Chapter 22

When Su Ya returned from the town, her legs were still weak, and her palms were clammy with cold sweat.
It was her first time doing something like this, and she couldn’t help feeling a bit scared.
But at the thought of the fate awaiting Sang Ran, a hint of satisfaction flickered in her eyes.
When Sang Ran had held her underwater, teetering on the edge of life and death, had she felt the same way? Thrilled, even exhilarated, unable to suppress her joy.
Eldest Sister-in-law Su came out to dump water and, seeing her sister-in-law like this, asked curiously, "Su Ya, what’s wrong?"
Su Ya shuddered, suddenly feeling a chill down her spine. She shook her head and said, "I’m in a good mood today. Let’s have meat for dinner."
"Great, great!" Even though the family had earned some money, they still didn’t often get to eat well. At the mention of meat, Eldest Sister-in-law Su was overjoyed.
She happily ran off to tell her mother-in-law.
With the men of the household away, her mother-in-law would normally refuse her request for meat. But if Su Ya wanted it, that was different.
Sure enough, her mother-in-law nodded eagerly, leaning on her cane as she stood up, beaming as she asked, "Alright, I’ll go buy some meat. The butcher should still have some left. Su Ya, do you want more lean meat?"
Her daughter was now the family’s cash cow, so of course she had to be pampered.
Su Ya’s smile deepened. "Lean meat."
"Good, good." Mother Su went out.
Eldest Sister-in-law Su sighed wistfully, lamenting, "What a shame the man of the house isn’t home, he’ll miss out."
In her good mood, Su Ya replied, "Elder Brother will be back in two days. He’s bound to bring you something then. What couldn’t he eat?"
"True enough."
Eldest Sister-in-law Su nodded and went back to her chores.
The "man of the house" they referred to was Eldest Brothers Su. The Su brothers, along with the one from the Song family, had all boarded a train to Shenzhen to stock up on goods.
Since it wasn't clothing and didn't require Su Ya's help with selection, and considering it was a long-distance train ride, Su Ya didn't insist on going when she heard she could stay behind.
After all, there were several grown men, and the items weren't heavy, so bringing them back would be easy. Everyone felt reassured.
They had made the trip more than once, and each time it had been safe, with none of the rumored mishaps occurring. It seemed such incidents were rare and unlikely to happen to them.
In the evening, after having dinner at her parents' home, Su Ya rested there.
Although she was married, her previous conflicts with the Song family had left things strained. Even after compromising, she had gained some benefits, namely, Song Jianguo had assured her that she didn't have to live with her in-laws and could reside wherever she pleased.
Since Song Jianguo was often away from home, if he left and Su Ya continued to clash with her parents, she would inevitably be at a disadvantage, especially since she couldn't win in a physical confrontation.
He had considered her well, but as a military man, this was the only way he could handle the situation.

The next day.
Su Ya woke up early.
As soon as she got up, she called out, "Mom!"
Mother Su hurried into the room, already knowing what her daughter was going to ask without needing to be told. She replied, "I know, we've been keeping watch at the intersection since early this morning, taking turns with your sister-in-law. We haven't seen Zhu Chang'an return."
Su Ya visibly relaxed, a genuine smile spreading across her face. "Mom, thank you for your hard work!"
Mother Su gave her a reproachful look and said, "It's not hard work. Just stop causing trouble for me. Have a child with Song Jianguo soon, and then the Song family won't be able to push you around. If he ever mistreats you again, just show him your belly"
Familiar with this kind of nagging, Su Ya covered her head in frustration, trying to escape it.
Mother Su glared at her in exasperation but eventually left the room.
Su Ya let out a deep sigh, her furrowed brow smoothing as she gazed at the old, moldy roof beams. A slight smile tugged at her lips.
He hadn't returned all night.
What that meant was clear to everyone!
It seemed her efforts yesterday hadn't been in vain. Given the current crackdowns, while gambling was still rampant and often overlooked as long as it didn't escalate, if someone reported it, there was a high chance it would be taken seriously.
If he got caught, given the current climate, Zhu Chang'an would likely meet the same fate as in Su Ya's memories from her previous life.
If something happened to him, Sang Ran would be a widow. No matter how wealthy or capable she was, she'd still be a widow.
Su Ya's heart raced faster, her excitement almost overwhelming. She pressed her hands to her chest, the outcome she had anxiously awaited all night had finally come true.
Suddenly, she couldn't stay lying down any longer. She quickly got up and checked the time.
It was already quite late. She should have fallen asleep early the previous night, but her mind had been preoccupied with endless thoughts about this matter, leading to insomnia.
"Mom, I'm going out." After hastily eating a little breakfast, Su Ya took some gifts typically used for social visits and left.
Mother Su peeked out and, seeing her hurry off, muttered under her breath, "Rushing off like you're hurrying to be reborn," but said nothing more.
Where was Su Ya going?
Of course, to watch the drama unfold.
Zhu Village was very close to Su Village, just a ten-minute walk away.
She naturally knew where Zhu Chang'an's house was and found her way there with ease.
Yet, at the sight of the house, a trace of fear still flickered within her.
The shadow left by Sang Ran hadn't completely faded.
But in Su Ya's heart, the desire to see her miserable held more weight. She hesitated at the door for a while until a passerby from Zhu Village walked by, giving her a puzzled look and saying, "Are you going to this house? There's someone home!"
Su Ya awkwardly forced a smile, took a deep breath, and stepped inside.
The Zhu family's house was much nicer than hers. The courtyard was spacious, the main hall was bright and airy, and the rooms on either side looked just as roomy, it was the kind of home people envied in this era, and one she had once admired herself.
