Song Laosan, holding 500 yuan, ran to the city to find his brother-in-law, Fang Gaodi, to ask for a job.

Fang Gaodi immediately showed Song Laosan the list of jobs with his name on it to confirm that he had secured a position for him at the reservoir.

Afterward, Song Laosan went home to pack his belongings, preparing to work as a foreman at the reservoir.

Fang Gaodi, on the other hand, was waiting at home for the notification to transfer the files, as per the army’s request.

Just then, someone knocked on the door.

Fang Gaodi peeked through the peephole and immediately opened the door. “This is Qing Shan. You’re out of the army, right? I’ve never seen you before. I wanted to ask—now that you’re out, why hasn’t your file been transferred yet?”

Song Qingshan entered the house and looked around.

Wow, this was the county committee’s staff housing—a small one-bedroom apartment.

In the living room, there was a large portrait of the leader hanging in the center, flanked by red five-pointed stars. Around the room were various photos of his sister, Song Duhua, the county mayor, the county party secretary, his nephew Fang Jinhui, and revolutionary leaders from other regions.

“Brother-in-law, I heard you got Laosan a job at the reservoir?” Song Qingshan asked.

Fang Gaodi sat down calmly and said, “Yes, at the reservoir, working as a supervisor. What about it?”

“That good-for-nothing Laosan? He can’t carry or lift anything. What could he possibly do at the reservoir?” Song Qingshan said, still gazing at the photos and slogans on the walls.

“You’re being too harsh on Laosan. Everything is done by people. Qing Shan, sit down and let’s talk,” Fang Gaodi said as he began preparing tea for Song Qingshan.

“I also want you to get me a job like that, how much does it cost?” Song Qingshan asked, sitting down.

Fang Gaodi glanced around cautiously, despite being in his own home. “Qing Shan, you’re joking. If you want to be a supervisor, just hand me your file. To be honest, Laosan was forced onto me by Mom. I had no choice but to give them someone to fill the spot and offer money to the person in charge. With your credentials, why would you need to pay anything?”

“You know who the chief of the reservoir is? What’s his name?” Song Qingshan asked, challenging his brother-in-law.

Fang Gaodi actually didn’t know, as the military corps involved in nuclear industry matters was highly confidential. But he couldn’t admit ignorance, so he said, “I know, but I can’t tell you.”

Song Qingshan tapped his fingers on the table for a while, then pulled out his work ID. He looked at Fang Gaodi, whose expression slowly changed.

Song Qingshan then coldly extended his hand, and Fang Gaodi reluctantly took out the 500 yuan that Song Laosan had given him and handed it to Song Qingshan.

“My sister is now the Women’s Federation Director, and she might become the first female county head of Qingshui County. She’s a good person, so don’t hinder her. Otherwise, I’ll make sure you regret it. As for my job, if you’re not afraid of dying, go ahead and spread rumors,” said Song Qingshan, patting his brother-in-law’s shoulder before turning to leave.

After Song Qingshan left, Fang Gaodi’s daughter, Fang Caiqi, came out. “Dad, who just came in? Also, didn’t you say you’d buy me and my brother a pair of leather shoes? Where’s the money?”

“Money, money, money. All you think about is money. Do you know your father has risked his life for you all?” Fang Gaodi slammed his bag onto the table and turned to leave.

In the countryside, the daily routine doesn’t change much—working, cooking, feeding donkeys, and raising children.

Fortunately, in her past life, Su Xiangwan had taught, and was skilled in farm work, so although life was tough, she remained optimistic.

However, when her children were upset, Su Xiangwan couldn’t stay optimistic.

After feeding the donkey and finishing the cooking, she had just stepped outside when she saw Gou Dan crouching in the corner, holding his head.

“I’ve told you many times, why are you squatting in the corner again?” Even though Su Xiangwan was patient and had seen many troublesome children in her past life, she had never seen anyone like Gou Dan. It was as if he couldn’t stop squatting in the corner.

She pulled him up and found blood on his head.

Taking a deep breath, Su Xiangwan thought to herself, this troublesome child was really getting a beating.

“Who hit you this time?” she asked, suspecting he was hiding there to avoid further scolding.

