Jiang Lin clenched her fists, tempted to throw her into the muddy pond outside.

She gritted her teeth. “Meng Yiyi, I did consider you a friend. But did you ever consider me your friend?

You always say you played with me when we were kids, and that my parents didn’t want me because of you.

Whenever I had something nice to eat, you took it. Whenever I had new clothes or shoes, you’d swap with me.

If I didn’t listen to you, you’d threaten not to play with me. Did you know I couldn’t make friends without you?

And you took advantage of me bit by bit?”

“You told me to listen to you and befriend Bian Haitao.

You told me to date Lu Hang to improve my chances of staying in the city.

When my parents arranged for me to go to the countryside, you said they were manipulated me to cut ties with them!”

“When we were sent to the countryside and feared the labor, you asked me to marry to change jobs, and I let go of the teacher’s job for you!”

“My parents wrote letters scolding and accusing me. I was so angry I refused to read or reply, leaving it all to you.

And what did you do? Behind my back, you asked them for money!”

“They scrimped and saved to send money, and I never knew. I never spent a single cent of it.

Instead, you took money from my parents and asked Bian Haitao and Lu Hang for money, while pretending to be poor and saying you couldn’t eat enough!”

“I was so stupid that I stole eggs and grains from children for you. How could I be so stupid?”

Jiang Lin was so angry she slapped herself.

“Mom, don’t hit, don’t hit!” Cheng Xiaobao was so heartbroken, he quickly hugged Jiang Lin’s legs.

Cheng Dabao said to Meng Yiyi. “Old witch, you’re the worst!”

Jiang Lin used to be very kind to Meng Yiyi, something Sun Qinghui and others had noticed.

In contrast, whenever Meng Yiyi improved her own life, she did so secretly.

Of course, Meng Yiyi claimed she was bringing food to Jiang Lin’s home for the children.

However, now it seems that not only did Meng Yiyi fail to give anything to Jiang Lin, but she also went to Jiang Lin to ask for more.

It was simply…

Sun Qinghui said, “Although this isn’t a crime, it’s disgusting enough to us. Let’s ask the team secretary and the accountants to help investigate this matter.”

Ye Jing replied, “Sun Qinghui, I think we should investigate it ourselves first.” She was also thinking about Jiang Lin’s reputation.

After all, Jiang Lin had indeed been foolish before, and with Bian Haitao as her former lover, it would be embarrassing if everyone found out.

Moreover, Jiang Lin and Meng Yiyi had once been as close as sisters, and now that they had fallen out, it was difficult to clarify any financial disputes between them.

Meng Yiyi insisted that Jiang Lin had verbally authorized her to collect money and letters on her behalf, and her letters to Jiang Lin’s parents were written with a tone of concern for Jiang Lin, asking for money using Jiang Lin and her children as an excuse.

Although Jiang Lin didn’t actually spend that money, Meng Yiyi’s denial meant outsiders couldn’t know the truth, and it couldn’t be used as evidence to convict Meng Yiyi.

Therefore, the best way to handle this situation was to pressure Meng Yiyi into paying back the money while letting the other educated youths know about her shameless behavior.

After thinking it over, Sun Qinghui and the others agreed this was the best approach.

Although Jiang Lin knew she and Bian Haitao had nothing between them, the conservative atmosphere meant that being in a failed relationship could still lead to gossip.

Additionally, the contents of those letters were indeed unsuitable for others to see.

She agreed to this approach, allowing Sun Qinghui, Ye Jing, and the other educated youths to oversee Meng Yiyi.

Jiang Lin glanced at Meng Yiyi, seeing hatred in her eyes, and decided to deal another blow. “Sun Qinghui, Ye Jing, thank you. Once you get the money back, you don’t need to give it to me. Use it to improve the meals or living conditions at the educated youth ( Ziqing ) station.”

By transferring the benefits to Sun Qinghui and the other educated youths, she ensured that they would be more motivated to deal with Meng Yiyi.

She wanted to make Meng Yiyi an enemy of the other educated youths, forcing them to watch her closely and supervise her!

What?

The educated youths were once again stunned.

How had Jiang Lin become so generous?

Previously, she had removed Cheng Ruhai and refused to let her own husband become the production team leader, instead securing a guarantee for them that didn’t involve any bribery or backdoor dealings.

Not long ago, she had taken back Meng Yiyi’s teaching job, not keeping it for herself but giving it to another educated youth.

