Chapter 14

“Third Sister hasn’t even published a book yet, and I’m about to publish one?”

That was Ye Manzhi’s first reaction after hearing Zhou Min’s question.

In her eyes, “Old Immortal Huang” was a total powerhouse—exhausting herself delivering letters during the day, yet still having the energy to write at night.

Though Ye didn’t know exactly what she wrote, she’d occasionally see her sticking stamps on stuffed envelopes—it looked like she was submitting articles to newspapers.

People like that, serious writers, hadn’t even published books yet—and now someone like her, drawing simple fashion sketches, was being asked to publish?

Looking at Zhou Min across from her, she replied a bit embarrassed, “Director Zhou, I did draw these pictures, but the clothing designs aren’t mine. Can something like this really be published?”

“Of course it can,” Zhou Min said, pointing to a copy of Editorial Compilation on her desk. “The editorials in this book weren’t written by the publisher’s editors either, but they were still compiled and published!”

She had first seen the fashion sketchbook at a local resident team leader’s home.

The cover looked plain enough, but inside, it was surprisingly impressive.

In addition to the typical qipao and blouses, there were spring coats, convertible tops, vests, skirts, pants, and even one-piece dresses.

Though the illustrations were all done in pencil, beside each style were detailed notes on fabric types, colors, how many feet of cloth a standard-sized woman would need, and sometimes even the finished garment’s price and the manufacturer.

Just in the copy she had, she could see famous fashion brands of the time like Shanghai Zao Cun, Hongxia, Beijing Hongdu, and Tianjin Baimigui.

You’d have to really love this stuff to record everything so thoroughly.

Zhou Min had spent half her life in publishing. After just a few pages, she could already see the immense publishing value in the sketchbook.

Earlier this year, the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League and the All-China Women’s Federation held a forum on women’s clothing, advocating for women to dress more attractively and wear beautiful clothes.[1]

Over the past six months, plenty of women in the cities had responded to that call—but because of poor access to new information, many still made the same baggy, shapeless styles as before. The overall aesthetic just wasn’t there.

From both a political and practical standpoint, Zhou Min believed this sketchbook absolutely deserved publication.

Ye Manzhi still didn’t quite grasp the full value of her sketchbooks—but that didn’t stop her from seizing the opportunity to file a small complaint.

“Director Zhou, I really am thrilled at the idea of publishing these. But I’m afraid… it might not be possible…”

“What do you mean ‘not possible’?” Mu Lan jumped in quickly to encourage her. “Xiao Ye, don’t be silly! Publishing your fashion sketchbook so more women can see it—it’s a great thing for the whole community! It would be a real honor for our subdistrict office too!”

Ye Manzhi leaned closer and whispered to her, “Deputy Director Zhang already criticized me a few days ago. She told me not to lend the sketchbooks out anymore.”

“What? What’s this got to do with Old Zhang?”

“You didn’t know?” Ye Manzhi put on a look of mild surprise. “Deputy Director Zhang said my sketchbooks promote pleasure-seeking. That wearing nice clothes was a kind of extravagant enjoyment. She said these materials shouldn’t be circulating among the neighborhood.”

“I can’t believe this nonsense! Since when is dressing properly considered extravagant enjoyment? The Provincial Fine Arts Publishing House is directly overseen by the Provincial Party Committee—it’s the Party’s official publishing voice. If anyone knows what can or can’t be published, it’s them!” Mu Lan declared firmly. “As for Old Zhang—”

“I’ll go explain things—this book publishing matter can’t be delayed. Xiao Ye, discuss the details thoroughly with Director Zhou.”

Mu Lan had worked alongside Old Zhang for three years, and she knew the kind of petty thoughts the other woman often had.

The subdistrict office was a small place, and she had turned a blind eye to plenty of minor issues before.

But the Fine Arts Publishing House was a provincial-level institution. If one of their own subdistrict cadres could publish a book through such a channel, it would bring positive publicity to their modest little office.

After all, the author’s unit name could be printed right before their name!

——

After some discussion, a provisional title for Ye Manzhi’s new book was agreed upon:
“Compilation of Clothing Styles: XX Examples of Women’s Wear.”

Exactly how many examples would be included depended on how many suitable designs could be selected from Ye Manzhi’s sketchbooks.

Some redundant or near-duplicate sketches would be removed. There were also some Soviet-style dresses (“bulaji”) that might need further discussion before inclusion, pending a review meeting at the publisher.

In addition, most of the designs in Ye’s sketchbooks were for spring, summer, and autumn. There were relatively few winter outfits—so it’d be best to add a few winter styles to round things out.

The three of them discussed all afternoon in the office, and by the time they wrapped up, the rain had stopped, the wind had died down, and the heavy clouds had cleared.

