Chapter 158: Chapter 158: Coercion Fails

Over the years, Zhong Luoning’s dowry had been completely sold off, the money all going into the Xu family’s pockets.

Her own private savings had mostly gone toward treating Youran’s illness, and sometimes she even had to help cover household expenses—so there wasn’t much left.

Gu Qinghuan’s words warmed Zhong Luoning’s heart. How had she, in this lifetime, deserved such a good family?

Father Xu, enraged and humiliated, snapped, “This isn’t your place to speak! Zhong Luoning, you and Xu Jianguo aren’t even officially divorced yet! You refuse to sign the letter of forgiveness, is that it? Fine! Youran is our family’s granddaughter. Today, I must take her with me!”

With that, Father Xu reached out to grab Youran.

He knew how to hit someone where it hurt—Youran was Zhong Luoning’s weak spot.

Father Xu’s words made Zhong Luoning explode.

Suddenly, she pulled a small knife from her pocket and pointed it at Father Xu, nearly stabbing his arm.

“Don’t push me! Don’t push me! I don’t want to do this, but the child is mine. If you won’t back off, then we’ll all die together! At least death would be clean!” She was long sick of living in such pain.

After being bullied again and again, she’d come down today ready to fight to the bitter end, secretly hiding this knife.

If this couple insisted on forcing her, then fine—let’s all die together. Living now, she was no better than mud on the ground anyway.

Father and Mother Xu were startled by her outburst, immediately letting go of Youran and backing up several steps. They hadn’t expected Zhong Luoning to go this crazy, mainly underestimating how much Xu Youran meant to her.

“Don’t do anything rash! We won’t touch her, alright?” Father Xu valued his own life.

“Jie, calm down. I won’t let them take Youran. Just put the knife down,” Gu Qinghuan said softly, trying to soothe her while reaching for the knife.

Zhong Luoning was especially agitated today. The physical and emotional torment of the past days had left her barely able to breathe.

“Huanhuan, don’t come over! I’m afraid I’ll lose control and hurt you!” she cried, her voice choked with tears.

“I won’t come closer. Just calm down! Think of the child—don’t do anything foolish.”

Zhong Luoning glared at Father Xu. “I will never agree to save him. You heartless, shameless people—heaven must be blind! Even if I die, I’ll take you down with me!”

Father and Mother Xu were clearly frightened, their legs trembling.

“Luoning, have you forgotten how well we treated you when you first married in?

We cherished you like family! Jianguo just lost his way for a moment—can’t you be the bigger person and forgive him, just this once?

I’ll kneel to you!

If you’re still angry, take it out on me—hit me, stab me, whatever you want! I beg you, please save Jianguo. He’s my only son. Don’t make me bury my child!

If Jianguo dies, I won’t live either! I might as well die now!”

Mother Xu knelt on the ground, slapping herself twice as she spoke, and then even tried to bang her head against the wall, only to be stopped by Father Xu.

She was playing the emotional card, crying and pleading, looking utterly pitiful.

Yesterday, the couple had gone to see their son. He’d been publicly denounced and beaten badly, along with the woman he’d had an affair with. Both were covered in bruises, and someone had even thrown broken glass at them. Jianguo was covered in small cuts, his feet full of glass shards and still bleeding.

How could they possibly feel at ease sending him off to labor reform? He’d never survive.

Their son had knelt before them, sobbing and begging them to make Zhong Luo sign the letter of forgiveness, which was why they’d come today to plead and pressure her.

For their son, they couldn’t give up, no matter what.

“What else do you want from us? Hit us, curse us, whatever you want—just please, save Jianguo!”

Father Xu slumped to the ground in despair.

Pitiful as parents everywhere may be, this family was rotten to the core. But a parent’s love for their child is the same everywhere.

Zhong Luoning was so angry she couldn’t speak.

“What’s that supposed to mean? Trying to guilt-trip us?

