Chapter 148 Educated Youth in the 1970s (12) I Want to Build! I Want to Learn...
"Mistress? What mistress?"
"Aunt Xu, you need to provide evidence before you speak! You can't just make baseless accusations!"
"Exactly! Jian Zhiqing is such a gentle and well-behaved girl, how could she possibly be that kind of person?"
"How could it not be?" Granny Xu lay on the ground, wiping away the tears she had squeezed out with her sleeve, and wailed, "I'm already this old, do I need to talk nonsense? This brat and that educated youth Song have been having an affair for a long time! My poor Jiajun didn't do anything, he only said two words to this brat, and he was beaten to a pulp by Song Ce!"
The villagers watching began to discuss among themselves. Some frowned, seemingly not believing what Granny Xu was saying; others, however, looked doubtful, their emotions swayed by Granny Xu's incessant crying, and they began to whisper among themselves.
"Jian and Song, the educated youth... it can't be, right?"
"Why not? They're all city kids, getting them together is easy, right?"
"I don't think so. I've never seen the two of them hanging out together by themselves before."
"His uncle, you can know a person's face but not their heart!"
The villagers' gossip was like a sharp blade, piercing straight at Jian Fangning. Looking at Aunt Xu's distorted face, she forced herself to remain calm and argued, "Aunt Xu, you...you can't frame someone like this!"
"Innocent?" Aunt Xu suddenly scrambled to her feet and rushed towards Jian Fangning, her tone fierce. "You vixen! Jiajun saw you flirting and being all lovey-dovey with that Song Ce, and you still dare to say you're innocent? You're shameless!"
Jian Fangning's fair face flushed red, and her nails dug deeply into her palms.
"He's talking nonsense!"
"You're talking nonsense! Would my son lie?" Aunt Xu yanked Xu Jiajun, who was hiding behind the crowd, out and shoved him in front of everyone, shouting, "You dare say that my son's injuries weren't inflicted by Song Ce?"
When everyone saw it, Xu Jiajun's face was swollen and covered in bruises, making him look quite frightening.
Seeing the victim step forward, the villagers, who had been wavering, immediately believed him. No matter what, Xu Jiajun was a child they had watched grow up; how could they let a city kid bully him like this?
"Where is Song Zhiqing? Where did he go?"
"Even if he has made contributions to our village, you can't just hit someone because Jiajun said a few words to Jian Zhiqing!"
"That's right! Look what he did to Jiajun!"
Qi Ziling, who was standing to the side, couldn't stand it any longer. She took a step forward and said loudly, "Aunt Xu, it's clearly your son who tried to bully Fang Ning in broad daylight. Song Zhiqing was just standing up for justice!"
Wu Wangliu glanced at Jian Fangning with a complicated expression. Jian Fangning pursed her lips tightly and didn't say a word.
Aunt Xu, hands on her hips, spat angrily on the ground and shrieked, "Showing injustice? You make it sound so nice! My son has connections and is tall enough; why would he want to be with this skinny little chick who can't lift a finger? I bet it's you educated youth ganging up on us orphans and widows!" With that, she sat down on the ground, slapped her thigh, and began to wail, "My God! Open your eyes and see! We poor peasants can't live like this anymore! If the team doesn't give my son and me justice today, I'm sitting here and not leaving!"
Upon hearing this, Xu Jiajun shrank back, his eyes darting around, avoiding everyone's gaze.
Some villagers noticed Xu Jiajun's guilty conscience and wanted to say a few words of justice for Song Ce and Jian Fangning: "Xu Jiajun is almost thirty years old. If he were capable, he would have found a wife long ago. Why would he be waiting like this?"
"Exactly! He's always been one to provoke the young women and wives in our village!"
"In his mother's eyes, Xu Jiajun is better than everyone else in every way!"
Hearing these gossips, Aunt Xu immediately became indignant. She jumped up from the ground and said angrily, "We live in the same village, so stop spreading rumors! My Jun is a good boy!" As she spoke, she turned and stared intently at Jian Fangning, gritting her teeth, "It must be this little vixen who seduced my son! Girls from the city are all up to no good, always trying to seduce honest men!"
As soon as she finished speaking, footsteps came from outside the crowd. It turned out that Qin Guangde and Song Ce were walking over, pushing through the crowd.
"Sister-in-law Xu, let's talk this out. What kind of behavior is this, throwing a tantrum at the educated youth settlement!" Qin Guangde's voice was not loud, but it was filled with deep anger.
When Aunt Xu saw Qin Guangde arrive with Song Ce, she wailed even louder: "Captain! You must stand up for the Xu family! Look what Song Ce has done to Jiajun!"
Qin Guangde glanced at the crowd, his gaze first falling on Jian Fangning, who was pale-faced, and then on Xu Jiajun, who was hiding behind his mother.
"Jiajun, tell me, what exactly happened?"
Upon hearing this, Xu Jiajun took a small step back in fright and remained silent.
Seeing her son's timid and submissive demeanor, Aunt Xu became furious. She shoved Xu Jiajun aside, saying with exasperation, "Jiajun, say something! Don't be afraid of them! Tell me! Did this vixen seduce you and instigate Song Ce to beat you?"
“I…I was passing by the river and happened to see Jian Zhiqing, so…I thought I’d say a few words to her…” Xu Jiajun stammered, then whispered, “Who knew I’d run into her and Song Ce holding hands on the way…and then they went into the cornfield…”
"Shut up!" Qin Guangde's voice struck everyone like a heavy hammer, startling Xu Jiajun so much that he trembled.
