Meng Taohua was at the provincial capital's railway station and heard that his father and sister were both in the hospital. He hurried to the post office and sent a letter back to inquire about the situation. Before he received a reply, his mother and sister Tian Yalan called Xian Fangfang's office. He happened to be picking up Xian Fangfang from get off work and answered the phone. He confirmed that his father and sister were really in the hospital. He couldn't talk on the phone for too long because he didn't know why they were in the hospital, but he had to come back to see them.

After taking the bus back to the commune, he naturally rushed to the health center to visit first. He thought that his mother and younger brothers and sisters would be taking care of his father, but he saw Shi Datou taking care of two patients alone. When he asked, Shi Datou told him everything. Tian Zhigao was stunned for a long time after listening. He couldn't believe that his family, which had always been upright and innocent, would cause such a shameful scandal!

He didn't want to go back to the village at first, as he couldn't bear to lose face, but since he was back, it was impossible for him not to see his mother. From childhood to adulthood, his mother loved him the most.

So he came back and mustered up a lot of courage to step into Linshui Village. Facing all kinds of looks from the villagers, the elders and folks no longer treated him kindly and politely as before. Instead, they looked at him coldly. Some women even spit at him and children threw stones at him. He thought it was because of the scandal at home. Later, he was scolded as Chen Shimei, and then he slowly came to his senses: it was because of his cancellation of the engagement with Meng Taohua.

He doesn't care about this. How can a country person understand that marriage requires love?

When he saw his mother and sister, he started crying and said that it was all Meng Taohua's fault. Meng Taohua usually helped his mother dry the herbs and knew the medicinal effects of sticky grass. She hated him for marrying Xian Fangfang in the city, so she drugged the whole family.

He was furious, so he rushed to find Meng Taohua to argue with her. He was planning to send her to the police station to turn herself in. She was too vicious and cruel. If she was not punished, she would harm others in the future.

Only when Meng Taohua is brought to justice can the Tian family's reputation be restored.

But he underestimated Meng Taohua again. Not only did she not admit that she did it, she also won over the educated youth to stand on her side and support her. Just like in the provincial capital, she inexplicably got help from Shen Yu and Meng Zhehan.

The simple and ignorant little village girl four years ago has now become so cunning and weird, and seems unfathomable. Tian Zhigao still can't believe it, but he has to accept the fact.

His mother is also a smart person, why didn’t she notice the changes in Meng Taohua?

Wang Shuifeng was busy in the yard. When she saw Tian Zhigao coming back with a gloomy face, she hurried over to him and asked, "Did she see peach blossoms? What did she say? You gave her 600 yuan, which is too much. You have to ask her to pay it back..."

"Mom!" Tian Zhigao looked at Wang Shuifeng with disappointment on his face: "Can you look further ahead and not always focus on a little bit of petty profit? Not to mention 600 yuan, if I had 1,000 yuan, I would give it to her, so that those people in the factory wouldn't gossip about me being stingy and abandoning my rural wife and not willing to compensate her! Why would I be reluctant? I really have no money! The 600 yuan was given by Fangfang's aunt.

If you had been more tolerant of Meng Taohua and not abused her, we might not have ended up like this! We could still live a good life! Now, our family is ruined, I was sent back to the workshop, and I can only get 28 yuan a month. Fangfang is also in a bad mood and always complains. If she knew about the situation at home, what would she think? Wouldn't she be angry with me?"

Wang Shuifeng cried out: "Taohua told you that I abused her? How could I? God knows, I treated her so well! This cheap bastard is black-hearted and rotten-hearted, and she is always doing bad things! I will tear her mouth apart when I see her. You can only judge a person by his appearance but not by his heart!"

Tian Zhigao looked at Wang Shuifeng coldly. He was familiar with his mother's expressions when she spoke, and could tell if she was lying or not. "Taohua said that you ordered Laoliu to push her down the mountain, asked my sister to knock her unconscious, and discussed with Yalan to... make her a slut and then marry her to Shi Datou. Is that true?"

Wang Shuifeng: “…”

Wang Shuifeng wiped her tears and said, "Are you blaming me? I am doing this for you. If you don't do this, if you don't get Taohua married first, you will be criticized by others, don't you know? That will affect your future."

"My future is bleak now."

Tian Zhiliang saw his mother crying, and he couldn't vent his anger in his heart: "I'm not saying it's all your fault, you're just too careless. And you must be bad to Taohua. How can you drive her out alone when the whole family eats meat? Isn't this giving the villagers something to talk about? If she goes to the factory dressed like that, people will laugh at me, not her! If you are too fussy and petty, it will be difficult for you to succeed, do you understand?"

Wang Shuifeng looked at her most promising and proud son, with a depressed look on his face, and secretly regretted that she was indeed not careful enough, which allowed Meng Taohua to slip through the net, resulting in the whole family being harmed and her son losing his official position. Fortunately, her son said that Xian Fangfang's uncle would help and there would be a chance in the future.

She said distressedly, "You are right. I was careless. I will correct this mistake in the future. Zhigao, are you hungry? I just killed a chicken and stewed it. It is cooked. I will bring it to you right away!"

Tian Zhigao: “…”

The whole family got into trouble because of eating stewed chicken. He dared not eat chicken anymore, at least not in this family! Tian Yalan came out of the house and saw her third brother coming back. She immediately ran over to tell him about work:

"Third brother, since I can't go to the textile factory, then you can arrange for me to go to the sugar factory to take my brother-in-law's share. I don't want to stay at home."

Tian Zhigao said, "How can I arrange it? I'm not from the sugar factory. My brother-in-law has completed all the formalities. He just needs to transfer his household registration there. Besides, that type of work is only suitable for men. You can't go."

"Why can't I go? Can't you just ask someone to help me change my job?"

"How can it be that easy? I've already said that I have no right to interfere in the affairs of the sugar factory."

"But you clearly promised me to replace my brother-in-law and go to the sugar factory!" Tian Yalan was anxious. Without a job, were you going to let her die in the village? "When did I agree to that?" Tian Zhigao was also angry. He hated people making trouble with him the most.

"Taohua told me that day. She said you asked her to tell her at the provincial capital railway station that I or my fourth brother should replace my brother-in-law to go to the sugar factory. Mom agreed to let me go first! Anyway, my brother-in-law is from a different family, so he has to wait behind!"

Tian Zhigao: “…”

(End of this chapter)