Chapter 354: Chapter 132: (19)_2

"I seriously suspect that you will use your position to carry out personal vendettas in the future. I wonder how many comrades have already been bullied, oppressed, and threatened by you."

"I’m a newcomer, all alone and without support. Does that make me an easy target for you to bully?"

"I strongly recommend that you be suspended from your post pending a rigorous investigation by the leadership. Don’t let your personal issues affect everyone’s morale for the double rush harvest."

"If the investigation clears you, it will prove the leadership is thorough, it will give everyone peace of mind, and your name will be cleared."

"And if the investigation does uncover any improprieties, it will be a chance for you to correct your ways and improve. We certainly wouldn’t be like you, refusing to give someone a chance and just dragging them up on a platform for a public criticism session..."

The tirade left Lin Xiulan stunned, while the onlookers took unconcealed delight in her misfortune.

Lin Xiulan always lorded her advantages over everyone: her higher education, her "special" relationship with Mr. Jiang, her family’s minor influence, and the fact that she never lacked for money. She strutted around like a peacock all day, bossing people around. It was infuriating.

But because she held the position of scorer, everyone could only swallow their anger and say nothing.

They never thought the newcomer, Chi, would be so tough!

According to the rumors, back in Bian Family Village, Chi was known for being bad-tempered, spoiled, and withdrawn. In over a year in the countryside, she hadn’t made a single female friend, relying entirely on Mr. Jiang’s younger brother, who waited on her hand and foot.

So she wanted to escalate things, did she?

Well, Chi’s accusations held more water than Lin Xiulan’s!

Furious with humiliation, Lin Xiulan’s eyes narrowed on the towel covering Chi Yun’er’s chest. She lunged forward to rip it away.

’I’ll see for myself if this Chi Yun’er really has that birthmark on her chest!’

But Chi Yun’er had been watching her every move. The moment Lin Xiulan’s arm came up, just before it could touch her, Chi Yun’er feigned a startled retreat. She "accidentally" tripped over something and fell backward as the crowd gasped in alarm.

Fortunately, she was quick. With one hand clutching her chest, she braced her other arm on a wooden stool, stopping her fall just an instant before her backside could kiss the cold, hard floor!

Everyone held their breath.

Even though they were all young, it wasn’t unheard of for someone to break a bone falling on the slick bathhouse floor. And from the way Chi had fallen, she could have easily landed on her tailbone. The very thought of that pain was enough to make them wince.

Besides, Chi had such fair, delicate skin; it was a shame to see her get even the smallest bump or bruise.

"That’s enough, Scorer Lin! Do you have to supervise us while we bathe, too? I didn’t realize bathing counted for work points!"

"Why are you hounding the new comrade? So what if you’re rivals in love? Winning a man’s affection is a contest of skill. What’s the point of taking your anger out on another woman?"

"You do this sort of thing all the time. We let it slide, and you just get worse. Give you an inch and you take a mile! Now you want to throw your weight around in front of everyone?"

The women were furious now, and they all began to rail against her.

This was especially true for the women from the logistics department. The moment they saw Chi Yun’er was free of any birthmark, they immediately decided she was a "good girl" and that all the rumors were nothing but jealous slander meant to frame her.

They already felt ashamed for their earlier mean-spirited suspicions. Besides, they were the ones who had brought her here, and she was one of their own in the logistics department. How could they just stand by and watch her get bullied?

One after another, the women chimed in, each more sharp-tongued than the last.

Lin Xiulan had never faced such an onslaught. She looked around, dazed, then shot a hateful glare at Chi Yun’er. "Fine! You’re so pure. We’ll see how long you can keep up that righteous act!"

With that, she spun around and pushed through the crowd. Forgetting all about her bath, she stormed out of the bathhouse, fuming with shame and anger.

The women rushed to help Chi Yun’er to her feet.

They saw the young woman was still in shock, her face deathly pale. She kept a hand pressed to her chest, gasping for breath.

"Ms. Chi, are you all right?"

The people on the farm had a peculiar custom. Those they hadn’t yet accepted, or newcomers they felt weren’t up to par, they would casually address as "Educated Youth" followed by their surname.

Only those they were willing to befriend were called "Comrade" or by their first name.

Chi Yun’er shook her head. After a moment’s hesitation, she said nervously, "It’s not that I don’t want to bathe with everyone. It’s just... I was a premature baby. I’ve been frail since birth, and my body is just disappointingly delicate."

"I think... I think I can’t handle all the steam in the bathhouse. It makes it hard for me to breathe."

The women quickly reassured her. "The weather’s warm now, Ms. Chi. You can just mix some water and wash in your room."

"Not everyone comes to the bathhouse, anyway..."

As they spoke, one of them helped her gather her clothes.

After all, for rumors to be believable, they have to contain a mix of truth and lies. And everyone had, in fact, heard whispers about her delicate constitution.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.