Just as everyone was looking at Chen Xichun, Wu Wanyi stepped out from behind Gao Zhe and Gao Jie, "I can testify. It was Xiao Han who did it."
"When Bai Lu came, she brought her high school textbooks, which I borrowed from her. There were notes that Bai Lu had taken in them. Later, Bai Lu didn't ask me for them back, so I lent the books to Xiao Han. Also, the day before yesterday, I finished work, I don't remember what time it was, I didn't check the time. Right by the reservoir, I saw Xiao Han talking to Chen Xichun. Chen Xichun disagreed, and it seemed like Xiao Han even threatened him there."
"Is what she said true?" Chen Jianguo asked Xiao Han and Chen Xichun.
When asked the question, Chen Xichun was taken aback. He scratched the back of his head, glanced at the educated youth, and didn't dare to look at Chen Jianguo. He nodded with a somewhat dejected expression.
Xiao Han stared at Wu Wanyi with a complicated expression, but did not refute her. He simply acquiesced to her words.
Where did things go wrong? Xu Keke subconsciously touched the callus on her right middle finger with her thumb. This was beyond her expectations.
In Bai Lu's memory, Wu Wanyi and Xiao Han eventually got married. They both passed the entrance exam for a teachers' college and taught at the same school after graduation. Even when they were sent-down youth in Chenjia Village, Wu Wanyi always seemed to be around Xiao Han, so she definitely had feelings for him.
Now that Wu Wanyi is doing this, Xiao Han's life trajectory will change, and at the very least, he will no longer be eligible for a university admission spot.
Xu Keke looked at the two of them with suspicion.
"Is there anything else you want to ask?" After hearing Wu Wanyi's words, Chen Jianguo was already certain it wasn't Xiao Han. But he didn't want to waste any more time; if he continued asking, the remaining three would at most also come out and identify Xiao Han. Seeing Xu Keke in a daze, Chen Jianguo tapped his fingers on the desk and asked her somewhat impatiently.
"Xiao Han, you don't like me. You stood up for someone to cover for someone else. And you know that Chen Xichun won't expose you to protect that person. This means he values this person just as much as you do. For two men to protect this person so much, yet both feel unworthy of them, then this person must be..."
Based on her guess, Xu Keke's gaze swept across the faces of Chen Hong, Wu Wanyi, and Gao Jie.
But when she looked at Gao Jie, Gao Zhe pulled his sister behind him, blocking Xu Keke's view with his body. His eyes were cold and sharp. "Bai Lu, stop with your sarcastic remarks. What are you trying to say? Xiao Han has already said that he did it. What more do you want?"
"This is like protesting too much," Xu Keke thought, rolling her eyes at him and ignoring him. Gao Zhe wanted to say something, but Gao Jie stopped him. So he remained silent.
Xu Keke glanced at Xiao Han; she hadn't expected to trick him into revealing himself. He and Wu Wanyi were the variables of the day, and it seemed that Bai Lu's situation was more complicated than she had initially thought.
Since she couldn't solve the problem today, she could only retreat in order to gain some other benefits.
Xu Keke smiled at Chen Jianguo. Chen Jianguo tensed up, looking at Xu Keke with a vague sense of unease.
"Captain Chen, I have no objection to how the brigade handles this matter," Xu Keke knew very well that how this matter was ultimately handled was not up to her, nor even Chen Jianguo.
“Xiao Han must have taken the blame for someone else,” Xu Keke said bluntly.
“He’s willing to take all the blame, and I have no objection. However, yesterday there were only six of us educated youth on the mountain. If it wasn’t him, then it must have been one of those four. As long as the person who harmed me isn’t found, it’s dangerous for me to stay in the educated youth compound. It’s also not safe for me to live alone. How about you find me a family in the village to stay with? As long as they provide me with food and lodging, I’ll give them all my work points. I’ll eat whatever they eat; I won’t be picky at all.”
Upon hearing Xu Keke's words, the villagers gathered outside erupted in excitement again. A female educated youth earned eight work points a day, and judging from Xu Keke's clothes, she wasn't short of money. Perhaps she could even help them out a little more. Thinking this way, the villagers felt it was just a matter of clearing out a room and adding a set of chopsticks. It seemed too simple.
Some people started whispering that they wanted Xu Keke to stay at their house.
Widow Wang, who was closest to Xu Keke and the others, hurriedly called out to Chen Jianguo, "Jianguo, let her come to our house. We have an empty room in our house."
Not only did Chen Jianguo laugh in anger, but the villagers outside also joined in the laughter. "Widow Wang, you're dreaming of using straw to make a gong. Don't you even know what your son has done? Other educated youths are afraid to stay in the educated youth compound, let alone your family."
Hearing everyone's words, Chen Xichun's mother looked dejected and glared at her son reproachfully. They'd completely forgotten that without her son, none of this good fortune would have happened.
"Alright, stop arguing. Those who agree to let her go, raise your hands."
Upon hearing this, many villagers eagerly raised their hands. Chen Jianguo casually gestured with his chin outside and said to Xu Keke,
"You can choose for yourself. It's up to you which family you want to go to. But let me make this clear beforehand: when you get there, behave yourself. Don't put on airs like an educated youth, and don't expect others to serve you. Behave yourself and don't cause any trouble. Otherwise, no one will care about you."
Hearing his son still warning Xu Keke, the old village chief glared at him. He then told Xu Keke not to listen to Chen Jianguo and to choose for herself. She could go to whichever house she wanted; it was up to her. He told her to come to him if anything happened, and he would make the decision for her.
When Xu Keke mentioned wanting to go to their house, Chen Jianguo immediately said no. They had no one to take care of the educated youth, and besides, where would they find her an empty room to stay in?
"I don't feel safe staying at other people's houses," was Xu Keke's honest opinion. The other party was willing to give Chen Xichun five yuan just to harm her. In those days, in the village, that was no small sum.
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