Qi Zhifang collapsed from exhaustion after loading the truck for several days. Facing the mountain of coal, tears welled up in her eyes. She threw down her large shovel and went to find Erzhuzi. When she met him, she pretended to be aloof and said, "Report, I want to see Xiao Hu."

Erzhuzi didn't even lift his eyelids and said coldly, "Don't you know your place? You're just a convict! You think you can have your cake and eat it too? You wish! You want to sleep with a woman, and I have to find someone for you?"

Qi Zhifang was so angry that she kept cursing at him for a long time. This kind of rude person's words were really choking. Erzhuzi impatiently pushed her away and said, "If you have nothing to do, hurry up and get to work. Look at you, you're not tired at all, you still have time to think about these messy things."

Tears streamed down Qi Zhifang's face. How dare this bastard treat her like this? She hadn't seen Xiao Hu for almost a month. Looking at Erzhuzi in despair, she forced a smile through her tears and said, "Can't you just tell me? I just want to know where he is? Is he doing well?"

Erzhuzi left without even turning his head. One of his lackeys couldn't stand it and whispered, "Xiao Hu has been released on medical parole." He then left.

This sentence stunned Qi Zhifang, who then nearly fainted from anger. "Xiao Hu has changed! He's changed his mind! How could he do this? He could have been released on medical parole and enjoyed a comfortable life. But he insists on making me work! He's such a scoundrel! I poured my heart out to him, gave up my political future, and he treats me like this! There isn't a single good man in the world! Xiao Hu, you bastard!" Thinking this, she wiped away her tears. Without any backing, she had to go back to honestly loading trucks.

More than half a month later, without Xiao Hu's help, Qi Zhifang developed frostbite on her face, hands, ears, and neck, and developed a high fever. Just when she thought she was going to die, someone took her to Erzhuzi's office. Feverish and delirious, Qi Zhifang looked pitifully at Erzhuzi, her tearful appearance and wretched look making her look anything but pitiful.

Erzhuzi threw a form and a letter at her irritably, and said through gritted teeth, "Qi Zhifang, you're really lucky. I advise you to be kinder."

Qi Zhifang said softly, "What's wrong with me? Haven't I been working hard all this time?" Looking at Erzhuzi's disdainful eyes, she choked back tears and said, "I know you look down on me, but those things weren't my choice. I want to be an innocent person and be with Xiao Hu, but..."

Erzhuzi, too lazy to listen to her, impatiently interrupted her, "You don't need to pledge your loyalty to me. I have eyes to see what kind of person you are. I really feel sorry for Xiao Hu!"

Suppressing his anger, Erzhuzi said, "This is the release certificate he got for you using the last of his connections. There's an address and a key in that letter. Go back and live there, then find someone surnamed Liu on that street and have him arrange a job for you. Live a good life from now on, and don't mess around with other women anymore. If you keep courting death, no one can save you!"

Qi Zhifang stared wide-eyed in disbelief, unable to believe it was true—Xiao Hu had brought her back. No wonder he was the man she had her eye on; even at rock bottom, he could turn things around. Her excitement was impossible to hide, and she asked, "Where is he? When is he going back!"

Erzhuzi coldly said, "Don't ask about things that aren't your business. Take your things and leave!" Qi Zhifang finally had a change of heart and said, "Tell him for me that I'll be waiting for him in the capital."

Erzhuzi scoffed, thinking to himself that only Xiao Hu would believe a fickle woman like her. Her mouth could run wild. Prostitutes are heartless and actors are ungrateful; that's always been the case. He couldn't be bothered with her.

Then she packed her things, carefully put the letter Xiao Hu had given her close to her body, and left without stopping. When she arrived in the capital, she took out the letter after getting off the train and went to a large courtyard according to the address on it. Everywhere she could see groups of three or five people sitting together, working and chatting.

Some were sewing shoe soles, some were knitting sweaters, and some were picking vegetables. Every daughter-in-law and mother-in-law looked at Qi Zhifang with curiosity until she walked to the door and opened it.

That look made Qi Zhifang extremely uncomfortable. After closing the door, she tidied up briefly before taking out the letter she had hidden close to her body. "My dearest Fang, I hope you are well. I have entrusted you to my exonerated comrade-in-arms, Li Nianjun. Once you are settled, live a good life. I hope you will think twice before acting in the future and not act impulsively again. I am doing well here, so don't worry about me. Love, Xiao Hu."

She burst into tears while holding the letter. "You bastard, you always do these things that make me unable to forget you just when I'm about to give up. You brought me back to the capital, but what about you? What are you going to do? You bastard, you bastard... How am I going to manage all by myself!"

Of course, some things should be taken with a grain of salt, like Qi Zhifang's heartfelt confession, which shouldn't be taken seriously. After she had cried enough, she quickly packed up, grabbed her things, and went to the street office to find Officer Liu.

Officer Liu was a middle-aged man in his forties, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, and had a rather suave, roguish look. Hmm, very good! He's Qi Zhifang's type.

At this moment, Qi Zhifang, who was dark-skinned and thin, came in. She looked like a disheveled rural woman with a face full of vicissitudes. After handing the materials to Officer Liu, Officer Liu did not look down on her. He glanced at the materials and said gently, "There are no employers recruiting right now. You're in a bit of a predicament!"

Qi Zhifang's eyes immediately reddened, and she choked out, "Officer Liu, please think of something. I have nowhere else to go. After that incident, my family cut off all ties with me. I'm just an ordinary woman, and I have nothing to eat or drink..." She couldn't continue crying at this point.

Officer Liu took off his glasses, pinched the bridge of his nose, and said, "Comrade, don't cry. How about this? I'll ask Officer Li." He then made a phone call, made some "uh-huhs" and "yes" sounds, and after hanging up, said, "Commander Li wants you to work as a factory worker at the arsenal. Report for duty tomorrow!" He then wrote out a certificate, stamped it, and gave it to her, saying, "Although you made a mistake, you've corrected it and you're still a good comrade. Work hard, and I believe the people will accept you."

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!