The sky was vast and the clouds stretched far, while the soft yellow earth felt as pliable as sand, deep and tranquil.

Early in the morning, Su Xiangwan inexplicably found herself beginning to like this place.

Song Qingshan still had a final task to complete. Once that was done, he could return home.

Su Xiangwan, along with Su Fufu and Li Chengze, was planning to head to the market to buy some things they would need at home.

After dropping Song Qingshan off at Haixi County city in the large truck, he returned to the construction site, leaving Su Xiangwan and the children to shop.

Haixi, being a place predominantly inhabited by ethnic minorities, had a distinct ethnic charm.

For example, the various scarves, blankets, and fabrics sold on the streets were all adorned with colorful minority patterns.

Su Fufu, familiar with the area, guided Su Xiangwan through a maze of streets until they arrived at a minority household.

This family seemed to be involved in reselling goods.

Their home didn’t hide it either, with various items—such as the most sought-after baby formula, malted milk, milk candy, and many other products—on display everywhere.

Even more delightful was the fact that several Soviet-made blouses were hanging on the wall.

They were much better than the large duvet that Song Qingshan had bought, which had to be repaired before it could be worn.

The blouses hanging on the wall were simpler in color, especially one light blue blouse that was elegant, with a high collar and long sleeves, perfect for autumn and winter.

Su Xiangwan was a cadre, and also the head of the Women’s Federation, so she couldn’t wear overly bright dresses. However, this light blue blouse was both dignified and modest, making it ideal for her.

When she asked, she was surprised to find that it cost fifty yuan.

Su Xiangwan only had a hundred yuan in hand. She gently touched the fabric of the blouse and then turned to look at Li Chengze, who was as skinny as a monkey.

After some hesitation, she reluctantly put the blouse back.

In the end, she bought two cans of Soviet-made baby formula and a box of luxurious chocolate biscuits for the children.

With the remaining money, she bought flour and mutton fat to make flatbread, spending fifty yuan and leaving only fifty yuan behind.

After leaving the store, Su Fufu carried the flour, and Li Chengze took the baby formula. They were both hard workers.

Since Song Qingshan would be working until 5 p.m., and it was only 9 a.m. now, Su Xiangwan hurried to the bus station, gathering the courage to queue up to take the bus back to the farm.

However, when she reached the bus door, the strong body odor from the men, who hadn’t bathed in a long time, forced her to turn away.

“Actually, it’s just thirty miles. If you’re afraid to take the bus, sis, I can carry the flour and you too, and we can go back together,” Su Fufu said.

Su Xiangwan looked at his thin little arms and replied, “Enough already. You may carry me, but I’m afraid I’ll crush you.”

They joked and had no choice but to return to the county town.

They found a shaded spot at the corner of the county department store and quietly sat on the steps, waiting for time to pass.

At that moment, they saw Zhao Guonian in the county, standing outside the post office, probably asking around to see if he had any mail.

Su Fufu said, “I wonder what will happen to Uncle Zhao after we leave. He taught me a lot of books, sis. Do you know Das Kapital? He taught me that book. And he believes that one day, the current policies will change. When that happens, people like him who understand the economy will become wealthy.”

In her previous life, Su Xiangwan’s boss had said that economic development couldn’t escape the laws of sociology, so as long as you understood the rules of economic development, you could make money.

Zhao Guonian would indeed be someone who could make money in the future. As for Su Xiangwan, she was determined to enter politics. With Song Qingshan being a soldier, the two of them were bound to live modestly within the political red lines and couldn’t make a fortune.

What to do?

Should she bring Zhao Guonian along?

If they had someone like Zhao Guonian, at least after the policies loosened next year, she could start making big money.

As Su Xiangwan pondered, suddenly, Li Chengze poked her and said, “Aunt Su, look, that’s my godmother.”

Oh, they had run into someone familiar—Su Xiaonan.

It had been over a year since they last met. If Li Chengze hadn’t pointed her out, Su Xiangwan wouldn’t have recognized the dusty woman as Su Xiaonan.

However, Su Xiaonan had two people with her, both armed with short sticks.

They had just gotten off the bus. Su Xiaonan’s face was pale as clay, her lips dry, and her eyes lifeless as she walked forward.

The people with her, dressed in gray clothes and armed with short sticks, were likely the farm militia, meant to prevent workers from escaping.

“It’s probably another escape attempt that got caught, right? Looks like someone from the Twelfth Team,” someone said, pointing.

“Sure enough, the Twelfth Team is said to be very strict. Plus, the wild wasteland for dozens of miles—how could a woman run away in this situation?” another person commented.

“Did you see the wheat stalks on her clothes? I bet it’s for immoral behavior. She’s probably been messing around with a man and got caught by the militia,” someone else added, and the group chuckled, thinking this was the reason.

Su Xiangwan hadn’t had a chance to intervene before Li Chengze dashed off.

Su Fufu also knew Su Xiaonan.

However, it seemed they didn’t have a very pleasant relationship in the past, so he took a piece of bread from his pocket and said, “People like her, like Su Xiaonan, just don’t accept their fate. They’ve suffered over and over, but they still keep hitting walls. Sometimes, it’s truly pitiful, but we can’t help them.”

Su Xiaonan was escorted by the militia to the county revolutionary committee.

Though she was her own sister, Su Xiangwan guessed that Li Chengze had gone to find out more, so she decided to stay and continue waiting.

