The Sweetness of the Seventies
Chapter 111: Lin Xiaoru’s Countermeasure (480+) _1

Chapter 111: Chapter 111: Lin Xiaoru’s Countermeasure (480+) _1

Lin Xiaoru was surrounded by several people and didn’t dare to talk back. She did drop the letter into the denunciation box at the unit yesterday, but she heard that the informers wouldn’t be disclosed! If Lin Xiaoru had known someone would reveal her identity, she wouldn’t have sent the denunciation letter at all!

Even though she wasn’t well-liked at the Knowledge Youth spot, at least she hadn’t completely fallen out with anyone! Gossiping behind someone’s back or being a little lazy wasn’t a big deal.

"I... I..." Lin Xiaoru tried to defend herself, but seeing that so many people already knew, she had no defense, pushed Ye Xiaofan away, and ran back to her own room, bolting the door behind her.

Huang Jingli was mending clothes; she didn’t have any new ones, just old garments that she patched up to get through the winter.

"Why are you in such a panic?" Huang Jingli asked curiously, biting off a thread, completely puzzled. Lin Xiaoru was always slow in doing anything, except when eating.

Lin Xiaoru didn’t speak and shivered uncontrollably. From the attitudes of the Knowledge Youths, she could already imagine what her situation in Qijia Village would be like in the future!

"What on earth happened to you?" Huang Jingli asked again, putting down her needlework and stepping forward to touch Lin Xiaoru’s forehead.

Lin Xiaoru shrank back, avoiding Huang Jingli’s touch, and said, "Don’t touch me!"

Huang Jingli was startled, not understanding the reason.

Since Lin Xiaoru wasn’t speaking, Huang Jingli didn’t ask any further. Who knew what kind of mischief she was holding in her heart! Being here might bother Lin Xiaoru even more; better to quickly leave and stay out of it.

Huang Jingli wanted to go out to cook and didn’t wish to stay with the neurotic Lin Xiaoru.

"Don’t open the door," Lin Xiaoru snapped, "I told you not to open the door, did you hear me?"

Huang Jingli was so frightened that she kept backing away. The more Lin Xiaoru forbade her from opening the door, the more terrified Huang Jingli became, worried that Lin Xiaoru might be hysterical. She quickly opened the door and ran out.

"Get out, all of you, get out!" Lin Xiaoru yelled, "Leave, and if you dare, never come back."

Huang Jingli was now pale with fear and turned to Sister Wu, Wang Lei, and the others in the courtyard, stammering, "What happened? What’s going on?"

"Lin Xiaoru denounced He Tiantian and the postman Niu Dajun for having an illicit relationship. The unit from the county town sent people to arrest He Tiantian. If it hadn’t been for Village Chief Qi, He Tiantian would have been taken away," Sister Wu explained. "We all know what kind of person He Tiantian is. Besides, just because Niu Dajun gave He Tiantian a few rides on his bicycle, they accused them of having an affair. That’s plainly making something out of nothing, slandering good people, a malicious mind, slandering good people indeed!"

Huang Jingli was staggered, shocked that Lin Xiaoru had actually sent out the denunciation letter. But how did Sister Wu and the others know it was Lin Xiaoru who sent it?

"Are you sure it was written by Lin Xiaoru?" Huang Jingli expressed her doubt, wasn’t it supposed to be that the informer’s information wouldn’t be disclosed?

"Zhou Sihai announced it in front of everyone, and now the whole village knows. You should be careful in the future. You’re so close to Lin Xiaoru; sooner or later, it will cost you," Sister Wu spoke loud enough for Lin Xiaoru inside the house to hear.

Upon hearing this, Huang Jingli grew even more frightened. If Lin Xiaoru could denounce He Tiantian, she could denounce her background issue as well! Her complexion turned even uglier, her legs went weak, and she didn’t know what to do!

"Yeah, we can’t dare to speak to Lin Xiaoru anymore," Ye Xiaofan echoed. Lin Xiaoru was an inwardly toxic person; one had to be cautious around her.

At that moment, Zhao Dajiao arrived, asking, "Where is Lin Xiaoru?"

Sister Wu, Ye Xiaofan went to the kitchen to cook, and only Huang Jingli was in the yard.

When Huang Jingli saw Director Zhao, she shuddered and stuttered, "She’s... she’s inside..."

"Then come with me, I have something to say to Lin Xiaoru," Director Zhao said, wanting to see how Lin Xiaoru would explain herself!

Huang Jingli followed Director Zhao and they entered the house together.

Director Zhao looked at Lin Xiaoru with disdain and said, "Village Chief Qi said that we will depart at two in the morning to confront He Tiantian and Niu Dajun at the unit. If you don’t go, it means you’re admitting guilt by default for a false report, and you will be punished."

When Lin Xiaoru heard this, she became even more afraid. However, after thinking it through, she had come up with a strategy. That was to firmly deny any wrongdoing; admitting guilt would indeed lead to punishment. By denying the accusations, she could at most claim that the report, upon verification, was found to be inaccurate, but she would never admit to any intentional slander.

He Tiantian was sitting in the back seat of Niu Dajun’s car. In their hometown, only couples dating would do such a thing, which is why she reported it, to prevent He Tiantian’s actions from influencing the conduct of all the young returnees from the city in Qijia Village.

It was only with good intentions that she, Lin Xiaoru, had made the report; it wasn’t fabricated out of thin air.

"Director Zhao, I’ll go with you," said Lin Xiaoru with narrowed eyes. "I will not back down, I’m also doing this to maintain the conduct of the city’s youth."

Director Zhao was momentarily taken aback. Lin Xiaoru was quite a character; with such an incident, she had expected Lin Xiaoru to be too embarrassed to show her face, yet here she was, standing her ground!

"Since you’re aware, then don’t be late," Director Zhao said. What would happen tomorrow would be decided by public opinion; there was no need for her to say more.

"Yes, Director Zhao," Lin Xiaoru replied calmly, no longer afraid now that she had found a way to deal with the situation.

After Director Zhao left, Huang Jingli asked in a low voice, "Xiaoru, why did you report He Tiantian? Did she ever offend you? We’re from the same village, and she even brought us sour dates, wild vegetables, and wild rabbits. Have you forgotten?"

Lin Xiaoru looked at Huang Jingli with contempt and said disdainfully, "It wasn’t just for me; it was for many. How much could I have possibly eaten? You better be careful. I can report He Tiantian; I can report you too. If you don’t listen to me, heh, I’ll make sure you’ll end up worse off than He Tiantian."

Huang Jingli, who was most fearful of Lin Xiaoru’s threats, was too scared to speak.

Seeing that she had frightened Huang Jingli, Lin Xiaoru felt a perverse sense of pleasure inside. With narrowed eyes and a sneer, she said, "He Tiantian is quite impressive, having such good rapport in the village. Village Chief Qi, Director Zhao, and the other villagers all side with He Tiantian. But you— you’re no better than me. So, if you don’t behave, I’ll make sure you regret it."

"No... no... I’ll be obedient," Huang Jingli said, trembling. Lin Xiaoru was like a venomous snake. Unable to fight back, Huang Jingli had no choice but to swallow the humiliation, vowing to take revenge one day.

Huang Jingli silently made up her mind!

Lin Xiaoru!

You think you’re so smart, bullying me!

But I, Huang Jingli, won’t be bullied easily. I’ve been enduring it because I thought you would change, but I was wrong. My tolerance only made you more greedy. The He Tiantian incident was a wake-up call—I can’t be soft-hearted with you anymore.