Su Qing's face flushed red instantly. Sometimes she really didn’t feel like chatting with these married older women—their topics were far too bold. How would she know whether Xie Jianhua had been injured there? She couldn’t answer directly, so she could only lower her head shyly and say, "Oh, I’m not talking to you all about this."
Fortunately, the gossip about her wasn’t too rampant. Seeing her reluctance to engage, the older women quickly shifted their focus to Su Xue instead.
"How did you end up marrying that Ren Chao? I heard he’s got something going on with a woman from his workplace. Did you know?"
"That’s all nonsense. Ren Chao married me in a hurry precisely because he didn’t want people misunderstanding," Su Xue hurriedly explained.
"You’re too naive. Your husband’s already under scrutiny—you better keep a close eye on him, or he might really go out and cheat."
Boundaries and privacy? Nonexistent.
While Wang Cuifen and her league of wicked mother-in-laws were busy scheming against their daughters-in-law, this group of young wives was preoccupied with how to keep their men in line.
Family scandals made for uncomfortable listening, but Su Xue, desperate to clear her name, couldn’t afford to ignore them. Instead, she painstakingly addressed each accusation one by one.
The only blame she refused to shoulder was that of Su Youjin and He Laidi. Far from defending them, she was happy to paint them in an even worse light.
She and Su Qing were innocent—their parents were the real culprits.
"Your parents really hit the jackpot this time. The Su family married off two daughters and got so much bride price. When’s your brother getting married?"
"I don’t know, and I don’t care." Su Xue’s smile was weary. "If it weren’t for all the family drama, people wouldn’t be laughing at me and my sister. It’s all about money."
Having worked at this unit for two years, Su Xue still had some goodwill among her colleagues. People listened to her explanations—though whether they believed her was another matter.
Her pale face alone was enough to raise suspicions.
But to prove her innocence, Su Xue put in the effort. When it was time to leave work, she even dragged Su Qing along, putting on a convincing sisterly act.
"Alright, that’s enough. I’m going home." Su Qing pulled her hand away, her tone indifferent. "I’ve said what needed to be said. One day of acting is plenty—I’m not doing this again."
"Big sister, how did you become like this?" Su Xue whined.
Su Qing shot her a sidelong glance. "What did you expect? You’ve already dragged me through the mud. Did you think I’d keep sacrificing for you? Dream on."
"It’s not like you’re suffering now. You married a good man and got a decent job. Beats being a sent-down youth in the countryside, doesn’t it?" The more Su Xue spoke, the more self-righteous she became.
"What I have now, I earned myself. You didn’t arrange any of it."
Su Qing scoffed. "The life you arranged for me was one with no money, no job, no residency permit—scorned by my husband, berated by my mother-in-law, gossiped about by the neighbors. After years of misery, I’d finally break and drown myself in the river… That’s the life you wanted for me."
This was the exact opposite of reality, and Su Xue couldn’t help protesting. "How could you think that of me, big sister?"
It wasn’t a baseless assumption—this was the life the original Su Qing had lived.
But expecting the Su family to admit fault was impossible. Su Qing rolled her eyes, mounted her bicycle, and rode off, leaving Su Xue stomping her feet in frustration behind her.
On the way home, Su Qing muttered under her breath, "Miscalculated. Besides Su Youjin and Su Lei deserving a beating, Su Xue and He Laidi should’ve been on the list too. Too bad Xie Jianhua’s already on the train."
Just as he stepped off the train, Xie Jianhua sneezed and thought, Who’s talking about me?
Carrying his luggage, he followed the address Cripple Xie had given him, asking the station staff for directions.
Without maps or navigation, getting around in an unfamiliar place meant relying on the kindness of strangers. Fortunately, people were helpful—whoever he asked pointed him the right way.
After the train, he still had to take a bus, then trek a long stretch of dirt road before reaching his destination. By the time he arrived, dusk was already falling.
The farm had guards stationed outside. To enter, Xie Jianhua had to present his introduction letter and have his belongings inspected.
"You’re here to see Old Zheng? Who are you to him?"
"My father was his comrade-in-arms. He was worried, so he sent me to check on him." As he spoke, Xie Jianhua discreetly handed over two cigarettes. He didn’t smoke at home, but he’d brought a pack for situations like this.
"Alright, register and go in. Old Zheng’ll be happy to hear from an old friend."
Life on the farm was harsh. Old Zheng and his wife lived in poor conditions—their hands bore the marks of frostbite, and both looked visibly aged and exhausted, their spirits worn thin.
But when they learned Xie Jianhua had come to see them, Old Zheng perked up immediately, happily clapping Xie Jianhua’s shoulder. "How’s your dad? With a son like you carrying on his legacy, he must be over the moon."
"He’s doing well. He’s just worried about you." Xie Jianhua discreetly surveyed the surroundings, a pang of sorrow striking his heart.
If his own parents lived like this, Xie Jianhua wouldn’t be able to bear it. But for Old Zheng, all he could offer was silent sympathy.
Being sent down to a farm for labor reform was no picnic—backbreaking work and psychological strain were enough to break anyone. Over the years, many had succumbed to weak constitutions or shattered spirits. At least Old Zheng and his wife were still alive. That alone was something.
His visit could only provide temporary relief, not a real solution.
Even the money and food coupons he brought meant little to Old Zheng. After some polite refusals, what truly moved Old Zheng was knowing someone still remembered him—that someone had come to see him.
"After this trip, don’t come again. Tell your dad I’m doing fine here."
Despite the late hour, Old Zheng didn’t invite him to stay, worried his status might cause trouble for Xie Jianhua. After a brief conversation, he urged Xie Jianhua to leave before dark.
"The farm’s no place for guests. You’d better hurry to a hostel in town. I won’t keep you."
He maintained a calm, steady demeanor while speaking to Xie Jianhua, but the moment Xie Jianhua left, he couldn’t resist bragging to the others.
"My sworn brother’s son came all this way just to see me. I told my brother not to bother, but he wouldn’t listen—had to send his son anyway. Honestly! As if I, Old Zheng, can’t handle a little hardship!"
The others weren’t having it, jeering in response.
Teasing aside, for people like them—marked as outcasts—having someone who still cared was genuinely heartwarming.