Not long after, Li Chengze returned, his head lowered and dejected, sitting silently far from Su Xiangwan, not speaking for a long time.

“Come on, what happened?” Su Xiangwan nudged the boy.

Li Chengze tightly gripped his hands together, took a deep breath, and said, “My godmother committed a crime of immorality.”

How bizarre!

Su Xiangwan remembered that in her previous life, the original body had also committed a crime of immorality and had even been paraded through the streets.

Now, the crime of immorality didn’t distinguish between men and women.

It was fine for men, but if a woman even slightly interacted with a man before marriage, it could be classified as immorality.

“Come on, what kind of immorality? What did she do?” Su Xiangwan asked again.

Li Chengze began to explain. Apparently, Su Xiaonan had become involved with a young man from Jiangsu while at the Twelfth Team.

The two of them were caught by the militia while, presumably, rolling in a haystack.

In fact, if they had admitted to being in a relationship, and Su Xiaonan had someone like Gu Bei, her brother, in Qinzhou to protect her, the militia would have just given them a stern talking-to.

However, the young man was too weak, and he insisted that Su Xiaonan had been taking advantage of him. Not only did he shift the blame entirely onto her, but he also handed over several letters that Su Xiaonan had written to him, complaining about her situation.

As a result, the young man was rewarded for exposing her and was transferred from the Twelfth Team.

As for Su Xiaonan, she was labeled a female thug, and it’s likely she would have to serve a few more years of hard labor.

The path in life, really, is one that each person walks on their own.

You should know that Gu Bei and Li Yifan had been working to get Su Xiaonan transferred out of Haixi, hoping that if she could endure a bit longer, she might be able to leave.

But now, with the charge of being a female thug, even if Gu Bei had connections, it was unlikely he could help her.

Seeing Li Chengze’s wilted appearance, Su Xiangwan guessed that the boy probably wanted to help Su Xiaonan.

“What’s wrong? Want me to lend a hand?” Su Xiangwan asked.

Li Chengze hesitated for a long time, then stomped his foot and said, “After all, she’s my godmother, took care of me for half a year. If you’re really willing to help, I have something good for you.”

So now it was a transaction? Clearly not a blood relation; an ungrateful, spoiled brat, Su Xiangwan thought.

“What transaction? What good thing can you give me?” Since the boy had spoken up, Su Xiangwan was willing to help, but she was more curious about what Li Chengze—who depended on her for food and shelter—could possibly offer her.

Li Chengze stuck out his neck and licked his lips, taking a while to finally pull out something wrapped in cloth from behind. After a bit, he took out a light blue fabric scarf. “If you really want to help my godmother, I’ll give you this scarf.”

Wait a minute… wasn’t this the same scarf that Su Xiangwan had touched earlier at the dealer’s place but hadn’t bought?

Su Xiangwan grabbed Li Chengze’s hand, twisted it behind his back, and gave him two hard slaps on the backside. “Little brat, how many times have I told you not to steal? Why are you stealing things again?”

People often say that thieves have an addiction, and Su Xiangwan didn’t quite believe it before. But now, seeing Li Chengze—who had enough food and clothes at home—still steal, it was clear he had a habit of thievery.

The two slaps startled Su Fufu, who was nearby. “Sis, what’s going on? Everything was fine, why are you hitting the kid?”

Su Xiangwan flicked her skirt and said, “This brat stole! A 50-yuan skirt! Look, when we were shopping, we didn’t notice anything, but he snuck it into his pants and stole it all the way from the dealer’s house.”

“I didn’t steal it, I bought it,” Li Chengze said, his face blushing. He stuck his neck out and argued, “Fifty yuan, not a single cent less. I left it on the dealer’s table. This isn’t stealing.”

“Then tell me, where did you get the money?” Su Xiangwan countered.

Li Chengze pouted for a while, then said, “Secretary Deng gave it to me. What’s the problem? He gives me ten yuan every month. I’ve saved up for five months, and finally had fifty yuan to buy you a skirt. And you hit me. I guess I’ve been wasting my time caring for you.”

“Since it was a gift for me, why did it become that I need to help your godmother to get it? Didn’t you say it was a gift? Now, I’ll take the skirt, but I won’t help. You figure it out, and go help your godmother on your own.” Su Xiangwan said.

Li Chengze bit his lip and rubbed his bottom, not speaking. But his delicate eyes were full of pleading.

Indeed, Su Xiangwan knew that Secretary Deng had been secretly helping Li Chengze.

She also knew that the little guy had probably saved up money, intending to buy her something, but accustomed to making deals with people, he had turned what was supposed to be a surprise into a situation where he got the gift but also ended up getting slapped.

“It’s not hard to help your godmother, but this place is strictly controlled. Transferring her out is impossible, but helping her have a better life here should be fine. By the way, who’s the head of the revolutionary committee here? Is it hard to deal with?” Su Xiangwan finally softened her tone and asked Li Chengze.

Li Chengze replied, “I don’t know who the head is, but Uncle Liu Zaiye, Liu Bo, should have stayed at the revolutionary committee last night. His Jeep is parked there.”

The road is narrow for enemies.

So, it seemed that, time and again, Su Xiangwan had managed to overcome difficulties with her own abilities. And now, at the final hurdle, she would have to rely on Liu Zaiye?

She could already imagine how smug Liu Zaiye would be if she had to beg him in the revolutionary committee.

To beg or not to beg—that’s the question.