The air was thick with the muggy warmth of post-rain humidity and the scent of flowers. Ye Manzhi said goodbye to the others and eagerly dashed off toward the military residential compound.

Inside the compound, several groups of men were playing chess under the trees. The sound of pieces landing on the board echoed—pa, pa, pa—amidst murmuring from onlookers clustered three layers deep.

Chang Yue’e was sitting in a group of women, chatting away while trimming green beans.

Ye Manzhi ran over, greeted the neighbors in a whirlwind of excitement, then waved her mom over.

“Mom! I have something to tell you!”

“Aiyo, Xiao Ye Cadre, what can’t you say in front of everyone?”

Ye Manzhi replied with mock seriousness, “Auntie Luo, don’t call me Xiao Ye Cadre—I’m still on probation. I’m not officially a cadre yet!”

“Well, that’s just a matter of time!”

“Nope, nope. Our Deputy Director Zhang said we can’t use titles as a form of flattery!” Ye Manzhi giggled. “We all got scolded for calling her Director Zhang—we have to say Deputy Director Zhang.”

The women: “……”

So fake-serious!

Waving the others goodbye, Ye Manzhi half-dragged her mom upstairs in a flurry of excitement.

Then, right in front of the whole family, she officially announced her big news:
She was going to publish a book!

The room fell into stunned silence.

After a long pause, Fourth Brother glanced around, then decided to be the brave one and ask:
“You… didn’t get scammed, did you?”

Ye Manzhi could draw, sure, but publish a book? That was a stretch. If the youngest sister could do that—then heck, so could he!

“Nope! The person from the publishing house was personally brought over by our Director Mu. Totally legit! Hehehe~”

Ye Shouxin slapped his thigh with joy.
“My daughter can actually publish a book?! If this goes through, our family will finally count as a scholarly household!”

He’d been worrying about her marriage prospects, fearing that since she had broken off a previous engagement, she might not find a good match.

But if what she said was true, he’d dare to bring her published book straight to the mayor’s house for a marriage proposal!

Chang Yue’e, equally thrilled, chimed in:
“That’s right! You won’t find another girl in this whole compound who can publish a book!”

Ye Manzhi, thoroughly inflated with pride, had been riding a wave of vanity all afternoon.

Her heart was immediately satisfied by her parents’ support. Grabbing her mother’s hand, she said, “Director Zhou from the publishing house wants me to add some example drawings of autumn and winter clothing, but I’m working during the day and organizing events at night—there’s no time for me to go shopping. Mom, can you find time to help me check things out?”

She had learned both drawing and sewing from her mother and second sister.

Chang Yue’e’s previous in-laws had run a silk and fabric shop, and she could identify over a hundred types of cloth. When it came to tailoring and dressmaking, her skills were far superior to her daughter’s.

Old Ye was worried that her constant needlework would damage her eyesight, which is why he insisted their children learn to make clothes themselves.

Naturally, Chang Yue’e wouldn’t refuse her daughter’s request. Patting her chest, she promised, “I’ll take the bus to the Women and Children’s Department Store tomorrow. They always have the autumn and winter clothes in stock early—I’ll make sure to get everything sorted for you.”

“Hehe, then I’ll head to the meat stall first thing tomorrow and reserve a couple of pig’s trotters for you—you need some proper nourishment,” Ye Manzhi said, wrapping her arm around her mother’s shoulders. “Once the royalties from the publisher come in, we’ll split it fifty-fifty!”

The mother and daughter were perfectly in sync, while Huang Li and Shen Liangmei, the two sisters-in-law, had a rare moment of shared thought—

That Ye Manzhi really knows how to talk.

She didn’t lift a finger at home beyond doing her own laundry, yet somehow, just by sweet-talking, she had their parents wrapped around her little finger!

Still, the news that Ye Manzhi was going to publish a book had deeply shocked the whole family—especially Huang Li, who was still dazed even after returning to her room with her husband.

As her husband, Ye Mantang naturally knew what Huang Li had been doing in her spare time. Seeing her reaction, he tried to comfort her:
“The youngest being able to publish a book is partly luck, but it’s also the result of years of effort. You weren’t around back then, so you don’t know.”

“She’s always been obsessed with this stuff. Just collecting fabric, lace, buttons, and thread probably cost her a fortune. Good thing cloth now requires ration coupons—otherwise, her entire paycheck would’ve gone to dressing up. You’re just starting out with writing. Take it slow. What’s that saying again?”

“‘A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.’”

“Hehe, see? A true literary genius who’s had articles published. Way more cultured than me,” Ye Mantang said, showering her with blind praise.

Huang Li dabbed some snow cream onto her hands, speaking with a hint of envy, “It’s not about anything else—I just really envy that she’s making extra money from the book!”

Being a mail carrier had only been a stopgap solution after she got stuck in this era. There was no way she planned to deliver letters for the rest of her life.

