She figured that when she felt the pain, her head must have hit a rock. So she let it go. She was even more grateful to the educated youth. She felt that during the past few days since her injury, it was thanks to them that she was able to get the village to allow her to take a few more days off.

However, after Bai Lu rested in the educated youth compound for a few days, when she left, the rumors circulating in the village had become extremely offensive. The old village chief held a special meeting and severely criticized the villagers, telling them to focus on production and stop gossiping.

The more you try to suppress rumors, the more people like to discuss them.

Chen Hong, Gao Jie, and Wu Wanyi somehow got wind of the matter, saying that it had blown up and that people from the commune were coming to punish Bai Lu for having illicit relationships.

They also said that no matter how it's handled, this matter will definitely be recorded in Bai Lu's file. It will become her criminal record, and she'll have to carry it with her wherever she goes.

Bai Lu was still confused, but Chen Hong burst into tears upon hearing this. She said that Bai Lu would be doomed in the future; even if she had the chance to return to the city, she wouldn't be able to find a job, and her family would be implicated.

Gao Jie, who was always the most resourceful, came up with a plan for Bai Lu: to marry her off to Chen Xichun.

They said that only in this way could she avoid being labeled as having a moral failing. They also said that when they came to the countryside, they were there to receive re-education from the poor and lower-middle peasants and to make a difference in this vast land. So why not just marry into the countryside and become one of the farmers?

After being persuaded by three people, the naive Bai Lu finally married Chen Xichun. From then on, her life embarked on a path of no return.

Xu Keke stuffed the whole roasted sweet potato in her hand into her mouth and then drank some water. She put the bowl on the windowsill.

She took off her hat, parted her hair to the sides, and turned to show the old village chief. “Look at my head, it’s swollen like this. You’re very experienced. You tell me, it looks like I hit my head on a rock, but it’s clearly like I was hit with a stick.”

Xu Keke let go of his hand and looked at the old village chief. "I remember it very clearly. I was drinking water when someone hit me from behind. If you don't believe me, you can ask the barefoot doctor in our commune. Ask her what it would be like if your head hit a stone. If it hit like that, it would have been broken long ago."

The old village chief, pipe in hand, sized up the three. He'd gone to see Bai Lu at the educated youth's courtyard yesterday after she kowtowed, but since she was a young woman, and had taken off her outer garments and was lying inside, he couldn't very well go in. He'd just asked her about the situation outside with his eldest son before returning.

Several educated youths said he'd bumped his head on a rock, so he didn't think much of it. Later, Chen Xichun, that loose-lipped fellow, went around saying that the girl had kowtowed while he and she were fooling around. He even said that the girl would be his wife from now on.

Listening to his utter nonsense, I gave him a few canes.

Now, listening to what this girl has to say, it seems this matter is not so simple after all.

The old village chief tapped his pipe on the stool. "This can't be discussed at home. How are you? Can you walk? Come with me to the brigade."

"I've eaten and drunk, and as long as I don't shake my head, I'm fine now." Xu Keke pulled the cotton hat over her head, shook off Chen Hong's hand that was tugging at her sleeve, and walked out.