Gu Yuwei never imagined that after working so hard to get into college, she would be blocked at the political review stage.
The reason given for the rejection was: "Immoral conduct and depraved thinking for seducing a married man and destroying another’s family; does not et admissions standards."
Gu Yuwei couldn’t believe that this incident, which had happened so long ago, was being dredged up now to beco the reason she couldn’t go to college.
But she had no ti for regrets. Pleading and crying, Gu Yuwei was on the verge of kneeling before the officials. She caused a scene in town for a long ti, but nothing changed. Instead, she was kicked out for disturbing the peace.
anwhile, He Ze was also called in for a talk by his superior at work.
"Soone filed a report claiming you had an affair while married, abandoned your wife and child to marry soone else, and are guilty of improper conduct and moral corruption. Is this true?" The speaker was the office director of the textile factory.
He Ze’s heart tightened at his words, and he instinctively retorted, "Director, I only remarried after my divorce. And I left with nothing—I gave everything we owned to my ex-wife and child."
The director’s brow furrowed. "So it is true, then? You really had an affair with an educated youth while you were married and forced your wife to divorce you?"
He Ze lowered his head and fell silent.
"He Ze, what were you thinking? You’re a veteran employee here. Do you have any idea what a terrible impact this has on the factory? If everyone else follows your example, won’t society fall into chaos?"
"Director, I promise it won’t happen again. Please, be lenient and put in a good word for with the higher-ups," He Ze pleaded, bowing his head.
The director shook his head at him. "This matter is too serious. The report letter is already on the factory manager’s desk. It’s out of my hands. Just go ho and wait for the factory’s decision on your punishnt."
"Director—" He Ze tried to say more.
But the director turned his head away, refusing to look at him, and waved his hand dismissively, signaling for him to leave.
He Ze returned to his workstation in a daze. He could feel everyone’s strange looks and heard them whispering behind his back. A wave of panic mixed with his sha.
That afternoon, the decision ca down: the factory had fired him outright.
He Ze tried to see the managent again, but no one would et with him.
He Ze was completely stunned. He and Gu Yuwei had both thought the sa thing—that the incident was so far in the past. No one had reported it when it first happened, so who would be so petty as to do it now? He suddenly thought of Gu Yuwei getting into college. It seed soone was jealous of his family’s success.
After he dejectedly returned ho, he learned from Gu Yuwei that she had been reported as well. Her political review materials wouldn’t pass, which ant her acceptance letter was now just a worthless piece of paper.
Gu Yuwei grabbed He Ze by the collar, crying hysterically, "Was it you? You didn’t want to leave, so you reported , didn’t you?"
After returning, Gu Yuwei had thought it over and over but couldn’t figure out who would report her. ’I haven’t offended anyone these past two years. Xue Yue’s family isn’t around anymore... Who could hate the idea of going to college this much?’ Besides He Ze, she couldn’t think of anyone else.
He Ze looked at Gu Yuwei with disappointnt, as if his soul had just been crushed.
"It’s not just you. I was reported too. I’ve been fired from the factory. So who am I supposed to suspect? Why do you always suspect every ti sothing goes wrong? I’m your husband, not your enemy! It’s true I didn’t want you to go back to the city, but that’s because Xiao Yu and I didn’t want you to leave. But was I ever able to stop you? Have you ever once cared about how Xiao Yu and I feel? I’ve had enough. Right now, I don’t even know if fighting to be with you back then was the right thing to do. I know you’ve regretted it for a long ti, afraid that our daughter and I would beco obstacles in your path. But I’m telling you, Gu Yuwei, no matter how low I might stoop, I would never use tactics like this against you."
Gu Yuwei was dumbfounded. "If it wasn’t you, then who was it? Who? Who can’t stand to see do well?"
Gu Yuwei’s ntal state was deteriorating. Worried she would frighten the child, He Ze picked up Xiao Yu and walked out the door.
He stood outside the front gate, suddenly at a loss for where to go. After standing there in a daze for a long while, he carried Xiao Yu all the way to the old family house.
As he entered the courtyard, he saw Gao Cuiyun washing clothes. He Ze’s heart filled with complicated emotions as he looked at her. Gao Cuiyun saw him and the child in his arms, but she didn’t say a word, simply acting as if they weren’t there as she lowered her head and continued washing.
He Ze walked past Gao Cuiyun and entered the old house. Only then did Gao Cuiyun stop what she was doing. Her eyes remained fixed on the basin of clothes on the ground. After a long mont, she heard voices from inside, took a deep breath, and resud her work.
"You were fired from the factory? Why?" Mrs. He was completely bewildered by He Ze’s sudden news.
He Ze’s gaze flickered, and he said in a low voice, "Soone wrote a report letter to the factory, saying I had an affair, abandoned my wife and child, and was guilty of improper conduct."
Mrs. He froze for a mont at his words, then turned to look at Mr. He. "How could this happen?"
Mr. He thought for a mont before speaking. "Perhaps our family has been too much in the spotlight lately. First, it was Third Brother’s wife and Ziqing getting into college, and now your wife."
He Ze paused. "My wife was reported too. Her political review was blocked because of the sa incident."
Mrs. He frowned. "It’s that serious?"
He Ze nodded. After a mont’s hesitation, he braced himself and said to Mr. He, "Dad, can you ask the village chief to write a statent for my wife? Sothing that puts all the bla on so she can still go to college."
Mr. and Mrs. He both stared at him at the sa ti. He Ze lowered his head in sha.
Mr. He looked at He Ze with a complicated expression, then said with a sneer, "You’re really sothing else. It wasn’t enough to abandon your wife and child for that woman, and now you’re willing to destroy your own reputation for her too. I’ve got to hand it to you. Fine. You can go now."
"Dad, what about my request?" He Ze asked, still holding out for a clear answer.
Mr. He wouldn’t even spare him a glance. Mrs. He angrily pushed He Ze straight out of the room.
"Mom—"
Mrs. He just kept shaking her head at him. "He Ze, we were so wrong about you. You deserved to be fired. You can suffer the consequences on your own. From now on, don’t co bothering us with your family’s damn sses. Your father and I are old. We can’t take this kind of stress."
"Mom—" He Ze called out again.
Mrs. He slamd the door shut.
Defeated, He Ze turned around with the child in his arms. He saw Gao Cuiyun still washing clothes in the sa spot, glanced at her, and then quickly left the courtyard.
He wandered around the village with his daughter for a long ti before slowly heading ho. When he got back, he saw Gu Yuwei cooking in the kitchen and finally breathed a sigh of relief. He sat on the edge of the kang, staring blankly at the child.
Back at the old house, Mrs. He watched her husband, who was smoking in silence. "Do you think He Ze’s been bewitched or sothing? How could he be so completely blinded—"
"You’re not actually going to ask the village chief to write that statent for her, are you?"
Mr. He blew out a ring of smoke and glanced at his wife. "Do I look like so kind of saint to you? I’m not getting involved in their affairs. Let them reap what they sow."
Hearing this, Mrs. He could only sigh. "Every other family tries to make their lives better. Why does he have to be different? He just insists on making himself miserable."
User Comments
0 comments from readers