Chapter 25

Inside the main hall, everyone in the educated youth compound listened to He Xianqiu’s words and looked at one another.

He Xianqiu stared at Sun Xiaoyan and said casually, “No one is going to step forward and admit it? Then I’ll have no choice but to report this to the Public Security Bureau.”

Hearing this, Sun Xiaoyan’s expression grew panicked, though she still didn’t dare say anything. Her face had gone a bit pale.

He Xianqiu smiled slightly. “However, I do have one suspect in mind.”

The others in the compound all asked at once,

“Comrade He, who do you think it is?”

“How could there be someone like that living here with us?”

He Xianqiu pointed straight at Sun Xiaoyan. “I think Comrade Sun is the most suspicious.”

The moment she said this, all eyes turned to Sun Xiaoyan.

Being stared at like that, Sun Xiaoyan grew uneasy and her hands trembled slightly.

She moved her lips and spoke weakly, “Comrade He, you must have evidence for everything.”

He Xianqiu glanced at her indifferently and said in a calm voice, “First, you and I have a grievance. Second, you once begged me to give you this position, but I refused, so you were unwilling to accept it. Third, you knew exactly where I kept my things, and you happened to leave the dorm for a period last night.”

Hearing this clear, logical explanation, Sun Xiaoyan’s face turned white, but she still refused to admit it. She forced herself to say, “I didn’t do it.”

He Xianqiu had only suspected her before, but seeing how scared and guilty she looked now, she was sure it had been Sun Xiaoyan.

He Xianqiu let out a cold laugh. “You didn’t do it? Then what are you so afraid of? I don’t want to waste more words with you. I’ll go report this now, and we’ll see then.”

Saying this, He Xianqiu turned and started to walk away. The other educated youths stared at her in shock.

Seeing that she had already walked a few steps, Sun Xiaoyan panicked.

She reached out and grabbed He Xianqiu’s arm. “Comrade He, I was possessed by a moment of weakness, so I took your money and coupons.”

Hearing her finally admit it, He Xianqiu turned her head and gave her a cold look. Sun Xiaoyan’s tears began to fall as she stared at her pleadingly.

He Xianqiu hadn’t expected her to confess so quickly under the pressure. But she felt no sympathy at all.

She only thought: pitiful people always have hateful sides to them.

Everyone else was shocked to hear Sun Xiaoyan confess, and they began whispering to each other.

“I can’t believe Comrade Sun is that kind of person—stealing someone else’s money and coupons.”

“How are we supposed to keep living with her? I’m scared she’ll steal from me, too.”

“Oh, come on—what would she steal from you?”

“Why not? I still have a few coins at least.”

Seeing everyone looking at her like she was some filthy thing, Sun Xiaoyan lowered her head in shame and bit her lip.

After admitting it, she quickly went back to the dorm to retrieve the stolen money and coupons, then returned to hand them to He Xianqiu. She pleaded,

“Comrade He, I’ve given it all back—please, just let me off. I know I was wrong.”

He Xianqiu took the money and coupons. Hearing her tone, it was as though returning what she stole meant nothing had happened and everything was settled. She felt a twinge of irritation.

What a joke—just giving it back made it all okay? Since when was life that simple? And besides, Sun Xiaoyan had only admitted her fault with her mouth—there was no guarantee she truly felt remorse in her heart.

He Xianqiu thought about the drawings she’d worked so hard to complete, which had been torn up and buried somewhere. She knew that if she didn’t teach Sun Xiaoyan a lesson, she might never learn her place, and perhaps would only become worse in the future.

So He Xianqiu decided she would still report this to the authorities. As for what punishment Sun Xiaoyan would receive, that wasn’t her concern.

Her expression frosty, He Xianqiu said, “Comrade Sun, I already gave you a chance, but you didn’t treasure it. And you didn’t just steal money and coupons—you also destroyed my property. I’ve been patient with you again and again, but I think it’s necessary to let the Public Security Bureau handle this.”

When Sun Xiaoyan heard she still planned to report her, she became frantic. Tears streamed down her face as she begged,

“Comrade He, I know I was wrong—please, I beg you, don’t report me to the Bureau. Comrade He, I really know I was wrong.”

The others were stunned by He Xianqiu’s determination and began to speak up:

“Comrade He, can’t you just forgive Comrade Sun? She knows she was wrong now.”

“Yes, Comrade He—she already admitted her mistake.”

Listening to their words, He Xianqiu thought, Easy for them to say—it wasn’t their loss.

She looked around at them and said with a gentle smile, “But if I cover for Comrade Sun, isn’t that irresponsible? Think about it—if she doesn’t get a proper punishment, won’t it be one of you next time?”

