Chapter 37 You Don't Deserve It (Three-in-One)...
Chapter 37
No one answered her.
The villagers eating under the old locust tree at the entrance of the village looked at each other in bewilderment.
I don't understand how such a small place could have a car like this.
While everyone was observing with curiosity.
Captain Meng was on business from the brigade headquarters when he suddenly saw Director Niu from Mengjia Commune appear in Mengjiatun. He was both surprised and delighted.
It should be noted that Mengjia Commune had a total of seventeen production brigades, and Mengjiatun was just one of them, which was very inconspicuous.
Normally, when he goes to meetings at the commune, it's difficult for him to even catch a glimpse of Director Niu.
Why did he come to Mengjiatun alone today?
This was a perfect opportunity to build relationships, and Captain Meng, being a shrewd and calculating person, naturally wouldn't miss it.
When Captain Meng called out, it was impossible for Director Niu not to hear. He turned around to look at Captain Meng. "Captain Meng?"
"Director Niu."
Captain Meng wiped his hands on the outside of his trouser seams several times to make sure there was no dust before reaching out to shake hands with Director Niu. "What gust of wind blew you here?"
Director Niu looked up at Song Fenfang and, seeing that she didn't object, said to Captain Meng, "I've come to accompany Professor Song to Mengjiatun to find a relative."
Captain Meng stared at Song Fenfang for a while. She looked somewhat familiar, but he couldn't remember who she was.
The commune members next to them, who hadn't dared to speak at first, were none other than Director Niu, whom even Captain Meng of their brigade headquarters had to curry favor with.
The other party was clearly a high-ranking official; the commune members' fear of officials was ingrained in their very being.
So they didn't dare to say anything, but seeing Captain Meng looking at Song Fenfang, they followed suit.
Grandma Hu, who was squatting under the old locust tree, slurping noodles from a rough porcelain bowl, suddenly remembered something.
She stepped forward and looked Song Fenfang up and down several times before tentatively asking, "You? Who are you again?"
Grandma Hu thought for a while before suddenly realizing, "Your name is Song Fenfang, right?"
"Is she Meng Baichuan's wife from back then?"
Upon hearing such vulgar words, Song Fenfang frowned slightly before realizing what they meant.
This wasn't the base research institute, but rather a return to the place where she had spent two years in her youth.
Song Fenfang composed herself before nodding, "It's me."
Now it was Captain Meng's turn to be shocked. "You're Song Fenfang?"
He even went to drink with Meng Baichuan when he got married. He remembers that Meng Baichuan's wife was very beautiful.
Her face was as white as tofu, her features were beautiful, and she exuded a strong scholarly air; she was clearly a pampered young lady from the city.
Those who attended Meng Baichuan's wedding said that the woman he married was definitely the most beautiful woman in the surrounding area.
Song Fenfang didn't actually remember Captain Meng. She raised her eyes, her clear, sharp eyes carrying a hint of authority, as if she could see into a person's heart.
"I am Meng Dazhuang."
Captain Meng suddenly realized what was happening and quickly introduced himself, "Comrade Song, when you and Baichuan got married, I even swept the cow dung in front of your house."
Song Fenfang remembered.
But Director Niu, who was standing nearby, scolded, "What cow dung nonsense, Meng Dazhuang, don't you dare offend Professor Song's ears."
Director Niu was also shocked; someone of Professor Song's stature had actually gotten married.
And she even married someone from Mengjiatun. Isn't that just like a joke?
Seeing Director Niu reprimanding Captain Meng, Song Fenfang raised her hand to stop him, saying, "It's alright."
The voice was cold and desolate.
Director Niu was stunned.
Captain Meng chuckled sheepishly, "Comrade Song, I didn't expect you to still remember me."
Song Fenfang didn't say anything, but just stood there, looking around the whole Mengjiatun.
This place seems to have remained largely unchanged since she left twenty years ago.
However, the old locust tree at the entrance of the village had grown even thicker and stronger. She looked at the people sitting under the old locust tree, enjoying the cool air and eating.
There were young people and old people.
However, she hardly recognized any of them.
"Fragrance, you really haven't changed at all over the years."
The person who said this was Grandma Hu, who was one of the older women and had witnessed Song Fenfang and Meng Baichuan's marriage.
When you see her, her words are always so sweet.
Director Niu was on tenterhooks, afraid that Professor Song would be displeased.
