RIRW – Chapter 150

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The incident spread like wildfire.

Because Shen Yiming had already given Zuo Dan a heads-up, she wasn’t particularly surprised. However, the reactions from people at the school still caught her off guard.

Even the counselor came to ask Zuo Dan why she hadn’t stopped Shen Yiming.

With a serious expression, Zuo Dan told the counselor, “Although we’re husband and wife, we have independent minds.”

Moreover, she actually agreed with what Shen Yiming had done.

Knowing how history would unfold, Zuo Dan understood that Shen Yiming was simply aligning himself with the direction of historical development. It wasn’t a bad thing. Even if there would be some public backlash now, the day would come when his actions would be proven right.

Of course, for the time being, it was bound to startle some people.

So Shen Yiming was summoned by the school leadership for questioning.

Some class committee members quietly tried to comfort Zuo Dan, telling her not to worry, that it wasn’t a big deal. She simply nodded, her expression solemn.

However, others began to suggest that Zuo Dan was no longer fit to serve as branch secretary. Her husband’s thinking was problematic and went against the “Two Whatevers” policy. Naturally, they claimed, Zuo Dan was also unfit to be a branch secretary.

During the class meeting, after someone brought this up, the counselor looked at Zuo Dan with a hint of awkwardness.

“Zuo Dan, do you have any thoughts on this?”

Truthfully, the counselor admired Zuo Dan—good grades, capable, and full of potential.

Zuo Dan stood up and said, “I don’t have any objections. But I would like to make a few points. First, the Gang of Four has been overthrown. The Cultural Revolution committee has been dismantled. Respected figures from various fields are returning to their posts. So why are we, in this school, still seeing this notion that one person’s political stance implicates the whole family? I am fully willing to share weal and woe with my comrade Shen Yiming. But I cannot tolerate such mistaken thinking appearing in a progressive university student group. University students are the backbone of future national development—this kind of thinking is extremely dangerous for the country’s future!”

Several of Zuo Dan’s supporters applauded immediately, and others followed. That’s right—those days were over. Why should such thinking still exist now?

The student who had raised the objection slumped back into their seat, silenced and embarrassed.

Seeing that Zuo Dan had easily pushed back and resolved the issue perfectly, the counselor’s admiration for her only deepened.

“Alright, let’s not bring up such matters again in the future. At present, there is no official conclusion about whether Shen Yiming was right or wrong, so don’t rush to judge him. Moreover, in my personal opinion, Zuo Dan is progressive in her thinking and fully capable of continuing as branch secretary.”

After the counselor finished speaking, other students also voiced their support.

“Zuo Dan is great. We respect her.”

“She’s fair and has a positive outlook.”

Class monitor Zhao Qianjin also said, “We support Comrade Zuo Dan in continuing as our branch secretary.”

After school, Zuo Dan and Shen Yiming walked home together. Before she could even comfort him, Shen Yiming said, “Comrade Zuo Dan, don’t worry. I’m easy to take care of.”

“…So you’re planning to live off your wife now?”

In the following three days, the school held discussions about the issue surrounding Shen Yiming’s article.

However, Shen Yiming’s professors strongly defended him. They pointed out that his article wasn’t published in the school paper but in a provincial newspaper. It didn’t represent Peking University, and there was no need to politicize it.

Besides, these topics were still under discussion nationwide—it was too early to draw conclusions.

Some even supported Shen Yiming’s views. “Even if one holds a low position, they can still worry about their country.” As common citizens or even students, it’s normal to express opinions. Shen Yiming’s willingness to acknowledge and correct mistakes was not a bad thing. Even if, hypothetically, he were a government official, at most his remarks would only reflect his personal stance—not a serious offense.

Moreover, many officials had already returned to their posts—a sign that the country was gradually returning to normalcy.

After heated debate, the final result was that Shen Yiming would be restricted from publishing similar opinions again.

Zuo Dan was still worried about Shen Yiming. As soon as class ended, she ran to find him.

Shen Yiming’s class had already ended. The economics students all recognized her by now, and when they saw her arrive, they called out, “Shen Yiming, your revolutionary comrade-in-arms is here to see you!”

Laughter rang out from the classroom.

Zuo Dan stood confidently at the door, waiting. Shen Yiming, after greeting a few boys, slung his backpack over his shoulder and came out.

They exchanged a smile and walked downstairs together.

Outside, Shen Yiming wheeled his bicycle as the two of them walked and talked across campus.

“Shen Yiming, how are you so confident they won’t punish you?”

