Qi Chengyan drove the tractor to the commune, finished his business, and then stopped at the supply and marketing cooperative for a while.
Duan Liping and Sun Xiaowan came to buy things, and they walked in hand in hand.
Qi Chengyan turned his head to look at Cheng You, "Do you need to buy anything?"
Cheng You shook her head, "No."
Although she had five hundred yuan, she was now full of confidence.
But if the college entrance examination was really going to resume in two years, it meant she would have to go to the city to study.
Studying still required a lot of money, and she had to save slowly.
Qi Chengyan said nothing more, waiting silently for Duan Liping and Sun Xiaowan to return.
Only after they all returned did he drive the tractor to school.
They arrived just in time for school to end, and students were coming out one after another.
However, after waiting for a long time, Cheng Wenyu's figure was nowhere to be seen.
Sun Xiaowan became impatient, "Won't your brother skip class?"
This sentence hit Cheng You's worries.
But today was the first day of class, it shouldn't be like this, right?
"No, he promised me he would listen carefully before entering school."
Sun Xiaowan sneered. Everyone in the village knew what kind of person Cheng You's brother was.
"When I was in school, I always promised my dad like this, but that didn't stop me from skipping class."
Cheng You turned her head and glared at her.
"That was you, my brother wouldn't be like that!"
Duan Liping quickly mediated, "Maybe he's staying to ask the teacher for help with problems. Let's wait a bit longer."
After waiting for a while longer, a short, timid little girl walked over.
She seemed to have mustered great courage before speaking to Cheng You, "Sister, are you... are... Cheng Wenyu's sister?"
Cheng You said gently, "Do you know Cheng Wenyu?"
"I just met him today, he's in the same class as me."
Cheng You said with a smile, "Then was he kept after class by the teacher? Why hasn't he come out yet?"
The little girl hesitated for a moment, then said, "He didn't attend the last class. I saw him leave with a few people, and they... they didn't look like good people."
Cheng You's heart sank. What she had worried about had indeed happened.
"Little sister, do you know where they went?"
The little girl looked around, covered her mouth, and whispered in her ear, "I heard them say they were going to the black market."
Few people went to the black market unless they were trading things, so it was a bit chaotic there.
Cheng You herself had never been there.
Cheng You smiled and stroked her head, "What's your name? I'll treat you to candy another day."
"My name is Ruan Qingqing!"
After speaking, the little girl turned and ran away.
Sun Xiaowan said sarcastically, "I told you, your brother must have skipped class! Those people must be the thugs he usually hangs out with."
Cheng You wasn't in the mood to argue with her at this moment. She looked at Qi Chengyan and said, "I need to go to the black market to take a look."
Qi Chengyan's eyes deepened, and he nodded.
"I'll take you."
Cheng You was startled, "You've been there before?"
Qi Chengyan nodded slightly and maneuvered the tractor to turn around.
However, the tractor could only stop nearby and couldn't drive closer.
He originally only wanted to take Cheng You, but unexpectedly, Sun Xiaowan also wanted to go.
When Sun Xiaowan followed, Duan Liping also followed.
This way, it became four people going together.
The road here was winding and difficult to navigate, and the place was hard to find.
Before they even reached the black market, Cheng You saw Cheng Wenyu and his group.
Cheng You was greatly alarmed and quickly wanted to rush forward, but Qi Chengyan grabbed her and pulled her back.
"Don't go over yet."
Cheng You struggled a bit, her expression anxious.
"But they're hitting my brother!"
They had already pinned him to the ground and were beating him.
Sun Xiaowan said impatiently, "Are you stupid? Didn't your brother think these people were his true brothers before? Then let him learn a lesson and see if these people are truly loyal to him."
Cheng You frowned, then secretly looked back.
She saw Cheng Wenyu's head being rubbed against the ground. He was in so much pain that he grimaced, but he didn't utter a single word of surrender.
Then, she heard the person stepping on him laugh sinisterly, "A bet is a bet. You wanted to play cards with us! These are all IOUs you signed yourself, and you put your fingerprints on them! If you don't pay the money back within three days, we'll have to chop off your fingers!"
Cheng You's eyes welled up with tears, feeling heartbroken. Although she knew it was time for him to learn a lesson, he was still her own brother.
Qi Chengyan quickly analyzed the whole situation.
"They conspired to set a trap and pulled Cheng Wenyu into it. As long as he participated, he was bound to lose."
That's how they guided Cheng Wenyu to sign those IOUs.
This kind of trick was clumsy, but Cheng Wenyu, a thirteen-year-old boy who hadn't seen much of the world, couldn't see through it at all.
Cheng You felt a bit of disappointment, she thought Cheng Wenyu had already turned over a new leaf!
As it turned out, on the very first day of school, he revealed his true nature.
"Serves him right!" she cursed hatefully.
Qi Chengyan patted her head, "Don't be angry."
Sun Xiaowan and Duan Liping exchanged glances and suddenly thought of the troublesome matters in Cheng You's family. They couldn't help but feel sympathetic.
Especially Sun Xiaowan, who felt a bit guilty.
"Actually, it's all the fault of those thugs. Your brother is still a child, it's normal to be deceived," Sun Xiaowan said.
Cheng You snorted, "He's still a child at thirteen, can't he learn his lesson when he's thirty? He's also a child, but San Leng wouldn't do something like this! And to be rubbed on the ground, pfft, what a disgrace!"
Sun Xiaowan: "???"
Cheng You turned around angrily and strode forward.
Those people wouldn't hit too hard, after all, they still needed Cheng Wenyu to repay the money!
Sun Xiaowan muttered in confusion, "Are you not going to mind your brother anymore?"
"I don't care, let him get beaten to death!" Cheng You roared.
Duan Liping explained, "Those people are after money, they don't really want his life."
If Cheng Wenyu were seriously injured, it would be unreasonable for them even if the matter was reported to the police station.
Sun Xiaowan mumbled doubtfully, "Since your brother has decided to go back to school, why is he still hanging out with those people?"
From the decision to return to school, it could be seen that he was truly determined.
Because if he still wanted to hang out with those people, he might as well not study and continue to be a scoundrel.
What's more, today was the first day of school. Even if it was just for show, he shouldn't skip class on the first day, right?
Duan Liping pondered for a moment and nodded in agreement, looking at Cheng You and saying, "That's right, Cheng You. How did those people know your brother was back at school? And they could accurately find his class, as if someone had told them in advance."
Actually, upon closer thought, there was something strange about this matter.
Cheng You quickly figured it out. If someone had instructed those people to find Cheng Wenyu, who could it be?
She frowned tightly, and then suddenly realized, "It must be Song Yulian!"
She had asked to borrow her bicycle today, but she didn't lend it to her.
Later, she heard that Song Yulian had borrowed it from Cheng Tao!
In the past, it was she and Cheng Tao who misled Cheng Wenyu, step by step leading him to where he was today.
If Cheng Wenyu suddenly reformed, wouldn't all their previous efforts be in vain?
With new and old grievances, Song Yulian couldn't possibly not hold a grudge.