If your family hadn’t gone out of your way to curry favor back then, would my sister have been tricked by you? With her background, she could have married into any good family.

Don’t act like you’re the victims here.

If you really want to die, go home and do it—don’t die here, it’s disgusting.

Trying to threaten us with your life? You think you’re worthy?

Hit you? Curse you? No need! I believe what goes around comes around. Heaven will punish those with black hearts. Xu Jianguo’s retribution has come, and yours is on the way!”

Father and Mother Xu’s pitiful act, in Gu Qinghuan’s eyes, was just getting what they deserved. As the saying goes, “Those who do evil will bring about their own destruction.”

But some of the onlookers, not knowing the full story, couldn’t bear to watch and stepped in to speak up for the elderly couple.

“Miss, what kind of grudge can’t be let go of? Do you really have to push two old people to this point? Isn’t this a bit much?”

“Yeah, couples fight, but in the end, things can be worked out. The child is already so big—can’t you talk it over? Why make it a life-or-death struggle?”

“In marriage, you have to compromise sometimes. What man doesn’t make mistakes? Life has to go on!

The elders have already said so—why not just take a step back?”

…

See? In other people’s eyes, women are supposed to endure everything, to bear it all.

If a man makes a mistake, he should be forgiven. Women are just supposed to be led by the nose.

Their words stabbed into Zhong Luoning’s heart like knives, and a wave of despair washed over her. What could she hope for?

For a woman to live with dignity in this world was too hard. She was always treated as a man’s accessory, expected to be a good wife and mother, to endure everything.

She had once wanted to start over and live well, but life just wouldn’t let her.

She gripped the knife in her hand even tighter.

Suddenly, a small hand gently took hers.

Youran’s innocent eyes made her heart soften, and she quietly loosened her grip.

A child is always the part a mother can never let go of.

Gu Qinghuan was about to stand up and argue with these bystanders.

Just then, Ming Ruxue rushed over, waving a newspaper and shouting, “Can’t you people show some decency? It’s easy to talk when it’s not your own pain! Look—right here, front page of the People’s Daily! This man locked up his wife and child for over a month, openly brought his mistress home, and even tied his wife to a chair to watch! The child almost died because of him.

And you’re talking about forgiveness? Are you out of your minds?

The Xu family was always a bunch of deadbeats, living off the daughter-in-law’s dowry, letting their son have affairs, wanting the best of both worlds. Now that something’s happened, they’re using every trick to force the ex-daughter-in-law to give in. Who does that?

A man like that deserves to be torn limb from limb, and you’re telling her to forgive him? If you like suffering so much, take him home with you! Don’t let the door hit you on the way out!”

Her words left the whole crowd silent for several seconds.

Gu Qinghuan quietly gave Ming Ruxue a thumbs-up—well done!

This girl really spoke her mind, saying everything Gu Qinghuan wanted to say, and more.

Many people had read the newspaper and had been disgusted by Xu Jianguo’s actions. Some had even gone to watch the public denunciation yesterday, but hadn’t realized the people involved were right in front of them.

Now, they immediately fell silent and kept their distance from Father and Mother Xu.

Two older women even spat at Mother Xu.

“Pah! Raising a son like that, you’re no good yourselves!”

“What are you wailing about here? If you ask me, you should go home and prepare for your son’s funeral. Someone like that—heaven won’t let him off!”

“Shameless! How dare you come here and pressure this girl, putting on this act for sympathy!”

“Miss, I’m sorry—I didn’t know the situation just now. Don’t be upset, and don’t hurt yourself!

Life is long, with its ups and downs. Hang in there, and better days will come.” One aunt apologized to Zhong Luoning.

As soon as she finished, others gathered around to comfort her.

“Yeah, don’t think too much. If you’re divorced, so be it. Women hold up half the sky—who says you can’t live without a man?”

“If they come again, just chase them out with a stick! Or get help—just don’t use a knife, it’s too scary!”

