Chapter 649: The '50s Mother-in-law System (6)

Yet whether it was the Beijing investigation team or the local Women's Federation, both attached great importance to this matter.

The new Marriage Law had just been promulgated, and all across the country, there was a large-scale clearing out of feudal remnants like "black adoptions" of Child Brides.

The Zhuang family did not understand the law; even when the village held relevant legal education meetings a while back, they only went through the motions. Every time they went, they would stuff sunflower seeds in their pockets, chatting and snacking as they listened, never once connecting the knowledge the village Cadre spoke of to their own household.

Every time the village held a large meeting, the original owner was left at home to do chores, thus losing the opportunity to come into contact with outside news.

Now, Xie Yang had taken over this body, and as she was being comforted and questioned by various people, including the Women's Federation chair and the Women's Director, she wore a blank expression:

"I, I don't know. My father was very ill that year; he didn't make it past the New Year and passed away. After he left, I was taken to the Zhuang family and became Mingcheng's Child Bride. I know Mingcheng hates me, but my father-in-law and mother-in-law both said I was Mingcheng's wife. It's my fault for not being able to make Mingcheng like me, and for causing him to hop a train and leave home... I'm useless..."

"Comrade Xie Yang, you don't need to be nervous. We are just chatting. You have been at the Zhuang family for ten years; what do you usually do?"

Xie Yang gave a shy smile: "I do everything. I'm very capable! Washing clothes, cooking, feeding the chickens and pigs, gathering firewood, and sweeping the courtyard—after finishing those, I go to the fields to work. But I don't have as much strength as the strong laborers in the village, so the field work often drags on until dark, and I always end up delaying soaking my mother-in-law's feet..."

The Women's Federation Cadres looked at each other, thinking to themselves: is this girl truly innocent, or is she calculating?

This statement sounded like she was lodging a complaint, but looking at her shy expression, it seemed as if she were genuinely blaming herself for not being strong enough.

But whether it was calculation or innocence, this girl's life at the Zhuang family was truly not fit for a human; to say she was treated like an ox or a horse would not be an exaggeration.

Everyone present was a woman, and most had daughters of their own. Putting themselves in her shoes, thinking about their own daughters marrying into a husband's family and living this kind of life, they felt like tearing the in-laws apart.

The local Women's Federation combined Xie Yang's statement, the villagers' observations, and the village Cadres' verification to write this case into a report and submit it truthfully.

At the same time, the investigation into Zhuang Mingcheng in Beijing had also reached its final stages.

Although Zhuang Mingcheng tried his best to emphasize that he did not agree with his parents' actions, attempting to whitewash himself with excuses like "breaking free from an arranged marriage" and "responding to policies to oppose feudal thinking," his family letters were the greatest evidence.

In the family letters, between the lines was nothing but disdain and contempt for the Child Bride, casually suggesting the family send her back or kick her out, as if she were an optional item to be disposed of at will.

Xie Yang had been working like an ox or a horse at the Zhuang family for ten full years. Not to mention that she was a living, breathing person; even an old yellow ox that had plowed the fields diligently for ten years would deserve to be treated with kindness.

Yet she was treated worse than an old yellow ox.

What was even more excessive was that Zhuang Mingcheng's parents, knowing full well that their son had registered his marriage in Beijing, still kept it from this poor girl, just to keep her at home to serve the two of them and fulfill filial duties on their son's behalf.

Even if Zhuang Mingcheng subjectively lacked this motive, in reality, it did indeed constitute bigamy.

"You thousand-cut, cheap hussy! You caused my son to be stripped of his Cadre position! If I had known you were so black-hearted, I never should have let you through the door!"

Qiu Caohua was howling to the heavens in her own courtyard.

Xie Yang ignored the commotion outside, sitting cross-legged on the bed in the woodshed, absorbing the tiny sliver of light leaking through the dilapidated roof, practicing the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden Technique.

