Song Qingshan took a deep breath and lay back down, clearly not believing it. Of course, the last time he came, he had seen Fang Jinhui’s seven or eight-year-old kid, just like Ludan and Goudan now, and couldn’t understand how someone could play around like that.

Well, Su Xiangwan thought, she must have been constantly challenging this man’s understanding of the world and his limits.

The reason Song Tingxiu had never found Song Laosan was because he was hiding in a place no one would ever think of.

Song Laosan was actually hiding at the home of his brother-in-law Fang Gaodi’s mistress, Qian Xiaofang.

After all, Song Dahua and Song Laosan didn’t have the same father. Dahua left home early, and although Laosan knew that his brother-in-law having a mistress wasn’t right, he had nowhere else to go and had to follow Qian Xiaofang.

He had been living comfortably these last few months, eating white flour and oil every day.

Not long ago, he even sneaked back home without anyone noticing.

“How about we just break in and steal it?” Song Lao San suggested.

No one knew exactly how much the jade watermelon was worth, but once it was said to have come from Empress Dowager Cixi’s tomb, it was priceless, right?

Even though the world was chaotic now, valuable things would always hold their value. No matter how much people shouted about proletarianism, who wouldn’t want to snatch something valuable?

Fang Jinhui had made it this far not by brute force, but by using his brain: “No, my uncle is a regimental commander. Didn’t the people in our village say he brought 300 men to build a house, and they finished building a courtyard in just two days? I’ve known him since he was a child, and he’s ruthless. We can’t just steal it directly. Otherwise, he’ll probably kill me. We’ll need a more roundabout approach.”

“Jinhui, what are you thinking?” Song Lao San asked.

Fang Jinhui thought for a moment, then clapped his hands and said, “Let’s go after Su Xiangwan first. In a couple of days, I’ll have my grandfather find some dirt on her, like looking into her accounts. Three months ago, in Jiangxi, I saw a case where a village chief miscalculated a couple of yuan, and the revolutionary forces there broke his legs. My grandfather has people in the brigade who handle accounts. Then, I’ll stir up a revolution, and we’ll directly raid her house.”

Laosan’s eyes instantly lit up: “Brilliant!”

Just as that was happening, Su Xiangwan, lying on her bed, was thinking the same thing: It’s getting colder, and perhaps it’s time for me to raid Fang Quizi’s house.

It was truly a coincidence that these two were thinking the same thing.

Early the next morning, Su Xianghong was already sweeping the yard.

Her own yard felt different.

After sweeping the ground, she loosened the soil in the area where there were no bricks laid, which was meant to be a garden.

In her mind, Xianghong was already planning ahead.

She thought, once Fang Jinhui and his group stop wandering around the city, she would go into town.

There, she would buy some azaleas, peonies, and paeonies to plant. That way, her sister’s yard would look even more beautiful.

But for now, there were no flowers. Since such valuable land couldn’t be left idle, what should she do? Of course, she’d plant some vegetables there first.

So, she ran to Song Qi’s house.

She heard that Yedan’s waist was still injured, though it had straightened out, he still couldn’t move much and had pressure sores all over.

Su Xianghong took out her needles, disinfected them with alcohol, and started acupuncture on Yedan.

When Song Qi and his wife saw that she was really a doctor, they were so happy they couldn’t stop smiling.

Su Xianghong didn’t ask for a penny. When she left, she only asked for some vegetable seedlings from their own garden.

Zhao Xiaolan was almost done with her own garden, planting beans, eggplants, tomatoes, cucumbers, and a bunch of vegetable seedlings. After bringing them home, she planted them in rows, so they wouldn’t have to ask others for vegetables anymore.

“Mom, we’ll never let Aunt leave, right?” Ludan, who had been punching the sandbag, asked.

Su Xiangwan looked at her sister, and she really was beautiful.

Su Xiangwan wouldn’t call herself pretty, but Su Xianghong looked like the younger version of Chen Hong. Wearing a blue coat and black pants, she was incredibly beautiful.

Su Xiangwan replied, “We won’t let her go. Now, go back to punching your sandbag.”

“You didn’t love me again today,” Ludan pouted, punching the sandbag twice. “Do you know why I don’t practice writing?”

“Why?” Su Xiangwan asked.

Ludan whispered, “My handwriting is much better than Gou Dan’s, but he’s my brother, so I let him.”

Su Xiangwan gave him a thumbs up. “You’re such a good brother.”

Although, in the future, they would face many conflicts, whether in their studies, with women, or with money, their parents had to be fair and wise.

The older brother should let the younger brother win.

Even though they might face unfair treatment from others, as long as their parents balanced things out, they wouldn’t turn against each other.

Su Xiangwan hoped that the kind of girl who resembled Little Ah’she would never appear in front of the two brothers.

If that happened, the two of them would probably get along well, just like Song Qingshan and Song Tingxiu did, living happily together.

As a mother, Su Xiangwan was already worried about the future.

She only cared about two things: First, she never wanted that toxic man, Li Chengze, to appear in front of Zhi Zhi.

Second, she hoped a girl who looked like Little Ashe would never appear in front of Ludan and Goudan.

To show her concern, Su Xiangwan quickly kissed him on the cheek. “Alright, now go back to punching the sandbag.”

In the morning, Gou Dan hadn’t woken up yet, so Ludan received the sole attention and affection.

