"The most important thing for the team leader now is to find the 'troublemaker' inside, because she's the one who ruined our collective reputation."
We, the educated youth, strongly demand that the police investigate. Why should everyone be dragged down and stigmatized because of her one person's actions?
As soon as Lu Ronghui spoke, the other educated youths realized what she meant. "Yeah, it wasn't them who stole it, so why should they be dragged into it?"
"We, the educated youth, strongly demand that the real thief be found and that everyone be exonerated."
"Yes, we can't let these parasites ruin the collective reputation. The captain will send the police to investigate. We have nothing to hide."
The villagers' scrutinizing gazes made the educated youth feel uncomfortable, as if they were the ones who had stolen something.
The brigade leader was somewhat helpless. He said these words only to try to resolve the matter within the village and not to escalate it to other places.
The watch has been found, but there's no other evidence. How can we possibly find the murderer? As for the soap, both sides have their own versions of events. Whether we make a big fuss or not, that's about it.
If this gets out of hand, and the commune and the county's educated youth office find out, it won't be good for them either.
Chen Hong was almost collapsing to the ground. How could things have escalated to this point? Wasn't it all over already?
From the moment the captain heard about the soap incident, his serious and knowing gaze seemed to pierce through Chen Hong. Everyone knew perfectly well that she was the one who stole the watch.
It doesn't matter if the villagers find out, as long as the matter is left unresolved and not recorded in her file, she will never have any contact with the people here again after she returns to the city.
But if they really let the police come and investigate, and if they find out that she stole it, the thief accusation will follow her until she dies.
No, she has to go back to the city. If she becomes a thief and can't get back, her family will definitely not acknowledge her anymore.
"Several days have passed, and even if we go to the police now, they won't be able to find anything."
The educated youth gritted their teeth and decided to just let it go.
They now resent that these villagers arrived too late and missed hearing about the soap incident; if they had heard it, they would have known it was Chen Hong who did it.
"Whether there is evidence or not, we'll only know after they come and investigate."
Liu Ruo stood there firmly, holding her watch, because even without evidence that Chen Hong did it, she could twist the truth and frame her.
"I'm sorry, I did it. I was wrong. I shouldn't have been jealous of you and stole your watch. Liu Ruo, I'm sorry, please forgive me."
Chen Hong was so frightened that she burst into tears and rushed over to hug Liu Ruo's leg, begging for her forgiveness. She was completely terrified by the current atmosphere and forgot that even if the police came, as long as she denied everything and there was no evidence, they couldn't do anything to her.
But the knowing and certain looks everyone gave her, as if she were a clown, and the unusually serious atmosphere completely broke her down.
If the police come, the commune and the county's educated youth office will know. They will have her back in the hands of the police. Chen Hong is devastated. She doesn't want to stay in this place forever.
As long as Liu Ruo can forgive her, and everyone stops going to the police, this matter won't be reported to the educated youth office.
"Captain, look, the thief has come out and confessed."
Everyone knew in their hearts that it was different from the murderer coming forward to confess. Chen Hong was also stunned, realizing that she had fallen into their trap.
"It's not that I didn't do it, it's not me..." She stammered, but there were several circles of people around, and everyone heard her. No matter how much she denied it, it was useless.
"I can't believe a little girl would steal from someone. She'll probably be in jail for this. What a pity."
"It really is her! The girl looks so quiet and gentle, sigh."
Chen Hong was almost going crazy. She never expected that she would be the one to confess to the crime. No, no, no, it wasn't her. That's not what she meant.
"Captain?" Liu Ruo called out to the captain, whose brows were furrowed.
The brigade leader, his face ashen, took a deep breath and looked around. He found that all the people who had come to watch the commotion were villagers, while the village chiefs and party secretaries were nowhere to be seen.
Good, good, good. As soon as something happens, these people run away faster than rabbits.
"Since the thief has confessed, we'll just take her to the police station."
The villagers and educated youth who were initially indignant hesitated again. They looked left and right, but no one could say anything in favor.
When they can't catch the thief, they condemn him; when they do catch him, they fear the crime of theft will ruin her life.
"How about we just give her a verbal warning and let it go? After all, she's still so young."
"Yes, as long as she knows she made a mistake and doesn't repeat it, that's fine. The labor camp is no place for humans."
Everyone started discussing it again, saying that the watch was so valuable and the theft was a serious matter, and that her life was going to be ruined.
The older educated youth also hesitated. After all, Chen Hong had been with them for so long, and no one wanted her to go astray.
Liu Ruo took a deep breath. How was the current scene different from a few days ago? At first, everyone didn't want to make a scene in the village, fearing it would affect the brigade's view of all the educated youth.
Later, it was clear that she couldn't be ruined by a small piece of soap; of course, she didn't feel the pain since the stick hadn't hit her.
Did she not give Chen Hong any chances? Or did she give her two chances?
The result was that she didn't repent and even bullied her with others. If you forgive her the first time, she'll do it again.
"Liu Ruo, I'm sorry, I really know I was wrong." Chen Hong realized that Liu Ruo was the key person, so she kowtowed to her directly.
"Bang, bang, bang!" She banged her head particularly hard, and her forehead was immediately broken by sharp sand and stones. The deep red blood dripped onto the ground and disappeared into the soil, leaving only a dark mark.
A hint of pity flashed across the faces of the onlookers; perhaps they should just let it go, since the watch had already been returned.
"You're admitting your mistake now just because you're afraid I'll report you to the police station; it doesn't mean you really know you're wrong."
If you truly knew you were wrong, why did you still spill water on my clothes and blankets?
"I'm sorry, I was just momentarily out of my mind. Please, Liu Ruo, I can't go to the police station."
The brigade leader didn't want to take the matter to the police. "We'll hold a self-criticism meeting in our village and have Comrade Chen Hong make a self-criticism so that she can admit her mistakes in front of the whole village."
A public apology in front of the whole village should be enough. With this lesson learned, she certainly won't dare to do it again.
"The punishment she should receive for theft is determined by law. If the law decides to acquit her because she is young or because it doesn't want to affect her future prospects, then that should also be decided by law."
"Captain, do you think we represent the law, or the police?"
Everyone else fell silent; how could they possibly represent the law?
"Since you say she has realized her mistake, I believe our police officers and the law will give her a lenient sentence."
All we can do is take her to the police station. Don't worry, the police and judges definitely know more than we do.
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