And now, she wasn’t keeping the money she recovered but was instead allowing it to be used to improve the lives of the educated youths.

Was this the same foolish Jiang Lin from before?

How had she suddenly become so enlightened?

Aside from Meng Yiyi and Jin Lei, almost all the other educated youths had completely changed their opinions of Jiang Lin.

Jiang Lin looked at the letter, estimating that her parents wouldn’t send much money since city life wasn’t easy.

She planned to earn money to fill this gap for the original Jiang Lin.

As for the money Bian Haitao and that Lü Hang had sent, Jiang Lin didn’t care to keep it.

They had ulterior motives in sending money, so it served them right to lose it! Giving the money to the educated youths would also provide witnesses for her.

“I’ll write to my parents tonight, telling them to stop sending money and to send any letters directly to me.”

Sun Qinghui said, “Jiang Lin, you might need to write to those two men as well, to clarify that it was Meng Yiyi’s doing and that you knew nothing about it.”

Bian Haitao and Lu Hang had sent letters and money, thinking they were giving it to Jiang Lin.

Jiang Lin frowned.

Ye Jing suggested, “I think we should write the letters ourselves, demanding Meng Yiyi to pay back the money and returning the money those two men sent.”

Jiang Lin responded, “Write to them to explain the truth, but there’s no need to return the money. They had bad intentions, so it serves them right to lose it!”

Sun Qinghui and Ye Jing discussed it with a few others and agreed.

Jiang Lin checked through everything, taking back any letters and items related to herself, including the embroidery, clothes, fabric, and shoes the original owner had given to Meng Yiyi.

She wouldn’t leave anything with Meng Yiyi!

Disgusting.

For Jiang Lin, this was an unexpected bonus.

She originally just wanted to have a big fight with Meng Yiyi to vent her anger about Meng Yiyi’s behavior with the Zhao family.

Who would have thought that in dealing with one problem, she would uncover an even bigger issue!

This was quite fitting.

Jiang Lin said goodbye to Sun Qinghui and the others, carrying her food basket and leading Dabao and Xiaobao back home.

After leaving the educated youth station and walking near some haystacks, where it was quieter, Cheng Dabao stopped and refused to move.

Jiang Lin asked, “What’s wrong?”

Cheng Dabao glared at her, his small face puffed up with anger, his pale cheeks flushed red, but he said nothing.

Cheng Xiaobao tried to pull his hand. “Come on, don’t be mad. Linlin knows she was wrong.” He even pointed at Jiang Lin with his mouth. “Linlin, you should apologize to Dabao.”

Jiang Lin was shocked.

Where did I go wrong?

Cheng Xiaobao gave her a look that said, “How can you be so dumb?” He pointed at his own cheek and made a slapping sound.

Then he pointed at Jiang Lin’s cheek. “There’s a fingerprint mark.”

Jiang Lin’s face turned as red as a tomato.

She had been so emotional, feeling sorry for the original owner and Dabao and Xiaobao, getting more and more upset as she spoke.

She thought the original owner was so foolish, and in a moment of passion, she had forgotten that the body was now hers and had slapped herself.

She hadn’t realized it had become a notable event.

Cheng Dabao was conflicted.

If someone else hit my mother, I’d hit them back.

But what do I do if my mother hits herself?

He was very confused and angry.

Jiang Lin felt a bit embarrassed.

These two kids were really relentless.

How could they pressure their own mother like this?

She had to mumble, “I was wrong. I won’t do it again.”

Cheng Dabao demanded, “I didn’t hear you!”

Jiang Lin was exasperated. “Okay, I was Wrong .. It’s enough, Let’s Go!”

Cheng Xiaobao pulled on Dabao’s hand, secretly took out a piece of candy from his pocket, and handed it to him. “Linlin knows she was wrong and won’t do it again. You shouldn’t be mad. Grandma said you shouldn’t be stubborn over small things.”

Jiang Lin was taken aback.

Only then did Cheng Dabao reluctantly give a humph and said to Jiang Lin, “Grandma said if you have to hit, then hit, if you have to scold, then scold, but don’t get angry and make yourself sick. Why would you hit yourself? That’s just foolish.”

Jiang Lin was speechless.

I was wrong, I shouldn’t be called a fool, it’s too demeaning.

