Ten yuan per person, fifty yuan for five people, and that'll cover the hundred yuan debt. That's too good to be true. The villagers outside were all whispering, saying Xu Keke was too kind-hearted.

If Ma Yuying hadn't glared at him, preventing him from getting involved, Chen Baocai would have been the first to jump out and object.

“Whoever wants to take it can take it, I’m not paying. Don’t even think about me,” Wu Wanyi was the first to speak.

Looking at Wu Wanyi's arrogant expression, and then at Chen Hong who was silent with tears in her eyes, he thought of how Chen Hong had confided in him last night about her difficulties, her friendship with Bai Lu, and her unavoidable inner conflict.

After hesitating for a long time, Xiao Han took out the only one yuan in his pocket and handed it to Xu Keke.

Xiao Han didn't dare look Wu Wanyi in the eye, because that one yuan was a loan from her last week. He knew Wu Wanyi would help him, so he used all his money to buy books. Although he couldn't see, he could still clearly hear Wu Wanyi's cold laughter.

"Xiao Han, no wonder you and Chen Hong are a couple. She borrows money and doesn't pay it back, and so do you. You two are really a perfect match."

"Wu Wanyi!" Xiao Han shouted to stop her.

“What’s there to be ashamed of? Xiao Han, I saw it with my own eyes. Last night, you two were pouring out your hearts to each other under the moon.”

Wu Wanyi glanced at Chen Xichun and saw a flicker of emotion in his eyes, secretly pleased with herself. She had only discovered in the last couple of days that Chen Xichun and Chen Hong were already having an ambiguous relationship. If she wanted to marry Chen Xichun, she wanted him to know that Chen Hong was simultaneously involved with several men.

Some men might tolerate a woman's lack of kindness for the sake of their own interests, but they absolutely cannot tolerate being cuckolded or manipulated by a woman. Therefore, while Wu Wanyi's words were ostensibly directed at Xiao Han, they were actually meant for Chen Xichun.

"Xiao Han, you were willing to be paraded through the streets and take the blame for her. But she won't even go public with your relationship. Why do you think that is? You think she's kind-hearted, but don't you think about it? If she were really kind-hearted, would she have harmed her best friend and seduced so many men to stand up for her? You're a fool. You've been fooled without even realizing it."

For some reason, thinking about what Xu Keke said when she came in, Chen Jianguo had a vague feeling that among all the men Wu Wanyi mentioned, he might be one of them.

Startled, Chen Jianguo rushed to look at Xu Keke, but unfortunately, Xu Keke didn't even look at him.

Xu Keke held Xiao Han's one-yuan note and pointed at Gao Zhe, "What about you? You're the big brother of the educated youth. Every time you challenge the team or the commune, as long as you say that you know you've made a mistake and will be punished, they all follow you."

Seeing that Gao Zhe was still standing still, Xu Keke smiled sarcastically, "So, the so-called 'insiders' are just pawns in your game when you need them, charging into battle with you. When they need you, all you offer is empty words of support."

The educated youth from Chenjia Village were the most united among the surrounding villages. This had always been his pride. It was also because of his influence among the educated youth that the cadres of the commune and the brigade dared not offend him. So even though he knew Xu Keke was provoking him, Gao Zhe still gritted his teeth and took out two yuan from his pocket. "That's all I have. I don't have any more."

Without Chen Hong even having to reach out, Xu Keke immediately took it. Then she looked at Gao Jie. "Don't tell me you two siblings only have these two yuan. You're the most fashionable person in the whole commune, by all accounts. Your food and clothing are beyond what most people can compare to."

Gao Jie wasn't her brother, and she wasn't going to fall for Xu Keke's tricks. She turned to Chen Hong, "Chen Hong, didn't you receive a fifty-yuan remittance the other day? That money is in your pants pocket. Take it out and give it to her. Let her look down on people again."

Gao Jie's words caused a huge uproar. The villagers outside were in an uproar. Having money but refusing to repay—that's incredibly bad character.

Xiao Han stared intently at Chen Hong's face, wanting to hear her say that Gao Jie was wrong. Just last night, Chen Hong had told him that she was injured and very sad. It was a pity she didn't have any money; otherwise, she would have bought him some pastries and snacks like Wu Wanyi did. He had foolishly told her it wasn't necessary, that he could eat dried sweet potatoes instead.

Wu Wanyi, who had been keeping a close eye on Xiao Han, sarcastically remarked, "Well, Xiao Han, did you see that? This is the kind-hearted person you like."

Even Gao Zhe was secretly blaming his sister for not telling him sooner. If she had, he wouldn't have had to take all the money out of his pocket.

Chen Hong really wanted to say that she didn't have it. But Gao Jie was staring at her. If she said she didn't, Gao Jie could just take it out of her pocket.

Chen Hong's face turned pale. She stood up reluctantly and reached into her pants pocket. The moment she put her hand in, she subconsciously glanced at Xu Keke.

Xu Keke's heart skipped a beat. Chen Hong's family was very poor; her father had died early, leaving behind two younger brothers. Her mother was also ill. They didn't have any wealthy relatives. Who could have sent her this money? This money was likely related to the original owner of this body.

"I've spent some money, so I only have forty-five left."

Xu Keke took it and said to the group, "It's forty-eight now, we're still two yuan short. Who wants to pay?"

The matter could have been resolved with just two yuan, but Gao Jie and the others chose to remain silent. Chen Hong looked at them with difficulty, and finally looked helplessly at Chen Xichun in the crowd outside the door.

"Don't look at me like that. I gave you five yuan last time to the brigade. I don't have any money."

Chen Xichun's words completely confirmed Wu Wanyi's earlier statement: Xiao Han was indeed taking the blame for Chen Hong. In other words, Chen Hong was the one who did what happened to Bai Lu.

Chen Hong felt that the sounds coming from the villagers outside were like a swarm of bees flying in the distant sky, buzzing incessantly. She couldn't make out what they were saying.

Chen Hong leaned back and slumped into the chair. She was somewhat dazed; what had she come to the brigade today for? How had things turned out like this?

"Okay, let's leave it at that for today. You've already paid me back forty-eight, so you still owe me fifty-two. Remember to pay me back."

Chen Hong pointed angrily at Xu Keke, “…” Didn’t she say that fifty would be enough? She’s already given her forty-eight, why does she have to pay back fifty-two?

Xu Keke once again demonstrated her helpful spirit, patiently explaining to Chen Hong, "I told you from the beginning that if you give me fifty yuan, we can call it even today. I never said I would ask for a penny less than one hundred yuan. I'm not stupid."

"You don't need to thank me. I'm too hungry and tired today, and I really don't want to waste any more time with you. I'll accept the price of forty-eight."

Chen Hong, “…”, so she should thank her after all!

Chen Hong glared angrily at Xu Keke, calling her a liar.