Zhang Cuixia was washing vegetables by the well, her movements brisk. Her expression wasn't great, but it wasn't too sour either. Hearing the noise, she looked up and was momentarily taken aback to see Su Ya.
Living nearby and with all the tangled connections between their families, she recognized Su Ya. But it was precisely because she recognized her that she felt even more puzzled.
"From the Song family? Is something the matter?" Zhang Cuixia asked.
Su Ya's heart trembled. Clutching the gifts in her hand tightly, she forced a smile and said, "I had a bit of a misunderstanding with Sang Ran before. I heard she came back yesterday, so I wanted to come and talk to her. Is Sang Ran home?"
"Yes," Zhang Cuixia nodded, raising her voice to call out, "Sang Ran, Su Ya is here to see you."
Then, politely, she added, "Come inside and have a seat for a while."
Su Ya followed her into the main hall just as Sang Ran, neatly dressed, emerged from her room. Almost instantly, Su Ya's face turned pale.
The pain of being thrown into the river resurfaced.
As if unaware of her reaction, Sang Ran curled the corners of her lips slightly, a hint of confusion and a faint, elusive smile playing on her face, as though implying something. She asked softly, "Is something the matter?"
Those three words again.
Su Ya's expression stiffened. Her eyes swept over Sang Ran's face, gradually filling with a trace of doubt. The confidence she had felt before entering now felt shaky.
Her silence struck Zhang Cuixia as odd, let alone Sang Ran.
Knowing more, Sang Ran's thoughts ran deeper. In an instant, she understood what was going on. A cold glint flashed in her eyes as she smiled and said, "What? Is it inconvenient to say?"
Su Ya instinctively felt a chill run down her spine. Hurriedly, she forced another smile and said, "No, it's just I came to to" She stumbled over her words, too embarrassed to utter the phrase "apologize."
Though she had thought it through before coming, using this as an excuse to see Sang Ran and witness her discomfort, things hadn't gone as planned. Instead, she felt like prey walking right into a trap.
Sang Ran gave a hollow smile, took the gifts without a word, and simply stared at her.
Su Ya grew increasingly uncomfortable under her gaze. Finally, she managed to say, "I came to apologize."
"Oh, I see. Just be more careful next time." Sang Ran curled her lips slightly.
She wasn’t entirely sure about the current situation, so she didn’t say much. But if things really turned out as she suspected, she had plenty of ways to make Su Ya suffer.
The way Sang Ran looked at her, like a superior, all-powerful controller, suddenly reminded Su Ya of the Sang Ran she had encountered in her past life, when she was destitute and struggling. There was an uncanny resemblance.
A wave of intense shame and anger surged within Su Ya. Her mind went blank, and she couldn’t help but blurt out, "Are you alone at home? Where’s your husband?"
Just as she thought.
Sang Ran set down the gifts Su Ya had brought and casually replied, "I sent him out to buy breakfast this morning, but for some reason, he hasn’t come back yet. Don’t worry, once he returns, I’ll let you know."
Buy breakfast?
More like buying himself a trip to the police station!
Su Ya wanted to laugh, but as she heard the rest, her body stiffened abruptly, her scalp tingling with unease. She didn’t dare stay any longer. After muttering a few words, she turned and hurried away.
It’s fine. Even if she didn’t see it today, she’d see it tomorrow.
But just as she reached the door,
Suddenly, someone rushed in. The scent of breakfast wafted past Su Ya’s nose. She paused mid-step, staring in confusion as the tall, lanky young man completely ignored her and charged straight toward Sang Ran behind her. He skidded to a halt, offering a fawning smile and speaking in an intimate tone, "Sang Ran, I brought you breakfast! Try it?"
He actually came back?!
How was that possible!
Sang Ran also found it strange. Considering Su Ya’s words and the events of her past life, anyone could guess how the story was supposed to unfold.
Deep down, Sang Ran was worried.
But she refused to show any weakness in front of Su Ya.
Yet, unexpectedly, Zhu Chang’an hadn’t run into trouble?
The young man before her looked haggard, with dark circles under his handsome eyes. His clothes were wrinkled, smudged with dust from who-knows-where, and his once-clean shoes were caked with mud, looking filthy.
She gave him a once-over, frowned slightly, but didn’t speak immediately.
Zhu Chang’an’s face fell. Still panting and drenched in sweat from running all the way back, he didn’t dare overact. Pitifully, he extended the breakfast toward her, "Sang Ran, try it? It’s really delicious!"
As he spoke, he noticed Sang Ran’s gaze fixed on his shoes. His eyelids twitched, and he nearly jumped.
He knew the ideas those guys came up with were useless!
There was no fooling Sang Ran.
His lips drooped, and he dejectedly withdrew his hand.
But then Sang Ran suddenly turned her head slightly toward the courtyard and raised her voice, "Song family’s daughter-in-law, what are you still standing there for? Do you need me to escort you out?"
Su Ya, who had been lingering silently in the courtyard without leaving, hoping to see what would happen, shuddered. Her feet automatically carried her away as she fled in a panic, her heart racing.
Zhu Chang’an was fine!
He hadn’t been arrested!
What was she still doing there? If Sang Ran figured anything out, she would definitely not let her off!
Su Ya’s face grew even paler. She ran all the way home, not daring to linger on the streets for too long. She decided she wouldn’t go out for a while, she’d hide at home, and even if she had to leave, she’d make sure someone accompanied her.
She refused to believe that, under these circumstances, Sang Ran could still do anything to her!
Su Ya felt like crying but had no tears. Her lips trembled uncontrollably.
As soon as she ran home, Su Ya was met by her mother and sister-in-law, both weeping and frantic with worry. They cried out in distress, "Su Ya, it's over! Your brother and the others were robbed, everything was taken!"
