Xu Laidi had tried countless ways to get closer to Song Jing. She even went as far as bringing him cooked eggs, but nothing worked.
For some reason, Song Jing always seemed to have someone by his side.
Even when Song Wei wasn’t around, there was Heidan, the educated youths Gao and Zhao, or even other children.
Despite her sweet-talking, none of them would let her be alone with Song Jing.
Of course, Song Jing himself was also unwilling.
Now that Song Jing was about to leave, Xu Laidi was growing desperate.
The gifts she brought were left untouched, and she couldn’t find a way to spend time alone with him.
Left with no other options, Xu Laidi decided to use her last resort.
She refused to believe that a soldier like Song Jing could stand by and watch someone die.
There was a river running alongside the fields where the cabbage was being harvested that day.
The plot assigned to Song Wei required passing by this river, and Song Jing naturally accompanied her to help.
On their way, they encountered villagers who greeted them warmly.
“Song Wei is back! How’s Su Zhiqing doing now?”
These were the village aunties, a group known for their love of gossip. Though their hands were busy with work, their ears were perked for any juicy details.
With the recent workload, they had run out of fresh gossip and had been rehashing the wild boar incident. They were eager for updates.
“It’s unbelievable what the Luo family did to her,” one of them lamented. “Su Zhiqing was such a good girl when she first arrived, and now look at her—she’s no better than a refugee.”
“She was even pregnant, and they still pushed her off that bench! If you hadn’t gotten there in time, she wouldn’t have survived.”
Another chimed in, “I heard the Luo family came from the south during the famine years. They’ve never really fit in here. That old woman from their family loves spreading gossip. I bet she’s the one who started those rumors about Su Zhiqing back then.”
The Luo family was indeed outsiders in Ping’an Brigade. During the famine years, Ping’an had managed to fare slightly better than other areas. Though life was hard, they endured, while many from other regions had to relocate, including families from both the north and south.
Ping’an had taken in several migrant families, resulting in a mix of surnames among its residents.
Song Wei briefly explained Su Fang’s current situation to the group.
“Aunties, do you think it’s okay for Su Zhiqing to get a divorce in this situation?”
The question startled them.
“Divorce?” Their eyes widened. “Why would you even think of that? It’s no better than being abandoned. Going back to her family would be just as difficult.”
“Exactly,” another agreed. “Once a daughter is married off, she’s no longer considered part of her parents’ household. If she’s sent back, her brothers and their wives will surely resent her.”
While the home she grew up in might feel familiar, a divorced woman returning there was often seen as an unwelcome burden. If the family wasn’t kind, she might be forced into endless chores, given insufficient food, and subjected to constant criticism.
As a result, many women endured injustice from their in-laws rather than consider divorce.
“But Su Zhiqing’s case is different,” someone acknowledged.
“She almost lost her life,” another pointed out.
“If it were me, I’d have caused an uproar too. Losing a child and nearly dying—what the Luo family did was outrageous.”
Though the idea of divorce was unsettling, Su Fang’s circumstances did earn their sympathy.
“And she’s an educated youth,” one woman noted thoughtfully. “If she divorces, she doesn’t need to go back to her family. She can live at the educated youth dormitory instead. Honestly, that might be better for her. Without any kids tying her down, at least she’d have peace of mind, even if life is harder on her own.”
This practical perspective resonated with some, though not all agreed. Their traditional beliefs still held strong.
Despite differing opinions, Song Wei noticed a surprising level of acceptance toward the idea of Su Fang’s divorce among the villagers.
This was partly due to the Luo family’s outsider status and their poor reputation. They were neither well-integrated nor well-liked.
Moreover, Su Fang’s plight was widely known—she had nearly died. The Luo family’s behavior had crossed a line, and Luo Dajiang’s laziness further fueled resentment toward them.
If Su Fang did divorce, most villagers would likely treat it as gossip fodder without harboring ill will toward her.
Satisfied with the feedback, Song Wei chatted with the aunties about other topics.
Meanwhile, Song Jing carried a basket of cabbages. Although Song Wei was strong, he felt it was his responsibility as a man to handle the physical labor.
As Song Wei snapped cabbages effortlessly from their stems, one of the aunties couldn’t help but admire her brother.
“Song Zhiqing, your brother is so wonderful.”
“While you were away, he managed to earn seven or eight work points a day. If he didn’t have to bring you meals, he’d probably earn the full amount.”
“Such a handsome, polite, hardworking young man,” another chimed in. “And a soldier too! He’s exactly the kind of son-in-law we all dream of.”
The aunties began gossiping about Song Jing’s love life.
“Isn’t your brother planning to settle down? We’ve got plenty of pretty girls in the village. I’ve seen many girls approach him, but it seems like it didn’t work out.”
“Even some of the girls in your dormitory have tried, haven’t they? Like Xu Laidi—she’s been running back and forth to see him every day!”
Their tone turned disdainful. They clearly didn’t like of Xu Laidi.
“Xu Laidi is always trying to take advantage of others,” one complained. “She’s taken vegetables, onions, and even grain during harvest. I’ve seen her stuff food into her clothes before sneaking it back.”
“Even when caught red-handed, she just argues her way out of it. She uses big-city words to shut us up, knowing we’re not as eloquent.”
Another scoffed, “When she first arrived, she thought she was better than us just because she was from the city. She’d wrinkle her nose at everything—dirty roads, chicken droppings, old houses—and look down on us like we were beneath her.”
Song Wei almost burst out laughing when she heard this.
I have to say that this is indeed something Xu Laidi can do.
From her name, you can tell that she is not favored at home, but she is arrogant and thinks she is superior to the country people.
“When she first got here, she had so many arguments with the villagers that the educated youth dormitory’s reputation suffered because of her. Then she picked a fight with Old Lady Niu, and they pulled her hair and beat her up. When she complained to the brigade leader, he punished both sides equally. She even claimed he was biased toward locals!”
“After that, she finally quieted down. Guess getting beaten up and gossiped about scared her straight—at least for a while.”
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