"Yu Fen! Yu Fen! There's a phone call for you at the brigade office!"
Gui Xiang's loud voice rang out.
The familiar shout startled Yang Yufen awake. Hadn't she died?
Yang Yufen reached up to touch the back of her head—the searing pain still felt real, yet there was no wound. And shouldn't she be in a hospital?
"Yu Fen! Yu Fen! What are you doing? Your son called the brigade office, asking for you to pick up!"
Gui Xiang's voice boomed again.
A sharp ache pierced Yang Yufen's chest. She had actually been reborn—sent back two years, to the moment her son called to announce his marriage.
Her daughter-in-law, Qin Nian, was still alive. Her grandson hadn’t died yet. And her worthless son, Shen Xianjun, who would later abandon his family and vanish, was still here.
The thought made her regret only slapping her son once before her death. She should have struck that homewrecker too—instead, the woman had shoved her, sending her crashing onto the steps to her death.
It was after this very call that Shen Xianjun declared he’d married in the army. Qin Nian was too busy with work, so there’d be no wedding ceremony, and he told Yang Yufen not to come. After that, the monthly stipend he sent home stopped, and not a single word from him ever reached her again.
Back then, she’d blamed Qin Nian, resenting her for keeping her son away. If they wouldn’t even let his own mother attend the wedding or visit, why should she force herself into their lives?
So when Qin Nian suddenly called two years later, asking her to come help care for the child, Yang Yufen stubbornly refused.
It was the tail end of the autumn harvest. After three days of grueling work, she finally relented—the child was innocent, after all.
But by the time she bought a train ticket and reached the capital, it was too late. She arrived only to hear the devastating news. From the nurses, from Qin Nian’s colleagues and superiors, she finally learned the whole truth.
Heartbroken, she completed the formalities to claim the bodies. And then, in the hospital, she saw her missing son—escorting a pregnant homewrecker to a prenatal checkup. Blind with rage, she marched up and slapped him.
"Yu Fen? Yu Fen? They said they’d call back in fifteen minutes. If you don’t go now, you’ll miss it."
Gui Xiang frowned, watching her friend’s dazed, troubled expression with concern.
"Right, I’m going."
Yang Yufen yanked off her apron and handed it to Gui Xiang, then hurried toward the brigade office.
"What took you so long? The phone already rang once. They said they’d call again in ten minutes."
The brigade leader spoke up the moment Yang Yufen arrived.
"Got held up."
Yang Yufen sat unceremoniously by the phone to wait. Soon enough, it rang. She snatched up the receiver.
"Hello?"
A single word, and Shen Xianjun recognized his mother’s voice.
"Mom, I got married. Her name’s Qin Nian. She’s busy with work, so we’re not holding a ceremony. No need for you to come. The bride price follows local standards—500 yuan and a watch. I saved up and borrowed a bit from comrades, so I won’t be sending my stipend home anymore."
In her past life, Yang Yufen had been displeased at this. Her son’s marriage should’ve been a joyous occasion, yet she wasn’t even allowed to see it.
After a few dissatisfied remarks from her, Shen Xianjun had claimed he was out of time and hung up.
This time, she wouldn’t make the same mistake.
"Bring your political commissar to the phone. I need to speak with him."
Yang Yufen cut him off before he could continue.
"Mom, why do you need the commissar? Whatever it is, you can tell me directly."
Shen Xianjun frowned. Was his mother so against his marriage that she’d complain to the commissar?
"Just bring him. If you won’t, I’ll call the army myself!"
Her tone brooked no argument.
"Mom, don’t make trouble. Nian is wonderful. This was arranged by the higher-ups."
"I never said your wife wasn’t good. Stop twisting my words. If you won’t fetch him, I’ll hang up and dial the army myself."
She moved to do just that when Shen Xianjun’s voice rushed through the line.
"Mom, wait. I’ll go."
Better to explain things to the commissar himself than let his mother escalate this.
"Hurry up. I’m not leaving this spot until it’s done."
Yang Yufen hung up before he could reply.
Shen Xianjun listened to the dial tone, sighed, and set the receiver down. After a salute to the operator, he went to find Political Commissar Zhao.
The brigade leader had overheard everything. Seeing Yang Yufen’s stormy expression, he tried to mediate.
"Mrs. Shen, Xianjun getting married is a happy occasion. And it was arranged by the higher-ups—nothing but the best for him. Why be upset with the boy? Everyone knows how hard you worked to raise him alone. He’s a filial son, and so accomplished. Who doesn’t envy you?"
Their brigade had only one soldier. If he rose in rank, he might lift the whole village up. Best to smooth things over.
"You said it yourself—I raised him alone, through hardship. What’s wrong with a mother speaking her mind? I’m not here to cause trouble. I just want to settle my future. I’m getting old. Can’t work like I used to."
Her words left the brigade leader speechless.
Among the women in the village around Yang Yufen's age, if anyone claimed they couldn't work anymore, people might believe them to some extent. But who was Yang Yufen? The Iron Lady! She was famous throughout their commune for her strength, which surpassed even that of most ordinary men.
Yet, Yang Yufen, a widow, had single-handedly raised her son Shen Xianjun, sent off her elderly in-laws, and even bore a child for her frail husband.
Shen Xianjun wasn’t as robust in his childhood as he was now—he fell ill constantly. Yang Yufen worked day and night, pushing herself like a man, earning full work points, and even helping others. Every good thing she brought home went to nourishing Shen Xianjun, which was how he grew up so strong.
When Yang Yufen said she’d wait, she meant it. Shen Xianjun clearly knew his mother’s temperament. After explaining the situation to his political commissar, he returned with a phone call within half an hour.
"Aunt Yang, this is Political Commissar Zhao, Comrade Shen Xianjun’s superior," Political Commissar Zhao took the phone from Shen Xianjun and spoke in a gentle tone.
"Political Commissar Zhao, there’s something I need you to bear witness to today. Since Shen Xianjun is now married, my duty toward him ends here. From now on, it’s his turn to support me in my old age. I’m getting on in years and can’t work like before."
"Of course, of course," Political Commissar Zhao glanced at Shen Xianjun, still responding kindly.
"My demand is that he gives me one-third of his monthly allowance, with the rest going to his wife—directly collected by my daughter-in-law, Qin Nian. A man’s duty is to serve on the battlefield, to achieve glory and defend the nation. Rest assured, leaders, if there’s a mission, send him right away."
Yang Yufen didn’t hesitate to "sell out" her own son—better he dedicate himself to the country than be led astray by some temptress.
"Aunt Yang, your awareness is truly commendable. On behalf of the nation and the military, I thank you. Comrade Shen Xianjun, do you agree to these terms?"
Political Commissar Zhao found Yang Yufen completely different from how Shen Xianjun had described her. This was the Iron Lady of the commune—how could she not be firm? Her ideological awareness was beyond reproach. Clearly, Shen Xianjun had overthought things.
