Chapter 149 Educated Youth in the 1970s (Thirteen): I Want to Build! I Want to Learn…

When Xu Jiajun was tied up, the hemp rope dug deep into his wrists, causing a burning pain. He completely panicked, and fear and regret overwhelmed him like a tidal wave.

He felt like he was going to die!

"Mother, Mother, save me, save me! I don't want to go to jail, I know I was wrong! Mother! Mother!"

Upon hearing this, Aunt Xu rushed forward and grabbed Xu Jiajun tightly, muttering incoherently, "You can't arrest my son! He's been wronged! Wronged! He's still young, give him another chance..."

Looking at Song Ce, who remained standing in front of Jian Fangning, Wu Wangliu felt a pang of bitterness. She overheard the villagers whispering, "Alas, the Xu family is finished now."

"I told you long ago that Xu Jiajun was a troublemaker, but the Xu family still treats him like a treasure!"

"What can we do? Old Xu passed away early, and this was their only child. They had to cherish him dearly!"

"Song, the educated youth, could have just been given a beating to vent his anger? Why make such a big deal out of it!"

"Stop spouting nonsense. Don't we all know what kind of person Xu Jiajun is? You think Xu Jiajun is pitiful, but isn't that young girl Jian Zhiqing pitiful too?"

"That's right, Xu Jiajun deserves what he has today!"

Hearing these words, Jian Fangning held back her tears for a long time, but finally couldn't hold them back and they rolled down her cheeks.

That noon, commune officials sent people to take Xu Jiajun away. Old Mrs. Xu slumped to the ground, her eyes vacant, muttering to herself, "My son, my Jiajun..."

Seeing this, some villagers shook their heads and sighed as they left, while others stepped forward to help Granny Xu up, but didn't know what to say to comfort her.

"Fang Ning, don't overthink it. Xu Jiajun's behavior was egregious, and the organization will definitely handle this matter properly and give you justice." After everyone left, Song Ce brought over an enamel mug containing steaming brown sugar water. "Drink this quickly to calm your nerves."

Jian Fangning took the jar, her fingertips touching the warmth of Song Ce's palm, and her heart trembled. She heard herself whisper, "Song Ce, these past two days... I'm so grateful to you. I want to know, why... why are you so good to me?"

Song Ce looked at her quietly, his eyes very gentle: "We are all educated youth who came here to work in the countryside, it is only right that we look after each other..."

He spoke so lightly, yet Jian Fangning felt a chill run down her spine. So, all his care and kindness towards her stemmed from this… She had thought, she had thought…

Looking at Jian Fangning's suddenly dimmed eyes, Song Ce continued, "But you are different from everyone else."

Jian Fangning's eyelashes trembled, then she suddenly looked up and mustered her courage to ask, "How am I different from everyone else?"

Faced with Jian Fangning's direct questioning, Song Ce's gaze fell on her flushed cheeks, then he quickly looked away as if burned, and said in a very soft voice, "The moment I saw you, I wanted to take care of you for the rest of my life with marriage as the goal. I've never felt this way with anyone else." After saying that, he turned to look at her, his eyes shining brightly: "In my heart, you are the best."

Jian Fangning's face flushed red to her ears. She lowered her head, not daring to look Song Ce in the eye.

Song Ce wouldn't let her escape. He suddenly reached out and gently pulled her into his arms, resting his chin on the top of her head, and asked softly, "And you? Do you... want me to take care of you?"

Jian Fangning reached out and slowly grabbed the hem of Song Ce's clothes.

"Um."

Just then, the two heard Uncle Li's voice coming from afar outside the courtyard: "Everyone, assemble quickly! The organization is here!"

Upon hearing this, Song Ce patted Jian Fangning's back reassuringly and said gently, "Fangning, let's go together."

"good!"

In response to this egregious incident, the commune acted swiftly, sending someone to the village the very next day to inform them. They first stated that as part of the Down to the Countryside Movement, the safety of the educated youth was protected by the Chinese government. Xu Jiajun's attempt to assault the female educated youth was considered an act of sabotage against the Down to the Countryside Movement. However, considering that his family had been poor peasants for three generations and that no substantial harm had been caused to the female comrade, the organization decided to sentence Xu Jiajun to eight years in prison.

Meanwhile, commune officials suggested that if the Xu family was willing to actively compensate Jian Fangning and obtain her "forgiveness," then Xu Jiajun's punishment could be reduced by 1-2 years and replaced with re-education through labor outside of prison.

So, as soon as the commune personnel left, Song Ce quietly asked Qi Ziling to take Jian Fangning back first.

Seeing the notice posted at the brigade headquarters, Aunt Xu wiped away her tears and immediately went to the educated youth settlement.

"My dear daughter!" Granny Xu cried out from outside the courtyard, "Please, Granny, save Jiajun! If you're willing to talk to the organization and forgive him, I'm willing to serve you like a slave!"

At this moment, Qi Ziling and Wu Wangliu, who were with Jian Fangning inside the house, naturally heard Aunt Xu's sobbing.

"Fang Ning, don't listen to her." Qi Ziling stood up abruptly, her voice filled with anger. "Xu Jiajun should be punished for his wrongdoing. Why is she forcing you to forgive her son? If we let it go so easily, won't we women be bullied by everyone in the future?"

Wu Wangliu glanced at Qi Ziling and echoed, "Exactly!"

Jian Fangning bit her lip, her gaze unconsciously drifting towards the courtyard gate.

Just then, a clear, cold voice came from outside the courtyard: "Aunt Xu, are you trying to drive Fang Ning to her death by making such a fuss?"

