"Ah, I see. I was wondering why I didn't see Shi Juncai and Zhang Meili come to work today. They're both model workers."

"So it's true, she's pregnant! Congratulations, Captain! We've been waiting for so many years, and finally, our second daughter-in-law is pregnant."

"Comrade Ye's arrival was truly timely. He just happened to save the second daughter-in-law and her unborn child. I wonder which despicable bastard spread rumors about Comrade Ye's capitalist behavior."

"Yes, Comrade Ye is not a capitalist at all. He is clearly a great person, a living bodhisattva who saves people from suffering."

"The Shi family has been waiting for this grandson for so long. If they lose him, they'll feel like dying!"

The entire scene instantly reversed.

Jiang Nuan and Lin Xiaojiao immediately lost their composure.

They originally thought that this incident would escalate to the point where at most it would clarify that Ye Nian'an and the others had not given any gifts.

Words without proof, who would believe them?

Furthermore, given the Chu family's unfavorable social standing, they would be even more likely to believe that Shi Minghui had accepted bribes from the Chu family and was deliberately showing favoritism.

As a result, Ye Nian'an went to Shi Minghui's house, saved two lives, and even discovered a big, fat grandchild, which made everything completely different.

"I have already applied for an award certificate for Comrade Ye, and the letter of recommendation has been sent to the commune."

"At the same time, the village is currently short of barefoot doctors, and with Comrade Ye's consent, we applied for a barefoot doctor position for her."

"Comrade Ye has done us Shijia a great favor, yet today such rumors are circulating. This action is not only an attempt to undermine the unity of our Red Star Brigade, but also a slanderous act!"

"Comrades, for the sake of unity and stability in the brigade, we must find the instigator! We must clear Comrade Ye and the Chu family's name!"

"Prove my innocence! Prove my innocence!"

As the captain of the Hongxing Brigade, Shi Minghui already enjoyed high prestige in the village.

Now that they know everyone made a blunder and almost wronged the Chu family, they feel really bad.

The villagers were still simple and honest back then. When it came to the word "unity" in the group, they all shouted that they must find out who spread the rumors.

Lin Xiaojiao and the others were now completely panicked.

What if we are eventually caught?

Ye Nian'an keenly observed the expressions on Lin Xiaojiao's and the others' faces.

From his smug expression and amusement just moments before, he now looks terrified.

They had only been in the countryside for a few days, didn't know many people, and hadn't offended anyone.

At most, he has a grudge against Jiang Nuan and Lin Xiaojiao's family.

Ye Nian'an had just observed Jiang Nuan, and she was just gossiping with the male educated youth she was traveling with, so she didn't seem like the mastermind behind the rumors.

He slapped her as well, to vent his anger and let her know the consequences of gossiping behind her back.

If it's not Jiang Nuan, then the most likely candidate is Lin Xiaojiao.

This woman is the one who has the biggest grudge against Ye Nian'an and is the one who spreads rumors and stirs up trouble the most!

Right now, Ye Nian'an is thinking of ways to force Lin Xiaojiao out!

Shi Minghui first asked Jiang Nuan who she had heard those words from.

Jiang Nuan realized she had misunderstood the Chu family, so she quickly said that she had heard it from Yang Lijuan.

Yang Lijuan's face turned pale, and she stammered as she pointed to the other educated youth.

After going around in circles, Ye Nian'an suddenly spoke up: "Captain, don't you find it strange?"

"The rumors about our Chu family are only known to people in the educated youth settlement, not people in the village."

"This means that it is very likely that someone in the educated youth settlement saw it and deliberately spread it. We will grab the people in the educated youth settlement and ask them. We will definitely be able to find the source."

Ye Nian'an's words were like drawing a bullseye before shooting an arrow, hitting exactly where you aim.

She was 99 percent certain that it was Lin Xiaojiao who spread the word.

At this moment, Chu Yan and the others also noticed something was wrong and all turned their gazes toward Lin Xiaojiao.

Feeling uneasy under everyone's gaze, Lin Xiaojiao could only feign anger: "Comrade Ye, what do you mean by this? Are you saying that someone in our educated youth settlement is spreading rumors about you?"

"You're trying to sow discord among us! You just said you'd arrest criminals based on solid evidence, but now you have no evidence at all and are just making wild guesses. Aren't you just turning black into white?"

Lin Xiaoben was originally not very knowledgeable; she was a typical cunning middle-aged woman. Before Ye Nian'an could even say anything, she immediately revealed her true colors.

Ye Nian'an didn't even need to think of a way to deal with this guy; she wasn't worthy at all.

"Real evidence usually refers to a specific person and what they did. The reason Jiang Zhiqing was beaten was because she didn't have any real evidence to name me as a capitalist!"

"I was just guessing that there might be people spreading rumors hiding in the educated youth settlement, and you're already jumping out to refute me like a cornered dog. I haven't even said who it is yet!"

"Isn't this just you feeling guilty?!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Xiaojiao's expression changed, and she involuntarily tightened her grip on Wang Zhiqiang's hand.

Wang Zhiqiang winced in pain, his voice trembling with tears, "Mom, you're hurting me, you're hurting me..."

Wang Xingbang was almost furious. He could only frantically pull on Lin Xiaojiao and signal to her with his eyes to stop talking. Wasn't this just making trouble? The more you say, the more mistakes you make?

However, Ye Nian'an would not let it go so easily: "And you say I have no evidence? You're wrong! Our family is new here and doesn't know most people well, let alone have any grudges against us."

"In the educated youth settlement, everyone knows who has the biggest conflict with our family! It's you, Lin Xiaojiao!"

"You are also the main culprit with the greatest motive and suspicion to spread rumors about the capital practices of our Chu family!"

After Ye Nian'an pointed it out, everyone present started discussing it.

"To be honest, I heard about this from Lin Xiaojiao."

"Huh? Me too."

"No, I heard it from Li Zhiqing."

"Quiet down, everyone!"

Shi Minghui managed to control the situation: "Everyone living in the educated youth settlement now, please tell us from whom you heard this."

"If the final verdict points to someone and no one else can be found spreading the rumors, then it will be clear who framed the Chu family!"

Ye Nian'an nodded: "Everyone, I believe that the innocent will clear themselves. As long as you haven't done anything wrong, you will never be wronged. But our Chu family also wants to seek justice."

"We hope everyone can tell the truth and help point out who is trying to frame our Chu family! We must find this scourge in our educated youth settlement!"

"Otherwise, if today it's us and the brigade leader's family spreading rumors, tomorrow it might be someone else's family!"

Chu Zhenyuan, pulling Chi Xinyao and the others along, bowed sincerely, saying, "I'm counting on you all."