After finishing his business, Ye Zhoushan prepared to go back and tidy up so he could build a kitchen. The matter of visiting the old Ye family home had to be put aside for now.  

Halfway there, he suddenly stopped in his tracks.  

Even if the Zhou family members were arrested, the verdict wouldn’t be to his satisfaction. He couldn’t swallow this anger.  

Changing direction, he headed toward a household in the eastern part of the village.  

The house was as dilapidated as his own.  

Picking up a stone, he threw it at the broken courtyard gate.  

After the sound, it didn’t take long for a dark-skinned, lean teenager to run out—about eighteen or nineteen years old.  

The boy rushed excitedly to Ye Zhoushan’s side. “Brother, what brings you here? I was just about to go see Sister-in-law and my little niece.”  

The boy’s name was Jin Tie, and he lived with his blind mother. His mother needed medicine year-round, and even though Jin Tie, a strong young man, earned ten work points a day, the family still had no savings.  

Because Ye Zhoushan often traveled outside and could help procure cheaper medicine, Jin Tie deeply admired and was grateful to this big brother.  

“Your sister-in-law and niece are fine. I need your help with something.”  

“What is it, Brother? Just say the word—I’ll definitely get it done for you.”  

“I need you to go to Zhou Brigade in Zhoutong County and find a man called Brother Liang.”  

“Find a way to pass him a message: tell him Zhou Erlang reported him for running an illegal gambling ring.”  

After the police arrived, the matter of the compensation money would inevitably come up, and the truth about the gambling would be exposed.  

This was a serious offense, and Zhoutong County would surely investigate.  

Anyone who could organize a gambling ring wouldn’t be a pushover.  

Once they found out Zhou Erlang had snitched, the Zhou family would definitely suffer.  

So, for now, this Brother Liang couldn’t be arrested yet.  

Ye Zhoushan’s heart burned with malice—if only they could tear each other apart and all meet their end.  

Jin Tie agreed without hesitation, not even asking why. His trust in Ye Zhoushan was absolute.  

Ye Zhoushan patted Jin Tie’s shoulder and pulled out fifty cents from his pocket—all the money he had left.  

“Take this for emergencies. Be careful, and keep this under wraps. Don’t expose yourself.”  

Jin Tie pushed the money back. “Don’t worry, Brother, I understand. You keep the money—buy some meat for Sister-in-law to nourish her body.”  

Ye Zhoushan stuffed it into Jin Tie’s pocket. “Go and come back quickly. Stay safe.”  

“I’ve got things to do at home, so I’ll head back now.”  

Jin Tie clutched the money and scratched his head.  

After telling his blind mother, he set off.  

In those days, travel relied entirely on legs—no buses, no inn stays, so no introduction letter was needed.  

The police arrived the next morning. Since there was no station in the commune, they had to come from the county seat, which was quite far away.  

By the time they arrived, the Ye family’s kitchen had already been set up.  

It was just a few wooden posts with a roof, surrounded by straw mats and a stove—simple and crude.  

Poverty and scarce resources meant most families did the same.  

The police conducted their questioning at the village committee office.  

Zhao Qianjin had already briefed them beforehand. No matter how much the Zhou family wailed about their innocence and grievances, it was useless.  

The facts were quickly laid bare, and Lan Qingshuang’s background was exposed.  

Before, everyone only knew Lan Qingshuang was someone Ye Zhoushan had brought back from outside.  

No one knew more than that.  

Suddenly learning she had been married before and had run away, the gossip spread like wildfire.  

Even though Ye Zhoushan had braced himself for it, hearing all the malicious talk still made him furious.  

Zhao Qianjin gripped his shoulder, stopping him from acting out.  

This was his choice—no matter what, he had to endure it.

The police officers kept stern faces and seized the opportunity to educate the villagers on the law.  

Buying and selling people was illegal. Those who sold their granddaughters or bought sons should take note—if caught, they’d all end up in jail.  

And those who abandoned children carelessly should also beware.  

As for Lan Qingshuang, since she had never been registered under the Zhou family’s household register—in fact, she had no household registration at all—she was effectively a “black household” (unregistered person). Legally, she was not a member of the Zhou family, nor was she Zhou Dalang’s wife.  

