"The brigade leader is here."
Everyone turned their eyes toward the brigade leader. He looked at the pitiable Jiang Tang and the frail Dongdong, then shifted his gaze to the vicious-looking Mother Shen and the stout, burly Wang Cuihua.
The people standing nearby quickly filled the brigade leader in on what had happened. He nodded to indicate he understood. This matter had to be resolved properly; otherwise, if others started imitating Mother Shen’s behavior, the moral atmosphere of the entire village would be ruined.
"Auntie Shen, the village gave a stern warning last month: no hands, no fighting. If such a situation occurs again, there will be criticism and re-education."
Women hold up half the sky, and everyone had witnessed the work Jiang Tang put in. A frail woman like her, working the fields tirelessly—she was an example for everyone to follow.
Mother Shen never imagined things would turn out this way. If she were sent to the women’s affairs director, wouldn’t her whole family be finished?
"Brigade leader, it’s not what everyone saw, it’s just..." Mother Shen wanted to say it was Jiang Tang’s fault, but if she brought up her own leg or the wasted food, Jiang Tang would have an answer for everything. Even if she had a hundred mouths, she couldn't explain it away. Most importantly, everyone in the village now believed Jiang Tang was a good daughter-in-law.
Alone, with only one mouth, how could she win against so many people? Plus, after hearing the brigade leader’s words, she didn't dare gamble. She didn’t want to be dragged away.
Mother Shen’s face paled, looking like a defeated rooster. "I was wrong. I shouldn’t have lost my temper and hit her."
Wang Cuihua couldn't believe Mother Shen would say that. She hurried to interject, "Mother, what are you saying?" The truth wasn't like that at all—what was Mother Shen afraid of?
Mother Shen glared at her and barked, "Shut up!" She knew exactly what kind of person Wang Cuihua was; she even knew Wang would have been happy to see her beat Jiang Tang half to death. But one had to read the room before stoking the flames—didn't she see the brigade leader threatening to send her to the women’s affairs director? Or perhaps she was hoping he *would* send her away, so she could have total control over the Shen Family.
Mother Shen forced a smile. "I was just overcome with anger earlier. Come, let’s go home." She reached out to take Jiang Tang’s hand, but Jiang Tang shifted aside, standing half-hidden behind the brigade leader.
Seeing that she was being so disrespectful, Mother Shen instinctively wanted to strike her again. But the brigade leader’s cold gaze swept over, and a chill ran down her spine.
"Jiang Tang, come with me for a moment." The brigade leader naturally wasn't going to let Jiang Tang go home so soon—who knew if Mother Shen would hit her again? Once the door was closed, they wouldn't be able to interfere. "From now on, as long as they are in Qingshui Village, I will personally invite any family that mistreats their daughter-in-law to have some 'tea' with me."
"Everyone else, disperse."
The brigade leader had made his point very clear. Jiang Tang took Dongdong by the hand and followed the brigade leader.
Back home, looking at the food scattered across the floor, Mother Shen’s chest ached with frustration.
"Eat, eat, eat! That’s all you know how to do! It’s filthy, how can you even eat that?" Watching Shen Guofu eating the steamed buns off the ground, Wang Cuihua smacked his backside several times. Shen Guofu, feeling his rear end burn, could only wail.
"Enough, why are you hitting the child?" Shen Shan said. He had been standing behind the crowd the whole time; he knew everything that had happened.
"Where were you? Didn't you see how Mother and I were being bullied by that little slut?" Wang Cuihua felt aggrieved. If he had been there, Jiang Tang wouldn't have gotten away so easily.
Shen Shan replied, "I'm a grown man; what do you expect me to do?" He really wanted to open up her skull to see what it was made of. She hadn't taken in a single word of what the brigade leader had just said. If he dared to lay a hand on Jiang Tang, the village’s gossip would drown him. How would he show his face in the village after that? He still cared about his reputation. They were just useless—they couldn't even handle a weak woman like Jiang Tang.
Mother Shen felt exhausted, as if she had aged several years in an instant. "The monk can run, but the temple can't. I’d like to see where she can actually go."
...
Jiang Tang took Dongdong onto an ox cart heading toward town. Having never left Qingshui Village before, Dongdong looked at the scenery on both sides with wide, sparkling eyes, full of curiosity. Jiang Tang held him close in a small corner of the cart.
"Mommy, where are we going?" Dongdong asked.
Jiang Tang leaned toward his ear and smiled. "Mommy is taking Dongdong to eat something delicious. Are you happy?"
Delicious food? Dongdong looked back at the now-invisible Qingshui Village, feeling a bit lost. Though he was young, he was observant and liked to use his head.
"Mommy, I will protect you," Dongdong said earnestly.
Jiang Tang stroked his head comfortingly; the scene earlier must have scared him. "Yes, Dongdong is very brave. But Mommy is an adult, and I can protect myself—and I can protect you, too."
"Mommy is taking you to live somewhere else for a while."
Of course, Dongdong wanted to move. He hated seeing his mother work so hard every day and hated how they scolded her. But moving cost money, and they had none. Still, as long as he was with his mother, it didn't matter where they lived.
Seeing his pensive expression, Jiang Tang could guess his thoughts. It was the environment that had forced Dongdong to worry about things a child shouldn't even think about. At just over three years old, he should be playing with dogs and cats, carefree with other children.
"Dongdong, are you worried because Mommy doesn't have money?"
Dongdong looked at her with his dark, liquid eyes, as if to say: *Mommy, how did you know?*
Jiang Tang chuckled softly. "Dongdong, Mommy has money."
When they arrived in town, Jiang Tang took Dongdong to a guest house and handed her introduction letter to the attendant. The room wasn't large, but it was clean and tidy, with a bed and washing supplies—it was enough.
"Dongdong, do you like it here?" Jiang Tang asked.
Dongdong nodded. He liked it very much; here, no one would make his mother work.
It was still early, so Jiang Tang took Dongdong out to find something to eat. The town was crowded, and the air was filled with the fragrance from several nearby restaurants.
Jiang Tang asked, "Dongdong, what would you like to eat? Maybe some chewy beef noodles, or big, fluffy steamed buns, or some small wontons?" She wanted to describe them first, since these foods were alien to him; he usually only ate leftovers and had only started eating meat these past two days.
He replied, "I'll eat whatever Mommy eats."
Jiang Tang smiled. "Alright, then let’s go in and take a look, and you can choose."
The state-run restaurant had plenty to offer. In the end, Dongdong had the wontons, and Jiang Tang had the beef noodles.