If she wanted to transfer into a clerical or office role within the system, she’d have to keep proving her writing skills.

She had studied sports journalism and had worked as an on-camera reporter for a sports channel after graduation, capable of handling both scripts and commentary herself. Compared to her peers, her writing foundation was strong.

But the language habits of this era were completely different from her original one. After arriving, she’d spent over six months reading newspapers before even attempting to write. So far, she had only managed to submit a few light pieces about workers and grassroots life.

Two had been successfully published, and the royalties barely covered a single Russian meal for her and Ye Mantang.

But what newspapers paid couldn’t compare to book royalties.

From what she knew, the base rate for book royalties was 4 yuan per thousand characters. A 100,000-character book could earn at least 400 yuan.

Some major authors could even earn up to 15 yuan per thousand characters. Publishing a book could buy them a courtyard home in Beijing.

Ye Manzhi’s book would mostly consist of illustrations with very little text, so the pricing would be a different matter—but still…

However, Huang Li thought absentmindedly, publishing a clothing book could actually provide some new ideas for herself.

At the street office, with the endorsement of the provincial-level publishing house, Ye Manzhi and Chen Caixia had become reinvigorated.

The tailoring classes continued as usual, and the catalog was still being loaned out and circulated.

However, through this incident, the two of them had noticed that Deputy Director Zhang seemed to have some objections to them.

The specific reason was unclear.

In order not to touch Deputy Director Zhang’s sensitive nerves, the two of them had been quieter in the office.

One evening, after Ye Manzhi had sent off the last neighbor handling business and was about to leave with her lunchbox, Lei Tao from the neighboring police station suddenly rushed in with great urgency.

After briefly looking between Ye Manzhi, Aunt Feng, and Mu Lan, he turned to Mu Lan and said, “Director Mu, we have an emergency situation on our side. Do you have time to help?”

“What’s going on?”

“A woman came to our police station’s front gate, threatening to hang herself!”

“…”

Mu Lan immediately stood up from her seat, “Then hurry up and save her! Why are you coming here?”

“Meng Jie is on leave today,” Lei Tao scratched his head and said, “The few of us men can’t really handle it, we’re not suitable to touch her! You should go and have a look, maybe help mediate.”

Ye Manzhi put down her lunchbox and volunteered, “How about I go with you? I’m stronger.”

Unexpectedly, Lei Tao still hesitated and, blushing, said, “You’re not suitable. You’re not married, you shouldn’t be involved in this case!”

“Our street office doesn’t care about whether you’re married or not, men or women, when there’s a problem, we all need to step up!”

Mu Lan stopped asking questions and quickly grabbed Ye Manzhi to head out.

As for Comrade Feng Chaoyang, who stayed in the office, she was completely ignored by everyone.

Aunt Feng was a typical nine-to-five worker. She worked from 9 AM to 5 PM, only did her job, never worked overtime, and didn’t participate in any activities. No matter how much she was asked, she wouldn’t budge. She had no desires, and the leadership couldn’t do anything about her.

Ye Manzhi secretly envied Aunt Feng’s lifestyle for a moment, but then hurried to the police station to see the commotion, following closely behind Director Mu as they left.

At the police station’s entrance, just as Lei Tao had said, there was a middle-aged woman tying a rope to a branch in front of the gate.

She was preparing to hang herself.

A few beat officers stood nearby, and before she could even get her head through the loop, one of them quickly pulled the rope down.

The woman tried to grab it back, but Liu, the head of the station, stepped out and said sternly, “Ge Hong! If you’ve got a problem, speak about it properly. If you keep making a scene like this, we won’t be so polite!”

“And what can you do? I’ve reported the case three times, and each time you’ve brushed me off! I’m going to show everyone how you’re pushing people to their deaths!”

“Catching thieves in the act, catching adulterers with evidence, when have you ever reported something with proof? Listen, Ge Hong, making a fuss here won’t work! Hanging yourself won’t solve anything!”

At these words, Ge Hong stopped trying to grab the rope and sat down on the ground, dramatically slapping her thighs and starting to wail in a tone that everyone was familiar with: “Ah, why is my life so miserable~ ah ah ah~ the big hat is shielding the bad guys~ ah ah ah~~~”

Ye Manzhi stood at the back of the crowd, watching in astonishment as she theatrically wailed without even a hint of rain.

She continued to cry and complain to the beat officers.

It’s important to note that, at this time, the common people held a lot of respect for the police, and very few people who went to the police station behaved as arrogantly as she did.

Seeing Liu, the station head, with a dark, angry face, Ye Manzhi quickly stepped forward and pulled the woman up from the ground.

Liu, clearly frustrated, said, “Director Mu, this woman is better handled by your street office. The issues she’s talking about can’t be filed as a case. It really just comes down to mediation.”

“What’s going on?” Mu Lan asked.

