Chapter 32 The Deceived Girl in the 1970s: Fake vs. Real Daughter Story (32)

Wang Jianjun frowned. “Comrade Ye, what do you mean by that?”

Ye Xiaoxiao looked at him, amused. “Am I wrong? Whether it was your mother and Zhang Jiabei fighting or Zhang Jiabei coming after me, you could’ve stopped it—but you didn’t. Why? Because you’re sick of Zhang Jiabei and wanted to teach her a lesson. But because of your status or some other reason, you couldn’t do it yourself, so you watched while your mother and I did it for you. Now that Zhang Jiabei has fainted, and with so many people watching, you suddenly feel bad. You can’t just stand by, right? Otherwise, everyone here will think less of you. After all, even if your own wife was verbally berated until she passed out, no man would just do nothing, right? So… are you trying to come after me now?”

Wang Jianjun: “That’s not what I meant. I just think… Zhang Jiabei did go too far, but you were a bit harsh too.”

Ye Xiaoxiao: “Then tell me—if you knew she was wrong, why didn’t you stop it at the beginning?”

“I…” Wang Jianjun tried to explain.

But Xiaoxiao cut him off. “Don’t say you didn’t have time. If you’re that slow to react, you would’ve died in the war already. You wouldn’t be standing here now.”

“That’s enough, Comrade Ye!” Widow Wang couldn’t stand it any longer and cut in. “You’ve said your piece, even hit her—what more do you want? My son doesn’t hit women. That’s the only reason he hasn’t laid a hand on you. Don’t push it, or I won’t be so polite next time.”

Xiaoxiao looked at Widow Wang with a mocking smile. “And what exactly are you going to do?”

Ha. They really saw her as an easy target—what a joke. This whole family seemed to think they could step all over her.

“Before you speak up for your son, have you looked at your own face? It’s full of scratches. And your son just stood there and watched you get beaten.”

Okay, she admitted she was deliberately stirring things up.

“You—!” Widow Wang was furious but had nothing to say in response.

“Enough arguing. Shouldn’t someone be helping Zhang Jiabei off the ground? Maybe she needs to be taken to the hospital.” The team leader quickly interrupted when he saw the two women about to explode again.

Especially when he noticed that Zhang Jiabei was still lying on the ground, and neither Wang Jianjun nor his mother was doing anything about it. For a moment, he thought maybe Ye Xiaoxiao was right—how else could he explain this?

Sigh. He didn’t expect to be so wrong about Wang Jianjun. Was this his true nature all along? Wasn’t he supposed to really like Zhang Jiabei?

Widow Wang had once complained to his wife that her son had forgotten his mother after getting married. But now? He didn’t see any signs of love in him at all.

Ah, he must be getting old—he couldn’t understand young people’s messy love lives anymore.

As for Ye Xiaoxiao, he hadn’t misjudged her—she was a troublemaker through and through.

But… as long as she could clean up her own mess and didn’t bring trouble to the brigade, he would just let her be. That was how he consoled himself.

The onlookers realized the same thing and gave Wang Jianjun a strange look.

Feeling embarrassed, Wang Jianjun hurriedly picked up Zhang Jiabei and tried to carry her back into the house.

When he saw the bruises and scratches on her, he turned to the team leader. “Team leader, could you please arrange for an oxcart? I want to take her to the hospital for a checkup.”

Widow Wang barked, “What hospital? You think we’re made of money? Just ask Old Chen for some herbs to rub on—she’s not that delicate!”

Truth be told, Ye Xiaoxiao’s earlier words had left a mark on her. Watching her son worry so much about Zhang Jiabei’s injuries while completely ignoring hers stung even more.

Especially knowing that those scratches were from Zhang Jiabei—her frustration only deepened. She was seeing her daughter-in-law in a new, far more unpleasant light.

Wang Jianjun didn’t notice his mother’s emotional shift. Hearing her objection, he obediently took Zhang Jiabei inside.

Xiaoxiao, meanwhile, thought that Zhang Jiabei must really be brainless.

To get such a once-in-a-lifetime chance and use it to fight over a man, and this man of all people.

Whether she was reading a novel or now living through it, Xiaoxiao would never understand this type of woman.

Whether it’s “reborn revenge romance” or “second-chance redemption,” why was it always about stealing men?

If that man had failed in his previous life, would they still be interested in him? Would they still “regret” and want to make amends?

Why not work hard on your own?

And if you really want a man, why go steal someone else’s? Don’t you have enough confidence to believe you could find someone even better?

Don’t you believe that you, too, deserve love?

As for those “repentance arcs”—does the other person even want your apology? Especially if they died in a brothel or something—if they knew the truth, wouldn’t they be sick to their stomach?

Ugh, it was too gross to think about. It reminded her of certain novels she’d read and wished she could unsee.

She left. The rest of the crowd also dispersed.

Noticing people subtly distancing themselves from her, Xiaoxiao found it hilarious. Had she just made a name for herself?

She shrugged it off—better they be afraid of her than plot against her.

She went to find Uncle Wang to confirm that the oxcart would still be heading into town the next day and confirmed the return time. Feeling relieved, she thought, I better return this bike soon—what if its owner needs it for New Year’s visits?

But what should she give in return?

She couldn’t think of anything. After dinner, she just went to bed early.

The next day, she brought a catty (500 g) of brown sugar as a return gift. In this era, sugar was hard currency. She didn’t have white sugar, only brown.

Thank goodness for her hoarder mom, who had bought 10 catties for the New Year. After two batches of candies, Xiaoxiao got the rest since her mom had high blood sugar.

