The more flustered Zhang's mother became, the more confused she became, and things she shouldn't have said naturally came out. "No, no, my Weibing doesn't know, it was me who thought of it."
It was because Su Guomin saved the village chief's youngest son that the village chief owed him a debt of gratitude. I also remembered that my son Weibing was about to graduate from high school and needed a spot at the Workers-Peasants-Soldiers University.
So I came up with a plan: I would have my son, Weibing, get engaged to the Su family's daughter. Then I would go to Su Guomin's house and ask him to help me get a spot from the village chief.
The Su family rejected us and came to propose marriage. Seeing that my plan could not be completed, I harbored resentment, so I spread rumors that "My Weibing is engaged to the Su family's daughter, and I want to use this method to force the Su family to accept the marriage."
I did all of this by myself; my husband Weibing didn't know. Nephew Su, nephew's wife, and Xingran, please forgive me this once. I promise I won't do it again.
The father's anxiety finally subsided. He knew that whenever his son's affairs were involved, his wife would become very tense, even panicked, and lose her ability to think clearly. There was no turning back now; no amount of sophistry would change anything. He only prayed that his son wouldn't be implicated.
Su Xingran stepped back to the side, and her mother stepped forward, standing where Su Xingran had just been standing. She pointed at the Zhang couple.
How dare you ask our family for forgiveness? You're a woman yourself; don't you know that once a woman is engaged, she's essentially stepped into her husband's family? The marriage is settled from that point on; if things change later, it's tantamount to being divorced.
You came to propose marriage to get a university place, and when we refused, you resorted to underhanded tactics against our family, spreading rumors to attack us. How could anyone in your family be so vicious, trying to ruin our daughter's reputation so easily?
You keep saying your son didn't know, but how could he not know? Maybe it was him who taught you how to do it. If he didn't teach you, how could you two uneducated people come up with such a vicious plan? Your son is a treasure, while other people's daughters are just weeds, stepping stones for your son.
Our family will not forgive what happened today. Your family must be punished, otherwise, if others in the village follow your example, how many innocent girls will be hurt?
Su's mother's words struck a chord with the village chief and the brigade leader. They were genuinely afraid that others in the village would follow suit. Wouldn't that cause chaos in the village? Wouldn't they both face criticism from the commune leaders?
The village chief and the brigade leader stepped forward and said, "Zhang Yizhu and Ding Cuihua, you two have maliciously schemed against other people's marriages, spread malicious rumors, and attempted to force others to comply. You have also used these rumors to damage the reputation of unmarried women. The impact of such behavior is extremely bad."
The village is now fining you. You and your husband must apologize to the Su family and pay them fifty yuan in compensation. After spring planting, you and your husband will have to carry manure for three months.
"Village chief, we can apologize to the Su family, but could you please not pay us compensation? We don't have any money, and we've been carrying manure for three months—that's too long; we can't do it." Zhang Weibing's mother pleaded.
The village chief looked at the couple. Everyone had underestimated them before; this couple always pretended to be honest, but they were so despicable and vicious inside. He guessed their son wasn't any better. Like Xingran had said, that kid was probably the mastermind behind this whole farce.
"You two don't have to pay compensation, and you don't have to carry manure." The village chief raised an eyebrow, paused for a moment, and then continued, "You two can go directly to the police station."
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