Everyone fell silent at that. They realized she was right—if there was no consequence now, the next victim could be any of them. Maybe it was better to teach a lesson.

So the people who’d been persuading He Xianqiu to forgive Sun Xiaoyan all closed their mouths.

Seeing everyone had stopped pleading, Sun Xiaoyan, who had just begun to feel a bit of relief, grew terrified again.

He Xianqiu smiled faintly. It’s only when their own interests are at stake that they all stand together. Otherwise, they just sit on the sidelines spouting empty platitudes.

The others thought her words made sense. Some, feeling proactive, even volunteered to go call the Public Security Bureau.

He Xianqiu nodded. If someone was willing to go, why not? It saved her the trouble.

Hearing that they had decided to report her, Sun Xiaoyan slumped to the ground, knowing she had no way out. She could only sit there crying.

He Xianqiu watched her coldly and said nothing.

After a while, the one who had gone to fetch the Public Security returned, bringing two officers into the compound.

The villagers respected and feared the police but couldn’t resist curiosity, so they trailed after them into the yard.

So when the comrade arrived with the officers, a large crowd followed behind.

People whispered noisily among themselves, the place in an uproar.

One officer held a notebook and looked at the collapsed Sun Xiaoyan, then asked, “What’s going on here?”

He Xianqiu calmly stepped forward. “Comrade officer, this female educated youth sitting on the ground committed theft. She stole twenty yuan and five soap coupons from me. She also tore up the drawings I worked so hard on, which I needed to teach the children at the school. I think such behavior is truly hateful. At first, I wanted to be lenient because we are all educated youths, but after thinking it over, I felt I had no choice but to report it.” When she finished, she sighed.

The villagers were stunned that she would report someone over stolen money and coupons. Some thought she was too harsh—that once the stolen goods were returned, that should have been the end of it.

But when they heard she’d destroyed the drawings meant for their children’s lessons, many women’s faces darkened. If it affected their children’s schooling, that was another matter.

They glared fiercely at Sun Xiaoyan and cursed under their breath.

“This girl must have a black heart.”

“What kind of drawings were those—what if my child needed them?”

“That little wretch—if I ever see her again, I’ll tear her apart.”

The officers were growing impatient with all the noise and shouted, “Quiet!”

The villagers immediately fell silent.

He Xianqiu ignored the gawkers and focused on the officer taking notes.

When he finished, he looked up and said, “Comrade, this woman has committed theft and the destruction of personal property. She will be detained for fifteen days.”

As he spoke, he took out handcuffs and moved to restrain Sun Xiaoyan.

Seeing the cuffs, Sun Xiaoyan scrambled to her feet in terror and tried to run, but she was caught and cuffed anyway.

Eyes wide with fear, she fell to her knees in front of He Xianqiu.

“Comrade He, please—please forgive me. I’ll never dare do it again. I beg you.”

He Xianqiu felt nothing as she listened to her pleading voice. She only looked at her coldly and took a few steps back.

Seeing she wouldn’t respond, Sun Xiaoyan seemed to snap, her face twisting as she lunged forward, clawing at He Xianqiu with bared nails.

“Why couldn’t you just let it go? You vicious woman!”

The villagers gasped at the sight and began to chatter again.

Amid the chaos, Sun Xiaoyan was dragged away, crying and begging the officers not to take her to the station. But they ignored her completely.

He Xianqiu watched her shrinking figure until it disappeared, then returned to the dormitory.

With the main event over, the onlookers gradually dispersed.

But though they left, the gossip didn’t stop. Soon everyone in the village had heard the story. Some scolded He Xianqiu for being too ruthless, while others condemned Sun Xiaoyan as malicious and a thief.

Meanwhile, after Sun Xiaoyan arrived at the station, she was locked in a shabby cell—worse than the compound.

There wasn’t even a proper bed, just straw on the floor. Realizing she would have to stay there for fifteen days, she was consumed by regret.

And when she thought about the reputation she’d carry after this, she began to sob in despair.

Why did I have to do it? she thought. If I hadn’t, would I be here now?

But in this world, there was no such thing as “if.” When you did wrong, you had to accept the consequences.

Back at the compound, after He Xianqiu returned to the dormitory, she felt quite satisfied that Sun Xiaoyan had been detained for fifteen days.

The matter was resolved—though the lost drawings would never come back. She felt a bit of regret, but it also taught her a valuable lesson.

The dormitory was not safe. Even if she was only gone a short while, she had to lock up anything important. Otherwise, next time it might be more than twenty yuan, a few coupons, and some drawings.

There were plenty of demons and monsters among the educated youths, and she needed to be more careful. But she still felt quite pleased that Sun Xiaoyan had finally received her punishment.