I Became a Vicious Supporting Role in the '70s
Chapter 37: Did I Do Something Wrong?

Chapter 37: Chapter 37: Did I Do Something Wrong?

Guo Xiuxin, after finishing speaking, headed directly to Wang Lianhua’s house. Guo Xiuxin is the director of women in Lu Family Village. She had received education from both school and the organization, but most importantly, her sister-in-law’s younger sister is married to the cousin of the Director of the commune revolutionary committee.

Even though the relationship is somewhat convoluted, she has capabilities. As an outsider married into the village, to be able to become the director of women, receive welfare, and earn a salary every month, she certainly isn’t without merit. Her actions and words are indeed fair, earning the trust of the villagers.

Shen Meng blinked a few times, barely managing to squeeze out a few tears, which quickly dried up. She clicked her tongue, gave up on appearing weak, so when Guo Xiuxin came out from Wang Lianhua’s house, Shen Meng put on a face filled with righteous indignation.

"The village chief is busy with the affairs of delivering grain to the food station, so I came here today. On the way over, Mingyang was not very clear about the situation, what exactly happened? Sister-in-law Chen, could you explain it to me?"

Chen Zhaodi has been fierce for many years, and still feels nervous seeing Guo Xiuxin, who is a dozen years younger than her.

"It’s nothing serious, just normal bumps and bruises in family life. Who would’ve thought Shen Meng is useless? Frightened by what happened to Lianhua, she sent Mingyang to find you, troubling you to make this trip for nothing much."

"Second Aunt, how can you lie with your eyes open? Director Guo, you are the fairest person and dislike seeing us women being bullied. It’s not the old society anymore; we can’t just oppress women whenever. Although I didn’t do well before, thankfully Daqing and Erqing took pity on Mingyang and his brothers, helping out Mingyang’s children. After I recovered, I just wanted to thank them, so I made some dumplings with cabbage filling for Daqing and Erqing to eat. Daqing, being kind-hearted, felt pity for his mother and took some back home. Sister-in-law Lianhua, not willing to eat them, gave them to Yaoyao. But this morning, Sister-in-law Jin Gui saw it, and it blew up the situation. They accused Sister-in-law Lianhua of hiding grain and money. Second Aunt and Sister-in-law Jin Gui really beat her harshly, and Brother Yonggang kicked her several times too. Xifeng couldn’t hold them back alone, and Sister-in-law Lianhua was not lightly beaten, and the children were also scared half to death. Director, you can’t just ignore this!"

"You’re farting! I didn’t... she... Director, I really didn’t! I didn’t lay a hand on her; it was my younger brother who hit her. It’s his wife; if he wants to hit her, he hits her. It has nothing to do with me!" Zhao Jingui was anxiously pale.

Chen Zhaodi also looked miserable. She had initially hoped to gloss over the issue, but Shen Meng, the home-wrecker, just wouldn’t let their family catch a break, exposing everything.

"Xiuxin, it’s just a domestic matter, which couple doesn’t fight? It’s nothing serious, Lianhua will be fine after resting for a couple of days,"

Director Guo, flattered for a while, immediately straightened her back. Shen Meng was somewhat clever in the past and had a good relationship with her. Besides, her husband holds a regimental position in the army. Others may not know, but she did, and that meant she held power in her hands. As long as she maintained a good relationship with Shen Meng, if any family had a son who wanted to join the army, they could seek her help.

"Hmph, if it were just a small tiff between a couple that would be one thing, but sister-in-law, go see Lianhua. If Xifeng hadn’t been there, she might have been beaten to death. She’s the legitimate wife of the Lu Family, having borne three children for you. Even if she hasn’t made contributions, she’s endured hardships. Sister-in-law, don’t you always boast about how capable you are in handling your daughters-in-law? With your capabilities, how could Lianhua possibly hide grain and money? And you, Jingui, as the elder sister-in-law, instead of persuading, you joined in hitting her. Is she your sister-in-law or your punching bag? And those things you said about Yaoyao, I heard them from afar. Aren’t you women yourselves? Why do you look down on female children? I can’t let this go lightly today; I must set an example."

"Ah, Xiuqin, we’re all from the same village, you can’t go too far. Their father died early and I, an old woman, raised the children alone; it wasn’t easy helping them marry and have children. Now that I’m old, can’t I have the privilege of being a mother-in-law? Besides, didn’t our mothers-in-law treat us the same way when we were young?"

Chen Zhaodi doesn’t understand, she really doesn’t understand. When she was young, her mother-in-law either beat or scolded her, and she had barely managed to become a mother-in-law herself. Using the methods she learned from her own mother-in-law, why do they want to make an example out of her?

"What era is it still to harass daughters-in-law in that old way? It’s a new society now; even the leaders say that women can hold up half the sky, yet you beat Lianhua like this, there, your family’s half of the sky has collapsed. You have good days but choose to make trouble. We’re about to get busy planting wheat soon, and with Sister-in-law Lianhua in this condition, she won’t be able to earn work points. Director, I’m truly afraid that after we leave, Sister-in-law Lianhua will suffer again," Shen Meng said, flipping her hair and speaking to Guo Xiuqin.

"You’re right, Sister-in-law, Jingui, you’ve beaten someone like this, and the organization will definitely criticize you, and you must compensate Lianhua. I will report this situation to the organization. Wait for the notice. Xifeng, you’ve done well. Keep a good eye on your sister-in-law—anyone dares to mistreat her, come find me. Yonggang, what are you still doing standing there? Hurry and find Doctor Lu. Do you really want your child to lose their mother?"

Guo Xiuqin’s words carry so much weight; unlike Shen Meng who was noisy and argumentative, whatever she says stands, and no one in the Lu Family dares to utter a word. Chen Zhaodi was just jumping around like a chicken, but now she stands and stirs her hands like a woeful figure.

At noon, Shen Meng simply cooked a pot of tomato egg cornmeal dumpling soup and went back to her room. The children, seeing her upset, dared not speak, fearing she would suddenly jump up and revert to her old self.

Shen Meng sat alone on the kang for a long while, motionless. Wang Lianhua was beaten terribly, her face a mix of blue and purple bruises. Daqing’s three children clung to her side, sobbing and terrified like little animals.

She didn’t expect that a simple act of kindness would bring such a disaster to Wang Lianhua. She knew the rural areas in the 1970s were poor, incredibly poor, but she hadn’t taken that fact to heart. She didn’t anticipate that a single dumpling could bring such a calamity.

For the first time, Shen Meng scrutinized herself, her thoughts. Could it be a mistake to bring dumplings to others last night? Should she have kept the good things tightly to herself? She suddenly remembered Ming Fang wearing clean, tidy clothes when she went out, and many in the village didn’t compliment her but instead made sarcastic comments, and the young girl didn’t step out all day.

At that time, how had she explained it to Ming Fang,

"This isn’t your fault, it’s because your father is excellent. They envy you, they are jealous of you, but they don’t measure up to you."