"No! No!" When Song Ce stepped forward, Aunt Xu cried even louder: "Song, you educated youth! Please beg your daughter to save Jiajun! Our Xu family only has one son. If he really goes to jail for eight years, I'm afraid I'll be buried by the time he gets out!"

She cried so hard her face was covered in snot and tears, looking extremely pitiful. Soon, a number of villagers gathered around the educated youth settlement to watch the spectacle.

Aunt Wang stood at the front shaking her head, whispering to Aunt Sun beside her, "That Xu family is really something. Their own son made a mistake, so why did they come to Jian Zhiqing and cry?"

"You don't know?" Aunt Sun said mysteriously in a low voice, "If Jian Zhiqing is willing to give Old Xu's son a letter of understanding, the organization can give him a lighter sentence."

"No wonder you came here to wail without even having eaten."

"In my opinion, the Xu family has been poor peasants for three generations. How can these educated youths just send their children to jail like that? It's too heartless," Aunt Qian chirped from behind.

"What do you know?" Aunt Sun glared at her. "Children have to admit their mistakes. It would be good for Old Xu's son to undergo some reform through the organization!"

Just then, Qi Ziling and Wu Wangliu accompanied Jian Fangning to open the courtyard gate. Upon seeing the aggrieved party appear, the crowd, who had been whispering among themselves, immediately fell silent.

As soon as Aunt Xu saw Jian Fangning, she rushed over, her knees buckling as she was about to kneel down. "Daughter, daughter! I beg you! If Jiajun gets locked up, his life will be ruined! Daughter!"

"Aunt Xu!" Song Ce walked over and helped her up, stopping her from kneeling any further. "Have you thought about what will happen to Fang Ning if Xu Jiajun succeeds?" He turned around, his gaze sweeping over the crowd of villagers, and asked loudly, "Fellow villagers, fellow villagers! I want to ask you, if it were your daughters who were victimized today, would you still say we are heartless?" His voice wasn't loud, but it instantly silenced the noisy courtyard.

Aunt Qian felt Song Ce's gaze and opened her mouth, but ultimately didn't dare to continue speaking.

"I don't want to hear your nonsense, I want to hear what Jian Zhiqing has to say!" Aunt Xu's face changed, and she pretended to push Song Ce away, saying urgently, "Girl, you can't be so heartless!"

“I only call you ‘Auntie’ nicely because you’re old. How long are you going to keep making a scene? Xu Jiajun did such a shameless thing, and you still have the nerve to ask Fang Ning for help? You’re shameless! If you ask me…” Qi Ziling said loudly.

"What did our Jun do? Huh?" Before she could finish speaking, Aunt Xu suddenly interrupted her shrilly, "He only said a few words to this girl? And you want to ruin him? You...you educated youth, eating the village's food and living in the village's houses, and now you want to drive him to his death!"

Song Ce stepped forward, blocking Jian Fangning's path, and said coldly, "Aunt Xu, the organization's judgment is already very fair. If you continue to cause trouble, don't blame me for writing a letter to the Provincial Educated Youth Office on Fangning's behalf..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but everyone present understood what he meant by the second half. What could a sent-down youth do with a letter? To report! If the organization really sent someone down, Xu Jiajun wouldn't have only received an eight-year sentence!

These words immediately stunned Aunt Xu. She froze on the spot, glaring at Song Ce with fierce eyes, and said, "I've noticed something's wrong these past two days. You've been protecting this girl at every turn; there's definitely something fishy going on! I want to ask you, what exactly is your relationship?"

Song Ce straightened his back and, under the intense gazes of everyone, reached out and took Jian Fangning's slightly cold hand, saying calmly, "Fangning and I have confirmed our relationship and have already submitted a marriage application to the brigade headquarters. We will get married after the organization approves it."

"What did you say?!" Not only Aunt Xu, but the crowd of onlookers immediately erupted in an uproar.

Wu Wangliu, standing to the side, turned pale. She bit her lip, unable to resist glancing at their clasped hands. She couldn't understand. Even though Jian Fangning was the victim, her reputation in the village was ruined after what had happened! Why did he still insist on being with her? And why did he even say he wanted to marry her…

"Good heavens!" Aunt Xu's eyes widened, and she suddenly slapped her thigh and wailed, "This girl and my son have been like that, and you still want to wear this stale shoe? Shameless!"

"Aunt Xu!" Song Ce's voice suddenly turned cold. "Show some respect! If you say another word, I'll immediately go back to my room and write a report. Fang Ning is an innocent and good girl; it's all Xu Jiajun's fault!"

"you……"

Aunt Xu was so embarrassed by Song Ce's warning that her face turned red. She lowered her head in embarrassment and dared not continue her tantrum.

Just then, Qin Guangde led the brigade cadres and hurriedly squeezed into the crowd. He glanced around at everyone, coughed twice with a dark face, and said, "What are you all doing gathered here? Are you not going to do your work in the brigade? Sister Xu, if you keep causing trouble, don't blame me for reporting to the organization! Disperse, everyone disperse!"

After saying that, Qin Guangde looked at Song Ce and immediately smiled kindly: "Comrade Song, don't be busy, come with me to the brigade headquarters first!"

"Captain, what's wrong? Is there a problem with the team's equipment?" Song Ce asked.

"It's not a machine! It's experts and leaders from the city! They drove all the way to our village, saying they wanted to meet you!"

"Okay, I'll go right away."

Song Ce smiled slightly, gently squeezed Jian Fangning's palm, then released her hand and whispered, "Don't be afraid, wait for me to come back."

"Hmm... I'll wait for you."

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Author's note: Hehe [pats head]