Zhou Zhennan tried to calm Li Yunlan, urging her not to get worked up.

But how could she stay calm? "What's gotten into Xiaohong? She's always been such an obedient girl. How could she do something so irrational?"

She had to admit she'd paid less attention to Zhou Xiaohong than to her other children, but that didn't mean she didn't love her. She had always assumed that after college and becoming a teacher, Xiaohong's life would be smooth sailing.

She was always such a sensible girl—how could something like this happen now?

Lin Xiaoxiao was also worried that Li Yunlan might get too agitated and affect her recovery.

"Mom, don't panic. Nothing's set in stone yet. Even if they get married, people can always get divorced. Sometimes you have to make mistakes to grow."

Someone like Zhou Xiaohong, who'd had an easy life without any real hardships, tended to take things for granted. A little setback might do her good.

Zhou Xiaoling gave Lin Xiaoxiao a strange look. That wasn't comforting—it was adding fuel to the fire.

Sure enough, Li Yunlan grew even more upset. "That's even worse. Zhou Zhennan, we're going back tomorrow."

Zhennan disagreed. "Waiting a few more days won't change anything."

Zhou Huai'an, who rarely spoke up, added, "Let's wait. The wedding isn't happening tomorrow."

Li Yunlan might not listen to Zhennan, but she trusted Huai'an. If he said wait, she would wait—though she was still uneasy. "Zhennan, call your father. Have him talk some sense into Xiaohong. Marriage isn't a game—one wrong step can ruin your whole life."

That Hu Yaozong... they'd watched him grow up. He'd always been cunning, and not in a good way. Back in the day, he'd been involved in all sorts of trouble and framed plenty of decent people.

He might have been somewhat prominent within the compound, but deep down, he was still a rotten bug.

She just couldn't understand why Xiaohong would marry someone like that.

After dinner, Zhou Huai'an and Lin Xiaoxiao walked home together—this time, Xiaoxiao insisted that he not borrow a bicycle.

The evening breeze was gentle. Children led water buffalo home, and groups of villagers returning from work passed by. The land reform hadn't happened yet; everyone still worked collectively and ate from "the big pot." Life moved to the sound of the bell—starting and ending together.

There was a certain contentment in this collective life. People seemed happier, more satisfied. Their laughter rang genuine under the fading sky.

Watching the farmers shouldering hoes walk by, Lin Xiaoxiao couldn't help but murmur, "They seem truly happy. This kind of life isn't so bad. When people are easily content, they don't greedily chase after things."

No ambition, no keeping up with others—just simple, peaceful satisfaction.

Zhou Huai'an glanced at her. "Hasn't it always been like this?"

Xiaoxiao paused, then quickly nodded. "Yeah, I guess so. I just hope this peacefulness never breaks." But then again, without change, society couldn't move forward.

"How do you think it might break?" Huai'an asked.

Xiaoxiao skipped ahead, hands behind her back. "People will want more—like in the cities. They'll start businesses, make money, live better lives. Young people in the villages will see that and want to go to the cities. They'll help build those places up and earn money to support their families back home."

Huai'an smiled faintly. There wasn't a thing wrong with what she said. It was all true. She was sharp, observant. It might still take a while before she'd truly open up to him.

They arrived at the residential compound just as a commotion broke out.

Li Guohao and Dong Hongmei's three children had returned from the countryside. Somehow, they'd heard about their father's affair. The eldest, Li Hongbing, seventeen, and the second, Li Hongwei, fifteen, had dragged Luo Caixia out of the clinic all the way to the compound's entrance.

There, they began hitting and cursing at her.

Dong Hongmei's daughter, ten-year-old Li Hongmei, swung a cooking spatula at Luo Caixia too. "You shameless woman! I'll beat you to death!"

Caixia curled on the ground, protecting her head as the kicks and punches landed. Everything hurt. She didn't even have the strength to cry out.

Lin Xiaoxiao watched, stunned. She'd known Dong Hongmei's kids weren't exactly young anymore, but now she saw—they were practically adults. The boys were tall and lean, and they weren't holding back.

Li Guohao was insane. His children were already this old, and he still dared to carry on with such a shameful affair right under everyone's nose.

A crowd had gathered, pointing and commenting, though most were just there for the spectacle.

Li Guohao had initially hidden inside, too ashamed to show his face. But afraid his sons might really injure Luo Caixia—and ruin their own futures in the process—he rushed out and tried to pull them away. "Hongbing! Hongwei! Stop this right now!"

Li Hongbing stood his ground, yelling, "Why should we? This woman has no shame! She destroyed our family! If you weren't my father, I'd beat you too! How could you lay a hand on Mom?"

Rage burned in the young man's eyes. His fists were clenched, barely holding back from striking his own father.

Humiliated in front of everyone, Li Guohao lost his temper. "Li Hongbing, how dare you rebel against me! I'm your father! How can you raise your hand against me?"

"Look at what you've done! Does a real father act like this?" Hongbing shot back. "Li Guohao, I'm warning you—if you ever touch Mom again, I won't let you get away with it!"

Trembling with anger, Li Guohao pointed at his son. "You... you ungrateful brat!"

He raised his hand to slap Hongbing, but the boy caught his wrist mid-air. "You want to hit me? You're the one who should be ashamed!"

Li Guohao struggled, but couldn't break free. His son stood half a head taller. His anger deflated into helplessness. "Let's talk about this inside. Must we air our dirty laundry in public?"

Hongbing sneered. "Now you care about shame? Where was that earlier? I want everyone to see how you've bullied Mom! She may endure it, but my brother, sister, and I won't. We beat this wretched woman today, and if you still don't change, don't blame us if we turn on you next."

Lin Xiaoxiao watched, intrigued. There was something to be said for raising sons like these.

The scene only calmed down when security arrived. Dong Hongmei pulled her three children back inside. No one paid any attention to Luo Caixia, still curled up on the ground.

Xiaoxiao glanced at Zhou Huai'an, worried he might take pity on Caixia—his fellow villager, his savior's daughter. "Let's go home," she said, tugging his sleeve. "I'm tired."

Zhou Huai'an didn't even look toward Luo Caixia. He followed Xiaoxiao inside without a word.

Lying alone on the ground, Luo Caixia finally saw herself for what she was. No matter what happened to her, no one cared. And the truth was, she never stood a chance at revenge.