Chapter 15 It’s not up to you whether you want to go to the countryside or not

Wei Dani stumbled and almost fell to the ground as she hurriedly dressed, cursing the whole time, “That Song Nanting is such a troublemaker—leaving us with such a big mess before she left.”

“Mom, she’s just trying to get money out of us. Her family is so greedy!” Pan Shiying was furious just thinking about what had happened two days ago. Clearly, it was Song Nanting who clung to their family and was willing to work in their household, yet now she’d turned the tables—robbed them of all their money and even brought her family to cause a scene. What a wicked person.

Just thinking about the more than 1,500 yuan and the hoarded ration tickets made Wei Dani’s heart ache. She stormed out angrily, “Wailing like it’s a funeral first thing in the morning.”

“Give me back my daughter! My good, innocent daughter was tricked into coming to the Pan family to work like a mule for four or five years, and now she’s gone. Give her back!” Zhao Xiue shouted.

As soon as Wei Dani opened the courtyard gate, Zhao Xiue lunged at her. People are different—while Wei Dani was lazy and greedy, Zhao Xiue, though vicious, was actually a capable and strong worker at the factory. That swipe across Wei Dani’s face left visible scratch marks, with blood beads already forming.

But Zhao Xiue wasn’t done. She went at Wei Dani again, yelling, “Give me back my daughter! Give her back!”

Wei Dani, unwilling to back down, let all her anger toward Song Nanting explode and fought back furiously. “You want your daughter back? Then give me back my daughter-in-law! My family paid the bride price. Not only did she take our money, now your people come here causing trouble too? This is outrageous!”

Zhao Xiue had only one thing on her mind: “Give me back my daughter! My pure, innocent daughter served your family for four or five years. Give her back! If you won’t give her back, I’ll stay right here and make a scene. I’ll hang myself at your door!”

Wei Dani laughed coldly, “Then go ahead and make a scene. If you didn’t come, I’d be heading to your place myself. You want money? Then pay me back the bride price!”

“You want money? I want money too! Compensate me for my daughter! For her years of work!” Zhao Xiue roared.

Furious and exasperated, Wei Dani turned to the crowd around them and shouted, “Ask the neighbors—your daughter left days ago!”

Though the neighbors didn’t like Wei Dani, they spoke the truth: “It’s true. On the 25th, Song Nanting was kicked out by Wei Dani. Should’ve gone back home, right?”

“Kicked out?” Zhao Xiue was even more enraged. She’d heard that a few days ago but refused to believe it. “Give me back my daughter! Pay up!”

The two women fought wildly, causing a massive scene. Meanwhile, Song Aiqiang had borrowed a handcart and was dragging his two bedridden sons to the youth relocation office to handle their paperwork.

On the way, Song Nanfu and Song Nanshan gave up all pretense, crying and begging their father to do something.

But what could Song Aiqiang do? He was just a factory worker. In the past, when they had some money, he’d secretly find a way to get bicycle vouchers for his sons. But now, the family was broke, and there was nothing left to trade.

The village committee was powerful. He was just an ordinary worker and didn’t dare challenge them.

Song Aiqiang sighed, “My sons, it’s not that I don’t want to help you—it’s that I really can’t.”

He didn’t share his suspicions. Everything had to wait until they got to the youth office to confirm. But it had already been two days, and there was still no word on where Song Nanting had gone. Not a single clue.

Hearing this, the two sons cried even harder.

When they arrived and the office director saw their condition, he was momentarily stunned. Before Song Aiqiang could say anything to try and get on the director’s good side, a clerk nearby said, “Director, these are the two who tried to hurt themselves to avoid going to the countryside.”

The director’s expression instantly darkened.

Song Aiqiang forced a smile and stepped forward to curry favor, “Director, since they’ve registered for relocation, about their relocation stipend—”

“Wasn’t the relocation stipend already collected?” the director feigned ignorance. “It was someone from your family, with their household registration booklet, who came to register and collect it. Said they’d give the money to your sons.”

Song Aiqiang’s face turned sour. The director’s tone became sharper, “What? Are you saying we didn’t follow proper procedures? Comrade, your family has three children. By policy, two were supposed to go to the countryside. But for all these years, you’ve been avoiding it. If we investigate, this won’t be a small matter.”

His suspicion confirmed, Song Aiqiang’s heart sank. Was Song Nanting really this ruthless? They had seriously underestimated her. That obedient, humble girl from before—it had all been an act.

And after raising her for so many years… She was a disaster.

Song Aiqiang forced a stiff smile and said, “Director, shouldn’t the stipend be collected by the person going to the countryside? And the registration too—how could someone else fill it out—”

“What do you mean ‘someone else’? Your two sons clearly came to register and collect the money themselves. Now you want to deny it?”

Song Aiqiang’s eyes widened. He hadn’t expected the director to change his tune so suddenly. “But clearly… clearly…”

“We never came to register! You’re making this up!” cried the sons.

“Yeah, we didn’t sign up! You’re doing this on purpose! I want to report you! I’m the youngest in the family—my older brother and second sister already went, I don’t have to!”

As the three started making a scene, the director signaled the clerk, who left the room and shouted toward the neighboring office. A few men wearing red armbands soon appeared.

“Who’s making trouble? We heard someone’s going against regulations?”

Seeing the committee members, Song Aiqiang immediately panicked. He turned to the director and said, “But you clearly said it was someone from my family…”

“When did I ever say that?” the director cut him off coldly. By now, he understood—that girl hadn’t taken the money back home at all. So to prevent this family from causing trouble, he had to change the story. The clerk was his relative, and they were in this together. As for the committee? He’d already coordinated with them. Why would he be afraid of these three?

The director sneered, “You can ask the clerk. He saw your two sons come to register and claim the stipend themselves. If the money didn’t go home, then you’d better ask your good-for-nothing sons where it went. Don’t come here making trouble.”

“If you’re going to cause trouble here, there’s only one outcome.”

“And that is a trip to the committee—to receive a good dose of the people’s criticism.”