeably, and she stammered and couldn't speak.

Shen Qiqi sneered in her heart. It seemed that she was getting closer to the truth...

"Who is it?" She pressed on. "If you don't tell me, I will..."

"Wait!" a voice suddenly interrupted, "It's me."

Shen Qiqi was stunned. This plot was not going in the right direction!

What came out was...

Old principal?

She looked confused, as if someone had poured a bucket of cold water over her head, leaving her feeling chilled to the bone.

Old principal?

Isn’t he one of the most staunch supporters of new education?

What is this about?

"Principal, you...what are you doing?" Shen Qiqi felt like she had swallowed a fly and was extremely uncomfortable.

The old principal sighed, his face full of helplessness.

"Qiqi, I know you mean well, but this new education is indeed a bit radical. The villagers are conservative and can't accept it for the time being, so..."

Shen Qiqi raised her eyebrows, "Can't accept it? Just because they can't accept it, they can spread rumors and stir up trouble? They can distort the truth?"

"No, Qiqi, listen to me..." the old principal tried to explain.

"I don't want to hear it!" Shen Qiqi interrupted him, "You know how important new education is to children! We can't give up just because of some rumors!"

Lu Qing held Shen Qiqi's hand and gave her a reassuring look. "Qiqi, don't worry."

Shen Qiqi took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down.

The current situation is more complicated than she had imagined. She feels like she has fallen into a huge trap. There is fog all around her and she can't see the direction clearly.

"Principal, you said you were the mastermind behind this. Do you have any evidence?" Lu Qing asked in a deep voice.

The old principal took out a note from his pocket and handed it to Shen Qiqi.

"I wrote this and asked Liu the Blacksmith to spread it."

Shen Qiqi took the note, which clearly read: New education harms children, Shen Qiqi has bad intentions!

"Why?" Shen Qiqi's voice trembled.

The old principal gave a bitter smile. "Qiqi, I'm doing this for your own good, for everyone's good. The new education is too advanced, and the villagers can't accept it. I'm worried it will cause a bigger uproar, so..."

"So you chose to stop me in this way?" Shen Qiqi's eyes were full of disappointment.

The old principal remained silent.

Shen Qiqi clenched the note in her hand, her nails almost digging into her flesh.

She felt like a fool, being played around with.

Lu Qing hugged her shoulders distressedly, "Qiqi, don't be sad, we..."

"No!" Shen Qiqi pushed Lu Qing away violently, her eyes burning with rage. "I won't give up! New education must continue!" She turned to look at the old principal, "Principal, do you really think you can cover up the truth with lies?"

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