"Time's up!" Yu Lanhua shouted loudly.
Feng Kangping looked anxiously at Jiang Shuyi and Song Qingyang. "Well? Did you find it?"
"No," Jiang Shuyi answered bitterly, shaking her head.
It was clearly placed there last night—how could it have vanished into thin air?
Feng Kangping turned to Song Qingyang.
Song Qingyang also shook his head.
Feng Kangping's expression darkened instantly.
Coming in high spirits only to leave in disappointment was not the outcome he wanted.
Moreover, this Shen Nanchu was no pushover—she was a force to be reckoned with.
"Captain Feng, can you clear my name now?"
Shen Nanchu's voice carried a hint of laziness, yet it was unexpectedly icy.
"O-of course," Feng Kangping forced a smile. He didn’t dare provoke this formidable woman.
After all this effort, were they really going to leave empty-handed?
Feng Kangping could already foresee the consequences awaiting him upon his return.
Just as he was agonizing over how to explain this failure to his superiors, Shen Nanchu spoke up again.
"Hmm? Comrade Jiang, why is there a letter with foreign stamps sticking out of your pocket?"
All eyes turned to Jiang Shuyi’s pocket.
Sure enough, the corner of an envelope peeked out.
Jiang Shuyi looked down—and felt as if she had been struck by lightning.
The letter they had planted to frame Shen Nanchu—how had it ended up in her own pocket?
H-how was this possible?
She reached to pull it out, but the Red Guards seized her arms before she could.
They didn’t dare lay a hand on that vicious woman, but this little educated youth? She was fair game.
The Red Guards finally felt a sense of vindication in restraining Jiang Shuyi.
Song Qingyang was caught completely off guard by this turn of events.
Could there be one in his pocket too?
He instinctively reached inside—and paled when his fingers brushed against paper.
"Oh? Comrade Song, what’s that in your pocket?"
The moment Shen Nanchu spoke, the Red Guards grabbed him too.
The letter in his pocket was swiftly confiscated by Feng Kangping.
"So you two were the real spies? How clever—playing the victim while being the culprit!"
Shen Nanchu’s clear eyes widened in mock realization.
"I get it—Comrade Song must have resented you after his unrequited love turned bitter," Yu Lanhua added, twisting the knife.
Wang Jianguo pondered. "Maybe Comrade Jiang was jealous of how pretty Comrade Shen is?"
The imaginative villagers of Wang Family Village nodded in agreement.
"A toad lusting after a swan."
"Jealousy turns women into monsters."
"Look in a chamber pot—see how ugly you really are."
The villagers took turns mocking Jiang Shuyi and Song Qingyang, dragging their reputations through the mud.
Song Qingyang panicked.
"Captain Feng, I’m innocent! My family has been poor farmers for three generations—red through and through! We’d never have anything to do with those foreign devils!"
"Save your explanations for the higher-ups."
Feng Kangping couldn’t care less.
As long as he had evidence and someone to arrest, he could report it as a success and claim credit.
Whether there was a misunderstanding? That wasn’t his problem—he wasn’t the police.
Song Qingyang kept pleading, refusing to give up.
Jiang Shuyi, however, remained eerily silent, offering no defense.
As Feng Kangping led them away, Jiang Shuyi glanced back at Shen Nanchu—her eyes burning with venom.
She had no idea how Shen Nanchu had slipped those letters into their pockets unnoticed.
This time, she had underestimated her opponent.
Fine. Shen Nanchu had won this round.
But she’d be waiting.
Even Li Mei, who had openly admired Song Qingyang, didn’t dare speak up amid the chaos.
She tried to slip back to the educated youth quarters unnoticed, but a nosy villager yanked her back.
"Comrade Li, why the hurry?"
"After falsely accusing Comrade Shen, don’t you have anything to say to her?"
Li Mei was shameless, but not stupid.
After witnessing Shen Nanchu’s ruthless retaliation today, she wasn’t about to provoke her further.
"I have nothing to say to her."
With that, she wrenched free and bolted like a startled rabbit.
……
The overcast sky finally released a light drizzle.
As the villagers dispersed, peace returned to the house.
Thud!
Shen Nanchu shut the courtyard gate and settled in to enjoy her solitude.
The second-floor balcony was well-built.
Thatched roofing kept it inconspicuous, while wooden railings, waist-high on three sides, offered privacy without blocking the view.
She pulled up the system’s exchange interface.
Total Dislike Points: 1,650
Shen Nanchu frowned.
"System, did you pocket the points I just earned?"
"Absolutely not!" The system quickly deflected. "The main server’s overloaded today—let me check."
It would never admit to getting distracted by the drama.
"Points added now."
"Congratulations, Host! You’ve gained 303 Dislike Points. Current total: 1,953."
Shen Nanchu finally smiled in satisfaction.
Scrolling to the food section, she went straight to the bottom.
[Ultimate Luxury Hot Pot Set]
"Confirm exchange for 1,888 Dislike Points?"
[Yes] [No]
Without hesitation, she clicked Yes.
In an instant, an extravagant hot pot feast materialized before her.
A dual-flavor broth, A5 Wagyu slices, handmade Kobe beef balls, freshly killed Ise lobster, just-dug black truffles, tender pea shoots…
The table groaned under the lavish spread, each dish more mouthwatering than the last.
The set even included a self-heating pot, sparing her any effort.
Six seconds in the boiling broth, dipped in rich sauce—pure bliss.
Paired with chilled plum juice, it was a feast fit for royalty.
Good food, a beautiful view, and a stunning host—perfection.
Was this really her usually stingy host?
No hesitation over 1,888 points?
The system gaped, then quietly snapped its jaw shut.
It made a mental note to update her profile: Hidden Trait—Ruthless Foodie. Will splurge recklessly for good meals.
While Shen Nanchu indulged in luxury, Pei Zhengnian’s group suffered on the train, gnawing on dry, tasteless buns.
Due to the political climate, they were crammed into hard seats—narrow, uncomfortable, and surrounded by dubious characters. The carriage reeked of sweat and unwashed feet.
Pei Yunxi barely touched her food, her appetite gone.
Grandma Pei, too, struggled. Having lived a sheltered life, she found this sudden hardship hard to swallow.
Pei Zhengnian watched his parents—Father Pei aged overnight, Pei’s Mother worn down—and his usual composure wavered.
The entire Pei family was subdued.
If the journey was this bad, what awaited them in the countryside?
Things would only get worse.
The future seemed bleak and uncertain.
……
