Chapter Fifty-One New Year

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Firecrackers exploded, filling the air with joy.

This year, Malutun is bustling like never before.

Smoke rose from every chimney, the aroma of meat filled the entire village, and cheers from children and laughter from adults could be heard from every household.

"Gu, are you really not going to spend the New Year at the educated youth settlement? Everyone there is planning to spend the New Year together."

Li Fanghua looked regretful; Gu Zuozuo was the richest educated youth in this educated youth settlement besides Duan Yuyang.

This year, the male educated youths, unusually, put aside their past prejudices and decided to spend the New Year together. Unexpectedly, Gu Zuozuo had already made an appointment with someone else not to spend the New Year at the educated youth settlement.

"No, thank you."

"Alright then, we won't call you. Do you have somewhere to go?"

Gu Zuozuo nodded. She had already made an appointment with Grandma Ma and Ma Liang to spend New Year's Eve together today. She didn't want to eat New Year's Eve dinner at the educated youth settlement. She was afraid that she would have indigestion if she sat with those people. It wouldn't be nice if they started fighting over something.

The educated youth over there were somewhat disappointed when they learned that Gu Zuozuo was not joining them. Everyone knew that Gu was wealthy and had a lot of good things in her possession.

"Forget it, they look down on people like us. They have their own better opportunities to climb the social ladder. What are we? Do we deserve to eat their good food?"

"Ye Hua! Who are you being sarcastic to? If you really don't want to take advantage of Zuo Zuo, then give back the wild boar and wolf meat you were allotted! Don't be so shameless as to eat what's in your bowl and then throw it away and deny your father!"

"Exactly! When it was time to divide the meat, you ran faster than anyone else. But when you found out it was free and didn't require any points, you were so picky and insisted on taking the big fat piece. When you didn't get it, you made a scene. Don't you have any shame now?"

Ye Hua's eyes widened, the scars on his face twisting horribly.

"Why are you so anxious? She didn't even say anything to you! Do you really think you're someone's dog? Your owner hasn't even said anything and you're already defending her? Did she even give you a bone? Are you that shameless?!"

"You! Are you even a man?! How can you speak so rudely!"

"Whether I'm a man or not is none of your business! What? You want to try?"

"You're being a pervert!"

"Tch, everyone knows you got... fucked! You dare hit me?!"

With a slap, Ye Hua felt a blow to the face, which ignited his anger. He jumped up from his chair and reached out to retaliate.

"Ye Hua! Don't be impulsive!"

Everyone was startled, not knowing how the conversation had turned into a fight. They quickly reached out to stop Ye Hua, who was about to lose his temper. If he really hit the female educated youth, they probably wouldn't be able to celebrate the New Year.

"Are you all blind?! Didn't you see it was this bitch who hit me?! Did she slap my face because of this slut?!"

"Ye Hua! We're all educated youth, can you please not speak so rudely!"

Arguing is fine, but don't escalate it to the issue of a female educated youth's innocence. If this gets out, how can Xiaoxiao face anyone? She'll have to prove her innocence by dying.

"She can do it, but I can't say anything? Everyone knows she was dragged into the woods by that fat bastard from Widow Ma's family! Does she really think she can get away with it by denying it?! That slut, who doesn't even know her place, dares to hit me!!"

Zhu Xiaoxiao burst into tears. She hadn't expected that even fellow educated youth would view her this way. What would outsiders say? How could she face anyone here? How could she live?

"Comrade Ye Hua! Some things can't be said lightly. Once you say them, you have to take responsibility for your words! A woman's reputation is more important than anything else!"

Ye Hua was stunned. Looking at the hostile and contemptuous looks in the eyes of the female educated youth opposite him, he felt a lump in his throat and almost vomited blood.

All he said was that Gu Zuozuo was wrong, right? Why did you make such a big deal out of it? What did he say when he got slapped?

"Don't keep bringing up the 'innocence' of female educated youth. We were all educated youth. Would it do you any good to drive Xiaoxiao to her death?"

"I didn't say anything. I just said a few words to Gu Zuozuo! Didn't she start it with words and then with her hands?"

Li Fanghua almost laughed in anger. This man really doesn't learn his lesson. If he wanted to pick a fight with Gu Zuozuo, why didn't he do it when she was there? Why did he have to wait until she left to start gossiping? They, as female educated youth, had received so many benefits from her, how could they possibly listen to others gossiping about them behind their backs without fighting back and clarifying things?

"And what did that educated youth Gu do to you that you keep harping on her! Xiaoxiao isn't wrong either. Don't enjoy her benefits and then gossip behind her back. Can't you be a little more generous like a man? You keep using the educated youth's innocence to attack people. That's all you're good for!"

Li Fanghua pulled the crying Zhu Xiaoxiao behind her to protect her, and then glared at Ye Hua and unleashed a torrent of abuse.

She looks down on these men. They're two-faced, despise women but want to enjoy their uncomplaining sacrifices. They really think women are sheep in a pen to be manipulated at will. They deserve to be taught a lesson!

"grass………"

"Ye Hua!"

Kan Lei glanced displeasedly at Ye Hua, who was still indignant, and knew that his stubbornness was flaring up again. In order to avoid making a scene and causing a embarrassment by recalling the captain and Gu Zuozuo, he quickly spoke up to stop him.

"Sorry, he's just homesick, so he's in a bad mood and his mouth is a bit foul. Please don't mind him. Let's get ready, everyone. We're going to have a good New Year tonight."

As she spoke, she reached out and tugged at Ye Hua, whose face was gloomy, signaling him not to go too far.

He couldn't understand it either. Knowing that Gu Zuozuo was a tough woman to mess with, a violent and tyrannical one, he had always kept his distance. Why was Ye Hua so stubborn, always arguing with her every time they met? This time, he even provoked Zhu Xiaoxiao, the most good-tempered of the female educated youth. He really had a dog's temper, and he wouldn't behave until that woman punched him.

“Learn from that new educated youth, see how he does it.”

Don't think he didn't realize that the man named Duan Yuyang was after Gu Zhiqing.

He openly and secretly inquires about Gu Zhiqing's affairs every day, and he often hides in the shadows to observe people secretly, like a rat in a ditch. He is clever but cautious, and so far few people have figured out what his purpose is.

Duan Yuyang, who was being used as a role model, sat quietly in the corner, looking dignified and composed. Qian Yao, standing next to him, watched with amusement as the male and female educated youths almost came to blows, her little fists clenched in excitement.

"What a pity, they couldn't continue fighting."

Duan Yuyang patted her head, smiling gently and affectionately.

"Don't talk nonsense. If a fight really breaks out, you won't be able to stay out of it either."

Qian Yao pouted. What did it have to do with her? She hadn't gotten involved.