"What?!" Su Ya shrieked, her mind buzzing as if she had been struck by a blow, leaving her dizzy and disoriented.
"It's all gone, it's over! Your brother just called. He said they were on their way to the train station after buying supplies when a shady driver took them and robbed them. They lost everything. The call even came from the police station!"
Eldest Sister-in-law Su was terrified, her voice hoarse as she spoke before breaking into heart-wrenching sobs.
How much money was that?
Just like that, it was all stolen.
Mother Su cursed bitterly, "Those damned criminals! Robbers"
Hearing the exact details, Su Ya couldn't believe it. In a daze, she turned to go to the village head's place to make a call.
She didn't believe it!
She refused to believe it!
She had taken them on that route several times before without any issues, why would something happen this time?
But after taking just two steps, Su Ya suddenly felt her vision go black

At the Zhu Residence
Once the outsiders had left, Sang Ran lifted her eyes to look at Zhu Chang'an, who was growing more and more dejected. Pressing her lips tightly together, she turned and entered the house.
She had been too soft-hearted.
Since their marriage, she had rarely allowed him to play cards. Up until now, he had only played twice, and yesterday was the third time.
All because he had behaved so well.
Whether it was because he liked her or because he had no choice but to obey due to her strength, overall, Zhu Chang'an, though lazy, unreliable, and lacking in ambition, was obedient, clever, and willing to follow her lead.
Even when driving a truck from home all the way to the southernmost regions, he never complained and simply complied, striving to improve.
A Zhu Chang'an like this was better than the vast majority of men.
Sang Ran didn't ask for much, this was enough.
So when he begged to go play cards, she wasn't entirely unwilling to relent.
After all, so much time had passed, the crisis that had once loomed over him had subsided, and she had set strict limits on both time and money.
She had thought nothing would go wrong.
Who would have guessed that this one time, something did happen!
And it was Su Ya's doing.
It seemed the last warning hadn't been enough for her!
But all that was for later. At this moment, Sang Ran was too shaken to even think about eating.
Sang Ran entered the room without a word. Zhu Chang'an, who had initially felt wronged, gradually sensed that something was off. Her anger clearly wasn't just about him staying out all night.
He had never seen Sang Ran like this before. Her usually smiling, pretty face was now tense and stern, and she looked quite unwell.
Zhu Chang'an felt a pang of heartache, his chest tightening as if someone had constricted his breathing.
Putting down the food in his hand, he followed her into the room and caught sight of the washboard placed in the corner.
Sang Ran had insisted on buying it, saying that if he ever did something wrong, he would have to kneel on it to apologize.
But they had never actually used it, because every time he made a mistake, he could either coax her into laughter with a little affection or give her a small gift to make amends.
Zhu Chang'an’s lips drooped as he lowered his head, picked up the washboard, and placed it in front of Sang Ran. Then, his legs gave way, and he knelt on it.
The new washboard pressed sharply against his knees, and the moment he knelt, a sharp pain shot through him.
His face contorted briefly, and he quickly took a few deep breaths to steady himself. Then, he looked up, tugged at the hem of Sang Ran’s clothes, and blinked his beautiful phoenix eyes pitifully. "Sang Ran, I was wrong"
Sang Ran sat on the edge of the bed, towering over the kneeling Zhu Chang'an. Watching his series of actions, she felt a slight urge to laugh but suppressed it, speaking coldly instead, "What did you do wrong?"
"I won’t play cards anymore, never again!" Zhu Chang'an muttered gloomily.
The last bit of hope he had vanished the moment he saw Sang Ran’s expression.
So what if it was just playing cards?
He wouldn’t do it anymore!
He’d save his pocket money to buy his wife pretty clothes and shoes!
Sang Ran’s expression softened slightly. "What exactly happened?"
Zhu Chang'an breathed a sigh of relief, shuffled forward on his knees, and leaned against her legs, whispering, "I’m not sure either, it’s just"
The day before, Zhu Chang'an had gotten Sang Ran’s permission. Since it was still early, he had happily rushed off to gather his friends.
Playing cards wasn’t just about mahjong, dominoes were the most fun.
But it was more enjoyable with more people.
At the time, he thought that since it was still a long way until midnight, they could play for a while, and he had brought quite a few people along.
But because there were so many of them, the usual spot in town couldn’t accommodate them, so they went to a nearby hill.
Further into the hills, the area was safe, no wild boars or anything dangerous. They used to play there often, though they hadn’t gone as much in the past couple of years since things had calmed down.
Unexpectedly, they had only been playing for a short while when they realized someone was searching for them.
Caught off guard, many were captured, but Zhu Chang'an was clever. Having traveled long distances with Sang Ran recently and keeping watch at night, he had developed a sense of vigilance. Sensing something was wrong, he and a few others managed to escape first.
To hide, the four of them stayed deep in the mountains.
Only when dawn broke and there was truly no movement outside did they finally emerge.
But he was afraid Sang Ran would worry, especially since he hadn’t returned all night. So, he hadn’t planned to tell her the truth, thinking he could just say he had gotten carried away playing and apologize early to let her vent her anger.
Unexpectedly, Sang Ran had already figured it out.
After finishing his story, Zhu Chang'an looked up at her, a smile reappearing on his handsome face. "Wife, you’re amazing. How did you guess?"
Sang Ran gave him a meaningful look. "I didn’t guess. Su Ya came by. She wanted to gloat, and I suspect she was the one who reported you."
Zhu Chang'an’s face darkened instantly. "It was her?"
Damn!
He should have just beaten her up earlier!
Even if he didn’t take action, his mother or his wife could step in!
Sang Ran quickly cupped his face and coaxed, "It’s fine, let’s not act for now"
Zhu Chang’an was involved in this matter. If they made a move, he might be exposed, and it wouldn’t be good if they got implicated.