Unexpectedly, Song Fenfang didn't. She smiled, her face unusually nostalgic, "Thank you, Aunt Hu, for remembering me."
Grandma Hu wanted to catch up with the old times again.
The car behind caught up.
As soon as the car stopped, Section Chief Liu and Mayor Li got out, followed by other people.
"Professor Song, we're not late, are we?"
As soon as they came down, they walked straight towards Song Fenfang, their attitude extremely polite.
This made Captain Meng, who was standing next to him, somewhat suspicious. What kind of wife did Meng Baichuan marry back then?
Why is it that even Mayor Li, whom he only met once from afar on the stage during the big meeting in the city last year, is so polite to Song Fenfang?
If Director Niu was just one of the higher-level leaders that Captain Meng could contact, then Mayor Li was someone Captain Meng couldn't usually get in touch with.
That's the superior's superior's superior.
Even when he greets someone, the person might not recognize him.
And all these people were being so polite to Song Fenfang.
What exactly is Song Fenfang's identity?
In response to Mayor Li and Section Chief Liu's politeness, Song Fenfang waved her hand, "It's just my private matter, you don't need to come over."
After saying this, she walked away from the front, without even asking Grandma Hu and Captain Meng to lead the way.
Song Fenfang remembers the way home better than anyone else.
She has dreamed about it countless times over the past twenty years.
Seeing Song Fenfang leave, Mayor Li and the others were a little confused. "Are we going over there?"
Despite his lowly status, Director Niu spoke a rare and insightful point: "Leader, let's all go together. If someone tries to make things difficult for Professor Song, we have more people and can at least help him out."
That makes sense.
Mayor Li gave him an approving look and said, "Director Niu, you're very good."
Director Niu chuckled and gestured for Captain Meng to lead the way, "Remember, don't overtake Professor Song."
Captain Meng responded with a soft "Yes," and followed behind Song Fenfang, silently pondering the words "Professor Song."
Damn it.
That sounds really good.
But what is Song Fenfang back for this time?
We can't exactly go looking for Meng Baichuan and Meng Yingying, can we? One of them is dead, and the other has left. And now that Song Fenfang is coming...
Not a single hair can be seen.
*
The Zhao family.
This is the third day since Zhao Yueru married Zhou Jingsong. Today, Zhou Jingsong accompanied her on her third day of returning to her parents' home. She first went back to her home in the city.
Zhao's father and mother were reassigned to different places; it was said they were to be sent to a forest farm in Heilongjiang Province.
This was also the last time the family saw each other.
After returning from the city, Zhao Yueru went to the Meng family with Zhou Jingsong. Her reason was simple: "Zhou Jingsong, I was married from the Meng family. The Meng family is my second family. Although Yingying is gone, my third uncle is still here."
"We're taking brown sugar, cigarettes, and alcohol to visit Uncle Meng."
Zhou Jingsong listened to Zhao Yueru before they got married, and naturally he continued to listen to her after they got married.
So his reply was simple: "I'll do whatever you say."
When he said this, there were other people from the Zhao family listening. When they saw everyone looking over, Zhao Yueru was a little embarrassed and reached out to pinch Zhou Jingsong's arm.
Zhou Jingsong was happy to be pinched. He turned around, wearing white gauze, and accurately took two bottles of wine and a bag of brown sugar from the table.
As for cigarettes, they were a limited-purchase item, and they only prepared two packs.
This is just a small token of my appreciation.
"Let's go."
Even though Zhou Jingsong was blind, he didn't let Zhao Yueru carry anything. Instead, Zhao Yueru acted as his eyes and led him along.
They went out.
Zhou's eldest sister-in-law scoffed, "Mom, why don't you keep an eye on Fourth Brother and his family? They've only just gotten married and they're already squandering money like this. And the Meng family is her maternal family too. Aren't Zhao Yueru's maternal family in the city?"
"Where do you go for a three-day homecoming visit to both sets of parents' homes? How much would that cost?"
Zhou's mother was the one who personally went to the Zhao family's door to try and marry Zhao Yueru, the capitalist's daughter, to her youngest son.
At that time, she was thinking that her youngest son had gone blind, and if he was blind for the rest of his life, she couldn't leave no descendants.
That would be so pitiful for her fourth child when he gets old.
However, before he went blind, the fourth son was a war hero and a soldier, so he was easy to find a wife for. But ever since he went blind, all the families who had previously been interested in marrying him have stopped wanting to.
