Chapter 119: Wealth Blinds the Eyes
With the troublemaker Ning Xiaoxiao gone, the entire educated youth compound finally felt at ease. They no longer had to worry about a poisonous snake slithering out from the shadows to harm them. Everyone could breathe a little easier.
Ning Xiaoxiao’s scandal quickly became the hottest gossip and running joke in the production team, adding endless entertainment to the villagers’ daily conversations.
Wherever Ning Xiyue went, she could always hear the aunties giving real-time updates on Ning Xiaoxiao’s situation.
The gossip was relentless.
She barely needed to lift a finger to stay informed — hearing all about Ning Xiaoxiao’s miserable state: how she was beaten again, how Liu Guifen was now watching over her while she worked and wouldn’t let her eat if she didn’t do things properly, how she was going crazy and showing signs of mental instability… Every detail of Ning Xiaoxiao’s downfall spread through the aunties’ mouths and into Ning Xiyue’s ears.
But this constant buzz died down slightly when another piece of exciting news shook the entire team.
The production team had been awarded the title of Advanced Collective, and more importantly, the long-awaited “Worker-Peasant-Soldier University” admission quota had finally arrived. Daliu Team was given one spot for Petroleum University.
The brigade leader announced the selection requirements:
- The candidate must have made a significant contribution to the team, shown enthusiasm in their work, and be between 15 and 30 years old. Both educated youth and regular members could apply.
- They must be ideologically progressive and of excellent character.
- They must have at least a junior high school education.
- For educated youth specifically, they must have been working in the countryside for at least one year.
This announcement caused an uproar — whether they met the requirements or not, everyone rushed to the brigade office to sign up.
The older educated youth in the compound were especially happy — their chances were much higher.
The new arrivals could only watch with envy, especially Xia Zhipeng, who had spread the news earlier. He was the most miserable of all.
And the most crucial detail: the candidate would be selected by a vote. Ten representatives — chosen from team leaders and officials — would vote to decide who got the spot.
And by coincidence, Ning Xiyue, as the barefoot doctor of the team clinic, was one of those ten voters.
When the brigade leader informed her, she was stunned. Being a voting representative was like holding a burning potato in her hands.
“Yue girl,” the team leader said, “you’ve done a lot for the brigade and brought us honor. If it weren’t for your insufficient time in the countryside, I’d give the quota directly to you. I trust you can handle the responsibility of being a voter. The election will be in two days at the brigade office. Good comrade.”
Before Ning Xiyue could respond, the leader left, leaving her standing there, contemplating life.
Could she… abstain from voting?
When she returned to the educated youth compound, she discovered that someone had already leaked the news that she was one of the voters.
All hell broke loose — the older educated youth stared at her like wolves eyeing their prey.
“Why are you all looking at me? Do I have flowers on my face?” Ning Xiyue asked. Their intense stares looked like they were about to devour her whole — it was terrifying.
She turned to head toward her kitchen, but Wu Guifang rushed over and grabbed her arm, smiling brightly.
“Hey, Xiyue, I’m making dumplings today. Come try some — mushroom and pork filling, super delicious!”
Not to be outdone, Wang Fenglan grabbed her other hand.
“Xiyue, I bought some meat buns from the state-owned restaurant today. Come with me — let’s eat together.”
Ning Xiyue looked at the two of them clinging to her on both sides and sighed helplessly.
“No need, no need. You two go ahead and eat. I’ll cook for myself. I still have wild boar meat.”
Wu Guifang’s smile faltered for a moment before she resumed pulling her to the left. “Come on, the dumplings are delicious.”
Wang Fenglan pulled her to the right. “The buns are delicious.”
Ahead, Zhao Jianshe came over carrying a basket, smiling. “Comrade Xiyue, these are mushrooms and wild bird eggs I picked today. You take them and enjoy.”
Ning Xiyue saw through their little schemes. She gently freed her arms and stepped back, rejecting them directly.
“No need. Keep them for yourselves.”
