Xu Ying lashed out at Dong Wenzhong with sharp eloquence: "Dong Wenzhong, you look ordinary, yet you're quite confident. Look at that beanpole figure of yours, and then look at that tacky get-up you meticulously put together.
Just looking at you makes me want to vomit. Back then, I, Xu Ying, must have been blind to fall for a pretty boy like you. You don't think about how to work hard and improve yourself all day long; you only think about sponging off women.
I've never met a man as shameless as you in my life. Do me a favor and take a detour next time you see me; otherwise, I'm afraid I'll throw up what I've eaten."
Dong Wenzhong trembled all over with rage at Xu Ying's words, his teeth grinding with a *creak*: "Xu Ying, you've got guts. If you have the ability, don't come looking for me ever again."
"Tch, who cares! Dead white lotus." Xu Ying let out a cold snort, held her head high, and swaggered away.
Dong Wenzhong, however, was so infuriated he nearly fainted on the spot. Xu Ying actually called him a 'dead white lotus'—a term usually reserved for women pretending to be innocent.
This cheap woman. If it weren't for her father being the Brigade Leader, he wouldn't have given her a second glance.
She actually dared to humiliate him like this. He would absolutely not let this cheap woman off the hook.
Dong Wenzhong returned to the Educated Youth Spot in a huff.
Just as he reached the door, Chen Yanran came running from who knows where and chased after him: "Brother Wenzhong, have you worked it out with Xu Ying? What did she say about this?"
Dong Wenzhong took a deep breath, suppressing his anger before replying: "Xu Ying must have had a screw loose this time; she actually refused to listen to me.
I'm afraid this matter will be hard to handle now. Sigh!"
Upon hearing this, Chen Yanran's little face instantly turned deathly pale. She looked at Dong Wenzhong, swaying on her feet: "Brother Wenzhong, if Xu Ying refuses to acknowledge me as her savior...
How am I supposed to live from now on? I might as well just die."
Finished speaking, she lunged toward a nearby wall.
Dong Wenzhong's eyes were quick and his hands faster; he grabbed her arm in the nick of time: "Yanran, what are you doing? With me here, there's no way you'll be pinned with this blame."
Chen Yanran's eyes flickered as she looked at Dong Wenzhong, full of curiosity: "Brother Wenzhong, Xu Ying refuses to acknowledge me as her savior. What else can we do?"
This cheap woman Xu Ying didn't know which way the wind was blowing; she actually stopped listening to Brother Wenzhong too.
Mentioning Xu Ying reminded Dong Wenzhong of what she had just said to him, and his expression immediately turned ugly: "When the time comes, you just bite the bullet and insist. You think the Brigade Leader is grateful to you for sending Xu Ying back.
After all, if it weren't for you sending Xu Ying back in time, she would have likely burned to death. As for who pulled her from the river, you just say you don't know."
Things had come to this; only this method could salvage the situation a little.
Chen Yanran bit her lip and glanced up at Dong Wenzhong: "Brother Wenzhong, is this the only way? Xu Ying always listens to you. Can't you go talk to her again?"
If Brother Wenzhong persuaded Xu Ying, then she would be her savior from now on. The Xu family doted on her so much; given Xu Jianguo's personality...
He would definitely assign her the easiest work in the future, and might even find her a job.
After all, Xu Ying's third brother worked at the Transport Bureau; he had plenty of connections.
Thinking of the good things Xu Jianguo had sent to the Lu family today, Chen Yanran felt even more sour inside.
Dong Wenzhong was also a prideful person. Xu Ying had scolded him like that; how could he possibly go talk to her?
He sank his face and said: "I'm not going. Xu Ying is just jealous that I treat you well, so she's harming you like this. I really didn't expect her to be so ruthless. From now on, I absolutely won't have anything to do with her."
Hearing this, Chen Yanran frowned. If Dong Wenzhong really cut ties with Xu Ying, would Xu Ying still give him food in the future?
