Liu Honghua jumped up like a dog whose tail had been stepped on, “This is a huge injustice! When did I ever steal her food? She herself took the grain coupons to the commune, how can she falsely accuse others of stealing?”

Yan Runzhi knew there was no food left in their house, just a bit of dried sweet potato.

But since her daughter-in-law said Liu Honghua stole it, that’s what she would stick with.

She wiped her eyes, looking frail and weak, “We’re just a widow and her children at home, we don’t know what’s going on outside. It looks fine on the surface, but who knows what suffering we’ve endured. In the dead of winter, we weren’t allowed to light the kang (a traditional heated bed), there wasn’t even a sip of hot water. When the children wanted water at night, the bowls were filled with ice…”

Yan Runzhi had accumulated a wealth of experience in dealing with bullying and struggles over the years.

Playing the victim, complaining, and self-soothing after humiliation were equally important.

If she didn’t act well, she wouldn’t gain sympathy and might even be despised.

So her acting was quite convincing.

The surrounding people, especially the young educated youths, were immediately indignant, “Cheng Ruhai is really bullying them. Even if she’s a stepmother, she hasn’t wronged him.”

“His stepmother even found him a wife!”

With the crowd supporting them, Liu Honghua had no choice but to admit to stealing the food, even if she hadn’t.

After all, she had broken their hut.

Liu Honghua felt more wronged than Dou E (a character from a famous Chinese drama who was wrongfully executed and caused snow to fall in June).

She had never stolen Jiang Lin’s food and felt like banging her head against a wall to prove her innocence.

Cheng Ruhai, with a grim face, glared fiercely at Jiang Lin and Yan Runzhi, gritting his teeth, “Fine, we’ll take the loss quietly.”

Jiang Lin replied, “Don’t be so resentful. There’s no such thing as a quiet loss. If you hadn’t smashed my hut, this wouldn’t have happened. You brought it on yourself.”

With the secretary and brigade leader’s orders, the security chief took people to Cheng Ruhai’s house to retrieve the food.

They quickly brought it back, measured to the exact amount.

Cheng Fujun said, “There are pots and stoves in the brigade office. You can make do here and cook a meal.”

Yan Runzhi immediately thanked him and bowed.

Cheng Fujun quickly stepped aside.

He and his father had received favors from Cheng Rushan’s grandfather and uncle when he was a child.

Although the landlords and wealthy families had been overthrown, Old Cheng’s reputation and status in Shuihuai Village couldn’t be easily dismissed.

Even during the movements, some zealous individuals disregarded past kindness, but those with a conscience couldn’t ignore it.

By this time, it was already dark. After dinner, there was still farm work to be done, and the brigade leader hurriedly dispersed the crowd.

Jiang Lin went to thank Sun Qinghui and the other educated youths.

Sun Qinghui said, “After dinner, we’ll go and watch the property redistribution. We won’t let you suffer any losses.”

Earlier, she had heard rumors that Jiang Lin had taken the children to sell them, and she felt worried.

When Jiang Lin returned in the afternoon, she felt guilty for having misjudged her.

This made her even more willing to help now.

Another female educated youth asked, “Hey, why haven’t we seen Meng Yiyi?”

Meng Yiyi and Jiang Lin were known to be as close as sisters.

It was strange that Meng Yiyi hadn’t come to support Jiang Lin during this commotion.

A male educated youth explained, “The production team called for people to spread manure earlier. Everyone avoided it because it’s dirty, but Meng Yiyi volunteered so her classmates could rest a bit longer.”

People praised Meng Yiyi for being selfless and always ready to help others.

“She didn’t come to help Jiang Lin because she didn’t know about it. If she knew, she’d definitely be here. Don’t overthink it, Jiang Lin,” someone reassured her.

Jiang Lin smiled, “I’m not worried. I spoke to her at the village entrance this evening. She must be busy. Besides, with the brigade cadres supporting us and classmates backing me up, what’s there to fear? Thank you all so much.”

Her sincere smile and genuine gratitude made some people rethink their assumptions about Meng Yiyi’s friendship with her.

If their bond was as strong as claimed, why hadn’t Meng Yiyi been there in a crisis?