But before she could finish, Zhang Cuixia abruptly pushed the door open, her anger practically explosive: "I’ll handle it!"
"Damn it, how dare she report my son! I’ll make sure she pays!"
Zhang Cuixia was furious. She had been worried that her son would be scolded too harshly by her daughter-in-law, after all, he had been well-behaved for a while, and a little mischief now and then was nothing, so she had been eavesdropping by the door. But then she overheard this.
Someone actually reported him!
If Zhu Chang’an got arrested, she might as well die.
She had three sons and two daughters, but the first four weren’t home, only this one had stayed by her side. Sure, he caused trouble, but she had indulged him. Why else would the others not act up like this?
And now that little bitch Su Ya dared to report her son?
She must have a death wish.
Sang Ran quickly grabbed Zhang Cuixia, who was about to leave after saying this: "Mom, they just finished searching. There are probably still people looking around. What if things escalate and he gets exposed?"
Zhang Cuixia calmly pushed her hand away: "Don’t worry."
Confused, Sang Ran watched her leave.Zhu Chang’an, who had quietly gotten up at some point, leaned in and whispered, "It’s fine. My mom never loses out, and she won’t let me lose out either."
Sang Ran: "Huh?"
Soon, she understood what Zhu Chang’an meant.
That very afternoon, Zhang Cuixia got into a fight with Su Ya’s mother. The reason? She had gone over to borrow something, but the other woman looked down on her and even pushed her.
Everyone who heard about it condemned the Su family and comforted Zhang Cuixia.
Mother Su, bruised and in pain all over, had no way to vent her grievances and sat by the door cursing for half the day.
Zhang Cuixia had some injuries too, but they weren’t serious. She was fierce and had come out on top. Once the onlookers dispersed and no outsiders were around, she sighed regretfully: "Su Ya is pregnant, so I can’t hit her. I had to settle for bullying her mother instead, raising such a malicious daughter!"
Their family had no grudges with the Su family, yet she went and reported them secretly, unable to bear seeing others do well.
Wasn’t that just pure malice?
If she weren’t pregnant, Zhang Cuixia wouldn’t have held back, she’d have beaten her until even her own mother wouldn’t recognize her!
Sang Ran nodded calmly: "Mom, you did the right thing!"
The child was probably conceived during those two months Su Ya spent at the military camp.
Pregnant women aren't to be trifled with, so Su Ya got off easy this time.
Still, all this commotion served its purpose, it showed them we're not to be messed with.
Zhang Cuixia smirked triumphantly, but Grandpa Sang looked worried. "What if the Su family's men come back? Won't they come looking for a fight? In-law, maybe we should" He trailed off awkwardly, though his concern was clear.
Having lived a long life and seen much, Grandpa Sang knew village disputes rarely involved the police. Matters were usually settled privately, through fights until one side was thoroughly beaten into submission. As long as people had energy left, they'd keep stirring up trouble.
Zhang Cuixia paused, then nodded. "You're right, Uncle. My two sons will be on break in a couple of days, I'll have them come home."
Zhu Chang'an raised his hand. "No need, no need! I can have my buddies come keep watch instead. Anyway we can't play cards right now, so we might as well hang out at home."
Zhang Cuixia hesitated briefly. "Alright then. I'll prepare more food."
Sang Ran wasn't too familiar with these unwritten rules, so she just smiled and said, "Let's spend this time experimenting with some dishes. I've noticed many restaurants in Shenzhen are doing great business."
Without professional designers, their clothing venture would always be second-rate. While Sang Ran's short-term goal was quick money, that didn't stop her from brainstorming other ideas. Barbecue, something that would eventually dominate everyone's dining tables, was definitely appealing.
"Yes, yes!" Zhu Chang'an nodded eagerly.
Sang Ran was someone who acted immediately.
Deciding to make barbecue, she took Zhu Chang'an shopping for ingredients that very day, and conveniently called over his buddies to help and serve as taste testers.
Seeing his granddaughter bustling about again, Grandpa Sang's heart ached, but he knew he couldn't stop her. Instead, he followed her around, snatching vegetables to wash when she tried to, taking over fire-tending duties, doing whatever he could to let her rest.
"Grandpa, I'm really not tired. See? I'm not even sweating," Sang Ran said helplessly, sitting empty-handed beside him.
The prepared grill and iron plate were both in use. Vegetables sizzled on the grill, but when meat was placed on it, dripping fat made Zhang Cuixia wince with heartache. She quickly intervened, moving the meat to the iron plate instead, collecting the precious drippings.
Since it was all for family anyway, and everything was clean, the collected oil could be reused in future cooking.
When Father Zhu returned with his grandsons, the aroma hit them immediately. "Wow, that smells amazing! Who's cooking?" he exclaimed.
The oldest grandson had smelled it from afar and arrived first, already eating. "Auntie made it!" he mumbled through a full mouth.
"Auntie is so awesome!"
"Dad, try some too," Sang Ran offered him freshly grilled chives drizzled with meat drippings and heavily seasoned, intensely flavored and delicious.
Father Zhu took a bite, and his eyes lit up.
Sang Ran smiled. "We're thinking of selling this. Do you think it could make money?"
Father Zhu gave a thumbs-up. "Definitely! Absolutely!"
"Sis, can we have eggplant? I don't know how to cook this!" one young man called out.
"Coming!" Sang Ran went over to help.
Zhang Cuixia returned from delivering barbecue to some close friends, her expression odd. Closing the courtyard gate, she whispered, "I overheard something outside just now."
"What is it?" Everyone looked up simultaneously, faces full of gossip curiosity."
Barbecue paired with gossip.
Perfect!
