The one who came to give the heads-up was the little daughter of Wu Guihua’s family. Her name was Xinghua — Tian Xinghua — with two shiny black braids. As soon as she saw Wang Ying, she pulled her aside.
“Ying-jie, Wang Lingling is back. My mom told me to let you know.”
Tian Xinghua had a face full of sympathy. It wasn’t hard to guess — why else would Wang Lingling come back at a time like this? Most likely, she was upset that the house was given to Wang Ying and came back to stir up trouble.
Wang Ying asked, “How long has she been back?”
Tian Xinghua said, “She just arrived a little while ago. Right now, she’s gone to look for the brigade leader and the Party secretary.”
Tian Xinghua wasn’t particularly close to Wang Ying, but because of Wu Guihua, they were at least on greeting terms. Thinking about all the frustrating relatives Wang Ying had to deal with recently, she couldn’t help but feel indignant on her behalf.
“Why don’t you go to the restaurant for now, Ying-jie? Wait until she’s gone before coming back.”
If Wang Lingling couldn’t find her, naturally there’d be no way for her to kick up a fuss or cause trouble.
“Aunt Xu is home. She won’t be able to stir anything up.”
Old Lady Xu might be warm and gentle with Wang Ying, but she didn’t have nearly the same good temper when it came to others — especially Wang Lingling, who had once reported her eldest son. There was no way she would let her off easy.
Wang Ying replied, “It’s fine. Let her come.”
In fact, Wang Ying was quite curious about the purpose of Wang Lingling’s visit.
She didn’t think Wang Lingling had come to claim the house. After all, her household registration had already been moved away, and she didn’t belong to this brigade anymore. Even if she wanted to live here, what would she eat if she didn’t go work in the fields?
Besides, it had been the brigade Party secretary and Tian Youfu who had jointly decided to give the house to Wang Ying. If Wang Lingling had gone to Tian Youfu right after arriving, it didn’t seem like her intention was to confront Wang Ying directly.
Wang Ying carried the lunchbox home first. As she approached her house, she saw Old Lady Xu looking imposing as she stood at the gate with a whole group of grannies gathered around.
Wang Ying laughed, “Ma, what’s going on here? If someone didn’t know better, they’d think you were going off to war.”
Old Lady Xu had placed a small wooden stool on a dirt mound at the gate, making herself sit a whole head taller than everyone else — like a general about to meet her troops.
The grannies surrounding her were whispering among themselves, and now and then, Wang Ying could even hear a few curses being muttered.
When Wang Ying asked what was going on, the group immediately broke into a chorus of voices:
“Ying girl, you go inside and sit. Don’t worry about anything that happens outside — just don’t come out.”
“Exactly! How can we let someone who married out come back and act all high and mighty? Just watch — I’ll curse her out myself!”
“Her parents were no good, and neither is she!”
Wang Ying looked toward Old Lady Xu in surprise. The old lady wore an expression of righteous indignation.
The grannies around her were still worked up and angry.
“We thought she was just foolish, insisting on being a stepmother — clearly not the smartest. But who would’ve thought she actually reported Xu’s eldest boy!”
Wang Ying instantly understood — Old Lady Xu hadn’t gotten over what happened with Xu Ming. She was still holding that grudge.
Since Wang Yongshun and Wang Yaozong had both already been sent away, Old Lady Xu simply brought up what Wang Lingling did last year — reporting Xu Ming just because she didn’t want to marry Xu Shuang.
In the countryside, while people might avoid families labeled as “black five types” (classified as politically undesirable), they hated informants even more.
Because let’s be honest — who hadn’t sneaked into the back mountain to gather wild vegetables or fruit? Who hadn’t hunted a rabbit or two? Who could say their family had no skeletons in the closet?
Technically speaking, the mountains were collective property. Anything taken from there was supposed to be handed over to the brigade.
But Tian Youfu had always turned a blind eye to such things. First, because it was simply impossible to control — the back mountain connected several brigades, and others were living off the land. If you tried to stop your own people, you’d be putting them at a disadvantage. Second, life was hard enough already. Enforcing rules to the letter would just make people resentful.
Tian Youfu didn’t enforce it strictly, but that didn’t make it legal. If someone really did report it, the whole brigade could suffer the consequences.
So, when everyone found out that Wang Lingling was the type to report people, their dislike for her ran deep.
If you didn’t want to marry him, just say it outright! The Xu family’s younger son wasn’t lacking in suitors.