That's when Zhou's mother set her sights on the Zhao family in the city.
Although she is illiterate, she is very clear-headed.
When faced with her eldest daughter-in-law's provocations, Zhou's mother simply sewed shoe soles quietly. "The fourth son accompanies his wife back to her parents' home. No matter how many times they go back, it's still the fourth son's wife's own money."
"You know perfectly well that the fourth brother used all the money he earned from his military service to treat his eyes."
"If you're envious of the fourth son's wife returning home twice, you can prepare some gifts for her return visit and then go back once more."
She paused, then added, "This old woman will absolutely not say another word."
Upon hearing this, Zhao's eldest daughter-in-law's face turned green. After stammering for a long time, she finally managed to say, "Where would I get the money to go back to my parents' home?"
"That's it then, if you don't have money, just shut up."
Outside.
Zhao Yueru and Zhou Jingsong hadn't gone far when, after they came out, Zhou Jingsong's shoelaces came undone. Since he couldn't see, Zhao Yueru knelt down to tie them for him.
Little did I expect to hear such a conversation from inside the room.
Zhou Jingsong had sharp ears and eyes, so he naturally heard it too, and was a little worried that Zhao Yueru would be angry.
Unexpectedly, after Zhao Yueru tied his shoelaces, she smiled and said, "Mom, you're such a sensible person."
The voice was neither too loud nor too soft, but loud enough for everyone in the room to hear.
Not only that, she also shouted into the yard, "Mom, when I went back to my parents' house this morning, I took Zhou Jingsong to the hospital for a check-up and changed his dressing. It cost a total of nineteen yuan and eighty cents."
"Is this money coming out of the public coffers or not?"
The courtyard fell silent instantly.
Zhao Yueru muttered to herself, "Since the public funds aren't being used, I'll just use my own dowry to pay for Zhou Jingsong's medical treatment."
Actually, that's not the case.
On the night of her wedding to Zhou Jingsong, he handed her a savings book with over 800 yuan in it.
This is his private slush fund.
After getting married, he met Zhao Yueru.
However, apart from Zhao Yueru and Zhou Jingsong, no one else knew about this.
The courtyard remained quiet.
Zhao Yueru covered her mouth and laughed. Even though Zhou Jingsong couldn't see her face, he could imagine the lively and cunning look on her face after winning the battle.
"Naughty."
Zhao Yueru pulled him away and ran. Once they were far away, she clutched her stomach and laughed, "Let me tell you, what I just said must have scared my sister-in-law half to death. She was afraid that the money for your medical treatment would come out of the public funds."
She wrinkled her nose, looking lively, "I'll scare her to death."
“I paid for it myself, and I went back to her house twice so she could tell me.”
"snort!"
After listening, Zhou Jingsong held her hand tightly and said, "Yueru, it's unfair of you to marry me."
Zhao Yueru shook her head, "What's there to feel wronged about? I'm happy."
Zhou Jingsong didn't understand.
She enjoys playing around with these people.
She just liked watching them, seeing how they couldn't stand her but couldn't do anything about it.
That's awesome!
"Let's go, let's go."
Fearing that Zhou Jingsong might overthink things, Zhao Yueru grabbed his hand and ran after him, saying, "I'm taking you back to Yingying's house."
"Hurry, Zhou Jingsong, run faster!"
Zhao Yueru laughed like a silver bell, and she didn't forget to look back at Zhou Jingsong, who was lagging behind, and kept urging him on.
At that moment, Zhou Jingsong thought, "This is wonderful."
Yue Ru didn't treat him as a blind man.
Instead, they treated him as a normal person.
very nice.
This was the most relaxed moment Zhou Jingsong had experienced in the five months since he went blind; no one was treating him with any extra care anymore.
I was afraid of upsetting him.
They dared not light a lamp in front of him, nor dared to say anything related to light.
Yue Ru.
Zhao Yueru.
Only his Zhao Yueru treated him like a normal person.
Instead of being blind.
*
The Meng family.
Today was a rare sunny day, and Uncle Meng was airing out the quilts. He wanted to take out all the quilts that Meng Yingying had used before and air them out.
So that when Yingying comes back next time, the quilt won't smell musty.
Uncle Meng had just taken the quilt out.
Then they heard a flurry of footsteps outside.
Uncle Meng frowned, put the quilt away, and pulled a pig-slaughtering knife out of the brick with one hand.
