As soon as Tian Xiaolan heard that, she reached out to grab Su Cen’s bag. Su Cen reacted instantly—she grabbed Tian Xiaolan’s arm with her backhand and flung it hard to the side.

“Bang!”

Tian Xiaolan cried out and fell to the ground.

The surroundings fell silent in an instant.

Su Cen rubbed her hand. Although she had trained in sanda for several years, aside from sparring during practice, this was her first time using it in a real situation. She hadn’t controlled her strength well—just now, she had almost failed to throw her.

She glanced at Zhang Yingying, who had opened her mouth as if to say something, and said coolly, “If you keep talking nonsense, I don’t mind letting you try it too.”

Tian Xiaolan got up, rubbing the spot where she had fallen. Her shrill voice made people’s ears ache. “You actually hit me? Pay up! Otherwise this won’t be over!”

“You tried to snatch my things—this is self-defense. And just so happens, I don’t want to let this go either. The commune office is right ahead. Let’s bring up what you did yesterday—going through our belongings—and have the leaders judge it.”

Su Cen actually hated dealing with this kind of trouble, but some people were like flies—buzzing around endlessly. If she didn’t make it clear she wasn’t someone to mess with, it would never stop.

Seeing that Su Cen really intended to report it to the commune, Tian Xiaolan panicked. “Hey, hey, forget it! I won’t argue with you!”

The others watching nearby looked at Tian Xiaolan with disdain.

At this moment, the straightforward, short-haired Aunt Xiuying stepped forward. She took Su Cen’s hand and spoke gently:

“Xiao Su, I know you’ve been wronged. I’m the team leader’s wife—how about I stand up for you?”

Su Cen glanced at the hand holding hers and replied calmly, “Auntie, to be honest, I don’t want to cause trouble for the production team either.

But this educated youth Tian rummaged through my belongings and others’ luggage in the educated youth dorm yesterday, and just now she tried to snatch my bag. If I keep tolerating it, tomorrow she might treat all my things as her own.”

She then looked at Zhang Yingying and spoke slowly:

“And Zhang—you keep saying things that make people misunderstand. I don’t think I’ve offended you. On the train, you hinted that I had bourgeois habits, and just now you told everyone I’m well-off. I want to ask—why do you say these things?”

Everyone’s attention shifted to Zhang Yingying.

Zhang Yingying’s eyes flickered with panic, though she tried to appear calm. “I… I was just speaking casually. Su Zhiqing, why are you taking it so seriously?”

The more she spoke, the more she felt she was right—it was such a small matter, yet Su Cen was making a big deal out of it.

Su Cen let out a short laugh. “Speaking casually?”

Her gaze rested on Zhang Yingying, her tone steady. “Then I’ll also casually say something to everyone—that you’re always eyeing other people’s food and packages, constantly jealous of those better off than you, that whenever you see a well-off man—”

She paused for a few seconds, not finishing her sentence, then looked at Zhang Yingying. “Should I keep going?”

Zhang Yingying’s face instantly turned pale. Tears welled in her eyes, and her voice sounded extremely aggrieved. “Su Zhiqing, I only said you had good conditions, nothing else… how can you slander me like this?”

Tian Xiaolan shrank to the side, trying to make herself less noticeable.

Su Cen stared straight at Zhang Yingying until she guiltily looked away, then continued, “You know very well what you’re thinking.”

If Li Zhaodi had been there today, Su Cen would’ve confronted her too.

Seeing the situation, Aunt Xiuying’s expression turned serious. She said sternly to Zhang Yingying and Tian Xiaolan:

“For what happened today, both of you must apologize to Xiao Su. If this happens again, Xiao Su will report it to the commune leaders, and whatever punishment comes, I won’t interfere.”

Aunt Xiuying thought to herself that if she weren’t worried about the issue affecting her husband, she wouldn’t bother dealing with them.

Zhang Yingying felt unwilling, thinking Su Cen had blown things out of proportion and embarrassed her.

But with the team leader’s wife stepping in and so many people watching, she had no choice but to speak, her voice as soft as a mosquito’s buzz:

“Su Zhiqing… I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have spoken carelessly.”

Her face flushed red, then pale. She sat to the side, wiping away tears.

She looked so pitiful that it almost seemed like she was the one who had been wronged, making Ye Chunsheng, who stood nearby, feel sorry for her. He opened his mouth as if to speak, but after seeing Su Cen’s earlier actions, he didn’t dare.

Aunt Xiuying then turned to Tian Xiaolan, her tone stern. “And you, Tian Xiaolan—if you’re caught rummaging through others’ belongings again, the team will report you directly to the authorities.”

“Su Zhiqing, sorry!” Tian Xiaolan said, though her tone carried no sincerity.

Seeing more and more people returning, Su Cen didn’t want to drag this out. With a cold expression, she said to the two of them, “For Auntie’s sake, I’ll let this go today. Don’t provoke me again.”

Then she turned and smiled lightly at Aunt Xiuying. “Thank you, Auntie, for standing up for me!”

Aunt Xiuying, seeing that she was polite and sensible, returned to her usual cheerful demeanor. “Ah, what a good girl! If anything happens in the future, come to me—I’ll back you up.”

“Thank you, Auntie!” Su Cen returned to her seat.

After the excitement ended, everyone gradually climbed back onto the tractor and found their seats.

“Put-put-put—” The tractor started moving again.

To the village women, this was just a bit of passing entertainment, quickly forgotten.

But for the other educated youths present, it left a deep impression.

Previously, their impression of Su Cen was that she was the youngest in the dorm, wore glasses, looked refined and quiet, didn’t talk much, and seemed a bit distant—though polite, always nodding in greeting when she saw others.

They hadn’t expected her to be so tough. That one throw of Tian Xiaolan had stunned everyone.

When others argued, they usually spoke indirectly—but Su Cen directly tore off Zhang Yingying’s facade.

Su Cen didn’t care about others’ opinions. She thought that after this incident, no one would dare to provoke her anytime soon.

The aunties soon resumed their lively chatter:

“What good things did you all find at the market today?”

“What else could there be? Just the usual stuff!”

“I saw new soap at the cooperative—it smelled amazing!”

“Did you buy any? Let me smell it!”

“Buy it? I’d rather spend that money on meat!”

“Oh dear, I forgot to buy soy sauce. Second Sister-in-law, lend me some later—I’ll return it next market day.”

“Sure, bring a bottle to my place later.”

Listening to these everyday conversations about food and necessities, Su Cen felt her heart gradually calm down.

When they returned to the village and got off the tractor, Lin Jiajia walked up to her, eyes shining.

“Su Cen, you were amazing! When I saw the team leader’s wife step in, Xiuqin and I didn’t go over.”

“I was just fed up with them and couldn’t hold back,” Su Cen said, carrying her things as they walked together.

“If it were me, I probably wouldn’t dare say anything. How can I be as brave as you?” Lin Jiajia sighed.

Su Cen smiled. “Being as straightforward as me can easily offend people.”

Lin Jiajia shook her head. “I think you’re great like this. When I run into things like that, I just want to hide and don’t dare say anything.”

Gao Xiuqin nodded. “I agree. Life as an educated youth in the countryside isn’t easy. If you’re too soft, you’ll get bullied.”

Su Cen smiled helplessly but didn’t explain further.

When they reached the entrance of the educated youth courtyard, Gao Xiuqin said to them, “Go tidy up your things today. Rest well tomorrow. The day after tomorrow, we officially start work.”

“Alright, I’ll head back first,” Su Cen said as she parted from them and walked toward her small hut.