Chapter 40: An Eye for an Eye, a Tooth for a Tooth

Song Jing didn’t immediately try to get close to Chi Wan.

He was still his usual “charming” self, choosing a seat not too close and not too far from Chi Wan.

He fiddled with his fountain pen, his eyes glancing at Chi Wan from the corner of his eye.

Even Qiao Xinan, who was sitting beside Chi Wan, noticed it.

“Xiao Wan, Song Jing he… “

“Don’t mind him. He’s a greasy, disgusting scumbag. Looking at him for too long will dirty our eyes.”

Chi Wan lowered her voice and mocked him with a light tone.

This was the first time Qiao Xinan had heard such “witty remarks,” and she almost burst out laughing.

She secretly agreed with Chi Wan’s words and even gave her a thumbs up.

Every time she saw Song Jing, she felt like throwing up, but he always pretended to be cultured and noble, making it hard to find the right words to describe him.

“Greasy,” these two words.

They were so accurate and descriptive.

Then.

Chi Wan was quickly distracted and no longer had time to care about Song Jing.

Because He Xinian walked in.

He Xinian was the village secretary, the husband of Ye Siling, the women’s director, and a talent who stayed after the Three-Line Construction.

He was different from the other educated youths.

He didn’t stay because of assignment, but because he chose to stay in this small mountain village.

Moreover, He Xinian’s original position was higher, his technical skills were top-notch, and his knowledge even surpassed many college graduates.

Therefore, he enjoyed a very high status in this village. Forget about the village chief and deputy village chief, even the clan leaders were respectful and courteous to him, giving him a three-point deference; they dared not disregard what he said.

Chi Wan had been here for a long time, but this was the first time she had seen this influential figure in the small mountain village.

She thought that with He Xinian’s knowledge and his background as a technician, he should be wearing a pair of gold-rimmed glasses, looking like a cultured and refined scholar.

Unexpectedly, He Xinian did wear glasses…

But this man’s physique was almost the same as Huo Nanchuan’s, clearly someone who often worked in the fields.

He Xinian was about thirty years old, with a mixture of scholarly elegance and the practicality of a laborer.

They were two very incongruous auras, but on him, they strangely blended together, making him even more impressive.

Overall.

He Xinian was a very attractive man.

But in Chi Wan’s heart, Huo Nanchuan was still superior, the pure passion and sharpness were unique to Huo Nanchuan, something that couldn’t be seen on anyone else.

Since He Xinian’s arrival, the originally noisy commune hall suddenly fell silent.

He put down his notebook, glanced around, and addressed the crowd.

“There are new documents from above, with new instructions. They have already held meetings in the province, city, and county. Now they are about to be implemented in our village, we need to vigorously promote the rural responsibility contract system. Here, I will explain to you what the rural responsibility contract system is…”

In the midst of He Xinian’s explanation.

Chi Wan suddenly realized that they had reached the next important plot point in the original text.

The original text was a period novel, and besides the romance and house-fighting plots, there was inevitably the plot of the male lead getting rich.

In the rural areas of the 1980s, with the implementation of the “responsibility contract system,” there would be some earth-shattering changes.

In the original text, the male lead Huo Nanchuan seized this opportunity, when everyone else was hesitant and fearful, unwilling to take risks in the face of the new changes.

Huo Nanchuan became the first to eat the crab.

Against everyone’s expectations, he spent 200 yuan to contract three hills on the back mountain.

You know, that area on the back mountain was considered wasteland by the villagers.

They were only willing to go there to collect firewood, and they wouldn’t even go inside.

Asking them to contract this place, even paying for it themselves and taking responsibility, wasn’t that just throwing money into a water jar, not even a sound would be heard.

Everyone was skeptical of Huo Nanchuan’s decision, even mocking and ridiculing him.

But in the face of such doubts, Huo Nanchuan seriously studied the acidity and alkalinity of the soil, learned from the agricultural professors specially assigned by the county, and finally decided to cultivate fruit trees.

Gradually.

When the fruit trees bloomed and bore fruit, Huo Nanchuan opened up new sales channels and made a fortune.

Only then did the other villagers realize what a lucrative opportunity they had missed.

But by then, it was too late.

Because Huo Nanchuan had already quietly contracted the other hills as well.

In the end, they could only choose to work for Huo Nanchuan, earning a meager income.

And Huo Nanchuan?