I don’t know when it started, but Uncle Meng got into the habit of carrying a pig-slaughtering knife with him at all times.
Perhaps it started from the day Meng Baichuan passed away.
Meng Yingying became an orphan.
From that night onward, Uncle Meng began carrying a butcher's knife at his waist, a weapon that everyone in the village dared to bite.
He was intimidating every bad guy who wanted to take a bite out of the Meng family.
Because of this incident, Uncle Meng became extremely wary of every footstep outside the door.
"who!"
He stood behind the door and cautiously asked a question to the outside.
Song Fenfang frowned slightly as she listened to the voice inside; it wasn't Meng Baichuan's voice.
Captain Meng, however, reacted quickly. He stepped forward and called out to the inside, "Third brother, open the door and see who's back?"
When Uncle Meng heard Captain Meng's voice, he opened the door and saw a dense crowd of people outside.
Uncle Meng frowned slightly at first, then his gaze finally settled on Song Fenfang's face.
Their eyes met.
Song Fenfang was also looking at Uncle Meng. She was in a daze for a while before she recognized him, "Meng Xiaoshan?"
When Uncle Meng saw that it was Song Fenfang, his pupils suddenly contracted sharply. "You've mistaken me for someone else."
"I don't know you."
The next moment.
He slammed the door shut.
Professor Song was turned away.
This shocked everyone.
Director Niu was taken aback for a moment, but quickly recovered and gestured for Captain Meng to knock on the door again.
Good heavens! Professor Song, whom they all treat like a Buddha, was turned away at the Meng family's door!
Captain Meng also looked distressed.
"Director Niu, Meng Laosan is just a simpleton. It's no use calling him."
Song Fenfang interrupted him, "I'll call it."
She stood at the doorway, looking at the former mud-brick house, which had now been transformed into a two-story building.
Is this the house that Meng Baichuan built after she left?
Song Fenfang was unaware that she was simply walking step by step to the door, her brown leather shoes with rubber soles making a clattering sound on the bluestone slabs.
Both strange and familiar.
Song Fenfang knocked on the door, but there was no response.
Song Fenfang's fair fingers curled slightly, and she lowered her eyes. "Xiaoshan, it's me, Second Sister-in-law."
As soon as he said that...
Uncle Meng, who had been quiet inside, suddenly roared as if he had gone mad, "My second sister-in-law died long ago! Who are you? I don't know you!"
This Uncle Meng seemed to have returned to the scene when Meng Baichuan first brought Meng Yingying to see him.
Sharp, mean, and quick to bite anyone it sees.
Upon hearing this, Song Fenfang, who was outside, turned deathly pale. "Xiaoshan."
"Don't call me Xiaoshan, you don't deserve it!"
As soon as he said that, the outside fell silent.
Director Niu and the others gasped. Who was this guy? How dare he speak to Professor Song like that? But strangely, Professor Song wasn't angry at all.
Song Fenfang stood there, she was very thin, so much so that her shoulder blades were visible under her shirt.
That usually aloof expression now held a hint of sadness.
“Meng Xiaoshan, whether you acknowledge me as your second sister-in-law or not, you have to admit that I bought your first cotton-padded coat and your first pair of cotton-padded shoes.”
"Your first fried egg and your first bowl of meat were both given to you by me."
Song Fenfang didn't want to bring up past favors or revisit old issues.
But clearly, she had no better solution.
Upon hearing this, Uncle Meng in the courtyard trembled violently. Then, he abruptly flung open the door. "Why did you come back?"
"Let's see who else is in this room."
This time, he no longer denied Song Fenfang's identity.
Song Fenfang went up and down the steps. She was the last one left, but she didn't lift her foot to go up. She just stood there.
His thin, pale face seemed to hold a hint of speculation.
"Where is Meng Baichuan? Tell him to come out and see me."
Why didn't Meng Baichuan come out when she and Meng Xiaoshan had been arguing outside for so long?
Back in the day, whenever she and Meng Xiaoshan argued, Meng Baichuan would always be the first to step in and act as a peacemaker.
But not this time.
Uncle Meng raised his eyes, his red eyes now filled with sarcasm, "Who are you looking for?"
Song Fenfang was hurt by those cold, mocking eyes.
Her throat tightened, and she repeated, "I'm looking for Meng Baichuan."
"Make him come out."
Uncle Meng smirked, “You really know how to look for things. You could have come back to look for things twenty years ago, but you didn’t. You could have come back to look for things ten years ago, but you still didn’t.”
