Back to 1984: Earning Money, Raising Kids, and Keeping the Household Busy

Liu Yongming then realized that Lin Qin was no longer the same person she used to be, and went home with a dark face.

"Mom, brother, please have sister-in-law apologize to Lin Qin and try to get her forgiveness. I really have no other choice."

Upon hearing that she had to apologize to Lin Qin, Ma Cuihua instantly flew into a rage, "She cheated! If she could cheat on the college entrance exam, she must have connections to get back at your sister-in-law. Otherwise, how could you not have suppressed it?"

Seeing that Ma Cuihua was stubborn, Liu Yongming didn't care anymore. "Whatever. I've used all the connections I can. I still have a lot of things to do at work and I'll have to work overtime later. You guys figure it out yourselves."

Liu Yongguo's face paled slightly. He stepped forward and grabbed Liu Yongming, his expression pleading. "Aming, what Mom said isn't wrong. Look at you all, you've been studying hard since you were little, working hard for over ten years, and you still might not be able to get into high school. She, a half-baked student, got in in just two years. Is she a genius? If she were really that good, she wouldn't have been so foolish before, right?"

Liu Yongming frowned impatiently, "These are all your speculations and conjectures! The fact is that she took the exam publicly at the Education Bureau and did quite well. There were a bunch of leaders supervising the exam, so she couldn't have cheated. Facts speak louder than words, and your stubbornness is meaningless!"

Furthermore, while the sister-in-law is illiterate and doesn't understand the law, the brother should know some. This is a case of arbitrarily framing someone with solid evidence. In feudal society, this would have resulted in being shot. It's only because everyone advocates civility now that Liu Li has been to the police station so many times that you no longer take the police station seriously.

"I've tried everything I can think of. Now, my only option is to beg Lin Qin for forgiveness. If that doesn't work, then the police station can impose whatever punishment they want. I'm truly out of options."

As he spoke, Liu Yongming looked at Ma Cuihua, frowning with displeasure. "Mom, you're always complaining about everyone around here. There's no one capable in the neighborhood, so it's fine if you offend people, but you'd better not provoke Lin Qin again. That woman is very strange, and this isn't the first time!"

"I'm afraid of her? That bitch better not fall into my hands, or I'll make her pay! I get so angry just thinking about Ali, that bitch deserves to die!" Ma Cuihua's eyes widened, almost spitting fire.

Unable to argue with her, Liu Yongming turned and left.

Liu Yongguo was torn between his feelings and his conscience. In the end, he gritted his teeth and went to the police station to see Xu Manzhi and explain the situation to her.

Xu Manzhi cried miserably, her face full of resentment. "Lin Qin used underhanded tactics, otherwise how could she have gotten into a junior college? I wasn't wrong, so why are you arresting me? Everyone is probably laughing at me now, I'll never be able to face anyone again, sob sob sob."

She's very concerned about her image; she used to be assertive at home and also wanted to be superior to others outside. Now, she can't be assertive at home, and she's also assertive outside...
The more Xu Manzhi thought about it, the more she felt she had no will to live.

Liu Yongguo was getting anxious. "That's why I'm telling you to quickly bow your head and apologize so we can get out of here as soon as possible. If you're detained for a few more days, even more people will know you're in the police station. And what about your job? I went to see you today and told you you were sick and needed to rest for two days. If you don't go to work after two days, how will you explain it later?"

Xu Manzhi was stunned for a moment, and finally realized she was afraid.

Her job was arranged by Liu Yongming through connections after he was transferred back. She worked as a temporary worker in the sugar factory. The salary wasn't much, but it was respectable. Even her family looked up to her. She couldn't afford to lose this job!

"Fine! I'll apologize to her!" Xu Manzhi gritted her teeth in shame and indignation, saying words that she found extremely humiliating.

Liu Yongguo breathed a sigh of relief and quickly informed the police officer in charge of the situation.

The police officer, however, remained nonchalant, saying, "Understood. We will notify the other party. If they are willing to settle, we will notify you. If they are not, it will be useless."

Liu Yongguo never expected that even after they had all backed down, the matter wasn't over. He immediately became anxious, "Officer, please help me put in a good word. My wife was confused for a moment; she really knows she was wrong."

The police officer listened patiently until Liu Yongguo left.

For the next two days, there was no news from the police station. Liu Yongguo's heart sank, and Ma Cuihua was not as arrogant as before. She didn't even dare to yell at Lin Qin too loudly.

On the fourth day after Xu Manzhi's arrest, the director and several employees from the sugar factory came to visit the "sick" Xu Manzhi. Before they even entered the house, they heard rumors about Xu Manzhi on the street. Upon learning that Xu Manzhi had been arrested by the police, their expressions were quite interesting. After pressing for details, they learned that it was all a frame-up.

This was a major taboo for them, after all, someone who dares to falsely accuse others might one day falsely accuse themselves.

So the group of leaders didn't even go to Liu's house and turned back to the factory.

The next day, Xu Manzhi received news of her dismissal from the sugar factory as soon as she left the police station. She went crazy at home for more than an hour, cursing Lin Qin, Liu Yongming for being cold-blooded, Liu Yongguo for being a coward, and Ma Cuihua for being a troublemaker.

Ma Cuihua joined in the cursing, and the whole courtyard descended into chaos. The neighbors all came over to watch the spectacle.

Liu Ling, as before, stood on a stool at home to peek.

This time, Grandma Liu didn't stop her.

Liu Ling, still wanting more after reading, turned around and got off the stool, saying to Grandma Liu, "Grandma, I'm going to see Sister Lin Qin tomorrow."

Grandma Liu knew what her granddaughter was up to, and scolded her, "Go early and come back early. Also, try to avoid that madwoman Ma Cuihua."

Ever since that fight between the two families, Granny Liu has felt that Ma Cuihua is a ticking time bomb.

"Okay!" Liu Ling skipped back to her room.

The next morning, I went to the seafood restaurant to inquire about Lin Qin's whereabouts.

Lin Yi was particularly enthusiastic towards Liu Ling, saying, "If you want to find Aqin, you have to go to Nanyu. When you get to Nanxi, greet the boatman, and he will take you to Nanyu. You've never been there before, so go and have some fun."

Liu Ling was really bored, so she immediately nodded in agreement and rode her bicycle to Nanxi.

Following Lin Yijiao's method, they successfully reached Nanyu.

After calling out twice from outside, the gate with the gap in it finally opened after a while.

Lin Qin was overjoyed to see Liu Ling and said, "Come in quickly."

When Liu Ling arrived on the island, she was stunned by the magnificent three-and-a-half-story house in front of her. "My God! Sister! Your family is so rich! I've only ever seen this house in the newspaper! And it's always in black and white!"

"It's not that exaggerated!" Lin Qin scolded, leading her into the house and asking, "I made ice cream and popsicles myself, and I also have watermelons that I just picked this morning. I put them in the well water to chill. Have an ice cream first, and then we'll have watermelons later."

As they were talking, Lin Qin brought over a plate of lychees and mangoes. "These are fruits grown by my dad. We have plenty at home. Take some with you when you go back later so Grandma can have some too."

"Sister, you're too kind!" Liu Ling said somewhat reservedly.

A quick glance at the furnishings and appliances in the house gave her a deeper understanding of the Chen family's wealth and power. "No wonder you could study for your exams so peacefully. Now I understand why Grandma always said you have to marry the right person." (End of Chapter)