Speaking of going into the city, she really did want to go. She was diligent about skincare and wanted to buy some new products at the department store. With an extra person in the house, soap and toiletries were running out fast, and she didn’t have enough ration coupons, so she’d have to check the black market. Most importantly, she wanted to get her hands on a bicycle coupon.  

But going to the city with Lin Zhengrong would make it hard to visit the black market. Jiang Qiuyue started hesitating.  

“If we’re free tomorrow, do you want to go into the city?” Lin Zhengrong suddenly spoke up. “When we cut ties with the family, Uncle and the brigade leader spoke up for us. I’d like to buy them some gifts.”

Jiang Qiuyue nodded in agreement. “We should thank them. You’ll be returning to the army, but the kids and I still have to live in the village. It’s important to maintain good relations with the brigade leader and the others.”  

“And what about your parents? Should we buy something to visit them?” Lin Zhengrong barely remembered Jiang Qiuyue’s parents—he’d only met them once at their wedding. By tradition, as their son-in-law, he ought to pay them a visit.  

At the mention of her parents, Jiang Qiuyue finally remembered that the original owner of this body did have a family.  

However, the original Jiang Qiuyue had long since cut ties with them.  

The Jiang couple had desperately wanted a son, so they had five daughters before finally getting one. With so many mouths to feed, they only let the original Jiang Qiuyue finish elementary school. Daughters were worthless in their eyes, so she and her sisters had been burdened with all the household chores since childhood.  

When she came of age, her parents only cared about the bride price, not who she married. Jiang Qiuyue was relatively lucky—she married Lin Zhengrong, a soldier. Her sisters weren’t so fortunate.  

The original novel didn’t dwell much on Jiang Qiuyue’s family since she died at the beginning. Later, when Lin Zhengrong came to take the children, her parents only appeared briefly to demand money.  

After Lin Zhengrong returned to the army, her parents often came to extort money. But since the original Jiang Qiuyue had already given all her money to Wang Chunhua, the Jiang couple cursed her for being useless. After a few fruitless visits, they stopped coming altogether.  

Jiang Qiuyue had no desire to reconnect with such a family.  

“No need. That money would be better spent on meat for me… and the kids.”  

She refused outright. Seeing Lin Zhengrong’s puzzled look, she explained, “I… haven’t been in touch with my parents for a long time. They only care about their son—they couldn’t care less about their daughters. Let’s not bring them up again.”  

Just thinking about parents like that made her sick to her stomach on behalf of the original Jiang Qiuyue.  

Lin Zhengrong didn’t know the full story, so after dinner, he went next door to Aunt Niu’s house.  

When Aunt Niu heard he was asking about the Jiang family, her face twisted in disgust. “After you went back to the army, Jiang Yuanzong and his wife came every few days demanding money. If they didn’t get it, they’d beat her. Even Wang Chunhua wasn’t that brutal—those two went at her like they wanted her dead, cursing her with every foul word imaginable. No wonder Qiuyue cut ties with them. If it were me, I’d have fought them to the death long ago.”  

Lin Zhengrong’s brow furrowed. “Thanks for telling me, Auntie. I understand now.”  

“Don’t bring this up with Qiuyue. Having a family like that… it’s painful for her.” Aunt Niu sighed. “Wait here—I just gathered some river snails. Take them for tomorrow’s meal.”  

Lin Zhengrong thanked her and brought the snails home.  

Jiang Qiuyue brightened at the sight. “It’s been ages since I’ve had snails! Let them purge the sand overnight, and I’ll stir-fry them tomorrow!”  

Her enthusiasm for food was infectious. Lin Zhengrong found it amusing and nodded in agreement.  

But when he lay down on the new bed that night, staring at the sleeping child beside him in the dark, he frowned slightly.  

The bed was hard and uncomfortable. Not the best for sleeping.

If he had known this would be the outcome, he wouldn’t have rushed to finish it.  

Next door, Qian Li and Lin Erzhu were also unable to sleep. The house suddenly felt empty, and Qian Li, frightened, grabbed Lin Erzhu’s arm. “Erzhu, do you think Mom and Dad will be sent to labor reform too?”  

Lin Erzhu’s face was grim. He had been badly shaken earlier—so much so that when he saw his parents being taken away, he quickly hid, afraid of being implicated.  

He shook his head. “I don’t know. I really didn’t know they’d dare to do something like this.”  

“What about us? Will we be dragged into this?” Qian Li was most concerned about this.  

“Probably not, right?” Lin Erzhu had been worrying about it all day. “We had no idea about the whole fake police scheme from start to finish. We weren’t involved at all. If anyone’s getting arrested, it’ll be Mom and Dad.”  