“You could have come back last month, but you still didn’t come.”
"Now that my second brother is dead, you've come."
"What? Are you coming back to pay respects at his grave?"
Uncle Meng is indeed worthy of being the person Song Fenfang trained for three years. He has perfectly mastered Song Fenfang's sharp tongue and meanness when she was young.
really.
As soon as Uncle Meng finished speaking, Song Fenfang staggered. "What did you say?"
With tears welling in his eyes, Uncle Meng roared angrily, "I said Meng Baichuan is dead."
Meng Baichuan is dead!
"Meng Baichuan died the very night you left!"
Song Fenfang took several steps back, her pupils suddenly contracted, and for a moment, she almost fell over.
Captain Meng, who was standing next to her, instinctively reached out to support her, preventing Song Fenfang from falling to the ground.
Song Fenfang stood there, seemingly lost in thought. After a while, she heard herself ask, "When did he die?"
Just last month, Meng Baichuan sent her a telegram.
Uncle Meng looked at her coldly, "Are you referring to him in spirit, or him in body?"
"The moment you chose to abandon him and the child, he was already dead in spirit."
"As for his physical body, he died on the 7th of last month."
"From his spirit to his body, he died cleanly, without leaving a trace."
As soon as she said that, Song Fenfang could no longer stand. She almost collapsed to the ground, slumped over.
Director Niu and Captain Meng reacted quickly, supporting her from behind and saying, "Quickly get her a glass of cold water to drink."
Uncle Meng did not move.
Captain Meng glanced at Uncle Meng, flicked his sleeves, and quickly ran into the Meng family home.
Captain Meng brought water for Song Fenfang to drink.
Uncle Meng raised his hand, but Director Niu shoved it away. "Meng Xiaoshan, right? If Professor Song gets into trouble here, the entire Mengjiatun village won't be enough to pay for her death!"
As soon as he said that, the surroundings fell silent.
Uncle Meng raised his hand, then lowered it heavily again.
Director Niu breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that he hadn't stopped her. He and Captain Meng watched as Song Fenfang finished drinking the glass of water.
He looked much more energetic.
Director Niu finally breathed a sigh of relief; he was terrified.
If Professor Song really gets into trouble here, he'll probably lose his job.
After drinking the water, Song Fenfang stood up with the help of Captain Meng's arm and walked into the courtyard without saying a word.
This time, Uncle Meng didn't stop her; he followed beside her. Song Fenfang walked past the familiar courtyard; although the houses there had been rebuilt.
However, the paths and layout in the courtyard are still exactly the same as before.
This left Song Fenfang feeling uneasy. As she walked down that familiar road, each step she took, each lift she made, felt extremely heavy.
When did he leave?
Uncle Meng didn't want to talk to her.
Song Fenfang stopped and stood in front of Uncle Meng. She called out softly, "Xiaoshan, I'm your second sister-in-law."
As soon as he said this, Uncle Meng's large tears started falling, one by one. His eyes were bloodshot, as if he had been hiding years of anger and grievances that he could not express.
"You are not."
“Song Fenfang, from the moment you abandoned my second brother and Yingying, you ceased to be my second sister-in-law.”
As soon as he said that...
Song Fenfang was stunned. She murmured, "Brother Chuan is gone, then what about my Yingying?"
"Your Yingying."
Uncle Meng sneered, "She's not your Yingying anymore. As soon as my second brother left, the wolves and tigers of Mengjiatun wanted nothing more than to devour her. Yingying? Yingying has long been eaten clean by everyone!"
This was said in anger.
Seeing that Song Fenfang was about to collapse again, Captain Meng angrily cursed at Uncle Meng, "Shut up, are you trying to kill Comrade Song with anger?"
When Captain Meng turned and saw Song Fenfang, he became more amiable. "Comrade Song, don't worry. Baichuan is gone, but Yingying is still here."
Song Fenfang did not speak.
Captain Meng continued, "Let me tell you, your Yingying is quite successful. Before Baichuan left, he arranged for her to go to the garrison to find her childhood betrothed and go to him for help."
"But I never expected that your Yingying would be so successful. She actually passed the exam for the cultural troupe stationed in the military and got a stable job."
"Comrade Song, I'd be overjoyed if I made you happy."
Song Fenfang paused for a moment, and her first reaction was not pride, but rather, "Then my Yingying must have suffered a lot."
