Chapter 49: The Evil Stepmother of the 1970s 16 New Story Started “Mom…

Chapter 49: The Evil Stepmother of the 1970s (16) New Story Published: "Mom..."

While Xu Ziyan and Fang Lihai were touring the capital, Xu Xiuyun waited two days to confirm her suspicions before returning to the Xu Family to share the news.

Old Mrs. Xu gasped, "Is what you're saying true? Did Xu Ziyan run off with the Fang family's money?"

Xu Xiuyun quickly replied, "Grandma, I don’t know if it’s true; it’s just a guess. You see, that night I noticed her sneaking away, picking up money she dropped and looking around nervously before pocketing it. When I went to her house, her in-laws didn’t even mention her, and they looked quite upset. I offered them ten yuan for food money and asked for five yuan in change, but they couldn’t even produce that.

It’s just a wild guess, but if it’s true, wouldn’t the Fang family come after our Xu Family for compensation? That’s why I hurried back to warn you, so you’d be prepared."

Old Man Xu puffed on his pipe and said, "No doubt about it. That no-good girl’s been stealing since she was little—this is exactly the kind of thing she’d do. Seems all her good behavior lately was just to lower the Fang family’s guard so she could steal more. Fang Lihai sends a good sum of money home every month."

The Xu Family spent a long time discussing the matter, and soon after Xu Xiuyun returned home, the news spread throughout the village.

Some dismissed it as false, saying, "The Xu Family and Xu Xiuyun aren’t exactly trustworthy, and they’ve always had beef with Xu Ziyan. Can we really believe what they say?"

Others argued, "Xu Ziyan is still part of the Xu Family. If there wasn’t any truth to it, why would they say such things? After all, it’s not exactly honorable to admit they raised a thief. They must be trying to distance themselves in case the Fang family comes after them."

Coincidentally, Xu Ziyan’s parents were now selling not just breakfast but other snacks, leaving early and returning late, making them hard to track down for questioning.

A villager on good terms with the Fang family stopped by to chat and casually probed, "Auntie, where’s your daughter-in-law? Haven’t seen her in days. Did she go somewhere?"

Fang’s mother nodded, "Ah, yes, she’s gone on a trip."

"But she’s never traveled before. What’s she doing going so far away?"

Buying a house wasn’t something to announce publicly, and Fang’s mother, aware of the plotline involving Xu Xiuyun, knew this must be her doing. Not wanting to give Xu Xiuyun the satisfaction, she replied, "Young people have their own business. Who knows? I didn’t ask."

Her vague answer only made the villager more anxious. "Why are you covering for her? Everyone knows she ran off with your money! This isn’t right. We should report it to the Village Chief or even the police. You can’t let her get away with this!"

Fang’s mother got serious. "What nonsense are you spouting? Our Ziyan is fine. Who said she ran off with money?"

Fang’s father frowned. "You say ‘everyone knows’? How can the whole village know something we don’t? Who’s spreading these lies to slander Xiao Yan?"

The villager faltered, seeing their genuine confusion. Awkwardly, they stood up and mumbled, "Well, the Xu Family said it. Aren’t they Xu Ziyan’s relatives? Would they lie? Anyway, the whole village knows now. I was just trying to help, to see if you needed anything. Really, it’s nothing?"

"It is something!" Fang’s mother slammed the table and rolled up her sleeves. "I’m going to the Xu Family right now to ask why they’re framing Xiao Yan! As elders and blood relatives, they’ve never treated her well. Now that she’s part of our family, I won’t let them bully her!"

The villager slapped his knee. "Hey, wait! Don’t tell them I told you!"

Soon, Fang’s parents were standing at the Xu Family’s gate, yelling.

"You heartless bastards! Instead of minding your own business, you slander the younger generation. Are you jealous of her character or her happiness? Worry about yourselves before meddling in our affairs. What happens in the Fang family is none of your concern!

Everyone from the Xu Family, come out! If you don’t apologize today, this isn’t over!"

The Xu Family quickly emerged, with Old Mrs. Xu pointing at them and yelling, "You’re treating a thief like treasure! A bad apple like her in the village—we’re just doing the right thing by exposing her. Unlike you, hiding and covering for her, still defending her now!"

Fang’s mother spat. "You damn old woman! If you want justice, start with your own rotten family—not a decent one among you, always making up stories. You live miles away—do you have clairvoyance or super hearing? Calling her a thief—what proof do you have?"

Xu third uncle blurted, "Xiuyun saw it! She told us. She lives next to you—she knows everything!"

Fang’s father roared, "Of course it’s Xu Xiuyun again! Does she have a grudge against our family?"

Just then, the Village Chief and many villagers arrived. Fang’s father said angrily, "Village Chief, you must stand up for us. Xu Xiuyun is despicable—just back from the police station, and already spinning lies about my daughter-in-law. She’s the real scourge ruining the village. She shouldn’t be allowed to stay!"

