Chapter 3: Moving Out of the Family Compound  

Qian Jiangang was stunned, but before he could take a step forward, Liu Huiru yanked him back.  

Moments later, Qian Lai emerged holding a red passbook. “This is a passbook under your name, isn’t it? And why is there a pencil note saying ‘For Xiaozhen’s wedding’? What does this mean!?”  

The moment these words were spoken, gasps filled the air.  

“Qian Jiangang! You traitor! You’ve been secretly saving up so much money for someone else behind my back!” Liu Huiru snatched the passbook, scrutinizing it over and over, unable to believe her eyes.  

“Old Qian is really good to his sister-in-law, huh? Hahaha…”  

The small courtyard was instantly drowned in scornful laughter.  

“Ha!” Qian Lai let out a bitter laugh. “Dad, all these years, you’ve been supporting Eldest Uncle’s family to the point where our own home is bare. And now, you’re forcing me to marry a paralyzed man—no dowry, and all the betrothal money goes to my cousin. You even took my university spot without hesitation and handed it to my cousin.  

“Tell me, everyone—isn’t Qian Jiangang being too much of a bully? If Qian Dong needs money to get married, shouldn’t it be his own sister who’s sacrificed for it? Wouldn’t that be fair and justified?”  

“Director Qian, you can’t be this biased!”  

“Oh my god. He prepared a dowry for his niece but not a single penny for his own daughter? Is this really her biological father?”  

“I heard the marriage arrangement with the Gu family was originally for Qian Xiaozhen. But when she found out the man was paralyzed, she refused to go.”  

“Tsk tsk, Qian Xiaozhen’s family really knows how to suck others dry.”  

…  

“What nonsense are you all spouting? Would any of you be willing to marry a cripple? Whoever wants to, go ahead—I’m not going!”  

Unable to bear the crowd’s comments, Qian Xiaozhen rushed to the center of the courtyard and shrieked.  

“Dad, taking care of Comrade Gu Hanchuan is an honor for us. Whether it’s my cousin or me, whoever marries into the Gu family should decide how the betrothal money and dowry are handled. That’s not too much to ask, is it?”  

In the crowd, the person she had been waiting for finally arrived. Qian Lai deliberately raised her voice.  

“That’s only fair!” A commanding female voice rang out. The crowd instinctively parted as a poised middle-aged woman entered the courtyard with three others.  

Qian Jiangang’s face paled. He recognized one of them—Director Ren, the head of the city’s Industrial Bureau and a direct superior of the steel plant. Another was Director Wu from the neighborhood office. And the young man in military green… was actually the army officer who had handled the compensation matter the day before.  

“I’m Wang Mei from the Municipal Organization Department,” the middle-aged woman said, her gaze sharp. “Comrade Qian Jiangang, we’ve heard about your family’s situation. Regarding Comrade Gu Hanchuan’s marriage, both the central government and our local authorities take this matter very seriously. The leadership has specifically instructed us to ensure that his fiancée’s concerns are addressed so she can marry with peace of mind.  

“Oh, and there’s good news. Comrade Gu Hanchuan has been promoted to deputy division commander. The military will ensure his living arrangements are well taken care of in the future…”  

Even the central government knew about this?!  

Qian Jiangang’s legs went weak.  

“Also, stop calling him a ‘cripple.’ Comrade Gu Hanchuan is a first-class hero who was wounded serving our country! Marrying him is an honor for your family. Once the marriage is settled, I’ll personally deliver the ‘Glorious Military Family’ plaque to your household.”  

As Director Wang spoke, the onlookers burst into applause.  

Qian Jiangang forced an awkward smile and nodded in agreement.

“I’m Xiao Li, Deputy Division Commander Gu’s orderly.” The young man smiled, standing at attention and saluting. He held an envelope in his hands as he approached Qian Lai, glancing at the gauze on her forehead. “Sister-in-law, I’m truly sorry. As soon as we heard it was you who got hit yesterday, the leadership immediately issued instructions.”

He extended the envelope toward Qian Lai. “This is compensation and nutritional support for you. Please, you must accept it! We’ve also arranged a premium hospital room for you with dedicated care. Auntie won’t have to worry about your recovery anymore.”