She had found an excuse about a foot injury to avoid going out, so she couldn't go to the mountains to cultivate under the sun, but there was no rush. Zhuang Mingcheng's disciplinary action had already come down; could the Women's Federation's resettlement plan for her be far behind? It would likely be in these next few days.

It could be said that she had caught the spring breeze of the Marriage Law reform this time; otherwise, she feared it wouldn't have gone so smoothly.

It was a pity she hadn't been able to drag Zhuang Mingcheng down completely; under the protection of his father-in-law, he had only been stripped of his Cadre title.

"System, help me look into Zhuang Mingcheng's father-in-law. You can deduct the points as you see fit."

【You got it, Host!】

Outside, the more Qiu Caohua cursed, the more furious she became, lifting her foot to kick the broken door of the woodshed with a bang.

"You black-hearted little bitch! Are you happy now that my son lost his official position? Do you think just because the Women's Federation is backing you, I can't do anything to you? Get out here! Today I'm going to give you a good beating!"

"Mother of Mingcheng, what are you doing?"

Outside the fence, the villagers watching the fun didn't think the situation was big enough:

"Isn't your Mingcheng stripped of his position because he married a city girl in Beijing? Having one wife at home wasn't enough, so he married another when he went to the city. Isn't that just like the landlords of the old society? What was that phrase again?"

"Enjoying the blessings of both worlds!"

"Yes, yes, that's the one! This is the new society, yet your Mingcheng still wants to act like the old society. If they don't strip his position, whose would they strip?"

"Old Zhuang Auntie is so angry, is it because she can no longer be the mother of a Cadre?"

"She can't be the mother of a Cadre, but she has become the mother-in-law of a city girl, that's not bad either."

"City girls aren't easy to serve. Old Zhuang Auntie, you need to change your temper; don't use those methods of beating and scolding Xie Yang on a city girl. You'll be the one to suffer in the end. I heard city people love to file complaints at the drop of a hat..."

"It's not called filing a complaint anymore; now it's called reporting."

"Ah, yes, yes!"

"..."

Qiu Caohua was so angry she couldn't catch her breath, her old face turning red.

"What are you all doing gathered at my door! Get out, get out, get out! Stop meddling in other people's business!"

"Oh my, Old Zhuang Auntie is showing her might!"

"She's not a Cadre's mother anymore, we aren't afraid of her showing her might."

"Hahaha..."

Xie Yang heard everything clearly through the drafty door planks of the woodshed and couldn't help but chuckle.

These villagers were actually quite cute.

It just went to show how poor Qiu Caohua's popularity was.

It was a pity the original owner's father had thought Qiu Caohua looked honest and didn't seem like a wicked mother-in-law who would bully her daughter-in-law.

One could only say that the Zhuang family's nature wasn't truly pure and kind; it was just that when they were poor, they had no capital to be arrogant.

Once they found out their son had become a Beijing Cadre, they immediately started putting on airs. Everyone flattered and praised her to her face, but they complained about her plenty behind her back; it was just that Qiu Caohua herself hadn't realized it.

Now that she realized it, it was too late. The Zhuang family's fig leaf had been completely torn off, and even if Qiu Caohua wanted to play the quail like she did when they were poor, few people would believe her.

"The Women's Director is here!"

"Cao Zhuren is here? Is there some new instruction?"

Cao Guihua smiled and nodded at everyone, then looked at the dark-faced Qiu Caohua: "Old Zhuang Auntie, the Women's Federation's decision on the handling of your family's Child Bride matter has been finalized. Your daughter-in-law... no, where is Comrade Xie Yang?"

"Cao Zhuren, does what you said mean that Xie Yang is no longer Mingcheng's wife?" a quick-witted villager immediately asked.

Before Cao Guihua could speak, another villager took over: "That goes without saying! The new Marriage Law stipulates that a man can only marry one wife. Since Mingcheng married a city girl in Beijing and even registered the marriage with her, then the Child Bride arrangement definitely doesn't count anymore!"