The old woman Zhao turned her head and spat at her, “How can a young girl like you have such a black heart, always talking about selling children? You have one and sell it yourself. I wanted to buy, but she didn’t sell.”

Wei Qiongfang retorted, “By saying that, she was trying to sell! Why else would she go there? She must have thought the price was too low!”

Cheng Xiaobao shouted, “I’m worth ten thousand! Not just a hundred. My mom said she wouldn’t sell for ten thousand!”

With that, everyone realized it was a joke.

Jiang Lin never intended to sell her child.

However, Wei Qiongfang had a point.

If she wasn’t selling, why did she visit the Zhao family, known for wanting to buy a son?

Was it just to tease them or show off her two sons?

At that time, Jiang Lin was short of money and borrowing from others.

Everyone believed she went to the Zhao family for money, but why refuse two hundred and ask for ten thousand?

Just as Jiang Lin was about to speak, the old woman Zhao interjected, “You don’t understand. We were looking for a pair of young children to stay at our home to bless us with a child.

When we met the sister with her two beautiful children on the way to the county, we immediately took a liking to them and invited her to discuss.

I offered one hundred yuan, but she refused.

Then I offered two hundred and promised more if I got pregnant.

If I didn’t get pregnant within a year, we’d give up.

But the sister couldn’t bear to let her children stay that long, so she refused even two hundred yuan.”

The explanation shed light on the situation.

It wasn’t about selling the child but about an old custom seeking to bring fortune through the presence of young children.

The story was becoming clearer and more complicated at the same time, turning the confrontation into a peculiar mix of old traditions and modern dilemmas.

This is similar to the custom of inviting a child to bless a newlywed couple’s bed.

The old woman Zhao sighed, “Who knew you people had such dark hearts, spreading rumors that I wanted to buy a son and that the young lady was selling her own child. People are truly malicious.”

Everyone: “…”

I didn’t say that.

The old woman Zhao then turned to Yan Runzhi and Jiang Lin, “We can’t forget these two children. If they can’t stay with us, could they be our godsons?”

Yan Runzhi, unsure of the situation but seeing that the old woman Zhao seemed kind, hesitated, “They could be like grandsons to you.”

The old woman Zhao laughed.

Liu Honghua and the others were getting anxious.

She was in pain and shouted, “Old woman Zhao, why are you lying? What did you say before?”

The old woman Zhao retorted angrily, “You’re the one with a black heart. You asked if the young lady was selling her son, and I said I wanted to buy but she didn’t sell to me.

You asked for the price, and I said she didn’t accept one hundred, even two hundred. Where did I lie?”

Liu Honghua was furious and cried out in frustration.

Ma Kaihua was equally enraged, feeling as though she had stepped into a trap.

It seemed like they had been set up, left speechless by the situation.

Jiang Lin was puzzled.

Why was the old woman Zhao defending her?

Although she wasn’t afraid of a confrontation and could have explained away any accusations with excuses, the old woman Zhao taking the blame made her seem completely innocent.

Jiang Lin pointed to the still-groaning Liu Honghua, “Did she come to your house today?”

The old woman Zhao shook her head, “She didn’t come to my house today.”

Jiang Lin asked, “Then who invited you?”

The old woman Zhao glanced around and spotted a woman at the back of the crowd, but she quickly disappeared. “Someone from over there, but now she’s gone.”

Cheng Yulian said, “No worries, describe her. I’ll recognize her.” She was determined to confront the instigators.

The old woman Zhao described the person: tall, dark, with a long face, buck teeth, and a distinctive ear marking like a horse tether.

Cheng Yulian clapped her hands, “Ma Kaihua, it’s your daughter-in-law. Come here, Chang Jihong!”

Chang Jihong immediately confessed, “I helped Liu Honghua to call her.”

Cheng Yulian smirked, confirming Ma Kaihua’s involvement.

Although Jiang Lin had doubts about the old woman Zhao’s intentions, she decided to accept the situation for now and investigate later.

She turned to Cheng Yulian, “Director, you must seek justice for me. Liu Honghua, Wei Qiongfang, and Ma Kaihua have been spreading malicious rumors and damaging my reputation.

If I were more fragile and my mother doubted me like they do, wouldn’t I be driven to prove my innocence by drastic means? I might have ended up in the river or hanging myself!”

