RIRW – Chapter 116

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When she saw the Li family’s shabby cowshed-turned-house, Su Xue was extremely reluctant to go in. She was worried someone might see her, and truthfully, she really didn’t want to face the Li family.

She had memories from when the Li family’s troubles began. In her mind, her grandparents and father had always been respectable and dignified. Seeing them reduced to being worse off than ordinary peasants was deeply humiliating to her. The mere thought of being related to them made her feel unbearable shame.

Although she had lived under someone else’s roof for years, her life hadn’t been bad. Her stepfather, though previously married, had no children of his own and worked at a slaughterhouse, so their home always had meat. Even so, she had always looked down on him—let alone these people, who were even worse than him.

They had a bad political background and were in an awkward position. No matter how you framed it, she had no desire to acknowledge them as family. As for affection? That was entirely out of the question. Just like her mother always said: “If you cling to sentiment, you’ll end up herding sheep in some remote Tibetan village. People should think about themselves—do whatever it takes to live well, and never let your heart soften.”

But now she had no choice. Life here was too hard for her. The food at the labor farm was all coarse grains—and not enough to eat, either. The work was exhausting, and rest was barely allowed. It was even tougher than life back in Shanwo Tun.

After hesitating outside for a while, she finally slipped into the Li house.

Old Liu from next door was puffing on his dry tobacco pipe. Watching Su Xue stand outside hesitating, full of disdain and inner conflict, then finally march in like someone steeling themselves for battle, he couldn’t help but laugh. He used to envy the Li family for having such a good granddaughter, someone who’d still fulfill her filial duty even in tough times. But now, seeing this, he didn’t feel envious anymore.

As soon as Su Xue entered the house, the Li family all looked at her in surprise.

This child had never willingly come to visit before. Even the last time she’d come to find them, it was in secret after the workday ended—making sure no one saw her.

Seeing Su Xue, Li Wenchang felt a pang of guilt. Because his parents disapproved, he hadn’t helped her with her work today, nor brought her any food. He felt like he’d failed as a father.

“I—I didn’t see you today, and I got worried something happened, so I came to check on you,” Su Xue said, her eyes red, voice tinged with grievance.

Grandmother Li already knew what Su Xue had done in Zuo Village and Shanwo Village. Now, seeing how she had their son helping her with labor again here, she understood Su Xue’s real motive. She wasn’t here out of concern—she was here to question why no one was helping her anymore.

The more she understood, the more bitter Grandmother Li felt. How had their family raised a child like this?

Before either of the elders could speak, Li Wenchang quickly said, “It’s nothing—just had something come up this afternoon and got delayed. You haven’t eaten, right? Stay and have dinner with us.”

“If someone sees her, won’t that be bad?” Grandmother Li said. “What if word gets out?”

She looked straight at Su Xue as she said this.

Su Xue hadn’t expected the grandmother who had shown her some kindness before to suddenly be this cold. She pursed her lips. “I’m not afraid. I came here to be with you, after all.” Anyway, it’s not like they’d really go out and expose her identity themselves.

Both Grandmother Li and the old man’s expressions turned ugly when they heard this. Even now, this girl didn’t know how to reflect on her actions?

Grandfather Li said nothing, but Grandmother Li responded bluntly, “We know exactly why you’re really here at the labor farm. You think we don’t? Su Xue, a person should value honesty. How could you lie even to your own family?”

Su Xue’s expression changed immediately with those words.

Li Wenchang, unwilling to accept it, said, “Mom, Dad, that might not be the whole story. We shouldn’t jump to conclusions just based on what Dandan said.”

“Fine then. Tomorrow I’ll go to the farm office and ask. There must be records. If it turns out to be true, then what will you say?” Grandmother Li replied calmly.

Between Su Xue and Zuo Dan, she trusted Zuo Dan without a doubt.

When Su Xue realized it was Zuo Dan who had reported her, she could barely contain her rage. “You’d rather believe an outsider than your own granddaughter? I’m the real granddaughter of the Li family!”

