Chapter 11

"Li Yan's face turned pale, and he looked at Ning Yuan with some disbelief.Although they haven't officially confirmed their relationship or started dating, it's clear that they are very much into each...Ning Yuan looked at her: "If there's only one five-dollar bill left in your box, it's mine!"

Tang Zhenzhen was furious. She took out five yuan from the cookie tin: “Ning Yuan, you’re talking nonsense! This five yuan for the big steel forging is mine. Do you even have that much money!”

This five-dollar bill printed with the image of the Great Steel Mill was hers, kept specially in a box. Her daily loose change, pennies and dimes, she carried on her person.

If she hadn't trusted those roommates who only fawned over her, she wouldn't have left her box unlocked.

Who knew this little follower Ning Yuan would actually turn the tables!

Ning Yuan smiled slightly: "Since my family can send me longevity biscuits and big white rabbit milk candies, of course I have living expenses."

This remark caused everyone to look at each other in surprise, and they began to whisper among themselves.

"That's right, it wouldn't be surprising if Ning Yuan's family sent her such high-end cookies and candies, even five yuan wouldn't be out of the ordinary."

"Who stole from whom"

The educated youths lived, ate and worked in the village without spending any money. But their families would give them two or three yuan per month as living expenses to buy things like soap, matches, and salt.

Five dollars is quite a lot.

Huang Xuehong was also stunned. Instinctively, he pointed at Ning Yuan and imitated Rong Zhaonan's tone from earlier: "Words are meaningless without evidence. Do you have any proof"

Tang Zhenzhen also sneered, waving the five yuan bill in her face: "That's right, do you have any evidence Or are you going to ask it, and it will agree with you A person like you who hangs out with bad people..."

Before she could finish her words, Ning Yuan seized the opportunity to snatch the money swaying in front of her and wave it around.

Tang Zhenzhen was shocked and angry: "You dare to rob..."

The next moment, Ning Yuan held up the money and said to everyone, “Look carefully, there's my name on these five dollars. I wrote it because I was afraid of losing them!”

Everyone's eyes instantly focused on the five yuan in Ning Yuan's hand.

As expected, the two characters "Ning Yuan" were printed on the bottom right corner of the five-dollar bill bearing the image of a steelworker.

Everyone was stunned. This money really agreed to answer Ning Yuan's request.

The villagers' eyes, even when looking at Huang Xuedong and Tan Xiaoxia, took on a strange look.

"So this money really belongs to the Ning Zhiqing!"

Isn't this like the thief crying "thief" The evidence is in other people's hands, they have none themselves, and yet they claim others stole from them...

The male educated youths were also stunned by this bizarre reversal, looking at each other in disbelief. Their own team's prized flower turned out to have such a bad character

Tang Yan's face flushed red and then pale, she reached out to grab it: "How is that possible When did you write your name on my money!"

Ning Yuan immediately took a step back, coldly throwing back the previous sentence: "You dare to rob!"

Tang Zhenzhen was furious and reached out to grab it again: "Give it back to me! That's my money! My money!!"

Li extended his hand and grasped her shoulders, his face grim and unsightly —

Tang Zhiqing, have you had enough Randomly accusing and smearing people is a crime!

Tang Zhenzhen looked at the disdain in Li Yan's eyes, her delicate face flushed red, her chest rising and falling.

She really wanted to scream in frustration— "You bunch of idiots! She's the one who framed me, the money is mine, it's mine!!"

But the gazes of those around her, even Qin Xiaoxia's grip on her arm, held her back.

Tang Yan's tears came down instantly, her voice choked with grievance: "Li Yan... Li Deputy Secretary... I understand. Perhaps I was mistaken. My five yuan is in Tan Xiaxia's study book."

Qin Xiaoxia felt Tang Zhenzhen's fingers pinching her arm flesh, the pain causing her to gasp. She could only nod: "Yes, yes, yes... I remember now. There are five dollars of Zhenzhen's in my study book."

This excuse is so weak.

But... this matter has become a big deal, and it's not good news for the young people who hope to return to the city.

Li Yan glanced at Ning Yuan, then at Tang Zhenzhen who was crying: "Return the money to Ning Zhiqing and apologize for the misunderstanding. The brigade can treat you as a first-time offender and not record it."

Tang Yan's fingertips were so tightly clenched that her palms felt like they were going to bleed. But she knew she couldn't...she couldn't break down in the middle of this, nor could she snatch the five yuan back from Ning Yuan's hands.

She gave Ningyuan a smile that was uglier than crying: "Ningyuan, I'm sorry...... Can you forgive me"

Ning Yuan looked at her calmly: "Be a good person, and don't have crooked thoughts, or you'll lose both wife and soldiers."

This morning, when she took the cookies and candies, she guessed that Tang Zhenzhen's personality wouldn't give up easily.

So, she wrote her name in an inconspicuous place on the five-dollar bill beforehand.

