Chapter 3
When she reached the entrance of the alley, Zeng Shuyi deliberately spent some time exchanging words with the wives gathered at the mouth of the lane.
Now, after returning home and seeing her mother, she began to cry, refusing to speak at first.
Only after her mother pressed her several times did she finally say the words she had prepared, ending with the sentence that Wang Juan had just overheard.
Her mother, Lin Jiazheng, was a middle-aged woman who liked to say, “Just endure it, and it’ll pass,” and had no opinions of her own.
Not to mention the most serious possibilities, her mother simply couldn’t realize that there were things that truly could not be endured.
At this moment, Zeng Shuyi was genuinely heartbroken.
Even if she was the neglected middle child, did they have to treat her this harshly?
“Mom, my eldest sister-in-law will be back soon. She’ll definitely try to play the victim first, saying I was rude and stormed off.”
Zeng Shuyi wiped her tears, determined not to cry anymore, since it would only hurt her eyes.
“You’re my real mother—do you really want to see me jump into a fire pit?”
Lin Jiazheng shook her head. “How could I, Shuyi? Of course I hope you can marry into a good family. Maybe… there’s just a misunderstanding.
Your eldest sister-in-law spoke so well of it all, surely at least some of it must be true?”
“There’s not a single word of truth! She’s ruthless—she took benefits from her own family and doesn’t care about me at all!”
Just as Zeng Shuyi finished speaking, the door was pushed open.
When she saw it was her eldest sister-in-law, she showed not the slightest guilt.
In fact, she raised her voice, “Sister-in-law, you’re just in time! Tell Mom—why did you try to harm me?”
Afraid of making a scene, Lin Jiazheng quickly tugged at her daughter. “Keep your voice down, don’t let others hear!”
“Mom, they’re already driving me to my death, do you think I still care about embarrassment?” Zeng Shuyi had known from a young age that if you just endure, others will only push you further.
Just like when she finished junior high, her eldest brother had quietly remarked, “Girls don’t really need that much schooling.” Her father truly didn’t intend to let her continue her studies.
Back then, even her mother advised her to just let it go, saying even if she kept studying, it might not be useful.
But Zeng Shuyi refused to accept it.
She shouldered her schoolbag and went to her eldest brother’s factory, found his supervisor, and cried for three days straight.
Even though her father gave her a beating, the family had no choice but to let her go to high school.
If you don’t fight or strive, you end up like her second sister—abandoned by the family, sent to the countryside, married off to some random rural man, and trapped for life.
“Xiaojuan…” Lin Jiazheng knew her daughter’s temper and could only try to persuade her daughter-in-law. But as soon as she opened her mouth, her daughter-in-law rushed at her daughter.
“When did I ever try to drive you to your death? If you keep talking nonsense, I’ll rip your mouth apart!” Wang Juan lunged at her. “What nonsense did you tell Liu Daye and the others? Go and explain it right now!”
She reached out to grab her, but unexpectedly, Zeng Shuyi fell backward, hitting her head on the corner of the table.
Of course, Zeng Shuyi did it on purpose.
It hurt—a real pain—but if she didn’t go hard on herself, how could she get the result she wanted?
A big bump quickly swelled on her forehead. Clutching her head, Zeng Shuyi ran out, shouting, “Help! My sister-in-law is going to beat me to death!”
At her shout, neighbors who heard the commotion all crowded to the Zeng family’s door to see what was happening.
Zeng Shuyi ran into the crowd, tears streaming down her face.
“Wuuu, Liu Daye, my sister-in-law says I talk nonsense and ruined her reputation, now she wants to beat me to death! I can’t go on living. Maybe I should just get a rope and hang myself from the Wutong Tree in our alley!”
There was an old Wutong Tree in the alley, said to be over a hundred years old. Usually, people would sit under it to chat and cool off when they had nothing else to do.
“No way, that won’t do!” Liu Xiwang’s eyes instantly went wide.
The others all shook their heads too. If Zeng Shuyi really died under the Wutong Tree, who would dare live in this alley anymore?
They always said that thanks to the Party and the country’s education, they shouldn’t be superstitious, but if someone really died there, who wouldn’t be scared?
These wives at the entrance of the alley—besides looking after children and cooking—usually spent their time at the alley entrance or under the Wutong Tree gossiping about everyone’s business.
Right now, the kids were off at school, so with nothing else to do, everyone gathered at the Zeng family’s door.
They had watched Zeng Shuyi grow up and knew the girl was strong-willed, but with good reason—wasn’t it all because Zeng Qingliang was so biased, forcing her into this situation?
When Wang Juan came out, Liu Xiwang was the first to criticize, “Wang Juan, you have to have some decency as a person. I’ve only ever heard of sisters-in-law selling their younger sisters-in-law in the Old Society. It’s the 1980s now, yet you still bully people like this. Don’t blame us for meddling and calling the police!”
“That’s right, Wang Juan! Look at Shuyi’s forehead—it’s swollen like this! How could you bring yourself to hit her?” Xu Zhaodi, who lived across from the Zengs, shook her head at Wang Juan.