She also had a few jars of wild honey, but she wasn’t ready to give those away yet—too precious. She planned to enjoy those slowly.

In the future, it would be harder and harder to get real, unadulterated honey.

…

At the hospital, she parked the bike in the same place as yesterday before heading to the ward.

“Comrade Ye, you’re here!” Chen Zhibin beamed at her.

“Comrade Chen, thanks again for lending me the bike. It was a huge help. Even though I couldn’t avoid all the trouble, at least the journey went smoothly.” Xiaoxiao smiled.

Chen Zhibin looked worried. “They gave you trouble? Are you okay?”

After setting down the sugar, Xiaoxiao replied, “I’m fine. They can’t beat me anyway. If you don’t believe me, just ask—”

She turned, only to realize Feng Zhaodi and Feng Qingqing weren’t there. Neither was the older couple from yesterday.

She’d known she was forgetting something.

She asked, “Where is everyone?” Discharged already?”

Chen Zhibin replied, “That girl—the young comrade—wanted to be discharged. The older lady went with her to ask the doctor for a final checkup. The elderly couple left this morning.”

Xiaoxiao was surprised. She thought Feng Qingqing would stay longer.

But then again, with New Year’s just a day away, it made sense. Who would want to spend it in a hospital with no one around to visit?

Thinking about it, she turned to Chen Zhibin. “How’s your leg? Will you be home for New Year’s?”

He grinned, flashing a bright set of white teeth. “Are you worried about me? Don’t worry, I’m being discharged this afternoon.”

That goofy grin… Xiaoxiao almost laughed, but what really caught her attention was—how the heck did he get such white teeth?

She hadn’t seen anyone with such clean teeth in this era. There were no whitening treatments, no polishing, no porcelain veneers…

“I’ve brushed twice a day since I was a kid. “My mom used to scold me for using too much toothpaste,” Chen Zhibin said proudly.

Xiaoxiao realized she had said her thoughts out loud. Her face flushed with embarrassment. “Uhh, I have to go. Thanks again for the bike!”

But before she could leave, Chen Zhibin grabbed her sleeve. “Can I visit you sometime?”

She nodded quickly, just wanting to escape—this was too awkward!

Still holding her sleeve, he added, “I have fruit and candy. I don’t eat them much. You’re a girl—you should eat more and keep your strength up.”

“No! You’re the patient. You keep them.” Xiaoxiao firmly declined.

She was here to visit and thank him—not take things from him. That just felt wrong.

Seeing that he still insisted, she warned, “If you don’t stop trying to give me stuff, I’ll get mad.”

Chen Zhibin finally let go, looking at her like a big puppy who’d just been scolded.

Xiaoxiao said, “Okay, I’m leaving now.” Let go—someone might see us and start gossiping.”

Even if he was only holding her sleeve, someone might spin a story—especially Feng Qingqing, who clearly disliked her.

Chen Zhibin looked pitiful. “Then I’ll come see you for New Year’s.”

“No.”

“You lied to me?”

“No! But your leg isn’t fully healed. Rest first. We’ll talk when you’re better.”

Chen Zhibin fell silent but started plotting in his mind.

Xiaoxiao thought she’d convinced him and sighed in relief. Honestly, she didn’t quite know how to handle him.

Before Feng Qingqing returned, she left to avoid dealing with her.

Chen Zhibin called out, “Why don’t you take the bike again? I don’t need it right now.”

Xiaoxiao shook her head. “It’s almost New Year. Even if you don’t need it, your family might use it for visiting relatives. If you don’t mind, can you help me ask around if anyone’s selling a bicycle ticket? I’d like to buy one.”

Chen Zhibin nodded and made a mental note. But he didn’t plan to let her buy it—he was already thinking about how to gift her one by locking down their relationship first.

After Xiaoxiao left, she browsed the market and finally found the stove she’d been wanting. She even managed to get some coal balls.

She was thrilled—she could now stew pork trotters or bones during the holidays without needing to constantly watch the fire.

Since chopping trees was forbidden, people used dry branches and straw for fuel, which burned too quickly and needed constant tending. Coal was so much more convenient.

When she reached the oxcart, she was surprised to see Feng Qingqing already there. Quick, she thought.

Feng Qingqing still disliked Xiaoxiao, but upon hearing that she had taken care of her at the hospital, she nodded and quietly said thank you.

Xiaoxiao nodded back.

She had only done it because the team leader assigned her—not out of any goodwill.

The cart quickly filled up. Since it was market day, nearly half the brigade had come into town.

On the way back, some of the village aunties started gossiping.

Auntie Wang: “Comrade Feng, are you feeling better?”

Feng Qingqing: “Much better. Thank you.”

Aunt Li: “That’s good. Don’t ever scare us like that again; you’re still so young. There’s nothing you can’t get past.”

Feng Qingqing: “I understand, Auntie. I won’t do it again.”

Aunt Zhang: “Comrade Feng, so what are you going to do about all this? I know Wang Jianjun saved you, but Zhang Jiabei was awful. You didn’t see it—they had a huge fight after visiting you yesterday.”

Feng Qingqing: “This has nothing to do with me.”

Aunt Zhang: “How could it not? Your reputation is at stake. Are you just going to let it go?”

Feng Qingqing: “He saved me, and he’s married. What else can I do? Auntie, please stop.”

She began crying again.

Everyone scolded Aunt Zhang for being insensitive to a just-discharged patient.

Aunt Li: “You’re so kind, Comrade Feng.”

Auntie Wang: “Yes, we misjudged you. You might be delicate, but you’re a good person.”