Moreover, she had been bought by the Zhou family and had the right to sue them.  

The Zhou family had no defense against the accusation of human trafficking.  

Back then, Old Madam Zhou had bragged all over the village about buying a child bride—everyone knew Lan Qingshuang had been purchased for a few sweet potatoes.  

The police officers added that if Lan Qingshuang needed help, they would assist her in finding her family and resolving her household registration issue.  

Lan Qingshuang wasn’t sure whether she had been lost by accident or abandoned on purpose.  

She wanted answers, so she didn’t refuse the officers’ offer.  

The Zhou family members were taken away by the police and would be punished according to the law. The specifics would be determined later.  

Out of consideration for Ye Zhoushan and his wife, the police didn’t make them go back to the station for further questioning.  

After the police left, the entire brigade buzzed with gossip about Lan Qingshuang.  

Some comments were sympathetic, some were malicious, and some were neutral.  

…

“Oh my heavens! Did you hear? Old Ye’s fourth son married a used-up, worthless woman!”  

Ye Zhoushan’s eldest sister-in-law, Xu Guizhi, burst into the room where Zheng Juan was sitting, her voice shrill with excitement.  

Zheng Juan frowned, her expression one of disdain for her uncouth daughter-in-law.  

“What’s all this shouting about?” Her voice was low and authoritative.  

Xu Guizhi shrank back slightly, intimidated by Zheng Juan’s presence. She slowed her steps and lowered her voice.  

“Um… Mother, something big happened. Everyone outside is talking about it.”  

But after just two sentences, she couldn’t help herself and launched into a dramatic retelling of Lan Qingshuang’s scandalous past.  

Zheng Juan narrowed her eyes, her face unreadable.  

Xu Guizhi stood beside her, suddenly feeling an oppressive weight in the air. She shut her mouth.  

“Pfft— Eldest Sister-in-law, your branch of the family really knows how to pick ‘exceptional’ people, huh?”  

The woman who spoke was He Lili, the wife of Wu Shi’s son.  

Though she was already in her forties, she still acted like a coquettish young girl.  

Even the endless farmwork and harsh life couldn’t stamp out her natural flamboyance.  

Among the many sisters-in-law of the Ye family, only He Lili—backed by Wu Shi’s authority—dared to openly provoke the main branch.  

Zheng Juan despised He Lili’s affected mannerisms. An old woman, yet she carried herself like a teenage girl, speaking in a sickly sweet voice and behaving like a brothel worker. Disgusting.  

He Lili, in turn, looked down on Zheng Juan’s pretentiousness. A country bumpkin, yet she acted like some noble madam, lording over everyone as if she were the matriarch of some wealthy household.  

After her sons married, Zheng Juan rarely worked in the fields. By the time she turned fifty, she stopped entirely, living the life of a pampered old lady, waited on by her grandchildren and served by her sons and daughters-in-law.  

Her complexion was well-maintained.  

He Lili, in her forties, couldn’t avoid fieldwork.  

Exposed to wind and sun every day, underfed and poorly clothed, she looked just as old as Zheng Juan.  

This infuriated He Lili, who took every opportunity to pick fights and stir trouble.  

Zheng Juan cast a cold glance at He Lili’s mocking smile.  

“Sixth Sister-in-law, you should understand that when one branch of the family is disgraced, the whole family suffers. We are all Ye family women. Who exactly are you mocking?”  

He Lili’s smile froze. She seethed inwardly.  

Every time Zheng Juan spoke to her, she felt like some low-class fool.  

They were both country women—what gave Zheng Juan the right to act superior?  

“Eldest Sister-in-law sure knows how to talk. We common folk can’t compare to your branch.”  

“But it’s true that your people have dragged our entire family’s reputation through the mud.”  

“If you’ve got nothing better to do, stop playing the noble madam and teach your daughters-in-law some manners. Don’t let them ruin the Ye family name.”  

Zheng Juan pressed her lips together and stayed silent.  

He Lili snorted and walked away.  

…

By evening, all the visitors who had come to see Lan Qingshuang had left.  

But then, an unexpected person arrived.  

Lan Qingshuang’s mother-in-law—Zheng Juan.