Wang Lanzhi and Zhao Dagen were very happy.

They quickly patted themselves down, straightened their sleeves and collars, adjusted their clothes to look neat.

Cheng Dabao was somewhat reluctant, but Cheng Xiaobao was excited.

He pulled Dabao over and they knelt down obediently to kowtow.

After just one kowtow, Wang Lanzhi said, “Alright, alright,” and quickly helped the two children up.

Cheng Xiaobao seemed a bit unsatisfied, “I want to kowtow a couple more times.”

Wang Lanzhi was delighted and quickly lifted him up, “Good boy, that’s enough.”

She took out two red envelopes from her pocket, each containing five yuan, and gave one to Dabao and one to Xiaobao.

Jiang Lin thought there wouldn’t be much inside, so she let the children accept them.

With the godparents acknowledged, they were now like one family.

Cheng Xiaobao wasn’t shy at all, stuffing his pockets with the sweets given by his godmother, while Cheng Dabao was more reserved and called out once before stepping aside.

Yan Runzhi said, “Why don’t you two stay for dinner?”

Wang Lanzhi quickly waved her hand, “We’ll have time to visit again. It’s winter now, and there’s farm work to do at home. If we skip feeding the pig even for one meal, it starts squealing like it’s about to be slaughtered.”

Everyone laughed.

Wang Lanzhi took out all the candies she had brought and placed them on the table in the main hall.

The pocket was big, easily holding over half a pound.

Jiang Lin climbed up to the attic and picked down half a preserved chicken and half a preserved duck.

She wrapped them in dried gourd leaves, tied them with a piece of straw, and then brought out six feet of coarse cloth.

“These are gifts from our two boys to their godparents. Please don’t refuse.”

Wang Lanzhi hurriedly said, “Keep the cloth for making clothes for the children. We don’t need the chicken, just take the duck home and try it out. We’ve never had it before.”

Jiang Lin insisted they take it, so the two of them reluctantly carried it away, but they didn’t take the cloth, reluctantly and accompanied their.

Yan Runzhi fried a small pot of food, fragrant and delicious.

Both Jiang Lin and the kids loved it.

Just as they finished eating and let out satisfied burps, they heard the loudspeaker announcing a meeting.

Jiang Lin: “Hurry, let’s go watch the show.”

Da Bao and Xiao Bao immediately pulled Yan Runzhi along, saying, “Let’s go, hurry!”

The four of them chatted and laughed as they walked out the door, only to see Cheng Ruhai standing there.

Jiang Lin quickly protected her family, “What are you up to?”

Cheng Ruhai originally looked furious and full of resentment, gritting his teeth.

If it weren’t for her, he wouldn’t be in such a mess—moving from a big house to a dilapidated one, and even getting into trouble with his captain because of her.

Why is she so vicious!

But he knew trying to be tough with Jiang Lin was useless.

She wasn’t even afraid of Cheng Fuwan, so why would she fear him? All he could do was plead.

Cheng Ruhai immediately put on a pitiful expression, “Sister-in-law, we’re family after all. Why be so ruthless? We’ve already divided things peacefully, let’s each go our own way.”

Jiang Lin replied coldly, “Each go our own way? Did you report me to the commune?”

Cheng Ruhai quickly denied, “No, it wasn’t me. It was that stupid woman who doesn’t know her place. She got provoked by someone. I’ll beat her up for you to vent your anger. Trust me, I’ll make her come and apologize to you!”

Jiang Lin said, “No need. I’m going to the brigade, and she’ll apologize to me in front of everyone there.”

“Mom! Please spare her!” Cheng Ruhai suddenly turned to Yan Runzhi and bowed, startling her.

Oh no, did he just call her mom?

After all these years, this was the first time!

“Mom? Not at all, not at all!” Yan Runzhi waved her hand. “We’ve long made it clear, there’s no relationship.”

Jiang Lin said, “Please step aside.”

Cheng Ruhai, as the team leader, must be taken down, or Liu Honghua won’t know how tough we can be!

To be honest, Jiang Lin’s hatred for Cheng Ruhai far exceeds that for Cheng Fujun and Ma Kaihua.

Betrayal by a family member cuts deeper than provocation or injury caused by outsiders.

Dealing with such a backstabbing “brother” requires a thorough beatdown.

Seeing his pleas with Jiang Lin and Yan Runzhi falling on deaf ears, Cheng Ruhai became furious and embarrassed, “You’ll regret this!”

Jiang Lin scoffed, “When you bullied us, you thought we wouldn’t resist. Now that you can’t bully us anymore, you’re begging for mercy. If we don’t forgive you, you get all worked up. Are you a child?”

Da Bao chimed in, “Only kids act like that!”

Xiao Bao added, “Old ogre!”

Cheng Ruhai’s anger made his neck veins bulge, “Just wait and see!”

He stormed off without even going to the brigade.

Knowing Cheng Fujun favored Jiang Lin, as long as she held firm, Cheng Fujun and the association might snatch his team leader position back for Cheng Yulian’s brother.

It would be shameful for him to stick around, so he decided to lay low.

Jiang Lin and Yan Runzhi took Da Bao and Xiao Bao to the brigade office.

Among the young workers, they didn’t see Meng Yiyi—probably avoiding them.

The brigade was ready to criticize Ma Kaihua, Liu Honghua, Wei Qiongfang, and a few other women, asking them to clarify and apologize for spreading rumors about Jiang Lin selling her child.

