My Rescuer's Fire Revealed His True Dark Plans

The educated youth dormitory was on fire. Zhou Weiguo ignored everyone's attempts to stop him and rushed into the blaze like a madman to save me. Just as I was deeply moved, I suddenly saw bullet screen comments floating before my eyes.

【This is too despicable! The male lead is seriously ill himself. To avoid dragging down his pregnant 'white moonlight,' he set the fire himself and then pretended to save someone, just to use the debt of saving a life to make the female lead willingly stay! Despicable!】

【Poor female lead—right after marriage, her husband becomes paralyzed, and she spends her whole life burdened by the debt of his saving her, serving him like cattle and horses!】

【Meanwhile, the 'white moonlight' steals her spot, secretly has the baby, goes to college and finds a good job. Tsk, what a tragedy!】

I looked at Bai Zhuzhen, whom I had already dragged to the doorway, and let go of her hand.

Chapter 1

【The female lead truly has it hard. After marriage, she not only has to care for the scumbag, but the money she earns is secretly sent by the scumbag to the 'white moonlight' who's in college.】

【Right, right! Not only does she support the male lead's family but also puts the 'white moonlight' through college. A whole bunch of people leeching off her back. Finally, when she's served the male lead until he's about to die, he sets another fire to kill himself and the female lead, just to leave the house to his son. Tsk.】

Seeing that Zhou Weiguo was about to rush in, I let go of Bai Zhuzhen's hand, took a few steps back, and then covered my mouth and nose to hide under the bed.

"Lihua? Lihua?"

I saw Zhou Weiguo rush in, look around for me without finding anyone, and hesitate about whether to go out, but then he tripped and nearly fell. "Lihua, I finally found you! Huh? Baixue? Baixue, wake up! Baixue!"

Zhou Weiguo held Baixue in his arms and rushed out in a panic. I struggled to crawl out from under the bed and was about to rush outside when a roof beam above, having lost its support, came crashing down. I hugged my head and pressed tightly against the wall.

【Sweetie, hurry! Back up! Back up! The window at the back is burning and has fallen out. Get out through the window, quick!】

【Right, right! The window is low. You just need to climb up a bit. Quick!】

【Quick, quick! That way you can avoid being entangled by the scumbag's fate. Go, sweetie, go!】

I bit my lip and decided to trust the bullet screen comments, turning back to retreat. The fire behind was much worse than in front. If not for my trust in those bullet screen comments, I would never have turned and rushed into the sea of fire.

I choked until I could barely open my eyes, but finally saw the window position mentioned in the comments. Sure enough, the wooden window had already fallen. Without hesitation, I rushed toward it, grabbed the window edge, jumped, and rolled outside the educated youth dormitory.

I ran to the riverside and quickly washed my face clean.

Chapter 2

Combining the bullet screen comments, I roughly pieced together my life story. I was the protagonist of a book, just with a miserable fate. I was schemed into staying behind, while Zhou Weiguo and Baixue were already having an affair.

Because Zhou Weiguo was ill, he couldn't bear to drag Baixue down, so they schemed together to make me stay. Baixue stole my spot to go to college. I would be trapped here for life, burdened by the debt of saving Zhou Weiguo's life to care for him. The money I earned not only went to support Baixue through college but also supported their child.

By my thirties, Zhou Weiguo would be gravely ill. For the sake of the house, he would set another fire to burn me to death. This was my entire life.

My hand washing my face suddenly paused. So, his previous acts of helping me were all part of his scheme too? Because he had helped me twice, I had developed some fondness for him. Today, relying on that fondness, he schemed against me again.

If not for the bullet screen warnings, I really might have stayed to care for Zhou Weiguo and even married him because of today's life-saving debt!

I narrowed my eyes and quickly finished washing my face. Then I ran to the mountains to gather firewood before rushing back to the educated youth dormitory. Words come from Zhou Weiguo's mouth, and I was afraid that even though he didn't save me, he would still use this incident against me later. Public opinion could be dangerous, and I absolutely couldn't let myself be trapped for life by so-called gratitude like those in the bullet screen comments described.

