Chapter 109

Sun Jialiang is a bad guy who can’t change his ways. He keeps falling into trouble with women.

His father was extremely disappointed and acted as if he had no such son, focusing solely on taking care of his grandson. Lin Hongna, heavily pregnant, was too preoccupied with her own issues and felt resentful, not caring much about Sun Jialiang’s fate. Only Mother Sun was frantic, running around seeking help for Sun Jialiang.

With the crackdown on immoral behavior at its peak, Mother Sun’s pleas were in vain. She could only watch as two uniformed police officers led Sun Jialiang away in handcuffs.

The Sun family was devastated. To make matters worse, Sun Jialiang’s lover was also taken into custody. Mother Sun, rising from the ground, cursed the lover bitterly.

“You little tramp! You dragged my son down with you! May you never have peace!”

Mother Sun had already used her connections to secure Sun Jialiang a minor government position in a town office, which was far better than being a cultural worker in a light bulb factory.

It was unexpected that this woman ruined her son’s promising future, and Mother Sun could not help but despise her.

Mother Sun cursed loudly, and Sun Jialiang’s lover glared back at her. She never imagined that Sun Jialiang was married with children. Her life was ruined!

Sun Jialiang’s lover spat at Mother Sun, “Damn old hag! You and your son are the real venomous scorpions. My life is ruined, and your son won’t have a better fate either!”

The argument between Mother Sun and Sun Jialiang’s lover turned into a verbal brawl, like two mad dogs cursing each other.

Handcuffed and looking disheveled, Sun Jialiang moved like a zombie. With everything having gone this far, there was no longer any uncertainty about his fate. His once bright future was now lost, and the future was bleak.

As expected, Sun Jialiang was sentenced to five years of labor reform for his crimes, including disturbing public order and ruining others’ families. His lover received a sentence of three and a half years of labor reform as well.

Thus, the “ill-fated couple” would continue their “love affair” at the labor camp.

“….”

*

At the end of October, Yunshui County’s sky was a clear blue, and the morning dew had turned to frost. The county workers were busy in the workshop, working diligently to complete this year’s second-half orders before the arrival of the cold winter.

The Gu family’s house, renovated by the craftsmen, had been transformed from its old look. The walls, once covered in cobwebs, were now painted white, and new furniture made from fine wood was arranged in the three bedrooms, showcasing a beautiful wood grain.

Zhang Cuilan and her husband visited their new home and were delighted with the large bedroom prepared by their son and daughter-in-law. The room was fully equipped with bedding and household items, and two pots of green camellias were placed on the windowsill, making their mood visibly cheerful.

Even Gu Shidong, who was often troublesome, went out with the children to hunt for pests. Despite the rain, he caught two grass carp with a fishing net in a small stream. Gu Shi’an did not show a cold demeanor but kindly told the mischievous boy that it shouldn’t be done in the future.

Gu Mancang, knowing his younger son was being naughty again, scolded him for a while. Shortly after, Gu Shidong came back, rubbing his ears with a pained expression, and said to his brother, “Brother, why do I feel like Dad is getting stricter?”

Gu Shi’an glanced at him while flipping a page of his book. “It’s all because of you, you little rascal.”

“Hehe.”

Gu Shidong scratched his head, embarrassed.

The younger son’s continuous mistakes led to another bout of anger from Comrade Cuilan. Lin Yao sighed, filled the basin with water, and tossed the struggling grass carp into it. The two grass carp, each weighing over two pounds, swam around in the basin. Gu Doudou, staggering over, leaned against the wall and drooled, “Mommy, big fish.”

“Yes, we’ll make fish soup for Doudou tonight.”

Rubbing her plump son’s head, Lin Yao pulled out some elegant Hangzhou silk and navy wool from the box. Both fabrics were of good quality. She unfolded them, took measurements, and sketched patterns for both men’s and women’s clothing on the wrapping paper.

In the evening, with her appetite returning, Gu Chunmei brought her son to visit her family. Lin Yao moved two wicker chairs, prepared some snacks, candies, and brewed hot tea for Gu Chunmei. The little ones could help themselves if they were tired or thirsty.

The children played energetically in the yard while Gu Chunmei watched Lin Yao cut fabric and make clothes.

Making clothes was tiring work. After half an hour, Lin Yao’s arms and legs were sore, and her eyes were tired. Seeing Gu Chunmei munching on sunflower seeds and drinking tea, Lin Yao shook her sore hands and decided to stop for the day.

Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither were clothes made in one.

Finding a reason for herself, Lin Yao felt justified in taking a break.

In late autumn, vendors set up stalls on the county streets, selling mushrooms and wood ear vegetables picked from the mountains. When business was slow, they would carry their wares on shoulder poles and peddle them around.

Outside the old communal courtyard, an elderly man had set up a stall. Lin Yao, with Gu Doudou in tow, was picking fresh mountain mushrooms and placing them into a bamboo basket. Gu Doudou, wearing overalls and sticking out his little butt, pinched his nose and pointed at the wild vegetables on the ground, saying, “Mommy, these vegetables taste bad.”

The little guy, just like Deputy Director Gu, had a strong preference for meat and was particularly averse to the tasteless mountain mushrooms.

Lin Yao smiled and said, “These aren’t wild vegetables; they’re mushrooms. Once cleaned and drizzled with sesame oil, and mixed, they’ll taste good.”

Although the little one had never tried them, he swallowed after hearing his mother say they would taste good. “Yummy.”

