One person died in the Red Heart Brigade, and the Xiangyang Brigade had no grounds to argue, no matter how much they talked.
Captain Li understood this, and so did Li Deliang.
"Even if you lost one person, Liu Xiaocui didn't kill them, it was suicide!" Li Deliang said, sticking his neck out.
"What suicide? That slut ran off with someone, someone from the Su family. I'm telling you, your daughter ran away, you have to compensate us."
Granny Wang, unrepentant after being beaten, reverted to her old ways. Even now, she was still trying to frame Su Manxiu.
Grandma Su naturally couldn't tolerate her daughter being slandered by this shrew, and fiercely slapped her twice more.
However, Su Xiaotian saw clearly that Grandma's eyes were filled with suppressed sorrow.
It was good to beat this heartless old woman from the Wang family.
Someone had to let Grandma vent her anger.
Although she remembered that her aunt should be alive, it seemed a little different.
In her previous life, her eldest aunt Su Manxiu had returned home the same day she was rescued, but in this life, it had been three days and there was still no sign of her.
Su Xiaotian wasn't even sure if her memory of her previous life was inaccurate, or if it had changed because she had been reborn.
"You old hag, how dare you slander my daughter, slander my daughter, I'll beat you to death, you beast!" Grandma Su's eyes were red, and her blows became more ferocious.
Captain Li twitched his mouth at Grandma Su's ferocity, but this Granny Wang really deserved a beating!
He was utterly speechless at Granny Wang. Even now, she didn't know to beg for forgiveness, but instead dared to slander others. She was truly clueless!
"Captain Li, you should make a decision," Su Changjiu said calmly.
"Get a few people to help the Red Heart Brigade tie up all the Wang family members and send them to the commune!" Captain Li ordered through gritted teeth.
"Captain, no!" Li Deliang instinctively shouted.
"What? Are you still going to protect this pair of adulterers?" Captain Li said sinisterly to Li Deliang.
Protecting this pair of adulterers might cause the entire brigade to suffer, and might even implicate more.
Captain Li's actions were a desperate attempt to cut his losses.
Li Deliang caved, and watched helplessly as the Su family and the Xiangyang Brigade bound Liu Xiaocui and Wang Gouzi and took them away.
The Red Heart Brigade had brought quite a few people today. Under Su Changjiu's leadership, only seven or eight people escorted the two scoundrels to the commune, while the rest remained at the old Wang family's house.
Granny Wang cried out that the Su family was bullying her, but no one paid her any attention.
Even the people from the Xiangyang Brigade did not defend her.
This was partly because of her inappropriate actions this time, and partly because she had always had bad relations with everyone in the brigade.
Grandma Su, having vented her anger, stood up with the help of her daughters-in-law, preparing to go home.
However, as she stood up, Grandma Su stumbled, as if all her strength had been drained!
As Grandma Su was about to leave, she suddenly said, "Eldest daughter-in-law, go and see where your sister's dowry is, and take it all away. It can't be cheapened by the old Wang family."
The Su family did not have a habit of favoring sons over daughters. When their two daughters got married, they prepared substantial dowries. Although they were just chests, cabinets, and bedding, such dowries were rare in the countryside.
Wang Xianghua responded, and called a few brigade members to help find Su Manxiu's dowry.
The women of the brigade were united in their indignation and were already prepared to take Su Manxiu's dowry home, each more excited than the men.
The men of the Red Heart Brigade looked at the women suddenly shouting and howling, and were a little scared, thinking to themselves that they couldn't end up like Wang Gouzi.
Otherwise, these women would tear them apart alive.
After searching the entire house, it almost made the Su family furious.
Most of Su Manxiu's dowry was in Granny Wang's room, and the rest was in the rooms of other daughters-in-law. Surprisingly, there was nothing in Su Manxiu's own room.
"Pack it all up, not a single cup or basin should be left!" Su Taohua shouted loudly, "Our Su family's things should not be given to the Wang family, not even to feed dogs."
Granny Wang absolutely refused to let the Su family take the dowry. These were the best things in the house, and she would be heartbroken if the Su family took them away.
"The people are ours from the Wang family, so the things are naturally ours from the Wang family," Granny Wang said righteously.
"Nonsense!" Grandma Su cursed, without looking back.
After venting her anger, Grandma Su was just a grieving person who had lost her daughter.
