Chapter 12

The old tailor looked at the half-dried grape skins, then raised his eyes to Secretary Wang, curling his goatee and asking, “Who stole my grapes?”

The grapes were in his courtyard, and he couldn’t watch them all the time. Sometimes, he was inside eating or working, especially during the long hours of sleep at night. If someone climbed over the courtyard wall, he wouldn’t know.

There were few grapes on the vine, but he hadn’t counted them one by one. Missing one or two bunches wouldn’t be noticeable, and he wouldn’t have discovered it.

Secretary Wang looked at him and asked, “So, you didn’t know about this?”

The old tailor snorted, “If I knew, would I have let the thief get away?”

Secretary Wang cleared his throat and wrapped up the grape skins again. “The person who reported it said it was someone from Fengyan Brigade, the granddaughter of Secretary Ruan Zhigao, named Ruan Xi. We need to find her and ask…”

“Stop, stop, stop…” Before Secretary Wang could finish, the old tailor raised his hand and repeatedly said stop.

Secretary Wang paused, and the old tailor frowned, “Who did you say stole my grapes?”

Secretary Wang, thinking the old tailor was hard of hearing due to his age, raised his voice and repeated, “The granddaughter of Secretary Ruan from Fengyan Brigade, named Ruan Xi.”

“Nonsense!” The old tailor slammed his hand on the small table beside him, startling Secretary Wang and the others.

Initially a bystander, Ruan Xi realized she was the accused thief and felt speechless and amused. She cleared her throat and said to Secretary Wang, “Secretary Wang, I am the Ruan Xi you’re talking about.”

What?

Secretary Wang turned to look at her—what was going on?

The thief was right in the old tailor’s house?

The old tailor, annoyed, said, “She’s my new apprentice. Last night, when she went home, I personally picked a bunch of grapes for her. How is that stealing? Tell me clearly, who reported this?”

Before Secretary Wang could respond, Ruan Xi said, “It was Sun Xiaohui, my second aunt.”

This…

Secretary Wang fell silent…

Ruan Xi held her breath, clenched her fists, and suddenly slammed her fist on the table. After that, she stood up, grabbed her backpack, and headed for the door.

After a few steps, she turned back and coldly said to Secretary Wang, “Aren’t you here to find out the truth? Then come with me to see Sun Xiaohui. I didn’t steal anything, and you need to clear my name. You can’t let her slander me.”

Secretary Wang had already come to investigate and found out the truth. He didn’t really want to confront Sun Xiaohui, thinking it was just a misunderstanding and not a big deal.

Seeing his reluctance, Ruan Xi quickly added, “If you don’t go, she’ll think you’re covering for me and might report it higher up.”

Secretary Wang’s eyes widened, “She would do that?”

Ruan Xi tightened her grip on her backpack strap, “Why wouldn’t she? She dared to accuse me of stealing grapes without any evidence, based on her own assumptions and malicious speculation.”

Secretary Wang thought for a moment, then stood up and said, “Alright, let’s go!”

He wasn’t afraid of Sun Xiaohui reporting him, as the truth was the truth. He merely didn’t want this matter to drag on. It was better to resolve it once and for all to avoid further complications.

Ruan Xi shouldered her backpack and went with Secretary Wang and a few others to the Fengyan Brigade’s fields. The brigade members had different tasks: some were mining copper, some were fertilizing the fields, and others were weeding.

Sun Xiaohui was weeding in the cornfield with a group of women.

Reaching the edge of the cornfield, where the tall, lush corn stalks obscured the view, Ruan Xi cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted several times into the field, “Sun Xiaohui! Come out here!”

Sun Xiaohui emerged from the corn a few minutes later, wearing a sun hat. Seeing Secretary Wang and his group, along with the stern-faced Ruan Xi, she instinctively felt that nothing good was coming. But she still took off her sun hat and walked over to Secretary Wang and Ruan Xi, fanning herself with the hat and asking, “What’s going on?”

Full of anger, Ruan Xi looked at Sun Xiaohui and threw the newspaper in her hand to the ground. The newspaper bundle landed at Sun Xiaohui’s feet and opened, spilling out a handful of grape skins.

She glared at Sun Xiaohui, “You tell me what’s going on.”

When Ruan Xi said this, several women poked their heads out of the cornfield. They had heard the commotion and realized Ruan Xi was there to argue with Sun Xiaohui, so they came out to watch the drama.

Seeing the grape skins on the ground, Sun Xiaohui confidently said, “You stole something, so you should be punished!”

Ruan Xi continued to glare at her, “Who told you I stole the grapes? This is my master, the old tailor from the Jin Guan Brigade. He gave them to me. You have no evidence, so why accuse me of stealing?”

More and more women emerged from the cornfield, gathering together and whispering.

Sun Xiaohui sneered and turned to the women watching, clapping her hands, “Everyone, isn’t this the biggest joke? She claims the old tailor is her master and that he gave her grapes. Is that possible?”

Many women shook their heads, “It’s really unlikely.”

Before Ruan Xi could respond, Secretary Wang cleared his throat and said, “I need to clarify this. We just came from Mr. Song’s house, and he indeed took Ruan Xi as his apprentice. He also confirmed that he gave her the grapes last night.”

Hearing this, Sun Xiaohui’s eyes widened, “Hey, Secretary Wang, not only are you not punishing her for stealing, but you’re also helping her lie? I’m her second aunt; even I wouldn’t cover for her. Covering up for her would harm her. Are you helping her because of her grandfather?”