Girls from other brigades — even some from the commune — had been trying to pursue him. Xu Shuang wasn’t just good-looking; if he really wanted, he even had ways to marry someone from the city.
So why did she need to act all superior and despise him?
And if you despise him, fine. But why report his older brother?
What kind of logic is that — “If I can’t have my way, I’ll burn everything down with me”?
There’s no excuse for that kind of behavior.
These grannies were all close with Old Lady Xu and had watched her two sons grow up.
Unlike Xu Shuang, who was quiet and reserved, Xu Ming had always been sweet-talking, smart, and studious — the quintessential “model child.” Every one of these old women had admired Old Lady Xu for raising such great sons.
One was talented and flew far, the other was practical, hardworking, and reliable.
Xu Ming was also generous. When he was in the provincial capital, anyone who asked him for help — whether it was buying something or pulling strings — he would find a way. Before the college entrance exams were suspended, he used to come back on break and tutor the local kids.
Such a wonderful young man — and yet, just because Wang Lingling didn’t want to marry his younger brother, he got dragged into this mess and ended up being sent off to the remote northwest.
The grannies were even angrier than Old Lady Xu. From a distance, they were furious that such a promising youth had been ruined. From up close, they were mad that they couldn’t ask Xu Ming to bring them things anymore — even more reason to hate Wang Lingling.
Wang Lingling, you wretched woman!
Wang Ying, of course, understood Old Lady Xu’s resentment. But she didn’t stop her.
In her view, people must take responsibility for their actions.
Wang Yongshun had taken money and valuables from her — so he had to pay it back and be punished. Wang Yaozong was a thief — so he had to compensate and go to jail.
And Wang Lingling?
She had reported Xu Ming. Naturally, she now had to suffer the consequences of being despised.
You can’t wave the big stick of “reporting” to attack others and then expect to hide in the shadows yourself. That’s wishful thinking.
Wang Ying took a handful of sunflower seeds and placed them in a wooden tray, bringing them out for the grannies to snack on.
Old Lady Xu gave Wang Ying a slightly aggrieved look. She had been trying to intimidate Wang Lingling into retreating. After all, the house behind them belonged to her daughter-in-law — it was compensation from Wang Yongshun and his wife. There was no way she would give the house to Wang Lingling.
Wang Lingling shouldn’t even think about stepping through the door!
But now, with the sunflower seeds out, that aura of serious confrontation was completely lost.
Wang Ying smiled with squinted eyes: “Not a delay at all—we can crack seeds while cursing.”
There was no need to sit up straight and take someone like Wang Lingling so seriously. That would give her too much credit.
Wang Ying had always felt that this supposedly “reborn” cousin didn’t have much brains.
Recently, because of the hailstorm, every household had been going through hard times. Sunflower seeds counted as luxury snacks now. The old ladies’ eyes lit up at the sight of them. Each grabbed a handful to munch on and discreetly tucked a few into their pockets to bring back for their grandchildren to taste.
Wang Ying casually cracked seeds and found a small stool to sit down.
So when Wang Lingling arrived at what was once her home, she was met with quite the scene:
A group of old ladies leisurely sitting in front of her house, cracking sunflower seeds, with shells littered all over the ground.
When they saw Wang Lingling carrying a child in her arms, leading another by the hand, and also carrying a cloth bag, everyone couldn’t help but scoff internally.
“Well, well, who is this? I couldn’t see clearly from a distance, but isn’t it little Lingling from the Wang family? What brings you back here now?”
“Come to visit your brother? Or here to care for your old mother?”
“Oh, don’t say that. Lingling’s brought the kids. She must be back visiting relatives.”
…
The old ladies joked and teased, every word laced with barbs.
The two children Wang Lingling brought, Zhao Dong and Zhao Xi, had bad tempers and were quick to sense the unfriendly atmosphere. They both pouted impatiently.
Zhao Dong pulled his hand back, refusing to let Wang Lingling hold him, and whined, “I don’t want to stay here. Take me to buy candy.”
Wang Lingling had promised to buy them sweets if they came along with her.
Zhao Dong: “Stepmom, you’re done with your business, right? Let’s go.”
Zhao Xi chimed in, “Stepmom, let’s go.”
Though the old ladies were here to mock Wang Lingling, upon hearing the two children speak, they all frowned.
Their gazes toward Wang Lingling were now filled with disdain.
So this is the person you desperately broke off your engagement with Young Xu for? The one who’s now got kids calling you “stepmom” at every turn?
