Chapter 75.1

The reason why Wan Mingxi and his family finally chose to lower their heads to Qin Qingman was quite clear. Although Qin Qingman hadn’t explicitly stated that she no longer acknowledged their family, her words had already clearly laid out the grudge between the two families.

Anyone with a bit of intelligence would understand Qin Qingman’s attitude toward the Wan family.

Liu Hechang, who had the intelligence to become the chairman of the farm’s union, had sensed Qin Qingman’s displeasure with the Wan family. Afterward, he started targeting them more directly.

Xu Lianhua’s position as the head of the cafeteria was removed, and she was reassigned to washing vegetables. Wan Mingxi lost his purchasing rights and was reassigned to washing dishes in the cafeteria. Though both of them still worked on the farm, their treatment was worlds apart.

Being the head of the cafeteria was a prestigious position. It had a high salary, good benefits, and occasionally, one could sneak a bite or take something. Now, Xu Lianhua had to wash vegetables, her hands submerged in cold water all day long in the dead of winter. How could she endure this hardship?

Life was tough for Xu Lianhua, and it was no different for Wan Mingxi.

When he was in charge of procurement, people would respectfully offer him cigarettes and a bottle of alcohol whenever he went out. The materials from various suppliers depended on his mood. But now, after the reassignment, things were different. He spent his days crouching and washing dishes.

Although the water was hot, the squatting all day took a toll on his back. He was over forty years old—how could his body handle that? After just a few days of dishwashing, Wan Mingxi was already complaining, and soon, he remembered Qin Qingman, who seemed to be a person of power.

The lives of Wan Mingxi and his wife were difficult, but Wan Liang’s situation was even worse.

Wan Liang had once been a favorite of Wu Yuanming. When he was in favor, his sycophantic attitude and arrogance were obvious to everyone. He had suppressed many people, and he couldn’t even remember how many he had offended.

Some people, however, he had to offend.

As Wu Yuanming’s secretary, Wan Liang not only handled official work but also dealt with private matters for Wu Yuanming, which involved stepping on others. So when Wu Yuanming fell, Wan Liang’s revenge was much harsher than that of Wan Mingxi and his wife.

In the dead of winter, while others on the farm did light tasks, Wan Liang was assigned to clean the cows’ and horses’ pens.

The work was light but filthy and stinky.

Wan Liang, with his meticulously styled hair, was completely out of place in the cow and horse pens. But he knew that when the walls fall, everyone pushes, and he thought that one day he would rise again, so he gritted his teeth and endured.

Wan Liang worked hard in the pens and didn’t complain, but he had forgotten one crucial thing—when he had offended people, he had done so to the extreme. Some of the people he had looked down on were now in the pens suffering just like him. How could they let him off easily?

By the third day after being assigned to the cow and horse pens, Wan Liang’s life turned into a nightmare.

He didn’t know when, but somehow, the food had become tainted with cow and horse manure. While cleaning the pens, he even slipped and fell. At night, rats ran across his face while he tried to sleep.

It was too much. Less than two days in, Wan Liang had completely broken down.

He couldn’t endure such suffering.

But everyone in the cattle and horse pens looked on coldly at Wan Liang, because what he was enduring today was something that others had once gone through, and the methods used to humiliate and torture him were the very same tactics Wan Liang had once ordered others to carry out when he was in a high position.

Now, Wan Liang was merely receiving the same treatment he had once inflicted on others.

In the end, the Wan family, unable to accept their new position, went to the human resources leader who had arranged their jobs.

The leader, instead of offering help, sternly lectured them.

He reprimanded the three for their lack of enthusiasm, saying, as the saying goes, revolutionary work doesn’t discriminate between the noble and the lowly, nor between the good and the bad. Who would want to do hard work or dirty work? Who is born to do hard or dirty work?

These were words Wan Liang had long memorized, once using them to silence others. He never imagined that one day these very bureaucratic words would be used to silence him.

At this point, the Wan family had completely run out of options.

In their desperation, they remembered Qin Qingman.