Having come from the countryside, she understands all too well the hardships involved.
And her daughter left the countryside again.
"Yes," Captain Meng sighed. "You don't know that after Baichuan left, all of Meng's relatives came to take advantage of the family's lack of property. They wanted the two-story house and Meng Yingying herself, so that she could marry into the Meng family and kill two birds with one stone."
"They can eat up the house and also eat up Meng Yingying."
Upon hearing this, Song Fenfang, who had been calm throughout, suddenly became agitated, exclaiming, "They're dreaming!"
Uncle Meng suddenly said, "It's not a dream. They're doing something that even country folk would do—profiting from someone's family's misfortune."
Song Fenfang's face turned pale instantly.
"Is she alright?"
Even after learning the result, she still couldn't help but ask one more question.
Uncle Meng smirked. "What do you think?"
“The Meng family members used the matter of carrying my second brother’s coffin to threaten Yingying. They said they would not carry the coffin if Yingying did not agree.”
"There was no other way after that." Uncle Meng lowered his eyes. "Song Fenfang, you would never guess that in the end, it was Yingying and I who carried my second brother's coffin."
"What?"
Song Fenfang became more agitated, "How could Yingying, a young girl, lift a coffin?"
"yes."
Uncle Meng looked up at her and said, "How could a little girl like Yingying lift a coffin? But she did."
Song Fenfang took two steps back and murmured, "I'm late."
Uncle Meng replied without hesitation, "Yes."
He pressed on, saying, "You're not just a month late, you're twenty years late."
Song Fenfang staggered, her eyes instantly reddening, but she remained silent.
Director Niu wanted to say something more, but Captain Meng grabbed him. This was the first time Captain Meng had defied his superior, Director Niu.
Captain Meng shook his head at Director Niu.
Director Niu remained silent for a moment, without stepping forward.
"There's no point in you going in to take a look."
Just as Song Fenfang was about to go inside, Uncle Meng stood outside the door and said in a calm tone, "My second brother is gone, Yingying is gone."
"This house is now empty."
"Song Fenfang, you're late."
As soon as she said that, Song Fenfang's raised foot suddenly couldn't land. The threshold of the Meng family's house wasn't high, only about ten centimeters.
But for Song Fenfang, those ten centimeters were an impossible feat.
"Third Uncle."
Zhao Yueru brought Zhou Jingsong to return the gifts. She never expected that the usually quiet Meng family would suddenly have so many people when she entered.
Zhao Yueru thought it was other members of the Meng family coming to take the house again, so she immediately rushed forward two steps.
Even Zhou Jingsong was left out.
She rushed straight in front of Uncle Meng, looking around with hostility. "Uncle, are they coming to take Yingying's house again?"
The use of the word "again" is very ingenious.
Uncle Meng shook his head. "No."
"Yueru, they are not bad people, but they are not good people either."
What kind of explanation is that?
Song Fenfang stared at Zhao Yueru, who was about the same age as Meng Yingying. Just looking at someone her age reminded her of her own daughter.
"who is she?"
Why do my eyes well up with tears when I look at myself?
Zhao Yueru was somewhat puzzled.
Uncle Meng didn't want to explain.
Song Fenfang said to Zhao Yueru, "I am Yingying's mother."
Zhao Yue immediately retorted, "You're talking nonsense. My Yingying's mother died long ago."
"She lost both her mother and father, so I gave her my parents."
At this point, Zhao Yueru suddenly looked up at Song Fenfang, her large eyes still filled with hostility, "Are you Yingying's mother?"
"Where were you when Yingying needed you since she was little? Where were you when Uncle Meng left and all the relatives came to bully Yingying? Where were you when Yingying was bullied and could no longer stay in Mengjiatun and had to go to that childhood betrothed?"
"Yingying went to live with her childhood betrothed, but he rejected her because she was an orphan from the countryside who had lost both her parents. Where are you?"
With each sentence Zhao Yueru spoke, Song Fenfang's face paled an inch.
In the end, Song Fenfang's face was as pale as paper, and she was swaying precariously. "Did she suffer so much?"
"Isn't that obvious?"
Zhao Yueru found her question strange: "Isn't it normal for children who have lost their parents to suffer?"
"If you were really Yingying's mother, you should have thought of this sooner, instead of only now. Has she suffered a lot?"
“Even I, an outsider, and even my mother, know that Yingying has had a hard time and try every means to coax her, to be close to her, and to make her feel better.”
