Chapter 10: The Date of Re-Education Is Set

When Lin Wanjun had read this part of the story as a reader, her heart had been filled with nothing but sympathy for the Song family. But now, experiencing it firsthand, those cold, gaping gun barrels sent waves of fear trembling through her body.

What if a gun misfired?

Who wouldn’t fear death?

“Don’t be afraid,”

Song Zhanjin held her hand tightly, his voice steady. “Even if I’m not around, Mother will take care of you.”

“You don’t be afraid either.”

Lin Wanjun looked up at his firm, handsome face, doing her best to keep her own expression relaxed.

“It’s not about her taking care of me—it’s about us taking care of each other. I’ll wait for you to come back.”

In Song Zhanjin’s mind, Lin Wanjun had always been a domineering and selfish woman. Though she hadn’t made any major mistakes since marrying in, she wasn’t someone he felt he could truly entrust his life to.

He had even mentally prepared himself for the possibility that she would leave. If she wanted a divorce, he would agree without hesitation.

But she didn’t leave. Instead, she comforted him—and quietly took on the burden of the household.

Song Mingcheng had remained silent throughout the ordeal. It was clear he had already pieced everything together—maybe he had even anticipated it—so he didn’t react with much emotion.

Soon, the father and son of the Song family were taken away.

The commotion lasted well into the night. The same relatives who had once showered the Song family with flattery now scattered in all directions, terrified of being implicated. The courtyard was a mess—silent and desolate.

But no one cried.

The two elders of the Song family sat with solemn expressions. Li Yuetang remained silent. Only Lin Wanjun busied herself at the table, cleaning up the untouched dishes.

Three entire tables overflowing with food—chicken, duck, fish, and meat, everything you could imagine. Barely anyone had touched them. It would be a shame to let it all go to waste. She needed to find a chance to stash it into her space.

“According to the directive, you must vacate the Little Red Mansion immediately. As for the two elders… given their age and declining health, they are exempt from re-education through labor and may continue to live and recuperate at the veterans’ rest home.”

The Song elders had been residing at the rest home since their retirement. They had only returned home briefly for the birthday celebration—never expecting such a calamity to unfold.

The fact that they were spared the hardship of exile and manual labor seemed, at least on the surface, like a small mercy.

But in the original storyline, the vicious supporting character hadn’t spared this distinguished pair of revolutionary heroes either.

Driven by selfish desires, she stirred up endless trouble—filing reports, lodging complaints—and ultimately caused the two elders to be sent down to a re-education farm, where they died in a faraway place, alone and unburied.

It was evil in its purest form.

“Send Grandfather and Grandmother back to the rest home now. They’re too old to endure any more stress,”

Lin Wanjun said calmly, neither servile nor overbearing, as she looked directly at the soldier in charge.

“If anything happens to them, none of you will be able to bear the consequences.”

Hearing that, the soldier didn’t dare delay any further. He immediately arranged for a vehicle to send the Song elders back to the veterans’ rest home.

They were people who had weathered countless storms. The two elders didn’t cry or demand to stay behind in solidarity—they understood well the wisdom of “as long as the green hills remain, there’ll always be firewood to burn.”

After a few words of parting advice to Li Yuetang, the couple departed in the car. The soldiers also withdrew to the courtyard, giving Li Yuetang and Lin Wanjun the rest of the night to pack.

“You’re only allowed to take clothing and daily necessities. Gold, silver, and other valuables are strictly forbidden!”

Lin Wanjun had little to pack. She simply tossed her and Song Zhanjin’s clothes into a travel bag for appearances’ sake, then headed straight to Li Yuetang’s room.

Li Yuetang quietly wept as she packed, her words filled with sorrow and reluctance.

“Mother, don’t be sad. We’ll definitely come back,”

Lin Wanjun said gently, helping her pack. “Just think of it as a long trip… like we’re going off to enjoy the mountains and rivers.”

As dawn approached, the two of them descended the stairs together.

Li Yuetang glanced around their familiar home and suddenly noticed that quite a few things were missing. She froze for a moment, assuming the soldiers outside must have taken them.

Meanwhile, Lin Wanjun discreetly checked her spatial ring.

Perfect—everything that had belonged to the Song family was safely stored inside, even the half-eaten butter cookies hadn’t been left behind!

The soldiers conducted a second round of inspection, meticulously checking to ensure no valuables were being smuggled out. Only then were they cleared to leave.

Lin Wanjun glanced at the faint red thread around her ring finger and couldn’t help but feel a surge of gratitude.

If not for the ring’s ability to turn invisible, it would have been confiscated for sure. And if that had happened, no matter how carefully she had planned, all her efforts would’ve been in vain.

