A woman in her 70s marries a rough-looking man; her plump wife is too delicate and alluring.

"Zhaoyang, Yuze is on the phone."

Qin Meng shouted loudly from the main room to He Zhaoyang, who was cooking in the kitchen.

He Zhaoyang quickly put down what he was doing, wiped his hands casually on his apron, and then picked up the phone.

"What's wrong?"

Sheng Yuze's voice came through the phone, "I can't go back for a while, at the earliest I can go back at the end of the year."

He Zhaoyang: "Oh."

Actually, she felt it didn't matter whether Sheng Yuze came back or not. What was the point of him coming back? She would feel uncomfortable if he did.

Sheng Yuze continued, "The team paid out wages a few days ago, and I've already sent them back. They should arrive today. You can distribute the wages however you like, and whether you give them to your mother is entirely up to you."

When He Zhaoyang heard that his salary had arrived, his voice softened considerably. "Okay, I understand. Don't work too hard."

"Hmm," Sheng Yuze said, "Is your eye better?"

He Zhaoyang nodded, then remembered that Sheng Yuze couldn't see him, and said, "It was fine a few days ago."

Sheng Yuze didn't ask any more questions. "Okay, that's good. I was also telling my sister-in-law to keep an eye on you tonight."

They chatted for a few more minutes before hanging up.

He Zhaoyang hung up the phone, and Qin Meng peeked out from beside the stove. "What did Yuze say?"

"He said his salary had been sent back and asked me to pick it up." He Zhaoyang took off his apron and folded it neatly. "He also said he wouldn't be back anytime soon, at the earliest by the end of the year."

Qin Meng said "Oh" and didn't ask any more questions, then lowered her head and continued cooking.

The next morning, she told Qin Meng and changed into clean clothes before going out.

"Mom, I'm going to town to get some money."

Go ahead, be careful on the road.

He Zhaoyang left the courtyard and headed towards the town.

She walked for more than twenty minutes, and when she passed the old locust tree at the entrance of the village, she happened to see the postman park his bicycle by the roadside and hanging a green canvas bag on the frame.

He Zhaoyang walked over. "Master, has the Sheng family's remittance slip arrived?"

The postman looked up at her and asked, "Are you the Sheng family's daughter-in-law?"

"right."

The postman glanced at her, then looked down and flipped through the notebook in his hand. "It arrived yesterday. I happened to run into your mother, so I had her take it back with her."

He Zhaoyang stood by the roadside, asking doubtfully, "Are you talking about my mother?"

"Yes, a middle-aged woman, she said she was your mother, Sheng Yuze's mother-in-law, she spoke quite fluently. She said she was going there anyway, so she just gave it to you." The postman bent down to tie the canvas bag. "What's wrong? Didn't you receive it?"

He Zhaoyang was silent for a moment, then said, "Received."

She didn't say anything more. The postman didn't ask any further questions either, got on his bike, and drove away.

He Zhaoyang went directly to the He family home.

The gate to the He family's courtyard was ajar.

He Zhaoyang kicked it open, and the courtyard fell silent for a moment.

Liu Aiyun was sitting on the doorstep picking green beans, while He Xidi was squatting beside her, sorting vegetables.

When He Zhaoyang came in, Liu Aiyun looked up at him but didn't stop what she was doing.

"Oh, what a rare guest."

He Zhaoyang stood in the middle of the courtyard. "The postman said you took Sheng Yuze's money order."

Liu Aiyun paused for a moment, then continued picking out the money slip. "What remittance slip? I don't know."

"He said it was taken by someone who claimed to be Sheng Yuze's mother-in-law."

Liu Aiyun looked up at He Zhaoyang. "How can you blame me for this? What if someone else was lying to him?"

He Zhaoyang nodded. "I've thought of that. An auntie happened to see it yesterday and told me that it was you who claimed it."

Liu Aiyun angrily threw the green beans in her hand in front of her, "So what if I took them? What's wrong with a mother-in-law collecting the money her son-in-law sent back?"

He Zhaoyang: "That's for me."

"What's wrong with giving it to you? You're my daughter, what's yours is mine, isn't it?"

He Xidi squatted down beside him, head down, picking vegetables, without saying a word.

He Zhaoyang glanced at He Xidi, then looked back at Liu Aiyun, "What about that money?"

"it took."

"Where did you spend the money?"

"We bought grain, cloth, and paid for your brother's tuition." Liu Aiyun dusted off her hands. "You know your brother is about to start high school. As his older sister, shouldn't you contribute some money?"

He Zhaoyang stood in the courtyard looking at her. "My brother? When has he ever called me 'sister'?"

Liu Aiyun was momentarily speechless, her mouth opening slightly, "Just because he doesn't call you 'sister' doesn't mean you're not his sister anymore?"

"He even threw stones at me last month," He Zhaoyang said. "You were standing there watching, and you even praised He Yaozu for his accuracy."

Liu Aiyun nodded, "That was a good throw; he'll be a good candidate for the army."

He Xidi said, "He Zhaodi, your mother raised you all these years, what's wrong with you giving the family some money? Your brother-in-law's salary is so high, will you starve to death if you're short thirty-odd yuan?"

He Zhaoyang didn't look at her.

She kept looking at Liu Aiyun.

"I don't want that money."

Liu Aiyun looked at He Zhaoyang triumphantly.

He Zhaoyang said, "But remember this: you took my money today, and from now on, the Sheng family's things have nothing to do with your He family. I'm marrying into the Sheng family, I'm changing my name to He Zhaoyang, and I have nothing to do with you, Liu Aiyun. Next time you stop the postman or take the Sheng family's things again, I won't come looking for you; I'll go to the commune."

Liu Aiyun's smile froze. "You brat, what do you mean?"

He Zhaoyang crossed his arms. "Did I not explain myself clearly? Or did you not understand? What I meant was to sever ties with them, do you understand?"

Liu Aiyun's expression changed.

"Sever ties?" Her voice rose. "You think you can just sever ties like that? I raised you all these years, and now you think you can fly away just because you've grown wings? Let me tell you, He Zhaoyang, you're dreaming! You can't sever ties with us!"

He Zhaoyang looked at her without saying a word. He just stood there, arms still crossed, watching her finish speaking.

After she stopped, He Zhaoyang finally spoke: "Are you finished?"

"Let me tell you, if you don't stop today, I'll report you to the commune. The postman and that auntie are witnesses. A few days ago you lied and said the Sheng family was engaging in capitalist activities. See how they treat you now."

Liu Aiyun's expression changed repeatedly. She stood in the courtyard, looking at He Zhaoyang, her chest heaving for a long while.

He Zhaoyang glanced at her: "You intercepted the Sheng family's remittance slip, took the money, and are still spreading rumors about me. If you think you can win a lawsuit, go to the commune right now. I won't stop you."

Liu Aiyun stood there, motionless.

He Zhaoyang sneered, "You make your own choice. If you choose to break it off, then you'll have to bring me a letter of introduction."

"Xidai, go to the house and get it for her."

He Xidi ran into the house.

"Fine, I'll cut ties! Who do you think cares about your daughter? Once you walk through this door, don't even think about stepping back in!"

He Zhaoyang looked at her and nodded. "Okay. I hope you won't cause trouble again. If you do, see you at the police station."

Liu Aiyun's expression changed, and she opened her mouth but couldn't say anything.

He Zhaoyang stood at the door waiting for He Xidi.

During that time, people kept peeking out of the alley and looking in this direction.