Sang Ran held a skewer of roasting eggplant in one hand while munching on the grilled pork belly slices prepared by Zhu Chang'an with the other, her ears perked up.
Zhang Cuixia said, "The Su family went to stock up on goods but got robbed. Now those Su family members are penniless and stranded outside, unable to return. The wife of the eldest Su son is making a scene, threatening to go back to her parents' home."
"Huh?"
"Going back to her parents' home just like that?"
Several young people who hadn't seen much of the world found it hard to believe.
Zhang Cuixia snapped impatiently, "Do you have any idea how much money they'll have to compensate now that it's gone? I heard the money was all borrowed, nearly ten thousand! Who can afford to pay that back?"
As she spoke, she shuddered with lingering fear. "When that person snatched our business back then, I already thought she was no good. Now she's getting her karma, isn't she? Serves her right. I was so afraid it would be our family suffering the loss back then!"
"Whoa"
So their money was all borrowed.
Instantly, everyone's schadenfreude faded, and they couldn't find it in themselves to rejoice anymore.
If the money was lent to them by others, wouldn't it all go to waste if they couldn't pay it back?
The group fell silent for a moment, the only sound being the continuous sizzling of the barbecue.
Until Zhu Chang'an slowly remarked, "That Song Jianguo really has it rough."
The others all nodded in agreement.
Truly rough.
His parents, siblings, and sisters weren't much to begin with, and now he's married such a troublesome wife. With this commotion, things are bound to get worse.
Zhang Cuixia sighed with emotion, "Su Ya's pregnancy came at just the right time!"
With a child on the way, no matter how angry Song Jianguo gets, he won't divorce her. Besides, he's a soldier with a decent allowance, he can pay it back slowly over time.
It's just that life from now on will be a bit tougher.

That's what the Zhu family thought.
Su Ya thought the same.
When she woke up, she was at the barefoot doctor's clinic in the production brigade. Her mother and sister-in-law, upon hearing about the incident, couldn't bear to waste money sending her to the hospital.
Fortunately, it wasn't anything serious, she was pregnant, had suffered a shock, and fainted, that's all.
After returning, Su Ya lay in bed, listening to the commotion outside between Zhang Cuixia and her mother but couldn't bring herself to care. She rested one hand on her belly.
There wasn't much sensation yet, but she felt immensely grateful.
The child had come at this moment.
Those useless good-for-nothings!
To think something went wrong, and now there's not a single cent left!
The thought made Su Ya's head throb with pain, and she felt on the verge of fainting again.
It wasn't a small sum, over ten thousand. The initial capital was all borrowed. She had been dealing in reselling jewelry, accessories, and watches, the profit margin per item was high, but it couldn't compare to clothing, which could be doubled directly.
So they needed more capital.
Five thousand of it was borrowed by Song Jianguo from others, while the remaining two thousand-plus came from Su Ya's relatives. The rest came from their previous earnings.
Each time, she invested everything, so she could bring back more goods.
She didn’t follow Sang Ran’s path. Although there were competitors, if she traveled a bit farther to sell her goods, they were still in high demand and short supply.
As a result, business was booming.
Who would have thought that this one time would be her Waterloo?
"And all thanks to you! My baby" Su Ya murmured softly, a gentle expression appearing on her face.
It was all thanks to this child. She must treat him well in the future.
With him, no matter what, Song Jianguo would never abandon her.
Once Song Jianguo got promoted, would she still have to worry about money?
Holding onto such beautiful expectations, she watched coldly as her sister-in-law packed her things and returned to her parents’ home, not even bothering to take her child with her. She didn’t let her mother try to stop her: "Let her go. Don’t worry, it’s just seven thousand yuan, Jianguo can pay it back!"
Mother Su was panicked, but seeing her daughter so confident, she gradually calmed down. "Yes, Jianguo is destined for great things."
She glanced at her daughter’s belly and carefully supported her. "Why did you come out? Tell me, what do you want to eat? I’ll make it for you."
As long as the child was safe, everything would be fine!
That’s what everyone thought.
So when Su Ya called Song Jianguo, the first thing she told him was that she was pregnant. Only after he was overjoyed did she mention the robbery.
There was a long silence on the other end of the line. Just as Su Ya began to worry, Song Jianguo said, "I’ll handle it."
She relaxed. As long as Song Jianguo was willing to take responsibility, it was fine.
She knew he was a good man.
Su Ya sweetly showered him with affectionate words, her attitude apologetic and sincere, promising never to make such a mistake again.
In the end, Song Jianguo sighed and said, "Let’s just live our lives well from now on. As long as we’re willing to work hard, we won’t starve."
Three days later, Su Ya’s eldest brother and the others were sent back by the Shenzhen Public Security Bureau.
Those in the village who knew the inside story came to watch. Seeing their haggard and emaciated state, they clicked their tongues in pity, becoming even more reluctant to engage in business.
One loss like this could saddle them with thousands in debt, terrifying!
Sang Ran didn’t pay much attention, but the news eventually reached her ears.
She listened and then let it go.
The Song and Su families were suddenly buried in debt, and many creditors came to demand repayment. The noise and commotion became unbearable for Su Ya, so she called Song Jianguo, asking him to borrow more money to fill the gap.
But she couldn’t reach him.
Still, the Su family genuinely had no money to repay, and there was nothing anyone could do.
Su Ya was pregnant, so no one dared to lay a hand on her. If something happened to the baby, they might even end up having to compensate her.
She remained relatively unscathed.
Life was tough, but it had to go on.
Su Ya no longer dared to engage in any business. She obediently stayed at her parents’ home to rest during her pregnancy.
