Chapter 57: Write a Self‑Criticism, Read It Publicly!

Su Yanhua is in extreme shame and resentment, and now Liu Wen Bin's shout only adds fuel to the fire; she instinctively retorts, "On what grounds should I apologize? I didn't say anything wrong! She is just …"

"Shut up!"

Liu Wen Bin, unusually harsh, interrupts her, a blue vein bulging on his forehead; he grips Su Yanhua's arm tightly, his voice trembling with fear and anger.

"Do you know what you're doing? This is slander! It insults another's reputation!"

"I'm a teacher; if my wife does something like this and it reaches the school leaders, what will happen to my rating, my promotion? Where will I put my face! Should we even keep this family!"

Liu Wen Bin's words were like a bucket of ice water, instantly dousing Su Yanhua's head.

She may disregard her own reputation, may ignore the Su family's face, but she cannot disregard Liu Wen Bin's future,

as it is the only potential asset she can seize now to possibly turn things around in the future.

If Liu Wen Bin is affected by this, the Professor's wife's dream of hers will truly be shattered!

She watches Liu Wen Bin's startled‑angry expression, then the contemptuous and condemning gazes of everyone around, and the Jiang family's unyielding stance; a huge wave of fear and helplessness finally crushes her.

Her lips tremble, her complexion shifts from white to pale blue.

Finally, as if all her strength were drained, she lowers her head and says in a voice full of humiliation, "Yes… I'm sorry…".

"Speak up, haven't you eaten? Who are you apologizing to?"

Jiang Ran doesn't buy this; he keeps a cold face, giving Su Yanhua no leeway.

Today he insists on restoring justice for his wife!

Liu Wen Bin quickly pinches Su Yanhua hard, his eyes full of warning and pleading.

Su Yanhua shivers all over, humiliating tears swirling in her eyes.

She lifts her head, looks at the calm‑yet‑cold‑eyed Su Ruan, then quickly lowers it again, almost biting her teeth to raise her voice: "Su Ruan… yes, I'm sorry… I was spouting nonsense… slandering you…".

Wang Juhua and Su Dazhuang, seeing their daughter bow her head, blush bright red, wishing they could crawl into a crack in the ground and shrink to a corner, too scared to speak.

Jiang Jianguo snorts coldly, his imposing gaze sweeping over Liu Wen Bin: "Teacher Liu, you're a cultured person; you should know the consequences of spreading rumors and slander."

"For today's matter, sparing your face, we can choose not to call the police."

Liu Wen Bin, as if granted a pardon, quickly bows: "Thank you, Factory Director Jiang! It's our fault; we will reflect deeply!"

"But!" Jiang Jianguo's tone shifts, his voice leaving no doubt: "A verbal apology isn't enough!"

"Su Yanhua must write a written self‑criticism and apology letter, detailing how she spread rumors and slandered Su Ruan, sign and seal it, and then have you, the Su family, read it publicly before the neighbors in your neighborhood and those present today, to eliminate the impact."

"Otherwise, don't blame me for lacking courtesy; we'll see each other at the Public Security Bureau!"

"Publicly read the self‑criticism?!"

"It's as if they're stripping Su Yanhua and the Su family's skin and stepping on it!"

Su Yanhua jerks her head up, her eyes full of resistance and malice.

Liu Wen Bin feels a pang inside, but this is already the greatest concession the Jiang family can make.

He hurriedly holds down the about‑to‑explode Su Yanhua, repeatedly assuring: "Of course, of course! We'll write it, we'll definitely comply. Thank you, Factory Director Jiang, for your magnanimity!"

At this point the matter is temporarily settled. The Jiang family, full of anger and deep concern for Su Ruan, leaves the foul‑smelling place.

The onlookers point and gossip at the three Su family members as they disperse.

On the way back, the atmosphere is somewhat oppressive.

Jiang Ran tightly embraces Su Ruan's shoulder, gently rubbing her arm with sympathy: "Wife, I've wronged you."

Thinking of Su Yanhua's vicious words, he can't help but want to go back and beat her up.

Su Ruan shakes her head, leans into his arms, feeling his strong heartbeat; the chill in her heart caused by the slander gradually dissipates.

She whispers, "I'm fine, Clean Ones Remain Clean; I just didn't expect them to be so vicious."

Li Huijuan sighs, holding Su Ruan's hand: "RuanRuan, today Mom… Mom had heard some rumors before, doubted you in my heart; it was Mom's fault, Mom shouldn't have doubted you."

Su Ruan grasps her mother‑in‑law's hand again, smiling gently: "Mom, I don't blame you; they're just too good at stirring trouble. After today's incident, it'll be clean from now on."

Jiang Jianguo says gravely, "This isn't over. The written self‑criticism must be enforced; I'll make everyone know that our Jiang family's daughter‑in‑law isn't someone anyone can bully!"

Jiang Jiaojiao, also indignant, says, "Right! We must never be lenient with them! RuanRuan, if they ever dare trouble you again, tell sister; sister will vent for you!"

Back home, Jiang Nainai is still quite angry, repeatedly patting her chest to catch her breath.

Su Ruan quickly pours a cup of warm water, soothing the elder in a soft voice.

At dinner, Jiang Nainai pokes at the rice in her bowl, wanting to ask but not knowing how, and finally can't hold back.

She puts down her chopsticks, looks at Su Ruan and Jiang Ran, voice tinged with concern and lingering fear: "RuanRuan, Ranran… the Su family's black‑hearted rumors have a face and a nose; Grandma's heart still pounds when I think about it."

"Tell Grandma the truth, those two kids… what exactly is going on? Are you really helping out?"

"Don't… don't think it's Ranran's… Illegitimate Offspring, right?"

Jiang Nainai's words are swallowed back under Jiang Ran's plaintive gaze.

If Jiang Ran had dog ears, they would be drooping now.

His dear grandmother would rather suspect she herself has an Illegitimate Offspring outside than doubt RuanRuan's conduct.

He now truly doesn't know whether to cry or laugh.

Li Huijuan and Jiang Jianguo, though silent, also cast their gazes, clearly very concerned about the matter.

Jiang Jiaojiao even perches her ears.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ran instantly brightens; he sets his rice bowl down and, vividly, begins to recount: "Dad, Mom, Grandma, Sister, this matter actually starts from when RuanRuan and I contemplated opening a shop!"

He first talks about his conversation with Su Ruan in the Game Hall, how they decided to look for a business opportunity, then how that day they happened upon feverish Yaya and the desperately pleading Douzi on the street.

"You didn't see it, the scene was so pitiful!" Jiang Ran's tone carried regret, "Yaya's little face was burning red, Douzi was so shy it was like…; for his sister, he kept bowing and kowtowing to everyone, even being scolded as a little swindler… When RuanRuan and I saw that, how could we not intervene? We rushed him to the hospital!"

He continues, "Later we learned that both of their parents were gone, leaving only the two of them to rely on each other for survival."

"Our kind‑hearted RuanRuan couldn't stand that, so we arranged to rent a room, asked Zhou Da Niang to look after them; we couldn't just let them end up on the streets, could we?"