Chapter 121: The Outcome
Ning Xiyue was startled when she heard the last sentence. She pulled Chen Yechu aside and quietly asked, “Those two are connected?”
“Mm. I saw it with my own eyes,” Chen Yechu nodded firmly.
This revelation truly shocked Ning Xiyue. She had always assumed Li Yang was just a pervert — she hadn’t expected him to have a hidden identity as well. People in this era were far more dangerous than they appeared on the surface.
With both of them aware of such a big matter, it was only a matter of time before the team leader found out too.
Just as Chen Yechu was about to whisper more details to Ning Xiyue, a commune member rushed in and whispered a few words into the team leader’s and the secretary’s ears. Their expressions immediately changed, and they quickly got up and left without saying another word.
Ning Xiyue guessed the team leader must have received news.
The members sitting below started whispering among themselves.
“Voting is about to start. Where are the team leader and secretary going? I wonder what’s going on.”
“They just rushed out like that.”
The commune members here still didn’t know the situation. But their team was never short of gossipers — some people immediately ran out to find out what was happening.
With both of the team’s top leaders gone, the voting session was put on hold.
Aunt Qiujv stepped forward to manage the venue.
“Everyone, please stay quiet. The team leader has something urgent to deal with. The voting will start an hour later. Please stay seated and wait quietly.”
Her words only made everyone more curious.
When it came to gossip and drama, the commune members were always enthusiastic.
Not everyone had come to this meeting — many who didn’t care about who would get the university quota weren’t there. But there were always people who knew about sudden incidents happening in the team.
Some slipped out quietly, and others used the excuse of going to the bathroom to go outside and gather information.
Chen Yechu and Ning Xiyue — who knew a bit more than the others — were among those who “went to the bathroom.”
Once they were outside and alone, Ning Xiyue continued asking the question Chen Yechu hadn’t finished earlier.
“What exactly did Li Yang do that got him caught? Do you know any details?”
“When I went back to the zhiqing dormitory to get something, I accidentally saw Li Yang return. He didn’t notice me. He went into his room, took out a package, and fiddled around in the kitchen for a bit. Then he stuck something on his face — and his face changed completely.”
Chen Yechu’s expression was filled with astonishment as she continued,
“Xiyue, he completely turned into another person. Then he changed into a set of unfamiliar clothes. Even his temperament was different — you’d never recognize him as Li Yang.”
She had hidden far away and watched with binoculars, terrified of being discovered. Fortunately, she wasn’t, and she even got to witness that incredible transformation — more effective than makeup.
Ning Xiyue raised an eyebrow in surprise. She hadn’t expected Chen Yechu to witness that. She really was lucky — not only did she see it, but she wasn’t caught. Judging from Li Yang’s fully equipped setup, he was clearly a trained enemy operative.
“Could Li Yang know that legendary art of disguise? Good thing you weren’t discovered. People who hide their identities that deeply are usually extremely dangerous.”
“Exactly. His whole aura became cold and sharp — really scary. After he was done, he headed into the mountains. I don’t know what he was planning.”
Ning Xiyue thought deeply. Could Li Yang be from that country? And what was in the mountains? Weren’t they where she had previously discovered the underground lab and the coal mine?
Li Yang was truly unlucky — if there was any place safer than the rest of the Daliu team now, it was inside Mount Daqi. Who knew how many patriotic comrades like her brother and Comrade Ji were hidden there. Once he went into the mountains, he was finished.
“But you know what?” Chen Yechu said excitedly, “When I was on my way back here with my things, I accidentally saw Li Yang — with that disguised face — being taken away by two men.”
At that, Ning Xiyue finally understood the deeper meaning behind what her brother and Comrade Ji had told her yesterday. They had probably long known that Wu Zhigang wasn’t the only bad actor.
Wu Zhigang wanted to infiltrate the Petroleum University and slip into the people’s ranks. Li Yang was after the resources in the mountains. The two had a pretty clear division of labor. Who knew if they had known about each other’s identities before?
“Where do you think the team leader is now? Should we go take a look?” Chen Yechu looked around — there was no one nearby, and she didn’t know which way to go.
Ning Xiyue shook her head and gestured ahead with her lips. “No need. Look — the team leader is back. Let’s go in.”
