Chapter 12: A New Life Sets Sail

Want to watch the commotion, huh? Then watch! After all, she was blameless and about to leave soon; no matter how big a scene was made, it wouldn't concern her anymore.

Zhi Yu glanced at the people outside but didn’t step out. Instead, she returned inside and packed the things she intended to take, along with her meals for the journey, into her storage space.

Then, a problem arose.

A cubic meter of space wasn’t small and could hold quite a bit, but there was no way to take the bicycle and the sewing machine with her.

Well, she might as well stay one more day.

A bicycle and a sewing machine—these were prized possessions, not just valuable but also hard to replace.

Of course, Zhi Yu had no intention of giving them away cheaply to Qiao Xi.

After all, anything she left behind would eventually be handed over to Qiao Xi by Qi Huan.

Once she finished packing her belongings, Zhi Yu stepped out of the yard, closed the gate behind her, and locked it securely.

Several women in the village who knew her well saw her leaving but didn’t greet her. Instead, they offered awkward smiles.

The news that Qiao Xi had been thrown out by the Zhou family and taken back to the Qi household by Qi Huan had spread throughout the village early that morning.

Many pitied Zhi Yu for her misfortune.

Yet, no one dared to stand up for her.

Because Zhi Yu was an outsider.

As for the educated youth at the settlement, not a soul would defend her.

She was spoiled and troublesome in her previous life, having caused many problems at the settlement. While not despised outright, she was hardly liked.

Moreover, she was already married!

Zhi Yu never expected anyone to come to her aid.

She didn’t want to owe anyone favors.

Besides, she and Qi Huan were divorced. Even if Qi Huan simply took Qiao Xi back to his home, or even shared a bed with her, Zhi Yu had no objections.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Zhi Yu arrived at the Qi residence and knocked loudly on the gate.

The villagers’ eyes immediately gleamed with anticipation—a good show was about to unfold.

They loved watching women tear each other apart, especially when both were beautiful young wives. This promised to be spectacular, maybe even with some unexpected twists.

But they were destined to be disappointed.

The gate opened.

Zhou Cuihua saw Zhi Yu and immediately scowled. “What do you want?”

“I heard Qiao Xi is here. She owes me money, and your son promised to help repay it. I came to collect,” Zhi Yu said calmly, without raising her voice.

At that moment, Qi Huan also emerged from the house. Seeing Zhi Yu, worried that a quarrel might erupt, he hurried over and said, “Zhi Yu, I’m short on cash right now. I can pay you in a few days. Is that okay?”

Upon hearing Zhi Yu came for money, Qi Huan quickly took a stance.

This couldn’t escalate.

Qiao Xi’s reputation was already poor; any further trouble would only make things worse for her.

“I’m leaving tomorrow. A few days? Are you joking?” Zhi Yu was not willing to waste more time with them.

Her return to the city was already arranged; she had no interest in playing these tiresome games.

“Mom!” Qi Huan could only appeal to Zhou Cuihua.

He had returned hastily without money and now had to rely on her assistance.

The mother and son had once fallen out over Qi Huan’s marriage to Zhi Yu.

Zhi Yu’s previous self was foolish, hoping to mend their relationship, but it backfired. She was slandered and falsely branded a wicked woman, ultimately meeting a tragic end.

Thinking of this, Zhi Yu sneered, “Hurry up. Either give me the money, or I’ll go to the county officials and report this. That’s not impossible!”

“Zhi Yu!” Qi Huan glared, furious.

He believed he had treated Zhi Yu well—sending her money and ration coupons each month so she wouldn’t have to work the fields—yet she turned around and betrayed him.

Indeed, Qiao Xi was the better choice.

If only he had proposed to Qiao Xi earlier, perhaps everything would have been different.

But, alas, there was no remedy for regret.

Zhou Cuihua, feeling sorry for her son, reluctantly fetched the money.

A full thousand yuan!

This was all recorded in Qiao Xi’s diary.

As for the coupons already used, they had been converted to cash.

Originally, there was less than eight hundred yuan in cash, but counting the coupons, Zhi Yu generously rounded up the amount.

The Zhou family truly was wealthy!

A thousand yuan—just taken like that.

This was 1972, after all.

Many urban working-class families, even with two incomes, found it difficult to gather a thousand yuan in cash.

Still, Zhi Yu reflected and let it go.

Qi Huan’s salary was decent, and most of their food was brought from home; after all, the Qi household—

“Zhi Yu, I really regret helping you!” Qi Huan looked at her greedily, feeling as if he had swallowed worms. She was beautiful, but her heart was so cruel.

“Who exactly are you helping here? You know very well!” Zhi Yu shot back.

“Don’t pin every blame on me—I can’t carry it all!”

With this thousand yuan, Zhi Yu suddenly felt she could sell the bicycle and sewing machine after all, which meant she could return to the city a day earlier.

Yes! That’s how it would be!

Sell everything once she got back!

Turning around, Zhi Yu headed home.

Qi Huan stared at her retreating figure, silent for a long while.

For some reason, he felt something was amiss, though he couldn’t pinpoint exactly what.

Zhou Cuihua wasn’t so burdened by such thoughts; she simply felt relieved.

She no longer had to face Zhi Yu as her daughter-in-law.

It wasn’t that Zhi Yu was a bad daughter-in-law, but she was too good—so good it seemed unreal.

Most importantly, because of her, her son had once distanced himself from her.

Now, it was different. With Zhi Yu leaving, her son was close to her again.

Zhi Yu returned to her own yard and, seeing the women still peeking about, smiled brightly.

“Aunties, I’m preparing to return to the city and will be selling off all my belongings!”

“If any of you want anything, bring money later. Bicycle, sewing machine—all without coupons!”

When Zhi Yu said this, the women’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

No coupons needed!

Bicycle, sewing machine!

Prized possessions!

Just one of these was enough to impress a groom’s family.

Exchanging glances, they hurried back to their homes.

The men, eager for the spectacle, followed suit.

Even secondhand items without coupons were considered valuable to farming families.

Before long, a crowd gathered outside Zhi Yu’s yard.

She wasn’t worried about accusations of profiteering—after all, she wasn’t making a profit, and these were her own belongings. What could be wrong with selling them?

In less than ten minutes, Zhi Yu had sold everything off—beds, cabinets, pots, pans—all that could be sold was gone.

“Very good. Now, a new life begins!”