“It wasn’t… it wasn’t me who hit her!” Wang Juan was about to explode with anger.
“If it wasn’t you, are you saying Shuyi hit herself?” Liu Xiwang didn’t believe it at all. He lived right next door to the Zengs and often heard Wang Juan cursing people. “Don’t try to fool us. Someone go to the Women’s Federation and call Zhuang Chao’s wife over!”
The Zhuang family lived next to the Liu family.
Shi Yinghua was the deputy director of the Women’s Federation, and whenever there was a dispute in the alley, she was always called to mediate first.
As soon as Liu Xiwang spoke, a child eager for excitement ran off to the Women’s Federation.
Seeing things getting bigger and bigger, Lin Jiazheng panicked. “Uncle Liu, really, it’s nothing serious, just two kids arguing. Please call your child back, no need to trouble Yinghua.”
If Shi Yinghua came to mediate, wouldn’t that mean everyone in the alley would know?
Most of the people living in this alley were workers at the Cotton Mill.
Zeng Qingliang and his son both worked at the Cotton Mill.
If this got out at the factory, how would the men hold their heads up?
Lin Jiazheng tried her best to persuade them, signaling frantically to her daughter, but Zeng Shuyi pretended not to see.
The wives at the entrance of the alley showed no intention of leaving. Lin Jiazheng was so anxious she didn’t know what to do, until Wang Juan pulled her mother-in-law aside and whispered for her to fetch her father-in-law.
All the big and small matters in the Zeng family were decided by Zeng Qingliang.
Wang Juan herself felt guilty—she couldn’t out-argue the little girl, nor could she outscold so many people. When Shi Yinghua came, she alone wouldn’t be able to handle it; she’d have to let her father-in-law step in.
Lin Jiazheng, lacking her own opinions and unable to calm her daughter, had no other solution and hurried off to the factory to get someone.
Zeng Shuyi knew exactly what her mother was up to. That was her goal all along.
She didn’t go home, but sat at the alley entrance beside two aunts.
She didn’t say a word, just lowered her head in silent grievance, listening to the others scold her eldest sister-in-law on her behalf.
About an hour later, an angry shout rang out—Zeng Qingliang came running over.
“You disgraceful thing, get back home right now!” Zeng Qingliang glared at his daughter.
Having had to take time off and lose half a day’s pay, he was already fuming. He then turned to his wife.
“You’re just as useless! She’s your own daughter—don’t you know how to hit or scold her?”
Lin Jiazheng lowered her head, not daring to speak.
Zeng Shuyi didn’t move.
“Dad, I’m not the one causing trouble. Why do you only scold me and not my sister-in-law? Why are you so good to her?”
As soon as she said this, some of the wives looked at Zeng Qingliang differently.
Zeng Qingliang thought this was just embarrassing.
Even if his daughter didn’t like her blind date, she shouldn’t have made such a public fuss.
Now, thanks to Liu Xiwang and the others, it wouldn’t be two days before everyone at the factory knew.
“Cut the nonsense and get back inside. If you have something to say, can’t you say it at home?” Zeng Qingliang barked.
“I wanted to say it at home, but it was my sister-in-law who insisted on getting physical!” Zeng Shuyi still didn’t move, thinking to herself, Why hasn’t Aunt Zhuang arrived yet?
Just then, Wang Juan came over with tears in her eyes.
“Dad, I’m really being wronged to death. I was only trying to introduce a match for Third Sister out of kindness, but she thinks I’m the villain. How am I supposed to live like this…”
“Shut up, you too!” Zeng Qingliang, full of anger, snapped, “What kind of idiot are you? How did Xiangping ever take a liking to a fool like you?”
Wang Juan had intended to keep crying, but her father-in-law’s scolding left her stunned.
At that moment, Erwa came back with Shi Yinghua.
As soon as she arrived, Liu Xiwang hurried over and exaggerated, “Zhuang Chao’s wife, you’re finally here! If you hadn’t come, there’d have been a death in the Zeng family. Let me tell you, Wang Juan is really wicked. Here’s what happened…”
While relaying the story, he didn’t forget to add a little drama for himself.
But Liu Xiwang was an elder, so even if Zeng Qingliang wanted to be fierce, he didn’t dare.
He could only seize the right moment to interrupt, “Zhuang Chao’s wife, there’s really nothing serious. Just two kids bickering. Sorry to trouble you. It’s just a family matter—we can handle it ourselves.”
Shi Yinghua looked at Zeng Qingliang half-believing, then glanced at Wang Juan and the others, her gaze falling on the big bump on Zeng Shuyi’s forehead. She immediately frowned. “You call this nothing? She’s been beaten like this—how can a sister-in-law treat her little sister-in-law like that?”
Her own family was tough too. Remembering how she’d suffered at her sister-in-law’s hands when she was young, she instinctively sided with Zeng Shuyi. “Since I’m here, let’s go to your house and clear things up.”
Zeng Shuyi timidly said, “Aunt Zhuang, thank you.”