…

A few uncles even stepped forward to drag Father and Mother Xu out, looking thoroughly disgusted.

Father Xu even lost a shoe, left lying on the ground.

Zhong Luoning was stunned by the sudden turn of events. Weren’t they just telling her to forgive? How did the mood change so fast? She hadn’t even processed it yet.

Gu Qinghuan took the chance to take the knife from her hand and hide it, then warmly invited the aunts who’d been watching to come inside and sit.

They could help talk some sense into Zhong Luoning, so she wouldn’t keep overthinking things.

So, when Lanting arrived with the police, panting, he saw a group of people surrounding Father and Mother Xu, pointing and criticizing.

Inside, his sister was pouring tea for the guests!

Xu Lei and his men took Father and Mother Xu away for a stern talking-to, warning them not to cause any more trouble.

Later, word spread that because Xu Jianguo’s case involved so many issues, the authorities wanted to make an example of him, piling on multiple charges. In the end, he was sentenced to twenty years of labor reform.

Father and Mother Xu tried everything to get him out, but nothing worked.

Twenty years—even if he survived, he’d be ruined by the time he got out.

Gu Qinghuan found the outcome deeply satisfying.

It’s worth mentioning that Zhang Zheng later came to thank her in person, bringing many gifts to express his gratitude.

The Buddhist concept of karma was fully realized in this family.

Gu Qinghuan’s comeback not only brought down Xu Jianguo and avenged Zhong Luoning, but also helped Zhang Zheng in a big way.

Thanks to her efforts, he had now been officially promoted to director of the Revolutionary Committee. The difference in power between deputy and director was significant.

The world was about to change, and all he had to do was hold the line a little longer.

To be honest, Zhang Zheng never expected that the tearful girl who once begged him for help would turn out to have such power, accomplishing something so big on her own. It was truly impressive.

He didn’t know that Tang Zhenye had also helped behind the scenes.

As the saying goes, “Judge a person anew after three days”—it was true.

Zhong Luoning’s emotions were still unstable, so Gu Qinghuan gave her antidepressants and had her look after the children every day. Keeping busy helped her avoid overthinking and made it easier to recover emotionally.

From that day on, she took care of the sick while also stockpiling supplies for the New Year.

The vegetables Aunt Wu had planted in the yard were ready to harvest—if left any longer, they’d spoil in the cold.

With a refrigerator at home, they could keep some fresh, and the rest could be made into pickles and preserves.

By late January, the weather was bitterly cold, and everyone needed warmer clothes.

She also had to look after Fang Zhengping, so every day was a whirlwind of activity. She barely noticed that Xu Huai’an had already been gone for a week."

"Chapter 159: Daily Life, Pickling Vegetables

The second time she visited the Fang family, it was the same three rounds of Gobang, but this time Fang Zhengping utterly crushed her, leaving her with no chance at all.

This man was surprisingly competitive. After winning three games in a row, he immediately broke into a satisfied smile.

It seemed that losing three games to her last time had really bothered him. Good—she’d been worried he might not care.

Ou Sumei confided to her in secret that Fang Zhengping had been studying Gobang strategies nonstop these past few days, often dragging her and Fang Zhihai to play with him.

He was practically obsessed, playing day and night. She was even worried that his old illness hadn’t fully healed before he’d caught a new one.

But the good news was, ever since he’d gotten absorbed in Gobang, his mood had stabilized a lot. There hadn’t been any more incidents of him throwing things or smashing walls.

That was a positive sign.

And now, every morning Fang Zhihai would call him to go running. From being reluctant on the first day, Fang Zhengping had now gotten used to waking up early for morning exercise.

The Fang couple felt as if they were finally seeing a glimmer of hope.

After winning three games, Fang Zhengping’s curiosity about Gobang was finally satisfied.

He invited Gu Qinghuan to play Go with him instead. Compared to Gobang, he still preferred Go.

