"Don't you think so? Such a large sum of money, how can we refuse it?"

Encouraged by Chen Baocai, and especially after Chen Jianguo also stated his position, the villagers, eager for a spectacle and not afraid of things getting out of hand, joined in the commotion, demanding that Chen Hong return the money immediately.

Chen Hong was truly terrified and burst into tears. "I have no money, how can I possibly pay you back?"

"Bai Lu, stop bullying Chen Hong." Under Xiao Han's hat, the white edge of the gauze could still be seen peeking out.

"What do you mean by bullying Chen Hong? Xiao Han, do you have a brain? Bai Lu is asking for her own money, and you're defending her. You're really unable to distinguish right from wrong."

Wu Wanyi had arrived long ago. She was quite pleased to see Chen Hong get the short end of the stick. Xiao Han's initiative to speak up for Chen Hong reminded Wu Wanyi of her past life.

In her past life, Xiao Han, despite his own inconvenience, repeatedly urged her to curry favor with Chen Hong. Even when Chen Hong was sick, he asked her to go to the hospital to take care of her. At the time, she thought he was doing it for their family, trying to improve his relationship with Chen Xichun. It wasn't until she found the love letters he had written to Chen Hong in his mother's bookcase that she understood.

Then there was the later argument they had, during which he drank and secretly called Chen Hong, saying those disgusting things. He said on the phone that after all these years, Chen Hong was still so kind, and her beauty was a salvation he would never forget in his life.

Now that he's protecting her again, Wu Wanyi can't stand it. Without Xu Keke even having to say anything, she went straight for Xiao Han.

Xiao Han was stunned. He knew Wu Wanyi liked him, but he didn't know when it started, she always looked at him coldly. She stopped bringing him water when he went to work, and she would never bring him food after buying it. Last time, right here, she even accused him in front of so many people.

What Xiao Han couldn't understand was that she actually wanted to befriend Chen Xichun, that good-for-nothing. Not to mention Bai Lu, she was a man that no one in the village looked down upon, yet she was actively trying to befriend him. Xiao Han couldn't understand it; he was knowledgeable and cultured, how could he be inferior to a village scoundrel?

Xiao Han had spoken up for Chen Hong today, and Wu Wanyi was unhappy. He adjusted his glasses and glanced at her. Was she deliberately getting close to Chen Xichun just to get his attention? She was probably jealous.

Lost in his own thoughts, Xiao Han didn't hear a word they were saying. When he finally came to his senses, he heard Xu Keke talking to Gao Zhe...

"You always refer to yourselves as educated youth. Since you're all so united, why don't you pay her off for her? There are five of you now, so each of you should contribute ten yuan. Let's call it even today."