Chapter 295: Chapter 295: Wild Boars Descend the Mountain

A few days after Xu Huaian returned, the school finished exams and officially went on break.

This year, Gu Qinghuan’s class scored second highest in the county for Chinese. She rewarded every child with a White Rabbit candy.

In the second half of the year, Gu Qinghuan sent Dabao up to second grade, while Beibei stayed in first grade.

Both kids did very well on their finals, so Gu Qinghuan barely had to worry about them. Everyone envied her for having such easy, well-behaved children.

Especially Lin Xiaomeng and Chen Fengqin, who were nearly driven mad by their own kids’ studies—why just couldn’t their children learn?

Once the family of four returned to Xujia Village, they immediately started preparing for the New Year.

During winter, the two kids had always slept with Gu Qinghuan on the kang (heated brick bed). But after Xu Huaian came back, he promptly kicked the kids into another room.

After all, he finally had his wife back—why would he want to go back to the lonely life of a monk?

The two of them were like dry wood meeting a raging fire—passion ignited instantly. For several days in a row, Gu Qinghuan’s legs felt weak.

Men and women really do have different stamina. Xu Huaian was full of energy, even practicing military boxing every morning.

In the end, it was only Gu Qinghuan who was left exhausted.

After much discussion, the two decided to use contraception for now. Gu Qinghuan wanted to study, so she couldn’t get pregnant at the moment.

Although Xu Huaian really wanted a child of their own, he loved Gu Qinghuan more. He didn’t want to tie her down with a child, nor clip her wings.

Besides, their childhood experiences had shaped their shared views on education.

They preferred to have a child at a more suitable time, so the child could grow up surrounded by love and parental companionship.

Right now, that simply wasn’t possible—they couldn’t even guarantee basic companionship, let alone love.

Maybe all children who grew up lacking love try their best to give their own kids what they never had.

This year, the village’s soap factory made a profit. Xu Huainian kept his promise: each work point was worth ten cents. Everyone’s wallets were full, even the educated youths.

In previous years, many people didn’t have enough to eat, but this year, there was even money left over. Xujia Village was thriving more and more.

But right before the New Year, something big happened in the village.

Wild boars came down the mountain.

This year’s heavy snow probably left the mountain animals with nothing to eat.

Ji Linhai had warned them early on—he’d seen wild boar tracks at the foot of the mountain and told everyone to be careful. He feared something bad would happen this year.

Gu Qinghuan and Xu Huaian lived right at the foot of the mountain, so they were the first at risk. Naturally, they were alert, even reinforcing their courtyard wall.

At night, Gu Qinghuan would let the lead sheep from her space out to keep watch for any movement.

Sure enough, trouble came that night.

The sheep outside started bleating in alarm. Xu Huaian quickly got up to check.

The door was creaking and rattling under heavy impact—clearly, some beast was ramming it, and it looked like the door wouldn’t hold for much longer.

Xu Huaian grabbed a short knife and rushed out. Gu Qinghuan wanted to help, but he locked her and the two kids inside.

The three of them could only watch through the crack in the door.

With a bang, a group of wild boars broke through the gate and charged in.

Xu Huaian, knife in hand, faced them without fear, as if he didn’t even see the number of wild boars before him—calm and composed.

He fought with both hands and feet, and in just a few steps, he swiftly took down several of the lead boars.

One slash per boar—clean and efficient.

After all, he was someone who could escape from hundreds of people besieging him. Why would he fear a few wild boars? Sometimes, people are far scarier than beasts.

Gu Qinghuan and the two kids were stunned. They’d never realized how formidable her man (their dad) was—he exuded the aura of a one-man army.

The wild boars in the back instinctively started to retreat in fear.

The scent of blood quickly filled the courtyard.

Xu Huaian didn’t know how many wild boars he’d killed. All he knew was that for every one he killed, his wife and children were that much safer.

The surviving boars, terrified, began to back away.

After a chaotic struggle, only Xu Huaian was left standing in the yard, his knife still dripping with blood. There was a restrained, almost ascetic beauty to him. Far from being afraid, Gu Qinghuan thought he looked incredibly handsome—this was her man.

Ji Linhai, having heard the commotion, rushed over. When he saw the ruined gate, he was startled and hurried inside.

Xu Huaian, covered in blood, was standing in the yard catching his breath—this fight had truly worn him out.

“Huaian, are you alright?”

Ji Linhai thought he was injured.

“I’m fine, Uncle Ji. Just tired, not hurt—it’s all wild boar blood.”

Ji Linhai breathed a sigh of relief. Only then did he take in the scene—a yard piled high with wild boar carcasses, a clear sign of what had just happened. He’d always thought Xu Huaian was impressive and skilled, but only now did he truly realize how exceptional this young man was.

Zhong Zijun had once confided her regret to him: because of her illness, her daughter had married someone at random. Although she hadn’t married the wrong person, as a mother, she always felt her daughter deserved the best.

Now, he thought, he could tell Zhong Zijun that Gu Qinghuan hadn’t married wrong. Xu Huaian wasn’t just remarkable and full of promise—his devotion to Gu Qinghuan was unmatched.

This pile of wild boars was proof enough.

Once Gu Qinghuan and the kids were let out, the three of them looked at the wild boars covering the ground and discussed what to do.

This was the first time wild boars had attacked the village this year, but it certainly wouldn’t be the last.

They were driven by animal instinct—if they ran out of food, they’d come down the mountain no matter what.

This had to be reported, and a real solution found. If wild animals broke into the village and hurt people, things could spiral out of control.

The three agreed to call everyone over right away and leave the scene untouched.

Only by letting everyone see the bloody aftermath for themselves would they take it seriously.

After all, not every household had someone as skilled as Xu Huaian. If he hadn’t been there tonight, Gu Qinghuan probably wouldn’t have survived.

She could have hidden the kids in her space, but no one else knew that. Outsiders would have assumed the worst.

Because of his position, Ji Linhai couldn’t stay long and left first.

Gu Qinghuan quickly put her sheep away.

It was a pity about all these wild boars—if she sold them to Lu Jianye, she could make a lot of money. But to make sure everyone took this seriously, she had to leave them for the village to handle.

Now wasn’t the time to think about profit.

Xu Huaian went to wake everyone in the village.

