Chapter 64

Su Ruo looked at the letter in her hand, unable to hold back her tears any longer; this old person had suffered too much, fate had inflicted too many hardships on her.

Yet she did not wallow in self-pity; she always upheld kindness, facing the sunshine, she had raised such fine children and grandchildren—only pity that good deeds go unrewarded.

Su Ruo informed Wang Liangping and Zhou Feng of Grandma Lu's passing, and gave them the letter Grandma Lu had left behind.

In the letter, Grandma Lu donated the small courtyard where she lived to the state, and earnestly charged them to look after Su Ruo more in the future.

Su Ruo's eyes filled with hot tears over this elderly person she had only recently come to know.

The three of them buried Grandma Lu together, laying her to rest alongside Lu Huaer.

Before Grandma Lu's grave, Wang Liangping and Zhou Feng raised their hands and rendered a solemn military salute to her.

Wang Liangping said: Grandma Lu had been a young lady from a wealthy family in her childhood; she had attended a private school, learned brush calligraphy, and embroidery.

Later, when war broke out, Grandma Lu donated most of her family's property to the state; she was an elderly person worthy of respect.

Zhou Feng said: "After the provincial newspaper learned of your deeds, they want to interview you and run a special feature; think it over—if you don't want to, I'll help you turn it down."

Zhou Feng knew that if this story got out, even though Su Ruo was a victim who hadn't actually been violated, he still couldn't bear it, and would inevitably draw criticism.

He knew rumors could be fearsome; once this matter spread, no one could tell what it would become, and Su Ruo's reputation would surely suffer—if she refused, he wouldn't force her.

Su Ruo, however, fixed him with a determined gaze and said, "I am willing to accept the interview."

Although Su Ruo was not as great as her predecessors and could not accomplish deeds of serving the nation with her life,

but if she could speak out for those victimized women, letting them know that being targeted by demons is not their fault, but because those beasts are inherently evil.

Tell them they have done nothing wrong to anyone, and they need not feel shame or self-blame because of it.

Su Ruo knew her strength was slight, but if her words could illuminate a few people, it would be worthwhile.

Moreover, even setting all that aside, simply appearing in a newspaper for fame and profit, Su Ruo would absolutely not refuse.

As for others' criticism, Su Ruo never paid it heed, nor would she fear it; those rumors would not hinder her steps in the slightest, only making her stronger.

After Su Ruo agreed, Zhou Feng quickly arranged for the provincial newspaper to interview her, with Wang Liangping and Zhou Feng also being interviewed alongside her.

The interviewer of Su Ruo was a young female student, whose eyes looking at Su Ruo were filled with admiration.

Actually, in this era, many girls, while growing up, have more or less experienced violation; the perpetrators could be neighbors, relatives, brothers, or even classmates…

But after such incidents occur, these girls invariably choose to conceal them, because in their hearts it is shameful, unbearable, a disgrace that should be forever forgotten, and cannot be told to anyone—not even their own parents.

From ancient times to the present, no woman has ever publicly discussed sex, violation, and rape.

Su Ruo's appearance was like a beam of light tearing through darkness.

Her resonant, powerful words struck straight at the soul of the girl interviewing her, and also shocked Wang Liangping and Zhou Feng standing beside her.

They had never imagined that such great energy could be contained in Su Ruo's small frame.

Su Ruo's unyielding resolve was like a thunderclap, entering every reader's heart along with the newspaper.

At the same time, Su Ruo's deeds spread by word of mouth along with the newspaper.

Countless people know there is an orphan named Su Ruo who lost her parents in her early teens, yet she was not defeated by fate; she studied medicine diligently, and when disaster struck, she bravely rushed to the front lines.

She healed and saved people without seeking reward, adopted orphans who had likewise lost their parents, she feared no authority, and bravely fought against the thugs who wanted to bully her.

For a time, Su Ruo became a household-name hero, and this momentum continued to expand, faintly spreading nationwide.

When the leader said, "Women also hold up half the sky," Su Ruo practically became the first person in the rise of women's thought.

Of course, many people behind her back uttered sour remarks, scolding Su Ruo for being shameless, daring to speak so shamefully a matter openly, even accepting an interview and having it printed in the newspaper—utterly shameless.

Some elders said: "If this had happened in their era, they would have died to prove their innocence; who would dare to live and face people?"

Even worse, some said: "How could a little girl like Su Ruo possibly defeat four or five big men? She must have already been violated; her body is surely no longer pure."

Of course, these people only dare to whisper such things in private, like rats in a gutter that cannot see the light.

Su Ruo never expected that this interview would bring such tremendous influence.

She marveled at the astonishing writing skill of the newspaper's young female reporter, while also feeling that the other party had lifted her too high.

Su Ruo is not as great as the article portrays; on the contrary, deep down she is somewhat selfish, and everything she does is for her own benefit.

Su Ruo deeply understands that being overly exalted when virtue does not match the position will one day lead to a fall from a high building, and the price to pay will be utter ruin.

Therefore, thereafter, whenever anyone sought to interview Su Ruo, she refused; each day in the clinic, aside from seeing patients, she hardly ever went out.

Because of her refusal, she once again left people with an image of hardship, simplicity, and disdain for empty fame.

Although Su Ruo intended to keep a low profile, this trend still reached Li Family Village; thanks to her, Li Family Village was rated an Advanced Brigade.

The Battalion Commander, the Branch Secretary, and every villager who saw Su Ruo would cheerfully say, "Hello, Doctor Xiao Su!"

Of course, this does not include Li Shiruo, who was currently carrying a bucket of night soil.

When Li Shiruo, carrying a bucket reeking of filth, heard the brigade headquarters' loudspeaker broadcast again the article about Su Ruo, her jealous eyes turned red.

At that moment, the village children all threw stones at Li Shiruo, making faces and shouting, "Bad woman!" before turning and running away.

After Wang Qin caused a scene and revealed that Wu Xiaofeng had schemed against Su Ruo because of Li Shiruo, Li Shiruo's reputation in the village became utterly foul.

Everyone knew Li Shiruo was a vicious woman; even small children could come to bully her.

At this moment, Li Shiruo's hatred for Su Ruo in her heart reached its peak; she felt that her current plight was entirely Su Ruo's fault.

Even worse, how could Su Ruo not have been destroyed by those hooligans!

Li Shiruo couldn't understand; clearly her background was better than Su Ruo's, her looks were better, yet she could not compare to Su Ruo.

Su Ruo now is the focus of everyone's attention and praised by all, while she has to do the hardest, most exhausting work; why are all the good things Su Ruo's? This is unfair!

Li Shiruo returned to the Educated Youth Station full of hatred; as soon as she entered, Wu the accountant and his wife, leading a large group, rushed into the Youth Work Station.

Wang Qin said: Wu Xiaofeng was imprisoned because of Li Shiruo, and they were forcing Li Shiruo to marry Wu Xiaofeng as his wife.

Li Shiruo naturally refused; Wu Xiaofeng would have to serve ten years in prison before being released, and if she married him now, it would be no different from being a widow while her husband is still alive.

Li Zeyu also disagreed with his sister marrying into the Wu family, and the entire Zhiqing Dian immediately erupted in an uproar.