"My God! Her cousin went to Beijing to get married, and her cousin's own mother didn't go with her. What's the point of her cousin going along to join in the fun?"
"She wasn't there to join in the fun."
"If she wasn't going to join in the fun, then what was she going there for?"
"Think about it carefully. My cousin is getting married in Beijing, and she's insisting on going with her. It's not just to join in the fun; she also wants to marry someone from Beijing."
"Seeing that her cousin is going to marry and live a life of luxury in Beijing, she got envious and wanted to marry and live a life of luxury in Beijing too."
"So that's why! He insisted on going to Beijing with his cousin. How shameless!"
"It's strange, isn't it? Mengmeng usually seems so gentle and kind, but I never expected her to be such a restless person."
"She is someone who knows how to plan for herself."
"Unfortunately, it wasn't used for the right purposes."
"How is it not being used for the right purpose? A young woman getting married is the right path. Mengmeng is planning for her future and seizing every possible opportunity to turn her life around. There's nothing wrong with that."
"That makes perfect sense. She can go to Beijing, marry any man she wants, and become a city dweller. Her in-laws can then arrange a job for her, and her good days will begin."
"It's true that she wants to be a city dweller and live a good life. But it's a bit unethical that she's using her cousin as a stepping stone to change her fate."
"How can you say that about Mengmeng? I don't think she's that kind of person! Could there be a mistake?"
Everyone chimed in with their own opinions, some saying Song Rumeng's behavior was wrong, others saying it was right, each holding their own view, making for a lively discussion.
Hearing the villagers gossiping about her and seeing them pointing and whispering about her, Song Rumeng's long-suppressed temper finally exploded, and her face contorted with rage.
Looking at the surrounding villagers with disdain, he said, "What do you ignorant people know? I'm working hard so that I can have a better life in the future, what's wrong with that?"
"What did I do wrong? Don't you all want to live a good life?"
The villagers were stumped by her two questions. They didn't want a good life, of course they did! Why work so hard if they didn't want a good life?
Similarly, was Song Rumeng wrong to work hard to live a better life?
There is no answer, because if Song Rumeng is not at fault, then who is? Is it Song Yueying, who was used as a stepping stone, or the military comrade who disagreed with taking Song Rumeng to the capital?
From their own perspectives, everyone seems to be right, so whose fault is it?
Clap clap clap, applause rang out.
The villagers looked up at the source of the sound and saw Song Yueying standing under the eaves with a faint smile on her lips.
“Let me tell you where you went wrong.” Song Yueying looked into Song Rumeng’s eyes. “You’re working hard for your future, that’s not wrong. You want a good life, that’s not wrong either.”
"Your mistake lies in your wicked intentions, and in using people who are genuinely good to you as stepping stones."
"If someone is unwilling to be your stepping stone, you blame them for the mistakes and say that they ruined your life."
"Unfortunately, you forgot that you are just a person, and a selfish one at that. As long as you're not the kind of money and votes people like, no one will want to revolve around you."
After Song Yueying finished speaking, the villagers nodded in agreement.
Enraged, Song Rumeng spoke without thinking, her words filled with malice: "You, you are all opportunists, all you do all day long is criticize this and criticize that."
"They talk about other people's faults all day long, aren't they afraid of their mouths and tongues getting rotten one day?"
They were called opportunists, gossipers, and had their mouths rotten. The villagers were furious.
Everyone came to arrest Song Yueying for having illicit relationships because they listened to Song Rumeng. It turned out they were a married couple, and it wasn't the illicit relationship Song Rumeng claimed.
Already in the wrong, and now being called a fence-sitter by the culprit, the villagers glared at Song Rumeng and left, grumbling.
Soon, only a few people remained in the courtyard.
Under the eaves, Song Yueying and her family of three, and in the courtyard under the sun, the brigade leader, Aunt Li, Song Rumeng... and Wang Muxiang lying on the ground.
As the crowd dispersed, Wang Muxiang's figure lay on the ground, completely still, her condition unknown.
"Good heavens! What happened to Wang Muxiang?" Aunt Li exclaimed. "She's not moving at all. Could she be dead? Oh my god, Wang Muxiang is dead."
"Shut up," the captain snapped at her.
"Why should I shut up? Someone died in Zhao Dongxue's family, and they can't escape responsibility." Aunt Li wasn't afraid of the brigade leader anymore; she just wanted to pin the blame on Zhao Dongxue and Song Yueying.
"Wang Muxiang died in their yard, they must have killed her."