Chapter 3

By the time I ran back to the educated youth dormitory panting with firewood on my back, Zhou Weiguo's voice indeed rang out loudly. "It's okay, my injuries aren't serious. As long as Lihua is okay."

"Lihua..."

My heart tightened, and I pushed through the crowd to rush in. But I saw Zhou Weiguo holding the still-unconscious Baixue. Although he was looking at Baixue, he said he rushed into the fire for my sake.

My heart grew cold, and I quickly said: "Wow, Comrade Zhou, you saved Bai Zhishi? You're truly amazing!"

When Zhou Weiguo saw me, he looked dazed, thinking I was still inside and hadn't come out. How did I come in from outside instead?

He opened his mouth to speak. I continued: "Comrade Zhou, what's wrong with Bai Zhishi? Oh! She's fainted! Quick, everyone, lend a hand. Take Bai Zhishi to the hospital, quick!"

The bullet screen comments had mentioned that Baixue was already secretly pregnant by now, so sending her to the hospital was definitely the right move. This way, her pregnancy couldn't be hidden.

When Zhou Weiguo heard that Baixue was to be taken to the hospital, he looked panicked. "No, no, there's no need..."

I pushed Zhou Weiguo aside and had everyone lift Baixue up. "Oh! This is a life at stake!"

"If something happens to Bai Zhishi while she's with us, none of us can escape responsibility!"

Hearing this, the watching villagers realized it was true. Soon someone went to the brigade to borrow a tractor. Everyone hurriedly lifted Baixue onto the tractor.

Zhou Weiguo couldn't stop them. Just as he was about to follow, I grabbed him. "Comrade Zhou, look at your injuries. Quick, get them bandaged first."

I held Zhou Weiguo tightly, my nails almost digging into the flesh of his arm. Zhou Weiguo winced in pain and paused. The tractor didn't wait for him at all, rumbling off toward the city.

"Hey! Wait, wait!!"

I watched Zhou Weiguo chase after them for a long distance before finally collapsing from exhaustion.

"Lihua, how could you..."

"Comrade Zhou, you should call me Wen Zhishi! If you keep calling me that, people who don't know might think we have an improper relationship!"

Chapter 4

Zhou Weiguo paused and sighed. "Lihua? Are you angry that I saved Baixue?"

"I was going to rush in to save you! I looked for you for a long time. Look, I'm injured!"

Zhou Weiguo pitifully raised his arm, revealing the burn wound.

I smiled faintly: "Comrade Zhou, that's wrong of you. You clearly rushed in to save Bai Zhishi. You were also injured for Bai Zhishi. How can you ask me to remember your kindness? That's not right!"

"You're like this."

Zhou Weiguo choked: "No, I really did it for you..."

【Hahaha, this is too funny, this male lead.】

【Sweetie is really too clever, too clever.】

【Oh, sweetie, quick! That female supporting character has woken up. She's afraid her pregnancy will be exposed and is making a fuss to have them take her back. Quick, chase after them!】

【You must expose her pregnancy. That way, her conduct is questionable, and it'll be impossible for her to replace you for further studies. Quick, quick, sweetie!】

I was startled and hurriedly pulled Zhou Weiguo's sleeve to run forward: "Oh no, I just saw some blood on Bai Zhishi's pants. Could she be injured?"

"Quick, quick, let's chase after them and see!"

"What?"

"Why didn't you say so earlier! If something happens to Baixue, I'll hold you responsible!"

Zhou Weiguo's face turned pale. Hearing this, he shook off my hand and rushed forward. Soon he left me far behind.

I watched Zhou Weiguo's figure quickly disappear and slowly walked toward the city.

Chapter 5

Qingshan Village was a small village. The only three educated youths sent down to the village were me, Zhou Weiguo, and Baixue. Usually, the three of us lived in the educated youth dormitory and ate together.

A few days ago, the brigade leader said there was a spot in Qingshan Village for an educated youth to go to the city for study. Since universities weren't admitting students now, if we could use this opportunity to study at university, we would graduate with a university degree. This was a tremendous opportunity.

