"Actually, it would be good for you to remarry someone else."
Grandpa Pei's words echoed in the quiet living room.
Pei Zhengnian, who had initially been displeased, seemed to think of something. His tightly clenched hands loosened, then tightened again, before finally dropping weakly to his sides.
Grandma Pei glanced at Pei Zhengnian before shifting her gaze to Shen Nanchu.
"Child, your grandpa and I have found you an apartment near the cultural troupe. In a couple of days, I’ll have Zhengnian help you move there."
Shen Nanchu fell silent.
Judging by Grandpa Pei and Grandma Pei’s demeanor, the Pei family’s downfall was imminent—a matter of days.
The storm was coming.
The Pei family’s exile was already set in stone, irreversible.
But fortunately, without the Lei family’s schemes this time, things might be slightly better for them.
As for her, leaving the Pei household now was undoubtedly the best arrangement.
Shen Nanchu didn’t hesitate.
"Alright."
Pei's Mother looked at Shen Nanchu in surprise.
She hadn’t expected Shen Nanchu to agree so readily.
She’d thought she might put on an act first.
Father Pei, Grandpa Pei, and Grandma Pei shared the same thought.
Especially Grandma Pei.
She had always believed Shen Nanchu wasn’t this kind of person.
Had she misjudged her?
Shen Nanchu sat quietly, enduring the scrutinizing gazes of the Pei family.
But after waiting for a long time, she received no "dislike points."
"System, did you go offline?"
"Host, this system is the latest model. It doesn’t make such low-level mistakes as going offline."
So, the Pei family didn’t dislike her after all.
This earned them a bit of respect from Shen Nanchu.
As expected of the male lead’s family—their character was truly exceptional.
......
The next day.
Shen Nanchu woke up early and left the house immediately.
To avoid complications, she planned to withdraw all the money from her bank accounts.
"Host, would you like a disguise service?"
"For just ten dislike points, you can get a disguise so convincing even your parents wouldn’t recognize you!"
"Ten dislike points? That’s daylight robbery! No thanks."
Self-reliance was the way to go.
On her way downstairs, Shen Nanchu passed Pei Yunzhou’s room and casually took a set of his clothes and a cap.
She also smeared some soot from Auntie Tian’s kitchen stove on her face.
After some quick adjustments, the system witnessed a miracle firsthand.
The young man standing before it was someone even Shen Nanchu’s own parents wouldn’t recognize.
Shen Nanchu swaggered through every bank in Beijing, withdrawing a thousand here, two thousand there.
By breaking the sum into smaller amounts, she quietly emptied all her accounts and stashed the money in the system’s storage space.
Nothing beat the thrill of silently amassing wealth!
After rounding off, the total came to a staggering 58,800 yuan.
In the 1970s, this was an enormous fortune.
Not to mention the stash of gold bars—both large and small—she had hidden away.
With this much money, no matter which remote village she ended up in, she’d live like royalty.
Ideally, she’d find a place far away, with a greedy village chief who’d let her claim a mountain, build a villa, raise endless chickens, and drink tea brewed from spring water…
A dream life!
Her excitement was so overwhelming that she barely slept, finally dozing off near dawn.
The next morning.
Before Shen Nanchu could fully wake up, urgent knocking sounded at her door.
"Shen Nanchu, get up now!"
Pei Zhengnian’s voice was frantic.
The moment she opened the door, he barged in.
"Hurry, pack your things. I’m taking you away."
Shen Nanchu’s brain was still booting up, leaving her dazed.
Pei Zhengnian didn’t have time to explain.
He flung open the wardrobe, his face flushing as he stuffed all of Shen Nanchu’s clothes into a suitcase.
"Where’s your money, ration coupons, and bankbooks?"
"I already moved them somewhere else."
Without another word, Pei Zhengnian draped a long coat over Shen Nanchu and dragged her downstairs.
By the time they sprinted out of the military compound, they saw rows of military trucks and police cars driving in, followed by a crowd of red-armband enforcers.
Pei Zhengnian’s grip on Shen Nanchu’s hand tightened.
Finally, Shen Nanchu’s brain caught up.
So today was the day the Pei family would be convicted and arrested.
With such a lively, crowded scene, Shen Nanchu couldn’t help but feel a thrill.
"I can only take you this far."
Pei Zhengnian pulled a thick envelope from his coat and pressed it into Shen Nanchu’s hands.
"The apartment is at 206 East Third Alley, behind the cultural troupe. Here’s the deed—keep it safe."
"There’s also 500 yuan in cash inside. Spend it wisely."
After giving his instructions, Pei Zhengnian turned and ran back toward the compound.
Shen Nanchu was left standing alone at the street corner with her suitcase.
When no one was looking, she stashed the suitcase into her system’s storage space.
Then, she walked to the guard post and borrowed the phone to dial a special number.
After the call, she retraced her steps back toward the compound.
By now, the Pei residence was surrounded—three layers deep—by armed soldiers.
Inside the living room,
Grandpa Pei and Grandma Pei sat rigidly on the sofa, their expressions grave.
Pei's Mother stood nearby, her eyes red-rimmed.
Pei Yunxi and Pei Yunzhou clung to her, their faces filled with fear.
Pei Zhengnian stood at the forefront, shielding the entire family.
Father Pei was absent—he hadn’t returned the night before, already detained.
"Commissar Sun, my father is innocent."
Even though he’d mentally prepared himself, Pei Zhengnian’s heart ached unbearably when the moment arrived.
Sun Younian’s eyes flickered with sympathy.
"Zhengnian, the higher-ups already have evidence."
"This is just procedure."
It was the only way to protect the Pei family.
Sun Younian was miserable, but what could he do?
Lei Zhenhua had long held a grudge against the Pei family, and now he finally had his chance.
"Enough talk! We’re acting on orders from the leadership."
"Who dares interfere?"
Lei Zhenhua waved his hand, and the red-armband enforcers surged forward, ready to ransack the house.
"I’d like to see who dares!"
Grandpa Pei’s cane struck the floor with a resounding crack.
The enforcers froze, glancing uncertainly at Lei Zhenhua.
The old man was ruining his plans.
Lei Zhenhua’s expression darkened.
"Grandpa Pei, are you openly defying the leadership’s orders?"
"It seems your ideological stance is severely compromised!"
"I’ll report this to the higher-ups in full."
Sun Younian had come today precisely to prevent things from escalating.
He shot Pei Zhengnian a pleading look, hoping the young man would restrain Grandpa Pei.
But Pei Zhengnian ignored him.
This was giving Sun Younian a headache.
Just as he was fretting like an ant on a hot pan—
Clap—
Clap clap clap—
A slow round of applause came from the hallway.
"Bravo!"
"With a silver tongue like that, why not write fiction?"
"Should I introduce you to a publisher?"
"Though they might prefer a book titled 100 Ways for a Slanderer to Die."
……