In the middle of the night, when word spread that wild boars had invaded, everyone woke up in shock and hurried over.

The able-bodied men organized themselves and, carrying torches, arrived to see the tragic yet spectacular scene in the Xu family courtyard. Instinctively, everyone took a step back.

Xu Mingshan saw all the wild boar carcasses and could only think of his own achievements. With so many boars, if he handed a few more over to the commune, the higher-ups would be very pleased.

The rest could be divided among the villagers, letting everyone have some meat—another feather in his cap (since Xu Huaian was his son, the credit was his too). This would be a big boost for next year’s elections.

His mind raced with possibilities, but he never once considered his son’s safety.

“Huaian, did you kill all these by yourself?” Xu Huainian asked, voicing the question on everyone’s mind.

He swallowed hard, unable to hide his shock.

He knew Xu Mingshan’s second son was capable, but not to this extent. Wild boars are incredibly strong—how could one man kill so many on his own? Was this even humanly possible?

No wonder Gu Qinghuan was so outstanding and willing to follow him—talented people always resonate with each other.

It was laughable that outsiders couldn’t see this and thought Xu Huaian was just living off his wife. How could someone like him be mediocre?

Xu Huaian nodded.

A proper display of strength could prevent a lot of trouble. Since he was away from home most of the time, this was also a way to establish authority and keep the villagers from bullying Gu Qinghuan and the kids.

The crowd erupted.

“This… this, this…”

“I told you, Xu family’s second son is a tough one. Back then, it took more than ten of us to hold him down when he went wild.”

“How many boars is that?”

Suddenly, someone in the crowd shouted, “Secretary, do all these boars belong to our village?”

Everyone was jolted—right, with so many boars, even dividing by headcount, each person could get several jin.

Xu Mingshan waved his arm, “Of course they’re ours! Everyone, carry them to the drying yard. We’ll slaughter them together. After handing some over to the commune, the rest is ours. We’ll have a feast and divide the meat!”

They’d already divided some meat during the winter hunt, but since there weren’t many skilled hunters, each family only got a little. This time was different—so many boars! Everyone’s eyes lit up.

Logically, Xu Huaian could have kept all the boars for himself without telling anyone, and no one would have known. Why call everyone over?

Xu Huainian was quick-witted and immediately understood the key point.

He stepped forward, “Let’s not just think about the meat—let’s think about the wild boars!

So many wild boars coming down means trouble is brewing!

It’s only because Huaian lives at the foot of the mountain that he stopped them. If these boars had charged straight into the village tonight, how many families could have held them off?”

Xu Huaian was relieved that at least someone understood.

Xu Mingshan instantly felt like his “job” had been stolen—this should have been his moment.

But he could only grit his teeth and accept it. After all, he hadn’t even thought of it, too busy celebrating the meat.

“Captain, you’re exaggerating. Look at all these boars—maybe Huaian already wiped out their den. What wild boar would dare come down again?”

“Yeah, if I were a wild boar and saw someone this fierce, I’d be too scared to come back.”

“Shouldn’t be a problem, right?”

“Exactly. With Huaian guarding the foot of the mountain, what could go wrong?”

These were all the younger folks talking—they hadn’t seen real hardship. The older generation stayed silent.

“You just haven’t seen it. In times of disaster, when people are hungry, animals have nothing to eat either. They come down from the mountain and attack people.

Tie Gen, wasn’t your sister taken by wolves?” Xu Huainian asked solemnly.

Tie Gen, eyes red, nodded. He’d had a twin sister. When they were little, wolves came into their house. His parents hid him in the rice jar and his sister under the table.

From inside the jar, he watched as the wolves dragged his sister out from under the table.

That scene haunted him for life.

“The forest our ancestors lived in is bigger than you can imagine, and you never know what fierce animals are hiding in there.

There are a lot of wild boars now, but not enough to wipe them out. If they came down once, they’ll come again and again.

This year’s snow is especially heavy, so food is scarce in the woods—that’s why they came down.

Huaian is strong, but we can’t rely on him alone.

I suggest we form a patrol team to guard the foot of the mountain in shifts, day and night, to prevent any accidents.”

Xu Mingshan’s face turned as black as the bottom of a pot. Damn, Xu Huainian had stolen all his lines!

But everyone was looking at him, waiting for his response. In the end, he could only nod and agree with Xu Huainian’s suggestion. After all, this was about everyone’s safety—not the time for ego."

"Chapter 296: The Wild Boar Attack, and Meeting Chen Ershu Again

Next, a group of people carried the wild boars out of the courtyard.

Xu Huaian went along with them to discuss how to prevent wild animals from coming down the mountain and hurting people.

Gu Qinghuan, disgusted by the bloody smell lingering in the yard, simply drew water from her space and washed the courtyard clean, clearing away the snow as well.

By the time she finished tidying up, the sky was already turning pale.

Xu Huaian had just walked in the door. He hadn’t been idle all night—together with Xu Huainian, Xu Mingshan, and other village committee members, he had drawn up a patrol plan and assigned specific responsibilities.

None of the able-bodied young men in the village had slept, either.

A total of twenty-one wild boars lay on the ground, waiting to be dealt with.

No one in their lifetime had ever seen so much wild boar meat.

By the time everything was taken care of, it was already noon.

The story of Xu Huaian single-handedly killing twenty-one wild boars spread throughout the whole Xu Family Village.

Everyone who saw him couldn’t help but look at him with admiration.

To the children, this story was as legendary as Wu Song slaying the tiger—almost magical.

A new debate arose: which was more impressive, killing a tiger or killing twenty-one wild boars?

In any case, Xu Huaian instantly became the village’s star. Everyone, young and old, was talking about him.

Those who had once had designs on Gu Qinghuan couldn’t help but tremble in fear.

Liu Guifang and Xu Mingshan, as Xu Huaian’s parents, once again became the envy of everyone in the village, with people talking about them with great relish.

After all, all four of their children were outstanding.

The eldest had a secure government job, the second was as strong as Wu Song, the third was in college, and the youngest had given birth to a ten-pound baby girl.

Liu Guifang basked in the praise and envy of others, but she felt a little sour inside.

Why did all the credit have to go to the second son?