Originally, I hadn't paid much attention to this matter, but I didn't expect the brigade leader to specifically choose me. The brigade leader said Zhou Weiguo had been absent-minded since arriving, not putting his heart into farm work. Everyone earned eight work points per day, but Zhou Weiguo slacked off every day, hoping to return to the city. Naturally, his work was half-hearted. It would be a blessing if he earned four work points a day.

And Baixue was even worse. Since arriving, she either claimed discomfort here or pain there. The brigade leader had no choice but to endure it silently. Only I, after arriving, worked diligently, even teaching the village women how to make city-style pickled vegetables and identify medicinal herbs.

The villagers could secretly sell some of these and earn some income. This helped the village greatly, so the brigade leader used every means to help me secure this spot.

It was around that time that I mysteriously fell into the river once, and Zhou Weiguo saved me. Another time, a poisonous snake suddenly appeared in my room, and Zhou Weiguo discovered and caught it. Plus his daily care for me and his handsome appearance, I couldn't help but develop some different feelings for him.

Until this time. A few days ago, he went to the city and, after returning, arranged this fire. It was only after seeing the bullet screen comments that I learned he had gone to the city and been diagnosed with a disease called "ALS" (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). I heard that it gradually causes loss of limb function, and eventually, one can only lie down.

To avoid dragging Baixue down and to fulfill Baixue's wish to replace me for university studies, Zhou Weiguo arranged today's fire. First, to find a free caregiver. Second, my earnings could help him support Baixue and their child! Truly a vicious heart!

Just thinking about these things made me feel chilled all over.

Chapter 6

The village where I was sent down wasn't far from the city. On the way, I saw a villager driving an ox cart and hitched a ride. As we approached the city, I saw Zhou Weiguo running so hard he nearly collapsed. I waved my hand.

"Comrade Zhou, keep it up!"

"Bai Zhishi is waiting for you to rescue her ahead!"

"Wait, wait for me, give me a ride!"

I quickly urged the villager to go faster: "Uncle, this is life and death! Please go faster!"

The villager, who had been about to stop, cracked a whip on the old ox's back. The cart shot forward like an arrow. In the flying dust, I saw Zhou Weiguo finally collapse from exhaustion and sit on the ground.

Chapter 7

【Sweetie, quick, quick! They're right at the main entrance. Baixue is making a fuss about leaving!】

【Quick, quick! They're already on the tractor. Fast!】

I rushed over like the wind. While running, I hardened my heart, picked up a sharp stone from the roadside, and fiercely cut my palm.

"Oh! Why are you leaving already?"

"Are you okay, Bai Zhishi?"

"Wen Zhishi, you're here? Quick, Bai Zhishi is making a fuss about going back! You should try to persuade her."

I supported Baixue, and my right hand gently slid across her pants. When I felt it was about right, I pulled my hand back.

"Oh! Bai Zhishi, what happened to your pants?"

"Everyone, look! What's this? Why is there so much blood?!!"

Everyone looked at where I pointed and indeed saw a large blood stain on Baixue's pants.

Baixue's expression changed: "I, I, I'm fine, I'm fine. I want to go back!"

"Let me go back, quick!!"

A straightforward village woman spoke up: "This, so much blood, could it be..."

Everyone looked at each other. Although they didn't speak, they all showed meaningful expressions.

"You? What do you mean? I already said I'm fine. Let's go! Quick!"

I sneered in my heart. After going through all the trouble to get to the hospital, how could leaving be so easy?

I glanced around and saw a doctor and nurse approaching. I screamed. "Ah! Help, help! This female comrade is covered in blood. Quick, save her!"

Hearing this, the doctor and nurse rushed over without thinking. The villagers, also afraid that Baixue might really be in trouble, helped drag her down despite her resistance and pushed her into the hospital.

Seeing Zhou Weiguo finally arrive, I couldn't help but laugh.

Chapter 8

But I never expected that when people are shameless, they can truly be invincible. Because my palm was bleeding a lot, after Baixue was taken away, I went to the hospital restroom to wash my hands. When I came out, I asked about Baixue's ward and went to find her.