Qin Hongxiang listened to every word, feeling as though the golden opportunity that should have been hers was being handed to someone else.

Her sharp, triangular eyes shot daggers at Qian Xiaozhen.

Qian Xiaozhen shook her head repeatedly, while Qin Hongxiang’s gaze burned with resentment.

“And,” Xiao Li continued with a smile, walking over to Qian Jiangang, “since Sister-in-law has expressed her wish to manage the gift money herself, and the leadership supports her decision, we’d like to ask you, Uncle…”

The implication was clear. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Qian Jiangang had no choice but to hand over the money, no matter how unwilling he was.

Liu Huiru’s eyes welled up with tears, overwhelmed with emotion. “Lailai, since your father has already set aside the dowry, and you’re getting married first, it’s only right that you receive it first.” She pressed the bankbook back into her daughter’s hands and gave them a firm squeeze.

“You—” Qian Jiangang started but was immediately cut off.

“Comrade Qian Jiangang, we’re aware of your family situation. We don’t want Comrade Qian Lai and her mother to suffer any further unfair treatment,” Director Wu from the neighborhood office said coldly, her gaze sweeping over Qian Jiangang, Qin Hongxiang, and her daughter. “Comrade Qian Lai is going to care for our hero, so it’s our duty to ensure her loved ones are taken care of here. This is no longer just a family matter—we expect society as a whole to treat our heroes and their families with respect.”

“Leaders,” Qian Lai seized the moment, “I’d like to ask—are non-immediate family members eligible to live in the state-owned enterprise Family Compound?”

Qin Hongxiang and Qian Xiaozhen’s faces darkened instantly.

What was she implying?

“Of course—not.” A voice broke through the crowd, and Qian Jiangang nearly wept when he saw who it was.

“I’m Liu Fugui, director of the steel plant. Director Wang, Director Ren, Director Wu—I dropped everything and rushed over as soon as I heard you were here. Seems I’m a bit late, though.” Liu Fugui shook hands with each of them, his face wreathed in smiles. “The Qian family had difficulties before, so we made an exception and allowed his elder brother’s family to move in. But now, the children are all grown up and employed. It’s really not appropriate for them to keep living in our steel plant’s Family Compound.”

“Director, you—you can’t just leave them homeless!” Qian Jiangang protested weakly. At his words, Qin Hongxiang seemed to flip a switch, immediately throwing herself to the ground in a dramatic tantrum.

“We can’t go on like this! You’re kicking us out, a widow and her children! You’re driving us to our deaths…”

“Leaders, please don’t make us leave. We have nowhere to go. This is a new society—you can’t just leave people homeless, can you? Besides, after my sister gets married, the house will just have my uncle and aunt living there. Three rooms for two people—what a waste!” Qian Xiaozhen wailed, tears and snot streaming down her face.

At her words, Qian Jiangang turned deathly pale.

Qian Xiaozhen was truly a troublemaker. Originally, as just a workshop director, he should only have been allocated two rooms. Back then, he had seized the old factory director’s courtyard by leveraging his position as the union chairman, securing the privilege of these three large tiled-roof houses.

After the major reforms ended, he was terrified the factory would reclaim the courtyard. Fortunately, he remained the director of the technical workshop, and the new factory director still showed him some respect, turning a blind eye and letting it slide.

But then, Qian Xiaozhen couldn’t keep his mouth shut and actually brought this issue up in public.

“A workshop director, according to regulations, is entitled to two main rooms. Old Qian’s courtyard has historical complications. Given the circumstances…” As soon as Factory Director Liu spoke, Qian Jiangang’s world collapsed. “You have half a month to move out of the Family Compound. Old Qian, you should also pack up quickly and vacate the courtyard.”

Director Ren smiled smugly: “Exactly. Historical issues should be resolved decisively to restore order as soon as possible. Factory Director Liu is doing the right thing.”

Qian Lai had been waiting for this day. Watching Qin Hongxiang and Qian Xiaozhen collapse to the ground, helpless and desperate, filled her with immense satisfaction.

But this alone wasn’t enough to repay the years of exploitation and harm Qian Jiangang and his family had inflicted on her and her mother.

Before Qin Hongxiang’s family moved out, she would take back everything they owed them.

And that ill-gotten wealth Qian Jiangang had hidden away!