"And you?"
Zhao Yueru looked coldly at Song Fenfang, "Are you Yingying's mother?"
“If you really are Yingying’s mother, I think it would be better for her to die early; she would be more at ease that way.”
"How dare you!"
As soon as Zhao Yueru said this, Director Niu stepped forward and said, "You young lady, do you know the value of Professor Song? If she were gone, it would be a great loss for the entire organization."
People from small towns like theirs are eagerly hoping to receive guidance from Song Fenfang for their research institute.
In this way, their local research institutes can also take a step forward.
But this formidable man, in front of this woman, wished he were dead.
This is really going too far.
When Song Fenfang saw Director Niu scolding Zhao Yueru, she immediately turned around and glanced at him, and Director Niu instantly fell silent.
Zhao Yueru sneered, "What a show of power."
"Even if I say it a hundred times, it will still be the same."
"Meng Yingying has no mother. She didn't have one when she was a child, and she won't have one when she grows up."
The courtyard fell silent instantly.
Everyone was looking at Zhao Yueru, but Zhao Yueru was not afraid. She had never been afraid of anything.
“I don’t know why you’ve come to find Yingying now, but for Yingying, she really doesn’t need it anymore.”
“You weren’t there when she was going through the hardest time. Now that she’s doing well, I hope you won’t show up in front of her again.”
Zhao Yueru is Meng Yingying's best friend.
She knew Meng Yingying's sadness, and she also knew her happiness.
She knew even better that Song Fenfang's appearance was not a pleasant surprise for Meng Yingying, but rather a source of harm.
Song Fenfang stood there for a while, then looked into Zhao Yueru's eyes and said, "I'm glad Yingying has such a good friend as you, but even if you're the best friend, you have no right to make decisions for Yingying."
Zhao Yueru stood there without saying a word.
But those stubborn big eyes met her gaze.
"I can."
Do you know why I can?
"Because Yingying and I have been friends for many years, because Yingying was bullied in the propaganda team, I stood up for her, because Yingying needed to see a doctor for Uncle Meng, I accompanied her, and because on the day Yingying lost her father, I rode my bicycle thirty miles at night to Meng's house to be with her and help her through the most difficult day of her life."
"Comrade Song, you say I can't, but I can."
"Because I know that Yingying has no attachment, no hatred, no joy towards her mother. She doesn't even have much longing or yearning for the role of mother."
"She only longed for, cherished, and couldn't bear to part with her father."
After listening, Song Fenfang stood there for a long time, so long that Zhao Yueru thought she was going to turn into a statue.
Song Fenfang suddenly bowed deeply to Zhao Yueru at a 90-degree angle.
"Thank you, thank you for being there for her during the most difficult part of her journey."
Zhao Yueru was startled by her bow, and even more so, at a loss for words. Like Meng Yingying, she was someone who responded better to gentle persuasion than force.
She hadn't expected that Song Fenfang wouldn't care about her previous aggressive behavior and would even bow to her.
"Don't do this."
She took several steps back to avoid Song Fenfang's bow, saying, "Even without you, I would still be good to Yingying."
She looked somewhat uncomfortable. "Also, Yingying might miss her mother even a little bit."
"Because she always envies me when she sees me spending time with my mother."
Song Fenfang murmured, "Thank you."
"I'm sorry to her."
"Can you tell me about her past?"
Zhao Yueru rolled her eyes. She first glanced at the person behind Song Fenfang, and then suddenly asked, "Are you an important person?"
She noticed that those people didn't seem to be ordinary people, and they all seemed to follow Song Fenfang's lead.
Song Fenfang did not answer.
Director Niu answered directly, saying, "Comrade Song's strategic value is that one person can be compared to an entire regiment."
“Even more.”
Song Fenfang is a genius in the scientific research field.
This made Zhao Yueru think twice and calculate more carefully. "Then I'll tell you."
"You're the one who wanted to hear it."
She spoke as if she were accusing someone, deliberately picking out the bad things to say, "Look, Yingying was already having a hard time, and she was forced to go to live with her childhood sweetheart, and look what happened."
"Not only are the family of the child-arranged behaving inhumanely, but they also want to break off the engagement with Yingying, ruin the spot she worked so hard to get for the cultural troupe audition, and kick her out of Harbin. If she doesn't leave, they'll kill her!"
As soon as he said that...
The courtyard fell silent instantly.
Song Fenfang, who was never one to show her emotions, murmured, "How dare they?"