When it came time to divide the wild boar meat, the village decided that Xu Huaian’s family would get an entire wild boar to themselves.

After all, he had killed twenty-one by himself—he deserved some special treatment, or else who would risk their life next time?

Of the remaining twenty boars, five were handed over to the commune, and the rest were divided among all the villagers according to headcount. This way, larger families got a bit more.

On average, each person got several jin of meat. Big families could take home dozens of jin, happily carrying it home—this year, they’d have a truly bountiful New Year.

All the offal from the boars was collected and prepared together for a traditional “pig-killing feast.”

After the meat was divided, the women of the village gathered in the afternoon to cook the feast.

They cleaned the offal thoroughly until there was no odor left.

Each family contributed some vegetables.

Several large pots were set up to stew the dishes. The simple seasoning brought out the best of the food’s natural flavor.

Gu Qinghuan and Lin Xiaomeng brought their children to help—mainly because the kids wanted to watch the cooking.

The aroma of food filled the air above Xu Family Village.

Just then, another unexpected event occurred.

The patrol team that had been sent out in the morning suddenly came running back, shouting, “Wild boars are coming down the mountain!” The boars were right behind them, charging aggressively.

Maybe it was the irresistible smell of food that attracted them.

Everyone grabbed whatever tools they could find and rushed out.

When the twenty-one dead boars had been lying on the ground, no one felt afraid. But now, seeing so many live wild boars charging at them, many people’s legs went weak and they could barely move.

The women and children could only scream.

Xu Huaian once again drew his short knife from his waist.

“All able-bodied men, grab your weapons and come with me! Women and children, evacuate immediately!”

Xu Huaian’s short knife was unstoppable. He charged into the herd and, with one swift stab to a vital spot, took down a wild boar.

His bravery inspired the others, who also rushed in with their tools.

Gu Qinghuan reacted quickly, organizing the evacuation of the elderly and children to safety. Some of the women were reluctant to leave behind the big pots of food they’d just cooked, so she simply grabbed the pots and took them along.

In this battle, Xu Huaian led the village’s young men to once again drive off the wild boars, killing fifteen more. No one was seriously injured, though minor bumps and bruises were inevitable.

The delicious feast soothed everyone’s nerves after the fright.

Every household got a big bowl of the pig-killing stew.

The fifteen freshly killed wild boars were also butchered and redistributed.

This year, Xu Family Village became famous throughout the commune. They’d established their own collective factory, had the highest work-point value in the commune, and ranked first.

They’d also sent three teachers to the commune’s elementary school.

Now, they’d managed to get so much meat and even contributed a large portion to the commune.

These were solid political achievements. Xu Mingshan received praise from the leaders, but instead of feeling proud, he was filled with anxiety, afraid his “fig leaf” would be torn away—he knew these achievements had nothing to do with his leadership, but were thanks to others’ efforts.

What would next year bring?

He really was getting old!

Gu Qinghuan’s family received a total of one and a half wild boars.

Xu Huaian carried the extra half a boar straight to his mother-in-law’s house.

Zhong Zijun was now very satisfied with this son-in-law.

Compared to last year, this year was much quieter. Gu Lanting had just started work, and his boss had scheduled him for duty over the New Year, so he couldn’t come back to Xu Family Village to celebrate. But he kept in touch by letter.

Ming Ruxue, under her parents’ arrangement, had become an assistant at some research institute and was so busy she barely had time to touch the ground.

Zhong Luoning was making money during the winter and summer breaks, so she wouldn’t be coming back this year either.

She had a line of students waiting for her tutoring, and was kept busy every day. Fortunately, Wang Xiaowei was there to take care of things at home, so she could focus on her own work.

So, people with real skills never have to worry.

Although they couldn’t come home, Gu Qinghuan didn’t forget to send them New Year’s gifts—various dried goods, surplus items from her space, dried fish, homemade pork jerky, and so on.

Before the New Year, she sent out all the gifts, delivered some to Lu Jianye’s family, and even brought back four bottles of Maotai.

Gu Qinghuan had finished all her New Year preparations and focused on making delicious food for the children at home.

Xu Huaian led the young men of the village on patrols around the forest, acting like a regular army, always on guard. They repelled several more animal incursions.

After realizing they couldn’t get the better of these people, the wild animals stopped coming, and things were peaceful for a while.

As the New Year approached, on the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, Xu Huaian pulled a sled with Gu Qinghuan and their two children sitting on it.

They were heading to the big market.

She remembered that last year, she’d traded a length of woolen fabric for a sheep.

This year, Gu Qinghuan planned to go see what she could find as well.

Lin Xiaomeng and Xu Huaizhi and his wife came along too.

Gu Qinghuan and Lin Xiaomeng chatted along the way about what to give Jiang Xue as a wedding present.

Yes, Jiang Xue was getting married.

Her fiancé was someone they both knew—Hao Zhigao.

He was the young man who had taken the teaching exam for the commune elementary school at the same time as them.

Now he taught math to the fifth and sixth grades, while Jiang Xue taught language arts to the same grades.

Maybe because they worked together and were both single, sparks gradually flew.

After a couple of months of flirting, they decided to make it official—after all, neither of them was young anymore.

Hao Zhigao’s family lived in a nearby village. After meeting Jiang Xue, his parents were very satisfied—she was good-looking, had a proper job (a “iron rice bowl”), and worked at the same place as their son. What could be better?

Jiang Xue had been through a lot and had learned to take things as they came. She didn’t hide her family situation, but told Hao Zhigao everything honestly.

Hao Zhigao didn’t mind. He said their life together was their own business, and as long as they were happy, nothing else mattered.

Jiang Xue had finally found a good man to spend her life with.

Truly, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.

“I’m planning to give her a pair of pillowcases. What about you?” Lin Xiaomeng asked.

“You’re giving pillowcases? Then I’ll give her two pillows,” Gu Qinghuan replied, unable to think of anything else.

They weren’t exactly close friends, but now they saw each other all the time. Jiang Xue wasn’t as prickly as before, so it was only right to show some courtesy.

“Jiang Xue has really changed a lot. I almost forgot how arrogant she used to be,” Lin Xiaomeng sighed.

Gu Qinghuan knew about the hardships Jiang Xue had faced.

“People only grow after going through trials and setbacks—sooner or later, it happens to everyone.”