“Her husband is a rickshaw driver, and over the past two months, he’s been bringing home less and less money. She thought something was off, so she went to the cooperative to ask about it. Turns out, his pay was half of what others were getting. She insists her husband gave the money to Xue Qiao’er…”

Ge Hong angrily interrupted, “This leader, Xue Qiao’er is from Liushao Hutong, and everyone in the whole street knows about it. If Old Li gave her money, it’s definitely not for any good reason. That woman, she’s just going back to her old ways!”

Liushao Hutong had been a notorious entertainment area before the liberation, in simpler terms, a brothel.

Ye Manzhi was confused, “Even though his wage was cut in half, the cooperative paid him a set amount, and that’s all he took home. What does that have to do with Xue Qiao’er?”

“You young officials can’t even imagine their dirty deeds! The wages for the rickshaw work are piecework; after they did what they did, Old Li could record the work he did on Xue Qiao’er’s work sheet. It’s all aboveboard, nobody can find fault with it!”

Ge Hong was full of frustration, “When her husband was bedridden, I pitied her and had Old Li give her 3,000 old yuan (equivalent to 30 new yuan) for her family! Later, she tried to join the cooperative, but because of her reputation, no one wanted to accept her. I even spoke up for her. How can she forget my kindness and earn money in such a way?!”

“Alright, alright, the situation isn’t clear yet, why are you crying?” Mu Lan wiped her tears with the back of her hand.

She also regretted bringing Ye Manzhi along.

“How is it unclear! I’ve seen them together several times on the street, riding together to work! And when I was washing Old Li’s clothes, I found long hair and even a scented handkerchief in his pocket—my family doesn’t have things like that!” Ge Hong, with her short hair neatly combed, made a strong case. “At first, I wasn’t too sure, but yesterday, Xue Qiao’er just added a rain cover to the rickshaw. With the little money she makes, how can she afford something like that when she can barely feed her family?”

Liu looked at Mu Lan, helpless, “You heard her, right? It’s all based on her subjective assumptions. She doesn’t have any concrete evidence. How can we arrest anyone?”

If it were a petty crime, they could have laid an ambush to catch them in the act.

But when it comes to relationships between men and women, that’s a much more difficult situation.

The current social atmosphere is complicated—it’s simple in some ways, but in others, it’s very open.

Matters of men and women can be solved in a secluded corner.

By the time the police get there, the people involved are long gone.

With limited manpower at the police station, how could they spend all their time watching these trivial matters?

Mu Lan pulled Ye Manzhi’s sleeve, “I remember you visited Xue Qiao’er’s house. What’s the situation there now?”

“I went twice, but never saw her. However,” Ye Manzhi leaned in and whispered to her, “I later went to the transportation cooperative to look for her. Although I still didn’t see her, I saw her name on the honor board outside the office. The rankings are based on the number of workdays and monthly income, and Xue Qiao’er is in tenth place.”

There were dozens of workers in the transportation team, and Xue Qiao’er, as the only female master, ranking tenth was quite impressive.

After hearing Ye Manzhi’s description, Mu Lan, who had been maintaining a neutral stance, furrowed her brows.

She thought for a moment before saying to Ge Hong, “You don’t have evidence, and the police station won’t be able to help you arrest anyone. This matter should be handed over to our street office.”

Ge Hong asked suspiciously, “What happens after it’s handed over?”

“Prostitution is strictly prohibited by the state, and if there are secret prostitutes on Guangming Street, we will certainly carry out a thorough cleanup. If it turns out that Xue Qiao’er is being wronged, and your husband isn’t a client, that’s also good for you. Am I right?”

“Hmm.”

“Then you should go back and wait for the news. We will organize an investigation and give you a response as soon as possible.”

Ge Hong was relentless, “The police said the same thing.”

“If you’re not satisfied,” Mu Lan took the rope from the beat officer and handed it to Ge Hong, “You can take this rope and hang yourself in front of our street office!”

Everyone: “…”

Mu Lan was truly impressive!

Ge Hong was successfully persuaded by Mu Lan, and the onlookers gradually dispersed.

Ye Manzhi caught up with Ge Hong and softly advised, “Until the matter is investigated, you should not go around spreading rumors about Xue Qiao’er and your husband. It’s not good for their reputation.”

Especially since Xue Qiao’er’s background was sensitive. Even if she was wronged, it would be difficult to clear her name once she got tied to such rumors.

Ge Hong shot her a sideways glance, huffing angrily, “Let them have their fun for a few days. If it turns out to be true, I won’t be afraid of embarrassment. I’ll make sure that both Li Sanpao and Xue Qiao’er’s names are ruined in the street!”

Ye Manzhi: “…”

It was still early, so Mu Lan decided to visit Xue Qiao’er’s house after work to check on the situation.

They bought two sesame flatbreads by the roadside for dinner and ate them while walking.

