Chapter 5 – Going to the County Town

“Alright, alright, that’s enough. Disperse.” The team leader handed over two copies of the Severance Document to each party and prepared to leave.

“Team leader, my Tie Dan ended up like this. That wretched girl should be held responsible,” Zhang Daya protested, unwilling to let things go. She came to get whatever she could and even lost her long-term meal ticket—of course she wasn’t going to accept it quietly.

“Your Tie Dan fell on his own. We all saw it.” Zhang Xiuying felt heartbroken listening to her daughter-in-law read the inventory list—this was all earned by her son through hard work. Seeing Zhang Daya try to stir up trouble again, she jumped in at once.

“Enough. If you cause more trouble, I’ll deduct all your work points,” the team leader snapped. He was clearly fed up with Zhang Fugui’s family, who never earned a full day’s work points and always tried to slack off.

Reluctantly, the Zhang family headed home. If looks could kill, He Jingshu would’ve died a hundred times over from the glares of the Zhangs.

Zhang Xiuying hesitated for a moment. Seeing her youngest daughter-in-law and granddaughter not leaving with the others, she said:

“Come in and have a cup of tea.” He Jingshu, drawing on the original host’s memory and today’s events, knew her mother-in-law wasn’t a bad person.

Zhang Xiuying looked shocked. She had never even had a sip of tea here before.

Little Zhong Ling happily pulled her grandmother inside when she heard her mother say that.

“There’s nothing left at home. I need to go to the county town to buy a few things. Lingling, please stay and take care of things for a bit,” He Jingshu said, emerging with tea.

“No trouble at all, go ahead. Do you have ration coupons? I can give you some,” Zhang Xiuying offered, pleasantly surprised.

“No need, I’ve got enough. Lingling, stay with Grandma. I’ll bring back something tasty,” He Jingshu said, grabbing her money, coupons, and a basket, then set off to the county town.

On the way, people whispered when they saw her, but she paid them no mind. Living well mattered more than worrying about others’ opinions—caring too much only ends up hurting yourself.

She headed straight to the supply and marketing cooperative. Flour was 0.26 yuan per jin—she bought 10 jin. Then she spent 2 yuan on 10 jin of rice. Pork was 0.80 yuan per jin—she bought 2 jin. She also got some pork intestines and bones that didn’t require coupons. Seeing some milk candy on sale, she used a sugar coupon and 1 yuan to buy a jin for little Zhong Ling. Then she slowly made her way back, carrying the basket.

“Hey, I heard you cut ties with our family,” said Tie Niu, Zhang Fugui’s eldest grandson. Like the rest of his family, he didn’t respect He Jingshu at all.

She didn’t even want to acknowledge him. Tie Niu suddenly grabbed her. “You can go, but leave the stuff behind.” He drooled staring at the pork and rice in her basket.

“Let go,” He Jingshu said coldly.

“Leave it, you damn money-wasting woman.” Tie Niu was furious that she, who used to obey his every word, was now talking to him like this.

He Jingshu grabbed Tie Niu’s hand, twisted it—and with a crack, the hand that was grabbing her turned limp.

“AHHH!” Tie Niu cried, eyes and nose streaming with pain.

“I told you to let go. If you bother me again, I’ll beat you,” He Jingshu said, feeling refreshed as she walked home.

“Oh, and don’t go around saying I broke your hand—trying to rob someone is a criminal offense and you could end up in jail.” She left Tie Niu clutching his arm in regret. He truly didn’t dare say anything. His family didn’t get any benefit from today’s events—if they really sent him to jail, he’d be done for.

“Mom!” Little Zhong Ling had been waiting at the door. When she saw He Jingshu, she ran up happily.

“Let’s go home,” He Jingshu said, holding her hand.

Seeing her return, Zhang Xiuying got ready to leave.

“Take this back. I don’t like owing favors,” He Jingshu said coldly, cutting off a pound of meat for her mother-in-law to avoid raising suspicion with too sudden a personality change.

Zhang Xiuying tried to refuse, but in the end, little Zhong Ling said she wanted Grandpa and Grandma to eat meat too. Only then did Zhang Xiuying smile and take the meat home.