If she didn't, wouldn't she lose her share too? Thinking of this, the corners of Chen Yanran's eyes reddened: "Brother Wenzhong, you can't fall out with Xu Ying out of spite. We're here now; if we lose her help, we probably won't even have enough to eat in the future."
Dong Wenzhong was extremely irritated: "Even if I deal with her, she must apologize to you first."
Thinking that Xu Ying would have to apologize to her later, Chen Yanran's mood improved considerably.
When work ended in the afternoon, Xu Jianguo went to Lu Dayan's house and brought Lu Dayan to confront Chen Yanran.
The villagers' entertainment was watching drama. Hearing that the Brigade Leader was going to confront Educated Youth Chen, they all rushed over to watch the spectacle.
Educated Youth Chen was pretty, with a gentle disposition, usually like Lin Daiyu, making the young men of Xujiacun feel heartache for her.
"Brigade Leader, who exactly saved your Yingying?" Zhang Dacao asked while cracking melon seeds.
Although she didn't like Xu Ying's mother, she hated this fox spirit Chen Yanran even more.
This shameless vixen had bewitched her son, making him lose his soul. He ate and then ran off to help this cheap woman work all day.
If Educated Youth Chen really wanted to marry her son, she'd be delighted. Marrying an educated girl from the big city would bring face.
But this shameless cheap woman, on one hand, made her son work for her, and on the other, said they were just friends.
Pure bullshit. What friendship can exist between a man and a woman? Does she think she's stupid too?
"Educated Youth Chen, Lu Dayan is awake now. Let her tell you herself, or you tell it yourself." Xu Jianguo said angrily.
If his daughter had been unconscious and hadn't seen clearly, she might really have been fooled by this girl.
Such a young age, not learning anything good, only learning crooked ways.
Their Xujiacun had always had simple, honest customs. How could there be such a vicious person?
Chen Yanran's heart faltered when she saw Lu Dayan.
Then she straightened her body, her gaze clear: "Brigade Leader, I always thought you were a righteous person, but I never expected I misjudged you.
I sent Xu Ying back that day, and you kept thanking me. Did I ever say *I* was the one who jumped in the river to save Xu Ying?
I never said that at all. You're the one who kept thanking me. I thought you were thanking me for carrying Xu Ying back. If I'd known you'd misunderstood, I would have clarified it right then."
Hearing this, Xu Jianguo, usually immovable as a mountain, lost his composure. He hadn't expected this Educated Youth Chen to be such a good actress.
Back then, she hadn't just said she sent his daughter back!
Lu Dayan's intended words instantly lost their chance to be inserted. What was going on?
"Educated Youth Chen, back then my dad asked who jumped in the river to save *me*. You said it was yourself. Since you're the one who carried me back, why didn't you clarify this morning when you were asked to swim?" Xu Ying questioned her coldly.
As if the morning's events hadn't happened.
"Yeah, I remember Educated Youth Chen seemed to say she jumped in the river to save Xu Ying this morning too?" a female educated youth at the spot said.
Hearing this voice, Chen Yanran was furious: "Zhang Qiuling, stop spouting nonsense. I never said that outside."
"Then where did you say it?"
"I said it at the Brigade Leader's house." Chen Yanran blurted out.
Realizing what she had said, Chen Yanran's entire face turned deathly pale. No further questioning was needed; she had confessed directly.
Xu Ying raised an eyebrow, her face full of anger: "Educated Youth Chen, I really didn't expect you to be such a despicable and shameless woman. And I treated you so sincerely before.
The person who saved me was clearly Lu Dayan, yet you wanted to claim this favor for your own selfish gain, just to get my dad to help you. What a calculating scheme.
Now that you're exposed, you still refuse to repent, making excuses to deny it. You really are shameless."
"No, I did help you. If I hadn't carried you back, you would have burned to death long ago." Chen Yanran panicked instantly under the rebuttal.
Tears streamed down her cheeks. How did Xu Ying suddenly become so sharp-tongued?
Men fell for Chen Yanran's act, but women didn't buy it; they even found it somewhat disgusting.
(End of Chapter)