When Eldest Brother Su and his younger brother discovered that their wives had run away, they were furious and went to cause trouble several times. However, their wives’ families had many brothers, and they were no match for them. Defeated, they slunk back home, and both couples ended up divorcing.
This blow, however, brought a bit of clarity to Eldest Brother Su. Looking at his young son, he silently went out to find work. Jobs that were tough, exhausting, and ones he had previously refused to do, now he gritted his teeth and endured them.
The other sons in the Su family did the same.
At least the money they had left was enough to keep them afloat.
Now, they just had to wait for Song Jianguo to repay the debt.
Everyone was counting on Song Jianguo, but he had suddenly become unreachable.
When they called the military unit, the unit always refused, saying it was inconvenient.
Su Ya felt uneasy, but she believed Song Jianguo wouldn’t run away, so she patiently waited.
Three months later, Song Jianguo returned with large and small bags. The first thing he did after coming home was to take the money and repay all the debts.
Su Ya watched the man who had come to pick her up with sheer delight, feeling completely at ease. "Jianguo, you’ve lost weight. How long are you staying this time? You need to nourish yourself properly. Why not stay here for a while and let my mom cook you some good food…"
Deep down, she still felt guilty, so she treated him especially well.
She supported her waist with one hand and walked slowly.
Her slightly protruding belly now appeared especially large.
Instead of directly reminding him, she used this method to hint at him.
Song Jianguo had indeed lost weight, and he had also become much darker and more weathered, as if he were extremely tired. When he saw Su Ya’s belly, his eyes reddened. He wiped his face and said, "It’s already this big."
Su Ya nodded. "Yes, this child is so mischievous. Lately, I’ve been vomiting whatever I eat. It’s only gotten a little better recently. Now that you’re back, I can eat better with you."
The conversation was filled with warmth.
Mother Su tactfully stayed hidden in the kitchen without coming out.
It wasn’t until Song Jianguo approached and cautiously touched her belly that he said softly, "Let’s go home. I’ve retired from the military. From now on, I’ll stay home and focus on farming…"
"What did you say?!" Su Ya interrupted him anxiously, forgetting to pretend to support her belly with her hands. Instead, she grabbed his arm and asked sharply, "Say that again!"
Song Jianguo said in a deep voice, "I’ve retired! I’m coming back to farm."
"No! I won’t allow it!" Su Ya shook her head, taking a step back in disbelief. Her expression gradually twisted. "Say it again? How dare you retire without my permission!"
"I’ve repaid the debts, and I’ve retired. From now on, let’s focus on farming and live a peaceful life. Don’t overthink it," Song Jianguo repeated.
When Su Ya called Song Jianguo and told him that her brothers had been robbed while taking money to purchase goods, his first reaction was anger. But as a man, and one who was often away from home, he didn’t vent his frustration on his wife.
The long silence was his way of calming himself down.
After calming down, Song Jianguo still had to take responsibility.
Unfortunately, the very day he borrowed the money, the brother who lent it to him had a family emergency, a serious illness requiring immediate funds. When the brother came asking for the money and learned it was all gone, he panicked and made a scene, which happened to be overheard by their superior.
After the superior understood the whole story, although he didn’t criticize Song Jianguo too harshly, he still expressed his disappointment. As the head of the household, Song had failed to manage his family affairs properly. And now, such a mistake had occurred.
Song Jianguo had no defense. Feeling somewhat powerless, the idea he had once entertained resurfaced: Would things be better if he left the military and stayed home long-term?
After all, Su Ya was young and temperamental. He knew exactly what his parents and younger siblings were like, and he was aware of all the conflicts, big and small, that had arisen since his marriage. Everything boiled down to the fact that he was a soldier with a decent allowance, and they were unwilling to accept that he no longer handed over all his earnings to support them as he used to.
He was a soldier first, then a son and a husband. He felt ashamed that his parents and wife weren’t entirely upright, engaging in reselling goods. Though such things weren’t strictly forbidden nowadays, it still weighed on his conscience, especially since he had borrowed so much money for their activities.
It was all because of his job that they had grown so bold, acting recklessly without fear. In any other family, who would dare borrow such large sums?
When he first heard the money had been stolen, Song Jianguo was furious. But being a responsible man, he had considered the consequences when he borrowed the funds, so he restrained himself and didn’t vent his anger on Su Ya. Still, he thought a lot and grew more resolute in his decision.
If everyone was relying on him, what if he left the military?
But before that, he had to repay his debts.
Over the next three months, he signed up for a dangerous mission. If successful, it came with a substantial bonus; if he died in the line of duty, the state compensation would be more than enough.
With a mindset prepared for death, Song Jianguo surprisingly survived. The money he earned, combined with his military discharge allowance, was just enough to clear his debts, leaving him with a little over a hundred yuan.
Free of debt and with a light heart, he went to fetch Su Ya.
He thought to himself that from then on, they would live a good, steady life. They didn’t need great wealth, just no more turmoil over money.
Song Jianguo’s plans were sound, but reality had other ideas.
Su Ya had married him precisely for his future status and money.
Now that he had left the military, he would have neither status nor money in the future!
A steady life?
Su Ya’s simmering worries collided with this news like a spark meeting kindling, and she exploded. She shrieked, “You left the military? What did I marry you for then?
If you weren’t a soldier, why would I have married you?
A farmer? How could you even think that? I don’t want to toil as a farmer my whole life, living at the mercy of the weather!
A steady life? I went through so much trouble to marry you for a life of comfort, not to suffer losses…”
“Su Ya!” Mother Su, hearing her daughter’s increasingly outrageous words, rushed out in a panic to stop her, trying to cover her mouth.
But Su Ya, consumed by rage, shoved her away and lunged at Song Jianguo, pounding on him in a fit of collapse. “You bastard! You’ve ruined my future!”
