Chapter 33: Xu Le-Cheng Has Secretly Run Away!

Upon hearing this, Yan Ziyue and Xiao Heshuo exchanged a look, both realizing that this entire situation was a scheme orchestrated by Xu Lecheng.

Yan Ziyue’s hatred for Xu Lecheng intensified. To discard Zhang Qingqing and her husband, Yan Zhuangshi, this piece of trash had actually stooped to framing another educated youth.

The other educated youths had also sensed something was wrong and exchanged wary glances.

"Wen An, are you saying you suddenly felt unwell this morning and went back to your room to rest?" the team leader of the educated youths asked.

Wen An was the youth who wore glasses. Upon hearing this, his expression darkened, and he clenched his hands so tightly his knuckles cracked. "I drank a glass of water this morning and suddenly felt dizzy."

"Leader, I told you before I went back to my room to rest."

"After I got back, I collapsed onto my bed. I have no idea if anyone entered my room while I was out." He gritted his teeth in fury. "Leader, I suspect Xu Lecheng set me up!"

At first, he had thought Zhang Qingqing was trying to trap him to find a new target. Now he realized the entire thing was Xu Lecheng’s doing.

The team leader looked around and shouted angrily, "Where is Xu Lecheng?"

None of the educated youths present knew where he had gone.

"I saw him this morning, but I don't know where he went after that."

"I saw him greeting Zhang Qingqing at the door. They went into the room together, and after that, I have no idea."

The team leader asked a female youth to go inside and talk to Zhang Qingqing. "Ask her if she ate or drank anything while she was with Xu Lecheng, and what exactly happened."

The female youth hurried inside to find Zhang Qingqing. The team leader then instructed the others to search everywhere for Xu Lecheng and ask the villagers if they had seen him. Only then did he turn his attention to Yan Ziyue and Xiao Heshuo. "Are you two also here looking for Xu Lecheng?"

Yan Ziyue nodded, frowning. "I am here to get my money back from him. He borrowed a large sum of money and valuable items from me—over four hundred yuan in total. I told him to pay back four hundred, and today was the deadline."

The team leader was stunned. "Over four hundred yuan?!"

That was a huge sum of money, more than many families in town could produce. He couldn't believe Xu Lecheng had the audacity to borrow that much from Yan Ziyue. He finally understood why Xu Lecheng had been living so comfortably as an educated youth, buying whatever he wanted. It turned out he was funding his lavish lifestyle by swindling women out of their money.

Seeing his shock, Yan Ziyue took Xiao Heshuo’s hand and explained, "That money and those goods were all earned through my husband’s hard work."

"I was foolish before, deceived by Xu Lecheng’s hypocritical, honeyed words. I used my husband’s money and belongings to help him, and he knew about it. Now that I’m no longer confused, I’m here to take it back."

After hearing this, the team leader cursed Xu Lecheng for a long time, saying that calling him an animal was an insult to animals. The man was truly repulsive.

"No wonder he’s been acting so strange these past two days; he was busy plotting all this." He blamed himself for not being more vigilant.

Yan Ziyue comforted him, "Team leader, you can't be blamed for this. No one expected Xu Lecheng to do something this heinous."

"Leader!" The female youth ran back to the team leader, speaking rapidly. "I just spoke with Zhang Qingqing."

"She said she drank a glass of water in Xu Lecheng’s room and felt dizzy shortly after. When she woke up, she was lying on the bed with Wen An." Her face was full of outrage. "Leader, it’s obvious that Xu Lecheng drugged Zhang Qingqing and deliberately placed her in Wen An’s room. Xu Lecheng is truly vicious!"

Just then, a male youth ran back. "Leader, I found out where Xu Lecheng went!"

"Some villagers said they saw him leaving about half an hour ago, carrying large bags and luggage, catching a ride out of here! He must be trying to flee back home!"

This happened quite often; some educated youths couldn't handle the rural conditions, couldn't endure the hardship, or had other reasons, so they would sneak away back home. Some of those who fled would be punished or sent back, while others managed to pull strings to obtain permits to return to the city.

The team leader’s rage flared up. As he ran toward the clinic, he shouted, "I’m going to the clinic to call the town police and have them catch Xu Lecheng!"

"You all go to Xu Lecheng’s room and see if he left anything behind."

Several youths rushed into Xu Lecheng’s room to search. Yan Ziyue and Xiao Heshuo remained where they were.

"Husband, shall we head back?"

Given the situation, it was uncertain if the educated youth team would be able to catch Xu Lecheng. Just as Xiao Heshuo was about to speak, he saw Yan’s father and Zhang Juhua rushing over and immediately pulled Yan Ziyue behind him.

"Qingqing! My poor Qingqing!" Zhang Juhua began wailing about how miserable her daughter was, as if her daughter were the only victim. She and Yan’s father had heard from villagers that something might have happened to Zhang Qingqing and had rushed over in a panic, not expecting to see Yan Ziyue and Xiao Heshuo here.

"Yan Ziyue, did you harm Qingqing again?" Yan’s father stared at Yan Ziyue with murderous intent, but he didn't dare step forward due to his fear of Xiao Heshuo.

Yan Ziyue sneered, "Yan Zhuangshi, do you think I would dirty my hands to harm Zhang Qingqing? Who does she think she is?"

Yan’s father was convinced she was behind it and spat bitterly, "Yan Ziyue, I’m telling you, if anything happens to Qingqing..."

"Hmm?" Xiao Heshuo uttered a single, simple syllable.

It was like a bucket of ice water poured over Yan’s father, making him shiver uncontrollably. "I... I meant, we need to investigate this matter thoroughly so that no one is wrongly accused."

Xiao Heshuo’s gaze was icy. "Yan Zhuangshi, if I hear you say another bad word to Yan Ziyue, I will hang you from that tree in the center of the village. And I’ll strip you naked while I'm at it."

Yan’s father felt humiliated and furious, but he dared not speak. "I promise I won't say another bad word to Yan Ziyue. Now, let’s go check on Qingqing."

Xiao Heshuo ignored him. He turned to Yan Ziyue, his tone softening, "Let’s go back. This has nothing to do with us."

Yan Ziyue didn't want to get involved either, so she took his hand, and they started to walk away.

Suddenly, "Yan Ziyue, you bitch, you framed me!" Zhang Qingqing, with her hair disheveled, lunged at Yan Ziyue, claws reaching for her face. "I’ll kill you!"

Before Yan Ziyue could react, Xiao Heshuo pulled her behind him and kicked Zhang Qingqing away.

*Thud!*

Zhang Qingqing hit the ground hard, howling in pain.

"Qingqing!" Zhang Juhua hurried over to help her up, heartbroken. "Qingqing, are you alright?"

Clutching her chest, Zhang Qingqing wailed, "Mom, it was that bitch Yan Ziyue who framed me! She wanted to steal Lecheng, so she used this vicious method to ruin me! You have to help me get revenge!"

Yan Ziyue laughed, mocking her, "Why would I want a piece of trash like Xu Lecheng when I have such a wonderful husband?"