Chapter 93 Old Mrs. He gritted her teeth…

Grandma He gritted her teeth, feeling that her son and daughter-in-law were truly clueless, treating this imposter like a treasure while neglecting their own children. Her son used to be so good; he'd been corrupted by Xue Ning, and even her eldest grandson had been led astray.

If her granddaughter really gets taken away by that young widow, how difficult will her life be?

She wanted to find her granddaughter, but she was also afraid of finding her.

She hoped her granddaughter would be taken away by a wealthy family, loved by her parents, and live a carefree life without suffering.

She couldn't tell the truth directly, so she wiped away her tears and lied. After weighing the options in her mind, she finally said, "Her mother suddenly fell ill, and her father is at the hospital taking care of her. Please help us, is there a widow in the village who gave birth to a daughter in the county eighteen years ago? Director Hu of the health center told me that she entrusted the child to Widow Cao in Dahe Village." She covered her face and cried desperately, "How could they do this? To give their own children a better life, they made my own granddaughter suffer so much. My granddaughter!"

Widow Cao conspired with the head of the health center to switch other people's children.

this……

The women looked at each other without saying a word, as if there was such a person.

Grandma He immediately knelt down. "Think again, eighteen years ago in June, did anyone disappear for two days and bring back a baby girl?" She took out money from her pocket. "Please think again, this money is for everyone to have some candy."

She didn't have much money in her pocket, only about ten yuan, but that's a lot of money in the countryside.

The brigade leader quickly pulled her up and stuffed the money into her pocket. "Auntie, you were brought here by Director Lu and Secretary Liu. We, Xiahe Village, will definitely help you find your granddaughter."

If it were someone else, the captain wouldn't cooperate unless he chased them away.

But since Director Lu and Secretary Liu are both here, Xiahe Village will take care of whatever it is.

Grandma He cried, “My granddaughter was born on June 3rd. She’s probably not very tall, and her eyes aren’t very big either. She’s my child. She definitely doesn’t look like her adoptive mother. She’s not as pretty as her adoptive mother. Fellow villagers, please, please help me.”

She was about to kneel down, but the captain and several others stopped her.

Grandma He's eldest sister also pleaded, "Please, if we can't find our granddaughter, I, as the eldest sister, won't be able to go on living."

The captain said, "Everyone, don't hesitate, speak up if you have any clues." He thought for a moment and then asked, "Was Cao'er born in May?"

Grass doesn't look like her mother at all.

Grandma He seemed to have grasped at a straw, "Cao'er? Where is she? Let me see, I'll know as soon as I see her."

A middle-aged woman glanced at Director Lu, and thinking of her son who worked at a pig farm, what else could she not say? "Cao'er is 18 years old this year, born in May. Her mother brought Cao'er back on the afternoon of June 3rd, and my father-in-law passed away that very night. I remember it very clearly."

Another old lady said, "Cao'er doesn't look like her mother. Everyone says that Cao'er might look like her father."

Cao'er's mother, Cao Meiling, was very beautiful when she was young. She was chosen by a man from the city and married him to enjoy a life of luxury in the city. However, she was not very lucky. Her husband was a scoundrel. A few months after their marriage, he accidentally killed someone while drunk and was arrested and executed. Her husband's family thought that Cao Meiling was a jinx to her husband and that she was carrying a girl, so they drove the heavily pregnant Cao Meiling away.

With nowhere else to go, Cao Meiling had no choice but to return to her parents' home.

Later, when she gave birth, Cao Meiling went to the county again, and a few days later, she returned with Cao'er in her arms.

Cao Meiling was beautiful, and even though it was her second marriage, many young men were eager to marry her. Half a year later, she married Jiang Quan, a relatively well-off man from Dahe Village. After marriage, she had two sons and a daughter, and her second marriage was quite fulfilling.

However, Cao'er's life was rather difficult.

She didn't even have a surname; Cao Meiling named her Cao'er, meaning she was just a lowly little blade of grass.

Cao'er's father was a murderer who was executed, and her mother treated her badly. When she remarried, she abandoned Cao'er to her parents' home. Cao Meiling's mother was a blind old woman who raised Cao'er until she was six years old, sometimes hungry and sometimes full.

She was really lucky not to starve to death.