That last sentence came out in a low voice, clearly afraid of being overheard.

Seeing how careful she was, Grandfather Li and Grandmother Li were all the more disappointed.

Grandmother Li sighed. “Can you swear you didn’t do those things? If you weren’t afraid, why wouldn’t you acknowledge us in public? Right now, in front of me and your father, dare you swear that you truly didn’t do it? If you swear, and I ask the director tomorrow and there’s no such thing, I’ll apologize to you myself. But if it’s true—how will you face us? How will you face your father, who has done everything to care for and think of you?”

Su Xue clenched her fists and bit her lip. Why wouldn’t Zuo Dan just let her go? Even here at the farm, she was still causing trouble for her.

Li Wenchang worriedly said, “Xiao Xue, just tell Grandma the truth—you didn’t do those things. If Dandan really framed you, I’ll have her mother teach her a lesson next time.”

“Wenchang, how can you say something like that? Do you have no conscience?” Grandfather Li said angrily.

“Dad, she’s my daughter—my only daughter,” Li Wenchang said, clearly agitated.

Hearing this, Su Xue broke down in tears. “You still remember I’m your daughter? All these years, no one cared about me—not even you! Now you’re blaming me? Where were you when I was suffering? I was all alone in Shanwo Tun, working every day with no family and no support. I had no choice but to do those things. If you had been with me, I wouldn’t have ended up like this…”

Hearing Su Xue’s words, Li Wenchang’s eyes also turned red with guilt.

Grandmother Li shook her head and said, “That still doesn’t justify deceiving others. You didn’t just lie to others—you lied to us too. Don’t you feel the slightest bit guilty? Yes, you’ve suffered over the years, but your father and we haven’t had it easy either. It’s not that we didn’t want you—we had no choice. Your father divorced your mother back then for your own good. How could you lie to us like this? Lying to your father and to us—don’t you feel even a shred of remorse? If Dandan hadn’t told us, we’d still be completely in the dark.”

“Dandan, Dandan—you only ever talk about her. In the end, you’re just biased!” Su Xue turned to Li Wenchang. “Only my dad truly cares about me. If you don’t want to acknowledge me, then I’ll just recognize my dad alone. Anyway, I’m just a child nobody wants.”

Li Wenchang’s heart ached, and his eyes reddened. “Xiao Xue, Dad will never abandon you.”

Then he turned to his parents and said, “Dad, Mom, please stop. No matter how good Dandan is, she’s not your biological granddaughter. Xiao Xue is your real granddaughter.”

Grandfather Li and Grandmother Li, already upset from being talked back to by Su Xue, were even more enraged after hearing Li Wenchang’s ungrateful words.

Grandfather Li slammed the table and shouted angrily, “Fine! Since you, Li Wenchang, say such things, from now on, don’t eat a single grain of the food Xiao Hui brings! After all, that’s all from the Zuo family!”

Then he added, “Ask your conscience—how much of Xiao Hui’s food have you eaten? And now you treat her like an outsider? You’re truly an ungrateful man!”

Ashamed and angry, Li Wenchang replied, “Fine! I won’t eat any of her food from now on. I’ll support Xiao Xue myself.”

Seeing that her son still didn’t repent and was even talking back, Grandfather Li clutched at his chest in anger. Grandmother Li quickly tried to calm him down, “Old Li, don’t work yourself up. If you get sick again, it’ll be Xiao Hui who has to worry about us.”

Only then did Grandfather Li manage to catch his breath. Clutching his chest, he said to Grandmother Li, “Don’t give him a single grain, not one. We can’t waste Xiao Hui’s kindness.”

“Alright, not a single grain,” Grandmother Li echoed quickly, both angry and worried that her husband might really get sick.

Li Wenchang, seeing how heartless his parents were, left with Su Xue. Outside, he said, “You go back first. I’ll cook some food and bring it to you later. Don’t worry—Dad will take care of you.”

Su Xue nodded tearfully. As for the two elders of the Li family, she didn’t care at all. They were old anyway and couldn’t take care of her, plus they were biased. She had no use for such grandparents.