After she finished speaking, she turned and walked back to the small hut beside the cowshed.

Tang Yan heard her veiled mockery, and she almost wanted to rush up and grab Hua Ningyuan's face.

But it was Qin Xiaoxia who pulled her, she gritted her teeth, covered her face with tears and ran away in a hurry.

Huang Xuehong watched Tang Zhenzhen run away, unwillingly muttering, "Ning Yuan splashed me with dirty water..."

"Secretary Li, that... I'll take Huang Xuehong to take a bath first!" Qin Xiaoxia smiled at Li Yanqian and forcefully dragged the stench-ridden Huang Xuehong away.

All the involved parties were gone. Li Yan glanced at the other onlookers, both educated youths and villagers: "Everyone, please disperse."

The squad leader spoke, and everyone looked at each other in surprise. Some whispered amongst themselves about what had happened while others dispersed.

Li Yan looked at Rong Zhaonan, his face cold and hard: "Treat Ning Zhiqing well, don't bully or oppress women. Study the leader's thoughts well, the team will check your thought transformation situation at any time!"

Rong Zhaonan lowered his cold and deep eyes, letting out a light sneer: "That's right..."

The key point of this young deputy secretary's speech is — to treat the educated youths from the countryside well, otherwise it means ideological transformation hasn't been done properly

The little spy is quite charming and skilled, really good at deceiving people.

Li Yan looked at Ning Yuan, his expression softened considerably: "Comrade Ning, Aunt Bai came from the commune this afternoon. She probably came to deliver your living allowance. She's waiting for you in the production team office."

Bai Yi is Ning Yuan's aunt, she lives in the neighboring village, but they both belong to the same commune. It was also Bai Yi who introduced them to each other.

When Ning Yuan heard her aunt's name, she stiffened and nodded uncomfortably, "Okay."

Li Yan nodded, leading Ning Yuan to leave, as if Rong Zhaonan didn't exist at all.

Rong Zhaonan watched them walk away with several Red Ribbon members.

Ning Yuan's great aunt

He pushed his old black-rimmed glasses up coldly and followed silently.

This is a chance to get to know your so-called "wife" better, isn't it

......

Ning Yuan walked silently beside Li Yan, the two of them without a word.

Li Yan wanted to ask her why, although they had been together for days and had agreed to meet again as a couple, she now changed her mind.

Yet, I felt like saying anything was pointless, especially with other people here.

Ning Yuan had no desire to pay attention to Li Yan. She knew her aunt must have come over immediately after hearing that she was married.

Her mother was only indifferent to her, but her aunt was strict and demanding, with rigid rules.

When she was little, no one at home had time to take care of her. Every summer and winter vacation, they would send her to her aunt's house to work as a laborer.

She was responsible for following her aunt's orders to do housework, but even if a few drops of water from washing dishes splashed on the sink or she spoke a little louder.

He would then be scolded loudly—disorderly, write a self-criticism, no food, and get beaten with a sullen face.

But her mother thought this was about teaching her manners, and even wanted to give her away to her childless aunt. It was only because her current father saw how upset she was that he refused.

This time, she was assigned to this village. Her mother said it was good luck, that there were relatives to take care of her, so she gave all the living allowance she had received to her aunt.

If you want to get two and a half dollars as your monthly allowance, you have to work for your aunt.

Then, they continued to be punished repeatedly.

Therefore, she had always been afraid of this aunt who claimed to be her second mother in her past life. She was almost a shadow in her childhood.

Unless she absolutely had to go for living expenses, she would rather stay at the rural work camp than go to her aunt's oppressive home.

In her past life, the only thing her aunt had ever done that she was grateful for was introducing her to Li Yan as a potential partner.

Later I found out that after they started dating, my aunt's two sons—my cousin—were transferred to work in the commune.

After she and Li Yan obtained their marriage certificate, her cousin successfully received a draft notice for the military from their hometown.

All of this was forced upon Li Yan by his aunt.

And Li Yan began to bother her from then on, feeling that it was bad for him. He was an upright person and rarely acted in the interest of his family.

As a result, he firmly refused to help her transfer out of the silk factory where she worked three shifts and stood for ten hours a day.

Even if she miscarried several times because of overwork, he thought it was all for the glory of labor—it was deserved.

He owes her and her family nothing.

Ning Yuan pulled the corners of her lips in a blank expression.

This time she suddenly got married, completely ruining her domineering aunt’s plans. What will the aunt do

In her heart, there was a secret, relieving kind of pleasure.

Even, I really want to see my aunt's angry expression.

Rong Zhaonan quietly stood in the shadow of the trees, watching Ning Yuan's expression with a thoughtful look on his face. he inviting her to take a bath with himIt was only then that Rong Zhaonan realized what he had said, and his cold, fair face flushed red.He was a little embarrassed: "That... I mean, we could wash of...