Lin Xiaomeng thought of her own life, and realized it was the same for her.

At the market, the two families split up to trade for what they needed and agreed to meet at the entrance when they were done.

Gu Qinghuan had brought some fabric she didn’t need, as well as a dozen or so ration coupons that hadn’t expired.

The school regularly issued all kinds of coupons, but she rarely needed to use them, so she often traded them with others. These were the leftovers, and she wanted to trade them today before they expired.

Each woman held a child’s hand as they wandered through the market.

Suddenly, a small stall caught her eye—the vendor looked very familiar.

Gu Qinghuan met the vendor’s gaze and couldn’t help but exclaim, “Chen Ershu? Did you get married?”

Last year, he had traded a sheep for fabric to make a wedding dress for his beloved. She wondered if he’d married that girl.

Chen Ershu immediately stood up and pulled the young woman beside him over to introduce her.

“Comrade, thank you for the wool fabric you traded me last year. My wife wore it to marry me, and our baby is due soon,” Chen Ershu said, introducing the shy, gentle-looking woman next to him.

She had delicate features, clear eyes, and a rounded belly.

The two of them clearly had a deep affection for each other—the way they looked at each other was full of love.

Gu Qinghuan smiled with satisfaction. At last, she’d done something truly right.

It felt wonderful to see lovers finally get together.

“You’re welcome. We both got what we needed. Are these pastries on your stall homemade?” Gu Qinghuan asked, pointing at the goods on the table."

"Chapter 297: Turmoil at the New Year’s Eve Dinner

Chen Ershu nodded, then took a few pieces of cake and handed them out for everyone to taste, not forgetting the two children.

“These are mung bean cakes and red date fox nut cakes my wife made. You all have to try them—they’re delicious!”

Gu Qinghuan tried a piece of mung bean cake and was pleasantly surprised by how good it tasted. It was a bit lighter in flavor than Aunt Xu’s pastries, but the original taste of the ingredients came through more.

Gu Qinghuan didn’t like overly sweet desserts, so this was just right for her, though it might not fit modern tastes.

These days, everyone thinks the sweeter, the better.

She glanced over and noticed they hadn’t sold much, probably because the cakes weren’t sweet enough.

“What do you want to exchange for this time?” she asked.

Chen Ershu scratched his head. “We’re not picky, just want to swap for something to prepare for the baby’s arrival. We’re short on everything.”

Gu Qinghuan happened to have brought fabric and fabric coupons, both of which they could use.

“How about I trade you fabric and coupons for your cakes?”

Chen Ershu was overjoyed and immediately agreed.

At market value, Gu Qinghuan used her fabric and coupons to exchange for all the cakes they’d brought.

The young couple thanked her and left happily.

As they walked, they bought the two kids some candied hawthorn and fried sugar dough, which kept their mouths busy.

In a corner, Gu Qinghuan spotted an old man with three beautiful mink pelts on his stall—truly gorgeous.

But hardly anyone was asking about them.

When Gu Qinghuan inquired, she found out each pelt was a hundred yuan—three would be three hundred. No wonder no one was buying.

To be honest, Gu Qinghuan wasn’t short on three hundred yuan, and these mink pelts were rare treasures—worth tens of thousands in the future.

But perhaps because of her upbringing, she’d developed a habit of being frugal with herself (except for buying a house), always wanting to think it over.

Xu Huaian saw her hesitating even though she liked them, so he stepped forward and pulled out the money.

“We’ll take all three pelts.”

The old man was stunned, then beamed as he took the money and started counting.

“Young man, this must be your wife? You really dote on her!”

Gu Qinghuan quickly tugged Xu Huaian’s arm and whispered, “That’s too expensive! It’s not really necessary. By the way, where did you get the money?”

Honestly, Xu Huaian’s decisive act of buying her the mink really delighted her. Being cared for like that filled her with happiness.

But then she realized—she’d never given Xu Huaian any money, had she?

University didn’t cost anything, but there was no salary either. Where did he get the money for the mink?

Xu Huaian carefully checked the pelts, then wrapped them up and held them close, as if they were treasures.

“If you like it, it’s worth it. Don’t worry about the money. I have a classmate who wanted to learn martial arts, so I taught him for a month. This is the payment he gave me. I swear I didn’t hide any private money from you—I just forgot to mention it.” Xu Huaian nearly raised his hand to swear an oath.

Gu Qinghuan grinned. “Then thank you.”

“As long as you like it.”

“Mom, do you like mink? When I grow up, I’ll buy you some too!” Dabao had been watching them.

“Haha, you little rascal. You should buy it for your wife when you grow up. Mommy’s fine with Daddy buying it for her.”

The three of them traded for a few more household items and headed home.

This year, on New Year’s Eve, as usual, Gu Qinghuan brought Zhong Zijun and her grandparents over to celebrate together, along with the Ji family father and son.

It wasn’t as lively as last year, but it was still a warm gathering.

At noon, Gu Qinghuan and Xu Huaian went back to the old house for lunch—something that only happened once a year.

Gu Qinghuan brought a symbolic gift of one jin of meat.

Lin Xiaomeng was even stingier, bringing only half a jin.

The three sisters-in-law cooked together in the kitchen.

Yan Lijun took the initiative to talk about her life over the past few months.

After her postpartum confinement and another month of rest, she returned to work.

Her mother-in-law, Liu Guifang, was supposed to take care of the baby, feeding him formula during the day, while Yan Lijun nursed him at night.

But for several days, she noticed that when she came home, the baby was crying from hunger, desperately nursing.

So she deliberately came home early one day and discovered that Liu Guifang had been giving her son’s formula to Xu Meiling’s chubby daughter. No wonder the baby was always hungry and crying.

Xu Meiling now worked as a scorekeeper in the team, and during the day, she’d leave her daughter with Liu Guifang.

Miaomiao was a few months older than Jianjian, but looked a whole year older—chubby and healthy. Jianjian had been premature and was frail and thin. Yet the grandmother could be so heartless as to give away her grandson’s food.

So the things Yan Lijun bought with her own money were feeding someone else’s child, and that child’s mother could even come back to nurse her occasionally, while Jianjian relied solely on formula.

