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After waiting at the door for over half an hour, the door to the emergency room where Zhao Sulan was being treated finally opened.
“Family of Zhao Sulan?”
“I’m not her family. Zhao Sulan is an Educated Youth sent down to the countryside—I was the one who brought her here,” Zhou Daniu explained once again.
“Oh, I see.” The female physician held the medical chart in her hands, frowning as she scrutinized Zhou Daniu in front of her.
She looked as though she had something to say but was holding back.
“You’re not family? Then who was she just engaged in intense sexual activity with?” the physician adjusted her black-rimmed glasses, eyeing Zhou Daniu with clear suspicion.
Zhou Daniu was stunned for a moment, then quickly shook his head.
“It wasn’t me. It was a male Educated Youth.” He had to make that clear—there was no way he was going to take the fall for this.
“Then… where is that male Educated Youth? Is he Zhao Sulan’s husband by registration?” the physician pressed further.
She was clearly looking to give the two young people a serious talking-to. No matter what they were up to, how could they give a young girl medication meant for breeding sows?
“That stuff isn’t meant for human consumption—and she took such a large dose!”
“That male Educated Youth isn’t her husband, and he’s unconscious too. He’s also in the hospital. Why don’t you tell me exactly what’s going on? I was the one who brought them both here.”
“I see,” the physician said. “Well, I just performed gastric lavage on her. She ingested a large amount of aphrodisiac medication meant for sow breeding, which caused a severe reaction. If her stomach hadn’t been pumped in time, it could have been extremely dangerous.”
“She’s been given a sedative as well. She won’t wake up until at least tomorrow or the day after.”
“She can stay for observation, or you can take her with you.”
After the physician finished speaking, Zhou Daniu nodded to show he understood.
As the physician turned to leave, she muttered on her way out,
“Young people these days really go too far… not even married, and they dare to mess around like this…”
The female physician felt like her entire worldview had been turned upside down.
These two Educated Youths—how were they ever going to face anyone in the village after this?
Tsk tsk tsk.
After the physician left, Zhou Daniu stood there with an utterly innocent expression.
Just now… he seemed to have been suspected of something…
“Just go and report the situation truthfully to the village secretary. Don’t worry too much about what the physician said,” a villager nearby came over and patted Zhou Daniu on the shoulder.
“Sigh. So should we wait here until they’re alright, or head back first?”
Zhou Daniu looked a bit troubled too. The three female Educated Youths had already woken up on their own, and they hadn’t undergone any real examination.
Both Lu Xingguang and Zhao Sulan didn’t seem to be in any real danger either.
Taking them back wouldn’t be a problem.
Just then, Su Niannian suddenly hopped down from one of the mobile hospital beds.
“Let’s take them back. I’m here—if anything comes up, I’ll handle it,” she said confidently.
Everyone present naturally trusted her words.
Huang Yingying clenched her fists. She had just learned the full story from Aunt Zhou Dajie and the male villager nearby.
She had truly taken a good hand and played it into a complete mess.
Not only had she failed to ruin Su Niannian’s reputation, but she had even dragged Zhao Sulan and Lu Xingguang down with her.
Right now, Lu Xingguang still had his uses—she couldn’t afford to lose him just yet. But who knew what he would say once he woke up?
Given what Huang Yingying knew about Lu Xingguang… that guy would definitely rat her out.
As soon as she thought of this, Huang Yingying’s mind began to race, quickly searching for a way to get herself out of this mess.
Meanwhile, Zhou Daniu decided it was time to take everyone back to the village.
Since there was no real danger, and with Su Niannian present, there was no need to worry.
The group struggled to lift Zhao Sulan and Lu Xingguang onto the tractor.
Huang Yingying sat not far from Lu Xingguang, her eyes bloodshot, filled with a mix of frustration and anxiety.
At this moment, Huang Yingying seriously considered just strangling Lu Xingguang.
If Lu Xingguang were dead, she wouldn’t have to worry about him exposing her, and everything would be fine.
However, with so many people around, it wouldn’t be easy to make a move, and she couldn’t risk it.
She continued to think, trying to come up with a way to escape the situation.
Meanwhile, Su Niannian sat across from Huang Yingying, leaning against Aunt Zhou Dajie.
Su Niannian smiled faintly, and Huang Yingying could feel her gaze. When she looked up, their eyes met.
It was already around three or four in the morning. The early May sky had started to show signs of dawn, with a faint light breaking through the darkness.
At a distance of just over a meter, they could clearly see each other’s expressions.
“Aunt Zhou,” Su Niannian said, gently hooking her arm around Aunt Zhou’s, “Do you think they’ll be criticized when they get back to the village for what happened?”
Su Niannian’s voice remained steady as she turned to Aunt Zhou, her expression inscrutable. “There’s always a way to handle things,” she continued, “but it depends on how you approach it.”
Aunt Zhou looked at her with a mix of skepticism and curiosity. “But this… what they’ve done is out there, and there’s no way to erase that. People talk, and now everyone knows. What can be done at this point?”
Su Niannian glanced toward Huang Yingying, who was deep in thought, and then back at Aunt Zhou. “What you’re saying is true—the public knows, but that doesn’t mean it’s beyond repair. The key is controlling the narrative. They’re young, and mistakes can be forgiven if the right steps are taken.”
Aunt Zhou furrowed her brow. “What do you mean by ‘controlling the narrative’?”
Su Niannian smiled softly, almost as if she had been waiting for this moment. “Well, first of all, you need to get ahead of the situation. They could own up to it, show genuine remorse, and maybe seek some kind of redemption. There are ways to frame things so it doesn’t go as badly as it could. For instance, focus on how they were misled, or that it was a mistake caused by a lack of experience. The village could rally behind them if they’re shown to be genuinely regretful.”
