Han Family Village's six production teams had over fifty educated youths from all corners of the country. While they appeared united on the surface, internally they formed various cliques and factions. Being adults, everyone had their own standards for judging right and wrong. Given Zhang Guohua's usual slick-talking and shirking demeanor, many educated youths couldn't understand why Huo Qingqing would be interested in him. Now they finally had the answer – had he borrowed so much money and food stamps from her? Was she only keeping close to him to collect debts?
What a complete freeloader!
Though nobody was well-off, with many educated youths suffering from hunger and cold, they still maintained their dignity and looked down on such men.
Even the cats and dogs at the educated youth point could see that Gao Yunxia liked Zhang Guohua – how could Huo Qingqing not notice?
So she had borrowed money and food stamps from Huo Qingqing too!
Now it all made sense.
No wonder Huo Qingqing wouldn't actually be interested in Zhang Guohua!
With the couple coming to collect debts in person, Zhang Guohua still wanted to rally everyone against Han Jianwu – did he think they were all fools?
The educated youths stood chatting in small groups in the courtyard, but not a single person supported Zhang Guohua and Gao Yunxia.
Gao Yunxia had never been popular to begin with. Her closest friends had been Huo Qingqing and Su Mei. Now that she had fallen out with Huo Qingqing, Su Mei was her only remaining friend. But Su Mei was even more selfish and cunning than her, and couldn't be bothered to get involved in this mess.
Huo Qingqing remembered from her previous life that Su Mei had done quite well for herself – after the college entrance exams were restored, she tested into a good university and soared steadily upward in her career.
Under the pressure of Han Jianwu's gaze, Zhang Guohua lowered his head and said, "I can only repay part of it today."
Han Jianwu responded, "How much? Hand it over. Then we'll deduct today's payment from the total and rewrite the IOU. You have half a month."
Zhang Guohua repaid ten yuan and ten jin of food stamps, and both he and Gao Yunxia wrote new IOUs.
After Han Jianwu and Huo Qingqing finished their business, Lin An'an approached Huo Qingqing and whispered, "Qingqing, I'll repay you by month's end."
Huo Qingqing took Lin An'an's hand and said, "No rush. I know your situation – repay me whenever you're better off."
Lin An'an insisted, "I'll have it by month's end. Having debt hanging over me always makes me anxious."
Huo Qingqing replied, "Do whatever makes you comfortable! Let's not stand on ceremony between us."
Lin An'an nodded, "I understand." She glanced at Han Jianwu nearby and said softly, "He treats you so well. Since you've chosen to stay, make the best of it from now on."
Huo Qingqing murmured in agreement, "I know."
Lin An'an and Song Xiaoyue were the sisters who truly cared for her. In her previous life, during those years she was bedridden with illness, only they had taken turns keeping her company. They had even accompanied her here twice to search for her son and pay respects at the graves of departed souls.
After Huo Qingqing divorced Han Jianwu and returned to the city in her past life, Lin An'an and Song Xiaoyue had often looked after her two children.
She didn't dare dwell on people and events from her previous life – just thinking about them made her nose sting with unshed tears.
Huo Qingqing sighed and said, "Come visit with Xiao Yue when you're free. I'll cook for you."
Lin An'an replied, "Definitely! We'll certainly come."
Now that they had separated from the larger family, they could visit Huo Qingqing and the two babies. Previously, with the Han family being so large, Huo Qingqing's strained relationship with Han Jianwu, and the rumors about her and Zhang Guohua, they hadn't dared to visit her at the Han residence.
After watching Huo Qingqing leave, Song Xiaoyue emerged from the dormitory and asked Lin An'an, "Are they really reconciled?"
Lin An'an replied, "Absolutely! You should trust Qingqing. Did you hear them settling accounts earlier?"
Song Xiaoyue was still sulking with Huo Qingqing and didn't want to engage further.
It was the time when everyone had finished work, and the village was filled with men and teenagers bragging and chatting idly. Women and girls were all at home preparing dinner, feeding pigs, heating the kang, and doing household chores!
