Chapter 53: Immersive Drama Part 1
“Oh dear, Comrade Chen, you can rest assured — our team members are the most welcoming toward the educated youths. You saw it yourself: among all the brigades in the commune, ours took in the most educated youths this time.”
As the women’s director, Aunt Qiuju began to show her skills. With a warm smile, she stepped forward, holding Chen Yechu’s hand reassuringly.
“This was something we specifically requested. If this isn’t called ‘welcoming,’ then what is? Listen to me — relax and stay at ease here in the team. As for those few ‘rat droppings,’ they don’t represent us. They’ll have to be cleaned up — no one is allowed to damage our team’s unity.”
After saying this, Aunt Qiuju shot a fierce glare at Wu Xiuli. None of them were behaving themselves — and this new Chen educated youth certainly had quite the sharp tongue.
“All right, I believe you, Auntie. I’ll listen to you.” Chen Yechu’s tone softened. “But I don’t want to hear anyone slandering me again. Auntie, you know how important a girl’s reputation is — it’s not something she can allow others to casually tarnish with a few words.”
“Don’t worry. Once we finish investigating, the truth will come out — no one will escape accountability. The team will give you justice.” Aunt Qiuju spoke gently, then shot a glance to the team leader, signaling him to proceed.
Team Leader Zhang Dawei received the signal. Frowning at Wu Xiuli — whose face was twisted with emotion — he spoke sternly:
“Since Comrade Chen has spoken, Wu Xiuli, do you have anything to say? Why did you attack the two educated youths? Why did you say those things?”
Finally given permission to speak, Wu Xiuli, who had been holding everything in, burst into wild, hysterical laughter — like a madwoman possessed. When she finished laughing, she glared viciously at Ning Xiaoxiao and Chen Yechu, her gaze toward Ning especially terrifying — as if she wanted to tear her apart piece by piece.
Then she roared: “I hit them because they deserved it! Anyone who tries to steal Comrade Jiandang from me should be beaten! Jiandang is mine — mine alone! No one else can have him!”
Even Ning Xiyue, sitting up in the tree, couldn’t help but shiver. Not even the lunatics in an asylum were this scary. That obsessive, paranoid possessiveness — anyone unlucky enough to be liked by her must have eight lifetimes of bad karma.
She silently offered a second of sympathy to Comrade Li Jiandang.
“Ning Xiaoxiao, don’t think I didn’t see you. You’ve been trying to seduce Jiandang, trying to get him to help you with work. You’re always pretending — pretending to be weak, pretending to be bullied, disgusting! Today you definitely pretended to fall just to throw yourself into his arms. Ugh! You should be beaten — I’ll beat you to death…”
At this, Wu Xiuli’s anger flared up again. She struggled to her feet and lunged toward Ning Xiaoxiao, but people standing nearby restrained her just in time.
Ning Xiyue shook her head, a little disappointed — just a little closer and she would’ve actually tackled the panicked Ning Xiaoxiao.
Although Wu Xiuli was restrained, her legs — which had regained feeling — were flailing wildly in the air, and she waved her arms furiously: “Let me go! I’m going to beat that slut — beat her!”
Li Cuihua threw herself beside Wu Xiuli, crying and wailing: “Xiuli, don’t be like this! It hurts your mother’s heart… Xiuli… wuu wuu…”
The team leader’s frown was so deep it could crush a fly. He pointed at a few more people nearby: “Grab her — hold her down. What kind of behavior is this? Anyone watching would think we’ve got a lunatic in the team.”
Aunt Qiuju rubbed her temples. More nonsense… should’ve stayed in the tree with Yue-girl to watch the drama instead.
Li Jiandang stood anxiously nearby, desperate to explain himself, but he didn’t dare disobey the leader’s orders.
Ning Xiyue noticed Ning Xiaoxiao trying several times to speak up, only for Aunt Qiuju to glare her into silence. That didn’t stop her from muttering softly and putting on her usual pitiful expressions and little gestures.