Aunt Li's thinking was simple: Wang Muxiang died in Zhao Dongxue's yard. Zhao Dongxue, Song Yueying, and that soldier were all implicated.
She was waiting to see the three men meet a miserable end.
The captain was also in a state of confusion. Wang Muxiang looked terrible, and he couldn't be sure if she was dead or not.
Song Yueying's brow twitched violently, but she breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Wang Muxiang's chest rise and fall slightly. Whether Wang Muxiang lived or died was none of her business, but she couldn't let her die in her yard.
She thought it was unlucky.
Suddenly, a hand was grasped, the grip neither too tight nor too loose. Song Yueying turned her head to look. Meeting Qi Yanjue's questioning gaze, she mouthed two words: "It's nothing."
Qi Yanjue was relieved.
Her other hand was grabbed, the grip was a bit strong, and it was trembling uncontrollably. Song Yueying broke free from Qi Yanjue's grasp and gently covered her mother's trembling hand.
A warm current flowed into her heart, calming her fear and confusion. Her mother, her face deathly pale, asked softly, "Little Shadow, is Wang Muxiang dead?"
"No," Song Yueying replied softly. To ease her mother's tension, she jokingly asked, "Is Mom worried about her?"
Knowing that Wang Muxiang was not dead, Song's mother's fear and anxiety dissipated. With a look of disgust, she said, "I don't care whether Wang Muxiang is dead or alive, but she can't die in our yard."
This idea coincided with her own, and Song Yueying smiled and echoed, "Mom, don't worry, I will never let her die in our yard."
"With so much time wasted, the chicken soup inside must be cold by now."
"Mom, go heat it up." Song's mother let go of Song Yueying's hand and walked towards the main room.
She always believed her daughter's words without question. If her daughter said she wouldn't let Wang Muxiang die in her own yard, then she definitely wouldn't.
Song Rumeng only glanced at Wang Muxiang and didn't go over to check on the situation. Her mind was currently filled with the thought that Qi Yanjue had ruined her chance to marry into a high-ranking family in the capital.
She was ruined, and she wanted revenge. She wanted Qi Yanjue and Song Yueying to pay the price.
She can't have a good life, and Qi Yanjue and Song Yueying don't even deserve to have a hard life. They only deserve to go to hell, to live in regret, suffering and torment every day.
The captain shook his head at Song Rumeng's condition, lamenting that the Song family had wasted their time raising this daughter. He turned to Song Yueying, "Dr. Song, please help..."
Before the captain could finish speaking, Song Yueying interrupted him, "She fainted from heatstroke. I have some medicine for treating heatstroke here. Anyone who needs it can come and buy it."
With so many villagers baking in the sun today, I'm sure many will suffer from heatstroke when they get home.
"Buy?" The captain thought he had misheard.
“Yes, buy it.” Song Yueying nodded. “I made it very clear in the fields before that from now on, I will no longer take a single work point from the village. If you want me to see a doctor and receive treatment, you have to pay.”
Song Yueying had said those words in the fields before, but he thought she was just saying them out of anger. The brigade leader looked at Song Yueying in disbelief, never expecting this...
Would she really dare to do that?
Does she know what the consequences will be if she charges money for medical treatment?
Qi Yanjue looked down at Song Yueying without saying anything.
Seeing that Qi Yanjue remained silent, the captain had no choice but to remind her himself, "Dr. Song, this is a time of severe crackdown, it's not appropriate for you to charge money for your medical treatment."
“You’re the village doctor for our brigade, so it’s fine for you to receive work points from the brigade. But charging for medical services would easily cause dissatisfaction among the villagers, and if someone…”
The captain didn't say the rest aloud, but the meaning was clear: if someone reported her for charging money for medical treatment, she could very well be arrested.
At best, they would receive some ideological education; at worst, they would be beaten and sent to a labor camp.
What if someone does what? Of course, what if someone reports her? Song Yueying will be arrested. Thinking about Song Yueying's pathetic state after being arrested, Aunt Li and Song Rumeng were both excited.
If Song Yueying continues to recklessly charge money for medical treatment, they will report her to the town authorities.
"Thank you for the reminder, Captain." Song Yueying thanked him sincerely, knowing that the captain meant well and she naturally wouldn't refuse his kindness.
"However, you may not have heard the saying, 'Never offend a doctor.'"
"What do you mean?" the captain asked, puzzled.
Qi Yanjue understood what she meant, and the corners of his lips lifted slightly.
Song Yueying smiled faintly, "Everyone gets sick sometimes. If you offend a doctor, especially one with a bad temper, she really can stand by and watch someone die."