Yan Lijun was furious and exploded in front of everyone, giving Liu Guifang a thorough scolding, saying her heart was twisted.

Liu Guifang knew she was in the wrong and couldn’t defend herself.

They parted on bad terms, and the next day Yan Lijun simply took her child to work with her.

The baby was weak and mostly just ate and slept, so it didn’t interfere much. Her boss was understanding and allowed her to bring the baby, as long as work came first.

If she really couldn’t manage, she’d send the baby to her own mother’s for a day—still better than leaving him with a heartless grandmother like Liu Guifang.

Since giving birth to Jianjian, Yan Lijun had completely lost faith in Xu Huaiyu. He’d gone off to study and hadn’t written her a single letter.

When Xu Huaiyu came home for winter break and learned what Liu Guifang had done, he was furious for his son’s sake and had a huge argument with Xu Meiling, telling her not to bring her child over again.

Liu Guifang tried to badmouth Yan Lijun in front of her son, but no matter what Xu Huaiyu said, Yan Lijun ignored him completely.

That’s how women are—once they’ve endured all the hardship and pain, nothing else matters anymore.

Now, Yan Lijun just wanted to work hard and support herself and her son.

If she and Xu Huaiyu could make it work, fine. If not, so be it.

Gu Qinghuan and Lin Xiaomeng could sense the determination in her calm voice and felt worried for her.

Lunch was anything but peaceful.

Xu Meiling said her child was hungry and asked Yan Lijun to make some formula.

If it weren’t for what had happened before, a bowl of formula wouldn’t have been a big deal.

But Yan Lijun couldn’t stand Xu Meiling’s attitude—always trying to take advantage, as if daring her to object.

The two nearly got into a fight.

In the end, Xu Mingshan lost his temper: “Eat if you want, if not, go home!” That finally ended the farce.

Chen Jianghe arrived late, and when he heard what had happened, he slapped Xu Meiling right then and there.

“I told you not to be so greedy! Didn’t I give you money? Isn’t Miaomiao worth even a bag of formula?”

Since having a child, Chen Jianghe had worked much harder for work points, and with help from home, their life wasn’t too hard.

He’d given Xu Meiling money to buy formula for their daughter, but this was how she “bought” it.

“She’s just a little girl—why spend so much money on her?” Xu Meiling stubbornly argued.

“So where’s the money? What did you spend it on?” Chen Jianghe was furious.

It turned out Xu Meiling had spent the money on seeing doctors and trying folk remedies. She’d heard of a barefoot doctor who was supposedly good at treating women’s fertility issues, so she’d gone to see him.

After giving birth to Miaomiao, she’d been injured and might not be able to have more children. She was unwilling to accept this—she hadn’t given Chen Jianghe a son yet, so how could she stop now?

Everyone was both angry and amused by her antics.

“So, you’re too stingy to buy formula for your daughter, always mooching off us, but you’re willing to spend money on medicine for yourself?

Xu Meiling, are you out of your mind?” Yan Lijun seriously thought Xu Meiling had gone crazy.

Everyone agreed.

Gu Qinghuan looked at Xu Meiling, who seemed a bit manic and incoherent, and suspected she might be suffering from postpartum depression.

She was fixated on having a son, only to have a daughter, and then was told she might not be able to have more children. Anyone would find that hard to accept.

But someone like Xu Meiling wasn’t really deserving of sympathy.

After some thought, Gu Qinghuan privately suggested to Chen Jianghe that he should take Xu Meiling to see a psychiatrist when he had time—she might really have a problem.

Unfortunately, Xu Meiling overheard this and thought Gu Qinghuan was badmouthing her behind her back. She rushed over to hit Gu Qinghuan.

Xu Huaian and Chen Jianghe immediately stepped in front of Gu Qinghuan to block her.

Chen Jianghe did it instinctively—Xu Meiling was big, and he was genuinely worried she’d hurt Gu Qinghuan.

Afterward, he felt a deep sense of loss. What right did he have to protect Gu Qinghuan?

Xu Huaian shot Chen Jianghe a glare and pouted jealously—he could protect his own wife, thank you very much.

Xu Meiling was nearly driven mad by the scene. One was her husband, who should have been on her side, and the other was her second brother, who should have supported her.

Yet both were firmly protecting someone else—where did that leave her?

Xu Meiling completely lost it, grabbed a stool, and smashed it over Chen Jianghe. Out of guilt, he took the blow without dodging.

She then hysterically threw whatever she could get her hands on.

After smashing things up, she stormed out without eating.

Chen Jianghe had no choice but to leave the child with Liu Guifang and run out after her.

The meal ended in a mess. Gu Qinghuan just picked at her food—she’d lost her appetite.

Liu Guifang wanted to scold Gu Qinghuan for being a troublemaker and ruining the New Year, but after glancing at Xu Huaian, she held her tongue.

Times had changed—Xu Huaian was no longer the obedient son he once was.

She had no doubt that if she scolded Gu Qinghuan today, Xu Huaian would “go crazy” and cut ties with everyone.

After finally finishing the meal and returning home, Gu Qinghuan’s mood improved.

“I really wasn’t making things up. I suspect she has postpartum depression, so I wanted Chen Jianghe to take her to see a doctor. It’s not too serious yet, so early intervention would be better,” Gu Qinghuan explained to Xu Huaian on the way home.

Xu Huaian rubbed her rabbit fur hat.

“You don’t need to explain. I know.” He trusted her unconditionally.

Gu Qinghuan cheered up again. No matter what the Xu family thought, as long as Xu Huaian believed her and she had a clear conscience, that was enough.

As for Xu Meiling’s illness, if they didn’t believe her, then let them deal with the consequences.

After all, kind words can’t persuade a doomed soul."

"Chapter 298: New Year, Jiang Xue Gets Married, and Redress

When they got home, Zhong Zijun and Cheng Shuying were frying crispy pork, filling the house with a delicious aroma.

Ji Linhai was cleaning wild pheasants and rabbits under the eaves.

Old Master Ji and Zhong Weiqian were chatting as they made dumplings together.

It was a scene of perfect harmony.

The whole family worked together to prepare a sumptuous dinner.

This was their true New Year’s Eve feast.

Before leaving after dinner, Zhong Zijun gave each of the two children a big red envelope—twenty yuan each.

