Su Xiangwan originally thought that moving into the Tusi Yamen residence would make Song Qingshan quite happy.

Unexpectedly, he remained indifferent. “When our regiment first arrived, the province arranged for me and Chen Aidang to live there. But we found the place too big, so we didn’t stay.”

Su Xiangwan’s face instantly turned cold. “It has running water, a private bathroom, and such a big house. Why wouldn’t you live there?”

Song Qingshan was the type who avoided any unnecessary perks from the collective, in stark contrast to those who schemed to take advantage of public resources at every opportunity.

“Li Yifan has a peculiar personality, and you’ve already offended Gu Nan,” Song Qingshan added after a pause. “You can argue with rural old ladies, but you might not win against her.That woman is not easy to deal with. If you really want to live there, just remember to avoid provoking her outside of work hours.”

This was essentially his way of giving her permission to move in, though he was worried she might stir up trouble once she got there.

“And then there’s Cheng Ze, the county magistrate, and the county party secretary. If even one of them disapproves, it’ll be a problem for us,” Song Qingshan said, still concerned.

Su Xiangwan didn’t understand his reasoning. “You seem to think I should just stay in the village forever, arguing with your mother, and that’s the best I can do.”

“Even if you move to the city, you should settle down as a housewife, live a peaceful life, and focus on raising the kids. Why insist on becoming an official?” Song Qingshan’s true thoughts were that he preferred she focus solely on family matters.

Su Xiangwan retorted, “From the first grade, I’ve been a class leader all the way through college. I’ve always been proactive and enthusiastic. When I graduated, I wanted to go into public service, but my parents didn’t allow it because they thought government work was too exhausting. They forced me to take an easy job in a friend’s company. But I’ve always had a dream of working in government. What’s wrong with women being a bit ambitious? I want to be an official, and no one can stop me.”

“What’s wrong with women being excellent?”

Song Qingshan had nothing to say except to give her a thumbs-up.

If there’s such a thing as “aiming for the peak, even if it’s eating mud,” then Su Xiangwan was the perfect example of it.

“Quickly pack up and get ready to move,” Su Xiangwan said. “You should know, the people I dealt with in my past life weren’t just a bunch of rural grannies. For me, it’s easier to handle gentlemen than to deal with petty people. Managing officials is a breeze compared to dealing with your mother.”

She was eager to live in the tusi (local chieftain) mansion.

The children, upon hearing they were moving directly to the city, were overjoyed.

Especially Gou Dan and Lu Dan.

Every day they were stuck with Tao Hongwu as their only teacher—teaching math, then Chinese.

Tao Hongwu wasn’t even pretty, and staring at her face for eight hours a day had them longing for a new teacher.

As for Li Chengze, ever since he arrived at Xiao Song Village, he hadn’t stepped outside. He was worried people outside might recognize him.

But as a child, he still liked a little freedom. He said nothing, went into his room, and started packing his tattered clothes.

Su Xiangwan had given him Song Qingshan’s leather belt, which he still had to wrap around himself twice to fit.

Lu Dan and Gou Dan were envious of that belt, but alas, their father only had one belt for himself.

The whole family mobilized, loading bedding onto the tractor. By the weekend evening, they had arrived in the county town and moved into the tusi mansion.

Oh no, it was now called the County Committee Cadre Residential Compound.

The compound was much higher in standard than the old family housing where Song Dahua used to live. It even had guards at the gate.

Of course, only a few families lived there: the county party secretary, Li Yifan, the armed forces minister’s family, and two deputy county heads, though the latter lived farther away.

Li Yifan had gone to work and wasn’t home.

The only ones in the house were a newly hired young maid, Xiao Fang, and He Ma, who had come from the provincial capital to help.

“Xiao Fang, do you know how to argue with people?” He Ma asked the maid.

Xiao Fang was wiping the windows, smiling as she shook her head. “No.”

He Ma glanced toward the door and patted her chest nervously. “You don’t understand. Back in the provincial capital, our family was quiet and proper. But today, I have to pick a fight with the new neighbor.”

“Why argue? Can’t we just get along with the new neighbor?” Xiao Fang asked, puzzled.

He Ma gritted her teeth in anger. “The woman who just moved next door—oh my, they say she’s a shrew, uncultured, and petty. I was sent here specifically to make her life unpleasant.”

Xiao Fang peered outside and saw a woman wearing a modified military uniform, her two shiny black braids swinging. She looked about 24 or 25 years old, beautiful and cheerful. Was this the “shrew”?

He Ma took a deep breath, her eyes darting around. She recalled a line from a primary school textbook: Does a wolf need a reason to eat a sheep? No, I just want to eat you and will find an excuse.

Fine, time to start trouble.

Meanwhile, the tractor stopped.

Lu Dan and Gou Dan hopped off, shouting, “Wow! A big courtyard! So clean!”

Li Chengze, knowing he shouldn’t linger outside, carried Zhizi and went inside first.

Then he came back for the string of tied-up roosters, which he hurriedly placed into the chicken coop in the courtyard.

