Chapter 7

From the crowd emerged a couple — the woman was Zhang Aizhen, and the man, wearing a stern expression, was Tan Sanyong.

“The Brigade Leader is here,” the commune members greeted them.

“Brigade Leader, what kind of wind blew you here on such a hot day?” someone joked.

Leng Daguì no longer needed to pretend to be timid. He rushed over in a few steps to greet Tan Sanyong and Zhang Aizhen, saying, “Brigade Leader, Director Zhang, please come inside.”

“What kind of wind? It’s the foul wind from your household’s favoritism toward sons over daughters that brought me here!”

Tan Sanyong said sharply, “How many years have we been educating people on this? Men and women are equal, women hold up half the sky — why won’t you implement it? Did all that learning go straight into pig brains?”

As early as 1954, gender equality had been written into law.

In the twenty-some years since, the brigade had been constantly spreading awareness. But the less educated the people were, the harder it was for them to accept. Many still clung to the belief that only sons could carry on the family line.

“You’re absolutely right, Brigade Leader. Personally, I think girls are better. In my house, we actually favor daughters over sons. I like my daughter Tingting even more.”

The speaker was Teacher Zhou Chengwen, the brigade’s elementary school teacher. He had one son and one daughter, with the daughter being three years older.

At home, Teacher Zhou always treated them equally, sometimes even giving his daughter a bit more since she was older.

“Teacher Zhou really is a cultured man with a high level of awareness,” praised Zhang Aizhen with a thumbs-up. As the Women’s Director responsible for gender equality work, she admired villagers who actively supported the message.

Teacher Zhou just smiled, “They’re all my children. My daughter is more thoughtful — so what if I’m a little biased?”

This earned him another round of praise.

Even though most of the commune members still favored sons deep down, on the surface, they had to show they were aligned with the Party’s values.

Leng Xue, having lived through the apocalypse, saw human nature all too clearly. Looking at Zhou Chengwen’s warm and cheerful face, she felt it was somewhat fake. If someone truly loved their daughter, they wouldn’t need to show it off.

Tan Sanyong turned to Leng Daguì and Li Chunhua, “You two should learn from Teacher Zhou. Look how he treats his daughter. I used to turn a blind eye to your nonsense out of neighborly leniency, but now you’ve gone too far — you’re practically trying to kill your daughter!”

He scowled. On the way there, Zhang Aizhen had filled him in briefly on what happened — something about fighting and someone’s life being at stake. He hadn’t caught every detail, but the key words were enough.

Normally, people side with the weak. Who would’ve guessed that the seemingly frail Leng Xue had taken on all three members of the Leng family and beaten them thoroughly?

“You’ve got it wrong, Brigade Leader!” Li Chunhua shouted, “It was Leng Zhaodi who picked up a hoe and tried to kill her father!”

Before Tan Sanyong could respond, Leng Xue stepped forward and spoke first: “Brigade Leader, I just don’t want to marry a fool.”

She lowered her head, putting on a pitiful look, and quickly explained the situation in just a few sentences.

Men often lack empathy, and Tan Sanyong hadn’t yet processed it fully when Zhang Aizhen started shaking her head and sighing, “Zhaodi is such a poor child. So beautiful, and yet her parents arranged for her to marry a simpleton.”

“Director Zhang, you have to help me,” Leng Xue cried, “I don’t want to stay in that house anymore. I was lucky today — I woke up in time. But what about next time? They want to trade me for bride money. I know there’ll be a next time, and another. Eventually, they’ll push me to my death.”

This wasn’t the apocalypse anymore — strength alone couldn’t solve every problem.

With tears falling like raindrops onto her patched clothes, Leng Xue tearfully recounted the crimes of Leng Daguì and Li Chunhua, painting the perfect picture of a helpless and tragic girl.

Zhang Aizhen had long disliked Li Chunhua’s treatment of Leng Zhaodi. But before, Zhaodi never spoke up for herself. Even as Women’s Director, Zhang Aizhen could only offer mild persuasion — after all, in the 1970s countryside, which child didn’t get beaten now and then?

She couldn’t arrest someone just for beating their daughter.

But now that Leng Xue had spoken up, Zhang Aizhen had just cause. She grabbed Leng Xue’s hand and said, “Zhaodi, don’t be afraid. I’ll help you. Whatever you want, just tell me.”

“I want to sever all ties with them!” Leng Xue declared firmly.

“What did I just hear? Leng Zhaodi wants to cut ties with her parents?”

“That’s a bold move for a girl. If she severs ties, where will she even live? Isn’t she afraid of thugs or something?”

The onlookers started chattering among themselves.

Zhang Aizhen also looked worried. “Zhaodi, cutting ties isn’t a joke. You’re an unmarried girl — living alone won’t be safe.”

Leng Xue responded, “Our Ankang Brigade’s militia patrols day and night. Public safety is decent. I’m not afraid.”

“But if you cut ties now,” Zhang Aizhen said earnestly, “you might never be able to marry into a decent family again.”

She was genuinely concerned for Zhaodi. In normal families, who would dare marry a girl who severed ties with her parents before even turning twenty?

No matter the reason, in this conservative era, people would just think Leng Zhaodi was unruly and reckless — not a wife anyone would want.

“Director Zhang, if I stay with the Leng family, I’ll end up dead. I’d rather never marry than stay with them.”

Leng Xue had come back for Gu Beilu. He was the only person she’d ever marry.

Even if Gu Beilu lost his memory, she believed in his character. He wouldn’t judge her for breaking ties with her family.

And more importantly, Leng Xue was sure: even without his memories, Gu Beilu would fall in love with her all over again.

“Cut ties? Sure!” Leng Daguì sneered. “But first, pay back all the food you’ve eaten all these years.”

“If you don’t have food, then give me grain coupons or big unity notes!”