But her life was very difficult, not only in terms of food and drink, but also in terms of mental well-being. She was the child of a murderer, and everyone in the village hated her. The children disliked her and would throw stones at her whenever they saw her. Even her blind grandmother couldn't protect her. What could she do? She was the daughter of a murderer, so she could only endure it.

When Cao'er was six years old, her blind grandmother passed away.

When Cao Meiling saw that Cao'er had grown up and was able to work, she took Cao'er away and left all the housework and children to Cao'er. She would beat and scold her all the time. Cao'er was a lowly person and deserved to live such a lowly life.

When the grass grows bigger, it will be able to work in the fields and earn work points.

However, she always had the worst food and clothing, and was always the punching bag for her younger siblings.

Grass is stupid too. When it gets hit and scolded, all it does is run away. It doesn't know how to fight back.

Everyone said that Cao'er was not very bright and was a fool, so she got another nickname, "Silly Cao." Cao Meiling thought this nickname suited Cao'er.

Two years ago, Cao'er's life was even harder. She was the child of a murderer and was also labeled as one of the "Five Black Categories." Fortunately, this was Xiangyang Commune, where everyone lived a good life and focused on production. There was no evil influence of criticism and struggle sessions.

But Cao'er also took on the dirtiest and smelliest jobs in the village. There was no other way; she was unlucky, being the child of a murderer.

Grandma He burst into tears as she listened. “My poor granddaughter! How could she be treated like this by that wicked woman? She’s not the child of a murderer. She has impeccable family background. Her parents are both workers. I even sheltered wounded Eighth Route Army soldiers back then.”

Old Mrs. He's eldest sister also cried, "They actually gave him such a lowly name, without even a surname. This poor child has been treated so badly."

Even though Yu Jiajia was mentally prepared, her heart sank to the bottom.

How can someone who can steal someone else's child possibly treat someone else's child well?

Growing up in such an environment, it's a testament to mental strength not to go crazy.

The team leader quickly led his men to Dahe Village.

It's next to Xiahe Village, not far away; just across the bridge.

Lu Chenzhou parked the car in Xiahe Village and followed the brigade leader to Dahe Village.

The two villages were in one brigade, and the brigade leader's words carried weight. Life was good in both Dahe Village and Xiaohe Village. More than a dozen people from each village went to the commune to work as laborers. Even those who couldn't become laborers lived very well, with meat to eat and money to be distributed every month.

Those lazy women and men who don't want to work extra can't get extra work points, so there's nothing they can do but let them not starve.

Along the way, Lu Chenzhou kept asking the brigade leader about the situation in Xingwu Brigade: How were the pigs being raised? How were the fish fry in the pond? What was the basic situation in the brigade? How were the villagers doing?

These were the things the brigade leader wanted to say most. He said, "The brigade's more than sixty pigs are being raised exceptionally well. They eat well and grow strong. Just two days ago, we received 100 jin of pork crackling cakes from the commune. We mixed them with pig feed and fed them to the pigs. They're gaining weight rapidly. In a while, a batch of fat pigs will be ready for market."

"The fish in the pond are also well raised. Last Sunday, a batch of fish were caught, all of them were large grass carp weighing two or three kilograms."

"The villagers are living well. Every household can get fish and meat to eat. Many families have asked me to buy bricks, saying they want to save up bricks to build houses."

When the battalion commander mentioned these things, his face lit up with pride. Just a few years ago, he wouldn't have dared to dream of the Xingwu Brigade's current prosperity.

Sixty pigs is already a small-scale pig farm, and the brigade also has a pond! This is all part of the brigade's collective economy!

The team leader believes that they can raise even more pigs and fish next year.

They are most grateful to Director Lu; without Director Lu, none of this would be possible.

Lu Chenzhou smiled and said, "Not bad."

A villager standing nearby said, "Director Lu, is there anything else our village can do? We don't have much to do after work now. Chatting in the village is such a waste of time. With that energy, we might as well do something else, like start an orchard and raise a flock of chickens and ducks?"

The neighboring brigade built an orchard, and the apple trees covering the hillsides were truly a rare sight.

Lu Chenzhou chuckled, "If the villagers aren't afraid of hard work, then let's get to work. As for what exactly to do, Secretary Liu will plan it out for you later."

The captain was overjoyed. "Yes, yes, we'll do whatever Director Lu and Secretary Liu tell us to do."