Although they had offended Qin Qingman in the past, they were still closely related by blood. Thinking of how easily Qin Qingman could be manipulated in the past, the Wan family, after some discussion, decided to go to Kaoshan Village to apologize.

Even if Qin Qingman did not forgive them, they would not suffer too much.

If Qin Qingman did forgive them, then perhaps they would have a chance to turn things around.

At that time, Wei Ling had gone to the farm later than them. The Wan family had left earlier, and although they hadn’t seen the two embrace, they had often heard envious words from the farm. Wu Yuanming had committed a major crime and was ultimately escorted away by the military.

Wei Ling had been so impressive back then, and Qin Qingman had been equally admired by others.

Some of these envious remarks had reached the Wan family’s ears. With a relative like Wei Ling, who held the military rank of Colonel, the Wan family was willing to bow down to Qin Qingman. Therefore, today, they not only cleaned themselves up thoroughly but also brought expensive gifts to Kaoshan Village to apologize.

Previously, they had thought about getting close to some people in good positions, but they felt it was unreliable, so they never made a move. In the end, they chose to approach Qin Qingman.

The Wan family had lived well at the Hongqi farm over the past year, and they had managed to save up some capital.

This time, they were willing to spend money to go to Kaoshan Village.

They bought a full five pounds of pork and also brought a bag of grain—fifty pounds. In addition to these, they brought some cloth and candy. The candy was meant to bribe Chuchu.

The Qin family consisted of only Qin Qingman and her younger brother. If they could win over Chuchu, the Wan family believed it would be easier to deal with Qin Qingman.

So, early in the morning, the whole family set out with heavy gifts.

It wasn’t far from Hongqi Farm to Kaoshan Village. The family stopped for a while in the town to buy some things, but didn’t spend much time there. By the time they reached Kaoshan Village, the villagers hadn’t even had breakfast yet.

Although the villagers hadn’t eaten breakfast, Qin Qingman and her brother had already finished theirs.

Since Qin Qingman had come to this time and place, she knew that both she and her brother were severely undernourished. Most of the people in their family ate three meals a day. So, by the time the Wan family arrived, Qin Qingman and her brother had already eaten breakfast, with at least two to three hours until lunch.

This time, the Wan family also brought their only daughter, Wan Lin.

Wan Lin was quite pretty and had been pampered at home for the past few years. The Wan family wanted to find a capable family for her. Since Wan Liang had made money in the last two years and was not stingy, they agreed to spoil her.

Wan Liang also had his own plans.

Qin Qingman’s mother had married into the Old Qin Family. Although the Old Qin Family wasn’t wealthy, the head of the family, Qin Lao Da, was a good man. Qin Qingman’s mother still thought about her own family and would often leave something for them when she had it. Since Wan Liang had benefited from his aunt’s kindness since childhood, he was willing to find a good family for Wan Lin, hoping that she would help the family in the future.

“Mom, how much longer? I can barely walk anymore,” Wan Lin complained, her lips almost curling up enough to hang a soy sauce bottle.

They had left early in the morning, enduring the cold and hunger. Initially, she had thought they would be able to take a car, but there had been no cars to Kaoshan Village. The whole family had to carry their gifts on foot, and the journey from Hongqi Farm to Kaoshan Village wasn’t short.

With Wan Lin slowing them down, they had walked from about seven in the morning until nearly ten, finally seeing the shadows of Kaoshan Village as they turned a corner.

“Daughter, we’re almost there. Stop whining. If it weren’t for matching your pace, we would’ve been here long ago,” Xu Lianhua snapped, her frustration evident.

Their work hadn’t gone smoothly, and now they couldn’t even catch a ride to Kaoshan Village. It was infuriating.

She suspected that the people knew they were headed to Kaoshan Village and were purposely unwilling to give them a ride.

Wan Lin didn’t know that Xu Lianhua was feeling so upset. Her feet were almost blistered from walking, and she wasn’t happy at all. She lost her temper and said, “Mom, I told you I didn’t want to come, but you had to drag me here. Now you’re complaining that I’m walking too slowly. Do you think I want to walk slowly? If there had been a car, we would’ve gotten there already!”

