Turns Out I’m the Villain They’re Supposed to Redeem? [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 38.2

To her surprise, as soon as she squeezed into the crowd, Huo Yuwan realized the gossip was actually about her.

Widow Sun was wailing as she sat on the ground, her son Sun Xuedong sitting blankly beside her, playing with mud. Village Party Secretary Wang Yushu stood nearby with a troubled expression.

It turned out that after being turned away the day before, Widow Sun hadn’t given up. Early this morning, she had waylaid Wang Yushu again, deliberately cornering him outside his home so he couldn’t pretend not to see her.

She wept bitterly, clutching Wang Yushu’s leg as she lamented how difficult her life was and how desperately she needed help. Since it was the time when villagers were heading out to the fields, she successfully drew everyone’s attention. Nearly half of Shihe Village had gathered around.

Feng Shanshan, who was also on her way to work, felt a pang of sympathy. The plight of the widow and her orphaned son moved her. Besides, the family she was currently staying with already looked down on her…

With that thought, she stepped forward.

Instantly, all eyes turned to Feng Shanshan.

Kneeling beside Widow Sun, she said softly, “Auntie, please don’t cry. I’m willing to come to your house and help.”

Widow Sun paused her sobbing and subtly sized up Feng Shanshan’s appearance and figure.

Originally, she had hoped for a male educated youth, someone stronger for labor, but a female wasn’t bad either. She could be kept for her son to marry someday.

Though Feng Shanshan wasn’t as striking as Li Xuzhi, whom she had taken a liking to the day before, she was still prettier than most girls in the village. With that thought, Widow Sun stopped crying abruptly and grabbed Feng Shanshan’s wrist, startling her.

Springing to her feet, Widow Sun marched up to Wang Yushu and said with a pout, “She’s the one who volunteered to come to my house. You have nothing to say now, do you?”

Wang Yushu looked at the two with a headache, then glanced toward the Liu Xing family in the crowd, Feng Shanshan had originally been assigned to their household.

Liu Xing, a tall, burly man in a sweat-soaked undershirt, stepped forward. As he passed Huo Yuwan, he flashed a grin at her, revealing a set of yellowed teeth.

Huo Yuwan, momentarily blinded by the sight, instinctively took a step back.

He strode to the center of the crowd and declared righteously, “I disagree. Comrade Feng was assigned to my family. There’s no reason for her to leave halfway.”

Then, turning to Feng Shanshan, he boomed, “Don’t be fooled by her. This old woman is wicked, just a few days ago, she nearly got Yuwan killed. If you go to her house, she’ll skin you alive!”

Huo Yuwan, who had been enjoying the spectacle, felt awkward hearing her name brought up. Why drag her into this when he was trying to persuade someone?

She also couldn’t understand Feng Shanshan’s decision. She hadn’t even had enough to eat at Liu Xing’s house, if she moved to Widow Sun’s, wouldn’t she starve to death?

Widow Sun flew into a rage upon hearing this. Pointing at Huo Yuwan in the crowd, she snapped, “Who harmed her? She’s alive and well, isn’t she?”

Perhaps wanting to impress Huo Yuwan, Liu Xing crossed his arms and spoke protectively, “That’s only because Yuwan was lucky to survive! You saw her faint on the mountain and did nothing to help. And you still have the nerve to covet her house, showing no regard for your fellow villager? That’s no different from trying to harm her!”

Once again being publicly criticized in front of everyone, Widow Sun’s old face flushed bright red with shame. Without a second thought, she grabbed Feng Shanshan’s hand and tried to turn away and leave.

But before anyone could even intervene, Feng Shanshan herself shook off Widow Sun’s grip and ran behind Liu Xing.

With her head lowered, she said in a voice full of shame, “I… I’m not going back with you…”

After listening for a while, she finally realized that the person she had wanted to help actually had a grudge against Huo Yuwan. If she were to follow Widow Sun now, how could she ever face staying at Huo Yuwan’s house again?

Widow Sun grew even more frantic upon hearing this. Her eyes widened as she tried to grab Feng Shanshan, but she was blocked by the tall and sturdy Liu Xing.

As he held her back, he glanced over at Huo Yuwan, grinning cheerfully.

“Yuwan, don’t you worry! If anyone ever bullies you again, I, Liu Xing, will be the first to stand up to them!”

Huo Yuwan, who was already regretting coming to watch the commotion, wore a complicated expression. She forced a faint smile, then immediately lowered her head and discreetly tugged at Li Xuzhi’s sleeve, pulling her away from the crowd.

“Let’s go, let’s go! What’s there to see? Time to get back to work…”

Li Xuzhi let herself be led away by the corner of her clothes, her gaze lingering on Huo Yuwan’s retreating figure the entire time.

Perhaps sensing the intensity of her stare, Huo Yuwan turned her head and touched it lightly. Their eyes met, and Huo Yuwan flashed her a bright, sparkling smile.

That radiant smile under the morning sun, along with her lively and cheerful demeanor, made it hard for Li Xuzhi to believe that just days ago, Huo Yuwan had nearly lost her life. If she hadn’t heard it with her own ears, she would never have imagined it.

Pursing her lips, Li Xuzhi averted her gaze, her lowered eyes revealing a trace of confusion.

So it was true, there really were people in this world who could remain sunny and positive no matter what they faced.

When her own family had fallen into misfortune, Li Xuzhi had been too afraid to even step outside. She faced constant ostracism and pointed fingers, her heart filled with fear and helplessness.