The little guy, with his thin frame, tied small handkerchiefs around his wrists, grinning, and punched the sandbag.

But after hitting it twice, he slipped back inside. “I heard last night that you and my dad seemed to have had an argument.”

In the middle of the night, Song Qingshan, who had been too lazy to sleep on the chair, wanted to return to the bed and kick Su Xiangwan out.

After a long argument, he claimed he had no such intentions.

No, actually, he did have intentions: as long as she didn’t climb up to him first, he’d never touch her. He just didn’t want to sleep on the bench.

Su Xiangwan urged him to go to the living room and lie down, but he refused, and they argued half the night.

In the end, Su Xiangwan made him hand over the jade lotus root for safekeeping.

Song Qingshan reluctantly agreed, thinking that once he handed it over, he’d get to sleep with her.

But once he handed it over, she sent him to the stool.

They argued for the better part of the night.

“Adults’ matters are not for children to meddle in. Song Donghai, you’re still a kid, do you understand?” Su Xiangwan said.

Lu Dan pouted. “You think I want to meddle? I’m just afraid he might bully you.”

If only Lu Dan’s character could be switched with Song Qingshan’s—it would be so much better.

Not whiny, not delicate, not temperamental, truly a male idol.

In all her lifetimes, Su Xiangwan had met many men, but none like Gou Dan, with that kind of boyfriend energy.

Of course, a few days ago, Fang Jinhui had come up with a terrible plan. This morning, the Hongxing Commune called Su Xiangwan, asking her to come for an audit.

Su Xiangwan had long anticipated this. Naturally, she had prepared in advance, gathering the men from the village to go to the Hongxing Commune.

Zhao Guodong, the village head, had to go.

Song Jianguo and Song Qi, the village’s two biggest strongmen, also had to go.

Su Xianghong didn’t want Su Xiangwan to take Zhizhi with her, but Su Xiangwan strapped the jade watermelon around Zhizhi’s neck and carried her along.

“Sis, isn’t this a bit too much? What if you can’t protect it and someone steals the jade watermelon?” Su Xianghong said.

Su Xiangwan replied, “This is a decoy. With Dashan around, Fang Jinhui won’t dare come near us. But if he sees the jade watermelon here, he won’t cause trouble for you. Understand?”

In both lifetimes, whenever Su Xiangwan wanted to deal with someone, she was always ruthless with few words.

Unfortunately, Song Qingshan overestimated himself and underestimated his wife.

Su Xiangwan was preparing to give Song Qingshan a big surprise.

Today, Song Jianguo and Song Qi both looked dispirited, walking as though drained of energy.

After walking a few steps, Song Jianguo, the tall and burly man, had to clutch his chest and vomit a couple of times.

Su Xiangwan knew exactly why they were throwing up.

The so-called “green and yellow not connected” period referred to the months between April and June, when even the commune had no grain. They were eating seed grain borrowed from the village, and it had been treated with pesticide powder from the start to prevent pests.

The wheat ground into flour, with the pesticide powder still on it, was mildly toxic. Yet, the new wheat hadn’t come in yet, and people, knowing it was toxic, still had to eat it.

Seeing such big men, their bodies nothing but skin and bones, made people feel terrible.

At the Hongxing Commune, at Fang Quizi’s house.

Not only was Fang Quizi there, but Fang Jinhui had also arrived.

Why was he bold enough to show up today?

Because the radio was broadcasting that the Qing Shui Gorge Reservoir was being filled for the first time, and leaders from Beijing were coming to inspect.

Not just Song Qingshan, but everyone in the county’s public security office had to be on standby.

The two uncles wouldn’t be coming back today, which was the perfect opportunity for him to snatch something and stir up a rebellion.

“Later, Grandpa, just remember one thing: that Su Xiangwan’s food accounts are unclear. I have a tip-off letter, written by a young intellectual from Xiaosong Village. Once you say it, I’ll bring people on-site. Got it? At that time, your voice must be loud, and I won’t give her a chance to explain.”

Jin Liang, Song Lao San, and a few small minions Fang Jinhui had secretly gathered recently, all in their green military uniforms, stood ready, each with a belt in hand, waiting for action.

Meanwhile, just as Su Xiangwan arrived at the Hongxing Commune, she ran into the village secretary Lin Shuhong, who greeted her with a smile.

“Secretary, you’re here. Has Fang the warehouse manager arrived yet? Should we go pick him up?”

Lin Shuhong was puzzled. “Why go pick him up? Let him come on his own.”

Su Xiangwan said, “Oh, it’s nothing. Just think he’s highly respected. We should go greet him.”

Before Lin Shuhong could respond, Su Xiangwan had already headed toward Fang Quizi’s house.

…

At Fang’s house.

Fang Jinhui adjusted his belt, ready to go with his grandfather to the commune’s office. Just as they reached the door, they were suddenly confronted by a dog that attacked them.

Song Laosan saw it was Dashan, and fearing the dog, he turned to run, but before he knew it, Su Xiangwan burst in, holding a kitchen knife, and stormed through the door.

She immediately swung the knife at his forehead. Song Lao San had been struck by her before and was scared when he saw her charging at him, retreating into the room and collapsing onto the kang.

Of course, he thought she was only bluffing, not daring to actually hurt him. But to his shock, she grinned, swung the knife, and struck it right onto the kang, between his legs with a loud crack.

Song Laosan screamed in agony.

Outside, several women were plucking leaves from an old elm tree.