Her future was supposed to be so bright, she was meant to be an official’s wife!
To have endless money!
To be respected and admired by everyone!
Now it was all over.
Song Jianguo's expression shifted from shock to rising anger, then finally settled into cold indifference in a short span of time.
At first, he had been careful, fearing she might harm the child in her womb, but by the end, he felt numb.
He couldn’t believe that the incident where she fell into the water had been orchestrated by her.
So she had married him only because he was a soldier with a secure job.
He should be grateful that, no matter how furious Su Ya became, she didn’t reveal that she was a reborn person who knew the future.
Song Jianguo felt nothing but coldness and regret in his heart.
Just like when he found out about the money being stolen, Song Jianguo remained silent for a long time. Only when Su Ya, hysterical and exhausted, collapsed to the ground did he say coldly, "Let’s get a divorce."
Su Ya, her face red and swollen from crying, cursed and vented for a long time. Hearing this, she retorted defiantly, "Fine, let’s get a divorce then!"
"I’ll go get an abortion right away!"
"Do you really think I want to be with you?"
Be a farmer? She’d rather get divorced and go to a big city to make her own way!
The more Su Ya thought about it, the angrier she became. Her eyes turned bloodshot, as if she were the one who had been wronged.
Song Jianguo replied hoarsely, "Fine."
But his hands, hanging at his sides, clenched into tight fists, veins bulging.

Su Ya and Song Jianguo got divorced!
The news spread quickly through several surrounding brigades. After all, divorce was still a rare occurrence at the time.
Especially since Su Ya was four months pregnant but still went through with the abortion resolutely.
Everyone knew Song Jianguo’s character. When they heard he had been discharged from the military, they all expressed pity, but no one blamed him. They just shook their heads and said, "With a wife like that, he was dragged down."
"The Song family isn’t much better either."
"He’s the only decent one among them, like a good shoot growing from bad bamboo. Now that he’s divorced, his future is bound to be tough."
"Not necessarily. Jianguo is a hard worker. Even farming, he’s better than the rest of us. He can remarry a simple, honest woman, have a healthy child, and live a good life."
"That’s true. But Su Ya is really heartless, four months along, and she still went through with the abortion."
"Who says otherwise? Does she think everyone is as decent as Jianguo? If it were another man, she might have been beaten half to death by now."
"…"
But in reality, Su Ya, at the center of the gossip, was completely unaffected.
After the abortion, she took the last hundred yuan Song Jianguo gave her and rested at home for a while. Her mother complained incessantly. Back when Su Ya could provide money, her mother had no problem coddling her.
Now that she couldn't get money anymore and instead had to spend it, how could Mother Su be willing?
The house was filled with constant bickering, but Su Ya was quick with her words, pointing out that the lost money was due to Su's own son. Mother Su couldn't quite hold her head high, and whatever was left in the house was eaten by Su Ya.
The Su family was practically falling apart. With their sons not around, only the two elderly parents remained, and who could stand up to Su Ya?
Then one day, when the Su parents returned from the fields, they found the house empty and their own room turned upside down. The hiding place for their money was completely empty.
Mother Su let out a cry and collapsed to the ground, quickly rushed to the hospital.
Su's father cursed Su Ya all the way to the hospital.
But the one being cursed, Su Ya, had already taken the money and the introduction letter she coaxed from the brigade leader, boarding a train heading south.
Since Song Jianguo was no longer an option, she would go somewhere else.
In her previous life, Su Ya had heard people say that during the 1980s, Hong Kong was developing rapidly, especially in the entertainment industry. At that time, the mainland couldn't compare to Hong Kong at all.

Sang Ran listened to this series of events, utterly bewildered, and looked at Zhang Cuixia, who was relaying the news: "She just left like that?"
Abandoning her parents and running off with the money.
Sang Ran couldn't quite understand it, but it also made sense because Su Ya was inherently self-serving. She was capable of stealing someone else's husband for Song Jianguo's future success, so naturally, she could run off with the money when there was no hope left.
What puzzled her was how Su Ya could be sure that running away would lead to a better life.
Zhang Cuixia shook her head repeatedly. "That person is truly awful. Ah, that Su family woman is so unlucky to have raised such an ungrateful child. I feel a bit regretful about hitting her last time. Good thing I sent money over when she was sick, or I wouldn't be able to sleep at night."
Back then, she had blamed Mother Su for Su Ya's actions, thinking that if they hadn't raised such a daughter, none of this would have happened.
Now it seemed that if they could, the Su parents would probably want to stuff this child back and abort her, to prevent her from ever being born.
Zhu Chang'an sneered disdainfully. "That family isn't much to begin with."
After all, such a self-serving person was raised by them. With information spreading slowly back then, a child's upbringing mostly came from their parents' words and actions. You really can't blame others.
You reap what you sow.
Sang Ran sighed but didn't dwell on it, as she and Su Ya were not on the same path.
However, there was some good news: although Song Jianguo had been tricked by Su Ya and discharged from the army, he was also freed because of it. The Song family wasn't great, but with their eldest son discharged, they couldn't rely on him anymore and had to grit their teeth and work hard, with no time to stir up trouble.
The fact that Song Jianguo paid off all the debts on his own made people in the surrounding brigades see him as a good man.
Two months after his divorce, Song Jianguo was introduced by a matchmaker to a girl from a neighboring brigade. Her family was average, her looks were average, and she had a fiery temper, but she was hardworking and dependable.
They got married, and within two months, there was good news. Their lives were getting back on track.
Sang Ran's life was also thriving. She no longer contacted the Sang family and didn't visit during holidays, focusing entirely on making money.
