Chapter 46 Absolutely Impure Intentions
When Gu Yanxiao heard Chen Zhaodi say this, his eyes flashed: "So, Xie Manman was probably pretending to be unwell and going to see a doctor, but actually went to the back mountain to pick Ganoderma lucidum?"
"this……"
How could you do this?
The surrounding villagers immediately spoke up, filled with righteous indignation.
"The Ganoderma lucidum on the back mountain is the collective property of our Bakushu Village. What Xie, the educated youth, is doing is stealing our village's collective property!"
At this moment, Xu Yirou was so struck by this news that she was unable to think straight.
She also knew about the large Ganoderma lucidum growing on the back mountain.
She found it a while ago when she went up the mountain to collect firewood.
However, since the large Ganoderma lucidum was on a cliff and belonged to the collective, she never even considered picking it.
But now, Xie Manman...
"No! That can't be. How could Manman secretly pick Ganoderma lucidum? She..."
Xu Yirou instinctively wanted to retort, but the villagers were already extremely hostile towards the people from their educated youth settlement.
If people find out that Xie Manman stole collective property, their situation at the educated youth settlement will likely become even more difficult.
"Why don't we go up the mountain and see for ourselves?" Gu Yanxiao, who now had absolutely no liking for Xu Yirou, impatiently interrupted her and said.
Shao Guoyang and the others, who hadn't spoken until now, nodded worriedly: "Yes, if she really went up the back mountain and hasn't come back this late, could she have really encountered some danger?"
"To the back mountain?"
After hearing what everyone said, some of the villagers hesitated.
"There are wild boars, wolves, and even bears roaming the back mountains, and it's especially dangerous at night..."
"Yes! Secretary Tong, we can't risk our lives for an outsider who stole our village's collective property!"
For a time, the public's dissatisfaction with the educated youth in the settlement reached its peak.
These educated youths came to their Bakushu Village, saying they were there to build up the countryside.
But each and every one of them is too weak to lift anything by hand or carry anything on their shoulders.
Their village subsidizes their annual food rations.
Now, it's because Xie Manman stole the Ganoderma lucidum from the back mountain of their village.
They were made to risk going up the mountain to find her in the middle of the night.
On what grounds?
Tong Liqun was naturally aware of the villagers' anger.
If he could, he wouldn't want to bother with Xie Manman.
But these are, after all, educated youths assigned by higher authorities. If something really happens in their village...
It also had a significant impact on their village.
“I know everyone is very dissatisfied with Xie Manman’s theft of collective property. But don’t forget, our village has been an advanced collective for three consecutive years. If Xie, the educated youth, really gets into trouble in the back mountain, we might lose our title of advanced collective this year.”
Being an advanced collective brings many benefits to the village.
Upon hearing this, the villagers could only shut their mouths.
"How about this? Let's search the outer perimeter of the back mountain first. I believe that even if Xie Zhiqing really went to collect Ganoderma lucidum, he shouldn't go deep into the mountains."
"Everyone should go in groups of ten, carrying torches. Even if we encounter wild animals, we can protect ourselves with torches."
Tong Liqun had served as the village's Party Secretary for over a decade, and under his methodical arrangements...
Even if the villagers had their grievances, they could only obey him and send dozens of strong young men up the mountain.
The male educated youth at the settlement were, of course, among them.
Without saying a word, Gu Yanxiao simply picked up the torch and headed up the mountain.
Xu Yirou watched Gu Yanxiao turn and leave without hesitation, and for some reason, she suddenly called out to him, "Gu Zhiqing..."
Gu Yanxiao ignored him and continued walking.
Xu Yirou hurriedly called out again, "Gu Zhiqing, I have something to say to you..."
Seeing that he was completely ignoring her, she panicked and hurriedly called out, "It's about where Manman might have gone..."
Gu Yanxiao finally stopped and said to Tong Aiguo, who was standing to the side, "Tong Aiguo, come here for a moment."
"Hey..." Tong Aiguo quickly agreed and ran to his side.
Gu Yanxiao nodded and then said to Xu Yirou, "You can speak now."
He's a married man; he can't possibly be talking to a woman alone in the middle of the night!
Even Xu Yirou was taken aback by Gu Yanxiao's sudden move, and she was completely stunned.
On the contrary, Tong Aiguo looked at Gu Yanxiao with admiration. As expected of Gu, a former educated youth, his ability to maintain distance from female comrades at all times was truly admirable.
Putting everything else aside, Tong Aiguo said that Xu Yirou's feelings for Gu Zhiqing were definitely not pure.
It was only natural that Gu Zhiqing was wary of her.
If a man and a woman were talking alone late at night, and Xu Yirou were to extort money from them, wouldn't that ruin Gu Zhiqing's reputation?
Gu Yanxiao waited a moment, and seeing that Xu Yirou hadn't spoken for a long time, he said in a deep voice with displeasure, "Xu Zhiqing, what exactly do you want to say?"
Xu Yirou suddenly snapped out of her daze, stammering out where she had found the Ganoderma lucidum, and then said, "I guess Manman probably went there..."
"I understand!" Gu Yanxiao nodded. He had originally planned to lead everyone that way, so whether Xu Yirou said it or not made no difference.
However, Tong Aiguo, who was standing to the side, became anxious: "Xu Zhiqing, why didn't you say so when everyone was here? If there had been such a place, we wouldn't have had to search the whole mountain in the middle of the night without any clues."
He was furious. There were so many poisonous snakes and wild beasts on the back mountain. What if someone got into trouble while looking for Xie Manman...
"I..." Xu Yirou looked at Tong Aiguo with a mixture of shame and anger. How could this person talk like that? She said irritably, "Didn't I already tell Gu Zhiqing?"
"You really are..." Tong Aiguo looked at Xu Yirou, who still looked aggrieved, and wanted to say something, but he couldn't bring himself to speak. As a grown man, he couldn't very well argue with a woman!
"Aiguo, let's go." Just then, Gu Yanxiao grabbed him and turned to leave.
The two caught up with the villagers who were preparing to go into the mountains and told them what Xu Yirou had just said.
“In that case, let’s go look for it there first,” Tong Liqun decided. “Aiguo, you’ll lead the way.”
“Okay, Dad.” Tong Aiguo took the lead, holding the torch and walking at the very front.
Although he was afraid to go into the back mountain so late at night.
Just then, a tall figure walked silently to his side, handed him a bundle of rope, and then took the torch from his hand.
Tong Aiguo looked up and saw Gu Yanxiao's calm eyes and steady steps.
His silent presence beside me was enough to calm my restless heart.
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