Chapter 7: Signing Up to Go to the Countryside

Song Yue turned around and went into the kitchen. After rummaging around, she found a hammer.

Gripping the hammer, she walked over and smashed down a few times—bang, bang, bang—until the lock was broken.

The door swung open.

Song Yue stepped inside with the hammer, sweeping her gaze over the room as she recalled the original owner’s memories.

Everything was as it had been—untouched.

That “family of three” must not have expected her to come back. They had only locked the door and hadn’t bothered to clear out the room.

Song Yue entered and bolted the door from the inside.

The air was stuffy.

She walked over to the window, pushed it open, and let the fresh air in.

Returning to the bed, she slid the hammer under her pillow, kicked off her shoes, and sprawled out on the mattress.

…

Song Jianhua had just gotten off work and stepped into the courtyard when he was immediately called over by the old ladies sitting around.

“Jianhua, your Yueyue is back from her maternal family. Her head is wrapped in bandages—looks like they beat her up before sending her back.”

Song Jianhua was dumbfounded. “Huh?”

Hadn’t that worthless girl already been sold off? His son had even said she’d been sent out of the province…

How did she manage to come back?

A sense of unease crept into his heart. “When did she get back?”

The old ladies were just about to answer when a panicked, tearful voice suddenly rang out—

“Jianhua!”

“Jianhua!”

“Come quick! Help us!”

Jianhua?

Song Jianhua?

That scumbag father?

Lying in bed, Song Yue’s eyes snapped open. Her gaze landed on the open window.

She got up, walked over, and leaned out to look down.

In one glance, she saw Li Huijuan helping Song Tiezi toward the center of the courtyard.

A man was rushing toward them.

Song Jianhua saw Li Huijuan’s hair in complete disarray, looking like a bird’s nest, and a massive lump swelling on her forehead.

His son, Song Tiezi, had red-rimmed eyes and was clutching his crotch.

Song Jianhua was confused. “What happened?”

“Waaahhh!” Li Huijuan threw herself into his arms and wailed, “It was Yueyue! She came back home and immediately demanded I pour her water! When I refused, she… she hit me!”

“And Tiezi—he tried to protect me, but she kicked him there…”

She deliberately raised her voice, making sure the old ladies sitting in the courtyard wouldn’t miss the part about her son getting kicked.

Even on the third floor, Song Yue heard everything loud and clear, let alone the old ladies downstairs.

The moment they heard where he got kicked, the old women exchanged glances, their expressions turning strange.

Li Huijuan kept sobbing, “Waaahhh~”

Song Jianhua’s face darkened. “That wretched girl! I’ll—”

He rolled up his sleeves, ready to storm upstairs and teach Song Yue a lesson.

Li Huijuan quickly grabbed his arm. “Jianhua, take Tiezi to the hospital first.”

The old ladies spoke up, “Yeah, take him to the hospital first. Getting kicked there is no small matter.”

“Exactly.”

“Mmm.”

Song Jianhua hesitated but realized they were right.

His precious son’s manhood was the top priority! That was his family’s future!

He nodded and hurriedly led Li Huijuan and Song Tiezi out.

One of the old ladies muttered, “That Song Yue is just too much. Her family treats her like a queen, and yet she dares to act like this?”

Another scoffed, rolling her eyes. “Liu-sao, do you actually believe that?”

“Song Tiezi is a grown boy—tall and strong—and he couldn’t handle Song Yue? And Li Huijuan was with him too!”

Another old lady chimed in, “Exactly! We all saw how scrawny Song Yue looked when she came back. She’s so thin she could be blown away by the wind. And she still managed to beat Song Tiezi? You actually believe that?”

The one called Liu-sao was baffled. “Then what happened if it wasn’t Song Yue?”

The group of old ladies began exchanging theories.

“Those two probably fought among themselves and then blamed it on Song Yue. You all know what kind of person Song Tiezi is.”

“And stepmothers… well…”

“Hey, do you think that kick might’ve actually done some damage to Song Tiezi?”

“Hard to say. He sure looked like he was in pain.”

“If it’s really bad, will he… not be able to anymore?”

“…”

…

Back in her room, Song Yue continued resting.

Meanwhile, at the hospital, Song Jianhua and Li Huijuan had gotten Song Tiezi checked.

While waiting for the doctor’s verdict, Song Jianhua pulled Li Huijuan into a corner.

After making sure no one was around, he lowered his voice, “What the hell happened? Didn’t you say she was already—”

Li Huijuan gritted her teeth. “Yes! I don’t know how that little wretch managed to come back! And now she’s acting completely different, like a lunatic, attacking people. I—”

She pointed at her forehead. “Look at my head!”

The lump had swelled even more.

Song Jianhua had noticed it earlier but assumed she had just fallen on her own.

But if what she said was true, that worthless girl had actually hit her?

With that scrawny little body?

“This…” He hesitated. “She really did this?”

Li Huijuan heard the doubt in his voice and glared at him. “You don’t believe me?”

Song Jianhua quickly tried to explain. “I—”

Just then, the doctor’s voice rang out.

“Family of Song Tiezi! Family of Song Tiezi!”

They rushed over.

After a quick treatment—some injections and medication—Song Tiezi was discharged.

As for whether there was any permanent damage…

The doctor simply said, “No major issues. He can still stand.”

Both Song Jianhua and Li Huijuan exhaled in relief.

As they left the hospital, Song Jianhua asked, “Now that she’s back, what do we do with her?”

Song Tiezi gritted his teeth. “Sell that little wretch again.”

His anger made him take a big step forward—only to tug at his sore spot, causing him to wince in pain.

Li Huijuan hurried to soothe him. “Son, don’t get worked up—”

As she comforted him, her eyes suddenly landed on a propaganda poster on the street wall.

It was about the Educated Youth Movement—sending young people to the countryside.

Her heart leapt, and a thought popped into her mind.

“I have a new idea. Look over there.”

Both Song Jianhua and Song Tiezi followed her gaze.

A recruitment poster for the Sent-Down Youth campaign.

They blinked. Then, realization dawned.

That very evening, before the local office closed, the family of three rushed over to sign Song Yue up for the program.

They even made sure to select the most remote region—the Great Northwest—to guarantee she would never come back.

After signing her up and collecting the resettlement stipend, the family of three walked out of the office, feeling refreshed.

You dare challenge us, you little wretch? Just wait and see—this will be the end of you!