Gu Qinghuan knew a little Go, but her skills were embarrassingly bad. Of course, she couldn’t admit that—how would she keep her face as both a “doctor” and Gobang teacher?

Her mind spun quickly, and she came up with an idea.

“I’ve been a bit busy lately. How about this—if you want to play, my younger brother can keep you company. He’s studied Go with my grandpa for years and is pretty good.”

That was the truth. Gu Lanting had always been able to sit still and study since he was little, and Zhong Weiqian had taught him Go since he was five.

Ou Sumei was all for her son getting out of the house. These days, following Gu Qinghuan’s advice, she’d been directing Fang Zhengping to help out around the house, play chess with him when she had time, and take him out for walks.

Fang Zhengping was doing much better than before. Although he still tended to retreat into his own world and wasn’t very sociable, at least he didn’t lose his temper at the drop of a hat anymore.

And so, mother and son became regular visitors at Gu Qinghuan’s home.

Gu Lanting knew this big brother was his sister’s “benefactor,” so he was happy to play chess with him.

Although Fang Zhengping was much older than Gu Lanting, when it came to chess, they really felt like kindred spirits—worthy opponents.

Whenever he had free time, Fang Zhengping would head straight to the Gu house, even remembering to have his mother bring gifts along. Sometimes the two of them would stay the whole day, even joining them for meals.

Ou Sumei finally got to taste Gu Qinghuan’s cooking.

She’d thought Xu Huai’an’s praise for his wife was just love making her look perfect in his eyes.

But to her surprise, Xu Huai’an had been right—Gu Qinghuan was a genius in the kitchen, able to whip up dishes from all kinds of cuisines with ease.

Not just sweet and sour pork, but Northeastern and Beijing dishes too—nothing stumped her.

Ou Sumei couldn’t help but feel it was a pity. Gu Qinghuan looked like an ethereal fairy, was capable, handled everything inside and outside the home with grace—she really was remarkable.

If only she weren’t married!

She’d definitely try to match her with her own son.

Even though the Gu and Zhong families had their troubles, Gu Qinghuan’s own excellence made up for everything. Families like theirs didn’t need extra embellishments.

What a shame!

She’d heard from Old Fang that Gu Qinghuan’s husband was from the countryside—such a waste.

It wasn’t just Ou Sumei who felt that way. Xiao Fengying, who lived nearby, also sighed over it.

Why did Gu Qinghuan have to marry so young?

She’d been coming by often lately. With her son and Qu Hanwen at work, there was no one to keep her company, and she was bored at home.

Spending time with the other ladies was either endless gossip or shopping and mahjong—none of it interested her.

The Gu house, with its young people and children, was always full of laughter. She loved the lively, warm atmosphere—maybe it’s true that as people get older, they crave a bustling home.

Gu Qinghuan never treated her as an outsider. Together with Ming Ruxue and Zhong Luoning, they all worked together to prepare winter vegetables.

Aunt Wu’s fields grew the most radishes and cabbages—staples for the winter.

Cabbage could be pickled into suancai (sour cabbage) or made into spicy kimchi.

Radishes could be soaked in brine, pickled into slices, or dried into strips for salads—all delicious.

The wisdom of ordinary people was truly endless.

No one questioned Gu Qinghuan’s sudden pickling skills—after all, she’d spent a year in the countryside and had to learn out of necessity.

Gu Qinghuan led the kids in pulling up radishes while singing.

“Pulling up the radish, pulling up the radish, hey ho, hey ho, pulling up the radish, hey ho, hey ho, can’t pull it out…” After two rounds, Dabao and Beibei could sing along.

Youran couldn’t sing, but she was the most enthusiastic about pulling radishes, getting mud all over her face and hands.

Ou Sumei and Xiao Fengying helped chop cabbages and strip off the rotten leaves.

For these two ladies, who’d never done manual labor, it was a first—but they found it quite fun.

Though they hadn’t known each other before, they discovered they really got along and chatted happily as they worked.