When she learned she was being sent to the countryside for re-education, she had felt a glimmer of hope, thinking it might be a fresh start. But reality proved far harsher than she had imagined.

The moment the village party secretary read out her background, the sudden silence from the villagers made Li Xuzhi realize: a person marked by mistakes would be seen as wrong no matter where they went.

Yet, just as she was struggling to maintain a facade of calm, Huo Yuwan had stood up with a bright smile and warmly welcomed her.

No one could possibly understand the relief Li Xuzhi had felt in that moment.

She had initially thought that Huo Yuwan was simply too young and naive to understand the world. But as they spent more time together, she realized that despite being younger, Huo Yuwan was remarkably mature in her actions and interactions.

Though she lived alone, her home was impeccably tidy and well-managed.

No matter what hardships she had endured, she always maintained an optimistic and cheerful personality.

So different from herself.

…

Some time later, after the busy farming season had passed, the village party secretary gathered the educated youths together. He planned to select a few with higher education levels to serve as teachers in the village school. As soon as the news broke, the educated youths were all invigorated, this was the first piece of good news they had heard since arriving.

All three educated youths from Huo Yuwan’s home had gone to the village elementary school for the gathering. Distractedly preparing dinner as she waited for them, Huo Yuwan wondered whether Li Xuzhi would be selected. If she could become a teacher, life would undoubtedly be easier for her.

She deftly plucked and cleaned the wild chicken she had caught in the mountains the night before, then carefully separated and prepared the giblets.

The pheasant meat wasn’t very good, so Huo Yuwan stuffed the whole bird into a pot to make soup, then separately stir-fried the giblets with garlic sprouts and red chili peppers.

After scooping the fried giblets into a bowl, Huo Yuwan glanced out the window. Why wasn’t he back yet?

The fox spirit drooling by the stove where the chicken soup was simmering noticed her concern. “Master, why don’t you go check? I’ll watch the house.”

Huo Yuwan shot the fox spirit a look, exasperated by the puddle of drool on the floor. She poked some stewed chicken into its dog bowl with chopsticks, removed two logs from the stove to let the soup simmer over low heat, and headed straight for the village school.

On the way, she passed several educated youths walking back in groups. As she went by, she overheard their conversation.

“I thought we’d get the position as soon as we arrived. I didn’t expect we’d have to do trial lectures.”

“Wishful thinking. There are so many of us educated youths, and the school only needs three teachers. How could they take all of us?”

“You’re usually so articulate, how come you couldn’t speak during the trial lecture?”

“I… I was nervous…”

“It’s all elementary school material. What’s there to be nervous about?”

“Weren’t you stammering too?”

“…”

Sighing dejectedly, the group gradually moved away. Huo Yuwan stood still, lost in thought.

She hadn’t expected the village party secretary to be so thorough, even considering the trial lecture aspect. Not spotting Li Xuzhi among those returning, she guessed he must have a good chance. In the story’s plot, Li Xuzhi had a high school education in this world, becoming a teacher should be a breeze for him.

With that in mind, Huo Yuwan continued toward the school. Grains left out to dry by the villagers during the day still lay on the path, and the evening sky was tinged with orange and red.

The village elementary school consisted of three dilapidated brick-and-tile buildings in a row. Huo Yuwan headed toward the first room, from which voices could be heard.

Inside the dimly lit classroom, five or six people were crowded together. As Huo Yuwan entered, she nearly collided with a male educated youth who was on his way out. His expression was grim, and she surmised he hadn’t passed the trial lecture either.

Six double desks were arranged in the classroom. Huo Yuwan spotted Li Xuzhi seated in the second row. Their eyes met briefly, but before they could even smile, Li Xuzhi stood up, picked up a piece of chalk from the front desk, and began writing on the blackboard.

Huo Yuwan promptly took his vacated seat, placing her arms neatly on the desk as if ready to listen attentively. When Li Xuzhi turned around after writing a passage from an elementary school textbook on the board, he was momentarily taken aback by her posture, then lowered his gaze with a subtle, unnoticed smile.

During his trial lecture, Li Xuzhi spoke calmly and clearly, unhurriedly explaining a short passage. Huo Yuwan was the first to applaud. “Teacher Li, that was amazing!” she exclaimed, her eyes crinkling into smiles.

The village party secretary and others below the platform were somewhat bemused by her enthusiasm but joined in with scattered applause.

“Thank you,” Li Xuzhi said softly as he set down the chalk, his tone still carrying a hint of aloofness.

“Comrade Li indeed did quite well…” Wang Yushu remarked gently, then gestured for the other educated youths who had finished their trial lectures and were waiting for results to stand up.

Four educated youths remained, two men and two women, which meant one person would have to be eliminated.

Looking at one of the male youths dressed in a white shirt, Wang Yushu weighed his words carefully before speaking, “The village currently only needs three teachers, so Comrade Yang, you may return for now…”

Frowning as he interrupted, Yang Nanjun said coldly, “Why should I be the one to leave?”

Knowing he was agitated, Wang Yushu tried to soothe him with an explanation, “Based on our overall assessment, Comrade Yang, you are indeed less suitable for teaching compared to the other three comrades.”

With a disdainful snort, Yang Nanjun glanced at Li Xuzhi, who stood quietly to the side without uttering a word, then remarked pointedly, “I may have my shortcomings, but I’m surely better than her, aren’t I? Are you certain the villagers would feel comfortable entrusting their children to someone like her for education?”

“Aren’t you afraid they’ll be led astray?” he mocked.