"Song, the educated youth, just found me and said that you kept harassing Jian, the educated youth, on the path. You not only touched the girl inappropriately, but you also tried to hit her! Song had no choice but to fight back!"
"He's talking nonsense!" Xu Jiajun retorted loudly, his face flushed red. "They're in cahoots, of course Song Ce will side with this female educated youth!"
Qin Guangde looked at him sternly and said, "Anyone can make empty promises. Jiajun, you said you saw Song and Jian holding hands as they entered the cornfield. What evidence do you have?"
"Captain, I saw it with my own eyes!" Xu Jiajun glared at Song Ce and shouted.
"So, you have no evidence?" Just as Xu Jiajun was about to say something more, Song Ce, who had been silent all along, stepped forward expressionlessly and looked straight at Xu Jiajun as he asked.
Xu Jiajun was taken aback by Song Ce's question. He stammered for a long time, his face flushed, before suddenly shouting, "Evidence? What evidence? I caught you two doing something dirty and you need evidence?"
A cold glint flashed in Song Ce's eyes. He took a step forward and calmly pulled a palm-sized black box from his pocket.
"You have no evidence, but I do."
Xu Jiajun instinctively shrank back, insisting, "What evidence do you have? You're just crying wolf!"
Without saying anything, Song Ce pressed the power button at the bottom of the box with a light touch of his finger.
Soon, a hissing sound of electricity came from the black box. Then, Xu Jiajun's greasy voice suddenly rang out: "There's no one else here, Jian Fangning. To tell you the truth, I've liked you from the first moment I saw you! You're fair-skinned and literate. If you're willing to be with me, I promise I'll treat you well in the future..." This was followed by Jian Fangning's panicked response: "Don't come any closer! If you come any closer, I'll call for help!"
"What are you pretending to be so high and mighty for? You city educated youth just want to find a backer in the countryside, don't you? Our Xu family has been poor peasants for three generations..."
"Jian Fangning, you stop right there!"
"Little bitch..."
"Song Ce, mind your own business! This is a private matter between her and me, and it's none of your concern!"
"You educated youth, shamelessly freeloading in the village, and acting all high and mighty with me! Jian Fangning is always flirting with men in the village, isn't it just because she wants to find a good husband?"
"You make it sound so nice! Let me tell you, I've got my eye on you! He saved you once, but do you think he can save you a second or third time? I'm telling you, next time I'll fucking have you! I'll make you cry and beg for mercy under my crotch! Damn it!"
...
Hearing this, everyone understood immediately. Aunt Xu's face turned deathly pale, and her previous arrogance vanished instantly. She opened her mouth, wanting to defend her son, but couldn't utter a single word.
Feeling the villagers' contemptuous and resentful gazes, Xu Jiajun's face turned ashen. He slumped to the ground, muttering repeatedly, "Impossible...this is impossible..."
Qin Guangde frowned, his face so dark it seemed to drip water. He stared at Xu Jiajun for a long while before letting out a heavy sigh and saying, "Xu Jiajun, how could you do such a thing? This is a crime of disrupting the educated youth's 'Down to the Countryside' movement! It's worse than being a hooligan!"
The villagers watching this dramatic scene shook their heads and sighed, saying, "This Xu boy has never been proper since he was a child. This time he's really gotten himself into big trouble!"
"It's all because Old Xu's family spoils him. They give him whatever he wants and spoil him rotten!"
"I think he deserved it!"
This time, Aunt Xu really burst into tears. She grabbed Qin Guangde's sleeve and cried, "Captain, Jiajun is the child you watched grow up! You have to help him!"
Qin Guangde waved his hand to interrupt, and sneered, "Sister-in-law Xu, how do you expect me to help? If I dare to help him get away with this today, the organization will sentence me to the crime of harboring a criminal tomorrow! This matter of corrupting public morals must be dealt with seriously! Otherwise, if all the young people in the brigade follow his example, what will become of us? Doesn't he know how important a young lady's reputation is?"
Seeing that she couldn't reason with Qin Guangde, Aunt Xu hurriedly turned to Jian Fangning and cried, "My daughter! Jiajun was just confused for a moment... His father passed away early, and I raised him all by myself, it wasn't easy!"
Seeing Aunt Xu's tearful face, Jian Fangning felt a pang of sadness in her heart. She recalled the fear of being chased by Xu Jiajun earlier that day, and her eyes instantly reddened.
Song Ce stepped forward and stood in front of Jian Fangning, his voice steady as he said, "Aunt Xu, the police have their own methods for handling this matter. We all know it wasn't easy for you to raise your son, but he has to bear the consequences of his own mistakes."
Upon hearing the words "Public Security," Xu Jiajun jumped up as if possessed, pointing at Song Ce and roaring, "It's all your fault! You deliberately framed me! If you hadn't meddled, would I be in this situation? And you too!" He then turned and lunged at Jian Fangning, "You little bitch! What are you pretending for! You dare say you have nothing going on with this kid?"
Seeing this, Song Ce swiftly pinned Xu Jiajun to the ground. Xu Jiajun struggled and cursed, his words becoming increasingly violent and explicit, frightening several women watching who quickly covered their children's ears.
"Enough!" Qin Guangde roared. "You lot, go and tie him up!"
Several strong young men immediately stepped forward and tied Xu Jiajun up tightly with hemp rope. Seeing this, Granny Xu collapsed to the ground and wailed, repeatedly chanting, "Jiajun! Jiajun..."
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