The figure ahead was none other than Wang Xiaohong. Tucked in her arms was a cloth bundle containing a sweater she had just finished knitting.
Liu Cuilan had come by just moments ago, but Xiaohong had already stepped out, and the two had taken different paths, so they hadn't crossed paths.
These past six months, one family trouble after another had weighed her down until she could barely breathe.
When Chuntao was still around, even though she, Xiaohong, did most of the looking after, there was an ease in her heart, and the house felt alive, like a proper home.
But ever since Chuntao had left, the family had fallen apart completely—empty, without a shred of warmth.
Wang Xiaohong's heart was perpetually in a state of unease, like a rootless patch of duckweed with nowhere to settle.
She had countless times wanted to run away from this place, but then she'd think: if she left, could Xiaoming really hold things together on his own?
At seventeen or eighteen, a young woman just coming into the bloom of first love—that secret affection for Li Mingliang had long since taken root quietly in her heart.
In the past, she'd had too many reservations, so she'd kept those feelings buried deep.
But now, she no longer wanted to overthink it. She had to find the courage to chase after a better life for herself.
Maybe only by finding someone who truly understood her could she fill that hollow ache in her chest and, if only for a while, forget the troubles weighing on her home.
She trod with the lightest of steps, as if afraid of disturbing the stillness of the night.
She made her way to the workers' quarters, where the electric lights in the iron houses were all aglow. Wang Xiaohong immediately spotted the one where Li Mingliang lived.
A shadow of a figure was pressed against the glass window—it was Li Mingliang.
She glanced left and right; no one was around. She quickened her pace and walked straight over.
At the door, she hesitated for just a moment, then raised her hand and lightly knocked, her voice softening. “Brother Mingliang, are you asleep yet?”
Li Mingliang had been sitting in his chair, lost in thought, his mind full of Chuntao's sweet and lovely face. When he heard someone call out, he jolted back to reality.
“Who is it?”
“It's me, Xiaohong!” Wang Xiaohong lowered her voice, the last syllable trembling just a little, her heart pounding so hard it felt like it was in her throat.
The sweater in her arms was one she'd stayed up nights knitting. She'd finished it in no time.
The weather was so cold that she wanted Li Mingliang to have something warm to wear as soon as possible.
The door creaked open. Li Mingliang stood in the doorway, his body blocking the electric light from inside, making it impossible to read the expression on his face.
“Xiaohong, something the matter?” There was a clear distance in his tone.
In the past, he used to be a frequent visitor at the Wang family's door—all because Chuntao had been there.
Now that Chuntao had left Wang Village, it had been ages since he'd last set foot across the family's threshold.
A flush rose instantly to Wang Xiaohong's cheeks. She hurriedly said, “Brother Mingliang, it's so cold out—I knitted you a sweater!”
As she spoke, she shoved the cloth bundle into Li Mingliang's hands, and before he could even react, she turned and bolted. She ran in one breath all the way out of the workers' quarters, then leaned against a big poplar tree, gasping for air.
Her heart was like two little rabbits bouncing around in her chest, thumping wildly without end.
What she didn't know was that just moments ago, while she'd been giving Li Mingliang the sweater, Liu Cuilan had been hiding around the corner of the iron house, sneaking a look. Every word Xiaohong had said, Liu Cuilan had heard loud and clear.
That little wretch! She'd asked her to knit a simple scarf and got nothing but excuses, yet here she was knitting a sweater for an outsider!
“I raised her with my own sweat and tears—is it that easy to forget?” Liu Cuilan cursed Wang Xiaohong for being ungrateful.
Then, suddenly, she clapped a hand to her forehead.
Wang Xiaohong would be eighteen after New Year's! At eighteen, Liu Cuilan herself had already had a baby in her arms.
Xiaohong had long reached the age to be betrothed. She was so muddled by that bitch Li Chuntao that she had forgotten about it!
Wang Xiaohong was knitting a sweater for Li Mingliang. She must have taken a fancy to him!
Well, it was a good thing. If her own daughter could marry a worker, it would bring her some glory.
In the future, as his mother - in - law, she could also benefit from her son - in - law and get some gifts!
Liu Cuilan was overjoyed and had completely forgotten the real reason for coming to see Wang Xiaohong.
"Xiaohong!" Liu Cuilan called out in a low voice.
Wang Xiaohong was still in a flurry, with her mind full of Li Mingliang's reaction when he saw the sweater.
— Would he be pleasantly surprised? Astonished? Or...
She was so deep in thought that when someone suddenly called her name from behind in the middle of the night, she was so scared that her scalp went numb and she almost lost her soul.