Who knew that just as I was about to enter, I heard Baixue's anxious voice: "Brother Zhou, what should I do? What should I do?"

"The doctor already suspects I'm pregnant! What exactly should we do?"

"It's okay, it's okay. I've already sent them away. Don't worry!"

"How can I not worry! Soon they'll know for sure. When they know, the brigade will know too. How will I face anyone then? Forget about people pointing fingers everywhere, even university... university will be hopeless!"

I heard Zhou Weiguo quickly comforting her: "It's okay. I've already thought of everything!"

"Wen Lihua is here too! Later, I'll beg her. I'll use the life-saving debt to make her take responsibility for your pregnancy. You'll definitely be fine. Trust me!"

"Impossible, how could she take responsibility for this? She's not a fool!"

"If, if she's unwilling, I'll say, I'll say I've already been intimate with her! Do you forget I intentionally went to her room twice before? I even made sure two villagers saw me. When the time comes, the villagers will definitely look down on her. She won't be able to explain herself even with a hundred mouths!"

"Don't worry, I'll definitely let you go to university, and she'll definitely stay. I guarantee it!"

Seeing Zhou Weiguo come out, I quickly hid to the side. Then I watched Zhou Weiguo walk toward the doctor's office. When the doctor saw him enter, he picked up a pen and asked: "What's the patient's name?"

I saw Zhou Weiguo pause, then say softly: "Lihua, Wen Lihua!"

I leaned against the door behind me, my expression cold.

Chapter 9

【Damn! What is this! This is clearly starting to scheme against our female lead!】

【What's going on? How can this person be so disgusting! Everyone, think of a way to expose this disgusting man's scheme!】

【I'm really, really angry! Although I like reading tragic stories, seeing such a low-quality man is just—tui!】

【Sweetie, quick, quick! The villagers that the scumbag sent away are back. Now go back to the ward and expose this. Quick!】

My heart trembled. I pulled my gaze from the bullet screen comments and ran back to the ward. Just as I reached the door, I heard Baixue's weak voice: "It's okay. There was a fire just now. Comrade Zhou was saving Wen Zhishi and didn't see me. My thigh was hit and started bleeding. I didn't even notice it myself before."

"I'm sorry to trouble you for bringing me here. Thank you so much."

Hearing Baixue inside still trying to establish that Zhou Weiguo was my savior, I sneered and took a few steps back. If you're unkind, don't blame me for being unjust.

I put on a nervous expression, quickened my pace, and rushed into the ward. As soon as I saw Baixue, I asked with concern: "Bai Zhishi, the doctor said you're pregnant?!!"

"Oh! What should we do? You were bleeding just now. What did the doctor say? Can the baby be saved?"

My words made the lively ward instantly silent. Baixue's face suddenly turned deathly pale.

"You, what did you say!! Say it again!!"

"What, what pregnant or not? When did I get pregnant?"

"The doctor said I, I was just hit, that's why I'm bleeding. You, you're slandering me!!"

I looked at her, stunned. The villagers' gazes moved back and forth between me and Baixue several times. Some people's expressions became meaningful. Others tried to laugh it off.

"Um, um, perhaps Wen Zhishi heard wrong? Is that it? Ah? Haha."

Others looked at Baixue with disdain. "Bai Zhishi! We all know what kind of person Wen Zhishi is."

"If she hadn't really heard the doctor say you're pregnant, she definitely wouldn't speak carelessly."

"Come to think of it, people did say you and Comrade Zhou were close. This baby, couldn't it be Comrade Zhou's?"

In the entire brigade, there were only three educated youths: me, Zhou Weiguo, and Baixue. The villagers had few entertainment activities, so naturally they paid more attention to us three educated youths. But this attention wasn't malicious. They just thought educated youths from the city were cultured and were curious about city life, so they paid more attention.

"What's this about being close? What are you talking about?"

Zhou Weiguo suddenly walked in holding the medical record, asking curiously. When Baixue saw Zhou Weiguo, she suddenly burst into tears.

"Brother Zhou, Brother Zhou, it's Wen Lihua! She's bullying me!"

