Chapter 117 Shen Shuxin's Decision
The fifth day of the Lunar New Year is an auspicious day to welcome the God of Wealth.
The family got up early to make dumplings. Jiang Ruzhen deliberately put a few clean coins in the dumpling and said to the children with a smile that whoever eats the dumpling with the coin will become rich in the future.
The children were particularly interested, scrambling to scoop up the dumplings, their eyes wide like bull's eyes, each wanting to get a coin dumpling.
Jiang Ruzhen found it amusing; this was just a game, but she hadn't expected the children to take it so seriously.
After the children finished scooping up the dumplings, she went to scoop up the remaining dumplings that no one wanted and ate them.
Unexpectedly, she bit out a coin with each of her five eddies, and found another coin with each of her five eddies.
She went numb, and the children were stunned.
After a while, the fourth brother realized what was happening and started arguing that Jiang Ruzhen had cheated. Jiang Ruzhen moved her fingers and looked at the calendar, which said that arguing and cursing were forbidden today.
She then suppressed her desire to punish the fourth son.
After dinner, the fourth brother was in charge of setting off firecrackers, Jiang Ruzhen took the eldest brother to open a shop in the shopping mall downstairs, and the second brother took Xin Xin to open a shop on Xingong Street.
Jiang Ruzhen had only been sitting in the shop for a short while when Huang Mao and his brothers came to wish her a Happy New Year. After bringing some New Year's gifts, they also bought some clothes, hats, socks, and other items to sell.
Jiang Ruzhen watched these young men, who had just come of age, bustling about with activity, and smiled so hard that her eyes narrowed into slits.
As soon as the store opened, these people came to give her money, symbolizing that she would have good fortune and prosperity this year—a truly auspicious sign.
It's still a holiday period, and the department store won't open until the eighth day of the new year, so young people who want to go shopping are flocking to Jiang Ruzhen's store.
Jiang Ruzhen was so busy that she felt like she had nothing but her feet were touching the back of her head, but looking at the drawer full of money, all the hard work was worth it.
After closing time that night, the second son brought Xin Xin back, and Jiang Ruzhen was surprised to see Xie Hui following behind them.
"Xie Hui, what brings you here?"
Xie Hui handed over the gift box and respectfully kowtowed to Jiang Ruzhen.
"Happy New Year, Godmother! Wishing you good health and abundant wealth."
Oh my, she really knows how to talk; she says everything she wants to hear.
Jiang Ruzhen helped the person up, took out ten yuan, put it in a red envelope and handed it over, smiling, "Good girl, here's a red envelope for you."
The fourth son immediately flew into a rage upon seeing the red envelopes. "Mom, you're being unfair! Your godson gets a red envelope, but your biological son doesn't?"
Jiang Ruzhen's palms have been itchy all day. Everyone is busy, except for Lao Si, who stayed in the room to read.
She didn't care about taboos anymore and slapped him on the back.
"Everyone's been busy all day, and you're just relaxing and reading. I haven't even said anything to you yet, and you dare to criticize me. Are you itching for a beating if I don't hit you for a day?"
The fourth son clutched his shoulder, wincing in pain. "Mom, be reasonable! You told me to read books all day and not worry about anything else, and now you're blaming me for not helping."
You just don't like the look of me...
Jiang Ruzhen nodded upon hearing this, and looked around for a suitable tool. Finally, she found the rolling pin that she hadn't had time to put back when making dumplings that morning.
"You're right, I just can't stand the sight of you..."
There are several children in the family. The eldest child has become particularly motivated and ambitious. Whenever he is not busy, he holds his notes and studies.
The second son is also smart and capable; he can arrange almost all the purchasing and sales plans for the store clearly.
The third child, Xin Xin, has also become more independent and self-reliant than before, with a more confident air about her. She doesn't have to worry about anyone.
Only the fourth brother is still the same old rascal, impulsive, stubborn, and never thinks before he speaks.
She felt that she hadn't beaten him enough, so she decided to beat him more often to correct his bad habits.
In an instant, the house erupted into chaos again, and the fourth son was completely defeated, getting a good beating from his mother, who pinned him to the ground and beat him with a rolling pin.
