Sharing the same feeling as Tan Xiao was Wu Lili.

She wasn’t just dumbfounded and shocked—she felt uncontrollable anger!

She grabbed Sun Wei’s clothes and questioned him in disbelief: “Sun Wei, do you also think Zhao Jiantao did the right thing? He killed Zhang Qi! Are we just going to let it go like this?!”

Sun Wei frowned tightly. “Lili, we all know very clearly why Zhang Qi went to the island. If he hadn’t held an axe to threaten Uncle Zhao, Uncle Zhao wouldn’t have selected him.”

Someone nearby chimed in: “Right, Uncle Zhao has always valued relationships. He wouldn’t harm his own people.”

Wu Lili immediately laughed bitterly. “Values relationships?… Have I gone crazy, or have you all gone crazy?! He killed hundreds of people, yet in your eyes he’s still someone who values relationships?”

Everyone was momentarily speechless.

Mentioning this point did make people’s hearts shudder with horror. No matter what, it couldn’t be whitewashed.

But these people had grown accustomed to trusting and relying on Zhao Jiantao. If they completely overturned everything Zhao Jiantao said, what would they do? They were more willing to believe Zhao Jiantao had his difficulties.

Zhao Jiantao looked at everyone’s expressions, thought for a moment, then spoke again: “How about this—I know not everyone can accept extraordinary measures during extraordinary times. I won’t force anyone. Those who can’t accept it can step forward, take your luggage and leave on your own. From now on, I’ll still continue finding ways to bring people back from outside. If the day really comes when we must choose from among ourselves, we’ll decide together by voting. How about that?”

Bai Youwei’s lips curved into a cold smile. She clicked her tongue in admiration: “This move is brilliant. Compared to leaving Sanshan Island for a life in unknown dangerous places, staying on the island must be so comfortable. The conflict is simply diluted and dispersed. A light word ‘voting’ anesthetizes everyone while making himself seem selfless and just…”

“Maybe he held some position in certain departments before.” Shen Mo commented flatly. “Quite skilled at some tricks.”

Bai Youwei had seen enough. Lazily she said: “Let’s go. Not interesting.”

Shen Mo: “Mm, let’s go back and pack. We’ll have him take us back to the service area by boat shortly.”

Tan Xiao asked uneasily: “What if he’s unwilling?”

“Ha~” Bai Youwei laughed. “He can’t wait for us to get lost—how could he be unwilling?”

Teacher Cheng walked with his hands clasped behind his back, shaking his head and sighing: “People’s hearts are unstable—there will never be paradise in this world… Voting seems fair, but in reality what difference is there from ancient villagers selecting virgin boys and girls as sacrifices to the river god…”

Bai Youwei lazily yawned. “Let’s go…”

…

Except for Shen Mo’s group, after gathering under the tree for a while, the others gradually dispersed too.

Wu Lili had originally wanted to step forward but was pulled back into the crowd by Sun Wei, who gently persuaded her not to be impulsive, urged her to have a big-picture perspective.

Someone else said about Wu Lili: “After all, she’s a woman—long hair, short vision.”

Wu Lili trembled all over with anger.

She shook off Sun Wei forcefully and said furiously: “You won’t leave! I will! You’ve all gone crazy! I’d rather die outside! Than stay here one more day!”

She ran off angrily. Sun Wei hurriedly chased after her.

People nearby held Sun Wei back, advising him: “Don’t bother with her. Didn’t you see her leg? That bone fracture from before was all an act. I think she’s just a troublemaker, spouting nonsense…”

Sun Wei looked hesitantly at Wu Lili’s retreating figure, momentarily unsure what to do.

Shen Mo and Bai Youwei knew nothing of what happened.

They were packing their luggage in the room.

Halfway through packing, Wu Lili rushed in regardless, not looking at anyone. She went straight to Bai Youwei and said to her: “You all need to leave quickly! I’ve already scattered flower seeds here!”