Chapter 18: Catching the Thief

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

“Aunt, there’s a thief in my house. I’m scared.” Su Wen’s expression was on point, and she successfully put on a good show as a weak woman who was strong enough to support the family and take care of her sisters. “My father left the seven of us and passed away. Zhou Hengyang went out to earn a living and wouldn’t be back for at least a year and a half. Someone must have noticed that there’s no man in our house.”

Wang Chunyan was furious. “Thief? A thief even dares to come in the middle of the day, he’s really in a hurry to go to jail.”

Su Wen shivered in fear, arms hugging herself tightly. “I’m scared, Aunt Chunyan. What if the thief has a knife? Wouldn’t I lose my life then?”

“Don’t worry. Let’s go. We’ll get a few more people. We must catch the thief, beat him up, and send him to the study class.” Wang Chunyan rolled up her sleeves and hurriedly called for a group of people to follow her. They were either holding rolling pins or washboard mallets.

“Su Wen’s man isn’t at home. Everyone, please help out. We can’t let the thief get his way. Otherwise, people will think that there’s no one in Trinity village!” Wang Chunyan was the village chief’s wife and she liked to fight for justice. Her words carried a lot of weight among the women in the village.

Some of the people who secretly disliked Su Wen also put their feelings aside.

Of course, Su Wen knew that the original Su Wen was not popular in the village. No one stood up nor spoke up for her when something happened. This was a good opportunity for her to reverse her reputation and build up her social relations. She immediately gave a beautiful speech of thanks, her words so sweet that even Wang Chunyan was shocked.

“Wen, you’ve grown up!” Wang Chunyan sighed.

“Aunt, I was insensible in the past. Ever since Hengyang left, I’ve thought through many things. I’ll lead a good life from now on and raise my younger sisters.” Su Wen turned into an exemplification of a showman. “Sisters-in-law, Aunt, I apologize to everyone. I’ll definitely change for the better.”

People in the late 1970s and early 1980s were still very simple, especially those in the countryside. In their hearts, the working people were the most glorious and united all the forces that could be united. Although she would also beat someone up for a mouthful of food, but after all, the original character had never taken advantage of anyone despite being lazy and not treating her man well. Now that Su Wen had apologized and explained, others’ impression of Su Wen immediately improved.

Someone even took the initiative to comfort her. “Wen, it’s not easy for you to find a live-in son-in-law by yourself. Now that your man is not home, you should be more shrewish.”

“Isn’t that so! If you don’t be more shrewish, the good-for-nothings from all over the country will swallow your family whole.”

“Thank you. I’ll make sure to get Hengyang to thank every family personally when he returns after making money.”

“We’re all from the same hometown; there’s no need.”

As they spoke, they arrived at Su Wen’s house. As soon as they entered the courtyard, they heard the sound of plates and bowls breaking coming from the kitchen. The crowd swarmed in. The person with his back to the door had not a care as they waved their mallets and rolling pins and delivered a beating.

“Ow! That hurts like mad! Who dares to hit me?” Chen Guihua, who was squashed at the bottom, screamed.

“Eh? Why does this voice sound so familiar?” someone muttered.

“Who cares who she is, she’s asking for a beating for stealing from our Trinity village.”

Su Wen held back her laughter. When everyone was tired of beating her up, Chen Guihua climbed out with a bruised face and cried out in pain. Everyone’s expressions changed when they saw this.

No one would have thought that the biological aunt would actually come to steal her nieces’ things.

“Chen Guihua?” Wang Chunyan was furious, “Bah! You shameless thing. Su Xuewen and his wife died early. As their aunt, not only did you not help your nieces, you even came to steal.”

“I didn’t, I’m here to report…” Chen Guihua refused to admit her mistake and was about to slander her when Su Wen interrupted.