This year, everyone had made some money. Just the previous batch of gastrodia brought in nearly a few thousand yuan. All told, Zhong Zijun had saved over three thousand yuan by now, giving her a sense of security.

On the first day of the new year, Dabao went to Lin Xiaomeng’s house to pay respects and brought back some news.

He said Xu Meiling had tried to jump into the river yesterday!

Of course, the river was dry and frozen solid, so even if she jumped, she wouldn’t die—at most, she’d get hurt.

Actually, she hadn’t really meant to jump. She was just pretending by the riverbank, hoping to scare Chen Jianghe into giving in.

But she was too heavy and ended up collapsing the patch of earth beneath her, falling straight onto the ice. She hit the ice so hard it cracked.

Chen Jianghe couldn’t lift her, so it took a few bystanders to help pull her back up.

They said she broke some ribs and was now in the county hospital.

Even Gu Qinghuan couldn’t help but feel a bit sorry for Chen Jianghe. He wasn’t a terrible person—how did he end up with such a troublesome wife? It was enough to drive anyone crazy.

But other people’s business was just for listening, not for getting involved in. Xu Huaian had no intention of interfering and was happy to stay out of it.

Liu Guifang came over looking for trouble, but Xu Huaian sent her away with a few words.

On the fifth day of the new year, Gu Qinghuan took Xu Huaian to Jiang Xue’s wedding banquet.

She held two separate celebrations—one at the groom’s house, and another at the commune restaurant, where she invited two tables of friends from Xujiatun.

Lin Xiaomeng came with Xu Huaizhi.

Qiu Shuxia and her husband Tugen were there too.

Zhu Chunlin and Lin Shengnan also came, bringing their son, who became the center of everyone’s attention.

Jiang Xue even invited Chen Jianghe, though Xu Meiling didn’t come—she was still bedridden.

Being able to invite Chen Jianghe showed that Jiang Xue had let go of the past. What once seemed like an insurmountable obstacle, a person she could never forget, now felt like nothing with the passage of time.

Especially now that Chen Jianghe had lost his former aura and become just an ordinary man.

Busy taking care of his wife and daughter, he had no time for himself and looked slovenly—nothing like the Chen Jianghe Jiang Xue remembered.

This meal was also a big reunion for the former “educated youth.” Everyone chatted freely about life, sharing their stories.

In just two short years, it seemed like everyone had changed, and yet, somehow, they hadn’t.

Jiang Xue and Hao Zhigao made the rounds, toasting everyone. She wore a new cotton-padded jacket bought by the Hao family, looking radiant and joyful.

Hao Zhigao treated her well, thoughtfully picking out food for her, afraid she wouldn’t get enough.

He wasn’t much of a talker, but he was considerate and attentive.

After all the twists and turns, Jiang Xue had finally found her true match.

Chen Jianghe watched everyone’s happiness, feeling that although he’d started out ahead of many, he’d ended up the worst off.

He still had people at home to care for, a daughter to feed, and the more he thought about it, the more miserable he felt. He drank in silence.

In the end, he got drunk, and Zhu Chunlin had to carry him home.

The family enjoyed a relaxing New Year.

On the tenth day of the first lunar month, Xu Huaian had to return to school. The young couple found it hard to part.

Before leaving, as usual, he made sure Gu Qinghuan had plenty of firewood and killed two pigs for her to use.

Gu Qinghuan, in turn, prepared all kinds of delicious food for him to take along—beef jerky, pork slices, spicy rabbit, shredded chicken—all his favorites.

“Huanhuan, this October, I’ll wait for you in Beijing. By then, our family can finally be together,” Xu Huaian said, holding her tightly, his eyes full of reluctance.

“Okay!” All her feelings were summed up in that one word.

Gu Qinghuan, eyes brimming with tears, saw Xu Huaian off.

Life returned to its peaceful rhythm.

At the end of February, a letter from afar broke the calm.

Mingcheng and Nansheng wrote to say they had repeatedly reported the Zhong family’s wrongful case to the authorities, hoping it would be taken seriously.

At the beginning of the year, the case had officially entered the review process. Once verified, the Zhong family would be exonerated. They urged everyone to take care and be patient.

As soon as Gu Qinghuan received the letter, she rushed home to show it to Zhong Zijun and her grandparents.

The elderly couple wept tears of joy, and Zhong Zijun’s eyes turned red.

It hadn’t been seven days or seven months, but a full seven or eight years.

They had trudged through darkness, enduring and waiting, and finally saw the light of dawn.

How many seven-year stretches does a person get in a lifetime?

It wasn’t just the Zhong family—at the beginning of March, Ji Linhai also received good news. The organization issued a “Notice on the Rehabilitation of Comrades Ji Ping and Ji Linhai,” stating that all false accusations made by the “Gang of Four” against Ji Ping, Ji Linhai, and others should be overturned and thoroughly redressed.

At the same time, all comrades implicated by Ji Ping’s wrongful case were to be fully rehabilitated and the negative impact eliminated.

On the day he received the notice, Ji Linhai remained calm, quietly finishing his work as usual.

It wasn’t until evening that he went to see Zhong Zijun.

The moment he saw her, he finally broke down.

Usually as tough as steel, he cried like a child.

His father, Old Master Ji (Ji Ping), had been the deputy commander of the air force in the early days of the PRC. Influenced by his father, Ji Linhai had loved the skies since childhood and was determined to contribute to the development of the country’s air force.

In the 1950s, China’s ability to produce fighter jets was weak. Most technology came from abroad, and even many parts had to be imported.

Back then, Ji Linhai was still a young man. He visited the Gorky Aircraft Factory in the Soviet Union with a delegation, where they produced the MiG-21. That planted the dream in his heart to develop China’s own fighter jets.

Later, through his own efforts, he achieved that dream.

In the early 1960s, China developed a single-seat, single-engine supersonic jet fighter—the J-7—which officially went into production.

Although it was a copy of the MiG-21F-13, it marked China’s ability to produce advanced second-generation fighters independently.

Despite his youth, Ji Linhai served as chief designer for the project and even personally test-flew the J-7.

At the time, everyone said he was a “tiger son of a general,” with a boundless future.

