Chapter 223: Dignity (Second Update)
Xie Hushan took sick leave and asked Han Laogou to accompany Han Hongzhen to receive the women representatives brought by Hu Shuang for observation, while he drove to meet the woman named Xiao Su.

Although they hadn’t met for a long time, he heard Da Qiao talk about where her mother worked.

Honestly speaking, Xie Hushan was a little worried about how to face Da Qiao’s mother, the woman named Xiao Su. He couldn’t pretend to be a tough guy and beat her up, because after all, she was the second wife of Da Qiao’s father Qiao Zhiyuan.

First, Qiao Zhiyuan helped Xie Hushan and cleaned up the mess. He couldn’t just help someone and then cripple or kill the other person’s wife.

Secondly, Xie Hushan felt quite sympathetic towards this old woman. Although Li Qiaozhi said that her words were harsh, she was a bad person no matter how bad she was, but Xie Hushan felt that this woman was very purposeful and direct in her badness, which was better than many other people.

Xiao Su said she was willing to take risks, and she really was. She could read the situation very well, and her facial expressions changed like turning the pages of a book. As soon as she saw that the situation was not right, she secretly forged a letter without telling Lao Qiao, expressing her loyalty on behalf of Lao Qiao, who was already waiting to die at home. She said many things that she shouldn’t have said, and did many things that she shouldn’t have done.

Old Qiao’s lifelong firm belief and his position that never changed no matter what was done were destroyed by Xiao Su.

Now that time has passed, although no one is looking for an account with Qiao Zhiyuan, he probably just lives a decent life of fishing and retirement at the seaside in Yulin.

Of course, Xiao Su’s actions were not without benefits. The benefit was that the Qiao family was able to save their lives and dignity during that period because of Xiao Su’s immoral actions. They were able to work and live normally like a zombie. They were not tormented or harassed, and there was no major impact.

This is why Xie Hushan sympathized with Xiao Su. At that time, Xiao Su jumped up and down to protect Qiao Zhiyuan, but the second-hand husband whom she tried so hard to protect had no intention of protecting her now because he hated what she had done.

The first thing Qiao Zhiyuan did after his reinstatement was to report to the organization, applying for a divorce from Xiao Su, drawing a clear line between them, and confessing all the problems he knew in detail, putting the interests of the country above his own.

Xiao Su understood that Qiao Zhiyuan hated her and wanted to see her suffer a bad end.

But she was unwilling to give up. In her opinion, she had done nothing wrong. All beliefs and positions were empty. The most important thing was to stay alive.

Is it wrong to sing along with whatever tune is played?

Xiao Su could only continue to jump up and down, seizing the opportunity of Han Hongbing going to Hong Kong Island to send her good-for-nothing second daughter to study in Hong Kong Island. As for her eldest daughter, she hoped that Da Qiao could hook up with Xu Xinfu. In this way, as long as the country gave Xu Xinfu dignity and did not completely break up with him and settle old scores with him, with this in-law relationship, she would not have any big problems.

However, all this was ruined by Xie Hushan and Qiao Zhiyuan. Xu Xinfu accepted the organization’s arrangement and no longer continued to resist the leaders above. Instead, he carried forward his style and returned to his hometown with his family to take up a sinecure and retire.

No one told Xie Hushan all these things in detail. Xie Hushan pieced them together through casual conversations with Da Qiao and her father.

It was only after he had a general understanding that Xie Hushan realized that Xiao Qiao was not Xiao’s mother, and her cold and indifferent personality should be inherited from her father.

Xiao Su felt sorry for all the people who were implicated and punished because of those letters, but she was the only one who felt sorry for Qiao Zhiyuan. No matter how worthless she was, and no matter how much she had paid for him in the past, this woman had risked everything for him, but now she didn’t even get a single warm word in return.

Which is more important, faith or life?

Anyway, let Xie Hushan make his own choice. Although he likes to listen to Qiao Zhiyuan’s chat, he will still insist on standing on Xiao Su’s side and choosing life. He is a farmer, and in the words of Han Laogou, everything else is empty, and being alive is better than anything else.

Xie Hushan drove to the Yaoshan City Archives. Xiao Su’s current job position is the third deputy director of the Yaoshan Archives.

This new job was specially prepared for people like her who have not yet been held accountable, because there is almost no other work in archives across the country nowadays. The primary issue is to respond to the call of the country, cooperate with local united front agencies to review archival materials, and properly resolve various cases from the previous period.

This is equivalent to letting people like Xiao Su, who have not yet been settled with accounts, see with their own eyes every day that one after another, the people she had hurt and offended in the past have stood up again and may come to her door at any time.

Xie Hushan felt that Xiao Su had not gone completely crazy or committed suicide under such a blunt knife, and he was a strong man in terms of psychological quality. “Comrade, who are you looking for?” The archive guard saw the jeep stop at the door and came out of the room to greet politely.

Xie Hushan smiled and said, “I’m here to see Deputy Director Xiao. I work at the steel mill down there. I just came back from a business trip in YL City. Her relative in Yulin asked me to bring her something. Do you think I should notify them first?”

The guard waved his hand, motioning Xie Hushan to go in, and said with a smile: “No need, we all know what’s going on. Who else could come from Yulin? Go in.”

Seeing the other person smiling mysteriously, Xie Hushan really wanted to ask him: Do you understand?

After parking the car in an open space, Xie Hushan entered the archives and followed the signs to the door of the third deputy director’s office. The sound insulation was not very good, and he could faintly hear the rustling sound of writing inside.