Gou Dan replied, “Jin Gui and Song Fu.”

After the work assignments were finished, it was time to head to work, but at that moment, Su Xiangwan saw that Xiao Jingu and Xiao Songfu had also appeared in the village square.

The two mischievous boys were wearing green military caps, each with a red five-pointed star sewn on them.

Their expressions were so arrogant and inflated, as though they were about to fly to the sky.

In fact, this was a particularly ridiculous time. Look at this: Songfu was eight years old this year, and Jingu was only six. Just because they were wearing military hats, even adults walking past them were being extra careful.

“Mom, don’t look anymore, let’s head to the fields,” said Donkey Dan, tugging at Su Xiangwan’s hand. “We’ll beat them up, it’s no big deal. Dog Dan and I don’t care about it.”

Songfu, with a proud look, walked over, showing off his hat. He even had to say, “Aunt, this hat was bought for us by my cousin in Beijing. When the ‘Revolutionary End’ group comes back, you’ll see how I deal with Donkey Dan and Dog Dan.”

Pointing to the red star on his hat, Songfu deliberately added, “You’d better take a good look. This is a red star. No one can touch me.” He seemed to treat the red star like a golden shield of protection.

Unexpectedly, Su Xiangwan grabbed Songfu and said, “What did you use to hit Dog Dan?”

Songfu twisted and struggled, pointing to the hat on his head. “I used my hat to hit him. Aunt, what do you want to do?”

Su Xiangwan pulled down his pants and slapped his bottom twice. “What do you think you’re doing? I’ll teach you what your father and mother didn’t. This red star is stained with the blood of revolutionary martyrs, and you use it to hit your brother? You’re insulting the leader and the army.”

“Su Xiangwan, you took so much advantage when the family split, and now you’re hitting a child?” Fang Baoyu shouted.

Su Xiangwan slapped Songfu again, this slap so loud it echoed. “I’m his aunt. He doesn’t understand, so I have to teach him. Look at how dirty he’s made the red star. This is a red star, dyed in the blood of martyrs. How can you carelessly dirty it?”

She slapped him twice more and said, “I’m hitting you.”

Fang Baoyu wanted to step forward, but Su Xiangwan grabbed Songfu’s hat and ripped it off his head. “Everyone, look at the blood on this hat. This is a soldier’s hat. Songfu doesn’t understand, and Fang Baoyu always lets him get away with it. What do you think, should Fang Baoyu be taught a lesson by the community?”

“I dare you to teach me!” Fang Baoyu snapped.

Zhao Guodong added, “Forget it, Xiangwan. It’s best not to encourage such behavior in the village.”

Su Xiangwan straightened the hat and placed it back on Songfu’s head. “If no one encourages this behavior, then fine. But if anyone dares to bully my children with it, I not only dare to hit your children, I will also hit the adults.”

Fang Baoyu stood in the crowd, deflated, staring at Su Xiangwan but didn’t dare say anything.

“Don’t tolerate your own children bullying others,” Su Xiangwan said as she grabbed the mother of the troublesome boy and walked out of the village square.

Meanwhile, Song Laosan was preparing to go to the reservoir to work, and the old lady, who had been waiting for him, went out to the main road to wait for Song Qingshan. She wanted to know what kind of job he had found. If he couldn’t find one, she figured he could just work as a villager, but there was something important to do back at the old house. The chimneys were all blocked, and Song Qingshan, known for his skills in bricklaying, was much better at it than others.

Of course, the old house needed a full renovation. Rebuilding the kilns and firing bricks and tiles was Song Qingshan’s specialty.

The old lady chatted with Qingyu, and Qingyu, who had always felt that her sister-in-law had changed, couldn’t help but comment, “Mom, don’t fight with my sister-in-law anymore. She’s not like she used to be. Now I feel like she’s got the demeanor of my eldest sister.”

“Her? She can’t even read a few words. How could she be like your eldest sister?” The old lady chuckled. “Your eldest sister, despite her background, is smart and learns things quickly. She can write well and even author excellent essays. Su Xiangwan can’t even compare to her.”

The old lady always viewed her eldest daughter as her ideal—bright and talented in many ways.

