Chapter 37: Did I Do Something Wrong?

After finishing her speech, Guo Xiuqin went straight to Wang Lianhua's room. Guo Xiuqin was the Women's Director of Lu Village; she had attended school and had received training from the organization. Most importantly, her maternal aunt's younger sister had married the cousin of the Chairman of the Commune Revolutionary Committee.

Although the connection was convoluted, the woman was capable. For a woman who had married out of her family to work her way up to Women's Director, earning a monthly welfare salary, she clearly possessed some skill. Her words and actions were indeed impartial, earning her the respect of the villagers.

Shen Meng blinked a few times, struggling to squeeze out a few tears before they instantly dried up. She clicked her tongue, giving up on the act of weakness, and instead put on a face of righteous indignation as Guo Xiuqin emerged from Wang Lianhua's room.

"The Village Chief is busy with the grain station's public grain collection, so I came alone today. Mingyang wasn't very clear on the road about what happened. Sister Chen, tell me exactly what's going on."

Chen Zhaodi had been fierce for many years, but seeing Guo Xiuqin, who was over a decade younger than her, she still felt nervous.

"It's nothing major. It's normal for families to have a few bumps in the road. Who knew Shen Meng was so useless? When she heard about Lianhua's situation, she got so scared she sent Mingyang to find you. Sorry for making you make the trip; it's no big deal."

"Second Aunt, how can you lie with your eyes wide open? Director Guo, you are the most impartial person here, and you can't stand seeing women being bullied. This isn't the old society anymore; you can't just oppress women whenever you feel like it. I didn't do well in the past, but thanks to Daqing and Erqing caring for Mingyang and his cousins and helping my Mingyang's children, I wanted to show my gratitude once my health improved. I made some dumplings with cabbage filling for Daqing and Erqing, but Daqing is a kind child; he felt bad for his mother and took them back. Sister Lianhua couldn't bear to eat them and gave them to Yaoyao. Unexpectedly, Sister Jingui saw them this morning, and it caused an uproar. They claimed Sister Lianhua was hiding grain and money! Second Aunt and Sister Jingui really beat her nearly to death! And Brother Yonggang too, following along with several kicks! Xifeng couldn't hold them off alone. Sister Lianhua was beaten badly, and the children were scared half to death. Director, you cannot ignore this!"

"You're talking nonsense! I... she... Director, I didn't do it! I didn't lay a hand on her! It was my second brother who did it himself. He can beat his own wife if he wants; it has nothing to do with me!" Zhao Jingui's face turned pale with panic.

Chen Zhaodi's expression was also very grim. She had originally intended to gloss over the matter, but she hadn't expected Shen Meng, this troublemaker, to expose everything.

"Xiuqin, this is just a family matter. There's no couple that doesn't argue. It's not a big deal; Lianhua will be fine after lying down for a couple of days."

Having been flattered, Director Guo immediately straightened her posture. Shen Meng had a bit of cleverness to her and had a good relationship with her. Furthermore, her husband held a regimental position in the army; others might not know, but Guo knew he held power. As long as she maintained a good relationship with Shen Meng, if any family wanted their son to join the army in the future, they could come to her.

"Hmph, if it were just a young couple bickering, I'd let it go. But Sister, you should go see Lianhua. If Xifeng hadn't been there, she might have been beaten to death. She is the wife your Lu family married with proper ceremony; she is the woman who gave your Lu family three children. Even if she hasn't achieved great things, she has certainly worked hard. Sister, don't you brag every day about how capable you are at managing your daughters-in-law? Since you're so capable, how could Lianhua possibly hide grain and money? And you, Jingui—as the eldest sister-in-law, instead of helping to mediate, you joined in the beating. Is she your sister-in-law or your punching bag? And as for the things you said to Yaoyao, I heard them from a distance. Are you not women yourselves? Why do you look down on little girls so much? I cannot let this matter slide easily today; a typical example must be set."

"Hey, Xiuqin, we are all from the same village. You can't make such a big deal out of this. Their father died early, and it wasn't easy for an old woman like me to raise the children and help them marry and have kids. Now that I'm old, can't I act like a mother-in-law? Besides, when we were young, wasn't that how the old women treated us?"

Chen Zhaodi didn't understand. She truly didn't understand. When she was young, her mother-in-law had beaten and scolded her constantly. Now that she had finally become a mother-in-law and was using the methods she learned from her own, why was she being singled out as a "typical example"?

"What era is this, still using those methods of tormenting daughters-in-law? This is the new society. The leaders have said that women can hold up half the sky. You beat Lianhua like this, and look, half the sky of your family has collapsed. Instead of living a good life, you insist on causing trouble. Wheat planting is about to start, and with these injuries, Sister Lianhua won't be able to earn any work points. Director, I'm truly afraid that once we leave, Sister Lianhua will suffer more torment." Shen Meng said to Guo Xiuqin while brushing her hair back.

"You're right. Sister, Jingui, you beat her like this, and the organization will certainly criticize you. Furthermore, you must compensate Lianhua. I will report the situation here to the organization; wait for the notice. Xifeng, you did well. Keep a close eye on your second sister-in-law from now on. If anyone dares to give her a hard time, come to me. Yonggang, what are you standing there for? Hurry and find Doctor Lu. Do you really want your children to lose their mother?"

Guo Xiuqin's words carried great weight. There was no need for her to argue and shout like Shen Meng; whatever she said was law. The Lu family didn't dare utter a single word. Chen Zhaodi, who had been jumping around like a chicken just a moment ago, was now standing with her hands clasped like a scolded grandson.

At noon, Shen Meng simply cooked a pot of tomato, egg, and cornmeal soup before returning to her room. The children saw her expression wasn't right and didn't dare speak, fearing she might suddenly jump up and revert to her old self.

Shen Meng sat on the *kang* alone for a long time without moving. Wang Lianhua had been beaten very badly; her face was covered in bruises. Daqing and the other two children were huddled by her side, sobbing like frightened little animals.

She hadn't expected that her simple gesture of goodwill would bring such great disaster to Wang Lianhua. She knew the countryside in the 1970s was poor, extremely poor, but she hadn't taken that to heart. She hadn't realized that a few coarse grain dumplings could bring such a catastrophe.

For the first time, Shen Meng scrutinized herself and her own thoughts. Had her act of bringing dumplings last night been a mistake? Should she have kept her good things tightly guarded? She suddenly remembered when Mingfang had gone out wearing clean, neat clothes; many villagers hadn't praised her, but had instead made many sarcastic, bitter remarks. The young girl hadn't left the house all day.

What had she told Mingfang back then?

"This isn't your fault. It's because your father is excellent. They envy you and are jealous of you, yet they cannot reach your level."