His achievements didn’t stop there. Besides fighter research, he later took charge of tactical and technical training test flights for the air force and was long responsible for combat readiness and intercepting high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft.

He led the research on the J-8 fighter, which began design in the early 1960s, with the first prototypes completed in 1968.

But then disaster struck. Many people were implicated, and the J-8, which should have been finalized quickly, still hadn’t entered full production.

After being labeled a rightist, he and his father were thrown into the cowshed to fend for themselves.

At first, his father was utterly disheartened, refusing to accept reality and even contemplating suicide several times. Thanks to Ji Linhai’s persistence, the two of them managed to survive.

For so many years, he had almost forgotten his former self and everything from before. He lived without dignity, like a beast of burden.

Now, at last, their grievances were redressed.

The pain of it all was beyond words.

Zhong Zijun, also a victim of the Anti-Rightist Campaign, understood his suffering all too well. Some things could only be felt, not spoken.

Sitting there, it seemed they were still the same people as before, but only they knew that everything had changed, inside and out.

Ji Linhai and Ji Ping were soon taken away. The situation had changed drastically, and there was much to be done—they were needed back at their posts.

Ji Linhai left all his savings with Zhong Zijun, asking her to take care of herself.

He promised that once he returned, he would do everything he could to help her family get their own redress, and when the time came, he would come for her himself.

Gu Qinghuan was happy for them, and before they left, she hosted a gathering and prepared many things for them to take.

Before leaving, Ji Ping, their honorary god-grandfather, emptied his pockets and gave all his spare change to Dabao and Beibei.

After all, they had become family.

Dabao and Beibei were reluctant to part with Ji Ping and Ji Linhai.

When the villagers saw an armed squad come to take the two from the cowshed, everyone whispered among themselves.

“My goodness, that big oaf from the cowshed is actually someone important?”

“And that old guy, I heard he’s a big leader too!”

“What a pity! If only we’d cozied up to them back then, maybe we’d be riding high now!”

“Dream on! You think you had that kind of foresight?”

Lin Xiaomeng felt a bit regretful too. She’d known that many in the cowshed were big shots who might be rehabilitated.

But she hadn’t realized these two had such influence, that the state would send so many people to fetch them.

If only she’d tried to befriend them.

But then, so much had changed in this life, and her own path had shifted as well.

Zhong Zijun hid in the crowd, watching Ji Linhai about to leave.

Ji Linhai was now in crisp military uniform, his big beard shaved off, revealing his handsome face. It turned out he’d kept the beard to hide his striking looks.

But with the beard gone, the skin on his face was two different shades, which was a bit funny.

Without the beard, Ji Linhai looked at least ten years younger, like a man not yet thirty.

Zhong Zijun almost didn’t recognize him. She felt a twinge of anxiety. When Ji Linhai had been scruffy, she’d felt they were well-matched. But now, he seemed like a stranger.

For the first time, she felt a sense of inferiority. She was a few years older than him, had two children, while he was unmarried and now reinstated to a higher position. The gap between them would only grow.

Ji Linhai looked into the crowd and immediately spotted Zhong Zijun, even though her face was covered.

He gave her a gentle wave before getting in the car and driving away.

Gu Qinghuan noticed Zhong Zijun’s disappointment and melancholy.

“Mom, are you worried Uncle Ji will forget about you now that he’s gone?”

“No, I just feel he seems a bit unfamiliar now…” She’d once thought they were equals, but now it felt like they were worlds apart.

Gu Qinghuan understood—she was struggling to accept the sudden change.

“Don’t worry, our own day in the sun isn’t far off. By then, you two will still be a well-matched pair.”

Zhong Zijun let it go.

“You’re right. I trust your Uncle Ji.” He wasn’t that kind of man.

All she could think of was Ji Linhai’s final smile. After all these years, it was the first time she’d seen his true face.

When you meet someone as radiant as a rainbow, only then do you realize what you’ve been missing."

"Chapter 299: The Death of He Liangong

Ever since Yujie Soap Factory built its new large workshop, business had indeed been booming.

Gu Qinghuan provided two more soap formulas.

One was for making pig pancreas soap, and the other was for a stronger cleaning soap.

The idea for pig pancreas soap came from Chen Fengqin, who mentioned that many rural folks were reluctant to buy soap and still preferred using wood ash.

If they could produce a lower-cost pig pancreas soap, it might be more appealing to people in the countryside.

The cost of pig pancreas soap was indeed much lower—just two cents to make, with a wholesale price of seven cents and a retail price of ten cents. Most rural families could afford it.

Meanwhile, the regular soap was mainly targeted at city dwellers, making laundry and cleaning more convenient.

Xu Huainian didn’t shortchange Gu Qinghuan—he paid her five hundred yuan for these two formulas, and also settled the payment for the previous two, totaling a thousand yuan.

Gu Qinghuan accepted the money without hesitation. After all, she deserved it; the success of Yujie Soap Factory was entirely thanks to her formulas and suggestions.

She had also put in a lot of effort for the factory, especially in its early days.

Day by day, life went on. Aside from her regular classes, Gu Qinghuan turned down almost all other distractions, dedicating her spare time to focused revision, often studying until midnight or even later.

The time for the reinstated college entrance exam was drawing closer. If she waited any longer to prepare, it would be too late.

She remembered that from the announcement to the actual exam, there was only a month to get ready.

Lin Xiaomeng was the same, throwing herself into her studies. She swore she had never worked so hard in either of her two lifetimes.

She didn’t expect to get into a top university like Huaqing, but at the very least, she wanted to return to Beijing—that was her goal.

Beijing was her obsession. She wanted to go back and prove to those who had bullied or abandoned her just how wrong they had been.

Gu Lanting was also working and studying at the same time, never letting go of his books.

From his sister and the Ming family, he’d vaguely learned that big changes were coming—the springtime for scholars was about to arrive.

—

Xu Huaian took leave and returned to Guangdong Province.

After more than a year of effort, Tang Zhenye had finally followed the clues and uncovered He Liangong’s background, wiping out all the forces behind him in one fell swoop.

When Tang Zhenye learned that his long-time partner was a traitor, he spent a sleepless night pondering what to do. In the end, he decided to bide his time and wait for the right moment.

For He Liangong to have hidden himself for so many years meant he was after something big and didn’t dare expose himself easily.

