Chapter 51: The Educated Youth Camp—A Beating for Someone (Please Subscribe!)

Chapter 51:

When Li Yi heard Tang Xue mention something important, he immediately asked, “What important matter?”

Tang Xue sized Li Yi up from head to toe. She didn’t see any wounds on him; his clothes were a bit dirty but mostly intact, not looking like he had been roughed up.

Li Yi felt uneasy under her gaze and asked again, “What exactly happened? Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Someone said you were arrested by the police and might even be sentenced!” Tang Xue replied.

Li Yi hadn’t expected the news to reach the village so quickly. He said, “It’s true I was arrested, but the sentencing is pure nonsense!”

“Ah, you really were arrested? Then... you didn’t run back here yourself, did you?” Tang Xue asked nervously.

“What are you talking about? Do you think the police station is some place you can just stroll in and out of? Running away from there? You must have watched too many dramas!” Li Yi rubbed his forehead.

“Then how did you get out?”

“Of course, someone let me go.”

“Weren’t you involved in profiteering? Why would the police release you? I heard that even if the crime isn’t severe, you still have to serve some time!”

Li Yi smiled and said, “That’s someone else. The small business I run has the police’s approval, so naturally, they won’t lock me up!”

“Ah, that can’t be true...”

“There’s nothing impossible about it. After all, I’m your man!” Li Yi said with a playful smile.

“You...”

Li Na, standing nearby, saw how quickly Tang Xue was being talked into it by her younger brother and hurried over, saying, “Xiao Xue is just worried about you. Don’t say nonsense!”

“How am I talking nonsense? I tell you the truth, and you don’t believe me. How about this—I’ll take you to the city tomorrow so you can see for yourself!” Li Yi said.

“I... I still have to work,” Tang Xue whispered.

“No work today. I’ll get you leave. Besides, you need to prepare some things for the wedding, right?” Li Yi said.

“Prepare what?”

Tang Xue was a bit confused. Nowadays, getting married just meant the two people combined their belongings and lived together. If they could afford a banquet, they held one; if not, they skipped it. What was there to prepare?

Li Yi gently stroked her head with a tender smile and said, “How can you get married without preparing anything? At least a few new outfits, new shoes, socks, underwear—all new!”

“Our house is new too. We need new bedding, pillows, pillowcases... In short, there’s quite a lot to prepare!”

Tang Xue instinctively said, “That costs a lot of money!”

“Haha, don’t worry about money. I’ve got that covered!”

Hearing Li Yi’s words, Tang Xue suddenly felt very reassured.

“Alright, I’ll go to the city with you tomorrow!”

“Good! By the way, how did you all find out I was arrested? Who told you?” Li Yi asked again.

“The news came from those male educated youth at the point. I don’t know exactly who said it!” Tang Xue answered.

“Educated youth point? Male educated youth?”

Li Yi began to understand. If there were people among his acquaintances who wanted to see him suffer, it was undoubtedly those idle, troublesome male educated youth.

If one of them had been scheming, persistent, and relentless in reporting him, Li Yi believed it.

“Wife, let me ask you something. Who among the educated youth has been taking leave frequently these past days?”

Li Yi knew the educated youth always worked together. If someone didn’t work, was sick, or on leave, others would know.

“Seems like Xu Hong. The others have been working normally,” Tang Xue replied.

“Got it! Let’s have dinner at home tonight. After dinner, I’ll take you back!”

Without waiting for Tang Xue’s reply, Li Yi turned to Li Na and said, “Sis, please help me move everything from the car into the house, and feed the mule with fresh hay and water.”

After speaking, Li Yi went inside, pushed out his bicycle, and hurried out.

“Where are you going?” Li Na called after him.

“To the educated youth point—to teach someone a lesson!”

Li Yi didn’t look back, leaving Li Na and Tang Xue standing there, bewildered.

...

At the Educated Youth Point, under the big poplar tree!

A few educated youths sat around the millstone beneath the tree, chatting and joking—their only pastime after work.

In truth, educated youth were divided into ranks. The top tier never gave up studying even after being sent to the countryside. Most of them passed the college entrance exams the first year it was reinstated.

The second tier had wealthy or influential families. If they failed to get into college, their families secured jobs for them in the city, and they eventually returned.

Some simply applied for medical retirement. Though unemployed upon returning, at least they avoided rural hardships.

The rest, like the ones gathered here, were poor, lazy, and incompetent scoundrels.

With such a crowd, their main activity was gossip and idle chatter.

Today’s gossip leader was Xu Hong!

He had witnessed Li Yi’s arrest firsthand, so his story was vivid and dramatic.

To smear Li Yi’s reputation, Xu Hong couldn’t help but embellish the tale, especially the police’s arrest.

“You guys didn’t see how ruthless those cops were. They kicked over that second-tier’s stall in one swift kick. Oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar spilled everywhere. The second-tier saw trouble and immediately dropped the cart, trying to run. But the cops wouldn’t let him escape. Several of them flanked him and, in no time, pinned him down. Then a whole group started beating him with fists and kicks...”

Xu Hong was getting into his story when suddenly a screeching sound of tires scraping the ground was heard. Li Yi rode in on his bicycle, stopping right before the group.

Li Yi coldly said, “How come I didn’t know I was beaten so badly?”

Xu Hong was as if seeing a ghost, terrified: “Y-you... how did you get out?”

“Hmph, if I didn’t come out, I wouldn’t know how you bastard turtles ruined my reputation!”

“No... no misunderstanding... misunderstanding!” Xu Hong stammered.

Li Yi got off his bike and strode toward Xu Hong.

Seeing Li Yi’s fierce demeanor, the other educated youths realized he wasn’t there to chat and stand up.

“Li Yi, what do you think you’re doing? This is the educated youth point. You can’t be so reckless!”

Li Yi recognized the speaker—Zhou Guangya, the current group leader, basically their head.

“You here to back up that bastard?” Li Yi said coldly.

“So what if I am...”

Before Zhou Guangya finished, Li Yi delivered a powerful elbow strike to his chest, sending him flying five or six meters.

Li Yi’s sharp gaze swept over every educated youth present, his voice icy: “Anyone else wanna back up Xu?”

Every person caught in Li Yi’s glare instinctively avoided eye contact. No one dared to meet his eyes.

Li Yi’s decisive actions and fierce expression truly scared them.

Plus, Li Yi was known in the village as a second-tier troublemaker who wasn’t afraid to act ruthlessly. The crowd was intimidated.

Seeing no one else trying to be a hero, Li Yi took slow, deliberate steps toward Xu Hong.