“No… it’s not…”
With one hand clutching her chest, Ning Xiaoxiao whispered innocently, tears silently streaming down as she shook her head. Every now and then, she cast a hesitant glance at the comrades beside her — the picture of delicate misery.
The men around her all looked visibly moved.
Wu Zhigang even glared angrily at Wu Xiuli.
Li Xiuxiu shook her head and commented, “Always the same act. Doesn’t Ning Xiaoxiao ever get tired of it? I’m sick of watching it — and yet those men still fall for it.”
“She’s tricking the brainless ones. If those men eat it up, that’s on them. That’s the only thing Ning Xiaoxiao’s good at.”
Honestly, Ning Xiyue was bored of it too. Ning Xiaoxiao didn’t even try to innovate — no new tricks, no fresh performances. Two thumbs down.
Aunt Yangliu chuckled from the side. “Listening to you two talk is more entertaining than the show.”
Ning Xiyue pursed her lips and smiled modestly. “Then let’s keep watching.”
At the front, Chen Yechu tugged lightly on Aunt Qiuju’s sleeve. After a nod, Aunt Qiuju turned to Wu Xiuli and asked, “Then why did you attack Comrade Chen? What does she have to do with this?”
Pinned to the ground, Wu Xiuli turned her head toward Chen Yechu, her eyes burning with jealousy.
“She’s trying to steal my Jiandang too! Ning Xiaoxiao said she saw Jiandang smile at her — and Jiandang never smiles at strangers. He even spoke gently to her. It must be because she seduced him first. I had to beat her — teach her a lesson!”
But Chen Yechu wasn’t about to swallow that insult. Ignoring the looks around her, she snapped sharply:
“That’s slander and intentional assault. I have the right to report you to the police. I’ve spoken no more than two sentences to Comrade Li Jiandang. If you hadn’t made a scene, I wouldn’t even know which one he was. At least make your lies more believable.”
Chen Yechu stepped forward, towering over Wu Xiuli, who was sprawled on the ground.
“The man you like? I couldn’t care less. Honestly, I think you’re pitiful — just a pathetic worm. You treat others like treasures, but they only find you disgusting. With your behavior, you’ll never receive anyone’s love in this lifetime.”
Those words were brutal — every one of them stabbing at Wu Xiuli’s deepest insecurities.
When Chen Yechu finished, she stepped back, keeping her distance and watching coldly.
Ning Xiyue thought Wu Xiuli would explode — screaming, lashing out wildly — but surprisingly, she deflated completely.
Gone was the madwoman. Now she played the tragic heroine, lying on the ground sobbing — deep, hopeless cries that tugged at the heartstrings of anyone listening.
“All of you… all you do is bully me. I’ve loved… loved Jiandang for nineteen years… what do you expect me to do? Wuuu wuuu… I don’t want this either… but besides continuing to love Jiandang… what else can I do…”
Wu Xiuli lifted her tear-streaked face to look at Li Jiandang, asking in a pitiful whisper, “Jiandang… why don’t you love me? Why…”
Watching from the sidelines, Li Xiuxiu shivered. “I’m definitely letting my mom arrange a match for me in the future. She’s got good taste. I never want to end up like Wu Xiuli — this is terrifying. Absolutely never.”
Ning Xiyue gave her an approving look and sighed: “Never let yourself become a lunatic over a man. Don’t keep trying to please others. Only those who respect and value themselves will find happiness.”
“Mm, Little Yue, you’re right.” Aunt Yangliu nodded. “Look at me and your Uncle Dawei — a perfect example. He fell for my strong, fiery personality back then.”
Even watching gossip from a tree, they still had to eat a dose of dog food. But this time, Ning Xiyue accepted it gladly.
Swallowing the dog food Aunt Yangliu fed her, she smiled and complimented, “That’s because you’re wonderful, Auntie. And Uncle Dawei has great taste — that’s how you two built such a happy, harmonious life together.”
“I want to learn from Auntie and be just as amazing in the future,” Li Xiuxiu said seriously.
“Hahaha, you two really know how to flatter.” Aunt Yangliu beamed. “Let’s keep watching.”
