Reborn in 78, I made my fortune by working in the mountains, supporting three families on my own.

Qin Yuchan's voice was loud and clear, and the people at the door immediately shrank back halfway, but still did not disperse.

Qin Yuchan stood at the door with her hands on her hips: "The textile factory is just going through the normal procedures to verify information, what's so interesting about that? Everyone go home and stop gossiping here."

Aunt Li muttered, "We're just curious, and it won't hurt to take a look."

Even so, he was still afraid of Qin Yuchan, and his body instinctively moved backward.

The others also dispersed slightly, but none of them went far. They stood in twos and threes on the village road, still looking into the courtyard.

The atmosphere in the main room was tense.

Zhao Lei invited the two cadres to sit down, and Jiang Xinyue stood beside Zhao Lei.

Section Chief Wu opened the folder and looked at Jiang Xinyue and Zhao Lei.

"Comrade Jiang Xinyue, we have information that there are problems with your family background. Your application form for the interview did not truthfully disclose your parents' information, which constitutes concealment."

Jiang Xinyue steadied herself: "My father's past has nothing to do with my work ability."

Section Chief Wu closed the folder: "Whether there's a connection or not is not for you to judge. Jinxiu Textile Factory is a state-owned enterprise, and the finance department is a core department. Your father, Jiang Dingtian, was the founder of Dingtian International Trade. Five years ago, he was labeled a capitalist, his property was confiscated, and he is currently undergoing labor reform. Why wasn't such an important detail mentioned on the application form?"

Jiang Xinyue pursed her lips: "I didn't fill it out because I felt it was irrelevant to my position. After being sent down to the Heping Brigade, I relied entirely on my own labor to make a living. My father's affairs shouldn't be attributed to me."

Zhou, the clerk, said coldly, "Jiang Xinyue, this is a very serious matter. If someone with such a special family background enters the finance department and something goes wrong, who will take responsibility?"

"You'd better tell the truth, and we'll handle it according to procedure. If you refuse to cooperate, the materials will be submitted to the town's investigation department, and the consequences won't be as simple as just a door-to-door interview."

Zhao Lei stepped forward: "Comrades, let me say a few words. Jiang Xinyue has lived in Heping Brigade for four or five years, and the whole village knows her character. Moreover, she is good at accounting and meticulous in her work. One's background cannot represent a person."

Section Chief Wu looked at Zhao Lei: "What's your relationship with her?"

"I am her man."

"Didn't you two get divorced already?"

Zhao Lei paused for a moment: "The formalities have been completed, but we are still family. After Xinyue came to Heping Brigade, she relied on her own labor for all her food, clothing, and daily necessities. The production brigade's evaluation of her was excellent every year."

Zhou, the clerk, stopped responding to Zhao Lei and turned to Jiang Xinyue: "Let me ask you again, your family's circumstances are quite conspicuous in this area. Even the factory director's hometown can't afford a brick house. Where did you get the money to build this two-story house?"

Jiang Xinyue frowned: "It was earned by my husband Zhao Lei hunting and selling mountain products in the mountains. Everyone in the village knows Zhao Lei's skills in the mountains. If you don't believe me, you can go and investigate to see if it's true."

"You can save that much money by hunting?"

Officer Zhou surveyed the furnishings of the main room. "It's a two-story red brick building with electricity, and it's fully furnished with furniture and appliances. It must have taken a lot of savings."

Section Chief Wu exclaimed, "If you didn't know better, you'd think you were in the home of a high-ranking official in Beijing."

Zhao Lei's tone turned serious: "Are you two here today to verify information or for interrogation?"

"The money to build this building was saved up little by little over the past six months by going into the mountains to collect mountain products. Every penny of my income is clean; investigate if you want, but don't just throw accusations at me!"

Section Chief Wu closed the folder and hugged it to his chest: "We are just verifying the situation according to regulations. Regarding Jiang Xinyue's family background, we will report the facts to our superiors, and the factory will provide a decision."