Yu Jiajia lagged behind, watching Lu Chenzhou talk to the captain. No wonder the crowd was so welcoming of Lu Chenzhou; who wouldn't welcome a god of wealth like him?

Before we knew it, we had arrived at Dahe Village.

When the villagers of Dahe Village saw Lu Chenzhou and his entourage, they were all very enthusiastic, calling out, "Director Lu, Secretary Liu."

Others should hurry and notify the squad leader to come over.

The captain said, "Where is Grass? Take us to find Grass first."

We must not forget our important business.

The old man, carrying a hoe, said, "Silly Grass? She's probably digging manure right now. We need to fertilize her these next few days. What do you need her for?"

Grandma He's tears welled up again; her poor granddaughter.

The captain said, "What do you mean, 'silly grass'? Why are you calling for people? Take us to find Grass first."

The old man didn't ask any more questions and led the way, taking everyone to find the grass.

Grass was squatting under a tree, whittling wood with a blade of grass in her mouth. There was a pile of wood shavings on the ground. She didn't look up when she heard footsteps and continued whittling wood.

The old man called out, "Cao'er, come here for a moment."

Grass looked up and saw a group of people coming, so she stuffed the wood and knife into her pocket and walked over.

She was tanned dark and extremely thin, only 1.5 meters tall, with a buzz cut. Her clothes and pants were too short, hanging loosely on her body. Her clothes were patched and some had holes that hadn't been mended.

She doesn't look like a girl at all.

Grandma He watched as Cao'er approached, staring at her face, trying to discern something from it.

He was very dark-skinned and thin, with eyes that were neither too big nor too small, a pert nose, and very thin, pale lips. Perhaps because he was too thin, his cheekbones were prominent, making him look somewhat ugly.

When asked to come over, she did, standing beside the old man without saying a word, her thoughts seemingly already elsewhere.

Grandma He let out a loud wail: "My poor granddaughter!" and reached out to hug Cao'er.

This is her granddaughter; she's practically a carbon copy of her.

Cao'er immediately reached out and pushed Old Lady He away forcefully, then took two steps back, watching Old Lady He warily.

Grandma He's younger sister also cried; she was just like the older sister she used to be when she was little.

Grandma He cried and said, "Cao'er, I am your own grandmother."

Cao'er frowned even more.

Grandma He cried out sadly, "Cao'er, I'm your own grandmother! I'm sorry, Cao'er, I'm late." She reached out to take Cao'er's hand, but Cao'er pushed her away again.

Yu Jiajia said, "Cao'er, can I take a little of your time?" She took out a handful of White Rabbit milk candies from her pocket and handed them to Cao'er, "Please have some candy."

Cao'er looked at the candy in Yu Jiajia's palm and asked, "What do you want to do?"

Yu Jiajia: "It will take up a little of your time."

"One blade of grass is enough," she said, opening her palm so Yu Jiajia could add the sugar.

Her hands were covered in calluses and scars, which didn't look like the hands of an 18-year-old girl at all.

Yu Jiajia was heartbroken. Cao'er shouldn't live here. She should have a good family, a good job, and a bright future, just like He Xiaoyun. But her life had been stolen.

Yu Jiajia tried to give all the candies to Cao'er, but Cao'er stepped back and said, "I only want one."

Yu Jiajia had no choice but to give her a piece of candy.

Grandma He quickly reached into her pocket to give Cao'er money and tickets, crying as she said, "Cao'er, I am your grandma, your real grandma. You and I look very alike, especially alike."

She was very emotional, but this time, she didn't pull the grass anymore; she just looked at it.

Grass didn't hide anymore and listened to what Old Lady He was saying.

Grandma He wiped away her tears with a handkerchief, choking back sobs as she said, “Good child, you are the true bloodline of the He family! It’s all that wicked woman’s fault for colluding with the head of the health center to switch you two! She used her own child to take your place, enjoying all the blessings in the He family, yet she treats you like this. My poor granddaughter, you are not called Cao’er, and your father is not a murderer! Your surname is He, you should be called He Xiaoyun!”

Cao'er stared blankly at her, listening to her words, "So, she's not my mother."

Old Mrs. He: "That poisonous woman is not your mother."

Grass: "What about my mother?"

Grandma He was even more heartbroken. She didn't know how to answer this question. "I am your grandmother."

