Chapter 51 The Gloomy Little Poor Boy from the 70s

He acts decisively and never hesitates.

She first took Su Wanqing to the high school that her family had donated to, and conducted a fair academic test. As expected, Su Wanqing got almost a perfect score!

She was intelligent and hardworking, and her grades were in no way inferior to Shen Huai's. The principal and teachers were shocked. Such a promising talent was almost buried!

She fully met the criteria for the donation program, and the school immediately expressed its willingness to admit her, waiving all tuition and accommodation fees, and promising that as long as she maintained excellent grades, she would receive the highest scholarship every semester.

Holding the letter of intent for enrollment stamped with a red seal, Su Wanqing's hands were trembling, and her eyes were red. Shen Ci patted her on the shoulder.

"This is just the first step."

Next, I'll take care of your family matters so you can focus on your studies.

The next step was to completely sever ties with that exploitative family of origin. Through the school's channels, Shen Ci formally contacted the local Women's Federation and explained Su Wanqing's situation in detail.

In the office of the Municipal Women's Federation, facing the female comrades, Su Wanqing no longer needed to pretend to be strong.

With tears streaming down her face, she recounted in detail how she studied hard to get into high school, how her parents tore up her acceptance letter, locked her up, beat and scolded her at every turn, and finally tried to sell her to an old bachelor in a neighboring village for a bride price.

She rolled up her sleeves, revealing a mix of old and new bruises on her arms—the most compelling evidence.

She knew very well that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and she had to seize it.

The women's federation staff members turned pale upon hearing this, and a middle-aged staff member surnamed Wang slammed his fist on the table.

"Lawless! What era are we living in? How dare they still practice this feudal oppression! Xiao Zhao, get ready, we're heading to this Xiaoheyan Village right away!"

Immediately, the Women's Federation dispatched Officer Wang and young Officer Zhao, driven by Shen Ci's driver, to go directly to Xiaheyan Village, where Su Wanqing's family lived, carrying a letter of introduction.

Xiaheyan Village, Su Family Courtyard.

The Su family had just returned from their farm work and were having lunch around the table. It was rare to see any meat on the table, so they were surprised to see Su Wanqing had returned!

Behind him were two women dressed in cadre uniforms with unfriendly expressions and some people who looked like they came from the city. Su's father slammed his chopsticks on the table and stood up with a dark face.

"You brat! You dare come back?! You dare bring a wild man back! I'll break your legs!" he roared as he charged at her.

"stop!"

With a sharp shout, Officer Wang stepped forward, blocking Su Wanqing's path, and showed her his work ID.

"We are from the Women's Federation! Are you Su Wanqing's father, Comrade Su Daqiang? We received a report and are here to investigate your family's abuse of their daughter and arranged marriage!"

"What? The Women's Federation?"

Su's mother was stunned for a moment, then put her hands on her hips and started shouting.

"What business is it of yours what happens in our family? She came from my gut! I can hit her or curse her as I please!"

What's wrong with getting married? What's the point of keeping a girl around if she doesn't get married? Just to freeload!

"Exactly!" Su Daqiang retorted, spitting as he spoke.

"Do you think it's easy for us poor people to live? We raised her all these years, so it's only right that we get a dowry to help our son get married!"

What's the point of reading? Can reading put food on the table? A married daughter is like water spilled from a bowl—gone forever!

Wang, suppressing his anger, patiently explained that he had seen many people like this in his many years of work, but he still got angry every time.

"Comrade Su Daqiang, Comrade Li Xiulan! This is a new society now, and Chairman Mao taught us that women can hold up half the sky!"

Gender equality applies; girls also have the right to education! What you are doing is illegal! Arranged marriages and child abuse are evil practices from the old society!

"Stop spouting all that high-sounding nonsense!"

Su Daqiang ignored him completely and became increasingly agitated, pointing at Su Wanqing and cursing.

"Did you go outside and spread those lies? You traitorous good-for-nothing! I'll beat you to death today!" Saying this, he actually grabbed a broom from the corner of the wall and was about to hit him!

Xiao Zhao, the clerk, quickly stopped him.

"What do you think you're doing! Trying to hit someone right in front of us?!"

Su's mother also rushed over to help, crying and wailing and making a scene.

"This is outrageous! We can't even discipline our own children! You're trying to kill us! How much money have we spent raising her! And you're just going to take her away for nothing?"

The neighbors were alarmed and gathered at the gate, pointing and whispering.

Seeing this stubborn and unreasonable family, Officer Wang knew that reasoning with them was useless, and her face darkened completely.

"Stubborn fools! You are openly defying the country's policies and laws! Xiao Zhao!"

"Here!" Officer Zhao immediately responded.

"Go to the village brigade headquarters and immediately call the commune police station to report this!" Officer Wang looked at them coldly.

"Tell them that Su Daqiang and Li Xiulan, this couple, abused their underage daughter, engaged in a feudal arranged marriage, are stubborn and reactionary in their thinking, and resist the women's liberation movement! Please have officers from the police station come and handle this immediately!"

"Call...call the police?!"

The broom in Su Daqiang's hand fell to the ground with a clatter, his face turned deathly pale, and Li Xiulan's wailing was abruptly stopped by being choked.

Fighting is fighting, making a scene is making a scene, but you're saying you want to call the police?

"Reactionary...reactionary?"

Su Daqiang's lips began to tremble. They were not afraid of the Women's Federation reasoning with them, because they were the most unreasonable people. But they were terrified of things like calling the police, breaking the law, or having reactionary ideas.

That would mean wearing a dunce cap, being paraded through the streets, or even being sent to a labor camp for prison food!

"No...don't call the police! Comrades...comrades from the Women's Federation...we...we know we were wrong, we were confused!"

Su Daqiang instantly cowered, his legs went weak, and he almost knelt down. His tone underwent a complete 180-degree turn, showing how adaptable he was.

"You know you were wrong? Weren't you just about to beat her to death?" Officer Wang showed no mercy.

"Let me tell you, our Women's Federation is determined to take charge of Comrade Su Wanqing! She has been admitted to high school and must attend!"

If you dare to pressure or abuse her again, it won't be as simple as a reprimand today! The police station and the Women's Federation will be keeping a close eye on your family!

Bullying the weak and fearing the strong is their nature, but in essence, they are all bark and no bite.

Finally, under the coordination and supervision of village officials who rushed to the scene and police officers who arrived later, Su Daqiang and his wife were forced to write a guarantee promising not to interfere with Su Wanqing's studies and personal freedom, and to return the betrothal gifts.

Given the egregious nature of their behavior and the negative impact it caused, the two were ordered to attend a commune-organized ideological study class for reform and were also punished with a certain amount of voluntary labor.

Seeing her family, who had once been bloodsuckers, now trembling and bowing before the law and authority, Su Wanqing clenched her fists tightly. She felt not much pleasure, but rather a sense of complete relief, gratitude, and relief.

The problem that had troubled her for half her life was solved just like that.

The cage called family that had imprisoned her for so long has finally disappeared, all thanks to Aunt Shen.

She looked at Shen Ci, who had been standing not far away helping her, and her heart was filled with gratitude. She was determined to become like Aunt Shen and help more people in need.

Aunt Shen was so kind to her, she must always remember it and repay Aunt Shen.