Chapter 124: The Incident
Duyan Commune, First Production Brigade.
When Qin Fen and his wife returned to the brigade, the second bell for going to work had just rung, showing how early the couple had gotten up.
Although their bodies were inevitably somewhat tired, their spirits were visibly full of vigor.
“Father and Mother, you’re back? Where’s Xiao Lian?”
Qin Haiyang, who was just preparing to go to work with his own wife and two younger brothers, saw his approaching parents and immediately felt much relieved from the worry that had kept him up all night.
But after looking around, he still didn’t see his little sister’s figure, so the smile on his face disappeared before it could bloom. “Xiao Lian didn’t come back with you?”
The three Qin brothers were close in age, but as the eldest brother, he was nearly ten years older than the youngest little sister.
He had basically raised all the younger siblings himself, so he felt even more self-blame for his sister’s burns than his parents did.
He blamed himself for not watching his little sister that night, for insisting on squeezing into the excitement, for unconsciously letting go of her hand…
That guilt and self-blame completely changed the cheerful and lively Qin Haiyang’s personality. The boy, only in his early teens, forced himself to become mature and steady.
Over these years, the three brothers had gotten into countless fights because of their sister. Even when getting married and finding a wife, Qin Haiyang’s first requirement was to find someone who truly cared for his sister.
Girls from other families had to help with work as soon as they could walk, and when a bit older, they had to pull pig grass to earn work points, wash clothes, and do housework.
But not in the Qin family. No one from top to bottom wanted Xiao Lian to touch any work inside or outside the home; everyone held her in the palm of their hearts.
“Yeah, Dad, where’s Xiao Lian? Didn’t you say there’s some scar removal secret medicine? Is it effective?”
Qin Haitian’s mind was the sharpest; his eyes darted around before he suddenly followed excitedly behind his two brothers and asked, “Is it effective? So Xiao Lian stayed there for treatment?!”
“Yes.”
Seeing the eyes of his sons and daughters-in-law all filled with hidden expectation, Qin Fen unusually didn’t keep a straight face. He smiled and nodded vigorously. “Xiao Su’s ancestral ointment has miraculous effects for scar removal. This time, our Xiao Lian has truly met a benefactor and is saved!”
“Is this real, Dad?”
“That’s great, really great!”
“Father and Mother, have you seen the medicine’s effects with your own eyes? Did that Xiao Su say how long the treatment would take? Can our little sister’s whole body be cured?”
“Since that ointment is effective, we have to treat it. How much will the treatment cost?”
Hearing his words, the brothers were all excited and spoke up all at once, their voices unconsciously rising like a pot exploding.
Old Mrs. Qin, who had slowly hobbled to the door on her cane upon hearing the commotion and heard the whole conversation, couldn’t help but weep with joy.
Her cane banged on the ground. “Treat it! No matter how much it costs, we’ll treat it! This old woman has money!”
“Mom, what are you saying? How can we let you use your coffin money…”
“You know nothing!”
Old Mrs. Qin had a fierce look in her eyes and brows. In her youth, she had gone to battle with her short-lived old man and killed little Japanese. Even now, old and with inconvenient legs and feet, it couldn’t hide her imposing presence different from other old women in the village.
“This old lady isn’t dead yet, so why talk about coffin money? Even if I die without it, what, you gonna just roll me up in a broken mat and bury me casually?”
He said that? Was that what he meant?
Qin Fen looked at his old mother with a wry smile, full of helplessness but not daring to retort easily again.
If he really upset her this time, wouldn’t he be the one heartbroken?
“No discussion on this. Listen to me. As long as it can cure Xiao Lian, I’ll pay no matter how much!”
Over these years, she had saved all the retirement money her sons and daughters gave her well. If that wasn’t enough, there were the small gold bars her old man left her.
How could mere material things compare to her little grandchildren’s lifelong happiness?
After saying that, Old Mrs. Qin turned and headed to her room, her fierce momentum making those in the know think she was going to dig up her savings, while others might think she was going to grab a weapon for a fight.
Shocked again, the father and sons stood motionless in place.
……
Gu City, Old Huang’s house.
Having made up her mind, Huang Mingzhu, with her family’s support and encouragement, quickly cut ties with Yan Bin, got divorced, and even came forward to report and testify, dealing him a heavy blow.
