“Hey—”

Cheng Ruhai flailed his hands uselessly and finally fell flat on the ground.

“Dongsheng, what are you doing?” Cheng Ruhai was annoyed.

He quickly got up, dusted himself off, and forced a smile. “You’re still so mischievous, even after six years. The first thing you do when we meet is play tricks on me.”

Cheng Rushan said coldly, “Go home and wait. I’ll come and settle this.”

“You!” Cheng Ruhai’s face turned red.

He stretched his neck and shouted, “Who told you lies to drive a wedge between us brothers?”

He glared at Jiang Lin, certain that she and Yan Runzhi were behind this.

Jiang Lin gave him a sly smile. “Got angry last night, didn’t you?”

Cheng Ruhai felt wronged and said, “The village secretary, the team leader, and the accountant were all there. You can ask them.

The separation of the family was done properly. Who bullied whom? Why did you come here and start attacking without asking first? Are we not real brothers?”

Cheng Rushan said, “If we weren’t real brothers, I would have thrown you into the South Ravine last night.”

Cheng Ruhai shivered. “Don’t scare me. I didn’t do anything wrong.”

Cheng Rushan said, “You didn’t do anything right either.”

Cheng Ruhai thought that if Cheng Rushan dared to hit him, he could get him arrested for assaulting a village cadre.

But Cheng Rushan held back.

It seemed he had matured.

In the past, if Yan Runzhi said someone bullied her, he would immediately fight them.

Cheng Ruhai gave a fake smile. “Dongsheng, we’re brothers after all. Why are you so heartless? Aren’t we blood relatives?”

Cheng Rushan’s voice grew colder. “When your mother left, my mother took care of you. You said we were brothers, but you and your wife bullied my mother and wife?”

Cheng Fuyun and a few others’ faces changed, and they quickly tried to mediate. “Rushan, let’s talk this over calmly. Don’t be impulsive.”

If Cheng Rushan really hit Cheng Ruhai, it would be considered assaulting a village cadre, and the commune would definitely send people to arrest him.

Cheng Rushan smiled. “Don’t worry, if I hit him, I’ll do it at his place, not here.”

He continued talking about buying the house.

Cheng Ruhai saw that Cheng Rushan wouldn’t reconcile, so he tore off his facade and shouted, “You can’t buy that house. It belongs to the village collective and can’t be sold. If you want to buy it, all the villagers have to vote and agree.”

Cheng Rushan looked at the three village cadres.

Cheng Fuyun nodded helplessly.

Previously, the village handled these things, but if the village cadres were in conflict, it was really difficult to get anything done.

“Besides, there’s the commune secretary Cheng Fugui.”

Cheng Rushan nodded, “Alright, then we won’t buy it for now.”

He had originally planned to buy the house for his mother and Jiang Lin to live in with the children.

Since he couldn’t get it now, he would wait until the injustice was rectified and take back the house directly.

Jiang Lin said, “Keep an eye on the house. I’ve heard that in the provincial capital, policies have been relaxed in recent years, and they’re correcting past mistakes.

Many people who were investigated are being exonerated, and confiscated property is being returned.

By then, we might not only get that house back, but even the village office might have to be returned to us.”

Although such large-scale reversals for rural landlords and rich farmers hadn’t started yet, the intellectuals and rightists in the cities were already beginning to be rehabilitated.

Maybe next year, it would be the same in the countryside.

Cheng Ruhai said, “Dream on. Even if they return it, it’ll be given to me, the eldest.”

Jiang Lin mocked, “When the tiger’s away, the monkey acts as king, huh?”

Cheng Ruhai’s face turned blue with anger.

Cheng Ruhai pulled Cheng Fuyun and the others aside and asked, “Is it true that people are being rehabilitated? Are properties really being returned?”

Cheng Fuyun looked serious, “I don’t know, there’s no such policy.”

“In big cities, it hasn’t reached us yet.”

Wang Gang laughed, “Why don’t you go to the commune and ask?”

At this moment, Qian Bo, who was handling his return to the city, happened to come across them.

He saw Jiang Lin and his eyes lit up, but upon seeing Cheng Rushan, his enthusiasm vanished.

He turned to Da Bao and Xiao Bao, who were playing hopscotch in the yard, and said, “Have you two eaten?”

Cheng Xiaobao asked, “What did you eat?”

Qian Bo smiled, “Millet porridge with bran buns.”

Cheng Xiaobao gave a fake smile, ” I think a bun is just a bun.”

Qian Bo: Little rascal!

Cheng Dabao waved his little fist at him, his black shiny eyes full of threat, “Are your legs still there? If you try to take my mom again, I’ll beat you!”

Qian Bo: … Oh my god …

He tried to pretend not to see Cheng Rushan, but Jiang Lin called out to him.

“Qian Bo, you just came back from the city. I want to ask you something.”

Qian Bo wanted to ignore her but couldn’t help himself.

Under Cheng Rushan and the two kids’ death stares, he smiled at Jiang Lin, “Lin… Jiang Lin, what do you want to ask?”

Jiang Lin glanced at Cheng Ruhai, “Is it true that the provincial capital has already started large-scale rehabilitation?

Are many wronged intellectuals returning to work, and is confiscated property being returned?”

Qian Bo thought for a moment.

There hadn’t been widespread rehabilitation, but it was true that some cadres and university teachers had been exonerated.

He noticed that Jiang Lin’s gaze towards him was different, carrying a hint of…

He quickly said, “Yes, it’s true. I believe it will happen in the countryside soon as well.”

Jiang Lin smiled at him.

Feeling pleased, she treated him like one of her employees, patting his shoulder, “You’re on the right track.”

