Xu Meijun wanted to ask more, but Ye Weiwei shook her head. Everyone has secrets they can't tell. As friends, there's no need to pry. Just lend a hand when the other person needs it.

Xie Ning looked at Ye Weiwei with increasing gratitude.

Because he didn't want to lie, but it was indeed difficult for him to talk about his affairs.

However, to everyone's surprise, Xie Ning's secret, which she wanted to keep so closely, was exposed the very next day.

Ultimately, this issue stems from the quota for worker-peasant-soldier university students.

When Liu Xiangqian saw that Xu Meijun and Xie Ning had brought gifts to Ye Weiwei's house to pay New Year's greetings after returning from visiting their relatives, he was extremely envious and jealous, feeling like he was itching to get over it.

He didn't know that Xie Ning had already refused the spot, and thought that given Ye Weiwei's relationship with Xie Ning, it was a foregone conclusion that the spot would go to Xie Ning.

It was Xie Ning's own carelessness that led to him being followed by Liu Xiangqian, who then spread the news of his friendship with the people in the shed throughout the village.

When Ye Weiwei learned that Xie Zhicheng in the shed was Xie Ning's father, she was only slightly surprised, but quickly came to terms with it.

No wonder Xie Ning rejected the worker-peasant-soldier college student spot. It turns out there was someone he cared about there, and he was also worried that the application wouldn't be approved.

She had suspected before that Xie Ning was good at setting traps and hunting, and should have been able to catch a lot of prey over the years, but she had never heard of him catching any prey before.

Most likely, he sent his prey over there or exchanged it for food for the people there.

Thinking about how much he has secretly done over the past few years, it really hasn't been easy for him.

Lu Mingfa had been struggling to deal with just one spot these past few days, and now this other thing had come up, infuriating him.

His principle regarding the people there is to stay as far away as possible, avoid contact and trouble, and ideally, live in peace.

He told the villagers the same thing, and nothing had happened all these years, but this Spring Festival, the educated youth settlement caused him trouble!

Is there anything else you don't understand?

It's that guy surnamed Liu who can't stand seeing others do well. He's just being a sour grapes and deliberately ruining people's futures.

"Look at this guy, he's really vicious. We've slept on the same kang (heated brick bed) for two or three years, and he stabbed someone in the back without a word. With a character like that, do you dare to marry your Xiuyue to him?"

They wouldn't even know when they'd be chopped up and sold.

Accountant Wu still feels a chill when she thinks about it now.

At the same time, he felt increasingly grateful for Ye Weiwei's reminder.

The village chief and accountant Wu kept the matter under control. The villagers weren't interested in the people at the shed anyway, so no matter how much Liu Xiangqian tried, he couldn't make anything of it.

Moreover, Xie Ning never wanted the spot in the first place. After being forced to make their relationship public, he also learned about the villagers' attitudes. In the future, when he wanted to send something there, he no longer needed to hide it every time.

But I can't just swallow this insult.

The people at the educated youth settlement witnessed what it means for an honest child to achieve great things, and that even a rabbit will bite when cornered!

Xie Ning beat Liu Xiangqian until his face was bruised and swollen. If Hou Zheng hadn't stopped him in time, he would have cracked Liu Xiangqian's skull open.

Even Liu Xiangqian was frightened by the ferocity in Xie Ning's eyes. He didn't dare to go back to the educated youth settlement that night, and the next day he found a fellow villager's house to stay at and moved out.

There was nothing they could do; he had already aroused the indignation of everyone at the educated youth settlement.

But if you think he'll behave after being beaten, you're sorely mistaken.

A person who is abnormal will only become more and more abnormal through repeated setbacks and go to extremes.

After Liu Xiangqian moved out, he rested for two days, then got himself ready and went to find Wu Xiuyue.

He has now secretly made up his mind to win over Wu Xiuyue.

He refused to believe that once Accountant Wu found out that he and Wu Xiuyue had gotten together, she would still help him.

He originally thought Wu Xiuyue was stupid and that he could win her over with sweet words, but now it seems he has to put in some effort.

Isn't this the same method they used to deal with educated youth?

Now he's going to give them a taste of their own medicine.

These past few days, Wu Xiuyue has been kept at home by Aunt Lü, making clothes. She has heard a lot from her parents about what Liu Xiangqian has done.

On the one hand, she simply couldn't believe that Liu Xiangqian, who seemed like a gentleman, was such a despicable person. On the other hand, she also knew that her parents meant well and would never lie to her.

This made her feel very upset and conflicted.

So when Liu Xiangqian gave the signal, she thought it over and over again, but still secretly slipped out, thinking that she had to meet him and ask him about the matter face to face.

Even if it's true, it's good to put an end to your own thoughts.

As soon as Liu Xiangqian met Wu Xiuyue, he pulled her toward a secluded haystack, saying that he had something important to explain to her and that they should talk in a quiet place.

Wu Xiuyue didn't object. She didn't want the villagers to see the two of them together, so she wanted to find a quiet place with few people to talk.

"Liu Zhiqing, are those rumors circulating in the village true? Did you really do that kind of thing?"

As soon as the two stood still, Wu Xiuyue asked anxiously.

She can't be out for too long, otherwise her parents will definitely look for her if they find out she's not home.

Liu Xiangqian immediately noticed the change in Wu Xiuyue's way of addressing him. She used to call him Brother Xiangqian, but now—haha! Liu the Educated Youth?

Is this a deliberate attempt to distance yourself from him?

Don't you even know if he'll agree?

Although he harbored resentment, Liu Xiangqian outwardly appeared frustrated and helpless.

“Ah Yue, this is really a misunderstanding! I was indeed a bit too nervous when I saw Xie Ning interacting with those people, after all, those people have questionable identities. I was worried that something might happen to Xie Ning, but I didn’t expect things to turn out like this! I was too young and didn’t handle things properly. By the time I wanted to make amends, the situation was already out of control, and everyone in the village knew about it. Xie Ning refused to accept my apology and even beat me so badly that I couldn’t even go back to the educated youth settlement.”

Wu Xiuyue was, after all, a naive young girl, and when Liu Xiangqian played the victim, her defenses were unconsciously lowered.

“Ah Yue, I’ve figured it out. Xie Ning won’t forgive me because of the quota for worker-peasant-soldier university students. I’ve decided not to compete with them anymore. Actually, if I go to university, I won’t be able to come back for at least several months and won’t be able to see you. Right now, I just want to live a good life with you. As long as we’re together, that’s more important than anything else…”

Wu Xiuyue was a little dazed by Liu Xiangqian's sweet words, and then she realized that she really seemed a little dazed, and she staggered and almost fell.

Seeing this, Liu Xiangqian stepped forward and helped her up, his expression no longer bothering to feign anything, his smile sinister and lewd.