By the time the moon had risen, the old lady had yet to see her son come back.

Just as she returned to the old house, she saw Songfu entering, carrying a half-bag of pastries. “Grandma, Grandma, this was bought for us by my uncle.”

“Then you should eat it,” the old lady said. “Why didn’t you call your uncle to come too?”

“I called him, but uncle said he was afraid you’d scold him, so he didn’t dare come,” Songfu replied.

The old lady, Qingyu, and Fang Baoyu all froze, especially Fang Baoyu, who screamed, “Uncle is so ridiculous. A coward, hiding away like that. Why would he tell the child about it?”

Even though the old lady knew her son had brought back some pastries, she was angry and couldn’t eat. She muttered as she chewed her medicine, “No, Qingshan is such a weakling. He’s in love with Su Xiangwan, and I can’t let myself be driven mad by this. I’ll wait for my second son to return. I want to see what Su Xiangwan will do, and where her husband will hide.”

For this reason, she was determined to keep going.

The man only brought back half a bag of pastries. Donkey Dan immediately became a spy. “He gave half to Songfu. I saw it, Mom.”

Song Qingshan, hands in his pockets, sat on the bed. “Everyone eat a little.”

“I’m not eating,” said Dog Dan.

“I’m not eating either,” Donkey Dan said.

“If you’re not eating, then I’ll take it back to Songfu and Jingu. Let them have some strength to beat you up,” Su Xiangwan said, biting into a piece of the red sugar-filled pastry. It was just an ordinary pastry, but in this era, it was a luxury.

“Lost out at the old house, and the ones who suffer the most are the children.”

Children, though young, often internalize adult conflicts, sometimes turning into entirely different people, even pushing a good child toward antisocial tendencies.

“Didn’t your dad tell you? If someone hits you, hit them back! So why didn’t you fight back?” Su Xiangwan said, hoisting the child up by his collar. “What’s wrong with you? Haven’t been eating enough lately, or are you naturally this timid? Letting people beat you up all the time?”

She gave him a couple of light slaps. “If you won’t fight back, if you let people keep hitting you, not only will I say you deserve it, but I’ll add a couple more hits myself. Now tell me, the next time they hit you, will you fight back or not?”

Gou Dan gritted his teeth but stayed silent.

This little guy, timid as he often seemed, had an occasional outburst of ferocity that was downright chilling, as if he were ready to risk everything in a fight.

Just then, Lü Dan came running in, covered in sweat, and hurriedly explained, “They’ve got my cousin Jin Huan backing them up. He’s the leader of the county’s ‘Down with Capitalists’ brigade. He used to beat us up all the time when we were little. Gou Dan isn’t scared for no reason. Song Fu and Jin Gui said that if we dare fight back, they’ll get Jin Huan to beat you up.”

“Your cousin Jin Huan is only fourteen. Is he really that fearsome? I’d even dare to take him on,” Su Xiangwan replied.

Lü Dan lowered his head. “He even went to Beijing this year, with my aunt.”

Ah, part of the student revolutionary networking groups—hitching free rides on trains and wandering all over the country. Su Xiangwan understood that phenomenon well enough.

It seemed Jin Huan was overdue for a taste of reality.

Back at the house, Su Xiangwan took out the cotton and medical tape Song Qingshan had brought home. Piece by piece, she patched up the wounds on Gou Dan’s head.

“By the way, isn’t Jin Huan the one who peed in A-She’s mouth?” Su Xiangwan asked, a sudden thought crossing her mind.

Lü Dan nodded vigorously. “That’s him.”

At the mention, Gou Dan’s eyes reddened, and he silently crouched down on the floor. Su Xiangwan felt an inexplicable pang of sadness.

Fang Jin Huan, grandson of the infamous Fang Cripple, was a terror unmatched in the village. Or rather, he wasn’t just a brat anymore—he’d long surpassed that stage.

Last year, during a visit to Songjia Village, Jin Huan had played around and ended up pinning little A-She in a corner and urinating in her mouth.

It was broad daylight, and a group of children had been playing together. Yet Jin Huan somehow crossed the line completely, humiliating the six-year-old A-She.