“I, Ma Kaihua/Liu Honghua/Wei Qiongfang, apologize to Comrade Jiang Qing. I shouldn’t have spread rumors behind her back about selling her son. I realize my mistake and won’t say it again. I sincerely apologize and repent. From now on, I’ll do my job honestly and be a good person. Please, comrades, supervise me.”

Each person had to repeat this three times, and for three consecutive days, they had to apologize over the brigade’s loudspeaker during mealtime.

It was truly astounding.

The villagers of Shuihuai were shocked.

Only Ma Kaihua bullied others—didn’t others ever hold her down?

Her vegetable patch was next to someone else’s, and she’d pick their vegetables whenever they looked good.

If anyone asked, she’d curse back fiercely.

She was tough and never suffered a loss!

Especially in the second brigade, she was the toughest.

They said she was the true leader, with no faults.

So now, she had lost all face and respect, and the villagers clapped their hands in delight.

Cheng Fujun said, “This incident has severely damaged our Yanghong brigade’s reputation and disrupted the relationship between workers and peasants.

This is unacceptable. Starting today, everyone must focus on productive labor and stop gossiping.

If you’re idle, you’ll either compost or clean the streets, making sure every road in the village shines brightly. I don’t want to hear any more idle chatter!”

“And then she compensated Jiang Lin with one hundred yuan.

When Jiang Lin took the money, thinking everything was settled, Cheng Yulian said, ‘Look at how scared those women and children were, all huddling up like quails.’

Yan Runzhi immediately hugged Da Bao and Xiao Bao, trembling.

They were already thin and dressed plainly.

Their frightened appearance made people feel even more sympathetic.

Cheng Yulian continued to demand eggs, rice, and cornmeal for Jiang Lin.

She asked for thirty eggs, thirty kilograms of rice, and thirty kilograms of cornmeal.

Ma Kaihua, relying on her husband being the production team leader, watched other women like a hawk to prevent them from stealing food, yet she herself often stole from home!

Cheng Yulian threatened her privately, and Ma Kaihua had to agree, bargaining and giving these things.

Jiang Lin was very grateful to her.

Cheng Fuliang added, ‘Third Squad Leader Cheng Ruhai is not accepted by everyone. Let’s elect a new squad leader.’

Many villagers were happy to see Cheng Ruhai removed from his leadership position.

He followed Cheng Fuwan and didn’t learn anything good, only causing chaos and favoring those who got along with him.

He assigned dirty and exhausting work to those who disagreed with him, with differing pay for the same tasks.

Many people didn’t respect him.

Removing Cheng Ruhai and electing Cheng Yulian’s brother-in-law brought cheers from the villagers.

After the meeting ended after nine o’clock, the moon outside was bright and the shadows of trees swayed in the cool breeze, making everyone feel relaxed.

Jiang Lin carried Xiao Bao on her back, and Yan Runzhi held Da Bao’s hand as they headed home as a family.

Xiao Bao was so tired he couldn’t keep his eyes open and mumbled on Jiang Lin’s back, ‘Why hasn’t Dongsheng come back yet?’

Linlin didn’t even want to give him candy, saying it would rot his teeth, but she still wouldn’t.

The warm pouch given by the godmother was not put away hot and was collected by the Linlin.

Back home, Xiao Bao had already fallen asleep, and Da Bao was still holding on.

Jiang Lin told Yan Runzhi to take off their clothes and wipe them off with a towel dipped in warm water.

Both children slept soundly, turning over and lifting their arms without resistance.

While Yan Runzhi helped the children dry, she hummed, ‘Fixing the roof to fight the evil woman, clanging and clanging the female hero. Don’t think I’m a woman, but I’m braver than a man~~~’

Jiang Lin listened carefully and almost jumped up, feeling like scoring an eighty-five would blow up the circle of relatives.

“It’s late, let’s sleep.” Jiang Lin hurried to wash herself in the outer room and came back to change into a vest and shorts.

Jiang Lin lay down and couldn’t sleep, thinking about how to deal with Meng Yiyi, preferably tearing her face so she wouldn’t dare to have any ideas about Cheng Rushan again!

Early the next morning, Wei Qiongfang’s loudspeaker echoed with the three people’s confessions as if crying and complaining.

Because the brigade had not yet pulled electricity, the brigade’s loudspeaker was also supported by a small generator and could not be wasted, so each person only had two or three minutes.

Now Jiang Zhiqing’s bold reputation spread far and wide.

Every village knew there was a Jiang Zhiqing in Shuihuai Village who ousted the production team leader, sorted out the relationship for the educated youth, and silenced several gossipy women, turning their daily lives into a drama of tears and blood.

The stories circulated in various versions, evolving into tales of a female educated youth outwitting village bullies, and other such narratives.

After the loudspeaker announcements, Cheng Yulian and her husband came to deliver the promised compensation to Jiang Lin.

Jiang Lin hurried out to greet them, “Thank you so much for all the trouble.”

Cheng Yulian proudly said, “It’s my duty. Jiang Zhiqing, you’re really impressive. You’re a role model for us women! In our village, you can definitely hold up half the sky!”

Jiang Lin felt a bit embarrassed, “I was just pushed too far. If they weren’t so troublesome, I wouldn’t have had to act.”

After Cheng Yulian and her husband Shang Baozhu left,

Yan Runzhi, Da Bao, and Xiao Bao looked at Jiang Lin with admiration, “Linlin, you’re amazing!”

Jiang Lin hurriedly said, “Don’t exaggerate, it’s just family.”