After sending off the educated youths, Jiang Lin looked toward their quarters and smiled.

She wouldn’t speak ill of Meng Yiyi, but she would let people draw their own conclusions.

In time, true intentions would reveal themselves.

When the original Jiang Lin married Cheng Rushan, the old secretary arranged a teaching position for her at Yanghong Brigade Elementary School.

This way, she wouldn’t have to do hard labor and would earn ten work points a day, plus teacher subsidies during holidays.

But during that period, Meng Yiyi was exhausted from farm work.

She looked like she couldn’t go on.

The original Jiang Lin gave up her teaching job to Meng Yiyi and instead did needlework with her mother-in-law for the brigade.

Yan Runzhi, originally from a landlord’s family, had excellent embroidery skills.

During those frugal times, no one dared use embroidered goods.

The old secretary, wanting to find a light yet profitable job for Yan Runzhi, had her embroider items with revolutionary themes: handkerchiefs, flags, school bags, and wraps.

These items were sold to the county supply and marketing cooperative at a good price, benefiting both the brigade and Yan Runzhi, who earned ten work points a day plus extra rations and firewood.

The original Jiang Lin helped with drawing patterns and edging, earning seven or eight work points herself.

It was easy work compared to laboring under the sun, and she was happy with it.

Though the original Jiang Lin was not particularly kind-hearted and often looked down on others, she was genuinely good to Meng Yiyi.

Yet Meng Yiyi didn’t come to help with the property division.

How could she be relied upon now?

Jiang Lin felt she wasn’t wrong in her judgment of Meng Yiyi.

On the other side, Yan Runzhi was speechless with amazement at the large basket of wheat flour and the tub of cornmeal.

Her daughter-in-law truly had skills.

No wonder she was an educated youth from the big city; she knew how to handle things.

Cheng Dabao’s mouth was agape, unable to close. He didn’t even realize it himself.

Cheng Xiaobao looked at Jiang Lin with shining admiration, as if she were a hero from one of the stories his grandmother often told.

Yan Runzhi, though not highly educated, often told the children stories.

The protagonists were usually honest, hardworking people.

The stories always began the same way: “Once upon a time, there was a family… three daughters or three sons, three daughters-in-law…” Usually, two of them thought they were clever and conspired to bully the third, but in the end, their schemes backfired.

The children never grew tired of these stories.

Cheng Xiaobao wished he could beat a drum to cheer for his mother.

Jiang Lin saw how excited he was, his small face flushed and his dark eyes shining brighter.

She reached out and pinched his cheek, making a “shh” gesture.

Cheng Xiaobao immediately covered his mouth, smiling at Jiang Lin with wide eyes, signaling he wouldn’t say anything.

He didn’t actually know what he wasn’t supposed to say, but he figured mimicking the gesture was the right thing to do.

Cheng Dabao knew there wasn’t that much food at home.

This extra grain was something Jiang Lin had managed to get.

He didn’t understand the complexities, but he knew one thing: she was amazing! She was really different from before.

He needed to talk to his father about it when he got a chance.

He turned to look at Yan Runzhi, who was busy preparing to cook.

Yan Runzhi asked her daughter-in-law for advice, “Baobao’s mother, time is tight. We don’t have time to roll out dough for pancakes or noodles. How about something simple?”

Jiang Lin, seeing her acting like she was consulting a superior, felt a bit embarrassed, “Something simple and filling will do.”

Yan Runzhi suggested, “How about some cornmeal dumpling soup?” It was a simple dish where cornmeal was cooked with small pieces of wheat dough, making it very filling.

Jiang Lin had no objections.

She would have loved to eat a lavish meal, but that wasn’t an option.

She had underestimated her thin frame’s need for sustenance; the big bowl of noodles she had at noon didn’t last long, and she was already feeling quite hungry.

Cheng Dabao went outside to fetch firewood, while Cheng Xiaobao brought over two broken wooden stools.

The brothers sat together in front of the stove.

Previously, when Yan Runzhi cooked at home, Jiang Lin never helped.

It had always been Cheng Danao who assisted with the fire.

