The lingering chill of the first month of the lunar calendar swept across the dirt roads of the Hongqi Production Brigade, swirling up fine snowflakes, yet unable to dispel the warmth on the villagers' faces. A crowd had gathered in front of the commune's bulletin board; the red-and-black judgment, its edges fluttering in the wind, remained firmly nailed to the wooden board, like a final brand, announcing the ultimate fate of Lin Moli and that gang of thugs.

Lin Wanqiu stood on the outskirts of the crowd, holding Nian'an's hand. Her fingertips touched her son's warm palm, and the last trace of gloom in her heart caused by Lin Moli completely dissipated. The discussions in front of the bulletin board rose and fell, mixed with sighs of relief and joy, like the warm sun in winter, warming people's hearts.

"Five years! That's truly gratifying! Lin Moli, that girl, has been cunning since she was little, and now she's finally paying the price for her wicked schemes!" Aunt Wang next door clutched her vegetable basket, her voice filled with satisfaction. She still remembered last winter when Lin Moli, under the guise of visiting relatives, spoke ill of Lin Wanqiu to her, saying that a widow engaging in side businesses was "restless." Now, thinking back, it all seemed ironic.

"It's not just her, those three child traffickers got even harsher sentences! Ten or eight years, enough for them to reflect on their actions in jail!" Uncle Zhang's voice was loud and clear. He leaned closer to the bulletin board and pointed to the names on the verdict. "Look, look, 'Brother Li' is actually named Li San. He's that notorious hoodlum from the west side of the county town. He used to do petty theft. He deserved to be caught in our village this time!"

Nian'an looked up with his little face and asked curiously, "Mom, what does 'sentenced' mean? Does it mean that Aunt Lin Moli can't come to our house anymore?" He still remembered the aunt who always liked to pinch his cheeks with a smile, but would glare at him when no one was around. Although he didn't understand the specific meaning of "sentenced," he could tell from the adults' tone that this aunt would no longer cause them any trouble.

Lin Wanqiu knelt down and gently stroked her son's head, her eyes filled with tenderness: "Yes, she can't bother us anymore. This is the punishment she deserves for her wrongdoing. Just like if you break your neighbor's bowl, you have to apologize and make amends. If an adult does something more serious, they have to accept the punishment of the law." She didn't want her son to be exposed to darkness too early, but she also wanted him to understand that good and evil will be rewarded in the end, and that wrongdoing must have consequences.

Nian'an nodded as if she understood, and then, like a little adult, she gripped Lin Wanqiu's hand tightly: "Mom, I will definitely be a good child from now on and will not do anything wrong."

Lin Wanqiu stood up with a smile, just in time to see Shen Tingzhou walking from the direction of the commune. He was wearing a faded blue cotton-padded jacket, his posture still upright, the cold wind blowing his hair up to reveal his smooth forehead, and a hint of relief in his eyes—clearly, he had also seen the verdict.

"You saw everything?" Shen Tingzhou walked to Lin Wanqiu's side and naturally took the cloth bag from her hand, which contained needles and thread he had just bought from the supply and marketing cooperative. "I just passed by the police station, and Officer Wang said that when Lin Moli received the verdict, she cried and cried out that she was innocent, saying that she was coerced, but the evidence was conclusive, and no one believed her."

"She brought this on herself," Lin Wanqiu said calmly, without a trace of pity. Recalling how Lin Moli colluded with thugs to plan Nian An's kidnapping, how she fantasized about seizing her family's wealth in the dilapidated temple, and then looking at the cold "five years imprisonment" on the verdict, she felt that the other party deserved it. "If she had lived a peaceful life back then, instead of always thinking about opportunism and harming others for her own benefit, she wouldn't have ended up like this."

Shen Tingzhou nodded, his gaze sweeping over the gradually dispersing crowd in front of the notice board: "With her judgment, not only our family, but the entire village will be able to have peace and quiet. Before, she sowed discord in the village, and many people were deceived by her. Now that everyone has seen her true colors, they will no longer be used by her."

As they were talking, Sister-in-law Zhang Lan walked by carrying a basket of eggs. Seeing Lin Wanqiu and Shen Tingzhou, she paused, a hint of unease flashing across her face, but ultimately forced herself to approach. Ever since Lin Moli was arrested, she had been avoiding Lin Wanqiu—when Lin Moli returned to the village, she had not only knocked on the door for her but had also gossiped about her behind her back. Thinking back on it now, she felt only fear.

“Late Autumn… Tingzhou…” Zhang Lan rubbed her hands, her eyes darting around. “I… I just saw the announcement. Lin Moli, that girl, it’s such a pity…” As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized something was wrong and quickly added, “No, I mean, she should be punished for doing wrong. It’s her own fault for not learning from her mistakes…”

Lin Wanqiu glanced at her but didn't dwell on the past. Although Zhang Lan was greedy, lazy, and loved to gossip, she wasn't inherently evil. Her previous help to Lin Moli was mostly due to jealousy and a desire to curry favor with the "county revolutionary committee cadre" (the fake cadre Li). Now that Lin Moli has fallen from power, she must have learned her lesson.

"Let's not talk about the past," Lin Wanqiu said calmly. "Live your life well from now on and don't get involved with other people's affairs anymore. That's better than anything else."

Zhang Lan nodded quickly, as if she had been granted a pardon: "Okay, okay, I know! I'll definitely work hard at home from now on and I won't talk nonsense anymore. Here, take these eggs and give them to Nian'an to help her recover." As she spoke, she stuffed the eggs into Lin Wanqiu's hands.

Lin Wanqiu couldn't refuse, so she had to accept it: "Then I won't stand on ceremony. If you need any help in the future, you can let me know."

Zhang Lan was stunned for a moment, clearly not expecting Lin Wanqiu to say that. A look of gratitude appeared on her face: "Oh, okay, thank you, Wanqiu!" After saying that, she hurriedly picked up the empty basket and left, her steps becoming much lighter.

Watching Zhang Lan's retreating figure, Shen Tingzhou couldn't help but laugh: "You're quite magnanimous."

“We’re all from the same village, we see each other all the time, there’s no need to make things too awkward.” Lin Wanqiu weighed the eggs in her hand and said with a smile, “Besides, she knows she was wrong now, let’s give her a way out, she won’t cause us any more trouble in the future, it’s better for everyone.”

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