Step by step, Tang Zhenye set up his trap, and now, at last, the net had closed.

After He Liangong was captured, he didn’t offer much explanation. He just calmly asked, “Old Tang, when did you find out?”—as if they were still old friends.

“A year ago,” Tang Zhenye replied, giving his old friend this final respect.

“Haha, you really know how to keep your cool! I remember when we were young, you had a terrible temper—any little thing would set you off,” He Liangong said with a sigh.

“You said it yourself—that was when I was young. I can’t stay young forever, can I?”

“I underestimated you!” Or perhaps, over the years, he’d gradually let down his guard around Tang Zhenye, after all, they’d known each other for more than a decade.

“Actually, I didn’t figure it out myself, Old He. Before this, I never guarded against you.

It was someone else who saw through you,” Tang Zhenye sighed.

“Who?”

“You know him too.”

He Liangong suddenly stood up. “It was Xu Huaian, wasn’t it?”

Tang Zhenye nodded. “That’s right.”

He Liangong could no longer remain calm. He punched the wall, blood seeping from between his fingers.

“That kid! I knew it was him! After hiding for more than ten years, I was finally tripped up by a moment of weakness!”

Back when he was working with the Vietnamese, he could have completed the mission without anyone knowing.

But he just couldn’t bring himself to harm Xu Huaian. The kid was a natural-born soldier, tough and resilient—given time, he’d soar to great heights.

More importantly, deep down, he saw him as his own son.

Xu Huaian was everything he’d ever dreamed of in a child—strong-willed, determined, unafraid of hardship, and always ready to fight.

Someone like him, living on the edge all his life, could never have a real child of his own. He’d chosen this path, dancing on a knife’s edge every day, one wrong move and he’d be doomed forever.

So, after much deliberation, he transferred Xu Huaian away ahead of time, at least saving his life. But that very action left a loophole and a hidden danger for himself.

Afterwards, he did regret it a little. Someone like him had no right to act on emotion—his own life and the mission should have come first.

Luckily, when Xu Huaian came back, he’d completely forgotten what had happened and suffered severe trauma, unable to stay in the army.

He tested him repeatedly, making sure he had no memory of it before letting him return home.

That also meant they could never contact each other again.

He thought that after so many years, everything was settled. Who would have thought that a single moment of weakness would plant the seeds of his own destruction?

People really can’t afford to be soft-hearted.

Tang Zhenye had rarely seen He Liangong so agitated.

“Old He, you did a lot of wrong things and lied to me for so many years.

But in this matter, I have to thank you—thank you for sparing that child.”

“I spared him, but he didn’t spare me!

Better I betray the world than let the world betray me!

My teacher was right back then—people in our line of work can’t afford to act on emotion. How ridiculous that I made such a mistake at my age!

I really am getting old!”

He Liangong’s face was full of self-mockery.

“How do you know he didn’t give you a chance?

Back then, when you met with the Vietnamese, he actually heard everything you said from below the cliff.

He always respected you as a father, but his ‘father’ had cruelly killed hundreds of his compatriots, sparing only him.

To him, you were both his savior and his enemy.

He couldn’t forgive your cruelty, but he also couldn’t bring himself to shoot you.

In the end, he forced himself into a nervous breakdown, completely forgetting what happened with you.

He gave you a chance. In all these years, you could have walked away at any time, but you didn’t,” Tang Zhenye said seriously.

It seemed this old friend really did care about Xu Huaian, or he wouldn’t be so dejected.

He Liangong was in disbelief. “He… he really heard everything back then?

Old Tang, I want to see him one more time, is that okay?

After I see him, I’ll tell you everything you want to know.”

Xu Huaian came to Guangdong. After so many years, he saw He Liangong again—the man he both respected and hated. To his own surprise, he could face him calmly now.

He Liangong’s hair was now gray, his spirit broken. Life as a prisoner was hard.

“You’re here?” He greeted him with the same warm smile as always.

Xu Huaian sat down. “I heard from the commander you wanted to see me?”

He Liangong had wanted to ask many questions.

But when he actually saw him, he didn’t want to ask anything anymore.

He simply said, “Is your illness cured? I heard from Old Tang that you got married?”

Xu Huaian nodded. “I’m basically recovered now.” The pain of the past was almost forgotten, and he didn’t want to bring it up again.

He thought for a moment, then took out a family photo and handed it over. “This is my wife.”

There was a hint of pride in his gentle tone.

He Liangong looked at it carefully and concluded, “You’re well matched.”

Xu Huaian carefully put the photo back in his pocket.

“Huaian, this will be the last time we meet in this life. Is there anything you want to say to me?” He Liangong looked at him calmly.

“I struggled, I suppressed it, I even forced myself to forget, but in the end, fate made me remember everything.

I’m sorry, but I couldn’t just watch as over five hundred of my compatriots died in vain.

You and I were destined to be on opposite sides from the start.

But… thank you for sparing my life back then.”

He Liangong showed a look of relief.

“Huaian, I wish you a bright future.”

As soon as Xu Huaian walked out of the room, he heard someone shouting that He Liangong had committed suicide.

He rushed back in. He Liangong was already lying on the cold ground, having bitten through the poison he’d hidden in his mouth. At least his death was not ugly.

Perhaps, this was the best ending.

Xu Huaian bought him a coffin, honoring the bond they once shared.

He Liangong’s death pulled up the roots with the weeds, triggering a major shake-up in the entire military district. Tang Zhenye was overwhelmed with work.

Xu Huaian boarded a plane back to Beijing.

By coincidence, there was a military plane making a detour through Guangdong, so Tang Zhenye arranged for him to fly back—taking the train would have taken three days and nights.

The military plane wasn’t large, with just a few rows of seats, all occupied by soldiers.

It was Xu Huaian’s first time flying. He didn’t know the protocol, so he just picked a seat at random.

A young comrade stopped him. “Comrade, you can’t sit here, this is—”

But the man in uniform next to him waved his hand.

“It’s fine, Xiao Wang. Any empty seat is fine. Comrade, please sit.”

Xu Huaian felt a little embarrassed—this man was clearly a high-ranking officer.

But since he’d been invited, he didn’t hesitate and sat down next to him."

"Chapter 300: The Crescent Birthmark