When Song Wei returned to the educated youth dormitory, she was warmly welcomed by everyone—primarily because Luo Yecheng was no longer living there.
The reason? He had married Wang Xiaohua.
Li Juan helped Song Wei light the stove to warm the kang bed, chatting endlessly about Luo Yecheng’s situation.
Liu Linlin eagerly joined in, her tone laced with disdain. Her once fondness for Luo Yecheng seemed to have vanished completely.
“Wang Xiaohua is so foolish. She’s even willing to cut ties with her family just to marry Luo. Now that they’re married and living on their own, I hear they argue all the time.”
Her tone was tinged with schadenfreude and relief, as though grateful she had woken up in time.
“I can’t believe I ever liked that guy. The more I think about it, the more I wonder if I had a lapse in judgment back then.”
Song Wei, while tidying her bed, listened with great interest.
After being away for a month, the brigade had indeed become a hub of fresh gossip.
“Oh, by the way, I heard Jiang Xiaowan is planning to marry soon. This time, she’s following her parents’ arrangements and has already met someone she seems to like.”
Liu Linlin scoffed, “Well, anyone would be better than that scumbag Luo Yecheng.”
After settling in, Song Wei suddenly asked, “Where’s Su Zhiqing?”
At the mention of Su Fang, the girls exchanged awkward glances.
“She was taken back by that family about half a month ago,” Li Juan said hesitantly. “We couldn’t stop them.”
Liu Linlin stomped her foot in frustration. “What was Su Zhiqing thinking? She actually insisted on going back. And now I hear she’s developed a sleepwalking disorder that’s scaring the family out of their wits.”
Song Wei responded, “I’ll visit her tomorrow.”
The other girls quickly agreed. “We’ll go with you.”
Concerned for Su Fang, Song Wei set off for the Luo family home early the next morning, accompanied by Liu Linlin, the other girls, and even a few of the male educated youths.
On the way, they encouraged one another.
“We educated youths must stick together. Most people in the brigade are kind, but there are always a few bad apples. Since we’re outsiders, if we get bullied, the locals won’t always help us. We need to support each other.”
Li Juan timidly added, “But some of those families are so large and unreasonable, we can’t argue with them…”
Liu Linlin shot her a look of exasperation. “That’s why we have Song Wei! She’s our leader now. Mention her name, and those people will think twice.”
Song Wei raised an eyebrow. “Since when did I become your leader?”
Liu Linlin looked at her earnestly. “You’re the best among us! I’m just saying it out loud—Song Wei is the leader of our educated youth group now.”
The other youths, including the boys, nodded in agreement like pecking chicks.
Before long, they arrived at their destination.
“What are you doing, Su Fang? What on earth are you trying to pull?”
The voice that greeted them was hoarse and on the verge of breaking.
Song Wei and her companions exchanged puzzled looks. The voice didn’t sound like Su Fang’s.
“Mother-in-law, what are you saying? Ever since I lost my child, my mental health hasn’t been the best. But I’d never hurt you—please believe me.”
The Luo family’s elderly matriarch shrieked, “Wouldn’t hurt us? Then why were you standing at our bedside in the middle of the night holding a knife? Do you want us dead?”
Su Fang sobbed, her voice trembling with grievance. “How could you think that of me? I didn’t…”
“You didn’t? Ask your father! Since you came back, nothing has been peaceful. I asked you to wash clothes and feed the chickens, and you fainted. I asked you to cook, and you broke dishes. Yesterday afternoon, you were sharpening a knife, and then at night, you stood by our bed with that knife! You must be possessed!”
“Mother-in-law, please don’t say such things,” Su Fang said softly. “That could get us in trouble.”
She paused, her tone eerily calm.
“And about the fainting—my health hasn’t recovered since losing the baby. You made me wash the entire family’s clothes in cold water during winter. My body can’t handle that anymore. That child took half my life when it left. Now you’re too stingy to buy me medicine, and I’m supposed to believe I’m at fault?”
“And the knife—I was sharpening it because I was scared. If wild boars come again, I’ll be prepared. Next time, if it happens again, I’ll grab the knife and take them down with me. Whether it’s a wild boar or a person, their blood will be the same—red and hot. Just one slash, and I won’t be afraid anymore.”
Su Fang’s chilling words sent shivers down everyone’s spine. She held the knife, gesturing slowly, her eyes fixated on the two elderly Luo family members across from her.
Even Luo Dazhuang, who had frequently abused Su Fang, began trembling.
“Mother, I can’t live with her anymore! She’s gone mad!”
Luo Dazhuang was a classic bully, all bark and no bite. He took out his frustrations on the weak and cowered before the strong.
He still vividly remembered waking up one night to relieve himself, only to see Su Fang, her hair disheveled, standing silently at the bedside holding a bloody kitchen knife.
The sight had terrified him so much that he screamed and fainted.
The commotion woke the rest of the family, who thought Su Fang had committed murder. It wasn’t until the neighbors arrived to investigate that they discovered no one was hurt.
Su Fang herself had “woken up” in confusion, screaming when she saw the knife in her hand.
She claimed not to remember anything.
As for the blood, it turned out to be from a chicken she had slaughtered in the middle of the night.
“Who are you calling crazy?”
Song Wei stepped into the room, her smile faint but intimidating. She walked straight to Su Fang’s side.
“She turned out this way because of you. After everything you’ve done to her, how dare you shirk responsibility?”
Upon seeing Song Wei, Su Fang’s teary eyes lit up with joy.
“And let’s be clear,” Song Wei continued, her tone sharp. “Su Zhiqing is in poor health. If you won’t buy her medicine, then stop making her do heavy work. Forcing her to wash all your clothes in cold water during winter? I should report you to the Women’s Federation.”
“You… That’s her job!” the old woman protested weakly.
Liu Linlin crossed her arms and spat, “Her job? You married her and treated her like this? Don’t forget how you lost that child in the first place!”
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