Xu Lianhua’s temper flared as well. “If there had been a car, would we still need to walk? There isn’t a car, is there!”

“Then I’m not going! You go on your own. I haven’t offended Qin Qingman, and I haven’t gotten anything from her. Why should you take all the benefits and then have me apologize to her? I’m not going,” Wan Lin huffed.

Wan Lin had been pampered for over a year, and her temper had gotten worse. Seeing that Xu Lianhua not only didn’t comfort her about her blistered feet but was now criticizing her, she immediately threw the bag of candy on the ground and turned to leave.

“My goodness, you cursed child!” Xu Lianhua was furious as she looked at the candy Wan Lin had thrown on the ground. She quickly rushed to pick it up.

Luckily, the candy was wrapped in oil paper, so it hadn’t broken or spilled.

This was the first time Wan Lin had ever been scolded so harshly by Xu Lianhua. Feeling wronged, she froze in place, then turned around and stared at Xu Lianhua in disbelief, as if she had never seen her before.

Wan Liang immediately realized things were getting out of hand.

Wan Lin had always been spoiled, and now she still hadn’t understood the situation at home. She was still thinking that the whole family would pamper her, but things had changed. They were at a critical juncture of survival.

Wan Liang knew Wan Lin’s personality, but he also thought that if she married well in the future, she could help support the family. So, instead of losing face, he exchanged a glance with Xu Lianhua and said, “Linlin, your mother was wrong just now, she shouldn’t have spoken to you like that. Don’t be angry. Kaoshan Village is just ahead. Once we get there, we’ll have a solution for everything.”

Wan Lin hesitated upon hearing Wan Liang’s words.

If she turned back now, she’d have to walk all the way back, and she didn’t have the strength to make it. But if they went to Kaoshan Village, she would be able to eat a hot meal and rest. There might even be a ride home afterward.

Thinking this over, she was tempted.

But she still hadn’t forgiven Xu Lianhua.

What Xu Lianhua had said earlier was too harsh. How could she call her own daughter a cursed child? That was something you’d say about an enemy, not your own child.

At that moment, Xu Lianhua also received Wan Liang’s reminder. She had to swallow her anger and spoke in a softened tone, breaking her words down for Wan Lin. “Daughter, I only said those harsh words because I was upset about the candy. Don’t mind it. It was wrong of me, okay?”

Wan Lin heard Xu Lianhua’s words and, feeling that Xu Lianhua had already gone this far in apologizing, she didn’t want to continue bringing up the harsh words. So, she simply responded with a faint “mm.”

Xu Lianhua looked at Wan Lin’s face and thought for a moment. Realizing it wouldn’t be appropriate to approach the Qin family’s door under these circumstances, she decided to speak plainly, “Daughter, you know what our family’s situation is right now. Today, your brother, the three of us, have work, though the work isn’t ideal. At least we’re still eating the farm’s food, but if one day someone thinks we aren’t miserable enough, then we’ll really be in trouble.”

Wan Lin’s face darkened.

She had been living with her parents in the farm’s staff area for over a year and, of course, she knew that their situation had changed drastically from what it had been before.

Seeing that Wan Lin had understood her words, Xu Lianhua continued, “Daughter, the reason I brought you here isn’t so you can apologize to Qin Qingman. If we really needed to apologize, it would only be your father and the rest of us.”

“Mom?” Wan Lin asked, puzzled.

Xu Lianhua sighed and, with a sense of helplessness, finally spoke her true thoughts, “Before, I thought you could find a good family at the farm, in town, or in the county. But now you see, we’ve offended people at the farm, and no one at the farm will marry you. You won’t find a good family there.”

Wan Lin’s fingers dug into her palm.

Indeed, the few comrades she had been flirting with had suddenly started making excuses to avoid meeting her in recent days.

“Qin Qingman has gotten married,” Xu Lianhua revealed the true reason she had brought Wan Lin to the Qin family.