The captain's lips twitched, thinking to himself, "Why don't you just say that you're the doctor with the bad temper who refuses to help someone in distress?"
On second thought, wasn't that why I always called Song Yueying Doctor Song?
Well, since they already know what's going on, he won't waste his breath trying to persuade them. The brigade leader gasped when he saw Aunt Li and Song Rumeng.
I shouldn't have said those things in front of those two wicked people!
These two women have fallen out with Doctor Song's family today, and they must be holding a grudge. If they get the chance, they will definitely spare no effort to retaliate against Doctor Song.
Having observed the captain's reaction, Song Yueying shared none of his concerns. She dared to say she would charge for medical services, so she wasn't afraid of being reported.
"Captain, you've worked hard today. It's past noon now, and you still have to work this afternoon. Why don't you stay at our house for a simple meal?" After saying this, Song Yueying gave Qi Yanjue a wink.
“Yueying is right. We were just discussing when to thank the captain.” Qi Yanjue understood and walked over to politely invite the captain into the main room.
"Thank me for what?" The captain followed Qi Yanjue blankly.
"Thank you for quickly writing the letter of introduction and certificate for Yueying back then, otherwise we would have missed the train back to Beijing." Qi Yanjue casually made up an excuse.
"Of course, of course, you young people are too polite." The captain laughed heartily and followed Qi Yanjue into the main room.
Seeing the brigade leader being asked to leave, Aunt Li and Song Rumeng began to feel uneasy. They couldn't guess what Song Yueying wanted to do with them, but it certainly wasn't anything good.
"You two." Song Yueying's gaze swept over Aunt Li and Song Rumeng's faces. Pointing to the broken door on the ground, she said, "This is my yard gate. Whoever broke it is responsible for fixing it."
"I didn't break it," Aunt Li was the first to deny it.
"It wasn't me who broke it. I'm not strong enough to have broken your gate at all," Song Rumeng said, trying to absolve herself of any responsibility.
Aunt Li added, "I'm not very strong either. Judging from the extent of the damage to your gate, it must have been smashed by a man. Women don't have that much strength."
“Aunt Li is right, it must have been a man who broke the gate.” Song Rumeng quickly agreed, “I’m from the back courtyard, it has nothing to do with me.”
Seeing the two women trying their best to distance themselves, Song Yueying sneered. Too lazy to beat around the bush, she said directly, "I don't care who comes into the courtyard first or who comes in last."
“You didn’t damage my yard gate yourselves, but you brought people to damage it.”
"The responsibility for maintenance naturally falls on your shoulders."
In her heart, Song Rumeng wanted nothing more than to strangle Song Yueying, but on the surface, she still put on a pitiful look, "Cousin, I..."
"Shut up." Song Yueying interrupted Song Rumeng and warned her, "Don't pretend to be pitiful in front of me. I'm not a man, and I won't fall for that."
"Also, take your mother away."
Song Rumeng's face turned pale. Her hands, hanging by her sides, gripped the hem of her clothes so tightly that they almost tore a piece off.
She took several deep breaths to suppress her anger. "Cousin, you just said my mom has heatstroke. You're the village doctor, can you prescribe some medicine for her?"
“I know my mom can be mean, but she’s still your aunt. You can’t just watch her die, right?”
"Whether she lives or dies is none of my business," Song Yueying said quietly. "I don't believe in sayings like 'saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda.'"
"But as a village doctor, I will not refuse to treat patients. As I always say, if you want medical treatment, just pay me."
These words shut down everything Song Rumeng wanted to say next, and she was so angry that her face contorted and her whole body trembled.
Seeing that Song Rumeng's act of feigning helplessness was useless and only made her more angry, Aunt Li also realized that Song Yueying wouldn't let the matter rest until the courtyard gate was repaired, so she had no choice but to step forward and make her stance clear.
"I'll take responsibility. I'll find someone to fix the damaged gate." Aunt Li felt a little uneasy when she saw that Song Yueying was still silent after she had already made her offer.
“My family are carpenters, so I can measure the door dimensions. After I measure the dimensions, I will send it to my family so that my younger brother can finish making the wooden door tonight.”
"It can be installed tomorrow."
“Aunt Li is so straightforward, let’s decide on this then.” Song Yueying looked at Song Rumeng meaningfully, “Cousin, you should learn from Aunt Li in the future.”
Aunt Li smiled and nodded, then walked over to Song Rumeng and whispered a few words in her ear. Song Rumeng glanced at Aunt Li, then slowly nodded.
The two of them worked together to lift Wang Muxiang up from the ground, and then Aunt Li carried her out of the yard.
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