Chapter 19.2

Today was Xie Hezhang’s 18th birthday according to the lunar calendar.

Since it was a weekend and everyone was free, his friends got together and asked the cook at the public canteen to make a few dishes and longevity noodles for Xie Hezhang. They each chipped in a few cents.

These friends were all from families that had been labeled as having bad backgrounds. They huddled together, seeking warmth.

Xie Xiaoqian sat next to Xie Hezhang, eating noodles. Xie Hezhang and his friends ate and drank, chatting, and the atmosphere was quite relaxed.

Fang Han took a sip of wine, a little tipsy, and winked at Xie Hezhang, bringing up the topic that shouldn’t be brought up, “Hezhang, how are things going with that Shu Qingyao?”

Xie Hezhang took a drag of his cigarette, exhaled a puff of smoke, and said calmly, “How’s what going?”

“Isn’t she chasing you?” Fang Han put his arm around Xie Hezhang’s shoulder, “Everyone in Helian Village knows. Don’t play dumb with me. Come on, tell me, how far have you two gone?”

The young man leaned back in his chair. His body was still long and slender, not fully grown, with a thin layer of muscle covering his legs and arms. He had a youthful vigor, like a wild, energetic little leopard.

He took a drag of his cigarette, glanced at Fang Han, his brow and eyes delicate and indifferent, “We’re not together. What do you mean, how far have we gone?”

“Damn, no way?”

Fang Han couldn’t believe it. He widened his eyes, “Tong Yuan is one thing, but you don’t even like her?”

In their eyes, Shu Qingyao was much prettier than Tong Yuan.

Who doesn’t like a pure and delicate soft girl?

Moreover, after all this time, Shu Qingyao should have known Xie Hezhang’s background.

But they heard that she was still taking good care of Xie Xiaoqian at school.

If it wasn’t for Xie Hezhang, why would she be so nice to his little sister?

Fang Han thought Shu Qingyao was a good person.

Unlike Tong Yuan, who was just attracted to Xie Hezhang’s face and immediately turned around to chase Jiang Xun when she found out about his background.

She was superficial and materialistic.

Xie Xiaoqian was eating noodles, her head resting on her hand. When she heard them talking about Shu Qingyao, she raised her head and said earnestly, “Teacher Shu is a very nice person. Xiaoqian likes her a lot.”

Xie Hezhang clicked his tongue and pressed her head back down, “Eat your noodles properly. Don’t interrupt when adults are talking.”

He would be an adult after today.

He said this confidently.

Fang Han looked at Xie Hezhang’s indifferent expression and was heartbroken.

“Xie Hezhang, I’m telling you, you’ll regret this later. You’ll never find a wife prettier than Shu Qingyao!”

Xie Hezhang didn’t say anything.

His expression was cold.

He didn’t seem to care at all.

After dinner, Xie Hezhang took Xie Xiaoqian and walked with his friends.

They were out for a rare outing, and they didn’t want to go home.

They were planning whether to go to town for a stroll.

The villagers of Helian Village saw this group of people gathered together and avoided them, as if they had encountered some kind of ferocious beast.

They were used to the villagers’ attitude and didn’t even give them a glance.

A group of teenagers were walking along the road, laughing and joking. Suddenly, a woman rushed over, grabbed Xie Hezhang’s hand, and said anxiously, “What are you doing here? Do you know that Qingyao is in trouble? Come with me to the town hospital!”

Xie Hezhang recognized the woman in front of him. She was the female educated youth who had spoken up for him when he was humiliated in the educated youth dormitory a few days ago.

After hearing her words, his pupils contracted violently. He grabbed Tang Yuan’s wrist, “What happened to Shu Qingyao?!”

…

It was half an hour later when Xie Hezhang arrived at the town hospital by tractor.

Tang Yuan told him what had happened along the way.

Xie Helan discovered that her son, Wang Wei, was lying on the ground with blood on his head. Her cries for help attracted the neighbors. A neighbor who had a tractor for transporting goods quickly sent Wang Wei and Shu Qingyao to the hospital.

Wang Wei had ten stitches on the back of his head and had woken up, but Shu Qingyao was in bad shape. The hospital had given her a private room, but she was hysterical and wouldn’t let anyone near her.