Indeed, if this matter were only resolved with an investigation result without explaining it face-to-face, who knows what rumors might spread. Even now, with Secretary Wang present, Sun Xiaohui could still believe only what she wanted to believe. As long as things didn’t match her imagination, she thought others were up to something.

Secretary Wang’s face darkened as he looked at Sun Xiaohui and said, “Comrade, what are you talking about? We, as officials, act based on conscience, evidence, and truth! Not on anyone’s face!”

Sun Xiaohui wasn’t afraid of him at all, “Don’t shout at me. What’s the point of shouting at me? Ask the others here if they believe you and this girl. Everyone knows what kind of person the old tailor is!”

After she finished, a woman nearby spoke up, “If what you’re saying is true, why not have the old tailor say a word? If he speaks up himself, who wouldn’t believe him?”

Hearing this, an official next to Secretary Wang said, “Mr. Song is old and has trouble walking. He usually needs to be carried up and down the mountain to make clothes for people. Why bother him?”

Sun Xiaohui sneered, “Then you’re lying! Since the old tailor isn’t here, you can say whatever you want. If you’re not afraid of him confronting you, bring him here. I think you’re just too scared to call him!”

Ruan Xi gritted her teeth and said to Sun Xiaohui, “Then wait here. I’ll find someone to bring him over!”

But before she could turn around, she heard the old tailor’s voice behind her. His voice wasn’t as strong as usual, sounding weak and breathless, “No need to carry me! I came myself!”

Hearing the voice, everyone turned to look.

Ruan Xi quickly turned around and saw the old tailor walking over, leaning on a snake-head cane, swaying with each step.

Many of the women watching were surprised, and some began to speak—

“Look, look, is that the old tailor?”

“Am I seeing things? It really is the old tailor!”

“He usually doesn’t go out unless it’s to make clothes. Why is he here?”

“Could it be that he really took Ruan Xi as his apprentice?”

“Impossible! Maybe he’s here to accuse Ruan Xi of stealing grapes.”

“We’ll know once he speaks.”

While the women were talking, Sun Xiaohui’s expression changed several times. She finally relaxed, thinking the old tailor might be there to accuse Ruan Xi.

Ruan Xi ignored the women’s chatter and quickly ran to the old tailor, supporting his arm. “Why did you come by yourself?”

The old tailor stopped after a few steps, taking a deep breath. Panting, he said in a hoarse voice, “You need to inherit my craft. I can’t let anyone bully you!”

Then he turned and asked, “Who is Sun Xiaohui?”

“!!!”

The onlookers, including Sun Xiaohui, were stunned, almost dropping their jaws. The old tailor wasn’t there to accuse Ruan Xi of stealing grapes; he was there to support her! He truly considered Ruan Xi his apprentice!

Looking at the old tailor, Sun Xiaohui’s expression collapsed, filled with disbelief and unwillingness to accept the situation. She was on the verge of exclaiming, “This is impossible! How could this be?!”

If such a thing could happen, the sun could rise in the west, and a hundred suns could rise at once!

Seeing no one speaking, the old tailor asked again, “Who is Sun Xiaohui?!”

This time, Sun Xiaohui snapped back to reality but remained silent, clutching her straw hat. She hunched her shoulders and lowered her head, wishing she could disappear into the nearby cornfield. She regretted her earlier insistence on bringing the old tailor to confront her.

Feeling supported, Ruan Xi gained more confidence. Standing beside the old tailor, she pointed at Sun Xiaohui and said, “Master, she is Sun Xiaohui, my second aunt.”

“Second aunt?” The old tailor spat, “Nonsense!”

He looked at Sun Xiaohui and said, “Everyone here can see and hear clearly. This is my legitimate apprentice, and I won’t change that. I gave my apprentice grapes last night. Do you have anything else to say?”

With so many people watching, Sun Xiaohui felt her face burning with embarrassment. She quickly put on her straw hat and turned to leave, saying, “I don’t have time to chat with you. I have work to do.”

But as she was about to turn, an official next to Secretary Wang grabbed her back.

Sun Xiaohui frantically slapped the official’s hand away and tugged at her clothes, saying, “What are you doing?!”

The official replied, “We haven’t finished talking. Why are you in such a hurry to leave?”

Sun Xiaohui pulled her hat brim down, “Isn’t it clear now? I misunderstood Ruan Xi. I didn’t slander her on purpose. Who would believe that Mr. Song would give her grapes if he hadn’t come out and said so?”

Secretary Wang, taking a firm stance, said to Sun Xiaohui, “Since it’s been confirmed as a misunderstanding, you should apologize to Ruan Xi, and this matter will be over.”

Apologize to a junior in front of so many people? She had her pride!

Sun Xiaohui, unwilling, said, “I’ve already admitted I misunderstood her. Why should I apologize? I’m her second aunt. It’s my duty to discipline her. What’s wrong with a misunderstanding?”

Just as Secretary Wang was about to speak, an old woman and a young girl suddenly rushed out from the crowd. The young girl followed the old woman closely, who had a fierce expression.

Secretary Wang, being from another village, didn’t recognize them, but Ruan Xi, the onlookers, and Sun Xiaohui did. The old woman was Ruan Xi’s grandmother, Liu Xinghua, and the young girl was her cousin, Ruan Jie.

Everyone forgot to greet them as Liu Xinghua charged at Sun Xiaohui with a stern face. Before anyone could react, she gritted her teeth and slapped Sun Xiaohui hard across the face.

“Smack—”

Four finger marks instantly swelled on Sun Xiaohui’s left cheek.