No sooner had she spoken than a whole group of villagers arrived at the compound, each bringing vegetables or fruit from their own gardens — all seeking Ning Xiyue.
Wealth truly blinds the eyes — everyone wanted that one vote from her.
It was unclear whether they had planned it or not, but they all showed up together, forming a dense crowd of over ten people, each suspiciously watching the others.
“Xiyue, come, come, these vegetables from my garden — take them and eat. If it’s not enough, come to my house for more.”
“Here, salted duck eggs — wild duck eggs too! Look at that oil dripping, so fragrant. Take them!”
“And I’ve got freshly harvested chili peppers — perfect for cooking.”
“And me, and me…”
“Take mine…”
At first, Ning Xiyue responded gently, “No, no, take them back.”
But they nearly started fighting each other.
In the end, they all surged toward her in a chaotic mob, pressing forward without caring if she got crushed or injured.
The now fully grown Little Grey (her dog) bared its teeth and snarled, scaring a few people back.
All the new educated youth except Xia Zhipeng rushed to shield Ning Xiyue from the crowd.
She saw Liu Yao pushed to the ground by the frenzied mob. Thankfully, Ning Xiyue was quick and pulled her up before she got trampled.
Ning Xiyue was furious.
Using her vocal mimicry skill, she amplified her voice like a loudspeaker and shouted, “STOP!”
Some still didn’t stop.
Most of these people weren’t even familiar with her — many had even spoken badly about her behind her back.
Fine. If they wouldn’t stop, she’d make them.
Ning Xiyue unleashed her Tai Chi skills, throwing punches left and right, sending the overexcited villagers crashing to the ground one by one, crying out in pain.
“Ow…”
“My butt!”
“My waist, ow ow ow…”
Finally, she grabbed a weapon — a brick — and slammed it onto the wood block they used for chopping firewood. The block shattered into four pieces. The chaotic scene instantly fell silent. Seeing the brick in her hand, people quietly shuffled a few steps back. The wailing stopped too.
Ning Xiyue swept her cold gaze across everyone present — including the older educated youth — and spoke icily:
“Take your things and GET OUT. If anyone dares to harass me at the compound or the clinic again, I won’t know whose skull this brick will crack open. If anyone tries to stir up trouble in front of me, they’ll come in standing but leave lying flat. Go ahead, try me. Let’s see if my brick is harder or your skulls are.”
“You all know I’m the barefoot doctor — don’t you dare try to frame me with baseless accusations.”
One plump aunt, rubbing her bruised backside, glared at her hatefully before crawling to her feet. “Who wants to come here anyway? If it weren’t for you being a voter, who’d bother giving you anything? Ungrateful brat. Let’s go.”
“Dr. Ning, you…” someone tried to argue, but the moment Ning Xiyue raised the brick, they quickly changed their tune and scrambled to their feet. “Uh… I’m leaving.”
One by one, the people on the ground got up, rubbed their sore bodies, picked up their gifts, and slunk out of the compound in embarrassment.
Even the older educated youth didn’t dare provoke her anymore. Heads down, they all mumbled excuses and retreated to their rooms.
After thanking everyone who had helped, Ning Xiyue turned to Liu Yao with concern. “Are you alright?”
Liu Yao shook her head. “I’m fine. Those people were just too crazy — it was scary.”
Chen Yechu still looked shaken. “Yeah, that was terrifying. A whole crowd rushing in like that. I’ve never seen anything like it. In my last life, there was no such thing as a Worker-Peasant-Soldier University quota, so I never witnessed such madness — even the usually calm Zhao Jianshe and Wu Guifang lost their composure. It was too much.”
Ning Xiyue comforted them. “It’s fine. They probably won’t dare come again. If they do, I’ll deal with them one by one.”
Once everyone calmed down, they stayed in the courtyard for a while before going back to their tasks.
Before leaving, Wang Jiandong gave Ning Xiyue a reminder. “Be careful. This whole thing doesn’t seem as simple as it looks.”
“Thank you,” Ning Xiyue nodded. “I’ll be careful.”