As Section Chief Wu walked to the door, he turned back and added, "You'd better prepare your explanation regarding the source of the housing funds. Once the documents are submitted, it won't just be us coming to question you."

The two cadres bypassed Qin Yuchan, mounted their old-fashioned bicycles, and drove off.

Qin Yuchan stood at the gate and spat in the direction the bicycle had left.

"Pah! What arrogance from an official!"

As the officials left, the villagers watching from outside the courtyard slowly gathered again.

Someone asked, "Yu Chan, what exactly happened? They were talking about capitalists earlier, who in your family has committed a crime?"

Qin Yuchan glared at the man: "Stop gossiping, this has nothing to do with you, get lost!"

"Fine, let's go. What's with all the yelling?"

Despite Zhao Lei's family's numerous explanations, the rumors still spread.

The villagers who were watching would gather together and discuss it privately.

"Hey, I just heard that Jiang Xinyue's father is a big capitalist in Beijing and is still in a labor camp."

"No wonder Jiang Xinyue's temperament is different from that of ordinary farmers; she's the daughter of a capitalist."

"You young people may have forgotten, but Jiang Xinyue came to our production brigade after being sent down to the countryside for labor reform."

"I knew it! Zhao Lei has only been back in the village for a short time, and his family is already so wealthy. His housewarming party was such a grand affair. How could he earn so much just by hunting?"

"There are rumors that when Jiang Xinyue was sent to the countryside, she secretly hid gold and silver in the mountains. Zhao Lei dug them up and sold them under the pretense of hunting in the mountains, which is how he made his fortune and built a house."

"Is that really true?"

"Who can say for sure? Otherwise, how could they afford to build a red brick house if they were hunting?"

The more they talked, the louder their voices became.

Jiang Xinyue walked out of the main room, her face looking rather unpleasant.

Jiang Xinyue walked to the courtyard gate and yelled at the villagers who were chatting idly, "You should have evidence for your words, don't spread rumors out of thin air. If you keep gossiping, believe me, I'll tear your mouths apart!"

Jiang Xinyue, with her different personality, simply explained loudly to everyone, "Everyone has witnessed Zhao Lei's hunting skills in the mountains. Wild boar, goat, pheasant, and rabbit—many families have even eaten game that Zhao Lei gave them. Now, to spread rumors behind their backs, how can they live with themselves?"

His words left everyone speechless.

Aunt Li took the lead in stepping back, and the others followed suit.

They stopped talking about it, but their eyes were filled with suspicion as they exchanged glances.

Before long, the crowd dispersed, leaving the courtyard gate empty.

Zhao Lei walked out of the main room and stood next to Jiang Xinyue.

Qin Yuchan stood at the kitchen door, holding fire tongs in her hand, and said indignantly, "These two people came here, is someone sabotaging them behind my back? I have a feeling they came here to cause trouble."

Zhao Lei looked at the villagers who hadn't gone far along the village road: "I also feel something's wrong. The other party doesn't seem to be here to investigate, but rather to interrogate us. I guess someone is deliberately trying to frame Xinyue."

Jiang Xinyue lowered her eyes, her gaze falling on the cloth shoes on her feet.

Zhao Lei reached out and patted Jiang Xinyue on the shoulder: "Don't be afraid, I'm here. Our whole family supports you. Besides, we have nothing to fear if we stand up for ourselves. We're not afraid of anyone investigating us."

Jiang Xinyue felt a warmth in her heart, but her brows remained furrowed.

At this moment, the kettle in the kitchen boiled, and white steam hissed out from the spout.

The jarring noise gave Zhao Lei a headache and made him anxious. He cursed and turned to clean up the kettle.

"Damn! This noise is unbearable!"

Instantly, the family's mood plummeted from a high point to the bottom, like riding a rollercoaster.

However, the incident continues to escalate.

It is said that public opinion can be a fearsome thing. Without television and mobile phones, everyday gossip becomes the topic of conversation for everyone.

Overnight, rumors spread that Zhao Lei's house contained a capitalist's gold and silver treasure...