“Alright…” Chen Yechu said, a little disappointed that she couldn’t find out more.
But Ning Xiyue didn’t feel disappointed — she had her own ways.
Once back in her seat, Ning Xiyue silently called out to her system. The system’s mosquito drone was still hanging by her kitchen door, watching over her assets — and it could serve as an early warning device.
“Ten system points. Show me what’s happening inside the zhiqing dormitory right now.”
[Got it, Host.] The system eagerly agreed and sent the little mosquito drone flying toward the dorm.
Through its feed, Ning Xiyue saw the inside of the zhiqing quarters. The party secretary was there, and people were standing guard at the doors of Wu Zhigang’s and Li Yang’s rooms, inspecting and packing up their belongings.
She saw a few familiar faces — Comrade Ji’s aide Gangzi, and Comrade Li, who had come to see the leaders the other night, were both there.
The two of them were rummaging through things but ultimately found nothing. Once the belongings were packed up, they left with the boxes. Before leaving, they glanced back once at the zhiqing quarters.
The secretary wiped his sweat and followed.
[Ding! Operation complete. Please give the system a five-star review!]
“Five stars? I’ll give you six.”
Ning Xiyue pondered over what they had been searching for.
By that time, the team leader had returned and taken his place at the podium.
The members sitting below immediately fell silent, looking up at his stern face.
He didn’t mention a word about why he had left. As soon as he sat down, he announced the start of the meeting, as if nothing had happened.
Aunt Yangliu brought a pile of items and placed them on the table. Some sharp-eyed members recognized where those items came from, and an uneasy feeling crept into their hearts.
Zhang Dawei scanned the room, his eyes sweeping over every single member seated below, making them all nervous before he began speaking in a cold tone:
“Before the voting, I have something to say. I believe some of you recognize these things. After voting, you can come and collect them. Ever since the announcement about the university quota, many of you have been behaving outrageously — slacking off at work and scheming for underhanded ways to win.”
Some of those who had been scheming hung their heads in shame. Others didn’t care. Most, however, were filled with anxiety.
The team leader stood above them, taking in the entire scene and then delivering a brutal verdict:
“After a unanimous decision by the leadership, anyone who resorted to underhanded methods is immediately disqualified. The person who earns this quota must have good moral character and a positive mindset. Did you think those requirements were just for show? Keep this in mind.”
“Now, the voting officially begins.”
His words caused quite a stir. Some people were filled with regret, others with schadenfreude. Some were relieved, while others wanted to cause trouble.
But no one dared — the team leader’s authority crushed any attempt at disruption.
The older zhiqing felt relieved they had never openly acted, and being scared straight by Ning Xiyue had prevented them from trying anything else. That was the only reason they avoided disqualification today.
The much-anticipated voting ended quickly, and the result was announced: Daliu Team’s only spot for the Workers, Peasants, and Soldiers University went to Zhang Jianjun, a young man who had consistently earned full work points.
When his name was announced, Zhang Jianjun stood up, trembling with excitement, and gave his thanks.
One man’s joy was another’s sorrow.
The older zhiqing’s faces were filled with defeat. They had been one step away from returning to the city, and now they could only watch helplessly as the opportunity slipped away. Their hearts were heavy with bitterness.
Wu Guifang, in particular, broke down and wept.
Ning Xiyue sighed quietly as she watched her. She had warned Wu Guifang early on to learn to let go of some things, but clearly, Wu Guifang hadn’t listened.
There was nothing to be done — reality was cruel. In the eyes of the commune members, the zhiqing would never truly be one of them. They were outsiders.
The team’s quota would, of course, go to one of their own. People would always choose the child they knew — the one whose roots were there and who would always return. Anyone with a working brain would do the same.
This outcome had been exactly what Ning Xiyue expected.
Shaking her head, she walked out of the meeting hall.
“Doctor Ning, wait a moment.”
She turned and saw someone running toward her. “Comrade Zhang Jianjun, what do you need?” she asked curiously.
Zhang Jianjun’s honest face flushed with embarrassment.
Inside another office of the brigade, Ning Qingzhi and Ji Yanming, who were talking with the team leader, heard the commotion and looked out the window — their faces darkening simultaneously.
Across from them, Team Leader Zhang Dawei saw their expressions and felt his heart tighten with anxiety. Did I say something wrong?
