Refusing to marry a widower, I went on a crazy spree of sending my children to the army.

"Your dad's leg is broken, and there's a lot of blood. He might have to have it amputated!"

As soon as Qiao Zhenzhen's gloating voice rang out, Cao Jinwang hurriedly said, "Yes, yes, yes, the quarry has already sent him to the hospital. Your mother was so frightened that she had a relapse and was sent there too!"

"Man'er, you'd better pack your things and head over there!"

Qiao Manman looked shocked, and tears streamed down her face.

Seeing that Grandma Qiao was about to go home, he rushed out and said, "Grandma, something happened to my dad. Grandma, can you give me ten yuan so I can go to the county to save him?"

Old Mrs. Qiao paused for two seconds, then said with disgust, "What nonsense are you talking about, you little brat? I don't have any money!"

Qiao Manman grabbed Qiao's trouser leg and wouldn't let go: "Grandma, when my dad passed the exam and got a job, you cried and said that the family was having a hard time, and made him give the job to my uncle."

Even my second uncle's job was arranged by my father.

My dad was a vocational school graduate in the early days of the People's Republic of China. Getting a job would have been a piece of cake for him. It was you who said there were too few people in the family and that you liked a lively atmosphere, so you forced my dad to stay in the production brigade!

Grandma, my dad is filial and has never argued with you. All the work points he's earned over the years have been recorded in the Qiao family's accounts. He drinks clear, mixed grain porridge and does the most arduous farm work in the production brigade.

Even this time, when they were repairing the irrigation canal, it was Grandma who forced my dad to take my uncle's place. Grandma, my dad is your own son too, please have some pity on him, okay?

Grandma Qiao was embarrassed by Qiao Manman's words, but she still said with a stern face, "I have no money, and you know what my family's situation is. Get out!"

Qiao Manman watched as she lifted her foot, straightened her body slightly, and then fell to the side, getting her hands and face covered in dirt.

Wang Defa frowned as he came over and helped Qiao Manman up: "Aunt Qiao, Manman is such a well-behaved girl, how could you hit her so hard!"

Old Mrs. Qiao clearly felt that she hadn't even touched that brat, so how could she...

Before she could figure it out, Qiao Manman, supported by Wang Defa, stood up: "Grandma, if you're still angry, just kick me a few more times, as long as you promise to save my dad..."

The commune members who hadn't left yet began to criticize Old Lady Qiao, saying she was heartless.

Some newly married women, unaware of the Qiao family's dirty secrets, were advised by their mothers-in-law or sisters-in-law to have less contact with Old Mrs. Qiao in the future.

Old Mrs. Qiao was so angry that her face turned pale and then red, but she still wouldn't let it go. She thought to herself, "It's good that my leg is broken; if my leg is broken, I can..."

Seeing that Old Lady Qiao's attitude was firm, Wang Defa felt somewhat sorry for her.

Qiao Yatou is such a filial daughter, yet she's been treated so badly by the Qiao family.

And then there's Qiao Runming, one of the few educated people in the production brigade.

Originally, Runming and his brother could have easily found a job as a scorekeeper or warehouse manager, but they were afraid of losing their jobs, so they went to the fields to earn work points despite their frail health.

"Don't be afraid, little girl. Uncle will go to the team and get you thirty yuan. Take it to save your father!"

Qiao Manman nodded gratefully, then saw that Old Mrs. Qiao's expression changed.

"What does the captain mean by this?"

"Human life comes first, of course!" Wang Defa said neither humbly nor arrogantly. "Aunt Qiao is short of money, isn't she? It's alright, the team has some spare money. We'll lend it to Man'er first. We'll deduct it from Old Qiao's account at the end of the year."

Upon hearing this, Old Mrs. Qiao became furious, sat down on the ground, slapped her thigh, and wailed, "How many of us in my family work? Thirty yuan, how many work points do we get? You're trying to kill my whole family!"