After Su Xue left, Li Wenchang went to prepare her meal. But when he opened the grain bag at home, he realized all the food inside was from Li Hui.

Seeing him rummage through the grain, Grandmother Li went to the back of the stove and pulled out a burlap sack. “This is the grain the farm distributed to us. Your share is in here too.”

Li Wenchang quickly and awkwardly took it. When he opened it, he found it was full of sorghum mixed with wheat bran.

Normally, Li Wenchang didn’t think much of it—after all, every meal usually had some fine grain from Li Hui to mix in, so it wasn’t too bad.

But now, with only this coarse sorghum and no fine grain at all, it felt hard to swallow. He looked at the smoked meat porridge on the stove and then at his parents silently eating it, and couldn’t bring himself to ask for any. He could only start a fire and begin cooking for himself.

Grandfather Li and Grandmother Li didn’t care about him. After finishing their meal, they cleaned up their own dishes. Watching Li Wenchang leave with a bowl of sorghum rice, Grandmother Li let out a long sigh. “How did Wenchang end up like this? It’s because of how he spoils Su Xue that she turned out this way, never learning to repent.”

Grandfather Li snorted coldly, “Just ignore them. It’s because Xiao Hui’s been too good to him all these years that he takes it all for granted. Now he even treats Dandan like an outsider. If we let him eat Xiao Hui’s food, we’d be doing her wrong.”

Thinking of their daughter, Grandmother Li also nodded. They owed her so much over the years.

Meanwhile, Li Wenchang brought the bowl of sorghum rice directly to Su Xue’s place. Su Xue had been waiting outside. When she saw him, she immediately stood up.

Li Wenchang handed her the bowl. “Hurry and eat.”

Su Xue was about to take it when she saw the sorghum rice in the bowl and frowned. “Just this…?”

“Yes, the farm only distributes this stuff. We don’t usually get any fine grains. Even the ones at home were brought by your aunt…” Li Wenchang trailed off awkwardly.

Su Xue protested, “Just because she brought them, you can’t eat them anymore?”

Li Wenchang shifted uncomfortably, “You know I just argued with your grandparents. I said I wouldn’t eat it, so I can’t shamelessly go back on my word. Don’t worry, just make do for now. Once your grandparents calm down in a few days, I’ll make you some smoked meat porridge.”

Su Xue hesitated, then took the bowl and started eating. She was hungry, so she didn’t care about the taste at first and just shoved it into her mouth.

But after a few bites, she found it hard to eat. She forced herself to chew and swallow, but in her heart, she blamed the Li family for being too heartless. She also regretted confronting them so directly before. She had thought it would be enough just to get her father’s support, but who would’ve thought he couldn’t even get her a decent meal?

Li Wenchang thought things would be better once his parents calmed down. But the next morning, Grandmother Li only cooked for herself and Grandfather Li, and after they finished eating, she headed straight off to work.

Seeing the clean, empty bottom of the pot, Li Wenchang’s face turned ugly.

At this moment, Zuo Dan and Shen Yiming were already on the bus heading to the county town. From there, they’d transfer to another vehicle back to the provincial capital.

As soon as they got on the bus, Zuo Dan leaned against Shen Yiming and fell into a deep sleep. Before dozing off, she even sneakily pinched his waist.

This little rascal didn’t keep his word. He promised to just cuddle her to sleep, yet he ended up seducing her… She barely slept the whole night because of him, so now she could only catch up on sleep during the ride. She never expected that someone like Shen Yiming, who looked like a gentle scholar, would have such stamina.

She slept all the way back to the provincial capital without even feeling carsick. By the time they got into Song Gang’s car and arrived home, she was fully rested.

Song Gang, who was about to get married and become a groom, was all smiles from the joy of the upcoming celebration. “Hey, sister-in-law, now that you’re back, don’t leave again. Every time I see how much Yiming misses you, it makes my heart ache.”

Zuo Dan yawned and leaned her head on Shen Yiming’s shoulder. “Mhm, I’m planning to stay longer this time.” After all, there wasn’t much to do back in the village, and it was good to spend some time with her grandma.

