Chapter 12: When It Comes to Beating Someone Up, There's No Room for Jokes

A little later, when those who had gone to the county town returned, the news that Lin Xinyu and Lin Xinjiang were illegitimate children who bullied Lin Jingyue at home quickly spread. The two shrank back at the educated youth compound, simmering with anger but not daring to voice it. They simply didn't have the courage to face the pointing fingers and whispered gossip.

Meanwhile, Lin Jingyue was humming a tune as she tidied up her belongings. Once the other educated youths had trickled back, they began to discuss meals and work arrangements. In truth, these matters had already been more or less settled the night before, but since Lin Jingyue hadn't been there, they briefly explained things to her again.

Lin Jingyue spoke calmly, "I won't be sharing a table with those two. So as not to disrupt everyone's unity, I'll cook separately."

Lin Xinyu and Lin Xinjiang were once again left fuming at her words.

Lin Xinyu's eyes grew red. "Jingyue, we... we wouldn't take advantage of you."

Was she implying Lin Jingyue was afraid of being taken advantage of by her? Or by the people at the compound?

"Well, who can say for sure?" Lin Jingyue cast her a meaningful glance. "After all, it's not as if you haven't taken advantage of me before."

"Jingyue, perhaps you've misunderstood, I..."

"Enough. Don't use that tone with me, or I’ll break your head open. You should know I don’t hesitate."

Lin Xinyu's face turned pale, and she dared not speak further. Lin Xinjiang, who had also suffered at Lin Jingyue's hands before, was equally silent, fearing she might lay hands on them in front of everyone, costing them both dignity and face.

But Zhao Hua had yet to experience Lin Jingyue’s fierceness. He frowned and looked at her. "Lin Jingyue, this isn't your home. No one will indulge you here. If you want to act like a pampered young lady, you shouldn’t have come to the countryside."

Lin Jingyue glanced at him, her brows furrowing even more deeply. What did he mean? The way he spoke, it was as if she had come to the countryside just for him?

Looking closer, she could see in Zhao Hua’s eyes a look that seemed to say, “No matter what you do for me, I still won’t give you a second glance.”

She couldn’t deny it—Lin Jingyue found him utterly repulsive.

She straightened up, her gaze clear and cold as she looked at Zhao Hua. "Put away those absurd ideas in your head. And tell me, who’s acting like a spoiled young lady? My family has been poor farmers for three generations. Not like your family..."

Zhao Hua’s grandmother had been the daughter of a capitalist family; if one insisted, he could be considered a descendant of capitalists.

Zhao Hua hadn’t expected Lin Jingyue to be so bold. His face flushed with anger. "Lin Jingyue, watch your mouth! What about my family? I never thought you were this kind of person! Can’t you be more sensible, like Xinyu?"

Lin Jingyue: “???” Are you kidding me.

She inhaled and exhaled, trying to calm herself, but in the end, she realized she couldn’t stand it. So she stopped trying.

For some reason, as Lin Jingyue stepped toward him, Zhao Hua suddenly felt a surge of fear.

"Brother Zhao Hua, you..."—be careful. The last two words had barely left Lin Xinyu’s lips when she saw Zhao Hua, like a kite with a broken string, fly past her and crash to the ground.

With a thud, the entire compound fell silent.

Everyone stared in shock at the scene.

"Lin Jingyue!!" Zhao Hua’s face was a bit pale as he curled up on the ground, looking at Lin Jingyue with a mix of fear and uncertainty.

"I told you not to prattle on," Lin Jingyue said, flexing her foot. "Next time, I won’t mind giving you the full treatment."

With that, she looked up at the still-stunned crowd. "I’ll be cooking on my own, so—"

"That’s fine," Luo Jianhua quickly interrupted.

He was still on edge; Lin Jingyue was indeed strong, and she didn't hesitate to throw a punch. He feared that if they ate together, some trouble would surely arise, and the compound would know no peace.

Now that she had the leader’s approval, Lin Jingyue smiled.

This smile was worlds apart from the violent outburst moments before. With her bright eyes and dazzling teeth, she looked as if she’d stepped out of a painting—aloof and ethereal, like a goddess.

None of the other educated youths objected; their silence was consent.

Jiang Xun’s lips curled into a faint smile as he looked at Luo Jianhua. "Zhou Yan and I will eat separately too."

Luo Jianhua hesitated, reluctant to agree. Jiang Xun and Zhou Yan were both from the capital, their families well-off. Usually, they’d benefit a bit from sharing. But now, suddenly splitting up...

"Yes, we’ll eat apart as well," Zhou Yan added cheerily. "The two of us have big appetites. We wouldn’t want to trouble everyone."

Since they’d put it that way, what more could anyone say?

In the end, everyone agreed to eat separately. Lin Xinyu and her group wanted to split off too, but when they remembered the grain ration they’d received from the brigade yesterday, they gave up on the idea. Better to wait for their families to send thick quilts and food coupons.

"By the way, Comrade Lin, this is the grain the brigade leader delivered—twenty jin for each new educated youth. After the autumn harvest, you’ll pay it back with labor points." Since they were splitting up, Luo Jianhua handed Lin Jingyue her share of the grain.

Inside were ten jin of cornmeal and ten jin of sorghum flour.

Lin Jingyue wasn’t lacking in food, but she didn’t refuse. She could make use of coarse grains too. "I understand. Thank you."

"One more thing—if you’re cooking on your own, firewood..."

Originally, everyone at the compound gathered firewood together. As for water, there was a well right in the courtyard, so there was no need to worry.

Lin Jingyue nodded. "I’ll gather my own firewood."

She wasn’t about to take advantage of anyone. Yesterday, when Uncle Shuisheng had built her kang, he’d put a small stove for her just outside, at her request. The only thing missing was a pot; iron pots were hard to come by.

"Alright, that’s all, then." Luo Jianhua smiled.

After everything that had happened, the atmosphere in the compound was awkward, but Lin Jingyue was unaffected. She went inside and neatly arranged her things.

The kang was still unfit for sleeping, but with work starting tomorrow, she couldn’t make another trip to the county town for the night. At least she had a quilt. She could put two benches together, lay a board across, and sleep in the space for now.

She didn’t skimp on dinner either. From her space, she took out ready-made food—a serving of pork and cabbage dumplings, and two meat pies. More than enough.

The night passed without incident.

The next morning, Lin Jingyue was awakened by the commotion.

The first bell for work had rung. Still groggy, she collected herself, grabbed her enamel basin, toothbrush, and mug, and hurried out to wash up.

The older educated youths were already up in the courtyard. Among the new arrivals, only Du Jianguo was in sight, brushing his teeth. When he caught sight of Lin Jingyue, he instinctively shuffled a step back.

Lin Jingyue...

She quickly finished washing, grabbed a meat bun to eat, filled her canteen with spiritual spring water, and dashed out the door.

Zhou Yan and Jiang Xun watched the whirlwind she left behind.

...Was it really necessary to be so intense?

What they didn’t know was that Lin Jingyue didn’t want to fall behind. She’d read enough stories set in this era to know there were always troublemakers—especially when work assignments were handed out, and someone would always end up targeted for no reason.

She didn’t know if she was the protagonist or just cannon fodder in this world, but one thing was certain: she’d definitely encounter some unsavory characters.

So, it was best to secure a good position at the front.

What Lin Jingyue failed to realize was that, in everyone else’s eyes, she was one of those "unsavory characters" herself.

PS: Lin Jingyue: If I’m the troublemaker, who’s going to scare me!