ned for half the night before finally properly smoking the meat in two rounds. Ning Yuan was both tired and sleepy, flipping the meat while dozing off intermittently.Rong Zhaonan sat by the bonfire, a...Soon, they walked to the production team's office.

Li Yan let the other platoon leaders go busy first, he accompanied Ning Yuan into the office.

What is said to be an office is actually an old house in a rural courtyard. Inside, there's a table and some old cabinets.

On the wall were posters of labor people and slogans praising the people's communes.

There was only a slightly plump, tall middle-aged woman wearing blue work clothes sitting there, holding a ceramic teapot in her hand.

A chubby woman often appears endearing.

But she had a pair of downturned eyes, prominent cheekbones, and a rather thin face, giving her a serious and aloof look.

Ning Yuan looked at her, without speaking.

The woman frowned, her face even longer. Seeing Li Yan behind Ning Yuan, she stood up and strained a smile: "Secretary Li Yan, I'm so sorry..."

"It's nothing, Auntie Bai. You chat with Ningyuan first, I'll go take care of something." Li Yan nodded politely and tactfully left space for the two aunt-niece.

Ning Yuan looked at the woman across from her and still slowly opened her mouth: "Aunt, my living expenses..."

"You still have the nerve to ask for money!" As soon as her words left her mouth, a porcelain teapot flew towards her head.

She instinctively sidestepped.

"Bang—glug!" The enamel teapot smashed against the door and then tumbled to the ground, rolling twice.

Although Ning Yuan dodged the fate of having her head smashed, the hot water inside splashed all over her lower half.

Luckily, the hot water inside wasn't too scalding anymore, but it was still a bit hot, making Ningyuan take a sharp breath and shiver her clothes: "Hiss—!"

"What are you hiding Weren't you very good at splashing others with dirty water this afternoon When did I teach you this mistress-like behavior!"

Bai Yi's cold voice, filled with anger, rang out.

That is, Ning Yuan came late, the hot water isn't hot enough. Otherwise, I'd have scalded her with it until she had blisters all over before she even thought of getting a bite to eat!

Ning Yuan coldly raised her eyes to look at her: "Are you my aunt, or someone else's aunt Clarify the situation before you act!"

It must have been Tang Zhenzhen and Huang Xuerhong who couldn't handle her, they knew she was afraid of her aunt, so they immediately went to tattle on her. They were quick about it too.

Aunt Bai was stunned. The niece who had always been timid and bowed her head before her, dared to speak to her like this.

She was stunned for a moment, then slammed her hand on the table, her tri-eyed glare filled with anger: "You dare talk back Fine, I'll ask you this, when people said you stole things, you denied it. Then where did you get the jade chili peppers That's our family heirloom, you didn't steal it, how is it in your hands!"

Ning Yuan took a bite, then looked up at Bai Yi: "That was given to me by my grandmother when I was three years old."

"White Aunt's face darkened: "Shut up! Your grandmother gave it to you, I don't know. Doesn't your mother know! You're still lying!"

Ning Yuan said bluntly: "That's because Grandma didn't let me tell you and Mom, saying that you would definitely take it away."

Aunt Bai was taken aback, and then her usually stern face seemed to come alive with a myriad of emotions as she gritted her teeth and said, "Your life is given to you by your mother and me! Give me the jade chili peppers!"

Ning Yuan lowered her eyes, her voice somewhat ethereal: "If there are any other requests, Auntie, please feel free to say them all together."

Bai Yi saw that she had softened a bit and her tone eased slightly: “You haven’t gotten your marriage license yet. Report this to the brigade immediately, saying that Rong's demoted reform-through-labor person tried to take advantage of you. Then kneel down and beg Li Yuan for forgiveness, saying that you are innocent!”

Ning Yuan looked at Bai Yi: "You asked me to frame Rong Zhaonan. Do you know that he could face ten years or more in prison, or even be shot"

Sentences and punishments are different now compared to decades ago. During the crackdown period, even peeping on women bathing could result in a death sentence.

Aunt Bai's eyes narrowed, and she said coldly: "He's a reformed criminal. He died anyway, what does it have to do with you!"

Ning Yuan looked at her for a while and said faintly: "I disagree, I can't do such a thing that is worse than pigs and dogs."

When Bai Yi heard this, her face turned cold instantly. She slammed her hand on the table and stood up: "I see you're really just like what they said, sleeping in the same bed with bad people! You've fallen so far! How did I raise you Now you have no manners at all! Get down on your knees! Today, I'll discipline you on behalf of your mother!"

Ning Yuan looked at her eyes, and said slowly, word by word: "Auntie, you don't speak for my mother. I wasn't born from your womb. I haven't eaten a single grain of rice for nothing from your family. I have done most of the housework in your home."

Bai Yi's sturdy figure froze, staring at Ning Yuan who stood there with a cold expression, as if she were looking at a stranger.

