“Su Xiangwan.” It was Old Xingtou’s voice. “Lu Dan really has a good foundation for martial arts. Don’t try to scare me. I won’t lie to you. Here’s the deal: you give up being the village secretary and stay at home to take care of the kids. I’ll go back to our Xiao Song Village and teach Lu Dan some martial arts, how about it?”

Before Su Xiangwan could respond, Lu Dan, being quite stubborn, turned around. “Isn’t it just learning some martial arts? I can practice at home, my dad can teach me. Grandpa Xingtou, if you’re like this, then I won’t learn anymore.”

Old Xingtou responded, “I just can’t stand seeing a woman as the village secretary.”

In that instant, Su Xiangwan felt like swearing at him.

She wanted to curse this old man, calling him an outdated relic and wishing his mediocre martial arts would be buried with him.

But then she thought about it and said, “Alright, fine. You go back to the village for now. We can discuss everything when we get there. How does that sound?”

Old Xingtou didn’t care much about where he was, replying, “Lu Dan’s talent isn’t as good as that other kid’s, but any talent can be surpassed by hard work. I’ll go back to the village the day after tomorrow, but I hope you, Su Xiangwan, will resign as the village secretary and take good care of the kids.”

With that, he went back to cleaning up his trash.

Wu Gong’an was quite puzzled. “Sister-in-law, Old Xingtou was really rude to you just now. How come you’re still so calm? Aren’t you angry?”

“Well, you know, a person can argue with their leader if they’re right, but when facing a child’s teacher, you must be humble. Do you know why?” Su Xiangwan replied.

Xiao Wu shook his head. “No idea.”

“Adults need to respect teachers so that children will respect them. If adults honor teachers, children will follow suit. It has to be set by example. Otherwise, even if you find your child a good teacher, they might not put in the effort. Otherwise, I’d have yelled at him already.” Su Xiangwan said.

She had already put up with so much for a little bit of martial arts; in her past life, she would have flipped out by now.

But fortunately, although the process had been a bit bumpy, Old Xingtou had finally agreed to return to the village, so that matter was settled.

When Lu Dan and Gou Dan saw their mom enter the department store, the two boys immediately smiled.

Of course, their mom must have gone there to buy something and then visit their aunt who lived at Hongzhuan School.

Although it had only been half a month since they last saw her, the two kids were missing their aunt terribly.

They bought two pieces of soap and two large packs of toilet paper.

Then, Su Xiangwan kept looking around, and she spotted a particularly beautiful scarf in the display.

She thought it would look good on Xiang Hong.

When she asked, she learned that the scarf only cost half a ticket, so she quickly bought it.

Ah, in her past life, she had treated Su Xiaonan with the same kindness that she showed to Su Xianghong.

Unfortunately, it ended up with her raising an ungrateful child.

Qian Xiaofang was no longer working at the counter.

Su Xiangwan asked the other clerk nearby and found out that Qian Xiaofang had been arrested by the police for harboring a criminal.

However, under current law, her charge only required a few days in detention before she could be released.

So, Qian Xiaofang was likely still in Qing Shui County, but no one knew where she had gone after that.

Although it was the weekend, the gate of Hongzhuan School was tightly locked, and the yard was eerily quiet, with no one in sight.

“Uncle, we’re looking for Su Xianghong. Can we go inside?” Gou Dan had been specially trained by Su Xiangwan to ask for directions, greet people, and socialize.

The child was timid, so socializing more would be good for him.

The guard was quite impatient. “There was a thief at Hongzhuan School, and the police are investigating. It’s temporarily closed, so you’d better leave.”

Gou Dan, feeling a bit of an edge, started asking, “Who stole something? What did they steal?”

“Why are you asking so many questions, kid? Go, go, go, hurry up!” The guard was annoyed.

Gou Dan huffed, “Uncle, it’s wrong to treat children like this. We’re the flowers of the nation, the sun of the morning. You should respect me as you would an adult. My name is Song Xiling, and you’d better remember it.”

With that, Gou Dan gave the guard a salute. “I’ll soon be a Young Pioneer. Let me give you a salute first.”