Qian Li was still uneasy. “Why did Mom and Dad have to go after the Bai family? They should’ve just let Sanzhu and Lin Xiao go to labor reform. Now look what happened—we’re the ones left in constant fear.”  

Lin Erzhu also felt resentful. He didn’t even want to go to work tomorrow. If the villagers saw him, he wouldn’t know how to face them.  

Seeing her husband silent, Qian Li pinched his arm hard. “Say something! What are we going to do from now on?”  

“What if… we go apologize to Big Brother tomorrow?” Lin Erzhu’s mind was in turmoil, plagued by the sense that something bad was about to happen to him. “I don’t need him to treat me well or give me money. As long as he doesn’t hold the past against us, we’ll stay far away from Jiang Qiuyue and the others. What do you think?”  

Qian Li wasn’t thrilled about swallowing her pride like this, but she was more afraid of the alternative. “I’ll follow your lead.”  

Despite their decision, the couple still couldn’t sleep all night. At the crack of dawn the next day, they waited outside Jiang Qiuyue’s house.  

Lin Zhengrong was an early riser and liked to exercise in the morning. Hearing noise at the door, he opened it to find Lin Erzhu and his wife. His expression darkened. “What are you two doing here?”  

“Big Brother, don’t misunderstand. Qian Li and I came to apologize. We were wrong before—we didn’t do right by you, and we let Sister-in-law and the kids suffer. These eggs are for Beibei and Nannan.” Lin Erzhu respectfully held out the eggs.  

Lin Zhengrong didn’t take them. Unsolicited kindness always had ulterior motives.  

Were these two here to plead for Wang Chunhua and her husband?  

Seeing Lin Zhengrong unmoved, Lin Erzhu grew even more anxious. “We’re genuinely here to apologize. Mom and Dad were unreasonable, but Qian Li and I understand now. This whole mess is their fault—we’re not here to beg for leniency. We just wanted to say we’re sorry. From now on, we’ll keep our distance and never do anything to harm you again. Is that okay?”  

Lin Zhengrong understood now—these two were scared.  

“Keep the eggs. My family doesn’t need your food.” His gaze swept over them as he warned sternly, “Remember what you’ve said today. Otherwise, you’ll be the next ones sent to labor reform.”  

“Absolutely! We’ll keep our heads down from now on!” Lin Erzhu nodded repeatedly. “Please take the eggs anyway. Beibei and Nannan need the nutrition.”

Qian Li nodded vigorously beside him. “Yes, Big Brother, we were foolish before. Please don’t hold it against us—you’re magnanimous, unlike petty people like us. Look at the dark circles under our eyes—we didn’t sleep a wink all night.”  

Seeing how terrified Lin Erzhu and his wife were, Lin Zhengrong sneered inwardly.  

He didn’t take the eggs. Instead, he turned and closed the door without giving them an ounce of courtesy.  

Deep down, he had nothing but contempt for Lin Erzhu. Yesterday, when Wang Chunhua and Lin Fugui were taken away, he had spotted Lin Erzhu hiding in a corner. What kind of son doesn’t even dare to step forward at a time like that? Useless.  

Back in the yard, he ran into Jiang Qiuyue and told her about Lin Erzhu and his wife’s visit.  

Jiang Qiuyue chuckled. “Why didn’t you take the eggs? Free food is free food. Besides, they owe us. At least they’re smart enough to be scared—let’s hope they remember this fear for the rest of their lives. Otherwise, they’ll regret it.”  

She held a grudge like no other. If Qian Li and Lin Erzhu ever slipped up again, she wouldn’t let them off easy. Nannan still refused to speak, and Qian Li was half to blame for that!  

After breakfast, the family of four changed into clean clothes—they were heading into town today.  

The kids were beyond excited and had already rushed to the door, waiting impatiently.  

By the time Jiang Qiuyue finished drying her hair, Lin Beibei couldn’t wait any longer and tugged at her hand. “Hurry up, Mom!”  

“No rush. I’ve timed it—if we leave too early, there won’t even be a tractor to take us to town.” Jiang Qiuyue’s hair was thick and dark. She had braided it into two neat plaits that hung straight down her chest.  

She noticed Lin Zhengrong staring and frowned. “What, does it look bad? Why are you looking at me like that?” She touched her braids self-consciously, then patted her hair. “No, I’d better check the mirror again.”  

“Mom, you look beautiful! You’re the prettiest mom in the whole world!” Lin Beibei, desperate not to be late, rushed inside and showered her with praise.  

Lin Zhengrong followed her to the doorway, his eyes shifting as if weighing some major decision. Finally, in a tone that suggested he’d reached a verdict, he said, “Mm. You look very nice.”