Bathed in the soft glow of morning light, and under the gaze of countless eyes within the military courtyard, the two women—daughter-in-law and mother-in-law—left calmly.

Li Yuetang suggested they stay at the guesthouse for a few days, but Lin Wanjun had already made other plans.

She explained that before her grandfather passed away, he had left her a small residence. It happened to be vacant now, and it was the perfect time to make use of it.

The small house was located in the western part of the city, tucked away in a quiet alley. It had its own gated courtyard, two main rooms at the front, and three side rooms. It was fully furnished with all the daily necessities.

The mother- and daughter-in-law settled in and quietly waited for their husbands to return.

Late at night on the third day, Song Mingcheng and Song Zhanjin finally came back.

Both father and son looked haggard—unkempt beards, weariness written all over their faces.

Song Mingcheng announced the decision: they were to be sent to a re-education farm for labor reform. His voice was filled with remorse.

“I’m sorry. I dragged you all into this.”

Li Yuetang shook her head and gently held her husband’s hand.

“What is there to apologize for? We’re a family—there’s no need for that kind of talk. It’s just a shame for Junjun… She just married in and hasn’t even had a chance to enjoy a good life.”

Song Zhanjin turned to look at Lin Wanjun, his gaze lingering for a long while before he finally spoke.

“If you want a divorce, I can…”

Before he could finish, Lin Wanjun kicked him hard in the leg.

“What the hell do you mean by that? You still dreaming of flying off into the sunset with Miss Dong? Don’t think I don’t know—she came looking for you yesterday afternoon!”

Activating the full fury of a stereotypical vicious supporting character, Lin Wanjun launched into a tirade.

“I’m here at home worried sick about you, unable to sleep at night, and you’re out there holding another woman and whispering sweet nothings? Song Zhanjin, you bastard! You ungrateful son of a—!”

“Divorce? I’m not stepping aside for her!” Lin Wanjun snapped. “I absolutely refuse to make way for your little romance. Let me tell you—I’m clinging to you whether you like it or not, and I am going to climb my way up the branches of your precious family tree!”

Song Zhanjin couldn’t handle her onslaught—he could only sit there and take her punches and kicks, while her furious spit sprayed across his face.

Li Yuetang’s expression shifted. Without warning, she raised her hand and slapped Song Zhanjin hard across the face.

“You ungrateful brat! You’re actually still fooling around with Dong Yingying? How could you do this to Junjun?!”

It was a full-force slap, and Song Zhanjin saw stars.

He looked over at Lin Wanjun, who let out a triumphant hmph, a hint of smug vengeance flickering in her eyes.

“Serves you right. That’s what you get for bringing up divorce!”

From that moment on, Song Zhanjin didn’t dare mention the word “divorce” again.

Lin Wanjun turned to Song Mingcheng and said softly, “Father, I heard that Dong Yingying’s father is planning to plead your case. Word is, he’s already written the petition letter.”

Hearing those words, Song Mingcheng’s expression changed drastically. He shot to his feet and headed straight for the door.

“Ridiculous! What nonsense is Dong Xiaoguo up to now? Does he want the Dong family to get sent down for re-education too?”

At that very moment, over at the Dong household, Dong Yingying jolted awake from her sleep, drenched in cold sweat.

No—no!

It all came rushing back. She finally remembered the real reason the Dong family had been sent down in her previous life—it was that letter. The one her father had written pleading on behalf of the Song family!

Tonight was the night he would deliver it, unwittingly dragging the entire Dong family into disaster.

During their years of exile, her stepmother and younger brother both died from infectious diseases. Her father was left crippled after a terrible accident…

She glanced at the clock on her desk, and despair washed over her.

It’s too late. I’m too late to stop him.

Suddenly, voices of argument came from her father’s study—it sounded like Uncle Song Mingcheng.

Dong Yingying crept barefoot to the doorway.

“Flawless? You dare say it’s flawless? Even my daughter-in-law knows about the letter! What makes you think you can keep anything hidden?”

“Dong Xiaoguo, listen to me clearly: do not meddle in this matter. Just stay out of it, and protect yourself—protect your family!”

A tense silence followed. Then came Dong Xiaoguo’s startled voice.

“Hey—why did you burn the letter?! …All right, all right, I’ll do as you say. Old Song, take care of yourself out there!”

As footsteps approached, Dong Yingying quickly ducked into the shadows, watching Song Mingcheng leave from her hiding spot.

What did Uncle Song just say? That woman—how did she know her father had written a letter?

That vicious woman—what is she up to now?

No. She couldn’t just stand by and watch the Song family be destroyed by that venomous shrew.

She had to make Song Zhanjin see Lin Wanjun’s true colors.

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