Seeing her like this, Shi Yinghua felt even more sorry for her. She patted Zeng Shuyi’s hand.
“Don’t be afraid. With the Women’s Federation here, no one can force you to marry. We’re in the New Society now—marriage is free. No one can force a girl to get married, let alone sell a daughter!”
She said this deliberately for the Zeng family to hear. Zeng Qingliang’s face turned red with embarrassment, but Shi Yinghua held onto Zeng Shuyi’s hand and led her into the house.
As for the others, Shi Yinghua wouldn’t let them in. “Everyone, please disperse for now. I’m here, it’ll be fine.”
But Liu Xiwang loved to join in the excitement. “Zhuang Chao’s wife, we trust you, but we’re elders too. Let us listen in so Shuyi won’t get bullied.”
Shi Yinghua thought for a moment but didn’t say more.
Zeng Qingliang saw so many people crowded at the door and was simmering with anger, only wishing for a quick resolution.
“Zhuang Chao’s wife, my family really didn’t force Shuyi to get married. We just wanted her to meet a match, not necessarily to marry him.”
“Then let me ask you: the matter of the photos and the domestic violence—did you know about it?” Shi Yinghua had worked at the Women’s Federation for half her life and had seen plenty of things. When she saw Zeng Qingliang shake his head, she felt a bit relieved—at least he was a decent man.
She then looked at Wang Juan, who avoided her gaze, making everything clear.
“You’re all one family. If you fight today and make a scene tomorrow, how can you live well together?”
Zeng Qingliang was several years older than Shi Yinghua, and being lectured by her made him uncomfortable. But with so many people at the door, he could only grit his teeth and say, “Yes.”
Wang Juan insisted it wasn’t her fault.
“Then why did you introduce that kind of man to Shuyi? Isn’t it normal for her to be upset?” Shi Yinghua understood Zeng Shuyi well—a strong-willed girl tricked on a blind date would naturally feel wronged. “And don’t tell me you didn’t know about the photo. That’s just fooling people!”
She stared straight at Wang Juan until she lowered her head.
“And as for the domestic violence—if you knew and still introduced him, that’s a problem with your character. If you didn’t know, then you’re at fault for not checking before introducing him. Wang Juan, you’re a woman too—can’t you put yourself in her shoes?”
Wang Juan: “I…”
“Enough, don’t explain anymore.” Shi Yinghua had years of experience mediating. With a family like the Zengs, once the door closed, life would go on as usual—who really had the ability to move out?
No one did.
Shi Yinghua looked at Zeng Qingliang and his wife.
“Today, Wang Juan was in the wrong. She should have apologized to Shuyi, but instead she got physical. She needs to apologize and make amends. Do you have any objections?”
Lin Jiazheng looked at Zeng Qingliang, who just grunted, only wanting the matter to end quickly.
Shi Yinghua turned to Zeng Shuyi. “Shuyi, what do you say?”
This was exactly what Zeng Shuyi had been waiting for.
She suppressed her satisfaction and quietly asked, “Is it just an apology?”
“What else do you want?” Wang Juan couldn’t help herself, standing up and pointing at Zeng Shuyi.
Zeng Shuyi shrank back toward Shi Yinghua in fear.
“Auntie, you saw it. My sister-in-law wants to hit me again. My head hurts so much—do you think I might die?”
Seeing the big bump on Zeng Shuyi’s forehead, Shi Yinghua frowned even more, turning to Wang Juan, “Calm down! Shuyi hasn’t even said what she wants, and you’re already losing your temper. You must act this way all the time!”
“Shuyi, don’t be afraid. Auntie will take you to the hospital for a checkup, and your sister-in-law will pay the medical bills!”
“I want compensation too,” Zeng Shuyi added at just the right moment.
Her sister-in-law was famous for being stingy and taking advantage of others. If she didn’t use this opportunity to get some benefits, then she’d have suffered for nothing.
Paying medical expenses and compensation—Wang Juan immediately refused.
“Dad, listen to what Shuyi is saying! I didn’t even touch her. How can I be made to pay compensation? It would sound terrible if word got out.”
She knew her father-in-law cared about face.
Zeng Qingliang didn’t like the sound of it either, but before he could speak, Zeng Shuyi quietly said, “If there’s no compensation, I’ll go find sister-in-law’s supervisor and let them hear how she took benefits to sell her own sister-in-law.”
At those words, Zeng Qingliang was at a loss, because he knew his third daughter would really do it. “Xiaojuan, why don’t you just give her some money?”
After all, they were all Zeng family—money from the left pocket to the right, it was all the same to Zeng Qingliang.
Thinking of the things her sister-in-law had done before, Wang Juan regretted ever being so foolish.
For twenty yuan’s worth of benefit, she’d provoked such a troublemaker.
She was currently trying to curry favor with her supervisor, hoping to be promoted to team leader.
If Zeng Shuyi made a scene at the factory, not only would she lose her chance for promotion, she might even be scolded.
No matter how much she loved money, Wang Juan could only grit her teeth and ask, “How much do you want?”