Cheng Yulian nodded, realizing the seriousness of the accusations and the harm they could cause.

The false rumors and defamation could indeed push someone to the edge, and it was essential to address such behavior sternly.

She was determined to make sure justice was served and to prevent any further malicious actions from those involved.

Cheng Dabao and Cheng Xiaobao immediately clung to Jiang Lin’s legs, holding on tightly.

Jiang Lin: “…”

I was just saying, you two don’t take it literally.

Sun Qinghui also spoke up, “Jiang Lin is right, how can they bully someone like this?

Do they think just because we’re young intellectuals we don’t have any support?

Just because someone takes their children out, it means they’re selling them?

This is an unfounded accusation and a gross injustice! This must be dealt with severely!”

His fellow young intellectuals immediately voiced their support, “Let’s report this to the county police! File a complaint, file a complaint!”

Jiang Lin, wiping her tears, said, “Thank you, classmates. Thank you for believing in my innocence.” She started to cry again, “If it weren’t for my mother and my sons believing in me, I… sob sob~~”

Seeing Jiang Lin cry made Cheng Dabao angry.

He picked up a nearby fire poker and started to strike Liu Honghua who was lying on the ground.

“Get away!” Cheng Tiegang and his two companions, who were guarding Liu Honghua, quickly pushed Cheng Dabo away.

One of the young intellectuals immediately blocked Cheng Tiegang, preventing him from hitting Dabao.

Cheng Dabao snorted and said harshly, “You just wait!”

Cheng Xiaobao echoed, “You just wait!”

For some reason, Cheng Tiegang and Cheng Jingang both felt an inexplicable pain.

Sun Qinghui led the charge, demanding severe punishment for the slanderers. “Spreading rumors in the village is one thing, but to go and file complaints at the commune? How could you be so malicious?”

This situation had escalated beyond a simple brawl among women.

It required the intervention of the security director.

The security director was soon summoned, and he found the situation quite troublesome.

“This is too serious. Let’s take this to the commune,” he suggested.

Sun Qinghui interjected, “Director, can the commune handle this impartially? I think we should report this directly to the county. Let the county public security send someone to see how some malicious people are harming us young educated youth!”

This call to action roused the educated youth’ indignation once again.

The security director, fearing the incident might damage the reputation of Shuaihuai Village and Hongqi Commune, quickly sent someone to call the team leader and party secretary.

When Cheng Fujun and Cheng Fulian arrived, they were even more distressed by the situation.

Cheng Fujun glared fiercely at Liu Honghua and Ma Kaihua, “You people are too much! I told you to be harmonious, but you insist on causing trouble and meddling in other people’s business. Now look at the mess you’ve created!”

It was indeed a mess, hard to resolve.

The team leader said, “Go get the second and third team leaders to educate their wives properly.” They were clearly biased in favor of Jiang Lin and had long been dissatisfied with Ma Kaihua and her gang.

Once the other team leaders arrived, they quickly supported Jiang Lin.

With Sun Qinghui and the other young intellectuals adding to the pressure, the situation became more complicated.

It was clear that a proper resolution was necessary to maintain peace and order in the village.

“Secretary, Captain, with families like the Second and Third Team Leaders, they seem to thrive on causing chaos, forming cliques, ostracizing and oppressing other commune members. They allocate work unfairly, showing favoritism. What qualifications do they have to lead?”

Cheng Yulian immediately chimed in, “Exactly! What qualifies them to be production team leaders?

They don’t take work seriously, always scheming against others. How innocent is Jiang Zhiqing?

If her reputation were ruined, would she still be able to survive? Fortunately, Jiang Zhiqing is upright and unafraid of shadows!”

Sun Qinghui and the other young intellectuals echoed similar sentiments, calling for the immediate dismissal of the Second and Third Team Leaders without convening a meeting.

Second Team Leader Cheng Fuwan relied on his brother’s support and invested some money to buy meals and drinks for key influencers, ensuring his re-election. Cheng Ruohai adopted a similar approach.

Before the false accusation case was even officially addressed, the young intellectuals and commune members demanded the removal of the two team leaders.

This unexpected turn of events, especially for Ma Kaihua and her associates, was infuriating beyond measure.