Su Xiangwan stepped down, surveying the place. The clean, beautiful courtyard had rows of traditional four-sided buildings.

She suspected this place might turn into a trap for her, but even if it was, she didn’t care.

The courtyard was too clean and comfortable to pass up.

Behind the house was a large locust tree. In summer, it would provide shade and keep mosquitoes away. She was happy to stay even an extra day.

“Lu Dan, Gou Dan, stop gawking and come help me move stuff,” Song Qingshan said.

Su Xiangwan grabbed a broom and went in to check how many rooms there were and plan the sleeping arrangements.

“Mom, this yard is big, but why are there only two rooms?” Lu Dan ran out, confused.

Su Xiangwan saw for herself.

While the courtyard was spacious, there were indeed only two rooms and a tiny kitchen.

It seemed the county had partitioned these houses as dormitories for small families, not for large ones with elderly and children.

Fortunately, the children were still young, so they could all squeeze onto one kang (heated bed).

Zhizi could sleep with her and her husband.

“Mom, how will I practice my martial arts? I haven’t even told my master I’m moving to the city,” Lu Dan said while carrying bedding.

Su Xiangwan patted his head. “Don’t worry. We’ll still visit the village—that’s our real home. Soon, I’ll bring your master to the city.”

Lu Dan kicked up his leg in a stretch, almost touching his head, and teased Li Chengze, “Brother Chengze, you definitely can’t do this now. You used to jump so high, but not anymore!”

It had been more than half a year since Li Chengze practiced martial arts. Lu Dan was feeling cocky.

“True, I can’t. But you’re strong—how about helping carry more bedding?” Li Chengze replied.

To prove his strength, Lu Dan flexed his scrawny arms. “I can carry three at once! Too bad we only have two quilts.”

After Lu Dan carried the bedding in, Li Chengze busied himself sweeping the kang and making the bed.

Once Lu Dan left, Li Chengze did a full split, using his foot to hang curtains on the window.

If Lu Dan saw that, he’d probably gape in awe—and even ask to take him as his master.

Lu Dan stepped out of the yard, just about to unload items from the cart, when he suddenly smacked his lips. “Gou Dan, Gou Dan! Look at those apricots next door—so fragrant!”

In the neighboring yard, fist-sized apricots hung on the tree.

It was the perfect season for ripening, and each plump fruit would fall with a satisfying “plop” when it dropped.

“Go pick one for us. Picking just one should be fine, right?” Gou Dan urged. “Brother, I want to eat apricots.”

Lu Dan, known for his mischief, particularly when it came to teasing his younger brother, smirked. “If I pick one, you’d better eat it!”

Gou Dan eagerly nodded.

Lu Dan dashed to the neighbor’s yard and brought back an apricot.

Gou Da. took it, bit into it with a loud crunch, and immediately began spitting it out. “Ugh, brother, it’s a bad apricot!”

“That’s what you get for being greedy!” Lu Dan laughed. “Did you already forget about the time you stole a pear and got smacked by Grandma?” Seeing his brother frowning and spitting, he quickly added, “We’re neighbors; maybe tonight they’ll send us some pears. Bear with it, alright?”

“Who’s out here stealing my apricots?” A woman in her fifties, holding a broom and looking quite fierce, stormed out from next door.

Panicking, Lu Dan’s hand trembled, and he pointed directly at Gou Dan. “It’s him!”

The neighbor, Aunt He, pounced like a wolf, finally finding a reason to argue. “These apricots belong to the county magistrate’s family, and you dare steal them?”

“I just had one bite,” Gou Dan explained. “It’s just a rotten apricot that fell to the ground. That’s not stealing.”

“Taking someone else’s property is stealing! Our Gu family raised so many kids, and none of them turned out like you!” Aunt He wasn’t satisfied with just scolding; she decided to escalate the situation. “I should take you to the police station and let the officers teach you a proper lesson!”

“Brother, brother!” Gou Dan turned, looking at Lü Dan.

Lu Dan hadn’t expected such a commotion over one bad apricot.

Thinking it was just a joke, he never imagined Aunt He would take it seriously.

He rushed over and grabbed her arm. “Old lady, don’t be like this. He’s my little brother!”

Aunt He, not even fifty, was insulted by being called an “old lady.”

She swung her broom angrily. “Who are you calling old? Don’t you know to address me as ‘auntie’? What kind of manners are these?”

Lu Dan stepped back, raising his arms defensively. “Wow, old lady, you’re stronger than you look!”

Enraged, Aunt He lunged for Lu Dan, yelling, “I’ll smack you twice on the backside and show you whether I’m an old lady!”

Before she could get to him, Su Xiangwan, who had just stepped out, grabbed Aunt He’s arm. “Who are you to hit my child? Even if he’s being naughty, that’s for me to handle!”

Aunt He seized the chance to confront Su Xiangwan. “Oh, so you’re the one living next door? My Nannan was sent to Haixi because of you, wasn’t she?”

“Yes, that was me. So what?” Su Xiangwan replied calmly.