Zhao Jianguo put down the letter in his hand, stood up with a livid face: "Lin Moli, you not only spread rumors and ruined Wanqiu's reputation, but you also tried to seize her property. This behavior has had a very bad influence on the village! According to the brigade's regulations, you must be sent back to your place of origin and are never allowed to set foot in Hongqi Production Brigade again!"

"No! Secretary Zhao, I can't go back!" Lin Moli cried her heart out, but no one sympathized with her anymore. Two young villagers stepped forward, grabbed her arms, and headed for the village entrance. Lin Moli struggled, glaring fiercely at Lin Wanqiu: "Lin Wanqiu, you just wait! I won't let you get away with this!"

Watching her being dragged away, Lin Wanqiu felt no joy, only a sense of peace that had settled. She knew this was only a temporary victory; Lin Moli was wicked and might seek revenge, but she was no longer afraid—she had the support of the villagers, the determination to protect her son, and the skills and resources in her spatial dimension. No matter what difficulties she encountered, she could overcome them.

Zhao Jianguo walked to Lin Wanqiu's side, his face showing apology: "Wanqiu, it's my fault for not being a good Party Secretary and for making you suffer. If anyone in the village dares to spread rumors or cause trouble again, I'll be the first to object!"

Lin Wanqiu shook her head and said with a smile, "Secretary Zhao, please don't say that. If you hadn't been willing to give me a chance to clear my name, I wouldn't have been able to clear my name. I just want to prove that I, Lin Wanqiu, have never done anything wrong, and that Shen Tingzhou is a hero, not someone I brought to his death."

"Yes! Tingzhou is a hero!" someone shouted from the crowd, and then more people echoed. Shen Nian'an lifted her head from Lin Wanqiu's arms, her little face full of pride, and said loudly, "My dad is a hero! My mom is a good person!"

The villagers looked at the mother and son, their hearts filled with remorse. Those who had believed the rumors and gossiped about Lin Wanqiu came forward to apologize. Aunt Li took her hand and said apologetically, "Wanqiu, I shouldn't have listened to Lin Moli and talked nonsense with others. Please don't take it to heart."

Lin Wanqiu smiled and shook her head: "Aunt Li, I know you didn't mean it. From now on, we're all family. If we have any difficulties, we'll help each other out. Let's not let outsiders take advantage of us."

The atmosphere on the threshing ground gradually calmed down, and the villagers' discussions shifted from accusations to praise for Lin Wanqiu. Lin Wanqiu, carrying Chen Nian'an, stepped down from the earthen platform. Sunlight filtered through the clouds, bathing her in a warm glow. She knew that after this ordeal, her reputation in the village had not only remained intact but had actually deepened—she was no longer the "widow who brings bad luck to her husbands," but rather a "capable and kind person" trusted by the villagers.

In the evening, after putting Chen Nian'an to sleep, Lin Wanqiu sat under the lamp tidying her cloth bag. She took out the voice recorder and gently stroked it—this modern gadget had been a great help to her in this era. She recalled the villagers' supportive faces during the day, and a warmth filled her heart. However, she always felt that someone was stirring things up behind Lin Moli's back—how dare Lin Moli, an outsider cousin, spread rumors in the village so boldly? And even dared to scheme against her family's wealth?

As she pondered, she suddenly heard a slight noise outside the courtyard wall. Alertly, she went to the door and peeked through the crack. She saw a tall, dark figure flash by and disappear into the night. The figure seemed familiar, but she couldn't quite place where she'd seen it before. Her heart skipped a beat—could it be Lin Moli's accomplice? Or someone else with ill intentions?

Unbeknownst to her, the shadowy figure wasn't an enemy, but Shen Tingzhou, who was secretly investigating Lin Moli's background. He had deliberately made a detour to the threshing ground today, and seeing Lin Wanqiu successfully clarify the rumors filled him with both relief and guilt—he hadn't been able to stand up for her when she was wronged, and could only silently protect her from the shadows. The clues he uncovered also made him increasingly suspicious—Lin Moli's arrival might not have been accidental; it seemed that she was involved with far more complex people and events…