“Xiao Ye, what do you think about Xue Qiao’er’s situation?”

“What do you mean? I haven’t even met her in person yet, so it’s hard to say.”

“I mean, what do you think about her ranking tenth on the honor board? What’s your take on that?”

Ye Manzhi actually felt conflicted.

On one hand, she thought it was impressive that Xue Qiao’er had managed to outdo so many men.

On the other hand, she felt that Ge Hong’s words made some sense.

Riding a rickshaw requires a lot of physical strength, and she had seen a rickshaw driver eat seven big flatbreads in one sitting.

The reason why fifth brother had switched from a rickshaw to a cart was that his body wasn’t as strong as the other drivers, and he couldn’t grab enough business.

Just how strong must Xue Qiao’er be to make it into the top ten?

Mu Lan laughed after hearing this, “Women from Liushao Hutong need to keep their composure and can’t afford to be well-fed. Xue Qiao’er isn’t strong at all; she’s quite frail. There’s likely a big issue with her ranking tenth.”

Either the person in charge of the rankings gave her special treatment, or she found a way to make money.

The specifics had to be asked directly to Xue Qiao’er.

That day, their luck was good. When they arrived at Yueya Hutong, not only was Xue Qiao’er at home, but her rickshaw, which had just been fitted with a rain cover, was also parked in the yard.

As they entered, four children were playing in the back of the rickshaw, and Zheng Dongmei had to chase them out with a broom.

When Director Mu saw them, she smiled brightly and said, “You’ve even put a rain cover on the rickshaw? It’s good to see you’re doing better, it makes me feel more at ease.”

Old Mr. Zheng quickly stepped forward and spoke in a smooth, practiced tone, “Our family has been able to scrape by, thanks to the care from the street leadership.”

“Being able to live well is thanks to your own efforts,” Director Mu smiled, “Your daughter-in-law Xue Qiao’er has contributed greatly.”

“That’s for sure,” Mrs. Zheng wiped the corner of her eye, “Our Dongzi is no longer useful, and if it weren’t for Qiao’er taking care of things, our whole family would be in a tough spot. I always tell my husband, it must be because we did good deeds in our past lives that we’re able to have a good daughter-in-law like Qiao’er in this one!”

Hearing her mother-in-law’s praise, Xue Qiao’er shyly adjusted her hair with her calloused fingers and said, “Mom, don’t say that. You and Dad treat me like your own daughter, and Dongzi treats me well too. It’s only right that I do these things.”

“You’re a good child. It’s us who have been useless and a burden to you, sigh…”

The Zheng family was full of love and harmony. However, Ye Manzhi, who was watching from the sidelines, thought coldly to herself that a real daughter wouldn’t have to pedal a rickshaw.

Perhaps it was because she had overheard Mrs. Zheng’s “doorway smile” when she first visited, she had always found the Zheng family’s act of pretending to be so perfect uncomfortable.

Xue Qiao’er invited the guests to sit and rest in the yard, and nervously asked, “Director Mu, what brings you here today?”

“Haha, I’m here on official business, but I wanted to invite you to our street’s free tailoring class. If you’re interested, I can sign you up.”

Upon hearing that the class was free, Xue Qiao’er’s eyes brightened, and she was eager to agree.

However, Mrs. Zheng immediately spoke with concern, “Leader, you know Qiao’er’s situation. She’s been gossiped about for years. The class is full of women, and if Qiao’er goes, she’ll definitely be the subject of rumors. It’s different from being at home; I don’t want her to suffer any humiliation.”

Old Mr. Zheng added, “We’ve got enough clothes to wear, and we don’t make new ones every year. Don’t let Qiao’er go and get looked down upon.”

After hearing her in-laws’ words, the light in Xue Qiao’er’s eyes gradually faded, and she fell silent.

What seemed like a great opportunity to learn a skill for free, coming from these two, was instead framed as something that would cause humiliation.

Mu Lan pretended to get up to leave, “Well, attending the class is voluntary. We won’t force you.”

“Hey, Leader,” Mrs. Zheng called after her, “Last time, we agreed that our family would be eligible for aid. When will the relief funds be distributed?”

Street officials usually have one person play the “bad cop” and another the “good cop” when doing community outreach.

Since Director Mu had played the “bad cop,” it was naturally Ye Manzhi’s turn to play the “good cop.”

She spoke seriously, “Mrs. Zheng, the country is currently in a phase of accumulating funds. We need to be very careful with our spending. Aid recipients are under strict review. Your family’s living standard doesn’t seem to require aid.”

Mrs. Zheng was flustered, “How can we not need aid? There are eight of us in the family, and only Qiao’er is able-bodied!”

“But your one laborer is worth two or three from other families,” Ye Manzhi said with approval in her eyes, as she pointed to the rickshaw, “I see you’ve even installed a rain cover, and I’ve heard that Xue Qiao’er has been performing outstandingly at the transportation team. She’s even on the honor board!”