Grass: "Is my biological mother dead? Do I have a father? Are my parents from good families?"

She remained calm, neither sad nor happy, but rather focused on understanding the composition of her new parents.

Grandma He: "Our family has impeccable revolutionary credentials; we are all from the working class."

Cao'er didn't ask any more questions about whether her parents were dead. She was happy now: "That's great, I don't have to dig manure anymore."

Digging manure is too smelly.

Grandma He couldn't help herself and reached out to hug Cao'er. Cao'er pushed her away again, saying, "I'm too dirty. I'll get your clothes dirty."

Grandma He cried loudly, "Cao'er, Grandma isn't afraid of getting dirty. Grandma wants to hug you. Let Grandma hug you."

This time, the grass did not dodge.

Grandma He held Cao'er in her arms. Her granddaughter was so thin, all bones and no flesh. It was hard to hold her. Her Cao'er was so short, only reaching her nose. Her Cao'er had suffered so much.

This was the first time Cao'er had ever been held. Her maternal grandmother had never held her, her mother had never held her, and neither had her younger siblings. Some men had tried to hold her secretly, but she had chased them away.

Being held by Grandma He now feels so strange; my nose is a little sore and my eyes are a little dry.

She looked like she was about to cry.

She unwrapped the candy, put it in her mouth, and exclaimed how sweet it was! She realized candy could be so sweet. She no longer wanted to cry and smiled, her eyes crinkling as she looked at Yu Jiajia.

Yu Jiajia gave her a bright smile, but she felt extremely sad inside.

Grandma He held Cao'er for a long time, and she finished a whole milk candy. Grandma He let go of her and said, "We are not Cao'er, you are Grandma's treasure. From now on, we will call you He Zhenzhen, Zhen as in treasure."

Cao'er repeated, "Zhenzhen, He Zhenzhen, He Zhenzhen! It sounds so nice." She took a stick and wrote the three big characters "He Zhenzhen" on the ground. "Grandma, is this the right name?"

Looking at the three neatly arranged characters, Grandma He turned to Yu Jiajia and asked, "Jiajia, is this character correct? Is it the 'zhen' in 'treasure'?"

Grandma He is illiterate; she doesn't recognize the characters.

Yu Jiajia looked at the three neatly written characters and nodded: "Yes, Zhenzhen's handwriting is very beautiful."

He Zhenzhen was very happy to be praised for the first time.

Grandma He was overjoyed: "My Zhenzhen can read! She's better than me. I can't read."

He Zhenzhen: "I know everything I learn in school. I used to climb trees every day to peek at the teachers during class."

After saying that, he looked at Old Lady He.

Grandma He felt a pang of sadness: "My Zhenzhen is so good."

Zhenzhen wanted to study, so she had to climb a tree to eavesdrop.

He Xiaoyun didn't like studying and her family had to coax her to go to school. Even so, she barely finished junior high school and didn't get into high school.

Yu Jiajia also praised, "Zhenzhen is very smart and capable."

He Zhenzhen found it unbelievable, "I climbed up a tree to eavesdrop, and you didn't scold me?"

Old Mrs. He felt another pang of sadness. "Who has ever scolded you?"

He Zhenzhen: "Everyone curses me. I am the child of a murderer. Climbing trees to eavesdrop is a heretical practice. I am not worthy of learning knowledge."

Grandma He held He Zhenzhen's hand and said, "You are not the daughter of a murderer."

Yu Jiajia also said very seriously, "If it is a crooked path, it is of course unacceptable, but if it is for the sake of learning and progress, then the intention is commendable. Zhenzhen, you are very capable, and I admire you very much. Those who criticize you are afraid that you will make progress and that you will go out into the world. You have only gone to elementary school, but there is still junior high and high school. We can continue our studies."

He Zhenzhen was so happy, "Can I still go to junior high and high school?"

Yu Jiajia nodded: "Of course!"

Grandma He also said, "Grandma will send her to school tomorrow."

He Zhenzhen has been found, but the matter of Old Lady He is not yet over. She said, "What about that poisonous woman who colluded with Dean Hu to switch my granddaughter?"

He Zhenzhen's 18 years have been too bitter; she shouldn't have had this fate.

And the one who brought all of this to fruition was Cao Meiling.