Qian Bo’s shoulder slumped under her pat. It was already bruised from being squeezed by Cheng Rushan and carrying that heavy bag, making it painful to sleep on that side at night.

When did she become so strong?

Jiang Lin wanted to pat his shoulder again, but Cheng Rushan stepped forward and quietly grasped her hand before it could land.

Jiang Lin: “…”

Qian Bo: … Scoundrel! Let go of my sister Lin.

He said resentfully, “You better get the Cheng family’s house ready. Don’t complain if something’s missing and you have to compensate.” He looked around the village office. “Is it this house?”

Cheng Ruhai nodded vigorously, “Yes.”

Jiang Lin said, “It’s none of your business. You’ve already cut ties.”

She tried to pull her hand back, but Cheng Rushan held it tighter.

Cheng Rushan said, “Kids, let’s go home.”

Da Bao and Xiao Bao immediately ran over, each holding one of their parents’ hands.

Qian Bo’s eyes were green with envy.

Cheng Ruhai was frantic and repeatedly confirmed with Qian Bo, planning to go to the commune to check with Cheng Fugui.

He thought bitterly, you chose to refuse the easy way last night, now don’t blame me for being harsh.

The small courtyard he lived in wasn’t far from Cheng Rushan’s house, and he could hear them talking and laughing, which he believed was deliberately to provoke him.

When he got home, Liu Honghua hadn’t gone to work yet and was still cursing at home.

Seeing him return, she asked, “What did he say? Did you get the bucket and shoulder pole back?”

They hadn’t retrieved them last night, and she had forced Cheng Ruhai to go again this morning.

Of course, Cheng Ruhai didn’t dare to confront Yan Runzhi directly.

Cheng Ruhai snapped, “Women have long hair and short knowledge. Why are you so hung up on the bucket and shoulder pole?”

Liu Honghua retorted, “Why wouldn’t I be? It’s ours. Just because he says it’s his, it is? He took it when we weren’t home, with only a girl at home? I’m saying he’s trying to act like a rogue…”

“Stop talking nonsense.” Cheng Ruhai quickly interrupted her, “Why can’t you say something reasonable instead of spouting nonsense?”

Could Cheng Rushan be wronged?

He couldn’t stand being falsely accused.

When they were kids, someone’s pomegranates were stolen by the neighbor, and they indirectly blamed Cheng Rushan.

Cheng Rushan, in a rage, climbed over the wall and smashed all the pomegranates to pieces.

Another time, someone’s chicken ran off and didn’t come home.

They accused Cheng Rushan of stealing it to nourish Yan Runzhi.

When Cheng Rushan heard them, he went over and broke the necks of three chickens, taking one home to eat.

Even though he got beaten and scolded later, he didn’t change but got even worse.

As a result, the villagers didn’t dare to provoke him anymore.

“If you accuse him of molesting Xiaowan, he might not care if she’s his niece and really harm her!”

Liu Honghua cursed, “He wouldn’t dare! Would he defy the law?

I don’t care; you go get our bucket back.

We live in a big, spacious house comfortably.

Why are we stuck in this shabby place? Just wait and see; it’ll leak when it rains.”

She always brought up old grievances during arguments and never focused on the current issues, which left Cheng Ruhai feeling helpless.

“Be careful if he comes to settle accounts with you, and you still want to ask for the bucket.” Cheng Ruhai felt a headache coming on.

“What accounts? The family split was clear and fair. We didn’t take advantage of him; he took several more rooms than we did.”

Ever since moving in, Liu Honghua felt everything was going wrong, as if she had terrible luck.

“You hide all the eggs from the kids, make them drink cold water in winter, and give them spoiled food in summer…”

“Shut up!” Liu Honghua, embarrassed and angry, shouted, “Nonsense. Their mother didn’t care for them, so why should I?”

“Anyway, if he listens to others’ gossip and believes it, whether it’s true or not, what will you do if he comes to make trouble?” Cheng Ruhai was frustrated.

“Isn’t there the village team, the government, and the police? You should go to the commune and tell Uncle Fugui. Let him send the militia to arrest him. See if he still dares to act up.”

Liu Honghua, scared by her husband’s words, realized she had done enough behind the scenes to be held accountable, even if she hadn’t openly beaten the kids or left marks.

She had secretly taken some cotton from the children’s winter clothes, cut their food rations in half, and given them spoiled food in summer.

Despite her denials, Liu Honghua was afraid to think too much about it.

Yan Runzhi found out about her mistreatment of the kids and moved out to live in a shed, biting her lip with harsh words.

If that troublemaker really showed up…

Liu Honghua shivered.

How could fate be so cruel?

Why didn’t that bastard die out there?

If he had to come back, couldn’t he have returned in a worse state, rather than looking like he’s in charge?

That lunatic could become violent and recognize no one; he might even kill!

“Husband, you have to think of a way.”

Cheng Ruhai said, “I wanted to talk to him, have a drink, and build some rapport, but they shut the door on me.”

He originally intended to rekindle their brotherly bond and maybe get some money.

Cheng Rushan brought back at least two or three thousand yuan, surely he could share a thousand with him?

“It must be that wretched woman bad-mouthing you to him. Forget trying to get close; he’s an ingrate. Go straight to Secretary Fugui and ask for his support.” Liu Honghua said bitterly.

Years ago, it was Secretary Fugui’s idea to help Cheng Ruhai sever ties with his family to avoid being implicated.

In the early fifties, Fugui was doing well, even reaching the county level, but then he got demoted back to the commune for corruption and bribery.

These past few years, he hadn’t been able to rise again and was disgruntled, always looking unfavorably at Yan Runzhi’s family.