Xue Qiao’er’s lips moved, wanting to explain something, but her mother-in-law grabbed her wrist to silence her.

“Leader, a woman’s physical strength can’t be compared to a man’s. For Qiao’er to make it onto the honor board once, she must have really pushed herself to the limit…”

Mrs. Zheng searched for a reason, trying to get some aid for her family. However, at the other end of the small yard, a loud shout from Zheng Dongmei suddenly rang out.

“Who’s so cruel as to cut down our hawthorn tree?”

With a loud thud, a branch of the tree fell to the ground, and immediately, the sound of shouting men echoed from the alley just a wall away.

Zheng Dongmei, her eyes wide with fury, climbed down the ladder, grabbed a shovel from the wall, and stormed out.

In the alley stood seven or eight strong men, some in their twenties, others in their forties or fifties, all with muscles bulging on their arms and thighs.

Surrounded by so many strong men, Zheng Dongmei seemed somewhat intimidated, so she grabbed the shovel and directly confronted the man who looked the weakest and most refined.

“Why is it always you! Ye Manlin! Haven’t you had enough of a beating last time?”

“Can you at least be reasonable?” Before the shovel could strike him, Ye Manlin grabbed the handle, “We paid for this tree, so we can cut it down if we want.”

Zheng Dongmei spat, “Who took your money? You come to my house to cut down my tree, and you think you’re in the right?”

Seeing that the one cutting the tree was Brother Wu, Ye Manzhi suppressed her surprise and rushed forward to hug Zheng Dongmei from behind.

“Dongmei, let’s talk calmly. If you hurt someone, you’ll have to pay for their medical expenses!”

Zheng Dongmei didn’t listen, and after her weapon was taken, she kicked at him, “My brother is useless, but there’s still me! You think you can bully my family? Not a chance!”

The alley was filled with noise, and the people returning home from work were blocked at both ends of the road, so they stood on tiptoe, watching the commotion.

Mu Lan stepped forward to mediate: “No one move! Old Hu, you explain. Why are you and your group cutting down this hawthorn tree?”

Old Hu returned to his yard and led out his mule, “Director Mu, this tree has become a nuisance in our alley! Look at how this mule’s been scratched by the branches!”

The wall of Zheng’s yard was low, and the hawthorn tree’s branches had already stretched beyond the yard, often scratching passersby and vehicles.

This alley had large yards with cheap rent, and seven or eight households that worked with horse carts, donkey carts, and mule carts lived here.

Any livestock that passed in front of Zheng’s house was scratched by the branches.

Ye Manlin chimed in, “Old Hu’s mule’s fur has been scratched off, and my Hongzao were scratched in the eye by these branches. This tree really has to go! We only cut down the branches outside the wall; we didn’t touch the ones inside the yard.”

He had spent all his money to buy this horse and had even borrowed some from his grandfather and stepfather.

It was more painful to see the horse hurt than himself.

Ye Manzhi asked what the onlookers were thinking: “You should have talked with the owner before cutting down the tree. How can you just come and start chopping?”

“Of course we talked! Before, we all discussed it amicably, but Old Zheng said the tree was worth eight yuan and refused to let us cut it. So, we each chipped in one yuan, raised eight yuan in total, and gave it to him, asking him to cut it. But they took the money and did nothing. More than half a month passed with no action, which led to two more horses getting injured. In the end, we had no choice but to cut it ourselves!”

Zheng Dongmei angrily retorted, “Bullshit! Who took your money?”

“It was your dad who took the money, eight whole yuan! The community leader was there when the money was collected!”

At this point, everyone realized.

The old man from the Zheng family, who had taken the money, was nowhere to be found when the uproar erupted at the doorstep.

Zheng Dongmei, however, refused to admit it, holding her head high: “This hawthorn tree is our family’s feng shui tree. My father would never take your money!”

Hawthorn seeds are plentiful, symbolizing prosperity and many children, much like pomegranates. Many families plant hawthorn trees in their yards to bring good fortune.

But by now, it was no longer just about a tree.

Zheng Dongmei felt that the people in the alley looked down on her family from the bottom of their hearts.

Her brother was paralyzed, her parents were old, her sister-in-law was a reformed prostitute, and anyone who passed by her house could spit on it.

Wasn’t this just bullying her family because they had no one to back them up?

The whispered conversations, sneers, and mocking from the onlookers made her feel an unprecedented level of humiliation and resentment.

At that moment, Xue Qiao’er reached over and grabbed her hand, saying, “Dongmei, we all live in the same alley. This tree is bothering them. Even if we don’t cut it now, they might secretly cut it down in the middle of the night. It will be taken down sooner or later. There are too many of them, and we can’t afford to offend them. Let it go!”