Cheng Dabao, knowing Jiang Lin had admitted her mistake, generously forgave her and held her hand. “Let’s go. You’re really stressing me out.”

Jiang Lin sighed.

What a temper!

Cheng Xiaobao put the food basket on his head, held Jiang Lin’s other hand, and the three of them happily went home.

At the intersection, they met Yan Runzhi, who had come to pick them up.

“I gave Meng Yiyi a beating,” Jiang Lin said simply.

Yan Runzhi was even more astonished than the educated youths.

Oh my, has Bao’er’s mother finally come to her senses?

In the past, anyone saying anything bad about Meng Yiyi would upset her more than if they were talking about herself, and she would protect her fiercely.

As a mother-in-law, Yan Runzhi had never dared to suggest that Meng Yiyi had ulterior motives.

Now that Bao’er’s mother had seen the true face of the villain, the family could be united, and she and Dongsheng could live happily ever after.

That’s great! Hehe, maybe they’ll have a granddaughter next year.

Yan Runzhi noticed the mark on Jiang Lin’s face and felt distressed. “Bao’er’s mother, did Meng Yiyi hit you? Let me boil an egg to roll on it.”

Jiang Lin’s face turned crimson again.

She quickly gave Dabao and Xiaobao a look, signaling them not to betray her.

Cheng Dabao had already forgiven her and didn’t say anything, but Cheng Xiaobao quietly told Grandma that their mother had scolded Meng Yiyi at the educated youth spot and, in her anger, slapped herself.

The slap was so hard and loud that it left a prominent red mark on her cheek.

This made Yan Runzhi feel incredibly distressed.

Admitting a mistake is one thing, but why resort to hitting oneself?

Fortunately, she had hit Meng Yiyi, or Yan Runzhi would have thought Bao’er’s mother treated Meng Yiyi too well to even hit her own sister.

Yan Runzhi boiled an egg and used it to massage Jiang Lin’s face to help it recover faster.

With her fair skin, the red mark was very noticeable, but hopefully, a good night’s sleep would improve it significantly.

After lunch, Jiang Lin continued repairing roofs for the villagers in the afternoon.

With Ma Kaihua and others setting the stage, Jiang Lin’s reputation in the village had soared.

Everyone knew about the educated youth named Jiang, who was not only good-looking and capable of fighting but also skilled in roof repairs and buying tiles—a real jack-of-all-trades.

In the evening, Sun Qinghui came to Jiang Lin to show her the accounts.

Jiang Lin’s parents had sent money ten times, sometimes once a year and other times twice, totaling 346 yuan.

Lu Hang sent money five times, totaling 230 yuan.

Bian Haitao sent money five times, totaling 310 yuan.

Meng Yiyi had spent some of the money, sent some to her parents, and kept some.

They managed to recover 175 yuan in total.

Sun Qinghui handed the 175 yuan to Jiang Lin and said, “Jiang Lin, the educated youth thank you for your kindness, but we can’t take your money. Your parents have a hard time too. You should keep it or return it to them.

We’ll try our best to make Meng Yiyi pay back the rest. We also plan to write to her parents demanding the return of the money she sent them or equivalent items.

Otherwise, we’ll report their disgraceful conduct to the educated youth office.”

This strategy was very effective.

If the educated youth office and neighborhood committee in the city learned about Meng Yiyi’s misdeeds, she could forget about returning to the city, and her parents and siblings would also be implicated.

Although Jiang Lin said the money was for the educated youth center, Sun Qinghui and the others felt it shouldn’t be spent that way.

Their living conditions were already poor, and more money wouldn’t change much.

The most important thing was to return to the city, and Jiang Lin had already helped them get that opportunity.

Most of them were very grateful. They discussed it and agreed to return the money to Jiang Lin.

After refusing twice, Jiang Lin saw that they were determined and agreed.

She was happy because with more people working together, there were always ways to deal with Meng Yiyi.

She smiled and said, “Alright, thank you, classmates. If that’s the case, when we have time, I’ll treat you all to a meal.”

Since she accepted Cheng Rushan, she would introduce him to her friends.

Sun Qinghui and the others would become her classmates and friends, and it was necessary to stay in touch and build relationships.

Sun Qinghui added, “We will also try to recover the remaining money and belongings. When the time comes, we will return your parents’ money first. For Bian Haitao and Lu Hang’s money, you can decide what to do.”

Jiang Lin thought for a moment and said, “That works.”