"How dare Qi Zhenguo!?"
It seems she also knows Meng Yingying's childhood betrothed.
"You know him?"
Zhao Yueru asked curiously.
Song Fenfang hummed in agreement, her emotions seemingly calming down. "I'll handle this."
"Besides that, has my Yingying been bullied by anyone else?"
Her gaze swept over the sea of heads outside the door, and where Song Fenfang's gaze fell, some people lowered their heads guiltily.
It's good to tattle.
Zhao Yueru loves to tattle.
Yingying had no choice before, but after Meng Baichuan left, Yingying was like a rootless duckweed in Mengjiatun.
Now, Song Fenfang is back, regardless of whether this mother is real or not.
Anyway, as long as it can vent Yingying's anger, that's enough.
"Yes, I have."
Zhao Yueru didn't care how ugly the people from Mengjiatun looked; she just kept talking like a tantrum.
"Uncle Meng died. That night, countless people left their lights on in their homes, all coveting the Meng family's two-story house."
"It was Uncle Meng who slept at the front door of his house with a pig-slaughtering knife at his waist that truly intimidated them."
"Then, on the day Uncle Meng's funeral procession went up the mountain."
Zhao Yueru didn't want to recall it. She trembled slightly. "There were more than a hundred people in Mengjiatun. Under the coercion of Uncle Meng, no one dared to come out to help Yingying carry the coffin. That day, it was raining heavily. Yingying and her third uncle carried the coffin, which weighed several hundred kilograms. Not only did no one help, but Uncle Meng also threatened that anyone who dared to help would be going against the Meng family clan."
"At that time, Yingying was truly isolated and helpless."
This was a side of the story that Song Fenfang had never imagined; she had thought that the Meng clan was simply xenophobic.
I just don't like people who aren't from the Meng clan.
She never expected that the Meng clan would be so cruel as to harm even their own members.
She turned to look at the people outside the door, but they didn't speak and all kept their heads down.
Seeing that Director Niu's gaze seemed to want to tear everyone to pieces, Captain Meng had no choice but to step in and say, "Comrade Song, it's not your fault that this happened back then. After Baichuan left, everyone wanted to help, but Boss Meng wouldn't allow it. Anyone who dared to help would be making an enemy of the Meng clan. You know the influence of the Meng clan in Mengjiatun."
Although he was the brigade leader, he often had to listen to the clan's orders.
Song Fenfang lowered her eyes and said nothing.
This made Captain Meng even more uneasy.
After an unknown amount of time, when everyone was holding their breath, Song Fenfang spoke up and thanked Zhao Yueru.
Zhao Yueru shook her head. She was frighteningly straightforward. "I'm using you."
"I know you're a big shot, and I want to use your name to help Yingying get revenge."
Song Fenfang said, "I know."
That usually cold and aloof face now held a clear understanding.
"You still know that?"
"Because I am also Yingying's mother."
"Comrade Zhao, I know I am not a good mother, but I want to make up for it."
That's all.
Zhao Yueru hesitated for a moment, "Then can you make those who bullied Yingying pay the price?"
Song Fenfang did not answer directly. Her eyes flickered, and she said in a low voice, "I cannot abuse my power, but if the other party makes a mistake within the rules, I can make them pay the price."
Zhao Yueru: "That's enough."
"However, don't be too ruthless."
Zhao Yueru whispered, "I heard Yingying say that Qi Zhenguo seems to have given her a lot of compensation, and she plans to wipe it all clean."
"But Aunt Song, I feel that Yingying has been bullied so badly, we can't just let it go like this."
This is a subtle but overt attempt to sow discord among the Qi family.
"Also, Yingying is in the cultural troupe stationed in the team. I heard that there are many girls from good families in the troupe. Yingying comes from the countryside. I'm worried that she will be bullied there."
"Could you help her privately, without letting her know?"
She was afraid that if Yingying found out, she would be sad and would also refuse to listen.
Her Yingying was too pure, too innocent.
She will not accept Song Fenfang.
It doesn't matter; she'll handle all the scheming, flattery, fawning, and exploitation.
Zhao Yueru hadn't finished speaking yet.
A knowing smile appeared on Song Fenfang's usually cold face. "Is that Yue Ru?"
"You've always been thinking of Yingying, but do you have any requests of your own?"
"Auntie can help you this once."
-----------------------
Author's note: Yue Ru is the best person in the world.
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