Jiang Lin feeling uneasy about Yan Runzhi, who despite being an elder, constantly tried to please her like a daughter-in-law trying to please her mother-in-law.

Initially thinking the dumpling soup wouldn’t be tasty, Jiang Lin took a sip and was pleasantly surprised by its scallion oil fragrance and savory taste.

She couldn’t stop herself and quickly finished the whole bowl.

Cheng Dabao and Cheng Xiaobao also enjoyed their meal heartily, thinking it was the most delicious they had ever eaten!

Soon after they finished eating, the brigade cadres also finished and shouted to go to Cheng Ruhai’s house for the property division.

Jiang Lin thought of letting the two children stay temporarily in the brigade house while she and Yan Runzhi went for the division.

However, Cheng Dabao insisted on going.

As the man of the house, how could he not go?

Cheng Xiaobao naturally followed.

Since they were a family, they had to go together, just like ants relocating their nest.

Jiang Lin had no choice but to lead them there.

The village head Cheng Fu Jun, brigade leader Cheng Fu Lian, women’s director Cheng Yu Lian, and the brigade accountant all appeared together at Cheng Ru Hai’s house.

Normally, when families divided property, the village head and brigade leader wouldn’t interfere; it was usually handled within the family.

But Cheng Ruhai’s case was different.

First, Yan Runzhi was a member of the brigade’s sideline production team and didn’t belong to any of the production teams below.

Second, apart from those relying on active movements, genuine cadres were grateful for the contributions Cheng Ruhai’s grandfather, uncle, and father made during the war and in protecting the Water Locust Village.

This was why they protected his family beyond official policies.

Cheng Ruhai was furious, having not eaten yet.

His two sons and daughter stood in the courtyard, glaring fiercely at Jiang Lin and her group.

Jiang Lin immediately glared back fiercely.

Cheng Yu Lian had someone bring out small stools, mats, or stone stools, and everyone sat at the doorway of the main house to talk where it was cooler.

Those who came to watch crowded around the courtyard wall.

Sun Qinghui and other educated youths also arrived, bringing their own seats and sitting down.

This made Cheng Ruhai and Liu Honghua feel quite uncomfortable.

Cheng Fujun spoke a few opening remarks, basically about how parents grow old, brothers grow up, and there’s a need to divide and start anew, and so on.

He said, “In the house, there are three rooms in the main building, two rooms in the east wing, two rooms in the west wing, and at the south end of the west wing, there’s an extra room. The south room also has half a gate tower. In this courtyard, each of the two brothers will take half…”

“Branch Secretary, how can we split everything evenly? We can’t just cut it in half between east and west, can we?” Cheng Ruhai couldn’t accept it.

This courtyard was left by their ancestors, meant for the eldest son and his descendants.

His uncle had passed away, his brother was unstable on the farm, so Cheng Ruhai, as the eldest son and grandson of the Cheng family, felt entitled to a share.

Jiang Lin retorted, “Oh, of course we can’t split it that way. This courtyard was redeemed by my husband for 200 yuan.

You’ve lived here for free for ten years without paying a dime! I won’t bring up the past, but back then we hadn’t split up yet, and you weren’t acting like animals…”

“Who the hell are you cursing?” Cheng Ruhai’s eldest son, Cheng Tiegang, charged over, glaring fiercely at Jiang Lin.

Jiang Lin disdainfully glanced at him, “I am your Auntie, equivalent to your mother. Go curse yourself!”

Liu Honghua also couldn’t hold back, ready to fight Jiang Lin, but was stopped by the women’s leader.

Originally, Cheng Ruhai and Liu Honghua wanted their two sons and one daughter to take turns humiliating Jiang Lin and Yan Runzhi.

Little did they know, Jiang Lin, a city-educated youth, had a mouth even sharper than a country bumpkin’s legs in the mud.

Liu Honghua was so furious she puffed up like a toad, panting heavily.

Cheng Yulian scolded Cheng Tiegang, “Get lost! If I hear you disrespecting your elders again, I’ll slap you with a big hand! You brat, asking for a beating.”

Cheng Tiegang angrily swung his fist at Jiang Lin.

Jiang Lin responded with a middle finger!