Chapter 2: A Fight Broke Out

When the village chief heard that Ye Qing was planning to go to the army unit to find Qin Ye, he was momentarily stunned and then hesitantly asked: “Girl, is this really your own idea? Or did your mother put you up to it?”

Ye Qing stroked little Nannan’s soft head.

The child was already two and a half years old, but she still looked like she was barely over one. Her little face was only about three fingers wide, and her hair was thin and soft — all clear signs of malnutrition. Even now, she couldn’t walk steadily.

Ye Qing truly couldn’t leave her child in that household any longer. No matter what, she had to take the child to the army unit.

She said: “Uncle, this is my own decision. I’m sure you’ve heard — my mom is forcing me to go on blind dates. The child’s father hasn’t sent a word in ages. I have to go, see what’s going on. Please, just write me a proof letter!”

The village chief, of course, knew the situation Ye Qing and the child were in at home, and he also knew what kind of person Su Fang was.

The child wasn’t wrong in her thinking. They couldn’t just sit back and let the mother and daughter be tormented to death. A trip might actually be for the better. After all, her man was a soldier — maybe this visit would lead them to a way out.

He sighed. “Child, it’s no joke going from our village to the Northwest. The road’s not exactly peaceful either! You’re a woman taking a child with you…”

She knew the village chief was genuinely concerned for her, so she reassured him. She promised that as long as she had the introduction letter, she would definitely find the army base.

Only then did the village chief agree to issue the letter. He repeatedly urged her to be cautious on the road and to never let the child out of her sight.

Ye Qing thanked him and left.

The next morning, bright and early, Su Fang handed Ye Qing twenty yuan and told her to buy clothes and also bring back some soy sauce and white sugar for the household.

After saying that, she went out to work.

While Ding Lanhua was resting inside the house, Ye Qing quietly sneaked into Su Fang’s room. She found a black-and-white checkered long coat in the wardrobe, reached into it, pulled out all the cash and ration coupons hidden there, stuffed them into her own pocket, and then tossed the coat back into the wardrobe.

Most of that money and those tickets were Qin Ye’s allowance. She had to take them! As for what to do after taking them — she casually placed a small item into the wardrobe in return, then picked up Nannan and headed for town.

Her sister-in-law poked her head out of the house. “Little sister, come back early! I haven’t washed your brother’s clothes yet. He needs something to wear tomorrow.”

Ye Qing answered crisply: “Okay! Got it, Sister-in-law!”

Tomorrow was her sister-in-law’s mother’s sixtieth birthday. Although rural people rarely celebrated birthdays back then, a sixtieth birthday was a milestone — children were expected to show at least a little token of respect. That meant her sister-in-law would return to her maternal home the next day.

Ye Qing smiled faintly. “No need to wait till tomorrow. You’re all going to have excitement today.”

With money in her hand, she didn’t want to waste time. At the village entrance, she spent 20 cents to hop on a donkey cart heading for town.

With the letter from the village chief, the introduction letter was easy to get. The commune cadre looked at Nannan, who was clearly smaller and skinnier than other kids her age, and his face filled with concern. He couldn’t help but remind her.

“Comrade, you’re the family of an active-duty soldier. If someone is mistreating you, you can report it to us. If we can’t handle it, we’ll escalate it to the military, and have your man come back and take care of it himself. Are you sure you want to take the child all the way to the army base alone? It’s very far.”

Ye Qing laughed bitterly in her heart.

Qin Ye had always believed that incident had been a setup by the Original Owner and her mother. He already considered it decent of himself to still send her living expenses. Want him to come back and handle these family matters? Not a chance!

Maybe, right now, he was dying to strangle her.

She lifted her head, eyes bright. “Thank you, comrade. I feel better going myself. Honestly, I haven’t seen him in so long — I kind of miss him.”

She took the certificate and carefully examined it before folding it and tucking it away close to her body.

Seeing he couldn’t change her mind, the cadre specially arranged for a tractor from the commune to take the mother and daughter to the city’s train station.