When Cao Meiling learned that someone from the county had come looking for Cao'er, she began to panic. Why would they come looking for Cao'er? Cao'er had never left the brigade before, so how could anyone know her?

unless……

That matter was exposed.

Cao Meiling grew increasingly panicked and couldn't help but go over to look. She didn't dare to approach and only dared to look from a distance. She recognized her as Xiaoyun's grandmother. Why was she here?

She clenched her fists. What should she do?

What will happen to her little cloud?

What should she do?

I absolutely must not tell anyone.

She knows nothing!

Just as Old Lady He was looking for that vicious woman, she turned around and saw Cao Meiling hiding behind the tree. At a glance, she recognized her. This bitch looked exactly like He Xiaoyun, except that she had aged!

Grandma He rushed forward, grabbed Cao Meiling and started beating her, pulling her hair, slapping her, and kicking her in the stomach, showing no mercy in the beating.

Old Mrs. He's younger sister also recognized her and rushed over to join in beating Cao Meiling.

"You beast who deserves to be torn to pieces! You switched my son, letting your bastard enjoy a life of luxury in my house, while you trampled my granddaughter like dirt! You poisonous woman, you married that murderer, you're just a den of snakes and rats!"

You're not human, why doesn't God strike you dead?

You despicable beast, you deserve to be torn to pieces! I wish I could skin you alive!

The villagers of Dahe Village all stood by and watched, and not a single person tried to break up the fight.

How do you break up a fight?

Anyone else would have given Cao Meiling a beating.

No wonder Cao Meiling was so cruel to Cao'er; it turns out she wasn't her biological daughter.

Cao Meiling was not sexist; she doted on her youngest daughter, Jiang Lu.

Cao Meiling covered her face and cried, "What are you saying? I don't understand. I don't know you, I haven't offended you."

She is very beautiful. Despite her age, she has never worked in the fields and does very little housework. He Zhenzhen does most of the housework because she cherishes her face.

Old Mrs. He pried her hands off and slapped her across the face. Cao Meiling screamed, "Help! Leader! Help!"

The squad leader and the captain glanced at their leader, unsure whether they should intervene.

Cao Meiling screamed, "Cao'er, are you just going to watch me get beaten like this?"

He Zhenzhen stood silently to the side.

Cao Meiling screamed in agony: "You're an ungrateful wretch who can't be tamed!"

Old Mrs. He beat him even more fiercely, shouting, "You still have the nerve to curse people, you bitch, you beast, why weren't you struck by lightning?"

After Cao Meiling was given a severe beating, she was finally pulled away.

Old Mrs. He was panting heavily when she pointed at Cao Meiling and said, "Let me tell you, Hu Chunmei has been arrested and has implicated you too. She said she was threatened by you. You can just wait to be executed like your ex-husband, who was a murderer."

Cao Meiling's vision went black. Her worst fear had come true. But there was no evidence at all. She couldn't admit it no matter what. She cried, "What do you mean by switching children? You can't frame me like this. My ex-husband committed murder. It has nothing to do with me. He's dead. Our marriage ended a long time ago. I'm innocent now."

Grandma He continued to bluff her: "It's no use denying it! When we get to the police station, you'll have to talk whether you like it or not."

Cao Meiling sobbed, "I don't know what you mean, but since you say Cao'er is your granddaughter, then you can take her away. Whether she's your biological daughter or not, I don't care and I don't want her. I've had enough of that murderer's child."

Grandma He really wished she could bring Xiaoyun over and throw her to Cao Meiling right away.

Xiaoyun is just like Cao Meiling; they even cry in the exact same way.

She rushed up and beat Cao Meiling up again.

Cao Meiling refused to admit to the child swap, saying, "If I really was swapped, then I am also a victim. Since the child is all grown up, then take Cao'er away. I will not acknowledge my own child."

Grandma He squinted: "You want Xiaoyun to continue enjoying a life of luxury in our family? Bah, don't even dream about it."

Cao Meiling clenched her fists, still maintaining her charming and innocent demeanor.

Her husband, Jiang Quan, and their two sons returned. All three men were tall and imposing. Jiang Quan shielded his wife in the middle, while his two sons stood on either side, like two guardian deities, their eyes glaring fiercely at Old Lady He.

Grandma He was naturally not afraid of them. She pointed at their noses and yelled, "What are you looking at, you little brats? What? You want to hit me? Go ahead and hit me, come on!"