What Song Wei said was true. That day, she and Jiang Xiaowan were arguing by the river over Luo Yecheng, which led to a shoving match. In the scuffle, she accidentally slipped on a rock and fell into the water.

With a faintly weak voice, she asked, “Who’s spreading these rumors? If you go look where I fell, it’s obvious I slipped. The traces of slipping and falling are different from those of jumping.”

Hearing this, the women on the cart were stunned, mouths agape.

“I remember now,” one of the aunts spoke up. “It was Jiang Xiaowan who ran to get help, and it was Granny Niu who got there first. She was the one who started shouting that Song Wei had jumped in the river over Comrade Luo, so we all believed it.”

“Lies!” Liu Guifen cut in sharply. “My mother-in-law never said that.”

Granny Niu was the old woman Song Wei remembered arguing with not long after arriving in the village, and Liu Guifen was her daughter-in-law.

Song Wei smirked inwardly. “Looks like Granny Niu still holds a grudge. By spreading lies, she’s clearly trying to ruin my reputation.”

The others on the cart were silent.

Reputation? They thought. With the way she’s been chasing Luo Yecheng around, what reputation does she even have left?

Song Wei forced a bitter smile. “I did chase after Comrade Luo, but I had my reasons.”

At this, everyone perked up, eager for gossip.

She feigned frustration as she explained, “Luo Yecheng and I grew up in the same neighborhood. His family was much poorer than mine, so when he left for the countryside, he asked me for ration tickets, promising he’d take care of me someday.”

“Then he’d write letters telling me how hard things were out here, and over time, I kept sending him money and more ration tickets. With all I invested in him, why wouldn’t I try to get it back?”

The others gasped, surprised to hear this side of the story.

Putting on a pained expression, Song Wei continued, “If he didn’t like me, then why was he taking my money and my tickets? One was even a bicycle ticket.”

A collective gasp sounded.

During these times, ration tickets were precious, but a bicycle ticket was especially rare.

In fact, in their whole county, you could count the people with a bicycle ticket on one hand. In their village, only the head of the brigade had a bicycle, and even that was secondhand.

“How could Comrade Luo do something like that?”

Anyone in her shoes would feel hurt; it was like a stab to the heart.

And wasn’t this girl a little too naive, just handing over a bicycle ticket like that?

Even Li Juan looked shocked. “Luo Yecheng… that’s just too much!”

Liu Guifen sneered, “Who knows if any of that’s true? I don’t believe Comrade Luo would do something like that.”

It wasn’t that she had a particular fondness for Luo Yecheng; she just disliked seeing Song Wei content.

Song Wei smiled slightly. “Oh, but I have proof. He mentioned it in his letters, and he even signed an IOU for the bicycle ticket.”

In her memories, Song Wei knew that Luo Yecheng had been thrilled when he learned she had a bicycle ticket, so much so that he’d written up an IOU to persuade her to give it to him.

These women were the local gossip experts, and whatever was discussed here on the ox cart would soon spread throughout the village.

After today, Song Wei wouldn’t need to chase after Luo Yecheng; she’d even have a solid reason to give him the cold shoulder.

With such juicy news, the women couldn’t hold back and immediately launched into heated discussions.

In their minds, Song Wei had gone from a foolish girl head over heels for Luo Yecheng to a sympathetic figure, even if she still seemed a little naive.

Naive enough to give up a bicycle ticket—something they’d never even seen themselves.

The ride back was long, and with Song Wei present, the women didn’t want to keep gossiping about her. Soon enough, they moved on to other topics.

Though the ox cart jolted uncomfortably, leaving her backside sore, Song Wei felt content as she soaked up all the local gossip.

This simple, lively village life—with none of the schemes or fighting for survival she’d known before—was a joy.

She fit in easily with the other women, occasionally chiming in, which only fueled their enthusiasm.

Li Juan watched in stunned silence as Song Wei, looking pale but perfectly at ease, chatted and laughed with the village women, even shelling sunflower seeds with a newfound ease.

Who was this girl? She’s nothing like before…

By the time they returned to the village, the women were reluctant to part ways, and Song Wei felt the same.

Grabbing Aunt Ma’s hand, she beamed. “Auntie, I feel such a connection with you all! Please, invite me to your chats next time.”

Aunt Ma softened at her enthusiasm. “Of course, dear. If you need anything or have trouble, come to me. I’ll set the record straight about you and Comrade Luo.”

With an expression full of gratitude, Song Wei replied, “You’re like family to me, Auntie.”

Reluctantly, she waved as they left, then headed with a relaxed smile toward the youth station with Li Juan.

Li Juan was still in shock. “How did you manage that?”

Villagers weren’t exactly welcoming to outsiders, viewing these educated youths as city folks who didn’t know how to survive on their own.

Song Wei raised an eyebrow. “Just by talking and connecting—everyone loves a good story.”

Most people had a soft spot for a bit of gossip.

By now, most of the other educated youths had gone to work, leaving only one person at the station to prepare lunch.

Upon seeing them, the woman raised an eyebrow. “Oh, Song Wei, finally back, I see.”

The female youth’s words were tinged with sarcasm, her gaze smug and unsympathetic. Song Wei knew she wasn’t asking out of genuine concern.

Without acknowledging her, Song Wei went straight to her assigned room.

The youth station was just a row of mudbrick houses, leftover lodgings for servants from an old landlord. Each room was small, around 17 square meters, and the housing wasn’t free.

Each youth had to pay ten yuan to live here. After paying, they could stay in their room indefinitely. Otherwise, they had to sleep in a shared bunk room.

Song Wei was glad she’d chosen her own small room; if not, she’d have found a way to afford one.

Opening her door, she went to the bedside bundle where her money was kept.

She took out one yuan and two dimes from the small pile and returned the rest. Then she turned and went to find Li Juan.

“Here’s the money I borrowed from you, plus an extra two dimes to thank you for all the help.”

Li Juan was thrilled to receive the money.

“This… it’s only right for us to help each other as fellow educated youths. You should keep it.”

Song Wei shook her head. “Nothing should be taken for granted.”