As long as she thought of her dead daughter, she was overcome with grief and sadness.
Grandma Su, supported by Su Xiaotian and Liang Xiu, walked unsteadily out of the Wang family's yard.
Tears gushed out at this moment, and the bravery and ferocity she had shown while fighting were gone.
Liang Xiu didn't know how to comfort her mother-in-law, so she could only shed tears with her.
Although the people of Xiangyang Brigade disdained the old Wang family, some still felt that the Su family was also at fault, and beating them was going too far.
"Mother, hold on, let's go home!" Liang Xiu said, sobbing.
"Third daughter-in-law, the old Wang family disliked your sister for not being able to have children, and I don't blame them for that, but they forced her to death. My daughter's body is barely cold, and they've already married a slut into the family. This is to not let my daughter rest even in death! I, as a mother, am heartbroken!"
Grandma Su rarely showed weakness in front of her daughters-in-law, but this time, she poured out all her grievances and distress.
Her voice was choked with sobs, and even though she tried her best to suppress it, everyone around could hear it clearly.
The onlookers from the Xiangyang Brigade, hearing these suppressed cries, suddenly felt that this old lady, who couldn't even walk steadily, was truly pitiful.
Seeing the mother and daughter crying like this, they suddenly felt that the Wang family deserved it, and the Su family had already shown them great respect.
"That Liu Xiaocui is really something else, she was fooling around in the village, wasn't she just taking advantage of Wang Gouzi's eagerness for a son?"
"And Wang Gouzi is a fool, he doesn't even know if the child in Liu Xiaocui's belly is his, and he's rushing to be a father!"
"Liu Xiaocui has had several men!"
"Wang Gouzi, what a simpleton!"
...
The women of the Xiangyang Brigade chattered amongst themselves, their voices loud enough for the people of the Red Heart Brigade to hear clearly.
The people from the Red Heart Brigade, carrying Su Manxiu's dowry, returned home in a grand procession.
Su Taohua, having heard the discussions from the Xiangyang Brigade, couldn't help but start to suspect.
Why did she feel that Li Deliang was very abnormal?
The captain had said not to interfere with the Wang family's affairs, yet he was jumping up and down in a rage.
Could it be that the little widow's child was Li Deliang's?
As she was thinking, Su Taohua saw an aunt from the Li family, who was quite close to her husband.
Su Taohua's eyes darted, and she went to greet the aunt.
When they arrived home, Grandma Su collapsed on the kang, as if all her bones had been removed, and could no longer get up.
Grandpa Su and his three sons had gone to the commune.
Of the three daughters-in-law, only Qi Liangying had gone to the commune. Liang Xiu and Wang Xianghua were at home.
The sisters-in-law worked silently in the kitchen, and even Wang Xianghua, who usually talked the most, was silent.
The entire Su family was quiet, and the atmosphere was very oppressive. Even the most mischievous children were quiet.
Su Xiaotian was anxious, but the situation was unclear, and she didn't know if her eldest aunt was alive or dead.
In her previous life, Su Manxiu had been rescued the first time she jumped into the river, but she had eventually committed suicide by drowning.
But looking at Grandma Su, Su Xiaotian felt that she couldn't let her grandmother be so sad, or it would surely harm her health.
"Grandma, Big Aunt isn't dead!" Su Xiaotian whispered, lying next to Grandma Su.
Upon hearing this, Grandma Su's eyes instantly lit up.
"Good child, did the Dragon King say so?"
The moment Grandma Su said this, she felt she had discovered the truth. The Dragon King liked Xiaotian so much that perhaps he wouldn't take Manxiu, the unfortunate soul, because of Xiaotian.
Su Xiaotian was stunned. How did the Dragon King get involved?
Then, she remembered the lie she had told earlier.
Indeed, lying was not good, but at this moment, comforting her grandmother was the most important thing, so she nodded with difficulty.
"Big Aunt should have been rescued!" Su Xiaotian said with a hint of bitterness.
Grandma Su was skeptical, but she did show more signs of life than before.
When Liang Xiu brought her mother-in-law food, she saw that her mother-in-law was much better than before.
She looked at Su Xiaotian curiously, wondering if her little girl had the ability to comfort people.
"Have your father and the others returned yet?" Grandma Su asked.
"Mother, not yet. Please eat something first, don't ruin your health!" Liang Xiu said softly.