An educated youth had gotten into trouble at a villager’s house, and Shu Qingyao was disheveled at the time. The situation was serious, and the village leaders and the squad leader had all rushed over.

“Go and see her. Maybe she’ll let you see her. Her family isn’t here, and she has no one to rely on.”

…

Xie Hezhang rushed to the hospital and heard Xie Helan howling at the police.

“My son couldn’t have done that. It was that vixen who seduced him! My son was even injured by her, he almost died! Police comrade, you can’t wrong a good person!”

Wang Wei’s hair had been shaved, and his head was wrapped in a white bandage. He hung his head, standing next to Xie Helan, not daring to say a word.

Only Xie Helan was very strong, preventing the police from taking her son away.

“There were only two people at home. Why do you say my son is the one with the problem? That female educated youth is always flirting around in the village. Who knows if she’s framing my son!”

One of the policemen couldn’t take it anymore, “We received a report from the public. Your neighbor heard a woman screaming for help in your house! Xie Comrade, if you keep twisting the truth, I’ll have to take you in for questioning too!”

The walls in the countryside were thin, and it was a weekend, so most people were at home resting. Although Wang Wei had closed the door at the time, Shu Qingyao’s screams for help could still be heard.

Xie Helan realized that she couldn’t stop them, so she started rolling on the ground and making a scene. Wang Xingde, smoking a cigarette, couldn’t help but kick her, “Get up! Are you not embarrassed enough?!”

If his son really committed rape, he would be shot in this era! He would also lose his position as village official because of his son’s behavior!

The only hope now was that the girl would be lenient and let their family off the hook.

The police came and handcuffed Wang Wei. Wang Wei, who had been arrogant in the village because of his father, the secretary, was a little scared now. He looked up at Wang Xingde, “Dad, you have to save me. I was just momentarily infatuated! It’s all my mother’s fault. She’s always been nagging in my ear, and that’s why I saw Shu Qingyao as my woman. Otherwise, otherwise, I wouldn’t have dared!”

Tang Yuan couldn’t stand it anymore. She spat fiercely and said to Xie Hezhang, who was standing beside her, “This family is really something!”

Then she remembered that Xie Hezhang was also related to the Wang family, so she quickly said, “I’m not talking about you. I think you’re pretty good.”

Xie Hezhang pursed his lips and said in a low voice, “Where is she now?”

Tang Yuan took Xie Hezhang to Shu Qingyao’s hospital room.

Shu Qingyao was in a single room. Several village cadres were standing at the door, including the squad leader, Jin Zhuang.

Jin Zhuang was frowning, asking a nurse about Shu Qingyao’s condition. When he saw Tang Yuan and Xie Hezhang coming, he didn’t even look at them.

Shu Qingyao was sent to their Dongfang Brigade. An educated youth had gotten into trouble, and it needed to be reported. Plus, Shu Qingyao’s family was well-off, so this matter was probably not going to be a small one.

Jin Zhuang was worried sick.

“Squad Leader, he’s Qingyao’s friend. Let him go in and see Qingyao.”

Jin Zhuang looked over. He recognized Xie Hezhang. He hesitated for a few seconds, “He’s…”

“He’s Qingyao’s boyfriend.” Tang Yuan blurted out.

Xie Hezhang: “…” Forget it.

Jin Zhuang also knew about Shu Qingyao and Xie Hezhang’s situation. After all, when Shu Qingyao was arguing with people in the educated youth dormitory, she had mentioned her relationship with Xie Hezhang.

He looked at the young man in front of him and sighed, “Shu Qingyao has been very traumatized today. Be careful when you go in. Tell her to rest assured, we’re all on her side.”

Xie Hezhang pursed his lips, “… Okay.”

Jin Zhuang said a few words to the nurse. The nurse looked at Xie Hezhang suspiciously. When she saw the young man’s handsome face, she quickly retracted her gaze. She didn’t refuse to let Xie Hezhang go in to see Shu Qingyao.

“Be careful not to stimulate the patient. If anything is wrong, come out immediately. The most important thing now is for her to calm down.” She instructed.

Xie Hezhang nodded and walked to the door of the ward. He grasped the doorknob.

His eyes were dark. He gently pushed open the door.