The guard, surprised, stood up. “This kid is pretty confident. Song Xiling, alright, I’ll remember you. I’ll salute you back.”

It was a “you respect me a little, I’ll respect you a lot” situation.

Gou Dan’s efforts earned him the guard’s respect, and although it was a small gesture, it was significant for Gou Dan.

Seeing that Su Xiangwan had many bags, the guard probably assumed she was visiting students and came out of the duty room to talk to her.

The guard mentioned that Su Xiangwan learned that it wasn’t the students stealing from each other, but rather a student who had stolen from someone outside.

The police were currently searching her dormitory.

“Is it a girl? What’s her name?” Su Xiangwan had a bad premonition, as Su Xianghong was supposed to return to Xiao Song Village for the weekend but hadn’t.

Could Su Xianghong be the one who stole?

Sure enough, the guard said, “I heard the girl’s name is Su Xianghong. Yesterday afternoon, she stole the wallet of the Women’s Federation director while working at Hongqi Commune.”

Su Xiangwan’s mind exploded at the mention of that name. “Is the Women’s Federation director’s name Gu Nan?”

The guard shook his head. “I don’t know about that.”

Just then, Song Tingxiu appeared ahead, with Su Xianghong following behind, her little face flushed as they came out of the school.

The security guard was still talking to Su Xiangwan: “Look at this girl. She’s at Hongzhuan School, everything’s provided for her, yet her hands are so dirty. How could she think of stealing someone else’s things?”

Su Xiangwan shouted, “She’s my sister!”

The security guard gasped, his mouth hanging wide open.

“I, Song Xiling, never steal from anyone, and neither does my aunt,” said Gou Dan, his voice high-pitched, emphasizing every word.

“Sis, what are you doing here?” As soon as Su Xianghong saw Su Xiangwan, her eyes turned red. “We were doing labor in the countryside yesterday. I was working with a female colleague, but I didn’t expect that when I came back, I found her wallet in my pocket. We couldn’t leave last night, and today I was planning to return the wallet to her at Hongqi Commune, but then she reported it.”

Song Tingxiu seemed to always turn red whenever Su Xiangwan saw him.

He said, “The situation isn’t unresolvable. Comrade Xiao Gu is still at the police station waiting. We can go and explain it to her, it’s not a big deal.”

By now, a crowd of students had gathered at the gate of Hongzhuan School.

Seeing so many people, Su Xiangwan raised her voice: “Song Tingxiu, whether she stole it or not, this matter needs a conclusion, right? What do you mean by ‘coordinating’ and ‘explaining clearly’? We don’t accept this kind of coordination and explanation under these circumstances.”

Song Tingxiu glanced at Su Xianghong and turned even redder. “But, sister-in-law, the wallet was indeed in Xianghong’s hands.”

“I’m not discussing this with you now. Go and bring that Comrade Xiao Gu here to settle this case,” said Su Xiangwan.

Su Xianghong quickly said, “Sis, let’s go to the police station. If we settle it here, everyone at school will think I’m a thief.”

“Do you think you can cover up something like stealing?” Su Xiangwan persuaded. “You have to understand, if this thing is made public, you can clear your name. But if it’s handled quietly, even if the matter is resolved privately, everyone at school will still think of you as a thief.”

Song Tingxiu thought for a moment and said, “Since Xianghong is so confident she didn’t steal it, let’s settle it at the school. I’ll go bring Comrade Xiao Gu here. You all stay here.”

Su Xiangwan was puzzled. “Tingxiu, you’re the deputy director at the police station. Even though there are fewer people now, surely there are a few officers handling cases? Why are you, a deputy director, handling such a small matter?”

Upon hearing this, Song Tingxiu’s face turned even redder.

He hurried forward but wasn’t looking where he was going and bumped into a tree with a loud thud.

Now everyone—students gathered at the gate and Su Xianghong, who was falsely accused—was laughing.

Song Tingxiu, his face still red, quickly jogged away.

At Hongzhuan School, Principal Gu was still explaining to Su Xiangwan: “Last night, Xianghong told me she found a wallet in her bag, but she didn’t know why. The other party reported it directly.”