"She said I wasn't injured, that I'm pregnant!! I, I really don't want to live anymore!"

"I'm a good girl from a respectable family, and she's making me out to be... whimper whimper, I really don't want to live, whimper whimper..."

Zhou Weiguo's expression changed. The hand holding the medical record suddenly tightened, but his eyes looked toward me. "Wen Zhishi! You're responsible for your words!"

"I just asked the doctor. The doctor said Bai Zhishi just injured her thigh! How could you spread such rumors?!!"

"I never knew you were this kind of person!"

After speaking, he sighed again. "I know, you're interested in me."

"But today, when I rushed in to save people, I really did it for you."

"Saving Bai Zhishi was just, just a convenient thing!"

"Oh, I get it. You're definitely unhappy because I carried Bai Zhishi out, right? Don't worry, I'll keep my distance from her in the future!"

Hearing Zhou Weiguo say this, most of the villagers hesitantly looked at me. I knew what they meant—wondering if I had really heard wrong or if I had deliberately framed Baixue.

My expression darkened. I was about to curse out loud but forced myself to calm down. Cursing now would be useless and would only make everyone think I had failed to frame Baixue and was lashing out in anger.

I paused and smiled. "Comrade Zhou, I really don't know how to respond to that."

"You say you clearly saved Bai Zhishi, but strangely, you keep trying to force this nonexistent 'life-saving debt' onto me."

I pretended to be scared and took a step back: "You're doing this. Are you planning something against me? I'm actually a bit scared."

Zhou Weiguo: ...

Baixue: ...

Everyone in the ward looked at each other, once again casting meaningful glances at the two of them. Indeed, when the educated youth dormitory caught fire, I wasn't even in the room. And Zhou Weiguo had saved Baixue. But in this short time, the two of them had already said several times that Zhou Weiguo rushed in to save Wen Zhishi.

Said so many times, even they subconsciously felt that Zhou Weiguo was my savior.

Seeing the villagers suddenly come to their senses, Zhou Weiguo and Baixue both bit their lips. "Wen Zhishi, look what you're saying, haha." Baixue laughed awkwardly.

Zhou Weiguo also came to his senses. He glanced at me and suddenly said: "Since Bai Zhishi is fine, let's go back now."

Although it wasn't the busy farming season, every household had plenty to do, so there really wasn't much time to waste here. But I couldn't let them just leave like this.

If they were discharged today, Zhou Weiguo would be holding a medical record with my name on it. That would be a blatant piece of evidence against me, and I wouldn't be able to explain myself even with a hundred mouths.

I saw Zhou Weiguo place the medical record on the table and reach out to help Baixue, so I suddenly walked over. "Oh, what's this?"

I quickly snatched the medical record and opened it. "Huh? It really says pregnant?"

My voice was rather loud, instantly making Zhou Weiguo and Baixue freeze on the spot.

Chapter 10

"What pregnant?"

Someone crowded closer. Zhou Weiguo finally came to his senses and tried to snatch the medical record from me. "What are you doing?! Give me that!"

Of course, I wouldn't let him take it. I dodged and stepped back several steps. "Huh? It says pregnant on here? And it says 7 weeks?"

"7 weeks is over a month!"

"Good job, Bai Zhishi. You're clearly pregnant, yet you said your leg was crushed and accused me of framing you."

"And Comrade Zhou, you clearly knew Bai Zhishi was pregnant, yet you said I framed her because I admired you."

"Huh? That's not right? How is my name on this medical record? Wait, wait, this isn't right!"

Just as I was thinking about how to prove that the name on this medical record was indeed the doctor's mistake, the bullet screen comments appeared again. 【Sweetie, quick! That doctor is right in the next ward!】

【Quick, pull him over. Have him prove that the name on here is fake. Quick, quick!】

I rushed out. When I dragged the confused doctor over, Baixue glared at me as if she wanted to eat me alive.

"Doctor, is this patient pregnant?"

Zhou Weiguo's expression changed, and he stood in front of Baixue: "Wen Lihua, what are you doing?!!"