Wang Defa remained unmoved and urged Qiao Manman, "Go quickly, don't be afraid. If the Qiao family doesn't have enough work points to deduct, your uncle will go to the steel factory and ask Qiao Zhenbang if he will take care of your brother's injury!"

Grandma Qiao paused in her sobbing and looked at Wang Defa in disbelief.

Seeing his serious expression, she quickly stood up and patted her bottom: "No, no, no, I just remembered that there are still some loose change at home. I'll get it for Man'er right away!"

Wang Defa frowned: "Is that enough for ten yuan?"

"That's enough, that's enough!" Old Mrs. Qiao nodded hurriedly, afraid that Wang Defa was determined to give Qiao Manman thirty yuan. If that happened, her Qiao family would suffer a huge loss!

Wang Defa hummed in agreement: "In that case, Man'er, go home with your grandma to get the money."

Qiao Manman nodded: "Thank you, Captain! Thank you, Grandma!"

She sobbed for a moment, then thanked the uncles and aunts around her who had spoken up for her.

His gaze swept over Lu Yuan, then paused: "Lu Zhiqing, may I borrow your bicycle?"

Although several households in Qingshan Brigade own bicycles, they were bought with the combined savings of the entire family when their children got married.

Who would dare lend her a penniless brat? What if she breaks something? She'd have nowhere to turn for help!

Therefore, Qiao Manman kept her eyes on Lu Yuan.

First, she trusts his character and believes he won't hesitate on matters of principle. Second, given their past friendship in tricking Li Chuncao, she believes he won't reject her.

Sure enough, Lu Yuan hesitated for two seconds before nodding: "I'll go back and get the car now. I'll pick you up at the Qiao family's gate in ten minutes!"

Qiao Manman's eyes flickered, wondering what Lu Zhiqing meant by this. Did he want to go to the county with her?

That's good; with more witnesses, the separation of family members and severing of ties can be done more cleanly.

He thanked her gratefully, saying, "Lu Zhiqing is such a good person!"

Lu Yuan felt something was off, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what it was.

After asking Wang Defa for leave, I returned to the educated youth compound.

Lu Yifeng, standing beside him, teased, "Brother Lu, you're not usually this enthusiastic!"

Lu Yuan paused slightly: "Judging from how neglected that girl is, she probably doesn't have much opportunity to handle a bicycle. It cost several hundred yuan; what if she breaks it..."

Lu Yifeng chuckled: "You, Lu Yuan, aren't the kind of person who's short of a hundred or two yuan!"

Lu Yuan took a deep breath and rushed back to the educated youth compound without saying a word.

Hearing the clicking sounds behind her, her ears turned slightly red. She thought to herself, "I'm doing this to find out her secrets; what if she's a spy..."

Meanwhile, Qiao Manman followed the stern-faced old lady home. As soon as she entered the courtyard, she was scolded: "Kneel down!"

Without outsiders around, Qiao Manman wasn't so easily manipulated. She straightened her back and said, "Grandma, are you trying to back out? I'm going to find the captain to settle this right now!"

Grandma Qiao was so angry that the veins on her forehead throbbed. She couldn't understand why her usually submissive and obedient daughter had suddenly become so sharp-tongued.

Qiao Zhenzhen tugged at his sleeve, and he remembered his purpose, asking her, "Tell me, why did you hit Zhenzhen?"

Qiao Manman looked shocked: "Grandma, did Sister Zhenzhen complain to you?"

My God, how could she have the nerve! Anyone else would have covered this up, how could she let it become public knowledge!

"I even humbled myself and pleaded with Lu and Lu, the educated youths, for her sake."

Qiao Manman's vague words led the Qiao family to misunderstand.

Everyone stared at Qiao Zhenzhen with curiosity, making her blush. She wished she could disappear into the ground.

Furious, she put her hands on her hips and stomped her feet: "Qiao Manman, don't talk nonsense!"