The train station was bustling with people, a crowd flowing endlessly in and out. Most wore clothes in dull hues — gray and black dominated the scene. It was rare to see any other color. Occasionally, a fashionably dressed woman in a dress would walk by, and immediately, curious eyes would follow her.

Ye Qing looked down at herself. She wore a long, earth-yellow tunic and a pair of black pants, both patched up in many places.

Nannan’s clothes were altered from Ye Qing’s old ones — clearly two sizes too big, just so they could be worn for another two years. There was even a smear of soot from the bottom of a pot smudged on her little face. At a glance, they looked like refugees fleeing disaster.

This kind of attire wouldn’t attract attention.

After thanking the commune cadre who brought her there, Ye Qing entered the station with Nannan in her arms.

Inside, there were people wearing red armbands maintaining order, and some were questioning the travelers coming and going.

Ye Qing squeezed onto the train, found her seat, and pulled Nannan tightly into her lap. She took in the mixed scent of smoke, sweat, and stinky feet inside the carriage, then closed her eyes to rest.

——

Qiaotou Village

When Su Fang came home from work, she instantly noticed that her wardrobe had been rummaged through.

She yanked the door open, and when she saw the black-and-white checkered long coat plainly lying on top, her heart skipped a beat. She nearly collapsed on the spot.

She rushed forward and dug into the pockets — they were empty!

That was all the money the family had — 158 yuan! Could Ye Qing have stolen it?

No!

Su Fang immediately rejected that thought.

That girl, I know her too well. She can’t live without me, without this home. She would never dare to steal from the family!

Suddenly, she caught sight of something — a dark red hair tie stuck in the coat, just a little of it visible. If she hadn’t looked closely, she wouldn’t have noticed it.

Ding Lanhua?! That was Ding Lanhua’s hair tie, no doubt about it!

It had to be her! That little tramp! Tomorrow was her mother’s sixtieth birthday, and just a few days ago she had asked Su Fang for money to buy a gift — which Su Fang had refused to give. And now this? She was still thinking about the money?

She thinks just because she introduced Ye Qing to a rich family, she can help herself to the money in the house? Shameless!

At that moment, Ding Lanhua pushed the front door open with two boxes of pastries and a newly made set of clothes in her hands, humming a cheerful tune, clearly pleased with herself.

Seeing what she was carrying, Su Fang was instantly enraged. She reached out and slapped her across the face.

“You little tramp! Who told you to buy these things? Where’s my money?!”

Ding Lanhua was stunned. Holding her cheek, she forgot to cry. “I… it was Dazhuang. Dazhuang gave me the money to buy them! Tomorrow is my mom’s sixtieth birthday. We can’t just go empty-handed, can we?”

Smack!

Another slap!

Now both sides of her face were swelling. “You little tramp! Even if it was Dazhuang’s money, you’re the one who incited him! Otherwise, how would my son dare to touch my money?”

“Sixtieth birthday? What sixtieth birthday?! The family is so poor we can’t even hear a coin drop, and you still want to copy others and celebrate a birthday? Why don’t you take a good look in the mirror first?”

Ding Lanhua couldn’t take it anymore. She said Su Fang could scold her all she wanted, but why drag her mother into it? What had her mother done to deserve that?

She dropped what she was holding, rushed forward, and started fighting with Su Fang.

Ding Lanhua was tall, strong, and aggressive. The petite Su Fang was no match and was quickly pinned to the ground. Ding Lanhua slapped her across the face several times.

As she struck her, she shouted: “You old hag! It’s bad enough you bully your daughter and granddaughter — now you want to bully your daughter-in-law too? What, you think I’m an easy target?”

“Let me tell you something! My family may be poor, but my mother never forced her daughter to sleep around! And she definitely never sold her daughter so her son could get a wife! You shameless old witch!”

“What?! You little slut, you spend my money and still dare to curse me? I’ll rip your filthy mouth off!”

The two rolled on the floor, clawing and scratching at each other.

Just then, a short, stocky man carrying a hoe appeared at the doorway. Seeing the chaos in the house, he bellowed:

“What’s going on?! What the hell is going on here?!”