Chapter 66

Chapter 66

"Alright... alright. As long as she doesn't hit me anymore, that's fine." Grandma Wu nodded through her tears.

"Rest assured, we'll visit you regularly from now on. If we find even one new bruise on you, we'll report her and have her locked up. And if you feel wronged, we'll call your son back and make sure you're separated from her!"

Chen Jinhua was a smart woman, and she quickly identified the leverage Bai Xiuxiu had mentioned—what Zhang Sixi feared most.

Looking at Zhang Sixi, still sitting on the ground: "Zhang Sixi, stop sitting there and start cleaning up the yard. Alright, everyone, let's disperse. We're all neighbors, so if she bullies Grandma Wu again, remember to come to the brigade and help raise the alarm."

Chen Jinhua, looking at the docile Zhang Sixi, was glad she had brought Xiuxiu today.

Xiuxiu seemed quiet and pretty, but she was sharp-minded.

She could see right through Zhang Sixi and knew what she feared.

This had made Zhang Sixi behave immediately.

The Wu household should be peaceful for a while now, and it would also reflect well on her.

Under their watchful eyes, Zhang Sixi took her son back inside and started tidying the yard.

Grandma Wu wanted to help, but Bai Xiuxiu stopped her.

It was best to let Zhang Sixi do this alone. If Grandma Wu helped, Zhang Sixi might think she was soft-hearted and try to manipulate her again.

"Alright, you two need to get along. The New Year is coming, and there mustn't be any more trouble. In a couple of days, our brigade will distribute food and money," Chen Jinhua said, painting a picture of better times ahead, before leaving with Bai Xiuxiu.

"Did you record everything?"

"Yes, we recorded her hitting herself on a separate sheet. It's part of the record of her abusing Grandma Wu."

Miaomiao handed over the records to Chen Jinhua.

Chen Jinhua felt even more content. With Bai Xiuxiu and Miaomiao by her side, handling these domestic disputes was both easier and dignified.

"You two did well. Let's go rest. In a few days, when I cook chicken soup at home, I'll bring some for you both to nourish yourselves."

She spoke with great confidence.

Bai Xiuxiu and Miaomiao thanked her.

When the three returned to the brigade, the captain and the accountant were discussing something. Seeing them return, the captain was surprised. "Grandma Wu isn't causing trouble anymore?"

They looked too orderly compared to last time.

"It's over. She won't cause trouble again. I must say, bringing Xiuxiu along was key," Chen Jinhua said excitedly.

The captain was surprised. He hadn't expected the eldest daughter-in-law of the Wang family to be capable of this!

But this was perfect.

"As long as it's over. Their constant disputes have been affecting our brigade's reputation. The accountant and I are going to the warehouse to settle accounts. If anything happens here, Jinhua, keep an eye on things for me."

The captain couldn't hide his joy as he spoke. After a year of hard work, wasn't the goal to distribute food?

Once the accounts were settled, they could distribute food in another three to five days.

In addition to the distributed food, households could exchange their surplus for money. This year's harvest had been good, so next year would be better.

Chen Jinhua knew that settling accounts meant distributing food soon, and she was delighted. "Go quickly. I'll take care of things here. If anyone needs you, I'll call you."

Bai Xiuxiu followed Chen Jinhua into the house, where her two children were playing on a long bench. They rushed towards her like little whirlwinds.

"Mama..."

Bai Xiuxiu comforted her two pouting children before getting back to work.

The Women's Federation didn't have much to do; they just needed to keep track of the elderly women living alone in the village, which wives were abusive, and which mothers-in-law were cruel and mean-spirited.

Bai Xiuxiu saw her mother-in-law, Zhao Guifen, on the list.

Seeing Zhao Guifen, Bai Xiuxiu smiled. "Auntie Jinhua, I remember the manure hasn't been spread yet?"

"Huh? Why did you think of that? No, it hasn't been finished. Everyone has been going into the mountains lately. Since we live near the mountains, there are plenty of delicacies there, and no one wants to earn those few work points at home. They all claim to have stomachaches or sore bottoms.

But when you look up the mountain? They're all there.

There are too few people spreading manure, and Uncle Chen is worried sick about it."

Chen Jinhua couldn't help but complain. If not for this, her husband wouldn't have to lead the team spreading manure himself.

Her own household had many unfinished tasks, but her husband was the captain, so he had to put his own affairs aside.

"I think we should have those cruel daughters-in-law, abusive wives, and husbands who beat their wives do this work. As long as they're healthy, it would be perfect for them. A few days of this, and they won't want to cause trouble anymore.

If there's not enough manure-spreading work, we can assign them other strenuous tasks in the village."

As Bai Xiuxiu spoke, she flipped past Zhao Guifen's page and continued recording.

Hearing her suggestion, Chen Jinhua's thoughts raced.

What a good idea, but... it's tricky to implement.

"Sister Chen, I think it's a good idea. We shouldn't decide on our own; we should ask the captain. Just think about how many problems these families cause, despite repeated warnings. At the beginning of the year, didn't a daughter-in-law get driven to sue in the county, resulting in our village being criticized?"

"I remember it was the Wang family..."

Liu Xiaohui trailed off, sensing something amiss.

She looked at Bai Xiuxiu.

Bai Xiuxiu nodded. "Yes, Sister Liu, she's my mother-in-law."

"I wondered why it felt so familiar! Look at how good a daughter-in-law Xiuxiu is, and her mother-in-law still bullies her—it’s inhumane. I say, making them work is just fine." Liu Xiaohui suggested indignantly. She preferred to stay idle at the brigade and had no intention of going out to mediate disputes.

These people could be outrageously difficult when they wanted to be.

She herself had been smeared with cow dung by an old woman before.

They needed to taste some hardship!

Chen Jinhua became even more interested.

If this worked, their work next year would have more impact.

And they could get someone else to do the manure-carrying.

"I'll ask my husband if it complies with regulations," Chen Jinhua hesitated, but her heart was aflame.

"Auntie Jinhua, we just want them to work more and cause less trouble. Besides, they're still earning work points, right? Oh, right—my mother-in-law doesn't need work points. We have a large family, and we don’t lack for them. As a family member, I think she should contribute to our work." Seeing her hesitation, Bai Xiuxiu decided to push a bit further, conveniently sending Zhao Guifen to carry manure for free.

"In that case, I’ll discuss it with your Uncle Chen. I think this could work." Chen Jinhua was thoroughly swayed. Labor that earned work points wasn’t bullying; the more she thought about it, the better it sounded. Chen Jinhua couldn’t sit still any longer. "I’ll go ask him now!"