She won't clear her name; she'll throw away all the scum.

As night fell, Grandma Xia wrapped her cotton-padded coat tightly around herself and went home.

She still hoped that Tang Jiao could stand up for herself. If Tang Jiao had her own ideas, she would wait and see.

Thinking about Chen Xiangnan the whole way, Grandma Xia quickly returned home.

"Sister, what are you doing?" As soon as Grandma Xia got home, she saw her sister... tying stones to her arms, two on each side.

Xia Yu'e looked up at her when she heard the voice and smiled, "It's nothing, just for health and fitness, so I can beat my son later."

Grandma Xia was moved by her determination; it was so inspiring. The sight of a 60-year-old woman striving for her dream was truly heartwarming.

She absolutely couldn't hold her sister back; she would do anything to help her sister fulfill her wish.

Grandma Xia made up her mind.

Xia Yu'e didn't really want to hit her son, but she noticed that her sister was full of energy because of her idea, and was no longer as lost as before.

In order to keep her going, Xia Yu'e could only... pretend to be trying.

Well... they really risked their lives.

On this rare day off, Qiao Yi finally prepared to go home. The third week of each month was her fixed day to go home. On this day, her father or her older brother would come to pick her up at the factory gate, rain or shine.

This time it was her older brother, who was only two years older than her. Thinking about what Chen Xiangbei had said, Qiao Yi was somewhat absent-minded the whole way.

Don't be fooled by Qiao Shan's tall, dark, and strong appearance, which makes him seem intimidating. But once you get to know him, you'll find that he never fights back or talks back, and he's always getting into conflicts with others. In Qiao Yi's mother's words, he's just wasted his tall stature.

If someone provokes him, it's as if they haven't provoked him at all.

Qiao Yi looked at Qiao Shan and sighed heavily, "Big brother, is something wrong with you?"

Qiao Shan's eyes widened slightly, and he stammered, "Little sister, what could have happened to me? I'm... I'm perfectly fine. I don't look like anything's wrong at all."

Qiao Shan thought it was pointless to tell his family about it; it would only cause them unnecessary worry. He was a man; at worst, he'd get beaten up—he was tough and wouldn't die. But his sister was young, and what if those people… Thinking about this, Qiao Shan hadn't slept well for a while.

Qiao Yi grabbed him. "Big brother, I've heard everything. Are you still going to keep it from me?"

Qiao Shan: "You...how did you know?"

Qiao Yi: "Why do you care how I know? What do you want to do about this? How did you end up offending them?"

Qiao Shan lowered his head and said, "I don't know either. Don't tell Mom and Dad. They're old, and I'm afraid they won't be able to handle it."

Qiao Yi: "How many times have those people come looking for you?"

Qiao Shan: "It's happened several times, but I can't do that. I'm learning carpentry from my master now. In another year, I'll be able to graduate and start my own business. You know, I can't do that kind of thing at this critical juncture. I'd really get arrested."

Two years ago, Qiao Shan was sent by his parents to learn carpentry. He was already so old, and they originally wouldn't accept him, but Qiao's parents had good connections, so they reluctantly accepted him.

In those days, most crafts, such as masonry and bricklaying, required apprenticeship. Apprenticeship lasted three years without tuition or wages, but included three meals a day. After learning the skills, the apprentice would work for the master for three years as tuition, and then they could graduate and take on jobs on their own.

Qiao Shan was the most meticulous worker among them. Although he was taciturn, he worked quickly and was not competitive. Every day, he would start working as soon as he arrived at his master's house. He would eat when his master's wife called for dinner and stop when he was seven-tenths full. He did not like to take advantage of others and did whatever his master told him to do. He was never lazy and was the most diligent and honest among his fellow disciples.

Qiao Shan hoped that after a year he would graduate from his apprenticeship, take on more jobs, earn more money, get married, and live a simple and happy life with his wife and children.

But all of this was ruined a few months ago, and Qiao Shan felt very painful.

Qiao Yi was also very worried. What Chen Xiangbei said was true. She had given up hope and instead started thinking about who could help her brother resolve this matter.

Her brother is an honest man. Why would that gambling gang target him? Aren't they afraid he'll cause trouble?

Qiao Shan couldn't understand it either. He lived a very simple life, going between home and his master's house every day, occasionally picking up his sister. He didn't fight, he didn't swear, and he would avoid even stray dogs and cats arguing on the street. How could they dare to ask him to watch over their place?

Although they didn't speak, they were thinking the same thing.

"Brother, shall we report this to the police?" Qiao Yi said firmly as they neared home. She remembered that Comrade Xia could report someone for spreading rumors; if her brother could, then he certainly could too. If the police would even handle rumors, wouldn't this kind of thing be even more serious?

Qiao Shan waved his hands repeatedly, "No, no."

How can ordinary people like them report to the police so easily? He's not in any trouble now; if something really happened, they would come anyway without him needing to report it. Qiao Shan's eyes showed panic. Who reports to the police so easily? This won't do.

Qiao Yi stomped her foot angrily, "If you don't report it, you'll get away with it, but you'll ruin Mom and Dad, and I'll be ruined too. You'll be crying then. If you won't go, I will."

Qiao Shan grabbed his sister. "No, we can still talk. It's not time for that yet. I'll talk to them again. I won't do anything illegal. Even if they need some money, I'll borrow it for them. It'll be good to buy them peace of mind."

Qiao Yi: "If money could really settle things, they would have come to negotiate long ago. With our meager savings, how could they possibly be interested in us? If we give them money once, they'll come back for more, and we'll be broke. You're still going to do illegal things. You should report them to the police and take them all down."

Qiao Shan: "What if... what if a few escape and then retaliate against us? That would really lead to deaths. No, let me think about it some more."

Qiao Yi fell silent. Yes, her brother was right. It would be even more terrifying if they were cornered and resorted to desperate measures.

The brother and sister went into the house dejectedly. There were no lights in the house, but Tang's mother ran out cheerfully and said, "Xiaoshan, someone came over today and introduced you to a girl. Why don't you go to their house to meet her?"

Qiao Yi: "What girl?"

Tang's mother scolded her playfully, "You child, isn't it time for your brother to find you a sister-in-law at this age? Have you gone crazy from working so much?"

Qiao Yi: ...I was really stupid. What kind of girl could I introduce? But in this situation, it's really not appropriate. In the end, I'll only drag her down with me.

Sure enough, she saw her brother frantically waving his hands and shaking his head, saying he wouldn't go. He was then hit on the back several times by Qiao's mother and scolded all night.