Wan Lin was stunned. She remembered that Qin Qingman was even younger than her by half a year, and she herself wasn’t married yet—how had Qin Qingman gotten married? But even so, she thought, marriage was no big deal. “Who did little cousin marry?”

She assumed she was prettier than Qin Qingman, so she naturally had to compare herself.

“She married a soldier, a regiment-level officer. That’s a very high position around here— even the county magistrate would have to shake hands with him,” Xu Lianhua said, her tone full of both envy and regret, lamenting that such a good son-in-law wasn’t from their family.

Wan Lin was surprised. “Did this man’s first wife die? Isn’t he too old? Too ugly?”

People with ill intentions often have low thoughts.

Xu Lianhua gave Wan Lin a glare and shook her head. “Quickly throw away those shameful thoughts in your mind. The man Qin Qingman married is capable. Not only is he good-looking, but his family background is said to be decent, and he’s still very young. That’s why I brought you to Kaoshan Village.”

Wan Lin’s eyes lit up. “So, what you’re saying is that I should steal him away?”

Both Xu Lianhua and Wan Liang quickly covered Wan Lin’s mouth with their hands, and at the same time, they turned their heads to look around, fearing that someone might overhear Wan Lin’s words.

“Wuwuwu—”

Wan Lin struggled to pull Xu Lianhua and Wan Liang’s hands off her mouth.

“Daughter, you can’t say things like that. If someone hears you, our whole family won’t have a good life,” Xu Lianhua quickly whispered in Wan Lin’s ear, her voice filled with urgency. She only let go of her hand after Wan Lin nodded forcefully.

“Whew, whew—”

Wan Lin breathed heavily, her face flushed red. She felt like she was about to suffocate from the pressure of Xu Lianhua and Wan Liang’s hands.

“Wan Lin, I warn you, some of the things you say at home, I’ll just take them as you being immature and won’t hold it against you, but when we’re out here, you need to keep your mouth shut. Some things aren’t meant to be said just because you want to. If you say them, there will be consequences. If you don’t believe me, think about how reckless Wu Weimin was back then.”

This was the first time Wan Liang spoke so seriously to Wan Lin.

Wan Lin looked into Wan Liang’s eyes, which seemed emotionless, and a chill ran down her spine. She felt scared.

“Daughter, we just want to get closer to Qin Qingman, and we’re hoping to find a military man for you too. Qin Qingman’s husband is so capable; he must know a lot of good men. When you become the wife of a Colonel, no one will dare to bully our family. You’ll have everything you want, living a life of luxury, and you can live however you wish.”

Seeing that Wan Lin was shaken by Wan Liang’s words, Xu Lianhua quickly explained their intentions.

She was genuinely worried about Wan Lin saying something inappropriate again.

At this point, they were very close to Kaoshan Village. If anyone overheard them, their visit to the Qin family would be in vain, and they might end up offending someone. They had already run out of options; if they offended Qin Qingman, Xu Lianhua didn’t dare to imagine the consequences.

This was why Wan Liang had to warn Wan Lin.

No matter how many schemes Wan Lin had in mind, or how she had acted on the farm, once they were in Kaoshan Village, everything had to be kept in check. If she didn’t, Wan Liang wouldn’t hesitate to discipline her.

Wan Liang was a person who could be selfish and ruthless; he needed to see the benefit first.

At that moment, Wan Lin offered no benefit to him.

Wan Lin had been repeatedly scolded by Xu Lianhua and Wan Liang, and when she saw Wan Mingxi remain silent, she immediately realized that the current Qin Qingman was not the same as the Qin Qingman of the past. If she wanted to live a good life now, she had to rely on Qin Qingman.

With a hint of unwillingness, Wan Lin lowered her head and said, “Father, mother, brother, don’t worry. I know what to do.”

“Hmm, don’t bring your temper to the Qin family. Qin Qingman is different from before. We can’t beat her,” was the last piece of advice Wan Liang gave Wan Lin.