Her sister-in-law’s words were like a spoonful of scalding hot oil poured on Zheng Dongmei’s burning fury.

“Let it go? This is our family’s feng shui tree, and no one can touch it!”

The carters didn’t care how she felt and boldly said, “Either you cut the tree, or you return the money. If another animal gets scratched by the branches, your family will have to pay for the damages!”

They had brought tools, intending to completely deal with this troublesome tree. They had already cut half of the overhanging branches, and the other half was also going to be chopped off.

Old Hu urged everyone to hurry up, saying they still had to go home for dinner after finishing the job!

The carters responded in unison, and Ye Manlin rolled up his sleeves, ready to lend a hand.

Huang Li, noticing the crowd gathering from a distance, immediately sensed something was wrong. She rode her bike closer and saw Ye Laowu climbing up the ladder to saw the tree!

She dropped her bike and squeezed through the crowd, trying to pull Ye Laowu down from the ladder but couldn’t get close enough.

Huang Li grabbed the nearest Ye Manzhi and said, “We can’t let your fifth brother bully people! Call him down quickly! Why is he cutting down someone else’s tree for no reason?”

She couldn’t help but curse inwardly.

The two families, living half an alley apart, had gotten into a neighborhood dispute!

“Sister-in-law, my brother and the others paid! Old Zheng also took the money and agreed to cut the tree.”

“That still doesn’t matter! They don’t want to cut the tree now. With so many people going after it, isn’t that bullying them?”

[If your brother dares to cut the tree, Zheng Dongmei will dare to take his life! She’s a reckless madwoman! Not only will your brother be killed by her seeking revenge, but most of the people here won’t survive either!]

[By then, the whole street will be burned to ashes, hundreds of people perishing in the fire. Even her own father, mother, and brother will burn to death! A madwoman like that—why are you arguing with her?]

[…] […] [Even if she ends up paying with her life and being executed, is it worth it, just for a tree?] […] […]

Looking at the rows of rapidly flashing subtitles in front of her, Ye Manzhi felt an overwhelming pain in her eyes, as if something was about to burst out.

These small letters, shining golden, were warmer than sunlight, but they made her feel a coldness spreading through her entire body.

Her lips moved, trying to say something, but it felt as if her throat was blocked with cotton, and no sound came out.

Huang Li, not knowing what she was dazed about, patted her shoulder and urgently said, “Stop standing there, come quickly and help persuade these people to come down!”

Ye Manzhi’s head felt numb and swollen as she followed Huang Li. She watched as Huang Li tried every possible way to persuade her fifth brother to come down, but he waved her off nonchalantly, refusing to listen.

She could not even begin to imagine what kind of misfortune cutting down this unremarkable hawthorn tree might bring.

Given all that had happened before, Ye Manzhi could not take lightly the information that the “Yellow God” had revealed.

She clenched her hands and took a deep breath before shouting, “Fifth Brother—”

Her voice was shrill, almost cracking.

The carters, who were busy preparing to saw the tree, were startled by her shout.

Fifth Brother rubbed his ear and asked, “What’s wrong? Why are you shouting?”

“Brother, my stomach hurts!” Ye Manzhi’s voice was still hoarse, and she cleared her throat before saying, “Hurry and take me home!”

Fifth Brother climbed down from the ladder, furrowing his brows and asking, “Why are you suddenly having stomach pains?”

Director Mu, worried that the carters cutting the tree would cause further conflict, interjected, “We ate sesame pancakes on our way here, and walking while eating might have made it worse. Stomach pain can be serious or mild. Take her home and observe her. If it’s really bad, take her to the hospital!”

Seeing her pale lips and beads of sweat rolling down her forehead, Ye Manlin believed her and said, “Alright, let’s go. Lie down at my place.”

“I don’t want to go to your place. Those two old pigs are snorting and giving me a headache. Take me back to the Military Industrial Compound!”

Ye Manzhi didn’t want Fifth Brother to stay there any longer. She got on Third Sister-in-Law’s bicycle and insisted that Fifth Brother push her back.

Before leaving, she didn’t forget to tell Director Mu, “Director, I think it’s really wrong for so many people to come to the Zheng family’s house to cut down the tree. It’s too unfair—it’s bullying the weak with numbers! Whether or not the eight yuan was really given to the Zheng family, we can’t be sure. Don’t let them cut the tree anymore! We should report it to the police!”

Mu Lan hadn’t expected this Xiao Ye to be so righteous.

After all, her fifth brother was one of the carters involved in cutting the tree. Wasn’t this a case of putting justice over family?

“I’ll handle this on my end. You hurry and go home to rest.”

Ye Manzhi really was sick this time, and by the evening, she developed a high fever.

When the fever was at its worst, she muttered and cried.

If what the “Yellow God” had “said” was true, then her fifth brother’s life had been incredibly hard.