The men here didn't do housework, look after children, or cook—except for Han Jianwu, who cooked and cared for his children, making him the laughingstock of the entire village.
Not only did the men mock Han Jianwu, but the women also ridiculed him. The women scorned Huo Qingqing for not adhering to womanly virtues, letting her husband wash clothes, cook, and take care of the children, thus shaming all women.
Just then, Han Jianwu and Huo Qingqing came out of the Educated Youth compound, sparking another wave of gossip. The men's faces were barely concealing their schadenfreude, their expressions growing more vivid by the moment.
Huo Qingqing was well aware these men were talking about her and Han Jianwu. She glanced at him discreetly; his expression seemed unchanged, and he even slowed his pace to wait for her.
Quickening her steps, Huo Qingqing walked side by side with Han Jianwu.
She said, "I want to go to the supply store to buy some things."
Han Jianwu looked at her impassively and said in a low voice, "What do you need to buy?" They had bought so much recently—why did she need more? How much money did she actually have?
Huo Qingqing explained, "I heard a batch of rice came in. I want to buy a few jin to cook white rice porridge for the children."
The rice, flour, oil, biscuits, and other luxuries at the supply store were meant for the Educated Youth. Where would the villagers get the money and coupons to buy such things?
Han Jianwu said, "Let's go back first! I'll go buy it later."
Huo Qingqing understood immediately—he didn't want to attract envy.
She replied, "Alright then!"
As soon as they reached the gate, they heard Niu Niu's heart-wrenching cries. Huo Qingqing rushed inside, asking, "What happened? What's wrong?"
Mother Han was holding Niu Niu, trying to soothe her, while Zhuangzhuang was tussling with Baoshan, Oldest Brother of Fifth Brother's family. Fifth Brother's wife, Liu Chunyan, was scolding Zhuangzhuang, but her words were really aimed at Huo Qingqing.
"The son of a whore is so unruly, a bad seed even before he's grown up."
Huo Qingqing had tolerated her long enough and retorted directly, "Liu Chunyan, were you raised on pig slop? How dare you bully a two-year-old child at your age?"
Liu Chunyan had originally been set up with Han Jianwu, but he didn't fancy her, so she was married off to Fifth Brother instead. She had held a grudge ever since. After Huo Qingqing married into the family and lived under the same roof, Han Jianwu's kindness toward that "hussy" drove Liu Chunyan mad with jealousy. Even when that woman almost ran off with another man, Han Jianwu still treated her well. After the family division, they got the worst house, yet that man fixed it up beautifully. It was said the interior was well maintained, and he even managed to get many fine things for Huo Qingqing.
Liu Chunyan was consumed with envy. Han Jianhua treated her no differently from how other men in Han Family Village treated their wives—except he didn't hit her—but it was nowhere near as good as how Han Jianwu treated Huo Qingqing.
Truly, comparisons could make one furious. The angrier she got, the more she compared, and the more she compared, the angrier she became.
Liu Chunyan spat at Huo Qingqing, "Pah, shameless slut."
Han Jianwu noticed his daughter's lip was cut. This was unacceptable. For the first time, he yelled at Mother Han, "Can't you see Niu Niu's mouth is bleeding?"
Zhuangzhuang pointed at Baoshan and said, "Baoping pushed sister down."
Han Jianwu glared at Baoping with a dark expression and scolded, "Baoping, why did you push your sister?"
Baoping was most afraid of his fourth uncle. With a loud "Waa~" he cried out, "My mom told me to push her."
Huo Qingqing could no longer bother arguing with Liu Chunyan. She picked up her daughter, her heart aching with such intensity she felt like killing someone. "Baby, don't cry. Mommy will take you home to apply medicine. Have a White Rabbit candy and it won't hurt anymore!" After speaking, she turned her gaze to Liu Chunyan. "Just you wait."
In Niu Niu's previous life, Gao Yunxia had sold her to human traffickers, and Liu Chunyan had undoubtedly played the role of an inside accomplice. In this lifetime, none of them would escape retribution.