Aunt Zhou’s skepticism was still evident, but she was listening more intently now. “So you think there’s a chance to make this right?”
Su Niannian’s smile remained, though there was a certain sharpness to her eyes. “There’s always a chance. If handled correctly, things could be turned around. But,” she added, with a more serious tone, “it’s not just about words—it’s about actions. They’ll need to prove they’ve learned from this, or it will only get worse.”
The conversation lingered in the air, and even Aunt Zhou seemed to consider the possibilities. The situation was messy, but it wasn’t beyond repair—at least, that was what Su Niannian seemed to believe.
Su Niannian’s words hung in the air as Aunt Zhou’s eyes widened in realization. “Wait, so if they just said it was all part of an engagement, and they show their marriage certificate, that could clear them?” she asked, almost incredulous.
Su Niannian nodded with a calm, knowing smile. “Exactly. If they present a valid reason, such as an engagement or marriage, and everyone believes it, then it shifts the perspective. It would stop people from seeing it as a scandal and instead view it as a personal matter that’s now resolved.”
Aunt Zhou looked at her, a little stunned. “But that’s such a huge leap… Would people actually buy that? They’ve already seen everything that happened…”
Su Niannian’s gaze softened, as though she had anticipated this reaction. “People will buy what they’re told, especially if it’s presented correctly. The trick is in the framing—if they position it as a lapse in judgment during the excitement of the moment, with genuine feelings behind it, people will be more understanding. If they don’t make it into a bigger issue, then the village can forgive them, especially if it seems like it was all done with good intentions.”
Aunt Zhou paused, taking it all in. “I see what you mean… But can they really pull it off?”
Su Niannian’s smile turned more confident. “It won’t be easy, but if they’re clever and act swiftly, they could. The key is timing and their ability to show they’ve learned from their mistakes.”
The idea seemed to resonate with Aunt Zhou, who nodded thoughtfully. “Well, if it works, then I suppose it’s worth a shot. But they’ll need to be convincing.”
The female intellectual next to them spoke up, her voice tinged with disbelief. “But… isn’t Zhao Sulan already seen by half the village’s men? How could Lu Xingguang marry her after that?”
She was one of the other female intellectuals, and she had quietly harbored a soft spot for Lu Xingguang. However, after this scandal, she couldn’t look at him the same way. She felt conflicted—if they ended up together, it would almost feel like Zhao Sulan was getting a good deal. A woman who had been exposed to so many men—did she really deserve to marry?
Su Niannian, not phased by the woman’s judgment, continued with a calm tone, “If he doesn’t marry Zhao Sulan, he’ll end up facing labor reform and public criticism. He’s not an idiot. Marrying her? He can always divorce her later, can’t he?”
Her reasoning was simple, pragmatic—taking the traditional route of marriage might not be ideal, but it was a way out. It was a solution that allowed them to avoid the harsh consequences of their actions, at least for the moment. It would buy them time, and if the marriage was framed as a ‘temporary fix,’ perhaps no one would even think to question it too much. The real challenge was how to play the long game and how soon they could distance themselves from the scandal.
The woman thought about it but still couldn’t fully reconcile the idea of Lu Xingguang marrying Zhao Sulan. The social stigma was difficult to ignore, no matter how it was framed.
Su Niannian’s gaze lingered on Huang Yingying for a moment, her eyes sharp and calculating. It wasn’t just idle conversation; she was giving Huang Yingying a silent lesson on how to handle the next steps.
The situation with Lu Xingguang and Zhao Sulan was delicate. If the two were sent away for labor reform, the whole drama would be over—and that meant Su Niannian wouldn’t get to witness their downfall, their disgrace. She wanted to make sure that things played out in a way that kept her own position strong.
Huang Yingying caught Su Niannian’s glance, feeling the unspoken weight of it. She understood the subtle hint—there were bigger plans at play, and the events weren’t as simple as they appeared. Whatever happened next would determine the fate of everyone involved, and Su Niannian wasn’t about to let anyone get away without their consequences.
Su Niannian’s smile deepened as she considered the situation. Keeping Zhao Sulan close—under her watchful eye—was the key.
Zhao Sulan had already been exposed to the entire village, and with her fiery temperament, it was unlikely she would choose to end her life. But living with the shame? That would be a different kind of torment. Married to Lu Xingguang, she would be a burden, dragging him down into the same pit of humiliation. Even if the marriage allowed them to avoid punishment, the daily struggle of facing scorn and exclusion would make their lives miserable. It would be a slow, grinding kind of suffering—one that might make their lives worse than that of a stray dog.
Su Niannian relished the thought. Watching their misery from a distance was too easy; she wanted to make sure they lived through the consequences, day by day. Her plans were starting to take shape, and the idea of keeping them close—watching their every move—filled her with satisfaction.
Gu Nan stood with his back to the scene, but he could imagine the expression on Su Nian Nian’s face at that moment.
His little Miss was really quite clever.
This kind of personality, one who seeks revenge for grievances, was something Gu Nan admired.
He didn’t like overly soft or kind people. He preferred those who repaid grievances with grievances, and who clearly separated love and hate. That kind of person, Gu Nan loved.
The more Gu Nan understood about Su Niannian, the more he loved this little girl.
Sure enough, when Huang Yingying heard Su Niannian’s words, her eyes began to move, deep in thought.
As long as the two of them don’t expose her, their marriage could resolve this crisis.