“Hehe, that’s great.” Song Gang grinned, then suggested to Shen Yiming, “Why don’t you find her a job? With your capabilities, even if you can’t get her a permanent position, a temp job should be easy.”

Shen Yiming smiled at Zuo Dan leaning on him. “No need. It’s enough for her to keep Grandma company at home. I can afford to support her.”

Hearing that, Song Gang felt a pang in his jaw. In times like these, how many men dared to say they could afford to support a wife—especially a wife with a rural household registration who didn’t get grain rations?

But then again, thinking about Shen Yiming’s salary—nearly a hundred yuan a month—he let it go.

When they got home, it was already quite late. Song Gang didn’t go inside and just drove off.

Grandma beamed with joy when she saw Zuo Dan. She just loved seeing her granddaughter-in-law. Just looking at her made her happy.

After quickly finishing dinner and washing up, it was already past ten at night. Just as Zuo Dan was about to go to bed, Shen Yiming came in again.

Before she could chase him out, he spoke seriously, “Those documents Liu Lili brought— I think we should go through them together.”

As soon as she heard that, Zuo Dan dove under the covers, “Hurry, hurry, I want to see. I want to know what happened with my grandma’s family.” Shen Yiming smiled as he watched her familiar movements. In that moment, it felt as if they’d already lived together for many years.

He bent down, pulled out a wooden box from under the bed, opened it, and took out a stack of documents from inside.

Zuo Dan immediately perked up, grabbed the papers, and began reading.

Shen Yiming sat beside her and read along.

Halfway through, Zuo Dan’s eyes were red with anger. She flipped further and saw the documents relating to the Li family.

“I really didn’t expect Li Jianghai had such a grudge against my grandparents. He framed his own teacher just for the sake of his career—betraying his teacher for personal gain.”

Shen Yiming said, “That’s not all. He also targeted some of his classmates’ families. As long as he could find an excuse, he didn’t let anyone off. Otherwise, he couldn’t have climbed to his current position.”

Zuo Dan nodded. For Li Jianghai to reach that position, he must have harmed a lot of people.

Someone like that must not be allowed to escape unscathed after the political movement ends.

“Shen Yiming, what do you plan to do with these documents later?”

“When the time comes, we’ll find the right opportunity and have someone else submit them. We shouldn’t get directly involved. We’re still young—there are some lines we can’t cross.”

Zuo Dan understood immediately. Young people could be passionate, but they couldn’t show too much cunning. If Shen Yiming presented these documents himself, even if it succeeded in taking down Li Jianghai, people would wonder how he got them. It would create a sense of distance in future dealings.

She thought for a moment. “Then let Liu Lili submit them. After all, she used to follow Li Jianghai. If he goes down, she’ll be implicated too. Since she’s the one who got the documents, let her have the credit. And she’ll owe you a favor in return.”

Shen Yiming pulled her into a tight hug and kissed her. “Comrade Zuo Dan, you truly are my best comrade-in-arms.”

Zuo Dan smiled proudly, but then felt something was off. Seeing the gleam in Shen Yiming’s eyes, she quickly ducked under the covers. “Comrade Yiming, now that we’ve finished our discussion, please return to your room and go to sleep.”

“Mhm, it’s time to sleep indeed.”

Shen Yiming tidied up the documents, locked them back in the box, walked to the door, and gave the cord a tug—the light turned off.

Zuo Dan thought he had left and was just about to breathe a sigh of relief when she suddenly felt someone slipping under the covers.

“Shen Yiming, what are you doing?”

“Sleeping, of course.”

“Why are you sleeping here? Go back to your own room!” Zuo Dan pushed at him with her feet in disgust. She had suffered enough the night before—there was no way she was going to let Shen Yiming get his way again.

Shen Yiming grabbed her foot and gave it a kiss. Zuo Dan immediately shivered.

…

“Shen Yiming, do you think I’ll get pregnant? I don’t want to have a baby so soon.”

