Chapter 13: Planning the Return to Yang City

“Old Chen is still at the police station,” Su Mu reminded them just in time.

“Oh, let’s go. Old Liu, you and I will go to the police station together.”

“Alright.”

Secretary Zhong, seeing that it was just a matter of the Chen family paying the money, stood up and said, “Comrade Su Qiao, I have other matters to attend to, so I’ll be leaving now. If you have anything else, come find me.”

The unspoken message was clear: don’t bother me again.

“All right, thank you, Secretary Zhong, for your noble service to the people,” Su Qiao said with clenched teeth, managing to say something that struck Zhong’s heart just right.

“Oh, no need to be so formal. I’m off now. Come find me if you need anything,” Zhong replied, sounding much more sincere this time.

Old Chen was finally released from the detention room, but before he could catch his breath, he saw the team leader and the village head handing him a piece of paper.

Glancing at it, he noticed the last line stating a total of one thousand yuan.

Seeing that figure, a bad feeling suddenly washed over him. “What does this mean?”

“It means your family must compensate the Fang intellectual youth one thousand yuan.”

“One thousand yuan?!” Old Chen shouted, stiffening his neck. “We never took a thousand yuan from her.”

“It’s all written right there on the paper. Can’t you read?”

“What am I supposed to read? Why should I pay her a thousand yuan? What’s she worth that much?”

“Why? Because you took her money; because you robbed her belongings; because you beat her until she had a concussion and broken ribs; because she still hasn’t woken up and needs to be treated in a big hospital. Secretary Zhong said this matter must be resolved quickly. If the higher-ups find out, both the team leader and the village head will be dismissed, and they’ll drag us all down with you.”

Liu Changfu rattled off a long list of reasons, leaving Old Chen dumbfounded.

But despite his confusion, he caught the last sentence clearly: if Secretary Zhong wasn’t satisfied, the team leader and village head would be removed from their posts.

If that happened, the Liu and Chang families—the two big clans—would devour him alive.

After that, the Chen family could forget about having a good life in the entire Hongqi Commune.

Liu Changfu now wore a dark expression as he asked, “Do you understand?”

“Yes, I understand.”

“Have you thought it through?”

“Yes, I have.”

“If you’ve thought it through, then go home and get the money.”

“But…”

“No ‘buts’ now. Wait until you bring the money back, then talk.”

Old Chen wilted; he didn’t want to pay, but he had no choice.

“Come on, I’ll drive the cart and go with you to get the money.”

“Ah,” Old Chen knew there was no way out and dared not struggle; his family still had to live in the Xiangyang Brigade, so he said nothing and obediently followed the team leader and village head onto the horse-drawn cart to fetch the money.

His family’s savings weren’t enough; he’d have to borrow some from the village head and team leader.

Su Qiao hadn’t expected to get the money and Fang Xiaoying’s grain ration and referral letter so quickly.

But the way Old Chen looked at her was filled with hatred, as if he wanted to skin her alive.

Let him look. She didn’t care.

She signed and stamped on behalf of her daughter in one smooth motion, her movements brisk.

She wouldn’t come here again, nor would she allow her daughter to return. As for the Chen family’s thoughts and outcomes, she wouldn’t pay attention. Her job was done once she secured the compensation for her daughter.

Seeing that the matter was satisfactorily resolved, Liu Changfu and Chang Yongchang said their farewells to Su Qiao, feeling relieved.

“Comrade Su Qiao, we’re heading back now. If anything happens in the future, you can send letters to our Xiangyang Brigade.”

“Thank you, leaders.”

Both sides spoke politely, fully aware there would be no next time.

Seeing the team leader and others leaving, Li Ling quickly said to Su Qiao, “Godmother, we’re going back with the team leader. There’s a cart, so we don’t have to walk—how great is that?”

“All right, wait for me a moment,” Su Qiao said, opening her large bag.

First, she took out four packs of Peony cigarettes and handed them to Su Mu, signaling him to give them to the two brigade officials.

Then she pulled out a heavy little cloth bag and gave it to Li Ling. “These are salted duck eggs I made. You three share them.”

“Hey!” Qiu Dazhu, standing behind Li Ling, responded the quickest.

From a blue coarse cloth wallet, Su Qiao took out three five-yuan bills. “Here’s five yuan each—this is your godmother’s gift for changing your addresses.”

“Godmother, we can’t take this money,” the three said, recalling that their families had only given them twenty yuan when they went to the countryside. Five yuan at once felt overwhelming.

“Godmother, these salted duck eggs are already very good. The money…”

“It’s a one-time gift for changing your addresses. Next time, there won’t be any.”

“Alright,” the three young ones took the money after hearing their godmother’s words.

“Thank you, godmother!”

“Thank you, godmother.”

“Thank you, godmother.”

Five yuan was a significant sum in these times. Liu Changfu and Chang Yongchang both secretly marveled.

Usually, people only gave twenty cents as a wedding gift, but to recognize a godmother and receive five yuan each, and for three people no less—the Fang intellectual youth’s mother must be quite wealthy.

Chang Yongchang felt a pang of envy, wishing he could go home immediately and have his own children recognize a godmother like that.

Liu Changfu looked at the two packs of Peony cigarettes in his hands, delighted. At his age, it was the first time he had ever seen such cigarettes.

He knew these were reserved for high-ranking leaders. “Heh heh,” he thought, “I’ll take these home and show them off to my in-laws so they stop looking down their noses at me.”

Su Qiao took the opportunity to tell the three children that they would return to Yang City the next day.

Though Li Ling and the others were reluctant, they knew the medical facilities in Yang City were better than here.

***

After seeing off the group, the ward finally settled into silence.

“Sister, what should we do next?” Su Mu asked anxiously, looking at his still-unconscious niece.

“Xiaoying will wake up.”

“She definitely will,” Fang Xiaofeng said as he entered, trying to hide the smile on his face.

Su Qiao saw the joy in her son’s eyes, unable to hide it, and knew something good was happening.

Blushing, Fang Xiaofeng told his mother the truth.

“Captain Ye agreed that Jian Guo and I can join the autumn military recruitment. Captain Ye also said that as long as we pass the physical exam, he’ll send someone to pick us up.”

“That’s wonderful. Sister, if Xiaofeng joins the army, he won’t have to go to the countryside anymore.”

“Exactly! Xiaofeng, you’re amazing.”

After praising her son, Su Qiao remembered to ask, “Jian Guo went with you to the army, but why didn’t Dazhu come along?”

“Brother Dazhu said he wanted to stay and keep Lingjie company. He’s afraid that if they all leave, Lingjie will be bullied.”

“That boy has a good heart. He’s right, too. If Lingjie is left alone as a girl, she could easily be taken advantage of.”

“Exactly. Since something happened to Xiaoying, they at least managed to send a letter. If Lingjie were by herself, I don’t even want to think about the consequences.”

“Yes. With the Chen family being such a den of wolves, trouble is everywhere.”