Chapter Nine: From Now On, We Will Make Decisions for You

“What?!” Secretary Wang and the others’ expressions shifted slightly.

Liu Cuie immediately jumped up like a cat with its tail stepped on, pointing at Zhang Chunxue and shouting, “What nonsense are you talking about? Who sold your daughter? We were… we were arranging a marriage for her!”

Huang Xiaolan and Gao Xiuli hurriedly chimed in as well.

“That’s right! We meant well!”

“Chunxue, you can’t falsely accuse us!”

Zhang Chunxue didn’t even look at them, her gaze coldly fixed on the three women.

“Arranging a marriage? Is that how you arrange a marriage?”

“Early in the morning, you blocked my front door, surrounding it inside and out, not letting my daughter leave the house!”

“Weren’t you three the ones just now adamantly stopping me, forcing me to accept that so-called bride price?”

“If that’s not forcing me to sell my daughter, then what is?”

Then, she suddenly turned her head sharply, her eyes like knives sweeping across the villagers who had been chattering moments before.

“And you all!”

“Who was it earlier that said, ‘Why does that girl need to study so much? Just knowing a few characters is enough’?”

“Who said that educating girls is a waste of money, just benefiting other families?”

“Who was it that urged me to marry Xiaoxiao off quickly to get the bride price, saying that’s the proper thing to do?”

“Huh?! Where are those people who spoke just now? Why are they all mute now?!”

Zhang Chunxue straightened her back and, in front of all the officials and villagers, ruthlessly exposed those dirty intentions and harsh words.

Liu Cuie’s old face turned pale and flushed alternately, as if she had opened a dye workshop. “You… you’re talking rubbish! It was clearly you! You were the one shouting first to marry Xiaoxiao off for money!”

As soon as these words came out, Secretary Wang, Mayor Li, and others’ gazes snapped sharply to Zhang Chunxue.

Zhang Chunxue’s heart skipped a beat, but her face showed no sign of panic.

“Leaders, I was deceived by them! At first, our family was so poor we couldn’t even put food on the table. They kept nagging in my ear, saying that marrying her off would bring bride price and ease the burden. I… I was confused for a moment and entertained that thought.”

“But later, when I thought about it carefully, it wasn’t right! My daughter Xiaoxiao, how old is she? She’s not even eighteen yet!”

“At such a young age, how could she understand? How could I let her ruin her whole life by marrying so early?!”

Just as she finished speaking, Zhong Xiaoxiao, who had been clutching her award certificate and school bag tightly, seemed to summon all her courage and suddenly lifted her head. Tears welled up in her eyes, her voice trembling with sobs.

“It was… it was Grandma! And eldest aunt, third aunt! And… and my brothers! They… they have always wanted my bride price money!”

“It was my mother! It was my mother who disagreed! She said… she said I should continue studying!”

“Because of this, Grandma… Grandma caused a scene at home yesterday, and this morning she blocked the door to stop me and my mother from going out!”

Liu Cuie trembled with anger, her finger shaking uncontrollably as she pointed at Zhong Xiaoxiao. Her lips moved but she couldn’t utter a single word in rebuttal.

She never expected that this usually quiet granddaughter, whom they easily manipulated, would dare to expose the family’s shame in front of so many officials!

Now, what was there left to say?

Secretary Wang’s face darkened completely.

“Comrade Liu Cuie! What era do you think this is? Women can hold up half the sky! Why do you still cling to such outdated, patriarchal ideas? For a little bride price money, you force your own granddaughter to drop out of school and marry?!”

“Comrade Xiaoxiao is a top student sent out from our town, no, from our entire county! She is a pillar of the nation! Is this how you treat talent?!”

“This is simply foolishness! Ignorance! A blatant defiance of national policy!”

Secretary Wang’s harsh criticism struck Liu Cuie’s face like a whip, burning fiercely.

Beside her, Huang Xiaolan and Gao Xiuli were so frightened they dared not utter a sound, bowing their heads as if wanting to bury themselves in the ground.

Mayor Li then turned his ire on Village Chief Zhong Fugui, his tone full of displeasure.

“Village Chief Zhong! What is going on in your village? Forced marriages and obstructing girls from schooling happening right under your nose — what is your village committee even doing?!”

Zhong Fugui was sweating profusely, bowing lower and lower, nodding repeatedly.

“Yes, yes, Secretary, Mayor, it’s my dereliction of duty, my dereliction! I… I will seriously handle this matter!”

Inwardly, he cursed Liu Cuie harshly, vowing silently:

That old witch, just wait and see if I don’t make you fetch the foulest manure from the east end of the village tomorrow!

After reprimanding the village chief, Secretary Wang turned and looked at Zhang Chunxue again, his expression much softer.

“Comrade Zhang Chunxue, you did the right thing!” His tone was admiring. “Facing such backward thinking and family pressure, you upheld your principles, bravely resisted, and fought for your daughter’s chance to continue studying. You are a good mother and a role model to learn from!”

Mayor Li nodded in agreement and added, “Yes, Comrade Chunxue has had it hard. After her husband, Comrade Zhong Guosheng, died in the line of duty, she has single-handedly raised four children with great hardship, arranged marriages and children for her sons, and supported the family. It’s truly remarkable.”

Hearing the leaders’ affirmation, Zhang Chunxue’s eyes grew slightly moist.

She knew this was the best moment to completely sever ties with Liu Cuie’s family and win sympathy and support.

She sniffled, her voice a little choked but clear and coherent.

“Leaders, actually… my fate has been hard too.”

“My husband died, leaving us widowed and alone. I, a woman, worked day and night just to barely raise the children.”

“Now that the kids are a bit older, my mother-in-law…”

She raised her hand and pointed at the dazed Liu Cuie, her tone full of accusation.

“We’ve been separated for over ten years! She hasn’t cared for us once. My daughter hasn’t even eaten a single meal or had a drop of water from her house!”

“But now, she ignores my sons’ marriages but insists on interfering in my daughter’s marriage!”

“I don’t know what benefits she’s received, or if she just can’t stand to see my daughter succeed and insists on pushing her into the fire!”

“Our family matters are none of her business! What right does she have to bring people to block my door early in the morning? What right does she have to force me to sell my daughter?!”

This heartfelt, tear-filled accusation made the officials’ faces grow even grimmer.

This was no longer just a matter of patriarchal prejudice — it was outright cruelty by a malicious mother-in-law oppressing the widow of a martyr!

The secretary and mayor’s eyes turned sharply once again toward Village Chief Zhong Fugui.

Zhong Fugui felt miserable, wishing he could hide underground, and once again promised firmly.

“Leaders, rest assured! I… I will handle this properly! I will give Comrade Chunxue and Xiaoxiao a satisfactory answer!”

Only then did the leaders nod and turn to comfort Zhang Chunxue.

“Comrade Chunxue, rest assured, we will stand up for you!”

“Send Xiaoxiao to school boldly! This is a great thing! No one can stop you!”

“If your mother-in-law’s family dares to trouble you again, or if anyone in the village dares to speak ill or make things difficult, come straight to the town government! We will back you up!”