He used this money to not only move his whole family to the county town, but also opened a factory in the county town.

Successfully taking the first step in his business empire.

Chi Wan carefully recalled the general plot, and He Xinian’s voice, which she had been listening to, was nearing its end.

“…That’s roughly it, if you have any questions or don’t understand anything, you can ask now.”

All the people attending the meeting were looking at each other.

The educated youths who had been sent down to the countryside only had the matter of returning to the city on their minds, they had no interest in this matter at all.

It was just that the production brigade would be the first to participate in the contracting as a collective example, so they had to sit here and listen to the explanation.

As for the villagers who were specially invited…

“Those mountains and land, they were left by our ancestors, they belong to the village. Now we want to use these mountains and land, and we have to pay for it, what kind of thing is that?”

“That’s right, our families can’t even eat enough, and you want us to pay money, isn’t that asking us to die?”

“Don’t look at me, don’t look at me, I’m still tightening my belt to make ends meet, forget about paying money, I don’t even have a single grain of corn in my pocket.”

They clearly heard everything He Xinian said, but they only heard the words “pay money.”

For the poor and stingy villagers.

Taking money out of their pockets was no better than killing them.

Seeing this situation, He Xinian also frowned.

He pushed his glasses up his nose and continued, “Today is just to inform you about this, you can go home and discuss it with your families. Three days later, the village will hold a village-wide mobilization meeting. I hope everyone can seize this opportunity.”

The others were shaking their heads, completely disagreeing with the new policy.

While Chi Wan was nodding vigorously.

Huo Nanchuan wasn’t here today for the meeting, she had to go back and tell him about this quickly.

That man would definitely be excited and his eyes would light up when he heard it.

So after the meeting.

Chi Wan hurriedly rushed out.

However, at this time.

A shout came from behind her, anxiously trying to stop her.

“Xiao Wan, Xiao Wan, Xiao Wan… Don’t leave yet, wait for me.”

It was the scumbag Song Jing’s voice.

Chi Wan’s eyes flickered, and her fast-paced steps suddenly stopped.

She was looking forward to the good show that the scumbag and the bitch were about to put on, and now they had come to her doorstep, so of course she had to watch.

Chi Wan slowly turned around and saw Song Jing rushing towards her.

He was a grown man, his physical condition was much weaker than Chi Wan’s, and after just a few steps, he was already panting.

“Huff, huff… Xiao Wan… Great… You haven’t left yet, great… Huff, huff… I have something to tell you…”

Song Jing put his hands on his hips, panting heavily, and said with a smile.

Chi Wan looked at him coldly, “What do you want? We have nothing to talk about, don’t waste my time.”

Song Jing immediately softened his expression and said with a smile, “Xiao Wan, don’t be angry, I really have something to tell you…”

“I want to apologize for what happened before… I really want to apologize to you…”

“Xiao Wan, it’s all a misunderstanding between us… Those things weren’t done by me, it was all Lu Xiangxiang. It was all Lu Xiangxiang’s scheme, I’m innocent…”

Chi Wan listened from the side, completely unmoved, her delicate and fair face still only had mocking ridicule.

She listened to Song Jing’s words, shifting all the blame onto Lu Xiangxiang.

So, this was his plan, completely abandoning Lu Xiangxiang, washing himself clean and becoming the good guy?

This man was too naive and ridiculous.

She, Chi Wan, wasn’t a three-year-old child, how could she believe such a statement.

Chi Wan snorted, her tone cold, “Oh, really?”

Song Jing thought that Chi Wan had listened.

He immediately showed a look of excitement.

“Yes! That’s it! It was all Lu Xiangxiang’s scheme!”

“You also know that Lu Xiangxiang was Huo Nanchuan’s fiancée before, she saw Huo Nanchuan being snatched away by you, she must be jealous of you, so she deliberately said those things in the village.”

“Xiao Wan, you know we are all comrades who came to the countryside together, how could I possibly hurt you intentionally. But I was also wrong about what happened before, so I really want to apologize to you.”

Song Jing had a sincere expression on his face, and his words were full of sincerity.

Chi Wan felt a chill in her heart, this man would have been a pity if he hadn’t gone into acting.

Song Jing looked around, a little embarrassed and said, “Xiao Wan, you see there are so many people here, give me some face. Let’s go somewhere private, I’ll explain it to you in detail, and apologize to you properly, okay?”