Shen Yiming grinned, “Have you investigated how many professors and school leaders were only recently reinstated?”

Zuo Dan shook her head. She hadn’t investigated, but she knew her own Professor Qin and a couple others had returned from the countryside.

“The vast majority,” Shen Yiming said with a smile. “At least a good number of them don’t want to see the problems of the past repeated. So even if they don’t support me outright, they definitely won’t punish me.”

“No wonder you were so bold! So you already had a feel for the situation. And to think my classmates were saying that if you lived in the old days, you’d definitely be a martyr.”

Zuo Dan teased him with a laugh.

Shen Yiming disagreed. “My wife is still young, and my son is still little. How could I become a martyr?”

“Get lost!” Zuo Dan laughed, then looked at her watch. “It’s still early. Let’s go visit Xiao Cong. He’s probably worried about you too. He came looking for me yesterday, but I didn’t say much.” Since the two schools were so close, news spread fast.

Zuo Cong’s school wasn’t far. When school was out, Zuo Dan often took Shen Youyou over for visits.

So she was very familiar with the campus layout.

Zuo Cong was in the physics department. Zuo Dan went to his dorm but didn’t find him. His roommates said he hadn’t returned yet—he’d gone with his professor to visit a lab.

They’d made the trip for nothing. Now, they could only wait for Zuo Cong to come find them.

The two of them got on their bicycles and were about to head back.

Just as they were nearing the school gate, a shadow flashed past them. After leaving the school grounds, Zuo Dan tugged at Shen Yiming’s sleeve. “I think I just saw Yang Wenxin.”

“He was just inside the school? That’s impossible. From our commune, only Xiao Cong got into Hua University.”

“Maybe I saw wrong?” Zuo Dan said.

Shen Yiming stopped his bicycle and turned back, but the person was already gone. “Should we go back in and check?”

Zuo Dan shook her head. “Forget it, it’s not someone important. And I probably did see wrong. Otherwise, with Xu Fengxia’s personality, the whole production team would’ve already heard about it.”

Shen Yiming wasn’t interested in other people’s business either, so he pedaled the bike and took Zuo Dan home.

Since they came back early, Grandma was just preparing a meal, and Shen Youyou was still over at the Qi family’s house playing. So the couple went together to bring the child home. After all, with both parents at home, it wouldn’t be right to keep troubling others to look after their kid.

As they reached the Qi household, they heard Guo Aijuan teaching Shen Youyou to talk. “Say, ‘Grandma Guo’.”

“Ooh ooh ooh,” Shen Youyou babbled randomly.

Zuo Dan stood at the doorway, smiling. “Auntie Guo, he’s not that smart yet.”

Seeing them arrive, Guo Aijuan stood up while holding the child. “You have to teach kids frequently. The more adults talk, the quicker they pick things up. By the way, you came back pretty early today. Everything alright at the school?”

Guo Aijuan had heard about Shen Yiming’s situation from Grandma.

Both of them shook their heads. Zuo Dan smiled. “Times have changed. It’s not that serious anymore. At most, he got a light scolding.”

“That’s good to hear,” Guo Aijuan said with a laugh.

Seeing Shen Youyou waving at his parents, Zuo Dan walked over and picked him up. Just as they were about to say goodbye to Guo Aijuan and head home, Qi Changyun came back, holding a newspaper.

When he saw Shen Yiming there, he smiled and said, “Xiao Shen, do you have some time for a chat?”

Shen Yiming smiled. “It would be my honor to receive Uncle Qi’s guidance.”

As the two men talked, Zuo Dan took the child and went home with Guo Aijuan.

As for what Qi Changyun and Shen Yiming would talk about, Zuo Dan figured it was just a discussion of their views and visions for the future.

The conversation didn’t last long. Shen Yiming returned shortly after and helped Grandma cook and serve the food.

During the family meal, Shen Yiming seemed deep in thought.

“What are you thinking about? Youyou has been staring at you for a long time,” Zuo Dan said, pointing at Shen Youyou, who was on the mat drooling.

Shen Yiming patted his little head and smiled. “Nothing much. I was just thinking about what Grandpa told us before we came to the provincial capital — ‘never forget your original intention’. Today Uncle Qi asked me what my original intention for entering politics was.”

“Hmm, I thought your intention was to let your wife and child live comfortably, eating and drinking well,” Zuo Dan teased.

Shen Yiming nodded, then shook his head. “That’s more like a personal wish as a husband and father. No matter what career I pursue, that’s my duty.”

