Wang Fang started sending letters to Qi Zhifang in April, and from June onwards, she sent an average of two letters a month, but she never received a reply. Soon she ran out of food and money, and finally, in late autumn, when she had finished the autumn harvest, she could no longer bear it and packed her bags to return to the capital.

She had no idea that the house was in complete chaos. From a distance, she could hear Xiao Cui arguing with Qi's mother. "Mom, we've been separated for a long time. If you don't have any vegetables, shouldn't you ask me before using my cabbage? Huh? Taking without asking is stealing. Why do you like to do such petty things at your age? Does food that smells like thieves taste better and nourish you? Are you forcing me to lock up all the cabbages?"

Mother Qi, her face flushed with embarrassment, protested, "I didn't steal it. I just forgot to bring the cabbage when I was cooking, so I just grabbed a cabbage leaf, thinking I'd return it to you after I finished cooking..."

Xiao Cui persisted, "Oh! That sounds nice, but so you take our money and let others spend it, feeding them so they're indulging in lustful desires, going out to do disgusting things, and you keep saying you're good to us? You actually believe it yourself, don't you? And was it just a matter of a cabbage leaf? Not even a single cabbage root can be touched without my permission. Even a three-year-old knows that, don't you? You've been unruly for most of your life, and you still haven't learned to change?"

Qi Zhijun pulled at Xiao Cui and pleaded, "Forget it, it's just a cabbage leaf, why are you making such a fuss?"

Xiao Cui broke free from Qi Zhijun, shoving him as she yelled, "What are you babbling about? It's just a cabbage leaf! If I hadn't said anything today, I would have thought I didn't know! Tomorrow she'll dare steal my grain, steal my oil! Qi Zhijun, tell me honestly, do you think I care about those things? Huh? What I care about is that after she steals from me, she'll save up her own and then use it to support those ideologically problematic individuals to continue their reckless behavior. In the end, we'll all be accomplices! You won't even have a place to die. Mom, what grudge do you hold against us? You won't be satisfied until you've killed us, will you?"

Qi Zhijun pulled her towards the house, but Xiao Cui pushed and shoved, saying, "Why are you stopping me? Why don't you stop your mother? This family will be killed by them sooner or later! If you want to die, go hang yourself from a crooked tree now, don't drag me down with you!"

Tears streamed down Qi's face as she turned around and took a cabbage from her room. She placed it under their eaves, held it high, and said haughtily, "I'm returning a cabbage to you. Please don't insult me!"

Xiao Cui seemed to have heard the biggest joke in the world: "Insult? Do you need me to insult you? What kind of reputation do we have? Is there any dignity left to talk about? Don't be ridiculous!"

Qi Zhijun roared, "Enough! When will this end?!"

Xiao Cui snorted coldly, picked up the cabbage, and was about to go into the house when Qi's mother covered her mouth and ran into the house first.

Wang Fang was stunned when she saw this scene as soon as she entered the room.

She was unaware that Wang Dong and all the others had been implicated by Qi Zhifang and had attended a three-month training course. Now they were all back at their original work units cleaning toilets, and everyone's salary was the same at 15 yuan. Their grain rations had increased to 26 jin per person, and all other ration coupons had been halved.

Qi Zhijun could not possibly keep his promise to give his mother 10 yuan despite Cui Shuai's insults and ridicule. He could only give her 5 yuan a month, which was not enough. His mother could only make matchboxes every month. He would come over to help her when he had free time after get off work. The old lady barely made ends meet!

Apart from the ruler of Qi, the other two households were struggling.

So when Wang Fang appeared at home wearing black fleece trousers, a dark green wool coat, leather shoes, and a pale yellow sweater underneath, it's easy to imagine how much anger she provoked!

Xiao Cui leaned against the door and glanced at her outfit. He sneered and kicked Qi Zhijun, saying sarcastically, "The vampire's here! Look at how slick and shiny she is, just like her mother. I don't know how she can dress like that and flaunt it like she's her own little girl!"

Qi Zhijun frowned, sighed, and said, "Say less, anyway, she can't suck onto you no matter how much she tries!"

Wang Fang was so angry that her face turned pale and she opened her mouth to curse, but then she saw Qi Zhijun give her a look of disappointment and then turn around and go into the house.

Xiao Cui snorted coldly and didn't say a word. She stir-fried cabbage and tofu in the kitchen, then made seven flatbreads in a circle. After cooking them all in one pot, she mixed some chili oil into the dish, put it all in a bowl, and went inside. Afterwards, she came out and put her own things, along with the seasonings, in the cupboard and locked it up.

While eating, Xiao Cui said, "Qi Zhijun, if you're going to keep eating our food and go help your mother paste cardboard boxes to save money to subsidize those shady people for me, then don't eat in this house!"

Qi Zhijun opened his mouth but didn't say anything, and silently ate his meal.

Wang Fang was so angry that tears welled up in her eyes. When she entered the house, she saw Wang Hong cooking. Wang Hong heard the noise, turned around, and was startled to see Wang Fang. She subconsciously called out, "Sister!"

Wang Fang smiled nonchalantly and said, "Is there anything to eat? I'm starving, I haven't eaten anything on the way here!"

Wang Hong looked at it and said, "Sister, wait a moment, the food will be ready soon. My brother and I just made some vegetable porridge."

Upon hearing "vegetable porridge," Wang Fang frowned and said, "How can I eat porridge? Make me a bowl of hot noodle soup! Add an egg. I'm exhausted, I'm going to lie down for a bit!" She turned and left. Wang Hong had just said "you," the rest of the words stuck in her throat. Oh well…

A moment later, Wang Hongyun brought out three bowls of porridge and a small dish of pickled vegetables. When Wang Dong returned and saw the extra bowl, he asked in surprise, "Who came?"

Wang Hong pointed inside and whispered, "My sister's back!"

Wang Dong frowned even more but didn't say anything. "Tell her to come out for dinner!"

Wang Hong went in, and a little while later the two sisters came out one after the other. When Wang Dong saw Wang Fang's clothes, he was furious. He said coldly, "Why are you back? Didn't Grandma and Mom just mail you so many money tickets last year?"

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