"I can't eat. If those two scoundrels are not severely punished, I won't be able to swallow this anger," Grandma Su said resentfully.
"Mother, the brigade leader is here, so don't worry."
Grandma Su wiped her tears and said, "Your sister has such a bitter fate!"
Liang Xiu wiped away her tears. Wasn't her fate bitter? The last time she came, she was so pitiful. If she had known, she should have beaten Wang Gouzi out that day. Although their family was poor, they could afford to support a woman with a bitter fate.
But saying these words now was meaningless, only causing more sadness.
At this moment, the gate creaked open. Liang Xiu quickly looked out the window, and it was the men of the family returning.
Their expressions were neither good nor bad.
"Mother, your father and the others are back!" Liang Xiu said quickly.
Grandpa Su walked in with a look of sorrow, his back slightly hunched.
"Her father, how was it?" Grandma Su sat up and asked.
"The commune has already detained them and said they will be sent to the northern mining area." Grandpa Su was somewhat surprised by the speed of the resolution.
"Why aren't they paying with their lives for my sister?" Wang Xianghua asked indignantly.
Qi Liangying sighed and said, "They are being dealt with for adultery. Our sister drowned herself, so they are not responsible!"
This was very unfair, but there was no other way. Fortunately, those two things were going to be sent to the mining area, which was not a place for humans to stay.
Even if not, they would lose a few layers of skin.
Thinking of this possibility, Qi Liangying's indignation lessened.
Although Grandma Su believed her granddaughter that her daughter might still be alive, she knew she couldn't say it so abruptly. She only mentioned it to her husband that night.
Grandpa Su looked at Grandma Su, feeling sad, thinking that his wife had gone mad to think that their daughter was still alive.
So many people in the Xiangyang Brigade said Manxiu had drowned, how could she still be alive?
County Town.
Su Manxiu sat dazedly on the hospital bed.
She never expected to be alive.
For someone like her, it was fine to die, so why was she still alive? What if she delayed the children at home?
But that man said that if she died, it would only make her loved ones grieve and her enemies rejoice.
She didn't understand what he meant, but the man said that if she died, her parents would surely be heartbroken and unable to live.
"Still considering whether to live? You're not even afraid of death, so why are you afraid of living?"
Chen Zi'an entered with a lunchbox and saw Su Manxiu looking as if her spirit had died.
He really didn't know why he had saved this woman, brought her to the county town, and sent her to the hospital to treat her injuries.
For this, he had been looked at strangely by the doctor for a long time, and the old doctor probably thought that the woman's injuries were his doing.
Su Manxiu turned her head upon hearing a familiar voice, "Why are you here again? Don't bother with me!"
This person had kindly saved her, and she, a disgraced woman, didn't want to implicate his reputation.
"Do you think I want to bother with you? I just don't know why, but when I see you, I think of that little girl." Chen Zi'an said impatiently.
Little girl?
Su Manxiu heard these three words but didn't ask further.
What did it have to do with her?
"Eat first, I brought you dumplings today, with cabbage and pork filling."
Chen Zi'an took out a lunchbox from his net bag and opened it. The aroma of dumplings wafted out, making the others in the same ward extremely hungry.
Cabbage and pork dumplings, they sounded delicious, but why did this woman look so unwilling to eat?
Su Manxiu looked at the plump dumplings, her mind wandering.
Cabbage and pork dumplings were also eaten by the old Wang family during the New Year, but they had nothing to do with her.
She was only responsible for making dumplings, and didn't even have the right to taste one.
But this stranger was willing to give her such precious dumplings.
"Eat it yourself, I don't deserve it!" Su Manxiu said with difficulty.
Chen Zi'an handed her chopsticks and said, "Eat quickly, it won't be good if it gets cold. I've already eaten."
Su Manxiu still refused to pick up her chopsticks.
"If you don't eat it, I'll take it out and throw it away!" Chen Zi'an made a move to take the lunchbox away.
Su Manxiu quickly grabbed the lunchbox, and her rough hand accidentally touched Chen Zi'an's hand.
Chen Zi'an felt the roughness of Su Manxiu's hand and was very surprised. This woman's hands were rougher than his own!
What kind of torment had she endured to have such rough hands?
"The doctor said you can be discharged tomorrow. You have to tell me where you're from so I can send you back."
Chen Zi'an said this with some impatience.
This woman was truly stubborn, and even now, she hadn't revealed any information about herself.