After dealing with the fourth brother, Jiang Ruzhen pulled Xie Hui, who had been watching the commotion, aside to ask him about his well-being, and then told him to go play with Xin Xin.
She turned around and looked for a long time, only to find that Xin Xin was no longer in the living room and had gone back to her room at some point.
She was momentarily stunned. Xie Hui had arrived, but this girl hadn't gone to chat in the living room instead of going back to her room. What did that mean?
Weren't these two so close before, always sticking together?
What happened? Did you have a fight?
She turned to look at the second brother, who shook his head at her. He had been busy selling goods all day and didn't know what had happened between the two of them.
"Xin Xin might be tired. Why don't you go to her room and find her?" Jiang Ruzhen said with an awkward smile.
Xie Hui understood what Jiang Ruzhen meant, nodded and smiled, "Godmother, it's alright. I'll go and comfort Xin Xin; she shouldn't really be angry with me."
"Okay, go ahead. Let's talk things out if there's any misunderstanding!"
Jiang Ruzhen watched Xie Hui go upstairs. After a while, still feeling uneasy, she quietly followed him and eavesdropped at the door.
"Xin Xin, think about it again. I think this is really dangerous."
"So what if it's dangerous? Does that mean no one needs to do dangerous things?"
"But others are others, and you are you. I only care about your safety; what do others have to do with me?"
"Xie Hui, I never expected you to be such a selfish person. Don't you know I'm going to be a journalist in the future?"
The duty and mission of journalists is to disseminate information in a timely, truthful, and objective manner, and to assume the roles of social observers, recorders of the times, and guardians of fairness and justice.
I went to Wayaocun to interview and record the experiences of the trafficked women, and wrote their stories into news articles to warn the world.
Women should no longer be seen as birthing machines or tools for procreation.
Why can't you understand my dream of doing something practical for women's liberation?
"But your dreams can't be built on danger. I heard that local government leaders were almost beaten to death by a mob while trying to rescue those trafficked women. What if you, a weak woman, are attacked by them?"
"How is that possible? Such a big news story has happened in Wayaocun, with more than 20 bachelors from the village involved in trafficking women. It has aroused public outrage. The country will not let this go unpunished and will definitely strengthen its investigation and supervision."
Besides, a teacher and two male classmates were with me, so there really won't be any danger."
What? Wayaocun?
Isn't that the place where her Xin Xin was tortured to death in her past life?
She thought that Li Fen had already taken on the karma for Xin Xin in this life, so why did Xin Xin still have to go to that place?
I disagree.
Jiang Ruzhen slammed the door open and said in a heated tone.
"Mom, why are you against it too? I'm going to work, not to joke around."
“You can go anywhere, just not there.” Jiang Ruzhen was terrified, fearing that her Xinxin would repeat her past mistakes and encounter danger again.
Looking at Jiang Ruzhen's serious expression, Shen Shuxin also spoke earnestly, word by word.
"Mom, I've made up my mind. This is the first time I've made a decision against your wishes. But I beg you to let me go."
I was almost kidnapped by Qin Lanlan back then, and even though it didn't work out, I still feel lingering fear to this day.
Later, when I was kidnapped, I heard about Li Fen's experiences in Wayaocun. From that moment on, I had an idea in my mind: I wanted to change the shackles and constraints that people placed on women.
Until recently, when I heard my teacher talk about the rampant trafficking of women by villagers in Wayaocun, my determination to go and report on it became even stronger.
I am a woman, and only a woman can understand the truest thoughts in a woman's heart and produce a report that will shake the world.
I want to fire the first shot for women's liberation and be a pioneer; I am not afraid of danger.
"Somehow, I felt this was what I was meant to do."
Jiang Ruzhen was stunned and stood there for a long time after hearing Shen Shuxin's powerful words.
Is this fate?
In her previous life, Xin Xin was tortured to death in that hellish place. In this life, she is going to return to that place to expose the evil deeds of the locals and make them condemned and cursed by thousands.
Is this Xin Xin from her past life guiding Xin Xin in this life to take revenge herself?
"Okay. I support you!" Jiang Ruzhen nodded firmly, tears glistening in her eyes.
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