From the moment he was born, his natural disability made him seem like an ill omen to his biological grandfather and father. His mother, in order to protect his life, broke ties with her husband and returned to her family.

As he grew older and began to understand things, he had to follow his mother, Chang Yue’e, and adapt to a new life with her stepfather after they remarried.

Throughout his life, because of his good looks and his crippled legs, many people had shaken their heads in pity.

Finally, after reaching adulthood, saving up some money, and buying a cart, his life seemed to be getting better, but then someone came seeking revenge and dragged him into a fiery death.

Just thinking about her fifth brother’s fate made Ye Manzhi’s heart ache, and she couldn’t hold back her tears.

Her fifth brother hadn’t even had a chance to date, get married, or have children!

If he really died like this, her mother, Chang Yue’e, would surely hate Old Ye to death!

When the two remarried, Chang Yue’e didn’t ask for a penny in dowry. The only thing she asked of Old Ye was…

She requested that her two children be treated as her own, just as the eldest sister and fifth brother should have what the second, third, and fourth brothers have.

Originally, Old Ye had done everything well.

However, last year when Factory 656 allocated apartments to the first batch of employees, they were given flats in a building. Based on Old Ye’s rank, he could only receive a one-and-a-half-room apartment. It was only because Third Brother gave up his opportunity that Old Ye managed to secure a two-bedroom apartment, just barely enough to fit the whole family.

In the end, the apartment technically belonged to Old Ye and Third Brother, and even Fourth Brother and his wife had to sleep in the living room.

So, when Fifth Brother suggested renting a yard to keep horses, Chang Yue’e didn’t oppose it and allowed him to move from the old flat to Crescent Alley.

However, it hurt her to watch Third Brother marry, have children, stay in the Su family, and become an engineer, living a life of glory, while Fifth Brother, so young, had his life cut short. How could any mother bear that?

Ye Manzhi could almost foresee her family falling apart and cried in her dreams.

She had intermittent high fever, constantly rambling, and lay in bed for three days before fully waking up.

As soon as she opened her eyes, she hoarsely asked, “Where’s my fifth brother?”

“He went to haul goods,” Chang Yue’e changed the wet towel on her forehead and said, “Just focus on getting better!”

Ye Manzhi settled back down, her mind filled with thoughts of the Zheng family and Fifth Brother.

It seemed absurd that a tree could cause someone’s death, but considering the Zheng family’s background, it wasn’t impossible.

Long-term feelings of inferiority, humiliation, and suppression could indeed twist one’s psyche.

Perhaps cutting down the tree was the final straw that broke the camel’s back.

Ye Manzhi already began to fear Zheng Dongmei, and she realized she couldn’t change her in the short term.

For now, she had to get Fifth Brother away from Crescent Alley.

Her family had helped her get four days of sick leave from work, and before returning, Ye Manzhi planned to visit Fifth Brother again and persuade him to come home for a few days.

To get to his place, she had to pass by the Zheng family’s house.

The weathered wooden door was half open, and the sounds of children crying and playing floated out.

Against the glaring sunlight, Ye Manzhi looked toward the hawthorn tree, still with many branches extending outward, arrogantly occupying the public alleyway.

“Mom, Dongmei, I’m off to work!”

Xue Qiao’er’s gentle voice came from the yard, and the front wheel of the tricycle peeked out.

Ye Manzhi didn’t want to face the Zheng family, so she quickly walked past their door.

She could still hear Aunt Zheng calling after her, giving soft instructions to her daughter-in-law.

“Qiao’er, it’s hot and you’re sweating a lot, I’ve filled two bottles with cool boiled water, remember to drink it.”

“Mm, thank you, Mom.”

“You silly girl, no need to thank me. If you can’t pedal anymore, ask the drivers for help. They’ll see you, a woman, working so hard and will definitely help you! Also, if you’re hungry, just buy a pancake. Don’t be too stingy!”

Listening to the conversation behind her, Ye Manzhi sneered inwardly.

So, Aunt Zheng thinks boiled water is enough, but they don’t have any dry food?

Pedaling the tricycle is hard work, and each trip doesn’t earn much money. What driver would spend money on a pancake?

If she truly cared for her daughter-in-law, why not bring her some food?

Aunt Zheng just uses her words to get Xue Qiao’er to willingly support their entire family. She’s truly something.

Ye Manzhi mumbled to herself, then heard the sound of the wooden door latch, instinctively turning around to look.

She saw Xue Qiao’er standing by the tricycle, adjusting the newly installed rain canopy. Seemingly remembering something, she tilted her head toward the half-cut hawthorn tree, then suddenly smiled.

Ye Manzhi quickly turned and walked away, the mocking smile at the corner of Xue Qiao’er’s lips lingering in her mind, and an unexpected chill spread through her.