After the New Year, they had already earned a considerable amount of money. With these funds, Sang Ran purchased several shops in the city center. Later, she traveled to Sichuan Province to learn the secrets of hotpot, and upon returning, she opened a hotpot and barbecue restaurant. These types of cuisine hadn’t yet spread widely in their area, so there weren’t many competitors. Their food was genuinely delicious, and business boomed from the very first day, with no shortage of customers.
The elderly parents Zhu also came to help out, and the clothing store was left to their two daughters.
Because their business was so prosperous and enticing, Zhu Chang'an’s two older brothers also resigned from their factory jobs to join in.
Worried that financial disputes might arise in the future, Sang Ran didn’t partner with them directly. Instead, she lent them funds and provided guidance. In this era of abundant opportunities, as long as one worked diligently, there was no fear of lacking money.
And so, they continued to earn money and buy more shops. Within two years, Sang Ran had achieved her goal, holding numerous profitable properties in her hands. She also opened three chain hotpot restaurants in the city. After that, she no longer pushed herself to strive relentlessly and, together with Zhu Chang'an, began to earn money with ease.

In 1989, during the Qingming Festival.
The Zhu family returned to their hometown to pay respects to their ancestors, and Sang Ran went along as well.
Back in 1983, Sang Ran’s grandfather had finally passed away, unable to hold on any longer. Under her care, he had enjoyed a peaceful old age. After his death, his wish to return to his roots was honored. This time, Sang Ran returned to pay her respects at his grave.
They drove back in their car.
Sitting in the car, Sang Ran held her five-year-old daughter in her arms and gazed at the lively and bustling scene outside. Suddenly, a somewhat familiar figure caught her eye.
Dressed in simple work clothes, he looked as if he had just come from the fields.
But the person walking beside him wore a suit and glasses, appearing middle-aged and clearly someone of high status.
The ordinary residents around them were all watching with curiosity.
“Huh?” Zhang Cuixia also noticed and let out a surprised sound.
Coincidentally, an aunt she knew was carrying some items and heading back. Zhang Cuixia immediately called out to her, inviting the aunt into the car, and casually asked, “I just saw Song Jianguo, he looked quite impressive, didn’t he?”
The aunt glanced enviously at the car and chided, “You’re talking about others? Your family is the most impressive of all.”
“Oh, not at all. It’s just that the kids have a little something and like to show off,” Zhang Cuixia replied vaguely.
Zhu Chang'an, who was driving, secretly pursed his lips and exchanged a look with Sang Ran in the passenger seat, clearly thinking, Who’s the one showing off here?
Wasn’t it his mother who wanted to return home in glory?
Sang Ran smiled faintly and motioned for him to focus on driving.
Then, they heard the aunt in the back seat say, “This Song Jianguo is really something. Back in 1983, when the household responsibility system was implemented, he contracted a whole mountain in the back hills and started cultivating apple trees.
Ah, there had never been such a precedent here, but he was determined to go through with it. He lived up on that mountain and lost a significant amount of weight.”
"But he was capable and willing to spend money. The apple trees started bearing fruit two years later, and the mountains and fields were covered with fruit. He organized people specifically to sell them, and once they started selling, he struck it rich!"
"That's truly impressive!" Zhang Cuixia exclaimed in admiration.
"Of course, who else has his courage? We all thought he would lose everything, but now he has expanded into several varieties. People from our area have gone to help, and he always sends us all kinds of fruit. Today, the city leaders came specifically to praise him, saying he led our town out of poverty and into prosperity. I heard they're even going to advertise for him."
“...”
Sang Ran curved her lips into a smile. Sure enough, Song Jianguo was still capable.
She just wondered how Su Ya would feel when she saw this.
She had only just smiled when she suddenly felt a resentful gaze on her. Sang Ran slapped out: "Watch the road."
The little girl in her lap brightened up, imitating her mother's action and hitting her father, saying fiercely in a childish voice: "Watch the road!"
Zhu Chang'an burst into tears with a wail.

Hong Kong City Hospital
A thin woman in revealing clothes stood at the entrance, her gaze vacant, holding a diagnosis slip in her hand as she staggered along.
Suddenly, a wave of dizziness hit her. The woman swayed, leaned against the wall, and stared at the slip, gripping it tighter and tighter until it crumpled. A tear fell on it, blurring the name section.
The characters "Su Ya" began to smudge.
Su Ya didn't know how things had come to this. When she exhausted all her efforts to come to Hong Kong, all her money had been swindled. Alone and unsure what to do, she could only find work, hoping to maybe come across a talent scout.
That search marked the beginning of her downfall.
By the time she came to her senses, she had already contracted a disease.
It was completely different from what she had imagined, coming to Hong Kong to develop and become a star.
No talent scouts noticed her, but plenty of scammers did. To survive, she had done everything, yet she still had no achievements to show for it.
Dizzy and disoriented, she returned to the basement rented by the madam for them. A musty smell hit her, and a group of women similar to her were inside, noisy and chaotic.
She lay on her bed and closed her eyes.
At that moment, her soul seemed to leave her body and return to her birthplace, where she saw a familiar figure stepping onto a red stage to receive an award.
Song Jianguo?
Su Ya strained her eyes to see clearly and moved closer, spotting the words on the red banner, "Y City's Top Ten Outstanding Entrepreneurs."
Ranked first was unmistakably Song Jianguo.
Holding the microphone, his rugged and sturdy face softened with tenderness, just as she remembered from her past life, and he said, "I want to thank my wife for supporting me during my most difficult times"
The scene shifted. Song Jianguo stepped down from the stage, and waiting for him below was a woman with an ordinary appearance but a proud smile, along with a seven- or eight-year-old boy who resembled both of them.
The family of three was all smiling.
They looked so happy.
Only she was unhappy.