Chapter 33: Of Course I Have Evidence

Wen Zhuqing’s gaze was as cold and sharp as an arrow as it landed on Gu Jianing. “It was Comrade Gu Jianing who asked me to come here today.”

Everyone’s eyes widened as they turned to look at Gu Jianing, but she simply pressed her lips together, her expression calm as ever.

But...

Out of the corner of her eye, she suddenly noticed a man standing next to her—she didn’t even know when he’d arrived. She was slightly surprised. When did Sheng Zexi get here?

Wen Zhuqing had also noticed Sheng Zexi. When he mentioned Gu Jianing, the man’s eyes darkened, and he shot Wen Zhuqing a cold, piercing look. In that instant, Wen Zhuqing felt as if he’d been targeted by a wild beast, his scalp tingling with unease.

He was certain this man had blood on his hands.

Knowing that Sheng Zexi was a military officer, Wen Zhuqing understood that, if possible, it would be best not to confront him head-on.

But right now, he had no choice.

Even if he had really slept with Bao Shanyan, he didn’t want to marry her.

If he had to marry someone from Huaishu Village, he wanted it to be Gu Jianing.

Ignoring Sheng Zexi’s murderous glare, he continued, “Everyone knows that Comrade Gu Jianing used to like me.”

“Yesterday, she passed me a note. On it, she wrote that she still liked me, and that the reason she’d been meeting with others and gotten engaged was because her family forced her.”

“So, she asked me to come here to discuss things with me, because she still wanted to be with me.”

“But when I arrived, it was Comrade Bao Shanyan I saw. She immediately covered my mouth and nose with a drugged handkerchief.”

“When she finally let go, I’d already lost my senses.”

“That’s why… that’s why what happened, happened.”

To be schemed against by two women and lose his innocence—Wen Zhuqing, who always prided himself on being clever and outsmarting others, found this utterly humiliating.

But now, he had to expose this humiliation himself.

“Everyone knows how strong Bao Shanyan is. Forget about me—even a crazed wild boar couldn’t escape her grip.”

“But she didn’t fight back. So this was all a setup by the two of them.”

“Accuse me of being a hooligan? Fine, call the police. I want the police and the commune leaders to see this too. We educated youth came to the countryside to support construction, but you people set us up and persecute us like this. Are you openly going against national policy?”

Wen Zhuqing was just short of outright accusing the villagers of Huaishu Village of rebellion.

Even if he didn’t say it directly, his words still placed a huge, damning label on them.

With his imposing presence and righteous, unflinching demeanor, his momentum surged, and some of the villagers started to panic.

“That’s right, Gu Jianing used to chase after Comrade Wen all the time. We all saw it.”

“How could Comrade Wen possibly like Bao Shanyan? Anyone with a brain would know that’s impossible.”

“So it turns out you villagers are trying to frame our educated youth. It’s Comrade Wen who’s the real victim, and you’re turning the tables on him!”

“No, we have to report this to the commune and the police. We can’t let the educated youth be bullied like this. How are we supposed to survive here?”

The educated youth, men and women alike, were all righteously indignant, speaking up for Wen Zhuqing.

Most of the female educated youth liked Wen Zhuqing and naturally didn’t want to see him end up with Bao Shanyan, nor did they want him to be arrested.

As for the male educated youth, many were jealous of Wen Zhuqing. They thought it would serve him right to end up with Bao Shanyan, even if it was a setup.

But Wen Zhuqing’s words made sense to them.

They were already in a vulnerable position here. If Wen Zhuqing could be set up like this and it worked, what was to stop them from being next?

So, even if they were jealous or disliked Wen Zhuqing, for their own sake, they had to side with him.

This was Wen Zhuqing’s cunning—he knew that feelings and relationships were all fake; only interests were real.

Now, some of the villagers were starting to panic. Old Man Gu and the village party secretary both frowned. This was stirring up conflict between the educated youth and the villagers—a label this big couldn’t be pinned on them.

Sheng Zexi frowned, his face dark, and took a step forward, as if to say something.

But Gu Jianing tugged at his sleeve.

She gave him a look that said, Trust me, and then stepped forward to confront Wen Zhuqing.

“Comrade Wen, you say I used to chase after you, but it wasn’t because I liked you. It was because my father asked me to look after you educated youth, so I went to your quarters more often. I never thought it would be misunderstood like this.”

“But, Comrade Wen, I really don’t like you. Not only am I engaged, I’ve already registered my marriage with Brother Sheng. We love each other. I, Gu Jianing, am not a fickle woman—I would never do what you just claimed.”

“You say Yan Zi and I set you up, but you can’t just decide that based on your own words.”

“Even the police need evidence and witnesses to handle a case.”

“You say I met you yesterday—did anyone see it? And that note—if it really exists, can you show it to everyone?”

“You also say Yan Zi drugged you—where’s the handkerchief? Is there any drug residue left on it? We can ask Uncle Zhang to check it.”

“That would clear everything up.”

“If things are really as you say, then of course Yan Zi and I are at fault. But if not, then your harassment of Yan Zi is a fact. We villagers of Huaishu Village may not be as educated as you, but we know right from wrong and we can demand justice.”

“Good!” Gu Jianing’s words were logical and well-founded. As soon as she finished, the villagers all nodded and applauded.

Sheng Zexi’s gaze fell on his little girl. Sunlight shone on her, as if she were bathed in a halo, making her shine so brightly he couldn’t look away.

He could see the confidence and composure in her eyes.

He had wanted to speak up, but now he decided to hold back for the moment.

Maybe he could trust her to handle this herself.

“That’s right, Comrade Wen, show us your evidence.”

“Yes, witnesses and physical evidence speak for themselves.”

Zhao Weihong and Li Juan were about to say something, but Gu Jianing shot them a look. “If anyone is thinking of giving false testimony, you’d better consider the consequences.”

At that, Zhao Weihong and Li Juan hesitated, and quickly stepped back.

Wen Zhuqing stared at Gu Jianing in a daze. He had never seen her so sharp-tongued before, and it confirmed for him that her previous affection for him had been an act.

He didn’t understand how Gu Jianing could be so confident, so unflustered. Did she really think he couldn’t produce evidence?

He might not have a witness, but he did have physical evidence.

And that evidence was right in his pocket—no one could have taken it.

He reached into his pocket and felt the folded note, breathing a sigh of relief.

“Of course I have evidence.” As he spoke, Wen Zhuqing took out the folded note from his pocket."