While speaking, she brought tea and noticed the children were thirsty. She remembered having a half-package of brown sugar in her drawer, so she took it out, broke it into pieces, and made a cup of tea for each of them.

Meanwhile, Song Tingxiu returned to the police station and asked Officer Xiao Wu in the office, “There’s a female comrade named Gu, the one who reported the case. Is she not here?”

Xiao Wu replied, “She left around noon. Why?”

Song Tingxiu, somewhat angry, said, “What’s going on with her? She reported that Su Xianghong stole her wallet, and now I’ve found the wallet for her, but how can she just leave?”

Xiao Wu added, “That woman was with a child. They were both quite strange. She was sitting here at the police station, but after your sister-in-law came in, Comrade Xiao Gu quietly slipped away and didn’t return.”

Actually, Gu Nan’s wallet didn’t contain much—just two two-yuan food stamps and five one-yuan banknotes. According to reason, this wasn’t enough for Su Xianghong to steal.

After Song Tingxiu went back to the police station without finding anyone, he headed back to Hongzhuan School.

“The person who reported the theft left the police station and went back to Hongqi Commune, without even wanting the money?” Su Xiangwan laughed when she heard this. “Song Tingxiu, do you think this makes sense?”

“It doesn’t,” Song Tingxiu replied. “Should I go to Hongqi Commune and find her?”

Su Xianghong had just gone to the restroom when she overheard several girls gossiping about her, calling her a thief. She wrung her hands together, sitting silently.

Su Xiangwan took the wallet and saw that her sister seemed resigned to her fate, thinking that for the next four years at Hongzhuan School, she would forever be seen as a thief.

She stood up and said to Principal Gu, “Principal Gu, you know Xianghong didn’t steal anything. Tomorrow is Monday. Could you announce this to the whole school to clear her name?”

Principal Gu hesitated. “But, I’m not sure whether Xianghong stole it or not. How can I broadcast this to the school?”

Su Xiangwan replied, “If she really stole it, how could she have returned the wallet to you last night?”

Principal Gu also had her principles: “I’m afraid I can’t broadcast it to the whole school unless the other party admits she didn’t steal it.”

Su Xiangwan took the wallet and said, “Xianghong, you’ll have to endure for a couple of days. I’ll make sure this matter is resolved.”

She handed over some food and clothes to Su Xianghong and prepared to leave.

Just then, a child appeared at the door, speaking in a firm voice, “I want to clarify something. I’m a witness, and I can confirm that Su Xianghong didn’t steal the wallet.”

In the principal’s office, where Principal Gu, Song Tingxiu, and Su Xiangwan were present, everyone turned around to see who was speaking.

They saw a boy covered in patches, but his clothes were clean.

“Li Chengze, is that you?” Su Xiangwan asked.

Li Chengze hesitated for a moment, biting his lip and said, “That wallet was placed by me. As for why I put it there, I can’t tell you, but you just need to know that Su Xianghong didn’t steal it.”

With that, the child unexpectedly turned and ran away.

Su Xiangwan called out, “Lu Dan, Lu Dan, quickly catch him!”

However, before Lu Dan could chase after him, the little boy darted off like a wisp of smoke.

Su Xiangwan asked Principal Gu, “That child just confessed on his own. Now, can you help clear Su Xianghong’s name?”

“I don’t know that child,” Principal Gu replied.

Su Xianghong quickly added, “That’s Gu Nan’s godson. Yesterday, he was always with Gu Nan during the labor.”

It was a deliberate setup to frame her.

Principal Gu thought for a moment and said, “Alright, tomorrow morning during the flag-raising ceremony, I’ll clear this up for Xianghong. As for the wallet, what should we do about it?”

Su Xiangwan responded, “I’ll return it to Gu Nan then.”

You see, in the original book, Gu Nan was on the path to an official career.

Someone who falsely accused a female student from the countryside of stealing a wallet—how could she possibly have the character to succeed in an official career?

Su Xiangwan certainly couldn’t let her off easily.

