Lin Qiang's case was concluded quickly, without any suspense. The matter was clear, and the cause, process, and outcome were all readily apparent.
I wonder if these people regret it now. A dance incident has cost several lives, both big and small.
Ballroom dancing had once become something to be feared and dreaded. Bonnie didn't know about other places, but in the military compound area, practically no one danced anymore.
Yang Xue's marriage fell through, and the Yang family was once again thrust into the spotlight.
"You surnamed Wu, your retribution has come a little late."
Aunt Feng, who had argued with Comrade Wu that day, felt an inexplicable joy as she listened to the gossip about the Yang family in the courtyard.
"Alright, stop getting involved in this. No matter what, the children are innocent. Several people have already died because of dancing."
Besides, Wenze didn't want any further contact with the Yang family. Shengnan was about to take the college entrance exam and might come to Beijing to study; it would be awkward if they bumped into each other in the family compound.
Aunt Feng glanced at her husband and thought about it. Sheng Nan had good grades; if it weren't for her illness, she would have taken the college entrance exam last year.
Aunt Feng is Cao Wenze's maternal aunt. Back then, when Commander Yang came home to get a divorce, Aunt Feng was furious. She wouldn't let her cousin agree. Why should she? For so many years, her cousin had stayed home to take care of her in-laws and raise the children.
Now that the man surnamed Yang has become successful, he can act like Chen Shimei, abandoning his wife who stood by him through thick and thin. But her cousin believes that if a person's heart is no longer in their heart, there's no point in keeping them.
Later, her older cousin died of grief, and Wenze took her younger sister to the Yang family. She also left with the army, and they lost contact. When they reconnected, Wenze's sister was already gone, and Wenze dropped out of school and took the entrance exam for military academy. Knowing that the two children surnamed Wu had killed the poor child, she hated them intensely.
Unfortunately, they lived far apart and never had the chance to meet and argue with her. This time, her husband was transferred to a military unit in Beijing, and she inquired about some things concerning the woman surnamed Wu, and also learned about some of the events from back then.
These past few days, it was she who spread the rumors about the woman surnamed Wu having an affair with a married man. She told the truth without embellishing anything.
“I didn’t talk about Yang Xue, I was talking about the Wu family. Besides, I didn’t lie. Is she afraid of others talking about what she did? If she was afraid of being talked about, she shouldn’t have done it in the first place!”
Aunt Feng promised not to get involved in Yang Xue's affairs, but if anyone asked about what happened back then, she wouldn't cover it up for the man surnamed Wu.
Aunt Feng's husband had no choice. Besides, he wasn't under Commander Yang's jurisdiction, so what was there to be afraid of?
Comrade Wu never expected to run into someone surnamed Feng. At first, she didn't know why this person was targeting her. Someone told her that someone surnamed Feng was inquiring about her, and after she had someone check, she learned that she and Lao Yang's ex-wife were cousins.
Now, she's brought up things from decades ago again, making her daughter's already difficult marriage even worse. People aren't just talking about her daughter; many are saying that like mother, like daughter, and that she's not having a good time either.
The Yang family was shrouded in gloom and there was nothing they could do. What they were saying were facts; they weren't making things up, and there was nothing they could do about it.
"Alright, Yang Xue, don't go out unless you have to. Stay home and read more books. We'll find you a job after this period is over."
Commander Yang felt a pang of sadness looking at his daughter, who had become so thin and gaunt. He was angry that Yang Xue had disobeyed him, choosing to climb the hill instead of taking the proper path, and now she had fallen. But she was, after all, his daughter whom he had cherished for so many years, and he couldn't simply abandon her.
Yang Xue didn't speak. She was thinking about whether she should leave Beijing completely and find a place where no one knew her to start over. Or maybe she should go south; she'd heard it was easy to make money there and the people were more open-minded.
Commander Yang looked at his silent daughter and didn't know what to say.
"Grandpa, they said Grandma is shameless for stealing other people's things, and that's why she's getting her comeuppance on Auntie. If Grandma returns the things to the other people, will Auntie be alright?"
The youngest daughter of Yang's second son, who is only six or seven years old, heard what the grandmothers in the compound were saying.
"Slap! Listen to what nonsense others are spouting?"
Comrade Wu slammed his hand on the table, clearly furious. His granddaughter was startled; she felt wronged, she had only wanted to help.
"Mom, what does she know? If the outsiders say that, and the children hear it, how can they not pick up the words? Besides, the child is just expressing what they understand. What's there to get angry about? If you're afraid to speak out, then don't do it in the first place!"
Yang's second daughter-in-law felt sorry for her daughter, muttered a few words, and left with the child in her arms.
"It's all my fault. All I did was like someone. What did I do wrong?"
Comrade Wu's face is no longer young, so this action is really not suitable for him; it's unsightly.
Annoyed, Commander Yang got up and left.
The gossip about the Yang family continued until March, when everything was reviving. Despite her parents' objections, Yang Xue packed her luggage and boarded a train heading south.
In April, the retirement home called to say that Grandma Gu was seriously ill and might not make it.
Gu Ye took leave to go see the doctor. The doctor said that he was old and had suffered a stroke before. It was fortunate that he had survived for so many years.
The old lady was very thin and not very lucid. During this time, Uncle Gu and Gu Xiangdong had been taking care of her. Uncle Gu retired in March of this year, and he and Gu Xiangdong took turns staying with the old lady at the retirement home.
Now that the old lady is dying, the two brothers are staying by her side every step of the way, which can be considered as fulfilling their filial duty.
"Third Uncle, keep an eye on things, I'm going to call my eldest brother."
Gu Ye went out. He had no feelings for the old lady, but this wasn't the time for him to do whatever he wanted. Everyone knew the truth, but appearances still had to be maintained.
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