Nighttime.
Shen Nanchu was once again awakened by faint rustling sounds.
Under the cover of darkness, someone was at it again—sneaking into her house instead of sleeping!
Staring at the pitch-black ceiling, she could only sigh in exasperation.
Her system seemed to want to say something but ultimately zipped its metaphorical lips, not daring to make a sound.
Fortunately, the noise stopped after a minute or two.
Shen Nanchu closed her eyes and went back to sleep.
As for what the thief had come to her house for? She couldn’t care less.
...
The next morning.
Li Mei was jolted awake by an urgent need to relieve herself.
She scrambled out of bed and dashed toward the outhouse.
Meanwhile, Jiang Shuyi, who had been feigning sleep, quietly opened her eyes and slipped out of bed.
Outside, Song Qingyang happened to step out of the male educated youth quarters at the same time.
The two exchanged a glance before wordlessly walking out of the "sent-down youth" site in perfect sync.
Inside the cramped outhouse,
Li Mei squatted uncomfortably, wads of tissue stuffed up her nostrils to block the stench, while swatting away the relentless swarm of mosquitoes.
Just outside, unfamiliar voices—one male, one female—drifted in.
"Have you heard?"
"What?"
"Shen Nanchu’s been secretly meeting with foreigners."
"Seriously?"
"Absolutely. I even saw letters exchanged between them hidden in her house!"
"Let’s report it to the village chief."
"No, the chief favors her—he won’t believe us. We should go to the town—no, the county! Report it to the county’s revolutionary committee instead."
"You’re right. Too bad I’m swamped these next few days."
"Same here."
The voices faded.
Inside the outhouse, Li Mei’s eyes gleamed with excitement. She barely even noticed the dozen mosquito bites on her backside.
In a flash, she yanked up her pants and bolted out.
At the village chief’s house,
Wang Jianguo was still half-asleep when frantic knocking erupted at his door.
He groggily opened it to find Li Mei breathlessly demanding,
"Chief, I need to go to Yongxiu County—urgent business. I’m requesting leave."
Coming to his door this early? Must be serious.
Wang Jianguo nodded without hesitation.
Li Mei sprinted off toward Yongxiu County like the wind.
Even a two-hour trek through the mountains couldn’t dampen her enthusiasm.
Watching her disappear beyond the village entrance, Song Qingyang and Jiang Shuyi exchanged a knowing glance from their hiding spot before slipping back to the youth station.
A trap had been silently laid—and Shen Nanchu was now squarely in its crosshairs.
...
That day, the villagers of Wang Family Village were back to planting corn.
Yesterday’s blazing sun had given way to overcast skies.
Without the scorching heat, the work progressed much faster.
No one batted an eye at Shen Nanchu’s absence anymore.
Between tasks, Song Qingyang and Jiang Shuyi kept stealing glances toward the village entrance, as if waiting for something.
...
Shen Nanchu slept in until noon.
After treating herself to a steaming bowl of leek dumplings from her space and mixing a bowl of milk for her cat, Coalball, she headed to the main room to work.
She’d promised to reassemble the bones, and she wasn’t about to break her word.
Besides, this was proof of her labor.
One glance at the pile of pig bones told her everything: this was a mature wild boar, dead for about a decade, with a broken leg.
Methodically, she began piecing the bones together from head to tail.
Before long, a skeletal boar stood before her, eerily lifelike.
After examining her handiwork, Shen Nanchu was thoroughly pleased with herself.
Still got it.
But her satisfaction was short-lived as a commotion erupted outside the courtyard.
"Comrade Shen, are you there?"
Wang Jianguo's voice carried an edge of urgency.
The corner of Shen Nanchu’s lips curled with amusement.
So they’ve finally arrived, huh?
She wondered if they’d give her a chance to stretch her limbs.
Intrigued, she strode outside.
The courtyard was already packed, surrounded by layers of onlookers.
At the forefront stood Li Mei, backed by a group of Red Armband enforcers.
On the other side, Wang Jianguo and Yu Lanhua stood with the villagers, frantically signaling to Shen Nanchu with their eyes.
Jiang Shuyi and Song Qingyang lurked among the crowd, watching the spectacle unfold.
Spotting Shen Nanchu, Li Mei flashed a triumphant smirk.
"Captain Feng, this is Shen Nanchu."
The moment Feng Kangping laid eyes on her, his gaze froze.
Never in his life had he seen such a stunning educated youth.
Yet the thought that this beauty might have ties to foreign devils filled him with regret.
"You’re Shen Nanchu?"
"Our Revolutionary Committee has received reports that you’ve been in contact with foreigners.
Do you admit it or not?"
Standing on the steps, Shen Nanchu looked down at Feng Kangping and his Red Armband lackeys.
"Does your committee determine guilt by drawing lots? Or just by dreaming things up?"
Her retort left Feng Kangping and his men momentarily speechless.
After all, who didn’t bow and scrape when facing the Revolutionary Committee?
Someone this defiant was a first.
Any lingering sympathy vanished as Feng Kangping’s horse-like face hardened.
"Shen Nanchu, do you think I’m here to negotiate with you?"
"You think shouting loud enough turns lies into truth?"
Shen Nanchu had never lost an argument.
"You—!" Feng Kangping bristled. "Men, search the place!"
Crossing her arms, Shen Nanchu leaned against the doorframe and coldly motioned them in.
"Be my guest."
Her compliance caught them off guard.
"By the way… do you have a search warrant?"
The question made Feng Kangping falter.
Who bothered with warrants in such haste? The Committee never needed them anyway.
"None?"
Shen Nanchu straightened, descending the steps until she paused by a pile of discarded wood.
A hatchet was embedded in a log. She pulled it free, spinning it deftly in her hand.
"Then isn’t this illegal trespassing?"
"Wouldn’t self-defense be justified?"
Her expression sharpened as the hatchet swung down—
CRACK!
The log split cleanly in two.
Silence.
The crowd stood frozen, hearts pounding in their ears.
One swing—that was terrifying strength!
"Oh!" Shen Nanchu covered her mouth in mock surprise.
"My apologies. Slipped."
Holy hell!
A "slip" that cleaved wood in half? Another "slip" might just bisect a person!
With uncanny coordination, the villagers retreated beyond the courtyard fence, settling at a safe distance to spectate.
Wang Jianguo and Yu Lanhua exchanged glances.
Without hesitation, Yu Lanhua stepped behind Shen Nanchu.
Wang Jianguo, the notorious "henpecked husband," didn't dare hesitate and quickly scurried after his wife.
Now, only Li Mei, Feng Kangping, and their band of red-armband enforcers remained in the center of the yard.
Shen Nanchu crouched down and yanked the axe free.
Whoosh—
In the blink of an eye, the yard was completely deserted.
