After leaving the Machinery Factory, Shen Zhouzhou headed straight to Li Xiaoning’s home. Both of Li Xiaoning’s parents were there, and the moment they saw her, they immediately asked what had happened and whether she had been hurt.
The instant Li Xiaoning spotted her, she cried out in surprise, “Zhouzhou! Are you alright? I went to your house yesterday, but your father said you…”
“I’m fine,” Shen Zhouzhou interrupted with a smile. “Uncle, Aunt, Xiaoning, I have some good news. I’ve transferred the Machinery Factory job to Xiaoning. You can complete the paperwork whenever you have time.”
Li Xiaoning froze in disbelief.
“Really? Zhouzhou… how can I accept that? It was your job!”
“Zhouzhou, did something happen?” Li Xiaoning’s mother frowned with concern. “Why would you give up such a good opportunity? Don’t worry about Xiaoning. Your uncle and I still know quite a few people around here. We can slowly figure something out for her later.”
“Uncle, Aunt, Xiaoning, don’t worry. I’m doing very well. I’m going to follow the army to J Province soon, so I won’t be needing this job anymore.” Shen Zhouzhou gently patted Li Xiaoning’s shoulder. “We’re good sisters. If I don’t transfer it to you, who else would I give it to? Don’t be so polite with me. Hurry and get ready, then go report to the factory this afternoon.”
“What? You’re following the army?” Li Xiaoning exclaimed in shock. “You have someone now? Since when? Does he treat you well?”
“What’s his family background like? Why are you already following the army?”
The entire Li family was stunned by the news. Everything had happened so suddenly that there hadn’t been the slightest hint beforehand.
Shen Zhouzhou briefly recounted everything that had happened between herself and Chu Yunli.
After hearing the story, the entire family was furious. They wished they could drag Li Hongxia out immediately and beat her senseless. None of them had expected her to be so vicious.
“Everyone, calm down.” Shen Zhouzhou smiled reassuringly. “I’ve already reported Li Hongxia to the police. In a few days, she’ll be sent to the Great Northwest for labor reform.”
Li Xiaoning’s mother wiped away her tears as she held Shen Zhouzhou’s hand tightly.
“Zhouzhou, my poor child. You’ve finally come through all your hardships. From what you’ve told us, Comrade Chu Yunli sounds like a dependable man. Once you’re at the military base, if anyone ever bullies you, remember to tell us. We’ll always be your family and stand up for you.”
Shen Zhouzhou nodded with a smile.
“Don’t worry, Aunt. Brother Chu treats me very well. Once I’m settled, I’ll write to all of you.”
“As long as you’re living well, we’ll be at ease.” Aunt Li smiled warmly. “You two girls chat for a while. You’re staying for lunch today. We’ll treat it as an early farewell meal.”
With that, she hurried out to buy groceries.
“Zhouzhou, thank you.” Li Xiaoning held Shen Zhouzhou’s hand affectionately. “You’re my greatest benefactor.”
Shen Zhouzhou shook her head with a smile.
“We’re good sisters. Saying things like that only makes us strangers.”
Today was a happy day, so naturally the meal had to be lively and festive.
The table was filled with delicious dishes: diced rabbit with two kinds of peppers, wild chicken stewed with mushrooms, braised fish, braised pork, and a stir fried vegetable dish.
Everyone chatted while they ate, creating a warm and joyful atmosphere.
Meanwhile, back at the Shen family home…
After returning from the police station, Shen Fangfang had learned that Li Hongxia would soon be sent away for labor reform.
She was so frightened that she collapsed into a chair the moment she entered the house.
Her heart pounded violently as countless thoughts raced through her mind. She desperately tried to figure out how to deal with this sudden crisis, her hands unconsciously clenching into fists. More than anything, she feared Li Hongxia’s case would implicate her and destroy the life she had worked so hard to build.
Just then, Shen Yong returned home from work.