“Hmm… probably not. The book says that as long as I don’t plant the seed in your belly, you won’t have a baby.”

“Shen Yiming, you’ve been reading dirty books again!”

“…What are dirty books?”

“Ugh… books without any shame!”

“Oh, but mine is a proper textbook on the male and female anatomy.”

For him to call such a shameless book a “scientific textbook,” Zuo Dan could only marvel at how thick-skinned Shen Yiming was.

After staying in the provincial capital for three or four days, it was finally May 1st.

Song Gang was getting married, and the entire Shen family turned out for the occasion. Even Grandma, who rarely left the house, went to the wedding banquet in person. The Song family lived locally, in a large courtyard. Although several families lived there, it was spacious and didn’t feel crowded.

The banquet was set up right in the courtyard.

Grandma chatted with Song Gang’s grandmother, Shen Yiming was outside helping Song Gang entertain guests, while Zuo Dan was assigned to the bride’s room to chat with Song Gang’s wife.

Song Gang’s bride was named Niu Lili. She worked at the textile factory. Despite her bold-sounding name, she had a very gentle personality, speaking softly and delicately. Compared to her, Zuo Dan felt like a roaring lioness from the East River.

Knowing how close Song Gang and Shen Yiming were, Niu Lili was more than happy to get along with Zuo Dan.

After chatting for a while, Niu Lili asked, “Have you got your wedding outfit ready? Mine was brought back by a long-distance truck driver from Song Gang’s workplace. We only get married once—Song Gang said he didn’t want me to feel shortchanged. If you want, you can ask him to bring you one too. Don’t settle for less.”

Zuo Dan looked at her outfit. It was made of Terylene, bright red in color. Considering most people were still wearing military uniforms for weddings during this time, her outfit definitely counted as fashionable.

Now Zuo Dan was also thinking about what she’d wear for her wedding. When they got married, the political situation in the country hadn’t fully stabilized yet. It was unlikely she’d be able to wear a wedding dress or a traditional longfenggua. Even a qipao seemed out of reach.

So she sighed slightly, “I’ll ask Shen Yiming about it later.”

After the meal, Song Gang arranged for a friend to drive Grandma home so she could rest. Shen Yiming and Zuo Dan stayed behind to take part in the evening bridal chamber games.

These games were much more civilized nowadays. The most risqué thing was hanging an apple between the couple and making them kiss while trying to bite it— even that was considered a bit wild.

Shen Yiming and Zuo Dan didn’t join in much. They just stood in the crowd watching the newlyweds enjoy their big moment.

When the bride and groom kissed, Shen Yiming covered Zuo Dan’s eyes. She struggled to pry his hand away, trying to get a look.

So Shen Yiming simply dragged her outside.

“Why won’t you let me watch? Everyone else is watching,” Zuo Dan complained.

“No watching,” Shen Yiming said firmly.

Zuo Dan pouted and started walking off, ready to go home. The wedding was over, and the bridal games were winding down. Song Gang probably wouldn’t notice if they left.

Shen Yiming caught up to her and took her hand. “If you want to watch, I’ll kiss you in front of the big mirror at home. You can watch all you want.”

Zuo Dan blushed immediately. “I’m not that desperate to watch!”

Seeing her like that, Shen Yiming couldn’t help but chuckle. Noticing the walk home was still long, he crouched down, “Hop on, I’ll carry you.”

“Really?” Zuo Dan smiled and jumped on his back. In the quiet of the night, the two of them didn’t feel lonely at all.

Lying on his back, Zuo Dan asked, “Shen Yiming, should we have a wedding like this too?”

Shen Yiming smiled. “How do you want to do it?”

“Well, we probably can only do it like this. Still, it feels a bit regretful—after all, you only get married once in a lifetime. I’d really like to wear something pretty. Those old-fashioned longfenggua were so beautiful… I heard foreigners even have white wedding dresses… Ah, forget it. Let’s wait until our golden anniversary, fifty years from now. We’ll have our kids throw us another wedding, and we’ll dress up real nice and do it all over again.”

“Okay…”