Chapter 110: Quick, Hurry and Carry Him to the Infirmary

Hearing Hu Changming’s miserable screams, Han Hongsi thought for a moment and suggested, “This matter might escalate. I’ll report it to the team leader.”

“All right, it definitely needs to be reported,” Xu Lin nodded firmly, clutching the letter in her hand as she contemplated the possibility of filing a complaint.

She wasn’t sure if the team leader would stop them. If he did, that would be a boon for Hu Changming.

Alas, Xu Lin hadn’t anticipated the zeal of the educated youth.

Han Hong nodded at Zhang Qiang and then turned to run off. Zhang Qiang worriedly said, “Are they being too reckless?”

“They really are,” Xu Lin clicked her tongue, turning to Zhang Qiang. “Stay away from Du Yong in the future. He’s like a biting dog.”

“No, he’s not,” Zhang Qiang whispered, his mouth slightly open in shock.

He carefully reviewed the situation after the educated youth arrived. At that time, Xu Lin had just explained how Hu Changming had been secretly reading letters.

Before she could say how to punish Hu Changming, the emotions among the youth were calm—no one seemed overly agitated, and some even whispered that Xu Lin was making a fuss over nothing.

But the problem began when Du Yong suddenly interrupted. He cut off the rest of Xu Lin’s words and directly revealed a big secret.

After this explosive revelation, the anger of the youth flared up, and then, they started fighting.

But how exactly did the fight break out?

The more Zhang Qiang reviewed the incident, the wider his mouth opened and the clearer his suspicions became.

He quietly asked, “What’s his motive? They’re brothers who even shared a bed.”

“Could it be that he’s after the chance to return to the city?” Xu Lin smiled and asked.

Winning the position of team leader greatly increased one’s chances of securing a worker-peasant-soldier university quota—a fact all the youth in the academy knew.

Du Yong was older, with no family to rely on. Perhaps he harbored dreams of making a name for himself.

Maybe he even fantasized about returning triumphantly to the family that had abandoned him, proving them wrong.

Zhang Qiang responded with an “Oh,” recalling that the Wangzhuang team had been an advanced team for several years, which meant they received quotas for worker-peasant-soldier universities annually.

Three such quotas had been given to educated youth, two of which went to the team leaders of the academy.

Other quotas were acquired through connections to Wangzhuang team, naturally designated for specific individuals.

Though Zhang Qiang hadn’t been there long, he had a way of gathering information and had learned a great deal about these quotas.

Putting this together, Zhang Qiang believed Du Yong’s ambition likely aimed at the team leader position, though a small part of him remained puzzled.

“But hasn’t he allied himself with Su Liang and the others?”

“Even if he has, those are empty promises made by them. Does Du Yong dare place all his bets on Su Liang and company?” Xu Lin’s lips curled into a mocking smile as she recalled how ruthless Du Yong’s attack had been—more savage than any other educated youth.

It was quite possible that Hu Changming’s leg was broken by Du Yong’s kick.

Calling him a biting dog was no exaggeration.

Listening to Hu Changming’s agonized screams, Qian Li couldn’t bear it any longer. She tugged on Wu Siyu and Fu Yaqin, who were mingling in the crowd, and withdrew from the scene.

“Just letting him go like this?” Fu Yaqin whispered in dissatisfaction.

“Forget it. It’d be bad if someone got seriously hurt. He’s been snooping on everyone’s letters and stealing our money—there’s no way we can just let this go,” Qian Li whispered persuasively. “We’re all well-off; there’s no need to dirty our hands for that trash.”

Wu Siyu was reasonable and agreed after considering the point. The three retreated to Xu Lin’s side to watch.

Xu Lin admired the girls’ sense of propriety, especially Wu Siyu and Fu Yaqin.

She didn’t believe Wu Siyu was unaware that her money had been taken secretly; she just hadn’t spoken up.

As for Fu Yaqin, the girl had suffered many hardships, with her vulnerabilities exploited. She had endured much loss, but her family’s wealth allowed her to survive relatively unscathed.

Feeling Xu Lin’s gaze upon her, Fu Yaqin forced a faint smile.

“I wonder how much Hu Changming secretly withheld from us. They’ll probably search his room later, right?”

“They should, but the male educated youth may not search thoroughly. I suggest the female youth participate in the search,” Xu Lin proposed.

Fu Yaqin’s eyes brightened. Of course—this was her chance to search. Finding that letter would be ideal.

If not, she wouldn’t be discouraged. She could continue searching privately, checking places Hu Changming frequented.

Thinking this, Fu Yaqin felt a weight lift from her chest, and her spirit revived.

Qian Li, unaware of Fu Yaqin’s inner thoughts, continued discussing with Xu Lin who should join the search.

As they talked, Wang Facai and the village chief returned with Han Hong, followed by several curious villagers.

“Stop! Stop it now!” Wang Facai’s voice rang out even before he entered the courtyard.

“Stop fighting at once! Do you want someone to get seriously hurt?” the village chief’s voice came next.

The village chief was an elderly man. Though his voice lacked Wang Facai’s strength, it was not soft. He spoke loudly, urging calm.

“Children, please stop fighting. What if someone gets badly hurt? What will we do then?”

The old chief was sweating nervously, fearing a fatal accident. Han Hong had told him Hu Changming was screaming terribly.

At first, he thought Han Hong was exaggerating. But as they neared the academy, he realized Han Hong hadn’t overstated anything.

Those screams were chilling—like a pig being slaughtered.

What kind of beating must it have been?

With Wang Facai and the others’ arrival, the educated youth finally regained their senses and stepped back, clearing space.

Looking at Hu Changming, he was barely human anymore. His face was swollen like a pig’s head, mottled blue and purple with no unbruised flesh.

He curled up, clutching one leg, moaning incessantly.

In the bitter cold, the pain had drenched his hair.

His condition defied the mere word “miserable.”

“Quick, carry him to the infirmary. Let Old Wang take a look,” the village chief shouted.

The villagers had no intention of intervening, but since the youth wouldn’t stop, they obeyed the team leader and village chief, lifting him away.

Seeing the village chief follow, Wang Facai approached Xu Lin quietly and inquired about the situation.

“Xu, could you explain exactly what happened?”

“Of course,” Xu Lin said, handing him her two letters. “While I was on leave, letters arrived here for me.

Hu Changming accepted them on my behalf. When I returned and heard about this, I went to retrieve my letters but found...” Xu Lin smiled bitterly.

“Both of my letters had been opened and secretly read. I confronted Hu Changming and demanded an explanation, or I would report it.”

She sighed deeply and recounted everything that had happened afterward, omitting how Hu Changming had manipulated the youth.