By the day of the final verdict, everyone involved was rounded up and severely punished, with the ringleaders all executed.
She had just had a big fight with her devastated former mother-in-law Liu Jinhua. Even covered in dishevelment and bloody paw marks everywhere, it didn’t diminish Huang Mingzhu’s good mood at all.
She was finally free in both body and mind…
“Zhuzhu, you fool! That shrew Liu Jinhua was beating you—couldn’t you run if you couldn’t beat her? Look at your face, your neck… damn shameless old hag!”
“Mom, I also yanked out her hair bald; I didn’t lose out.”
“I told you not to go, but you insisted. What’s so good about watching executions? It’s creepy, and you got beaten for nothing. I really don’t know what to say to you!”
“Alright, alright, old woman, stop your nagging. With that time, Zhuzhu’s medicine would’ve been applied earlier!”
“Hey, you old man…”
“Bang bang bang!”
“Bang bang~ Uncle, Auntie at home? Zongbao bro, Mingzhu sis? Anyone home?”
Urgent knocking came from the gate, and the three in the main hall stopped talking.
Huang Daneng stood up and glanced at his wife and daughter. “Sounds like Yangzi from Old An’s next door. I’ll go see what’s up.”
“Dad, let me go instead.”
Seeing him wave it off and keep walking, Huang Mingzhu pressed her twitching eyelid, suddenly having a bad premonition. “Mom, I’ll go with him!”
After knocking until his hands were red, the gate finally opened. An Yang didn’t care about anything and blurted it out.
“Uncle Neng, bad news! Something happened to your Tian Tian. Hurry to North Zhengfu Street and check!”
“What? Tian Tian’s in trouble? What happened?”
North Zhengfu Street—Tang family isn’t there. What was Tang Tian doing there?
Huang Daneng was baffled and momentarily stunned. “Yangzi, explain clearly what happened!”
“Basically, Tian Tian… cough, got caught in the act fooling around in a male-female relationship, making too much noise… cough. Heard a bunch of Little Red Guards caught them and are parading them with signs!”
“What?!”
“What did you say… Dad!” “Uncle Neng!”
Huang Daneng felt the world spinning, head heavy and feet light, about to faint, but luckily the two supported him in time, one in front and one behind.
“Yangzi bro, is the news reliable? It’s definitely our Tian Tian?”
While soothing her furious old dad, Huang Mingzhu looked up at An Yang, her words full of disbelief. “How could Tian Tian do such a thing!”
Though she had just had an unpleasant fight with her niece, years of genuine love weren’t fake.
In her eyes and heart, Tian Tian was still that delicate and cute little girl. How could she do something like this?
“That Zhengfu Street is near several factories. You know my eldest is at the canned food factory. He got the message back…”
An Yang’s eldest son was clever and reliable, with good character known to all the neighbors. Everyone knew he was filial, enthusiastic, and steady. If it was his message, it was almost certainly true.
Huang Daneng, who had bitten his own hand hard and caught his breath, pushed away the supporting hand and turned to those behind him. “Zhuzhu, go call your eldest brother over quick!”
“Okay, then big sis-in-law…”
“Why mention that family that doesn’t care for their kids! I’ll go first and check. You all hurry over!”
“Uncle Neng, let Mingzhu go with you. I’ll notify Zongbao bro!”
Not only was Huang Mingzhu worried, but seeing the old man still trembling slightly despite trying to stay composed, An Yang was also very worried.
“Then, trouble Yangzi bro to make another trip. Thank you!”
“Hey, after so many years as old neighbors—I grew up with your brother, no need for that politeness. Uncle Neng, I’m off!”
Nodding gratefully to him, and seeing An Yang turn and leave without another word, Huang Daneng gripped his daughter’s outstretched hand. “Zhuzhu, let’s go too.”
“Okay, Dad, let me tell Mom first…”
“I heard it all. We’ll go together.”
……
North Zhengfu Street.
“What did you say? You want me to marry that ugly, poor toad? Am I even your real daughter!”
Tang Tian, clutching her left cheek, was agitated. With her other hand pointing at her dad, her scream was so loud it cracked.