Ming Ruxue and Zhong Luoning filled a big basin with warm water and sat in the courtyard, washing the freshly harvested vegetables.

Through the bright windows of the first-floor study, the two chess players could see the lively scene outside and smiled.

Gu Qinghuan calmly assigned tasks based on everyone’s strengths, directing the work efficiently.

Soon, the pickled cabbage and radish slices were ready.

They could be eaten right away, but they’d taste better after a few days.

Everyone tried a bite of their morning’s labor.

“Mmm, delicious!”

“These pickled radishes are great—the bitterness is gone, leaving only a unique sweetness. With the seasoning, it’s even better,” Xiao Fengying commented.

“Sis, your hands are magic—everything you make is delicious. How would I survive without you?” Ming Ruxue chimed in with her usual over-the-top praise.

Dabao, Beibei, and Youran all stared longingly at the bowls of radishes and spicy cabbage.

For lunch, Gu Qinghuan decided to have a “pickles party.”

She cooked a big pot of rice, served it with the freshly pickled vegetables, and brought out her homemade chili sauce. It was so appetizing, even better than meat—refreshing and not greasy at all.

After lunch, Gu Lanting and Fang Zhengping joined in to help instead of playing chess.

Gu Qinghuan had prepared several medium-sized crocks for fermenting suancai and storing spicy cabbage.

There were also a few clear jars for drying and pickling radish strips, though the radishes still needed to dry out.

Pickling suancai was hard work, but with two men helping, it was done quickly.

The radishes had to be cut into strips and dried until half-dehydrated before making dried radish salad.

With so many radishes, it was a lot of work, but with everyone pitching in, it was done in no time.

When they left that evening, Gu Qinghuan gave Xiao Fengying and Ou Sumei each two jars of pickles.

One of pickled radish slices, one of spicy cabbage—both ready to eat soon. The brined radishes, suancai, and dried radishes would need more time.

Neither woman minded—they were proud of their own handiwork.

Xiao Fengying waited for Xiao Zhuo to pick her up, then had him carry the jars home.

Ou Sumei had Fang Zhengping carry one jar while she carried the other, both heading home in high spirits.

What a fulfilling day!

Honestly, this kind of socializing suited her much better than the usual ladies’ gatherings. It was genuine and unpretentious. Though tiring, it was fun, and after a day of work, she slept better—her insomnia had even improved.

Fang Zhengping was the same. With all the activity, he no longer stayed up all night, keeping everyone awake.

As Gu Qinghuan worked, she thought of Xujia Village, wondering if anyone was helping to harvest the vegetables at home, hoping they hadn’t been ruined by people or animals—Xu Huaian had worked so hard to grow them.

Xu Lei’s wife, Xia Lian, came by, pushing her bicycle and personally delivering over a hundred jin of pastries.

She’d been nervous about coming—after all, Gu Qinghuan had done her husband a huge favor.

She felt it was only right to show her gratitude with pastries, and really shouldn’t accept payment.

But making all those pastries had used up a lot of her best ingredients and grain—it wasn’t a small amount.

She was torn about whether or not to accept payment, even though Xu Lei said Gu Qinghuan wouldn’t care about the money.

But when she met Gu Qinghuan in person, Xia Lian finally understood what Xu Lei meant.

This young woman was beautiful and kind, her words and manner putting people at ease.

Xia Lian decided not to take any more money—the deposit she’d already received was enough to cover her costs. With her mind made up, she felt much lighter.

Gu Qinghuan invited her in, made her a cup of homemade honey pomelo tea to warm up, and handed her a small hand warmer.

“Auntie, it’s so cold out—you must be tired from pushing your bike all this way. Come, have a rest.”

Hearing those words, Xia Lian felt all her fatigue was worth it. She smiled gently, took a sip of warm tea, and felt the warmth all the way to her heart."

"Chapter 160: The Pastry Business