Wang Lingling also felt humiliated and tried to soothe Zhao Xi, “We’ll leave in a bit, just wait a little longer.”
Zhao Dong made a face at her and ran off.
Wang Lingling called after him, “Don’t go too far, watch your step!”
Her hometown had a decent environment, so she wasn’t too worried about the kids getting lost.
Holding Zhao Xi, she turned back to look at Wang Ying with a complicated expression.
It wasn’t because she thought Wang Ying had taken her family’s house. She had just learned from the Party Secretary about Wang Ying marrying Xu Shuang and the details of the recent family affairs.
Wang Lingling wasn’t surprised about Wang Yaosheng and Wang Yongshun being sent away. In her past life, Wang Yaosheng had been just as scummy—he became a factory worker in the county town but was soon fired for misconduct. Afterward, he just hung around with shady friends, wasting his life.
What Wang Lingling hadn’t expected was that after she got married and left, Wang Ying actually ended up marrying Xu Shuang! And Xu Shuang didn’t lose his job after getting married!
She felt a mix of satisfaction at her plan’s success and a sense of disappointment she couldn’t quite understand.
She thought back to how she had once treated Wang Ying to nine meat buns just to match her with Xu Shuang. How she had deliberately reported Xu Ming to avoid marrying Xu Shuang. How she had eloped and married someone else. How she overheard on the bus that Wang Ying, now earning several yuan a month as a barefoot doctor, had found a husband with poor political standing…
If Wang Ying was fated to be with Xu Shuang, then what had all her plotting and scheming amounted to?
Wouldn’t it have been better if she hadn’t gone to such extreme lengths—she still could’ve gotten Wang Ying and Xu Shuang together. And maybe she wouldn’t have had to suffer six months with the Zhao family before finally splitting off her own household.
But those questions had no answers anymore. Holding her stepdaughter and looking at her stepson, Wang Lingling knew she had already chosen her path.
And besides…
Even if Wang Ying married Xu Shuang, she’d have nothing but hardship ahead!
Wang Lingling steadied herself. Just wait! Zhao Jun would return from the army in a couple of years. Then they could start a little side business together.
Even though the last ten years had been hard, things were starting to ease up after this year. As a couple with children, there were great prospects ahead!
Once they were rich, Wang Ying would still be stuck living with a lowly cook! So what if Xu Shuang didn’t lose his job? How capable could a mere cook really be?
Thinking of this, Wang Lingling’s earlier tinge of loss vanished.
She tilted her nose upward, ignoring the old ladies with disdain, and turned to shout at Wang Ying, “Hey!”
Wang Ying was still cracking sunflower seeds. She had come to enjoy reading people’s expressions—it was quite entertaining.
Especially Wang Lingling, who practically wrote everything on her face. When she wasn’t talking, it was like she was acting out a whole drama in her head—emotions swinging wildly.
Wang Ying heard Wang Lingling yell, and of course knew she was being called, but didn’t respond.
Who yells “Hey”? If you don’t know how to be polite, maybe just give your mouth to someone else—thanks.
Wang Lingling felt snubbed. That familiar, frustrating feeling she always got around Wang Ying came back—like a dog barking at a turtle, with no good place to bite.
She was fuming.
But Grandma Xu wouldn’t let her have that chance. She had held her tongue as long as she could, then let loose:
“Hey what? Your parents didn’t teach you how to be a decent person? Can’t even call someone by their name?”
“You reported Xu Ming back then, and now you dare stand here yelling at me? Am I being too nice to you, making you think I’m easy to bully?”
“Reporting, reporting—how vicious can you be? Got a mouth but don’t know how to speak properly? If you didn’t want to marry, you could’ve just said so—was it going to kill you? You had to set someone up first, then throw yourself at another man to make yourself feel like a person?”
“You can be cheap all you want, but why drag others down with you?”
Old Lady Xu was in full attack mode, letting loose on Wang Lingling without restraint.
Wang Lingling was stunned. In her view, reporting Xu Ming was just a trivial matter—so minor she hadn’t even given it a second thought.
And what had she done wrong anyway?!
Xu Ming was destined to die in a few years anyway. That’s not cursing him—that was just his fate. So what if she reported him? She was making the most out of something that was bound to happen!
First shocked, Wang Lingling was quickly overtaken by rage.
