In the blink of an eye, Aunt Ma had rushed up to Shen Qingyun and reached out to grab her.
Shen Qingyun frowned, her expression cold. “Comrade, please keep your hands to yourself.”
Aunt Ma, accustomed to being domineering in the factory residential compound, planted her hands on her hips and glared. “You little brat! Look clearly—I’m your mother-in-law! Pack your things and come home. There’s laundry to do, children to care for. I’ll tell you now: from this day forward, you live properly, bear a few sons for Daqiang, and no showing off outside!”
Shen Qingyun glanced at Ma Daqiang, who was hiding by the wall. Ma Daqiang shrank back at her gaze and instinctively covered his face, feeling his cheeks burn.
Shen Qingyun’s voice was icy. “Are you trying to sabotage a military marriage?”
Aunt Ma snorted disdainfully. “Sun Lanzhi told me Zhou Weiguo already went back to the southern province. Nobody’s marrying you—what military marriage? I, Pan Chunhua, wasn’t raised to be scared!”
It was Sun Lanzhi again, scheming behind the scenes, thinking Shen Qingyun was clay to be molded at will.
Shen Qingyun’s eyes flashed with a hint of coldness.
“Is that so? Did Sun Lanzhi tell you my biological parents have already been sent to Hei Province? I don’t know when they’ll be reinstated. Ma Daqiang wants to marry me? Fine. Let’s see if your Ma family is red enough to survive the winter in Hei Province.”
Aunt Ma was stunned. What? “Sent to Hei Province?”
She was only trying to marry off a daughter-in-law—how had it suddenly become a matter of sending the Ma family away?
Her thoughts scattered. Shaking her head vigorously like a rattle, she said, “No, no! My Daqiang can’t marry you. If you’re going to be sent away, go yourself, but don’t involve my Daqiang!”
Seeing Aunt Ma about to leave, Shen Qingyun spoke slowly, “Aunt Ma, is that it? Three hundred yuan in betrothal money just gone? I didn’t lie to you—I really am getting married. But who told you I’m marrying Zhou Weiguo?”
“What? Shen Qingyun is getting married?”
Aunt Ma felt her mind couldn’t keep up. Shen Qingyun is married—what about the three hundred yuan betrothal money?
Suddenly realizing Sun Lanzhi had tricked her, she was furious. She couldn’t imagine: if she had brought Shen Qingyun home today, both Shen Qingyun’s identity and the accusation of sabotaging a military marriage would have ruined the Ma family!
“I think Sun Lanzhi deliberately set you up. No matter the outcome, as long as she hides in the compound, you can’t do anything. Without the betrothal money, your son can’t marry a wife. Aunt Ma, your son will stay single his whole life!”
Hearing this, Aunt Ma panicked. “This won’t do! My son must marry! But Sun Lanzhi is hiding inside, and I can’t get into the compound. What can I do?”
“Why can’t you get in? The Shen family isn’t limited to one daughter. Isn’t there another unmarried daughter? Sun Lanzhi took the betrothal money. Whichever daughter she marries, it’s still valid,” Shen Qingyun said with meaning.
Aunt Ma’s eyes lit up. She immediately told the guard that Sun Lanzhi had taken her betrothal money, making the Shen family her in-laws—how could they bar her entry?
After a brief hesitation, the guard let her in like a slippery eel. Ma Daqiang followed closely, and Shen Qingyun strolled behind them.
Sun Lanzhi dared to scheme against her; Shen Qingyun wasn’t about to be soft-hearted.
The Ma family mother and son had been here before and quickly located Shen Zhigao’s house.
Ma Daqiang pounded on the door, while Aunt Ma yelled, “Sun Lanzhi, come out here!”
Sun Lanzhi didn’t come out, but her shouting attracted a crowd of onlookers.
Shen Qingyun hid in the crowd and raised her voice: “The Shen family is too much, bullying ordinary people! You accepted the betrothal money and now refuse to honor the marriage. Look—the mother and son have come to claim what’s theirs! If Sun Lanzhi doesn’t come out today, the whole compound will be shamed. How can we face people outside? Will we still be regarded as respectable military wives?”
At these words, Sun Lanzhi at the door couldn’t sit still, and even Shen Zhigao was forced out of the house.
“What’s going on?” Shen Zhigao asked sternly.
“Deputy Director Shen, you came just in time. I want to ask about the three hundred yuan betrothal money. Is this marriage going to be honored?” Aunt Ma loudly demanded. She had figured it out: even if it were Shen Qinghe instead of Shen Qingyun, it wouldn’t be a bad deal.
Three hundred yuan could get her son a wife and make them in-laws with the deputy director—how could this be a loss?
The only downside was that Shen Qinghe wasn’t as beautiful as Shen Qingyun, but thinking of Shen Qingyun’s family background, Aunt Ma’s small regret vanished.