I completely ignored him and looked at the doctor: "Doctor, her pants were indeed covered in blood just now, so we brought her here." I deliberately didn't mention that Baixue had fainted from smoke inhalation.

"Now she wants to be discharged. If the baby is lost after discharge, can you take responsibility for that?"

The doctor's heart jumped: "This is nonsense! I already told you she's newly pregnant, and the fetus isn't stable yet. She needs to stay in the hospital for a few days."

"You want to be discharged?"

"Let me tell you! If you don't listen to the doctor and the baby is lost after discharge, don't blame us!"

After saying this, the doctor angrily started to leave. The villagers also looked at Baixue with disdain. But how could I let the doctor leave so easily?

I grabbed the doctor and opened the medical record again. "Doctor, the name on here is wrong too! Her name is clearly Baixue. How can the name be Wen Lihua?"

The doctor frowned, took it to look, and his gaze fell on Zhou Weiguo. He said sternly: "Didn't you say the patient's name was Wen Lihua?"

"This..."

Now I didn't even need to speak. All the villagers in the room were speechless. Even Zhou Weiguo acted like a quail, lowering his head without daring to say a word.

I took a deep breath and secretly pinched myself. "Good job, Zhou Weiguo. You framed me!!"

I rushed forward, crying, and slapped Zhou Weiguo hard across the face! "It's clearly Baixue who's pregnant, yet you said she injured her thigh!"

"It's clearly Baixue who's pregnant, yet you deliberately told the doctor my name. What are you two planning?"

"If I hadn't come today, or if I hadn't seen the medical record, would the pregnant person be me tomorrow?"

"And the one with indecent conduct would be me too?"

I nodded, looking enlightened: "I get it. You must be jealous that the brigade recommended me for study, so you're planning to frame me!"

"Let me tell you, this isn't over!!"

After saying this, I wiped my tears and rushed out of the ward. "Hey, hey, Wen Zhishi, wait for me."

As soon as I went out, the villagers shouted and chased after me. "Oh! Wen Zhishi, don't be angry."

"We were all there for this. When you go back, go to the brigade leader!"

"We can't have such black-hearted educated youths in our village. It's disgusting!"

"Yes, yes, how did today become like watching a play? It made my head spin!"

"Humph! If we hadn't been here today, who knows how badly Wen Zhishi would have been bullied!"

Everyone protected me as we boarded the tractor together. When we reached the village, I didn't even need to say anything. Everyone chattered about what had happened at the hospital to the brigade leader.

The more the brigade leader heard, the more shocked he became, the more astonished he became, until finally his face turned black. He looked at me and comforted me: "Wen Zhishi! Don't worry about this matter. The recommendation spot is yours. No one can take it away!"

He thought for a moment: "How about this? Go pack your things now. Tomorrow morning, I'll have someone from the brigade take you to the city. Since you have to leave anyway, leaving early saves trouble from being constantly plotted against!"

His face turned cold: "As for Comrade Zhou and Comrade Bai, I still need to go to the commune about this matter. How to deal with them will depend on what the commune says."

"Oh, captain, the educated youth dormitory already burned down! The things inside are probably all gone! If Wen Zhishi comes back, she won't have any bedding!"

Everyone suddenly realized this. "It's okay, it's okay. The fire was in the main room. The inside should be fine. I'll go check now."

After saying this, I ran toward the educated youth dormitory. Fortunately, the fire was extinguished in time. Except for the main room which was severely burned, the inside didn't suffer much damage. It was just smoked, so the walls were blackened in many places.

I looked around to make sure no one was watching, then took out a bundle of leaves from a crack in the earthen wall. Inside were various receipts and over a hundred yuan that I had hidden. After putting everything in my pockets, I started packing my room things.

The bedding could probably last one more day. I didn't have many clothes to begin with, so I could just pack them in a box. I didn't plan to bring other things since the journey was long.

But I didn't expect that Zhou Weiguo would knock on my door again in the middle of the night. Although there were only three educated youths in our village, men and women were separated. Zhou Weiguo was in the adjacent courtyard, while Baixue and I lived here.

