The village wasn’t very big, and news about the village secretary’s family spread quickly. Everyone soon learned that Jiang Xiaowan and Luo Yecheng were no longer getting married, the wedding had been canceled, and Luo Yecheng had been beaten so badly he ended up in the health clinic.
Even while working in the fields, people gathered in small groups, enthusiastically discussing the matter.
Only a few people knew the exact reason, as it was too shameful for the village secretary’s family to disclose.
When Liu Linlin heard that Luo Yecheng had been hospitalized, her first thought was to visit him. She even considered confronting Jiang Xiaowan’s family to demand justice. “Why did they have to beat him?” she thought.
However, she didn’t dare go alone. After all, Jiang Xiaowan’s brothers were numerous and fierce. If things went south, she could end up being the one beaten. That would be a huge loss.
Determined, she headed back to the educated youth dormitory to rally others to her cause.
“We have to demand justice! We’re all educated youth, and we must stick together. If we let this go, what happens if the villagers think they can treat us however they want? We need to stand united!”
Her words stirred up concern among the others. Educated youth from the cities already faced alienation from the locals. Compared to the villagers, they were in a much weaker position and genuinely worried about being mistreated in the future.
Turning to Song Wei, Liu Linlin added, “Even if you’ve had conflicts with Luo Yecheng, this concerns all of us educated youth. You can’t just sit this one out. What if you need help someday? Who would stand up for you?”
Song Wei glanced at the naïve Liu Linlin and asked calmly, “Do you know the full story of what happened?”
Liu Linlin frowned. “Even if Luo Yecheng did something wrong, canceling the wedding is one thing. But beating someone? That’s going too far.”
Song Wei smirked. “How convenient. I happen to know exactly what happened. Would you like to hear it?”
All the educated youth turned their attention to her.
Song Wei, unhurried, recounted the entire story without exaggeration.
When she finished, silence filled the room. Even Liu Linlin was at a loss for words. Her disbelief and shattered admiration for Luo Yecheng were plain to see.
Muttering to herself, Liu Linlin said, “That’s impossible. Brother Yecheng wouldn’t do something like that.”
Song Wei nonchalantly dug her finger in her ear. “Oh, Wang Xiaohua and Lin Xiaocao called him ‘Brother Yecheng’ too. That title sure doesn’t seem worth much.”
Liu Linlin’s expression soured as though she’d swallowed a fly.
Bai Yunjiao laughed softly and said in a gentle tone, “Who would’ve thought Luo Yecheng was that kind of person? If we really went to demand justice for him, we’d be a laughingstock. The villagers would never look at us the same way again.”
Gao Le spat. “Who’d want to stand up for someone like him? He’s tarnished the reputation of the educated youths. You can go if you want, but count me out.”
Zhao Su nodded. “Same here. I’m not going.”
Xu Laidi rolled her eyes. “What a waste of time. What’s in it for us? And now there’s no wedding feast tomorrow. I was planning to go on an empty stomach.”
The others were speechless. Xu Laidi’s behavior resembled that of the village aunties, greedy and stingy. Gone was her once-city-like demeanor. She’d been completely assimilated, even adopting habits like wiping her nose and hands on her pants.
Her antics left the others reluctant to be near her.
Thus, the so-called “justice campaign” fell apart. Liu Linlin, utterly dejected, wandered off on her own, her destination unknown.
That evening, she returned to the dormitory looking distraught, her red, tear-streaked eyes betraying her emotions. Instead of retreating to her room, she sought out Song Wei.
Tearing up again, Liu Linlin asked, “Jiang Xiaowan said you witnessed it. Is what they said true?”
Song Wei, unsurprised, nodded under Liu Linlin’s desperate gaze.
“Yes, it’s true. Would you like me to repeat Luo Yecheng and Wang Xiaohua’s exact words for you?”
Liu Linlin shook her head, tears streaming as she ran away. As others passed by her room, her sobbing could still be heard.
Song Wei sighed and shook her head. Surely Liu Linlin wouldn’t continue to like Luo Yecheng after this. If she did, then she was truly beyond help. Still, Song Wei would respect her choice.
On the day the wedding was supposed to take place, the village was eerily quiet.
Curious villagers passed by the village secretary’s house, craning their necks to sneak a peek inside.
The air around the house felt heavy. Jiang Xiaowan’s furious brothers wanted to confront Luo Yecheng again, but the village secretary stopped them.
“What’s the point of going after him? From today on, we have nothing to do with him.”
Jiang Xiaowan’s eldest brother clenched his fists in frustration. “We’re just going to let him off? He humiliated my sister and turned our family into a joke. This is too easy for him!”
“And what will you do? Beat him again and risk seriously injuring him? Then what? We’d be the ones in trouble,” the secretary replied, his reasoning sound.
Jiang Xiaowan emerged from her room, her eyes red and puffy. “Let it go, brother. I have nothing to do with Luo Yecheng anymore, and I don’t want to see him ever again.”
She looked utterly exhausted.
Her mother embraced her, heart aching. “My poor daughter. Don’t worry; we’re here for you. We’ll find you someone better.”
Jiang Xiaowan shook her head. “I don’t want to think about that right now. At least I didn’t marry him. If I had, and then found out what he was really like…”
She couldn’t imagine whether she’d have the courage to divorce him.
While grateful things ended before marriage, she couldn’t shake the dread of being gossiped about by the villagers.
Reflecting on Song Wei’s role in exposing Luo Yecheng, Jiang Xiaowan felt conflicted. No matter how awkward it was, she knew she owed her thanks.
In just two days, rumors distorted the truth. Some villagers speculated that Jiang Xiaowan was the unfaithful one and refused to admit it, which led to Luo Yecheng being beaten. Others claimed she broke off the wedding simply because she saw Luo Yecheng talking to another woman.
Jiang Xiaowan’s family, upon hearing these lies, was furious. They kept the rumors from Jiang Xiaowan, who had been holed up at home for days.
But the situation couldn’t be ignored.
Eventually, the village secretary decided to reveal everything to clear his daughter’s name. If people talked for a few days, so be it. At least Jiang Xiaowan’s reputation would be salvaged.
What fueled their anger further was discovering that Wang Xiaohua had started many of the rumors. Enraged, the family stormed to the village chief’s home, ready to confront her.
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