Everyone was thinking the exact same thing at that moment.
And that was that the Zhao family must have been bullying Song Mianmian in secret otherwise she never would have reacted this way.
That is just too much is it not.
Some of the forthright upright people there immediately boiled over. They started calling out Zhao Xinde and his whole family of three.
Zhao Xinde and here I thought you were a good man. I have been telling everyone how kind you were to take Song Mianmian in such benevolence turns out you are nothing but a fair faced hypocrite.
Huang Jing you and your husband always spout about righteousness and virtue saying you would never treat Mianmian unfairly so it was all just an act was it not.
I knew it. Who treats a child not their own that well. I was right all along.
Zhao Xinde and the other two scrambled to defend themselves swearing they had never laid a hand on Song Mianmian but nobody wanted to believe them.
After venting their anger at the Zhaos the crowd turned to giving Song Mianmian advice.
Mianmian why did you not dodge just now. Standing there like that waiting to get hit. That is far too foolish of you.
Mianmian have you gotten used to being treated like this. Surely not. They really are pushing you too far are they not.
Poor Mianmian what a hard life you have had. Some of the more tender hearted were even weeping as they spoke.
Song Mianmian stayed quiet.
Up until today the Zhao family really had never struck her. And she had not stood there waiting to be hit either the moment Zhao Yafang charged at her she had told Duobao to give her a shock.
Still this misunderstanding worked perfectly for what came next. She would make the most of it.
Her face crumpling just so putting on an air of timid wronged innocence she spoke clearly but quietly. It is not true. They never hit me. Not even once. I am telling the truth. You have to believe me. Otherwise when I go back Zhao Yafang will.
It sounded as though she were standing up for the Zhaos. But her stammering terrified manner and that suggestive final line left everyone with only one conclusion.
The Zhaos had been beating her all along in secret. She was too afraid of further mistreatment when she got home to speak ill of them now so she was making excuses to protect them.
Learning that Zhao Zilin already had a child with Du Qinghui and seeing how precarious Song Mianmian’s position as the former fiancée had become their indignation redoubled and they let loose another torrent of abuse at the Zhao family.
Hypocrite. Disgusting.
All shine and no substance black hearts underneath.
Treating people like this you will get what is coming to you.
At first Zhao Xinde Huang Jing and Zhao Yafang had not caught the hidden meaning in Song Mianmian’s words they had even felt a flicker of relief. Once the crowd’s shouting woke them up they were seized with fury and panic. They tried to protest only for the staff from the Educated Youth Office to speak up running short on time.
Everyone hold on a moment let us finish announcing the educated youth rural assignment postings for this compound first.
They had been enjoying the spectacle as much as anyone but they still had several more locations to visit with notices and resettlement grants so they had to tear themselves away.
The interruption came as a letdown to the Zhaos and the onlookers alike. Song Mianmian however was thrilled. She had been waiting to see how the Zhaos would react when they heard she had volunteered for the countryside.
Rural assignment was serious business. Though disappointed everyone agreed to cooperate politely. Several families with children due to be sent down stepped forward to ask for details.
Working methodically the Office staff did not answer them directly instead their leader raised a megaphone and called out. For this posting from Hongguang Iron and Steel Works First Family Compound those assigned to the countryside are Comrade Lin Wei from the Lin household and Comrade Song Mianmian from the Zhao household. Will Comrade Lin Wei and Comrade Song Mianmian please come forward to receive your assignment notice letter of introduction travel papers and one hundred yuan resettlement allowance.
Everyone knew Lin Wei was going his posting was mandatory under policy. But Song Mianmian this was news to all of them.
For most people being sent to the countryside was a terrible fate. For Song Mianmian though as the realization sank in it seemed the only way out she could possibly have. Kind hearted souls breathed a quiet sigh of relief for her. Men who had hoped to take her in as a wife while she was vulnerable felt thwarted.
The Zhao family were livid. They would not have minded her going what they hated was losing control over her so suddenly. They kept silent not daring to cause a scene as the documents were handed over.
As soon as she had her letter of introduction Song Mianmian looked for the destination Hongshi Village Yuanshan Town Heilongjiang Province. Her heart leapt.
Yuanshan Town Heilongjiang was not that exactly where Fu Chen was living now with his adoptive parents. She did not know the name of his village but how big could one town be. And with her resources finding him would be easy.
Good she would not need to rush finding Yu Hongying or Uncle Jiang or Uncle Zheng or Aunt Xie. Truth be told she still had not worked out how to explain her plan to rescue Fu Chen every way she thought of sounded full of holes.
Lost in thought a genuine heartfelt smile touched her face. She had taken great pains with her appearance that morning using products from her time to disguise herself her palms were rough exposed skin sallow and gaunt looking. After two days drinking spring water she was lean and sturdy baggy worn clothes completed the picture she looked as though Zhao Zilin’s betrayal had wasted her away. Her fine features though only shone brighter when she smiled.
Zhao Yafang saw it and jealousy flared up hot and sharp. As the Office staff prepared to leave she seized her chance and shouted across the yard.
Song Mianmian you are an orphan you have lived in our house nearly ten years. We fed you well clothed you put you through high school got you such a good job. My parents treated you like their very own daughter. All because my brother did not want a marriage arranged when they were children an old fashioned idea and would not marry you so you ruin his prospects and then secretly sign up for the countryside without telling us. Is that or is that not repaying kindness with betrayal.
She turned to the crowd then raising her voice further. Judge for yourselves is not every word I have said the truth. And there is one more thing we need to find out where you were last night staying out all night. I suspect you were off carrying on with some man and it was that lover of yours who put you up to this sudden rural posting.
The accusation had come to her on the spot but she delivered it with such conviction it sounded like fact. Some began to believe her looking at Song Mianmian with open scorn.
Song Mianmian held her tongue waiting for the murmurs to swell when someone spoke up in her defence.