Chapter 338: Do You Have to Be So Ruthless?

Chapter 338: Do You Have to Be This Extreme?

With no time for a noon break, Fu Yuanhang and Uncle Mu briskly moved the items to be mailed outside.

Zhou Linglan had originally planned to carry the quilts and such with her so she could take them out and use them upon arrival, as waiting for the parcel might take too long. But Fu Yuanhang assured her that new quilts were already available there.

Earlier, Su Taotao had arranged for the factory’s New Year benefits in advance. She had Xiao Lu deliver a truckload of sugar to the cotton mill in exchange for a truckload of quilts, distributing one to each employee.

These days, even with money, you couldn’t get good cotton, and even if one managed to acquire cotton, they’d still need to find someone to fluff it. These ready-made quilts were more valuable than cash—genuine treasures that money couldn’t easily buy.

Su Taotao had personally paid for two extra quilts, solving the family’s winter bedding needs in one go.

Thus, all the clothes and quilts that wouldn’t be needed for now were packed to be mailed together.

Zhou Linglan went to call Uncle A Niu to bring the tractor over.

“Wow, so much stuff?” Uncle A Niu turned off the engine and quickly jumped down to help the two kids load the items.

“Who knows when we’ll be back after leaving? Might as well take everything we can,” Zhou Linglan explained.

As soon as Auntie A Niu (Uncle A Niu’s wife) returned home, she had told Uncle A Niu about Fu Yuanhang coming back to take Zhou Linglan into the city.

Uncle A Niu chuckled cheerfully. “That’s wonderful! After working hard for half a lifetime, it’s time to live a comfortable life.”

Zhou Linglan let the remark pass.

Everyone pitched in, and they quickly loaded all the items onto the tractor. Fu Yuanhang and Uncle Mu also climbed aboard.

“Be careful, and come back early after mailing the things. No need to buy groceries—we still have plenty at home,” Zhou Linglan reminded them.

Uncle Mu waved his hand. “We know, Auntie. You go on back now. Uncle A Niu, let’s go!”

After the two kids left, Zhou Linglan closed the door and went to the village committee to get a travel permit from the village chief.

Unexpectedly, she ran into Fu Yuanhang’s uncle in the office. He and the old village chief were smoking hand-rolled tobacco, deep in conversation.

“Ah, Mother of Zhengtu, here for the travel permit, right?” the old village chief remarked knowingly.

In a small village, word travels fast. News of Zhou Linglan going to the city to live a peaceful life had already spread.

Zhou Linglan greeted them and nodded. “Yes, thank you for your trouble.”

The old village chief had held his position for three consecutive terms for good reason. He handed her the pre-prepared permit. “Got it ready for you earlier, just waiting for you to come.”

Zhou Linglan took it, checked it over, and, confirming everything was in order, thanked him before tucking it into her pocket.

“Your Zhengtu and Su Zhiqing are truly remarkable people. I heard Su Zhiqing even became a factory director, didn’t she? Mind you don’t forget that she once came from Qinglian Village,” the old village chief said.

“We won’t forget. But I seldom meddle in the children’s affairs. I’ll head back now,” Zhou Linglan replied neither soft nor hard before turning to leave.

“Mother of Zhengtu, hold on,” Fu Yuanhang’s uncle called after her.

“What is it, Uncle?” Zhou Linglan stopped and asked.

Uncle Fu spoke with a fawning tone: "Mother of Zhengtu, we're family. Do you have to be so cold with me?"

Zhou Linglan replied, "Uncle Fu, haven't our two families always been this distant? Need I remind you how you treated me in the past? I didn’t argue then because I chose not to, nor did I care to dwell on it.

I never received the slightest favor because of your status, always doing the dirtiest, hardest work for the lowest work points. Have you forgotten?"

Uncle Fu moved his lips, wanting to argue, but didn’t know where to start.

Zhou Linglan continued, "I don’t resent you, but by the same token, don’t expect any favors from my children.

Getting along takes two. If we can’t get along, let’s just stay out of each other's way.

By the way, the private plot I cleared and worked was done by my own hands. There are still some things in the ground I didn’t have time to dig up. I’d like to leave them for Xiao Meizi’s family to harvest. You don't have a problem with that, do you?"

Uncle Fu gritted his teeth. "Do you have to be so harsh? We're of the same blood—Fu Lei was my brother. Do you think he’d rest peacefully seeing you so eager to cut ties with us?"

Zhou Linglan shook her head and smiled. "Harsh? After Lei passed, you never lifted a finger for us. When Zhengtu was on a mission, you kicked us while we were down. Did you ever consider whether Lei could rest peacefully?"

She sighed. She never wanted to argue, but some people act like the world owes them despite their own wrongdoings. It would mean endless trouble if she didn’t make things clear now.

"Before he died, Lei told me how grateful he was for your father adopting and raising him. That’s why he sent more than half his monthly pay to your father as repayment—until your father passed.

You know damn well how your family’s courtyard was built and what your father left you. Uncle Fu, we don't owe you a thing. If you want to settle scores, we can do so right now with the old Party secretary as witness."

Uncle Fu gaped at Zhou Linglan as if she were a stranger.

She'd always been so meek—when had she become so sharp?

In the past, no matter how he treated her, she never said boo, silently enduring.

Had she been fooling us all this time?

Seeing his expression, Zhou Linglan sighed again. She never wanted to argue before, and she still didn’t now. But even a cornered rabbit will bite—why push her?

She could let things slide, but if it affected her children, she wouldn’t back down. "I have much to do. If you don’t want to settle scores, I’ll be going."

Uncle Fu watched her retreating figure, stunned.

The old Party secretary saw everything clearly. "Your family’s luck in raising Shi Tou was a blessing from your ancestors. Think of all the support you got from him—never mind how you became brigade leader.

After Shi Tou started working, your father never lifted a finger again. Shi Tou supported him until he passed two years before Shi Tou himself. Even Blind Chen said your father lived a charmed life.

And whose money built the finest house in the brigade? Yours? Your father’s? If not for Shi Tou’s help, did you embezzle it?"

"Shi Tou" was Fu Lei’s childhood name, still used by the older generation.

Uncle Fu’s face paled. "I didn’t—old Party secretary, you know me better than that!"

"I warned you long ago to treat his family better. But the things you did? I blush for you," the old Party secretary said bluntly.

Uncle Fu stammered, "I—I didn’t do anything!"

The old Party secretary chuckled dryly. "Oh, nothing much—just ignoring a widow and her children in their hardest times, piling the worst work on her, making sure she earned the fewest points.

You outsmarted yourself. Haven’t you heard what people say about you? As brigade leader, do you want to be known as selfish, cruel to widows and orphans?"

Uncle Fu’s face turned ashen.

"She chose not to confront you before. But if she did, how would you fare? Think about it."

Even an honest judge can't settle family disputes. The old Party branch secretary had given him advice more than once, but he just wouldn’t listen.

With Fu Lei dead and Fu Zhengtu gone missing, he figured Zhou Linglan had no one to rely on, so he started looking down on her.

It’s not that Fu Zhengtu’s uncle’s family was particularly harsh on Zhou Linglan—otherwise, the old secretary would have stepped in long ago. The grunt work had to be done by someone, and assigning it to anyone would seem unfair.

It’s just that Fu Zhengtu’s uncle was selfish and too shortsighted to see how things stood.

Truth be told, he wasn't any better himself. If he had shown a little more care for her family back then, given Zhou Linglan’s nature, she would surely have remembered his kindness.

They stood by and did nothing when Zhou Linglan was at her most vulnerable, so now they couldn’t expect any help from her in return.

So be it.