Zuo Dan asked, “Then what is your original intention? Mine, when I chose to go into education, was to teach Shen Youyou. But after I learned more, I started to think maybe I could actually achieve something significant. Make all the youth and energy I’ve spent worth it.”

Shen Yiming said, “I used to have ideas, but they were too narrow-minded. I don’t think they count as a true ‘original intention’. I think I’ve always wanted to do something meaningful. But it wasn’t until recently, after everything that happened with my article, that I had some real clarity. I hope that whatever I want to do in the future, I’ll really act on it—not just rely on writing. I want to, within my capabilities, make everything around me develop in a better direction. Like for kids of Youyou’s generation—to make their future better…”

Grandma, who had been listening the whole time, smiled. “That’s a very good mindset, Yiming. Even if you only become a small-time clerk, you should hold on to this thinking. We can’t control others, but we can control ourselves. If we’re eating the people’s food, then we should do good work for the people. Yiming, don’t forget that.”

Shen Yiming nodded solemnly.

Meanwhile, in a heavily guarded office in the capital, a stack of newspapers sat on the desk. One was an article submitted from a southern province, advocating for redress and justice. Another was a report about that same province’s college entrance exam top scorer, with a line redacted about educated youth returning to the cities.

University life was full of new developments. Soon, no one was talking about Shen Yiming’s matter anymore. On the contrary, Zuo Dan gained authority in her class after proving herself and earning the counselor’s support. Her leadership position in the class grew stronger.

As for the students who had opposed her before, Zuo Dan openly talked to them, stating that she wouldn’t hold a grudge. These were ideological differences, and as the class’s Party branch secretary in charge of ideological guidance, she was more concerned about her classmates’ ideological well-being. Then she asked each of them to write a reflection report proving that their mindset had shifted to a more positive and healthy one.

The fact that Zuo Dan was so generous and honest actually made the students feel a bit embarrassed. They obediently wrote and submitted their reports.

Zuo Dan tucked the reports into her bag, her lips slightly curved. If these people tried to cause trouble again, these self-written reports would serve well as evidence to slap them in the face.

She didn’t hold grudges—she just believed in settling scores on the spot.

On Friday morning, there was only one class. After it ended, Zuo Dan left early. Shen Yiming still had class, so she planned to go back on her own. Just as she stepped outside the building, she saw Zuo Cong waiting downstairs. She immediately ran over in delight. “Xiaocong! What are you doing here? Have you been waiting long?”

Zuo Cong smiled. “I have your and Brother Yiming’s class schedules. I didn’t have class this morning, and I knew you only had one, so I came to see you.”

Zuo Dan knew he came to ask about Shen Yiming. Since this wasn’t a good place to talk, she tugged on his arm. “Come on, let’s talk while walking. Let’s go home for lunch together.”

On the way home, Zuo Dan told Zuo Cong about the school’s decision.

“Don’t worry. Your brother-in-law handles these things much better than you do. You just focus on studying hard and aim to become a scientist.”

Zuo Dan patted Zuo Cong on the shoulder.

Zuo Cong smiled shyly and nodded.

Behind them, someone had been secretly watching them for quite a while before finally turning and running back into the school.

At noon, just as Shen Yiming was about to ride home, a female student stopped him. Having gone through these situations before, Shen Yiming immediately sensed trouble. He ignored her and turned to head another way.

“Classmate Shen Yiming, wait! I’m in the same class as Zuo Dan.”

Hearing that, Shen Yiming stopped and turned to ask, “Classmate, what is it?”

“Classmate Shen Yiming, we were all victims during the ‘sent-down youth’ years. So regarding classmate Zuo Dan, I must tell you something.”

“What about Dandan?” Shen Yiming asked, confused.

“Today I saw her walking very intimately with a male classmate. They were behaving closely. She’s from the countryside—maybe after coming here, she couldn’t resist the temptations…”

Before she could finish, Shen Yiming’s expression turned cold. “Classmate, some things shouldn’t be said lightly!”

“I saw it with my own eyes. If you don’t believe me, you can investigate. I have no reason to lie. I’m only helping you because I know you were also a sent-down youth once and were manipulated. That’s why I’m helping you.”

“Who said I was being manipulated?” Shen Yiming frowned, his voice cold. “I don’t want to hear any more of this. I despise this kind of rumor-mongering! And I advise you to stop slandering Dandan. Words have consequences!”

With that, he got on his bicycle and rode away.