Doing something bad

Lin Xueyin's teaching work at the elementary school gradually got on track, and her relationships with the children grew increasingly harmonious. However, even though the tree wanted to be still, the wind kept blowing. Zhao Xiaofeng's jealousy, like the water in a ditch during the rainy season, continued to rise, finally overflowing the dam.

That afternoon, Lin Xueyin had just sent off the last child who was jumping home and was about to pack up and return to the educated youth point when Zhao Xiaofeng walked into the classroom with a twisted waist and a fake smile on her face.

"Teacher Lin, are you busy?" Zhao Xiaofeng's voice was so sweet that it was sickening.

Lin Xueyin raised her head and saw that it was her. She instinctively felt alert, but she remained calm. "Comrade Zhao, is there something wrong?"

"It's nothing serious," Zhao Xiaofeng pretended to be casual as she walked to the side of the podium, her fingers running across the rough surface of the table, "I just came over to take a look. Teacher Lin teaches this book really well, the kids all like you." She changed the subject, her eyes becoming meaningful, "But, I heard... some of the content in the textbook is a bit too 'petty bourgeois', isn't it?

For the children of us poor and lower-middle peasants, labor education and ideological education should be the main focus.”

Lin Xueyin's heart sank. Zhao Xiaofeng's words might seem casual, but they were actually an insult. She taught the children songs and stories, unlike Teacher Zhang, who only focused on textbooks and quotations.

"Comrade Zhao, you're worrying too much," Lin Xueyin calmed down and replied calmly, "I'm always completing the requirements of the syllabus and appropriately expanding the children's interests to help them better understand the knowledge."

"Really?" Zhao Xiaofeng said in a long tone, his eyes like poisoned needles, scanning her face, "I heard that you were still talking about 'Snow White' in class?

That's the poisonous weed of the foreign bourgeoisie! Teacher Lin, are you here to receive re-education, or to spread decadent ideas?"

Lin Xueyin clenched her fingers. She had indeed once told a simplified version of Snow White to a few girls who hadn't returned home in time after class, but she had never expected this to be used as a topic.

"It's just a simple fairy tale that teaches children kindness and courage..."

"Hmph, that's just nice talk!" Zhao Xiaofeng interrupted her, her voice rising. "I think you have a problem with your thinking! It's just like your behavior! You dress up all day long, put on lotion, and you still have the habits of a bourgeois lady! I'm going to report this to my father and the commune!"

After saying these harsh words, Zhao Xiaofeng glanced triumphantly at the pale-faced Lin Xueyin, then turned and left.

Lin Xueyin was the only one left in the classroom, and her composure vanished completely. She knew Zhao Xiaofeng was deliberately picking a fight, but charges like "having problematic thoughts" and "spreading bourgeois poison" were serious or minor. If this were reported to the commune, even with Song Zhiyuan's help, she would likely be criticized and might even lose her substitute teaching job.

For the next two days, Lin Xueyin felt uneasy. During class, she tried to avoid saying anything that might incriminate her, and even her smile faded. The children were quick to notice the change in Teacher Lin, and the classroom atmosphere grew subdued.

Song Zhiyuan quickly noticed her abnormality. On his way to take her back to the educated youth camp, he stopped and looked at her: "Are you in trouble?"

In the twilight, his eyes were calm and sharp, as if he could see through people's hearts.

Lin Xueyin hesitated for a moment, but still spoke out Zhao Xiaofeng's threat. She didn't expect Song Zhiyuan to be able to completely resolve it, but it was really uncomfortable to keep it in her heart.

After hearing this, Song Zhiyuan frowned and his eyes turned colder: "She doesn't dare to go directly to the commune."

"Why?"

"She has no evidence, and is only making a complaint based on conjecture. She will also take risks," Song Zhiyuan analyzed. "At most, she will spread rumors in the village to put pressure on you. Don't panic. Just teach normally and be careful."

His calmness and analysis calmed Lin Xueyin's flustered heart. She nodded, "I understand. Thank you, Comrade Song."

