Chapter Two: Big Chili’s Heroic Charge

Yun Shu brushed off some non-existent dust from her clothes and was about to speak her mind when, unexpectedly, a male educated youth popped up. He was as thin as a bamboo pole, wore glasses, and sported a stern expression with a rather sharp tone, immediately playing the part of a knight defending Yang Yue.

"This female comrade, aren't you being a bit too impolite? The comrade here was just kindly trying to comfort you; why did you have to push her?"

"That’s right, I was just trying to comfort you. I didn't mean anything else by it..."

Yang Yue chimed in, looking at Yun Shu and Lin Jingshu—who was also making things difficult for her—with an aggrieved expression. She occasionally snuck glances at the two male educated youths in the nearby seats, her eyes darting everywhere as she kept herself as busy as an octopus.

Yun Shu was speechless, finally realizing that not only had she transmigrated, but she had also run into two pieces of work right off the bat.

"Comforting me?"

"So... you were talking to me just now."

The scene fell into a dead silence. The carriage, which had been noisy just a moment ago, became as quiet as if it were empty, with every educated youth watching the drama unfold.

Neither Yang Yue nor the unnamed male educated youth had expected this reaction from Yun Shu. They were stunned for a moment before processing her words. They opened their mouths to preach or retort, but Yun Shu didn't give them the chance.

"How exactly were you comforting me? By making sure every educated youth in this entire carriage knows that I’m a pampered, delicate young lady who refuses to go to the countryside?"

"Well, that was certainly a fantastic way to 'comfort' me!"

"When you were spouting those ambiguous remarks earlier, I didn't say a word. After all, I thought we were strangers, and clearly, the delicate girl who was crying and refusing to go to the countryside that you were talking about couldn't possibly be me."

"So, out of respect for others, I didn't get involved in your 'counseling' or 'comforting'."

"I just didn't expect that the unreasonable female youth you were referring to was actually me~"

"Is it only the people who are brimming with joy, who don't cry or miss home, or perhaps those as thin and weak as this male comrade here, who count as 'true' educated youths in your eyes?"

"If so, then those of us who cried have truly misunderstood you!"

There were plenty of people in the carriage who had been crying, and even more who were too upset to speak. Hearing this, the crowd, who had previously been bystanders or spectators, finally realized that this girl on the floor had been stepping on their reputations to elevate herself!

Recalling how Yang Yue had been so earnest in her "admonishment," the gazes of the young people, who had initially felt a bit ashamed, began to shift.

Yang Yue, still on the floor, realized she had been too hasty and panicked even more. She opened her mouth to explain that she was just kind-hearted, straightforward, and anxious to help, but Yun Shu cut her performance short with a cold laugh, her intent to counterattack crystal clear.

"I know you probably want to say you were just being kind, that you only wanted to comfort me, or that it was just a misunderstanding."

"But let’s get back to the point: do we know each other? Do you know my name? Do you understand my character? Why have you been fixated on me?"

"From the moment we boarded until now, I haven't said a single word to you. How could you possibly know that I’m so homesick that I don't want to go to the countryside?"

"Or is it that you made these remarks without knowing anything at all, never once considering what an insult these words are to an educated youth who voluntarily signed up to serve in the countryside?"

"Don't you think, comrade, that you sound a bit like those people who seize any opportunity to slap labels on others at will?"

"Of course, since you are also an educated youth, I believe your ideological qualities aren't so low as to intentionally try to ruin our reputation and sabotage the unity between workers and peasants with a few lighthearted words."

"I’ll assume you spoke without thinking. You can apologize now; I accept."

It wasn't just the natives who knew how to use such rhetoric. Thanks to her background as a programmer and her reflexive instincts, Yun Shu’s words hit home, making everyone’s skin crawl.

Now, it was Yang Yue who was backed into a corner. Whenever someone tries to stand on the moral high ground to point fingers and lecture, Yun Shu’s favorite move is to kick them off, stand there herself, and lecture them instead.

Yun Shu’s words struck a chord with the majority of the carriage. Her speech was open and honest, making people’s eyes light up; they felt this little girl had high awareness and a bright personality.

As for the girl on the floor, she was quite the opposite.

When you are the only one being slandered, don't panic—find a way to make the crowd your allies! Yun Shu followed her own experience, directly causing Yang Yue’s own malice to backfire, painting her as a manipulative, wicked person who slandered others at will.

Yun Shu, who had just been seen as a delicate and soft-faced girl, gave them a harsh lesson in reality. She showed them what it meant to kill with words and how to leave someone speechless with fury.

The male educated youth who had stood up for Yang Yue was now purple-faced; having failed to be a hero, he felt as if he had been struck by lightning. He muttered a sheepish apology and quickly sat back in his seat. Only Yang Yue remained on the floor, her face flushed red, her reputation in tatters, and her true nature fully exposed. She sat there as if frozen, completely at a loss.

She certainly didn't want to apologize. The confrontation had made her loathe Yun Shu, so how could she possibly be willing to apologize?

But if she didn't, Yun Shu had already cornered her. If she didn't apologize, wouldn't that mean she truly was the kind of person who sabotaged the reputation of educated youths, just as Yun Shu had described?

She wanted to have an easier time once she reached the countryside. She didn't want to become a troublemaker or a public enemy—after all, that was the role she had intended for the two "pampered young ladies" sitting opposite her!

Yang Yue was green with envy and seething with rage. But the people around her, especially the two handsome male youths nearby, were still watching. The unkind gazes of those she admired made her feel so ashamed she wanted to evaporate on the spot.

After a long standoff, Yun Shu remained silent, and no one offered Yang Yue a way out.

Seeing that the staff from the Educated Youth Office had noticed something was wrong and were heading over, Yang Yue tried to make a last-ditch effort. She clenched her fists and shouted:

"But you pushed me too!"

Yang Yue didn't want to leave a bad impression on the officials, so she desperately tried to shift the conflict, escalating the issue to physical violence.

She had accidentally bumped into Yun Shu earlier, but she could still argue it was an accident. Yun Shu, however, had undeniably given her a hard shove in front of everyone.

Unwilling to give up, Yang Yue lowered her head and reddened her eyes, putting on an aggrieved expression for the benefit of the officials.

Yun Shu didn't indulge her. She clenched her fists and stepped forward, shouting loudly:

"Anyone who dares to sabotage the unity of workers and peasants! Anyone who destroys the reputation of educated youths! They are our enemies!"

"Never mind that you slandered my reputation and tried to disfigure me—that’s why I pushed you! Even if you weren't targeting me, I would still stand up to protect anyone you were unfairly attacking!"

As if to say, who doesn't know how to take the moral high ground? With a few sentences, Yun Shu stirred the entire carriage into a fervor and helped the newly arrived staff understand exactly what had happened.

Seeing the situation turn against her, and terrified that if she tried to argue, the entire carriage would turn on her and the officials would take note of it, Yang Yue had no choice but to bite her lip and apologize with a flushed face.

"I’m sorry, it was my mistake."

She then turned and ran toward the restroom in tears, clearly having reached her breaking point.