In the new China, no one is above the law. Rather than using weapons you're not skilled with and risking lives, it's better to settle things with your own hands.
Su Qing believed that self-awareness was essential. Though Xie Jianhua had just used a stool to hit someone, he was trained—it was different.
Hearing Su Qing speak so coldly yet matter-of-factly, Xie Jianhua's lips twitched.
He set the stool down and said, "What I meant was, let’s sit and talk this through."
So that’s what the stool was for.
Su Qing gave an awkward smile, but before she could speak, He Laidi cut in, "What’s left to talk about? You took advantage of my Su Qing. The whole neighborhood saw you two sleeping under the same blanket—are you trying to shirk responsibility? Do you even want to keep your military career?"
After threatening Xie Jianhua, He Laidi turned to Su Qing, "Don’t worry, my girl. If Xie Jianhua refuses to marry you, we’ll report him for harassment. We’ll make a scene at his workplace, even hang ourselves there if we have to—we’ll die right at the Xie family’s doorstep..."
Su Qing’s face turned icy. "You marry him if you want. You go die if you want."
Xie Jianhua remained calm. "Who said I won’t marry her?"
When the neighbors had gathered to gawk, he knew this wouldn’t end quietly.
If he refused, Su Qing’s reputation would be ruined. Not only would she struggle to marry in the city, but word would spread back to her rural labor camp, leaving her humiliated there too.
He’d take responsibility—but the fact that he’d been tricked wasn’t something he’d let slide.
Glancing at Su Qing, he coldly told He Laidi, "My family offered 500 yuan in betrothal gifts to marry Su Xue—a high school graduate with a city job. Not Su Qing, a rural labor camp youth with no urban residency. I’ll marry Su Qing, but only if the full dowry is returned. Otherwise, forget it."
When Xie Jianhua mentioned Su Qing’s rural status, Wang Cuifen frantically tugged his sleeve—otherwise, he would’ve been even harsher.
At a time when most youths couldn’t find jobs and were sent to labor camps, urban residency and city jobs were incredibly valuable. The Su family’s bait-and-switch was downright despicable.
Just the food rationing alone was a huge issue. Urban households had monthly grain allocations; rural ones didn’t, doubling living costs.
But if the Su family had been willing to return the money, they wouldn’t have pulled this stunt in the first place.
"Impossible! You’re marrying my sister—why should we return the betrothal gifts?" Su Lei, the second brother, objected first. Half of Xie’s 500 yuan had already been spent—200 on his own marriage dowry and over 100 on a bicycle.
With most of the money gone, they’d planned to force the Xie family to swallow the loss.
Wang Cuifen sneered. "Fine. No refund? Then your family can pay with a life."
Her murderous gaze locked onto Su Xue’s belly—the undeniable proof.
Xie Jianhua had only been home for a month, recovering from injuries. Half-dead in bed two weeks ago, there was no way the child could be his.
Wang Cuifen had rushed the marriage, offering a hefty dowry, because she’d panicked after seeing Xie Jianhua wounded in action.
War was unpredictable. If he lost a limb or worse, finding a wife later would be hard.
She wanted his marriage settled while he was still young and healthy. With so few city girls left (most sent to labor camps), she’d picked Su Xue—pretty, educated, with a good job, worthy of her son.
Rumors had spread that Xie Jianhua was "impotent" after his abdominal injury. Hard to disprove without stripping in public.
Wang Cuifen figured a pregnancy would silence the gossip.
Instead, the child belonged to someone else.
Now, she was almost grateful for the rumors—at least no one would suspect Xie Jianhua of fathering it.
Her glare made Su Xue’s legs buckle.
"If we drag you to the hospital to abort this bastard, you’ll lose half your life. Afterward, you’ll be disgraced—your whole family shamed."
Su Qing quietly stepped behind Wang Cuifen, aligning herself, and added lightly,
"Right. The child can’t stay. And I won’t cheat Xie Jianhua. Even at the police station, I’ll testify we never slept together."
She spoke righteously, chin high.
Xie Jianhua averted his eyes. Last night hadn’t been entirely innocent.
The Su family had drugged him, but the effects kicked in late. When Su Lei thought him "useless," they’d shoved him into Su Qing’s bed.
Now wasn’t the time to debate potency. Xie Jianhua stayed silent, face stern.
Seeing her parents and brother still refusing to pay, and her sister switching sides, Su Xue dropped to her knees, weeping.
"Auntie Wang, I was wrong! Have mercy—spare me!"
She’d gambled on her pregnancy staying secret. Only her parents and brother knew—co-conspirators in securing her lover’s help (he’d gotten her the job and promised one for her younger brother).
Now, her leverage was gone.
"Big sister, speak for me! I’m your blood!" Su Xue begged. "Sis!"
Su Qing’s word mattered most now. If she implicated Xie Jianhua, Wang Cuifen would back off.
"Qingqing, ignore her. She’s only sorry she got caught. If she’d succeeded, she’d be gloating."
Wang Cuifen cut in, laying out terms: "Three conditions to keep this quiet. First, Su Qing takes your Women’s Federation job. Second, get her urban residency back—medical discharge, hardship withdrawal, job transfer, whatever. Third, the 500 yuan dowry goes to Su Qing as her bridal gift."
Su Qing’s eyes widened.
Had Wang Cuifen stolen her script?
Every demand was what she’d wanted—every one served her interests.