However, Zhao Xiaofeng's evil intentions did not stop there.

A few days later, Lin Xueyin discovered that the pale pink silk scarf her mother had given her, which she had left drying on her dorm windowsill, was missing! She searched the entire dorm room but couldn't find it. When she asked Liu Xiaoling and the others, they all said they hadn't seen it either. The scarf was a cherished possession, a token of her mother's love, and its loss left her furious and anxious.

At the same time, rumors about Lin Xueyin's "bourgeois lifestyle" spread quietly in the village. They were very detailed, saying that she lived behind closed doors every day, eating delicious food and drinking spicy drinks, washing clothes with precious soap, and even hiding shameful bourgeois things...

Lin Xueyin guessed that it was Zhao Xiaofeng's doing, but she had no evidence.

That morning, as she approached the elementary school, she saw some crooked, ugly designs painted with charcoal on the classroom wall, with the words "Bourgeois Miss Get Out" written next to it. Several children who had arrived early were standing around, watching and whispering.

Lin Xueyin's footsteps froze in place, her blood freezing as humiliation and anger surged in her heart. Such a despicable move!

"Who did it?!" A cold and angry voice sounded behind her.

Lin Xueyin turned around and saw Song Zhiyuan standing behind her, his face terribly gloomy. He had obviously seen the graffiti on the wall as well.

The children were frightened by his expression and shook their heads.

Song Zhiyuan strode over, carefully examined the graffiti, and then scanned his surroundings with sharp eyes. Suddenly, he walked to the classroom window, bent down, and picked up a small object from the grass - a red, plastic, and somewhat old hair ornament.

Lin Xueyin recognized the flower, Zhao Xiaofeng often wore it!

Song Zhiyuan pinched the flower in his hair, his eyes as cold as ice. He didn't say anything, but said to Lin Xueyin: "Take the children into the classroom first, I'll take care of this."

He fetched water and a rag and personally cleaned the filth off the wall. Throughout the process, he pursed his lips tightly, exuding a sense of low pressure. Even Zhao Jianguo, who had rushed over after hearing the news, didn't dare to ask any more questions when he saw his expression.

After cleaning up, Song Zhiyuan took the flower and went directly to find Zhao Jianguo.

"Captain Zhao, someone has maliciously damaged the school environment and slandered the educated youth. This was found at the scene." He placed the hairpin on the table in front of Zhao Jianguo, his tone calm but with undeniable pressure. "I hope the brigade will deal with this seriously and prevent such incidents from happening again. Otherwise, I won't rule out reporting the situation to the commune's educated youth office."

Song Zhiyuan wasn't usually talkative, but he held a high reputation among the educated youth and some villagers. Furthermore, his background, shrouded in mystery, made even Zhao Jianguo somewhat wary of him. Seeing him clearly furious, with irrefutable evidence pointing to his daughter, Zhao Jianguo's face paled and sank.

Zhao Jianguo appeared to be submissive, but he was very disapproving in his heart.

Although the scarf was not recovered and the rumors were unlikely to disappear immediately, Zhao Xiaofeng's blatant mischief was temporarily suppressed.

After school, Lin Xueyin looked at the tidy walls, feeling a mixture of emotions. She was grateful for Song Zhiyuan's help again, but she also realized more deeply that in this seemingly peaceful village, just wanting to live a good life was not easy.

When Song Zhiyuan sent her back, he looked at her still slightly furrowed brows, was silent for a moment, and suddenly said: "Don't be afraid, I'm here."

It was a simple sentence, but like a stone dropped into a lake, it sent ripples through Lin Xueyin's heart unlike anything she'd ever experienced before. She looked up at the always silent yet incredibly reliable young man beside her, and for the first time, she clearly sensed that he wasn't just helping a comrade in need. The emotions hidden in those deep eyes seemed to extend far beyond her wildest dreams.

The setting sun stretched their shadows very long, interweaving them together. At this moment, Lin Xueyin's heart was slightly confused.