Shen Fangfang immediately rushed over.
“Dad, think of something! Save Mom! They’re sending her away for labor reform. Please, hurry and find a way!”
The moment Shen Yong heard her, his face darkened.
“Let her fend for herself! She brought this on herself. She had a perfectly good life, but she just had to stir up trouble. I’m already struggling to protect myself. If this gets back to the factory, the promotion I’ve been waiting so long for will be gone!”
His eyes swept across the chaotic house.
Garbage was scattered everywhere.
Dirty laundry was piled up like a mountain.
The kitchen was cold and empty.
Shen Jianjun was making endless noise nearby.
His temper instantly exploded.
“And you!” he roared, slamming his palm against the table. “You’re already this old, yet I’ve never seen anyone lazier! You don’t cook, you don’t clean, and you won’t even have a mouthful of the northwest wind to drink! When Zhouzhou was home, everything was taken care of. Every time I came back, there was hot food waiting. If you refuse to work, then don’t expect to eat!”
With that, he took Shen Jianjun out to find something to eat, leaving Shen Fangfang alone without another glance.
Enraged, Shen Fangfang smashed everything in her room.
But afraid that Shen Yong might truly abandon her from now on, she had no choice but to grit her teeth and start doing the housework herself.
“Shen Zhouzhou, you bitch! You’re the reason I’ve ended up like this! Just you wait!”
When Shen Zhouzhou left Li Xiaoning’s house, Aunt Li tried to stuff two hundred yuan into her hands as payment for the Machinery Factory job.
At the current market price, such a position could indeed be sold for around two hundred yuan.
Shen Zhouzhou repeatedly refused, but in the end she had no choice but to accept one hundred yuan instead, insisting it was a friendship discount.
After all, she wasn’t exactly wealthy herself.
The moment she left Li Xiaoning’s home, Shen Zhouzhou felt much lighter.
Now that the matter of her job had been settled, she suddenly remembered the farmland inside her space.
Making a detour, she headed toward the supply and marketing cooperative to buy some seeds.
However, the moment she reached the entrance, she spotted Shen Fangfang standing together with a hooligan looking young man.
The two were whispering to each other.
A bad feeling immediately rose in Shen Zhouzhou’s heart.
Sure enough, as soon as Shen Fangfang saw her, her eyes lit up.
She grabbed the young man by the arm and rushed over.
“Brother Zhao Peng, it’s her! She’s the bitch who got my mother arrested!”
The young man named Zhao Peng slowly looked Shen Zhouzhou up and down, his gaze filled with ill intentions.
“So you’re the little bitch? You’ve got some nerve laying a hand on my future mother in law.”
Shen Zhouzhou let out a cold laugh.
“I was wondering who you were. Turns out you’re just Shen Fangfang’s lover. What? Planning to avenge your future mother in law?”
“You’ve got a death wish!”
His sore spot exposed, Zhao Peng flew into a rage and threw a punch straight at Shen Zhouzhou.
She had already been prepared.
Stepping sideways, she easily dodged the blow before grabbing his wrist and twisting it hard.
Crack!
A piercing scream echoed through the street.
“Ah! My hand!”
Shen Fangfang turned deathly pale.
“Shen Zhouzhou! How dare you hit someone!”
Walking over, Shen Zhouzhou grabbed Shen Fangfang by the throat and repeatedly slapped her across the face.
Smack! Smack! Smack!
“I’m hitting trash like you!”
She then spun around and kicked Zhao Peng to the ground.
“Shen Fangfang, don’t provoke me again. Otherwise, next time it won’t be just a broken hand.”
Clutching his injured arm, Zhao Peng grimaced in agony.
He no longer dared utter another word.
Abandoning Shen Fangfang where she stood, he scrambled away in a miserable panic.
Shen Fangfang was trembling with fear as she stared at Shen Zhouzhou’s departing figure, her eyes filled with venomous hatred.