Since I had been schemed against by Zhou Weiguo and Baixue at the hospital that day, plus seeing the bullet screen comments about my original tragic life, I felt that any contact with Zhou Weiguo and Baixue could lead to trouble. So I didn't answer but grabbed a broom and stood guard by the door.

"Lihua, are you asleep?"

"Baixue is fine. She's back safely. Lihua? Are you there?"

"Hey, Lihua, I know you must think Baixue's baby is mine, but it's really not. I just pity her."

"And I don't know why that medical record had your name on it. You must think it was me, right? Lihua, you've really wronged me. My heart for you..."

I didn't continue listening. Instead, I opened the back window, quietly climbed out, and rushed to the brigade leader's house. When the brigade leader heard that Zhou Weiguo was forcibly breaking down my door, he cursed and brought people to follow me angrily to the second floor of the educated youth dormitory.

At this time, Zhou Weiguo still thought I was inside. "Lihua, really, you're the only one in my heart, but, but Baixue is really too pitiful."

"Her parents look down on her and won't find her a job in the city. That's why she had to come to the countryside! If, if you could let her have this study opportunity, she could return to the city. We, we could be together happily!"

"Lihua, I know you're interested in me too. Do you forget the two times I helped you before? Lihua, I don't mean for you to be grateful. I just, I just like you too much. I want to spend my life with you."

"Lihua, come out. If you don't come out, I'll break down the door. It's so late, and we're alone. If I'm seen in your room, you won't be able to explain yourself even with a hundred mouths. Lihua..."

Seeing the captain's face grow darker and darker, before Zhou Weiguo could finish, he shouted sternly and rushed in with people. "Zhou Weiguo! What are you doing?!!"

The brigade leader's words made Zhou Weiguo jump. He turned his head and saw the brigade leader and several others with faces black as coal, along with me.

"Lihua? You, why are you outside?"

The captain snorted coldly: "Should I be inside waiting for you to threaten her?"

"Zhou Weiguo, you usually look decent, but behind my back, this is how you bully Wen Zhishi?"

"I heard that at the hospital today, you tried to make Baixue's pregnancy seem like Wen Zhishi's. Do you know I can send you to the police for doing this?!"

The brigade leader wanted to say more but seeing me still standing to the side, he paused: "Take him away first. Lock him in the cowshed. I'll deal with him tomorrow!"

Zhou Weiguo was dragged away by two people. I looked at the tightly closed door across from me and snorted coldly. Even though Zhou Weiguo repeatedly took the fall for Baixue, even though Zhou Weiguo was now taken away by the captain to be locked in the cowshed, Baixue didn't say a word to explain or come out.

She let Zhou Weiguo take all the blame. I slammed my door shut with a "bang." But it didn't matter. Baixue was pregnant. As long as she had any shame, she and Zhou Weiguo would be linked for life.

I fell into a deep sleep.

Chapter 11

Early the next morning, I boarded the village's tractor heading to the city. The train tickets had been bought in advance for me, and the proof and materials for studying in Beijing were also fully prepared.

I watched the village where I had lived for three years gradually disappear, feeling only gratitude for this place. Although I had been forced to come to the countryside, the people here were truly very good. Without the captain's efforts, since universities weren't admitting students now, I would have had no chance to enter university.

At the train station, the tractor turned to leave. I suddenly couldn't resist running a few steps to catch up with the driver. "Uncle, please help me deliver a message!"

"What did you say?"

The tractor's engine roared in my ears. The uncle couldn't hear what I was saying at all. "I said, please help me deliver a message!"

"I, Wen Lihua, I will come back again!"

"Miss? What did you say? Speak louder!"

I smiled and waved: "You should go back now!"

I carried my luggage and left the mountains, heading toward an unknown future.

Epilogue (Zhou Weiguo's Perspective):

After that day, I was locked in the cowshed for four days. On the fifth day, I was released. The first thing I did was rush to the educated youth dormitory, but Baixue told me Wen Lihua had already left.

She said the brigade had already talked to her. They asked if the baby was mine. If yes, we had to get married. If no, the pregnant Baixue had to leave the village.

