Chapter 15

Everyone at the educated youth camp had gathered in the main hall. When they heard Sun Xiaoyan’s words, they all looked utterly shocked. How could she even say such a thing?

Judging by Educated Youth He’s clothes and personal belongings, it was obvious her family was quite wealthy. But this was the countryside. No matter how rich she was, she still had to work. That was why she’d managed to find a job that didn’t require digging in the fields. Who would willingly give that up? No one expected Sun Xiaoyan to be this sort of person.

This was the first time He Xianqiu had met such an unbelievable individual—someone who demanded that another person give up their position for her and didn’t feel there was anything wrong with it.

He Xianqiu looked at the despondent Sun Xiaoyan and found it laughable.

Sun Xiaoyan lifted her head and suddenly grabbed He Xianqiu’s wrist. “Comrade He, just recommend me directly to the principal. Tell him I can draw… and then tell him you can’t be the teacher anymore and recommend me instead. I’m begging you, Comrade He.”

He Xianqiu frowned at her grip and pried her hand away. She said coldly, “Is your brain made of mud? Otherwise, why would everything you say be so unreasonable? Who would ever agree to such a request? Besides, I have no obligation to help you. No matter how much you talk, it’s impossible.”

The other people in the educated youth camp were speechless at Sun Xiaoyan’s statements and began murmuring among themselves.

“This Comrade Sun usually looks so honest. Who knew she’d turn out like this?”

“Exactly. Who would have thought she could say something so absurd?”

“It’s just He Xianqiu’s bad luck, getting tangled up with someone like her.”

Hearing everyone’s comments, Sun Xiaoyan was mortified. But she still believed it was all He Xianqiu’s fault. If He Xianqiu had just given up the job, how would there be so many people talking about her?

She said hatefully, “Comrade Zhao was right—you really are unbearably rude. And it’s not like you even need this job.”

As soon as He Xianqiu heard this, she sensed something was off. “What do you mean? Did Zhao Yaling say something?”

She was certain Zhao Yaling had said something to Sun Xiaoyan, which was why Sun Xiaoyan had come to her.

But that didn’t mean Sun Xiaoyan was blameless. The fact that she could run over and make such a demand just because of someone else’s words showed she thought this was perfectly normal.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t still be pestering her without shame, switching between playing the victim and trying to guilt-trip her.

Just as Sun Xiaoyan was about to speak, Zhao Yaling, who had been listening nearby, quickly stepped in, afraid that this fool would spill everything she’d said. She spoke gently, “Comrade Sun, you must have misheard. What I said was that Xianqiu is used to being spoiled, so she’s a bit delicate.”

He Xianqiu let out a scornful laugh. Who did she think she was fooling with that line?

“You should go find out whether you were the daughter some swindler lost. How are you so good at conning people?”

Zhao Yaling choked on her words and then immediately turned red-eyed.

Chen Changping, standing nearby, saw Zhao Yaling looking so pitiful and immediately stepped forward, scolding, “Xianqiu, A-Ling didn’t say anything. Why do you have to speak to her like that?”

He Xianqiu looked innocent. “I didn’t say much either. I just said she’s good at fooling people.”

Hearing this, Chen Changping was so angry his voice shook. “Xianqiu, you used to be a bit spoiled, but you were never this aggressive.”

He Xianqiu smiled sweetly. “Oh, thanks for the compliment.”

Did they think she was still the supporting female character who would be obedient to him in everything?

At that moment, Sun Xiaoyan chimed in again. “Comrade He, you would only be losing one job, but if I don’t get this position, my whole family will starve.”

Even now, she didn’t feel her demand was unreasonable. In her view, even if He Xianqiu lost this job, she would still eat well and sleep well, while if she didn’t get it, she and her family would starve. Her family was counting on her to send food back home.

He Xianqiu was growing irritated. What was wrong with this woman? How could she not understand after all this? Her face turned cold. “Comrade Sun, do you not understand human language?”

With people like this—who couldn’t be reasoned with—He Xianqiu had no interest in speaking any further. No matter what she said, the other woman wouldn’t get it.

Seeing that Sun Xiaoyan still wouldn’t give up, some of the other educated youths couldn’t help speaking up. Some were disgusted by Sun Xiaoyan and decided to mimic her.

“Comrade Sun, I think I’m even poorer than you right now. Why don’t you give me half your rations?”

“Comrade Sun, I’m exhausted from working in the fields every day. Since we’re all educated youth, why don’t you do my share of the work? I’m sure it should feel normal to you.”

“Comrade Sun, since we all live here together, why don’t you give me some money?”

Sun Xiaoyan’s face turned red. “How could that be okay? I don’t have enough food for myself, I can’t do two people’s work, and I don’t have any money—even if I did, I couldn’t just give it to you!”

He Xianqiu suddenly understood—this was using her own tactics against her.

A moment ago, Sun Xiaoyan had disgusted her so much that she wanted to retaliate. “Comrade Sun, since we’re all educated youth, why don’t you do all of our work for us?”

Sun Xiaoyan glared. “How could you even suggest that? Comrade He, you’re going too far!”

He Xianqiu laughed. “Oh? And when you told me to give up my job for you, you didn’t think that was unreasonable or going too far?”

The others also found it ridiculous and began to mock her.

“Comrade Sun, you think this is outrageous? Then your request was even more outrageous. Do you have no shame at all?”

“She doesn’t just lack shame—she’s downright shameless.”

Hearing everyone talk about her, Sun Xiaoyan’s face turned bright red. Her eyes reddened as she listened to their comments, then she ran out of the hall.

Watching her scurry off in that state, He Xianqiu felt it was truly eye-opening—astonishing, even.

After she left, the others kept talking.

“What kind of person is that?”

“Who knows what she’s thinking? Her whole family lives in the city, and she still believes they depend on her.”

He Xianqiu was very grateful to everyone in the educated youth camp for stepping in. Otherwise, being pestered like that would have given her a headache.

She smiled at everyone. “Thank you all. Otherwise, I really wouldn’t have known what to do.”

Hearing this, everyone waved her off.

“No need, no need.”

After chatting for a while, they all returned to their dormitories.

He Xianqiu didn’t want to stay in the hall any longer either, so she went back to her own room to rest.

Lying on her bed, He Xianqiu thought that at least there were sensible people in the educated youth camp, though there were also a few rotten apples.

But when she thought about how this was all Zhao Yaling’s doing, she felt a surge of anger. Why did that woman keep targeting her, always playing these little tricks? Next time, she’d better not let her catch hold of anything. Otherwise, she’d make sure Zhao Yaling regretted it.

He Xianqiu thought that the female lead of this world really was a master at stirring up trouble, and the male lead was completely brainless. No wonder the two of them were a pair.

The more she thought about it, the more irritated she became. If they kept provoking her over and over, she couldn’t just let them think she was easy to bully, letting them pull all their little schemes on her.

He Xianqiu disdained stooping to their level and playing dirty, so she decided she would go confront them directly.

If people didn’t offend her, she wouldn’t offend them. But since they were determined to make trouble, they couldn’t blame her for not being polite.