Xie Hushan knocked on the door with his fingers, and a calm female voice sounded from inside: “Come in.”

Xie Hushan pushed open the door. Xiao Su, who was sitting at the desk and writing, raised her head and saw Xie Hushan standing at the door. She narrowed her eyes slightly in alertness, and then continued to write quickly, and asked calmly: “Comrade, what’s the matter?”

“Deputy Director Xiao.” Xie Hushan closed the door and looked around the office, most of which was occupied by various file cabinets. He walked to the opposite side of the desk, pulled a stool and sat down: “I am Xie Hushan.”

Xiao Su did not show any surprise or violent expression. After writing a line of text, he put the pen back on the table, then looked at Xie Hushan and laughed at himself:
“Your father-in-law and mother-in-law must have been terrified yesterday. They have lived for most of their lives and have never seen a leader swearing in the street.”

“They are in good spirits. They are a pair of honest people from the mountains and have never seen the world. But fortunately, I made a scene at the cliff before, so they have developed some psychological qualities. When my mother-in-law saw me, she could even repeat what Deputy Director Xiao said.” Xie Hushan took out a cigarette, lit one himself, and slapped the cigarette box on the table:
“She said, if I dare to run, you have to kill a lot of people to see me off.”

“Well, run away. After you run away, at most my second daughter will be killed by you in Hong Kong Island, but she is dating your friend. Can you bear to do that? If your identity is exposed, Song Tiesheng, your father-in-law and mother-in-law, your uncle, Minister Jiao and other people who eat public food will all be unable to escape. Even if they can run away with you, the class background of their relatives will be ruined. With their class background ruined, they would be worse off dead than alive.” Xiao Su picked up Xie Hushan’s cigarette box, took out a cigarette and put it in his mouth:
“I still say the same thing. You hold a ceremony to tell everyone that my daughter is not a nameless slut. Then my daughter goes to Hong Kong Island, and you help her bring the other people over. You use the money you earn as a Hong Kong businessman to compensate her, and this matter will be over.”

She took a puff and blew out the smoke like a man holding a cigarette. Without looking at Xie Hushan, she turned her head slightly and said, “I’ve found a way to get your father-in-law and mother-in-law’s household registration and Song Tiesheng’s job. It’s not like I’m taking advantage of you for nothing.”

“It’s not enough that your daughter ran away, you also took several people with you… Good man, the people who did it with you must feel that they have not suffered a loss. Even though they can’t save themselves, they still remember to find a way out for them.” Xie Hushan looked at Xiao Su’s facial features and said.

Judging from her facial features, Xiao Su must have been a great beauty when she was young. If the two girls stood next to her when she was young, they probably would not be her match.

Unfortunately, although one can still vaguely see the charm of the past on her face, there are now fine wrinkles on her face, and there are many eye-catching white hairs in her neat short hair.

“I’m not that bastard Qiao Zhiyuan. I wouldn’t do such a cruel and brutal thing.” Xiao Su said.

Xie Hushan retracted his gaze: “Actually, it’s okay for Da Qiao not to leave. She has her father to take care of her. Why do you insist on letting her go to Hong Kong Island? With her by her side, if you honestly take the initiative to explain, it probably won’t be a big deal. Even if he is not satisfied with you, that leader Qiao has to consider that you are Da Qiao’s mother, and it is impossible for him to be so heartless as to kill his own relatives for the sake of justice.”

“You don’t have to say such coaxing words. I have slept in the same bed with him for so many years, and I know what kind of person he is. I am now waiting to be dealt with at any time. How can I expect him to have deep feelings for a daughter who he didn’t personally change her poop and pee with, and didn’t grow up with? What if those people who were dealt with by me don’t dare to take it out on him and make trouble for my daughter? What if he pretends to be shameless and doesn’t know anything? What should I do with my daughter? I can’t protect her, can’t I let her run away?” Xiao Su exhaled a puff of smoke, and seemed to be dissatisfied with Xie Hushan’s words, and said in a heavier tone:
“It won’t delay you from marrying your favorite new wife. Yanni will have a wedding in Yaoshan, and then you can get a Hong Kong Island household registration. The reason I want your money is because I don’t have money, but I know that place is a capitalist society. If you don’t have money, even a god can’t survive.”

Xie Hushan asked, “Why do we have to set up two tables? Is a wedding banquet so important? Let her go directly. If she leaves directly, she will definitely not get any money, but I can help you get her out.”

“Back then, I had no status and got into the bed of a man named Qiao. People in Yaoshan laughed at me behind my back for being shameless. It was my own choice, I admit it. Who told me to want him to be an official? But I can’t let the people in Yaoshan laugh at my daughter for being the same as me. She must die in a dignified way. At least on the surface, this matter should look perfect.” Xiao Su flicked the ash from her cigarette and said in a firm tone.

As soon as these words were spoken, the door was suddenly pushed open from the outside. Qiao Yanni stood at the door holding Taozi’s arm, who was frightened by Xie Hushan’s presence. She glared at Xiao Su angrily and said loudly:
“Who the hell wants to marry him and hold a wedding banquet, Xiao Su, my dear mother! I guessed that you must have something to do these two days, and I am really blocked! How much do you look down on your child? You can’t live without a man, so I have to be the same as you? Why should I marry him, a man who looks down on women in his bones, just to save you some dignity? If you want to be decent, you shouldn’t have done the thing of crawling into the old man’s bed! Do you want to be decent by forcing your daughter to do the same thing you did back then?!”

(End of this chapter)