We got married. But right after we married, my limbs gradually started losing strength. I watched Baixue's belly grow day by day, but because of my illness, I couldn't help at all, and my heart ached for her.

Later, Baixue gave birth to a son for me. When the child was two, I was completely paralyzed and even my speech became slurred. We saw many doctors, but they all said they couldn't find the cause of my illness.

In these years, Baixue had to take care of the child and me, and her temper grew worse. There was none of the gentle demeanor she had before marriage. Finally, when I needed her help again, she angrily smashed a basin against me.

"I've had enough of you!!"

"Do you know you ruined my life?!!"

"I saw your medical records. Why did you marry me knowing you were sick? Wasn't it intentional?"

By then, my tongue was stiff, and I couldn't speak at all. I couldn't even shake my head. I wanted to say, no, I didn't want to burden you. I wanted that Wen Lihua to stay. I wanted to say I really wanted to see you live a good life, but under those circumstances, if Baixue didn't marry me, she really would have had no way to survive.

"Say something! Are you dead? Why did you harm me?!!"

"Did you know you would be like this, so you deliberately got me pregnant, deliberately married me, made me take care of you? Speak!!"

No, really no. In my desperation, I vaguely and intermittently explained how I had schemed against Wen Lihua just so she could go study.

Who knew Baixue would just laugh and say: "Stop pretending to be devoted! You're disgusting!"

"If you really loved me, when Wen Lihua left, you could have let me go instead of choosing to marry me and make me take care of you for life!"

"You're just a selfish, despicable person. You schemed against Wen Lihua, and you schemed against me too!!"

After that, Baixue never had a kind word for me again. When she was unhappy, she would slap me, or even kick me. It was common. I knew she wanted to leave but couldn't bear to leave the child.

I was also afraid, afraid she would really abandon me, and then I would truly starve to death.

And so, another two years passed. In these two years, Baixue got involved with a widower in the village. Every night, they would lock me in my room while she was with the widower.

I hated! I wished I could kill her! But I didn't even have the strength to open my mouth to speak. I thought about death countless times, but even death became my luxury.

One day, I suddenly heard that the village was going to build a primary school! This was great news. I looked at my dirty son rolling on the ground. I thought, with a school in the village, my child could study in the future, right?

Finally, when the school was completed, everyone went to see the excitement. Baixue was in a good mood that day and rarely put me on a cart, willing to pull me to see the excitement.

The primary school was built so well—a two-story building of blue bricks. Over ten classrooms upstairs and downstairs!

"Ah! Wen Zhishi is back!!!"

"Quick, quick! It was Wen Zhishi who paid to build our school. Quick, let's find Wen Zhishi!"

"Oh, don't call her Wen Zhishi anymore. She's our principal now. We should call her Principal!"

"Right, right..."

I looked up and saw Wen Lihua being escorted toward the school. Wen Lihua seemed to have changed, yet not changed. Still so young, but much more beautiful.

SMACK! My face stung with pain. I tried to make a sound but couldn't say a word. The cart was forcefully turned around, and I nearly fell off.

"Hmph! What are you looking at? A toad wanting to eat swan meat!!!"

That night, I had a dream. I dreamed that on the day the educated youth dormitory caught fire, I really did save Wen Lihua. Then she married me, managed the household diligently and without complaint. She took good care of me, and I was always clean, not like now with a strange smell that even my son detested.

But then, how did I see myself secretly sending the hard-earned money Lihua made to Baixue? Baixue went to college and found a job but never came to see me once. My son was the same—outwardly, no one knew he was my child.

But I was already a useless person, and I had left behind a son. I definitely had to plan for him. When I felt my body gradually failing, I finally set a fire to kill both myself and Lihua. I absolutely could not let the family property fall into Wen Lihua's hands!!

I suddenly jolted awake. I stared blankly at the ceiling. How could I, in my past life, how could I have treated Lihua like that? She was so gentle and careful with me. She would rather suffer herself than let me live better.

But how did I... How did I become so blind? I hate it so much!

(End of Story)