As the old rural folks often said, if someone calls your name at night, don't answer until they've called three times, in case it's something unclean.
Wang Xiaohong shivered and quickly turned around. When she saw it was Liu Cuilan, the tense nerves in her body suddenly relaxed.
She said angrily, "What are you doing? Not sleeping in the middle of the night and coming out to scare people!"
Liu Cuilan moved closer to her, with a calculating smile on her face. "Xiaohong, I've seen that you like Li Mingliang!"
Wang Xiaohong was not the kind of person to hide things. She always preferred to be straightforward. But when it came to Li Mingliang, she was uncertain. She couldn't figure out if he had feelings for her.
Moreover, as a young girl, if she took the initiative to approach a man and the villagers found out, they would surely gossip behind her back and scold her for being shameless and scheming.
No matter how bold she was, she didn't want this matter to be known. Unfortunately, Liu Cuilan had caught her.
"What did you see?" Wang Xiaohong snorted and turned her face away, with a hint of unease in her tone.
Liu Cuilan moved even closer and said, "You're already a girl of seventeen or eighteen. It's high time you found a husband.
Li Mingliang is good - looking and has a proper job. If you can marry him, you'll have a good life in the future!"
It was still too early to talk about it. Wang Xiaohong was both angry and amused.
She argued stubbornly, "Brother Mingliang helped me before. I know how to repay kindness. Knitting him a sweater is just to return the favor. Don't talk nonsense!
If the villagers find out about this, I won't let you off!" After saying that, she turned around and walked away.
"Hey, Xiaohong, don't be in such a hurry to leave!" Only then did Liu Cuilan remember the real thing. She quickly ran up and grabbed Wang Xiaohong's arm. "I have something to tell you!"
Wang Xiaohong shook off her hand and ignored her, speeding up her pace.
There was a thick layer of ice on the ground. She slipped and almost fell.
"Slow down, girl!" Liu Cuilan quickly followed, with a flattering smile on her face. "Xiaohong, will you go to the commune with me tomorrow?"
Was the sun rising in the west? What was her own mother up to this time?
Wang Xiaohong stopped and said coldly, "Stop beating around the bush. Just say what you want to say!"
"Xiaohong, I saw Uncle Haitao a few days ago. He was sitting in a fancy car. He looked very imposing!
Unexpectedly, he has a very good relationship with Secretary Wang of the commune. I told him about our family's situation. Uncle Haitao was very angry and asked Secretary Wang to help us seek justice... but we need a witness.
You used to hang out with Zhou Zhijun and Li Chuntao every day. You must know all their dirty deeds!"
Liu Cuilan rambled on, exaggerating as she retold exactly the same story to Wang Xiaohong that she had told Wang Lanhua.
It would have been better if she hadn't brought it up. As soon as she did, Wang Xiaohong felt a tightness in her chest, and it ached.
In the past, she had protected Chuntao every day and always thought about her. But she had been so stupid. She hadn't seen the secret relationship between them at all, and had allowed them to carry on right under her nose.
She had also regarded Zhou Zhijun as the most selfless and upright good man. Now, thinking about it, it was both absurd and ironic. She was extremely angry, and there was also a vague sense of sourness in her heart.
A cold glint flashed in Wang Xiaohong's eyes, but she didn't say a word. She just stared at Liu Cuilan.
Liu Cuilan had long seen through her thoughts. Immediately, she grabbed Wang Xiaohong's arm tightly and incited her, "Are you still thinking about the kindness you showed to Li Chuntao before and can't bear to do anything?
But think about it. If you want to get rid of your elder brother as a burden, the only way is to make Li Chuntao go back to the Wang family and take care of your elder brother!"
Wang Xiaohong stiffened and pursed her lips. She said, "She has nothing to do with my elder brother anymore. Now that she's married to Zhou Zhijun, how can she come back?"
Seeing this, Liu Cuilan immediately leaned forward and said anxiously, "You go to the commune and testify... Li Chuntao was exchanged for by our family, so she's a member of our family!
As long as Secretary Wang gives the word, she'll have to come back obediently to take care of your elder brother! Once she's back, won't you be free?"
Seeing that Wang Xiaohong didn't say a word, Liu Cuilan quickly persuaded her again, "Li Mingliang is a salaried worker. He must have requirements when looking for a wife.
You and him are already in an unequal relationship! If you still have a burden with you, there's really no chance at all!"
Wang Xiaohong lowered her eyes, and her heart was in turmoil.
Could she really force Chuntao to come back by testifying?