Given how crowded the bus was, after leaving the school, Su Xiangwan went to the command center where Song Qingshan and the others were, intending to hitch a ride back home on his tractor.

After waiting for quite a while and not seeing Song Qingshan, she took the children and entered the command center.

A group of soldiers were running drills on the playground, but Su Xiangwan carefully observed and didn’t spot Song Qingshan.

She figured he must be at the dam, and so, she wouldn’t be able to catch a ride with him.

Just as she was feeling disappointed and preparing to take the bus home, she saw Song Qingshan’s jeep roaring in from the outside.

Xiao Zhang, the public security officer, had been waiting for him.

Upon seeing him, he immediately leaned against the car window. “Commander Song, the provincial military district can’t get the money for the meeting from you, and they’re asking about adjusting household registrations. What’s your stance on the person named Qian Jianjian? Will you give him to the provincial military district?”

Song Qingshan took the document, glanced at it, and when he saw that Qian Jianjian wanted to join the military as an expert in mine clearance, he immediately threw the letter from the provincial military district aside. “Nonsense! As for mine clearance, I’m the ancestor in that field. How come I didn’t notice Qian Jianjian having any mine clearance expertise? Just send a telegram back saying Qian Jianjian’s leg is broken, and if the provincial military district really wants to transfer him, let them carry him on a stretcher and come get him themselves.”

That Qian Xiaofang really had some connections.

Even though Fang Gaodi had died, she somehow managed to get released after just a few days of detention.

Now, to get Qian Jianjian out of the reservoir, she was resorting to every possible method.

Song Qingshan suspected that the woman was involved, so he kept a close watch on her, ready to catch her in the act.

After entering the dormitory, he saw all the family members inside.

He picked up Zhi Zhi, started the tractor, and the whole family was headed home.

The kang (a heated bed) had been set up, but due to the dampness, it wasn’t yet livable. So, Lu Dan and Gou Dan squeezed together on one bed, while Song Qingshan, Zhi Zhi, and Su Xiangwan shared another.

“I saw that Li Chengze today,” Su Xiangwan said to Song Qingshan.

Song Qingshan paused for a moment and asked, “Did you see Gu Nan? What kind of woman is she, and how did she end up adopting that child?”

Su Xiangwan replied, “Tomorrow, keep the tractor for me. I’m going to Hongqi Commune to observe that woman up close. We’ll talk about it then.”

“You’d better go early,” Song Qingshan said. “The battle at Zhenbao Island is likely to break out soon. I have to go, but before I leave, we need to settle this matter.”

“Are we really going to war?” Su Xiangwan’s eyes lit up. She didn’t remember any war breaking out at this time.

Song Qingshan proudly said, “Wait and see. There are things you don’t know. The Sino-Soviet war is about to start.” Song Qingshan cracked his knuckles, ready to head into battle.

Su Xiangwan still didn’t know the full background of that Gu Nan woman.

Moreover, that Li Chengze had secretly placed the wallet in Su Xianghong’s bag, but then ran to Hongzhuan School to prove that Su Xianghong hadn’t stolen it. Did this mean the child still had a good conscience?

A child with a good conscience turned out to be a drug dealer in the book. Should she intervene or not?

“Little Su?” After a long pause, Song Qingshan suddenly said, “I know what you like, and I’ve already gotten it for you.”

“What?” Su Xiangwan asked.

Song Qingshan suddenly did a flip and sat up. “Close your eyes. When you open them, you’ll see.”

Su Xiangwan really closed her eyes and then opened them again.

The room was filled with bright light.

“Lights! You actually got us electricity?” Su Xiangwan exclaimed. “This is electricity, we finally have power!”

The room was bright, a small step for civilization, but a huge leap for Su Xiangwan in this world.

She had really had enough of the kerosene lamps.

Seeing how Su Xiangwan’s eyes nearly popped out, Song Qingshan looked proud. “This is nothing. I have an even bigger surprise for you. As for the kerosene lamps, just make do with them for now.”

He had realized that this woman had both spiritual aspirations and material desires.

But she was also easily satisfied.

As long as she was happy, Li Chengze’s matter could be dealt with.