In her past life, her relationship with Old Lady Xu had been one of mutual loathing. Old Lady Xu despised her for ruining Xu Shuang’s job. Though she never outright told Wang Lingling to divorce and get lost, her attitude was cold and unfriendly.
Wang Lingling wasn’t someone who could tolerate being mistreated. She stopped interacting with Old Lady Xu altogether, spending her days lazing around and eating without contributing.
Old Lady Xu may have been fed up with her, but she never mistreated her.
When news of Xu Ming’s death came, Old Lady Xu was devastated, and within a year, she passed away too.
Now, Wang Lingling was caught up in memories of her previous life. Old Lady Xu’s tirade brought her anger to the surface immediately.
“What’s it to you! I’m talking to Wang Ying!”
“And anyway, if your son got investigated, why don’t you blame him for being careless? Sure, I reported him, but how come they were able to dig up something on him if he hadn’t done anything wrong?”
Wang Lingling didn’t feel the slightest bit guilty. She’d long disliked Xu Ming. In her past life, when she married Xu Shuang, Xu Ming didn’t even come back for the wedding. He only returned briefly later and handed her a few canned goods and a silk scarf as a belated wedding gift.
Just a few cans!
That silk scarf pissed her off every time she saw it. She felt Xu Shuang was being treated unfairly and that Old Lady Xu was playing favorites.
Xu Ming had stayed in school to study and even after graduation remained in academia, still asking the family for money every month. Shameless!
Everyone said intellectuals were useless. Xu Ming had read so many books and wasn’t helpful at all—never even came back for holidays. When he did, it was just a quick glance around before he left again. The burden of supporting the family fell on the younger son, Xu Shuang, who even had to send part of his wages to his older brother.
What kind of twisted logic was that? Wang Lingling had always been determined to have Xu Shuang split from the family, but unlike Zhao Jun, Xu Shuang was harder to convince and refused in the end.
When she heard Xu Ming had been demoted, she actually thought, “Why didn’t this happen a few years earlier? Would’ve saved us from supporting him all this time.”
Even after Xu Ming was demoted, Xu Shuang still tried to send him care packages.
They sent quite a lot, which sparked plenty of arguments between Wang Lingling and Xu Ming’s mother, but within a year, Xu Ming was dead.
Now, with memories of both lifetimes tangled together, Wang Lingling was full of resentment toward Xu Ming, without a trace of sympathy.
“Tell me—was I wrong to report him? Who told him to read foreign books? He deserved to be caught.”
Xu Ming had been investigated in her past life, and reading foreign books was part of the evidence against him. Wang Lingling couldn’t remember most of what she wrote in that report, but she figured this point would suffice.
And to be fair, she had a real talent for pouring fuel on the fire.
Her words instantly sent Old Lady Xu into a furious rage.
Old Lady Xu stood up, ready to fight.
A few other old ladies came over, pretending to stop her but actually just helping out—one took the little girl from Wang Lingling’s arms and set her aside, another blocked her path, and the rest circled around, making half-hearted attempts to calm things down while actually doing nothing.
They let Old Lady Xu get in several solid slaps.
Old Lady Xu held back her grief and struck Wang Lingling with all her strength.
“Are you insane? Are you actually insane?!”
Old Lady Xu was livid, and the other women could fully relate.
What business of yours is it if someone reads foreign books? Xu Ming was a college graduate, working with professors on research—of course he’d read foreign literature. And don’t act like your own record is spotless. Once people start digging, who can stand up to a real investigation?
Forget others—just look at your own father and brother, Wang Yongshun and Wang Yaozong. You think your family is squeaky clean? What if someone used your family background against you—would you be able to cut ties?
Old Lady Xu’s slaps left Wang Lingling’s cheeks bright red. Furious and humiliated, Wang Lingling’s eyes turned red with rage.
“You dare hit me?!”
In her past life, neither Xu Shuang nor Old Lady Xu had ever laid a finger on her. She never expected this now.
“So what if I hit you? You think you can go around reporting people and not get smacked? Just you wait—if you can report my son, then you better pray your husband never slips up!”
Old Lady Xu had had enough: “You better watch out! I hope you never make a single mistake!”
A cold jolt of fear ran through Wang Lingling’s heart.
She could disregard herself, but not Zhao Jun and the two children.
What if something happened to her and Zhao Jun got reported in retaliation—what would she do then?
She tried to bluff: “I’m done talking to you! I came here to speak with Wang Ying!”
She shouldn’t have come in person—should’ve just sent some kid to fetch Wang Ying privately!