Cheng Fujun found himself in a difficult position.

While leadership roles in the brigade were technically elected by the members, there was always some predetermined manipulation in the process.

He lacked the authority to dismiss the production team leaders unilaterally and needed to consult with the commune.

Mismanagement of this issue could escalate into an incident that would harm the reputation of the young intellectuals.

If it escalated to the county level, it could cause a significant uproar.

Hence, handling it delicately was imperative.

“On the matter of the two team leaders, we will bring this to the commune for further handling. For now, let’s resolve the women’s dispute. Jiang Zhiqing, what are your demands?” Cheng Fujun asked Jiang Lin.

Jiang Lin responded calmly, “Firstly, I request the dismissal and investigation of these two team leaders.

Without their protection, Liu Honghua and Ma Kaihua wouldn’t dare to act so arrogantly.

Secondly, I demand that Liu Honghua, Ma Kaihua, Wei Qiongfang, and the others who spread rumors of me selling my child publicly apologize at the commune assembly.

They must restore my innocence and honor. Furthermore, Wei Qiongfang’s involvement should be noted in her record!”

“No way!” Wei Qiongfang exclaimed anxiously.

Having such an entry in her record would tarnish her reputation and potentially hinder her future job prospects, requiring her to spend more money.

Ignoring Wei Qiongfang’s protest, Jiang Lin continued, “Thirdly, my entire family has been distressed these days. The gossip has affected my mother’s sleep for several nights.”

Yan Runzhi immediately chimed in, “I… I’ve been scared too, fearing that Ma Kaihua might drag us to kneel on broken tiles. She keeps saying such things.”

Ma Kaihua retorted, “You…”

“I can testify!” Cheng Yulian interjected, “Ma Kaihua relies on her husband’s position as a cadre, acting high and mighty in the Second Team every day. Now, just because Jiang Zhiqing helped everyone repair the roof, she wants to force her out…”

“How malicious!” Sun Qinghui and the other educated youth shouted, demanding severe punishment.

Despite Ma Kaihua’s frustration and futile attempts to argue back, the situation had clearly tilted against her.

Jiang Lin pressed on, “Our whole family may need to go to the hospital for check-ups. Compensation will be required! Five hundred yuan less and we won’t settle this!”

The bystanders were once again shocked by Jiang Zhiqing’s audacious demands.

They had expected her to request a nominal amount, but five hundred yuan was quite substantial in their eyes.

She’s really seen a lot since coming to the big city.

Some people muttered, “Her family has seven thousand, why fuss over ten or eight yuan? Even five hundred wouldn’t be too much!”

Once some people find out someone else is wealthy and reaches a height they can’t match, they swiftly develop admiration, thinking no matter how much money others have, they deserve it.

While others, once they learn someone nearby suddenly gets rich, develop various jealous thoughts, thinking, why didn’t they get rich instead of someone else?

They must have used improper methods! It would be best to see them fall even harder, that way they’d feel better.

“She’s already so rich, yet still swindling money from others, how shameless!”

“She’s like a new landlord, new style! A few years ago, would she dare?”

Sun Qinghui didn’t mince words in response: “Could you please shut up? Did you actually see her with seven thousand? Do you believe everything a child says? Your kid said you owe him ten thousand too, are you going to pay?”

“Ah, it’s just a joke, why take it seriously?”

They joked, but Jiang Lin wasn’t joking.

They had to pay money, or it wouldn’t end.

They went to the county office to report that the village cadre bullied educated youth, even involving the commune.

In the end, it was bargaining, negotiation, and mediation.

Cheng Fujun ordered people to bring Ma Kaihua, Wei Qiongfang, Chang Jihong, and others to the brigade.

Liu Hong slipped and broke his leg, hobbling along with a crutch, feeling miserable.

Jiang Lin, Sun Qinghui, and other educated youth also went, and Zhao Pozi’s couple accompanied Yan Runzhi and the little treasures in the brigade yard.

After Cheng Fujun and others mediated, Ma Kaihua and a few agreed to apologize to Jiang Lin, but not at the general meeting.

Wei Qiongfang asked Jiang Lin not to record it in the files.

They really couldn’t come up with so much money, so they could pay with eggs, grain, or scrape together twenty yuan for Jiang Lin.