Noticing Shen Zhigao frown in her direction, Sun Lanzhi’s eyes flickered with panic. She lowered her voice to warn, “Of course it counts. I told you to find Shen Qingyun—why are you here instead?”
Aunt Ma spat, almost hitting Sun Lanzhi in the face.
“Sun Lanzhi, what kind of mischief have you plotted? Are you trying to get my Daqiang sent to prison for sabotaging a military marriage? I don’t care! Since you accepted our betrothal money, today I’m taking my daughter-in-law!”
She gestured to Ma Daqiang, who rushed in and dragged Shen Qinghe out.
Shen Qinghe was stunned—learning she was about to marry Ma Daqiang, she shook her head violently, flailing her legs. Sun Lanzhi panicked, quickly pulling Shen Qinghe behind her to shield her.
“There must be a misunderstanding. Don’t act rashly. Let’s talk it out.”
Meanwhile, with the Ma family causing a commotion, Shen Qingyun took the opportunity to slip into Sun Lanzhi’s room. She pulled open the iron bunk bed and retrieved the cloth bag hidden in the brick crevice.
This was a spot the original Shen Qingyun had stumbled upon, where Sun Lanzhi stashed money. Shen Qingyun opened it and was greatly disappointed—inside were just over three hundred yuan and some scattered ration coupons.
Even a few scraps count. She wouldn’t leave a single penny for Sun Lanzhi or Shen Zhigao.
Shen Qingyun placed all the money and coupons into her storage space, returned the cloth bag to its original spot under the bunk, and quietly left Shen’s house, heading back to the front yard.
In the front yard,
Sun Lanzhi finally appeased Aunt Ma, agreeing to return the betrothal money, settling the matter.
But Aunt Ma wasn’t satisfied, holding up five fingers. “I want five hundred.”
Sun Lanzhi was furious but powerless. She had taken the Ma family’s betrothal money and couldn’t let Shen Qinghe marry Ma Daqiang. With Shen Zhigao in a crucial stage of promotion, she couldn’t risk escalation, so she had no choice but to agree.
“I don’t have that much right now. I’ll return three hundred today and gather the remaining two hundred in a couple of days.”
Aunt Ma’s anger turned to joy, and she agreed immediately.
Sun Lanzhi took a deep breath, entered the room, and pulled out her usual hidden cloth bag, but it was empty—her face turned pale.
“Where’s the money?!”
When she told Aunt Ma she had no money, Aunt Ma flew into a rage, yanking Sun Lanzhi by the hair and banging her head against the wall. Shen Zhigao tried to intervene but was blocked by Ma Daqiang. Only Shen Qinghe remained, frozen in fear at the chaotic scene.
Shen Qingyun glanced at the bruised Sun Lanzhi and Shen Zhigao, satisfied, and left.
One brings trouble upon oneself—Shen Qingyun had warned them, yet they didn’t listen.
Later that evening, Shen Qingyun learned from Su Xiangmei that Ma Daqiang and Aunt Ma had emptied Shen’s house, threatening to report Shen Zhigao if the remaining two hundred yuan wasn’t collected within three days.
After this commotion, Sun Lanzhi’s reputation in the compound was ruined, and Shen Zhigao’s promotion was likely over.
Shen Qingyun was delighted, happily eating another bowl of rice.
Good things came in pairs. Zou Zhanyang returned home with good news.
The investigation into past events was clear—Sun Lanzhi had deliberately swapped the children, and Shen Zhigao knew but concealed it. Zou Zhanyang said, “I’ve reported it. The organization will soon take action.”
What Shen Qingyun didn’t know was that Zou Zhanyang had also uncovered Shen Zhigao’s misuse of his position over the years to gain benefits. It wouldn’t be long before he faced suspension and review.
Shen Qingyun happily kissed Zhanyang on the cheek.
Zhanyang tilted his head, the kiss landing on her lips. Their lips parted, and he instantly took the initiative.
At the crucial moment, Zhanyang, panting, released Shen Qingyun. “Wife, tomorrow is our wedding. Are you happy?”
Rubbing her small hand, he said, “What to do? I’m so excited I can’t sleep.”
The person in his arms hadn’t responded yet. Zhanyang looked down—she had fallen asleep.
Zhanyang laughed angrily, lifted Shen Qingyun onto the bed, leaned down, and kissed her. “Tomorrow, I won’t let you off so easily.”
The next day, the air was full of joy.
Shen Qingyun woke up groggy, washed, applied makeup, braided her hair, and put on her wedding dress. During this, Su Xiangmei, worried she’d be hungry, secretly slipped a handful of boiled peanuts into her hand to tide her over.
Once ready, Su Xiangmei couldn’t help but exclaim, “Qunjun, you look so beautiful!”
Shen Qingyun covered her mouth. “Thank you, Aunt Su.”
Outside, firecrackers exploded. Su Xiangmei came in from outside, calling out, “Qunjun, the groom is here to pick you up!”