The Village Chief sent for Xu Xiuyun, inwardly frustrated. They’d watched Xu Xiuyun grow up—always well-behaved. Why was she causing so much trouble lately? Was it really, as his wife said, jealousy over her cousin’s better life?

When Xu Xiuyun was brought over, her heart pounded. She never expected things to escalate like this. She’d told the Xu Family hoping they’d spread the news, leading the Village Chief to investigate. The humiliated Fang elders would then confess Xu Ziyan’s theft, and the Chief would handle it.

But the news had barely spread before the Fang family came demanding answers—denying everything and accusing her of lying? If this backfired, she’d be the villain again.

The crowd glared at Xu Xiuyun, seeing her as the troublemaker. Putting on an innocent act, she said with distress, "I was just guessing! I never said it was certain. Grandpa, Grandma, didn’t I tell you not to spread it until we were sure?"

Old Mrs. Xu scoffed. "Too late now. And what’s there to doubt? Didn’t you see that girl sneaking off at night?"

So Xu Xiuyun reluctantly repeated her "observations."

Fang’s mother sneered. "Xiao Yan was traveling for business with a lot of money, of course she was careful. What’s wrong with that? Who wouldn’t hurry to pick up dropped cash? Especially with someone like you lurking around!"

Fang’s father added, "You suddenly show up offering money—who’d trust that? Just because we didn’t give you change, you assume our money was stolen? Sounds like you’re projecting your own dirty thoughts."

Fang’s mother pulled out some cash from her pocket. "Who says we’re broke? See this? We just didn’t want to deal with you. Coming over unasked with fake kindness—clearly up to no good. No wonder we refused your ‘food money.’

And yes, we gave all our money to Xiao Yan—because she’s smart and responsible. We agreed she should manage the household finances, keeping only a little backup for ourselves. What’s wrong with that? Can’t my daughter-in-law handle our money?"

Xu Xiuyun almost laughed out loud. In this village, which family with living elders would hand all their money to a daughter-in-law? Impossible. She became even more convinced Fang’s mother was bluffing.

Backed into a corner, with the choice between Xu Ziyan being guilty or herself being the liar, she doubled down. "I know Battalion Commander Fang is in the army, and his family can’t afford scandals. But if Xu Ziyan stole, it’s not just your family’s problem—it’s the whole village’s. Hiding it is wrong. As a military family, you can’t cover up crimes."

Her words dripped malice, implying the military was hiding a thief—dragging Fang Lihai into it. Fang’s mother saw nothing but red and slapped her twice. "Take that for your lies! And that!"

The Village Chief quickly pulled her back. With both sides adamant, he was at a loss. While this was the Fang family’s private matter, Xu Xiuyun’s accusation of covering up theft couldn’t be ignored. If not for the recent policy change eliminating travel papers, he’d know where Xu Ziyan had gone.

Rubbing his forehead, the Chief said, "Old Fang, when will Xu Ziyan return? Can you contact her? The villagers deserve to know the truth. If she’s been wronged, I’ll make the Xu Family apologize."

Fang’s father shrugged. "How can we contact her on a trip?"

The Xu Family said, "What kind of ‘trip’ is this? Does she have relatives out there? Why’d she leave? And sneaking off at night?"

Fang’s mother said sharply, "Sneaking? We knew when she left—we even saw her off! And she went to the city to meet Xiao Hai. They stayed at a guesthouse and caught an early train. She wasn’t alone."

Xu Xiuyun cut in, "Impossible! Fang Lihai returned to his unit!"

Fang’s mother rolled her eyes. "What are you, psychic now? You know everything? Xiao Hai took leave to accompany her. Otherwise, we’d never let her travel so far alone—too dangerous! Xu Xiuyun, who do you think you are? Spreading rumors based on your crazy theories?"

Xu Xiuyun refused to believe it. "Then where did they go? Why this sudden trip? It makes no sense—there’s no explanation!"

Suddenly, Fang’s mother turned to the Chief. "Our Xiao Yan got published in the paper. She went to the capital to meet her editor. We might have the editor’s number—should we call and ask if they’ve seen her?"

The crowd was stunned. "What? Published in the newspaper?"

Old Mrs. Xu cackled. "Stop lying! That girl can barely write her name right. Who’d believe she got published?"

Fang Nan and Fang Bei dashed home and returned with a newspaper, holding it high. "This is Mom’s writing! Mom’s amazing—she writes articles and novels! She’s a real writer! No one can look down on her now!

And Mom didn’t run away! She’s bringing us goodies from Beijing!"

The Village Chief took the paper, villagers crowding behind him to gawk. They couldn’t grasp the article’s content, but its prominent placement spoke volumes. And the name under the article—Yu Kai—was clearly made from parts of Xu Ziyan’s name, with their hometown listed below. No mistake about it!

Well I'll be damned—Xu Ziyan's a real writer! A real writer from their village!

Xu Xiuyun snatched the newspaper, her face draining of color.