Chi Wan followed Song Jing’s gaze and saw a small grove of trees nearby.

In the small mountain village, there were winding mountain paths and small groves of trees everywhere.

The dense trees obscured the view.

It filled people with countless ambiguous thoughts.

This Song Jing, he actually wanted to trick her into going to the grove.

Heh.

Chi Wan saw through the scumbag’s intentions at a glance.

However.

She said, “If you really want to apologize to me, it’s not impossible.”

“Really, I’m definitely sincere!”

Song Jing nodded repeatedly.

Then he didn’t hide it at all, and immediately revealed his purpose.

“Xiao Wan, let’s go over there, there are fewer people, we won’t be seen or disturbed.”

As he spoke.

Song Jing pointed to the grove of trees.

Chi Wan nodded in agreement.

The two of them walked towards the grove.

Qiao Xinan, who was in front of the commune, saw Chi Wan actually walking with Song Jing, and a wave of unease surged through her.

She was about to call out to Chi Wan, but she felt a painful force coming from her arm.

“Shut up! It’s none of your business, don’t meddle!”

Qiao Xinan turned her head.

She saw Lu Xiangxiang, who was secretly smiling.

…

In the grove.

Song Jing used his silver tongue to twist the previous events black and white.

He completely washed himself clean from being a lecherous man into an innocent and kind man who was being used.

“I’m sorry, Xiao Wan, no matter what, I still hurt you.”

“I’m a man, if I hurt a woman, it’s my fault.”

“I’m sorry! I’m really sorry! Xiao Wan, can you accept my apology, forgive me this time.”

As he spoke, he stared at Chi Wan with a loving gaze.

This was Song Jing’s best trick, even the most ferocious women couldn’t resist a man who was repentant and loving.

Especially since he was also fair and handsome.

As long as he stared at them with this gaze, they would definitely fall into his palm.

Song Jing was full of confidence.

He indeed saw Chi Wan’s expression soften, and she nodded and said, “Okay, it wasn’t really your fault.”

He was even more confident, his face filled with joy!

Song Jing continued, “Xiao Wan, thank you for forgiving me. I also have a little gift here, I hope you can accept it.”

As he spoke.

He took out a small box wrapped in a handkerchief from his pocket.

First, he opened the handkerchief, then he opened the small box.

Inside the silver box were plums coated in sugar powder.

A faint fragrance wafted out.

There was the sweetness of plums, and the sourness of plums.

It was very tempting.

In this remote mountain village, such a box of plums was a rare commodity, even when Chi Wan went to the county cooperative, she couldn’t buy them.

Just a whiff of the fragrance would make people salivate uncontrollably.

Chi Wan’s eyes were fixed on the box of plums.

Song Jing saw her reaction, his smile became more and more smug, he could barely hide his excitement at his success.

“Xiao Wan, have a taste. These plums were sent to me by my best friend from the provincial capital, I haven’t eaten a single one. You try them.”

At Song Jing’s urging.

Chi Wan stretched out her finger and picked up a plum covered in white sugar powder.

She smiled lightly.

“It’s a little embarrassing for me to eat alone, since it’s your plum, you have one too, we’ll eat together.”

Her voice was soft and sweet, sweeter than the plums.

Chi Wan brought the small plum to Song Jing’s mouth.

Song Jing hesitated for a moment.

In the face of Chi Wan’s beauty, he barely maintained his last bit of sanity.

“Xiao Wan, this is a special gift for you—ugh, ugh, ugh—”

Song Jing was about to refuse Chi Wan, but unexpectedly, Chi Wan forcefully stuffed the plum into his mouth.

Moreover.

The situation changed drastically.

At this moment, Chi Wan’s face no longer had a gentle smile, but a burst of anger after suppression!

From the moment she saw these sugar-coated plums, she completely understood Song Jing’s scheme.

The packet of powder that Lu Xiangxiang gave him must be in these plums, but he wanted her to eat them on the spot!

What a vicious heart.

“Ugh, ugh, ugh, ugh, ugh—”

Song Jing choked, trying to spit out the plum that had suddenly entered his throat.

However, Chi Wan was faster than him.

She grabbed Song Jing’s neck with one hand, and grabbed a handful of plums with the other, stuffing them all into the disgusting man’s mouth.

“Song Jing, you like these plums so much, just eat them all!”

An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.

Tenfold payback.