As Lin Yao was about to agree, a frail little girl collapsed at the alley entrance not far away.

“Mommy, the big sister is sleeping.”

Gu Doudou, only a year old, didn’t understand the meaning of fainting. He saw the little girl fall and, thinking she was just sleepy, pointed at her.

The big sister is sleeping?

Lin Yao was puzzled, looked up, and her heart sank. She picked up the little chubby boy and rushed over to where the alley’s sunbathers, including the sisters-in-law, were gathered.

“Oh no, isn’t that the little girl from Old Zhong’s family next door? Why did a healthy child faint?” Aunt Dafu, carrying a basket of freshly bought cabbage, exclaimed in shock upon seeing the unconscious girl.

“It really is Old Zhong’s little girl.”

“What happened to her?”

The sisters-in-law helped the unconscious little girl up. Her skinny face was dark and yellow, and her lips were peeling. Lin Yao frowned and said uncertainly, “It looks like anemia.”

“What? Anemia? How could a healthy child be anemic?”

“Don’t argue, quickly take her to the clinic.”

The sisters-in-law were about to carry the little girl to the clinic when Xu Xiangqian, who had come to pick up his wife, saw the situation and hurried over.

“What happened?” Xu Xiangqian asked.

The sisters-in-law briefly explained, “Old Zhong’s little girl fainted.”

“Ah?” Xu Xiangqian was stunned but quickly reacted and offered to help, “Sister-in-law, I’m fast. I’ll carry the little girl to the clinic.”

“Alright.”

Li Suyun, who was supporting Xiao Ya, was from Hebei Province and spoke authentic Hebei dialect.

Xu Xiangqian carried the little girl on his back, followed by a few sisters-in-law. They rushed to the clinic at the steel factory, which was more than a mile away.

Some sisters-in-law went to inform the little girl’s family, while others, feeling uneasy, followed along.

Aunt Dafu had matters at home, and Lin Yao, concerned about Gu Chunmei and finding it inconvenient to manage with Gu Doudou, decided to return with Aunt Dafu and the others.

On the way back, the sisters-in-law chatted about various rumors related to the Zhong family, and Lin Yao overheard some of them.

“I think the little girl was probably knocked unconscious by the old lady from the Zhong family?”

“Don’t talk nonsense without evidence.”

“What more evidence do you need? Old Lady Zhong is famous for disliking girls. Xiao Ya has two older brothers, one is called Dabao and the other is called Erbao. The two brothers are strong and healthy and don’t do any work at home. Xiao Ya, on the other hand, is skinny and dark. She collects firewood all day and suffers a lot.”

“Old Lady Zhong is so cruel. How could she make her own granddaughter do all the work? I heard that she doesn’t even allow Xiao Ya to go to school.” Li Suyun was sympathetic, noting that she had three daughters of her own, all dearly loved. Seeing the little girl’s suffering made her heart ache.

“You’re from the city and may not have seen much of this, but such things are common in our countryside. Back in the ‘50s, there was a vicious old woman in our village who, after her daughter-in-law gave birth to two girls, wanted to drown the newborn in a urine bucket. Fortunately, a relative arrived in time to save the baby. Otherwise, she would have died…”

Lin Yao was troubled by this, her heart heavy. As an only child, her grandparents and parents had always treated her with care and never discriminated based on gender. Even though her rural classmates had experienced some favoritism, it was never excessive.

Reflecting on the differences between then and now, she felt a significant gap in social progress.

As she pondered, the sisters-in-law continued their discussion.

“Old Lady Zhong is so excessive. Why doesn’t the daughter-in-law of Old Zhong’s family resist?”

“Hey, don’t even mention it. The daughter-in-law is a pushover, just like the little girl. Both are destined to do all the hard work. Old Zhong’s son is also a scoundrel, always listening to his mother. If his wife says anything he doesn’t like, he and his mother team up to beat her. What a pitiable person.”

“This son of the Zhong family is really a piece of shit!” Li Suyun was very angry.

Lin Yao clenched her fists in anger, realizing that the Zhong family’s son was just another example of a mama’s boy who resorted to domestic violence.

“Why doesn’t the daughter-in-law of Old Zhong’s family get a divorce?”

“Divorce? Do you think it’s that easy? Besides, in these times, how many men don’t take out their anger on their families?”

After that, most of the sisters-in-law fell silent. Even if their own men didn’t hit them, arguments and verbal abuse were common.

Damn it, these scoundrel men actually hit people?

Lin Yao was fuming and felt it was necessary to report this to Director Ge. It didn’t matter if one was a boy or a girl. Refusing gender bias and resisting violence should start with herself!

The leader has already said, “Women can hold up half the sky.” After more than a decade of liberation, why are there still people engaging in gender bias and domestic violence? What is this world coming to?

Back in the communal courtyard, the considerate Deputy Director Gu had returned home, chopped wood, washed Gu Doudou’s diapers, cleaned the corridor, and was now in the kitchen boiling water. Seeing Lin Yao and the chubby boy come in with a worried expression, he approached and took the little one, asking, “Is something wrong?”

Lin Yao was initially fuming, but seeing her husband’s gentle and considerate demeanor, her anger dissipated.

Well, there’s a saying: you shouldn’t drag innocent people into the mess. After all, Deputy Director Gu has been handling things quite well.

Lin Yao recounted the day’s events, causing Gu Shi’an to furrow his brow.

“Old Lady Zhong from the neighboring courtyard, her son reported her missing two days ago.”