Chapter 109: A Fierce Beating for Hu Changming

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Hu Changming, fearing that Xu Lin would report him to the authorities, knelt down to apologize, saying nothing else—he decided to kowtow first, hoping Xu Lin would forgive him. But would a kowtow really solve anything? If a single act of contrition could fix everything, Hu Changming would keep snooping through letters in the future. Xu Lin could never let him off so easily; someone with such a corrupt mindset was unfit to be a team leader.

After some thought, Xu Lin gathered all the young intellectuals from the commune courtyard and revealed Hu Changming’s secret: he had been spying on everyone’s letters. Xu Lin wanted to observe their reactions, to see if there was anyone among them who would be naïvely forgiving.

Unexpectedly, just as Xu Lin finished speaking, Du Yong emerged from hiding. He had been like a quail hiding in a room, not even showing up when Hu Changming tried to pin blame on him. Now, Du Yong stormed into the circle like a gust of wind, pointing a finger sharply at Hu Changming’s nose and shouting loudly:

“As far as I know, Hu Changming has been using the contents of the letters he secretly read to coerce one of the young intellectuals into paying him thirty yuan every month.”

As soon as Du Yong mentioned this particular person, Fu Yaqin’s expression changed. She knew the “certain young intellectual” was herself. Thinking of the letter Hu Changming had withheld, Fu Yaqin’s heart pounded with fear—this was no time to cause a scene.

Before Fu Yaqin could devise a plan, Du Yong dropped another bombshell.

“Hu Changming also secretly took the money that your families enclosed with the letters. Several people have been victimized.”

Throughout his revelation, Du Yong kept his head lowered, hiding his expression. But Xu Lin, using her mental awareness, caught the wild look in Du Yong’s face—this man was far from the meek persona he projected. Indeed, he was another person with a story.

Xu Lin’s mental powers quickly scanned Hu Changming’s room, and she soon found Fu Yaqin’s letter wedged in a crack. This letter was Hu Changming’s leverage to threaten Fu Yaqin. Without it, could he still spin a convincing tale? Smiling inwardly, Xu Lin immediately retrieved the letter and stored it in her space. She also glimpsed Hu Changming’s savings.

A person unloved by both father and mother, yet holding over three hundred yuan in savings—where had this money come from? Xu Lin glanced sympathetically at Fu Yaqin but left the three hundred yuan untouched. It was the fuel that stoked the young intellectuals’ anger.

Xu Lin hadn’t expected their fury to ignite so easily. No sooner had Du Yong finished speaking than the young intellectuals exploded in outrage, accusing Hu Changming of embezzling the money their families sent with the letters.

Most importantly, Xu Lin discovered that except for Han Hong and three others new to the group, Hu Changming had snooped on everyone else’s letters.

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This was utterly disgusting.

The enraged young intellectuals pointed fingers at Hu Changming, hurling curses and demanding the return of their money. Some demanded ten yuan, others twenty. Some even insisted on a hundred yuan as compensation.

The prices they named were beyond crude.

Hu Changming’s face turned pale with fear, his gaze stabbing at Du Yong like a knife. He never expected Du Yong to stab him in the back at such a critical moment.

Perhaps many would believe Xu Lin’s words, but if it didn’t concern their own interests, they remained indifferent.

Hu Changming only needed to plead for mercy and play the victim, and some of the young intellectuals would speak up for him, urging Xu Lin to be magnanimous and forgive him this once.

But Du Yong’s revelation shattered his chance of pleading, turning Xu Lin into a mere spectator.

Indeed, she was pushed to the outskirts of the crowd by the furious young intellectuals. Han Hong and Zhang Qiang flanked her protectively. Han Hong apologized sincerely:

“I didn’t know he was spying on us. Had I known, I would’ve helped you collect the letters.”

“No worries,” Xu Lin said, “You can’t judge a man by his face. None of us expected Hu Changming to behave this disgustingly.”

Han Hong and Zhang Qiang nodded in agreement; neither had anticipated such vile conduct from Hu Changming.

“Who do you think Hu Changming is holding over?” Zhang Qiang asked quietly.

Xu Lin’s eyes swept over the faces of the young intellectuals. Among the crowd, Fu Yaqin was conspiring against Hu Changming.

Unlike others who might seek financial gain, Fu Yaqin wanted Hu Changming’s very life.

Han Hong’s gaze also settled on Fu Yaqin, whispering, “No way, they usually don’t have any dealings with each other.”

At that moment, Han Hong caught the caring looks from Xu Lin and Zhang Qiang and immediately fell silent—indeed, it was possible.

His eyes shifted toward Su Liang and Qin Fang. Quietly, he asked, “Do you think Su Liang might use this opportunity to vie for the team leader position?”

“Su Liang?” Xu Lin rolled her eyes, silently thinking, “Who does he think he is? Does he even deserve it?”

Yet her mental awareness crept over, and what she overheard made her exclaim inwardly.

Good heavens, those two utterly oblivious souls were actually discussing the possibility of competing for team leader.

According to Su Liang, he could offer some supplies to improve the young intellectuals’ meals in exchange for their votes.

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Qin Fang thought it was a feasible plan. Though they were newcomers, everyone was equal. They shouldn’t be excluded just because they were new.

As for their qualifications, of course, it came down to background and resources.

As long as the gifts were appropriate, how could the team leader position slip away?

Xu Lin listened in disbelief before turning to Han Hong and Zhang Qiang. “Do you want to be team leader?”

Han Hong shook his head. “Being team leader isn’t a good position. It comes with endless trivial matters. I don’t want to become a housekeeper.”

“Neither do I,” Zhang Qiang shrugged. “Their competition is about securing that spot at the Workers’ and Peasants’ University—using it as a chance to return to the city. Me? I’m staying out of it.”

“My mother told me not to be the top student, nor to chase that spot. She said it comes with a knife’s edge,” Zhang Qiang added.

Having experienced similar worlds before, Xu Lin silently nodded in agreement.

She believed Zhang Qiang’s mother was wise. That spot was cursed—winning it required not just luck but ruthless tactics.

In another dimension Xu Lin once knew, powerful girls vying for that spot were harmed, some even losing their lives.

Others were ruined in different ways, their innocence stolen before they fell into despair.

In short, before that coveted spot, those who once smiled kindly could turn ferocious and strike with terrifying swiftness.

While the three were chatting off-topic, the young intellectuals showed no such diversion.

Hu Changming was pushed to the ground by the angry crowd. As he tried to get up and defend himself, he only stirred their wrath further.

A storm of fists and kicks rained down on him. Xu Lin noticed that the hardest blows came from Du Yong.

The two shared a room and seemed close—like brothers. But now, it was as if they were mortal enemies. Someone kicked Hu Changming so hard that he let out a scream like a slaughtered pig.

“What’s going on? What’s happening?” Han Hong and Zhang Qiang hurriedly focused on the fray, faces full of curiosity.

“No idea. It’s too crowded to see clearly,” Xu Lin replied, arms crossed, her voice three parts amused, one part detached.

Han Hong glanced over—it was indeed a sea of black-clad figures.