Chapter 23: Conspiracy and a Dozen Yang Yues

Yang Yue’s objective was clear: the brigade headquarters. Jiang Xiucheng and Lin Jingshu, who had finally caught on, didn't lag behind, hurrying to keep pace with her.

The two watched as she stacked stones to scale the wall into the brigade office. Moments later, she climbed back out with difficulty, clutching a piece of paper. As she scrambled over, she missed her footing and took a tumble, nearly twisting her ankle. Furious, Yang Yue stood up, tore the paper to shreds, tossed it into a nearby ditch, and kicked the stones aside before storming off with a look of indignation.

Once Yang Yue’s silhouette faded into the distance, the restless Lin Jingshu bolted to the ditch. There, amidst a few scattered scraps of paper, she identified them as Xie Yunshu’s application form.

So that was why she had been patient enough to wait all day—this was her plan. With the sun set and the office empty, it was the perfect opportunity to steal the form and destroy the evidence. After all, in an age without surveillance cameras, how could anyone prove it was Yang Yue?

Lin Jingshu was livid. Clutching the scraps, she gritted her teeth, ready to chase after Yang Yue for a confrontation, but the more composed Jiang Xiucheng held her back.

"The priority isn't dealing with Yang Yue, but Comrade Xie's application form."

"You're right. Without that form, Yunshu can't compete tomorrow. That wretched Yang Yue! She claimed yesterday she wanted to reconcile with Yunshu—is this her idea of reconciliation? She’s clearly hell-bent on sabotaging her!"

Lin Jingshu was frantic, deeply worried for her best friend. As she paced, she considered asking the brigade leader for a new form, but feared the deadline had passed and that Yunshu would be disqualified. Beside her, Jiang Xiucheng looked at the wall, lost in thought.

What followed was Lin Jingshu acting as a nervous but determined lookout while Jiang Xiucheng climbed over the wall to retrieve a blank form. Lin Jingshu then filled it out from memory, and Jiang Xiucheng returned it to the office.

Though their actions were righteous, the two felt like common thieves. Jiang Xiucheng was far more nimble than Yang Yue, but under the dim twilight, the pair fled the scene as if pursued by ghosts.

They instinctively held hands, a gesture that stirred something in Jiang Xiucheng as he looked at the girl dragging him along in a mad dash. However, Lin Jingshu, whose mind was entirely consumed by thoughts of vengeance against Yang Yue, remained oblivious. She was already mentally planning two slaps for Yang Yue, and four more on behalf of Yunshu.

Meanwhile, back at the educated youth dormitory, Yunshu was happily snacking and watching Chen Ming and Pei Wenyuan tinker with a coal stove, completely unaware of the dramatic ordeal her friends had undergone for her sake. Their devotion made it seem as though they were her parents, protecting their own daughter.

When she couldn't find her best friend, Yunshu looked around like a lost chick, only to be placated by Pei Wenyuan, who claimed they had gone to see the carpenter. Yunshu found it strange that they hadn't invited her along.

Chen Ming, crouching nearby, chimed in excitedly, "Is there anything you need to buy, Yunshu? I'll go with you!"

Of the five, Chen Ming was the most outgoing. After the incident where Yunshu was accosted, he had become even more eager to help and was the first to drop formal titles in favor of using her given name.

His puppy-like eagerness went unrewarded, however, as Lin Jingshu—having returned—let go of Jiang Xiucheng’s arm and pulled Yunshu away. After confirming the situation with Pei Wenyuan, a grim-faced Lin Jingshu dragged the bewildered Yunshu to the stream behind the dorms, where Yang Yue was washing clothes to calm her nerves.

Taking advantage of the seclusion, the hot-tempered Lin Jingshu didn't hesitate; she grabbed Yang Yue and slapped her twice, leaving her head spinning and her cheeks burning. The three boys following behind quickly turned away, acting as lookouts.

When Yang Yue finally realized what was happening and saw her crush standing there, she snapped. As she shrieked and reached out to claw at Lin Jingshu, Lin Jingshu threw the torn scraps of paper into her face.

Though the pieces were small, the name "Xie Yunshu" was clearly visible. As Yang Yue caught them and realized the truth, she choked up like a chicken with its throat constricted, her face flushing a deep, gasping red. She understood her actions had been exposed, but unwilling to lose face in front of the man she admired, she tried to deflect.

"What is this? Why are you throwing this at me?! And you hit me—have you lost your mind, Lin Jingshu?"

"Comrade Jiang, Comrade Pei, Comrade Chen, are you just going to stand there and watch this madwoman bully people?"

Lin Jingshu stood with her hands on her hips, sneering. She pointed at Jiang Xiucheng, the very person Yang Yue was trying to impress, and shattered her defenses.

"Stop the act! You’re still lying? I’ll have you know that Jiang Xiucheng and I saw everything you did with our own eyes!"

"You thought no one could find evidence that you tore up Yunshu’s form? Well, I’ve already filled out a new one and put it back. She’ll be competing for the broadcaster position tomorrow just the same!"

"When she’s working in the studio, sheltered from the wind and rain, you’ll be stuck facing the yellow earth and sky, working yourself to death for mere labor points!"

"And as for now, we hit you—do you dare tell anyone why? Do you dare tell the brigade leader or the other youths that we beat you because you were caught stealing Yunshu's application to sabotage her?"

Yang Yue’s face cycled through shades of purple and red. She was trembling with rage, but as Lin Jingshu noted, she dared not speak. Just as she had gambled that Yunshu couldn't prove she had infiltrated the office, if she dared report the assault, Lin Jingshu would expose her sabotage, leaving Yang Yue with no defense. She couldn't explain the beating without incriminating herself.

Clutching the scraps of paper, Yang Yue felt as if she might vomit blood. She wanted to devour Yunshu and Lin Jingshu, but the assault wasn't over. Lin Jingshu pulled the now-enlightened Yunshu forward and declared righteously:

"The real victim hasn't had her revenge yet. So, it’s not just me who’s going to hit you—Yunshu won’t let you off, either!"