She gritted her teeth: "Will you kneel What did you do right to dare marry and mess around with a re-educated laborer without my or our family's consent"

Auntie Bai stepped closer to Ning Yuan, pointing at her nose and shouting, “Don’t you know this will implicate your family How will people outside look at us Aren’t you ashamed of how we raised you all these years!”

Ning Yuan looked directly at Bai Yi and sneered: "I've done nothing to be ashamed of, Aunt. Aren't you just hoping that I date Li Yan so that he can help your older brother and younger brother get jobs and military service indicators"

Her mocking tone struck Bai Yi's heart like a dagger.

Her stern and sharp face seemed to tremble even to the bone, as if she had suddenly understood something: "Were you doing this on purpose"

Ning Yuan shrugged: "If you say so, that's fine. I have no interest in being a stepping stone for others. The jade chili peppers are from my grandmother, and I won't give them to anyone."

Bai Yi's face turned sinister and cold as she stood there, staring at Ning Yuan's face: "Ning Yuan, you're really getting wings. I'll ask you again, do you kneel down and apologize, will you give me the things"

Ning Yuan continued, her words slow and measured, her gaze unwavering: "I won't kneel. I won't give in. I've grown up. You can't control me anymore."

You shall never fear her threats and shadows again!

Bai Yi suddenly twisted her face, grabbed the solid wooden stool beside her with one hand, and smashed it fiercely at Ning Yuan: "Then you try!"

Ning Yuan didn't expect Bai Yi to suddenly become so out of control, saying that she dared to use her hands in the delivery room and smashed her with a large wooden stool.

Such a heavy chair, if it hit her like that, she'd have at least a broken bone!!

Although she put up some resistance, she dodged. But Bai Yi's tall frame pressed her against the door all at once.

Bai Yi gasped excitedly, twisting her face, and pulled at her hair. She swung a chair towards her head: "Why are you running Auntie is punishing you for your own good!"

Ning Yuan reacted, gritting her teeth and suddenly bowing her body, about to crash into her legs.

Even if she was beaten to a pulp, she would charge at Bai Yi and shout for help!

But someone was faster than her. The door burst open with a bang, and a slender figure swept in with powerful legs.

"Ah!!" Aunt Bai was kicked directly and flew into the wall, crashing to the ground.

She screamed and cowered in the corner.

Ning Yuan was stunned. She looked at the tall figure standing beside her, "Rong Zhaonan, how did you come here"

Rong Zhaonan lowered his head and looked at Ning Yuan, who was half-kneeling on the ground. He said softly, "If I don't come, you have to go to the hospital today. How can you get a marriage certificate"

Ning Yuan slowly exhaled and looked at the strong woman huddled in the shadows by the wall: "Did she break her ribs"

Rong Zhaonan pushed his glasses up. "Hmm, probably two broken, should I apologize"

He was already very restrained in his actions.

Ning Yuan took a deep breath: "No, thank you."

"Aunt Bai nearly fainted from the pain, trembling as she glared fiercely at Ning Yuan and Rong Zhaonan: 'You traitors! You actually dared to let someone beat me... How dare you... I treated you like a daughter...' "

"Ning Yuan, you're truly insane... fallen... You only deserve to be taught a lesson by your elders! How dare you rebel!"

Looking at Bai Yi's hateful gaze, Rong Zhao-nan raised an eyebrow: "Is this your aunt, or your enemy"

I've never seen anyone who beat a child with the intention of permanently disabling them.

Ning Yuan shook her head and lowered her eyes: "I don't know."

Even if her aunt passed away in a previous life, she still wouldn't understand why her aunt treated her so poorly!

He seems to have a very strong desire for control and sadism. He beat and scolded her mercilessly, and without hesitation, he sold her to his cousin.

It's not quite about complete abuse and control.

Even when her mother didn't want to send her to school, her aunt would insist that her mother must send her to study, even promising to pay for tuition.

As they were talking, the noise in the room also drew everyone else in.

Everyone stared at each other, looking at the mess in the room and Bai Yi groaning on the floor. They didn't know what had happened.

"What happened" Li Yan got the notice and hurried over.

Li Yan entered the room and saw Rong Zhaonan, his face flushed with anger: "How is it you again, a demoted official You shouldn't be here in this place. What are you doing"

Rong Zhaonan lowered his eyes, hiding his cold gaze behind his glasses, and said neither servile nor arrogant: "Report, I'm here to pick up my significant other."

"You..." Li Yan held back, not knowing what to say.

Ning Yuan walked to Bai Yi's side and squatted down, interrupting him: "I had a conflict with my aunt. She wanted to hit me, so I pushed her. I got splashed with hot water, and she was injured."

Li Yan frowned, his gaze swept across Rong Zhaonan sternly: "Ning Yuan, was it you or him who did it"

These days, if family members fight, most people just accept it—making a big deal out of small matters and letting small matters slide.

But if Mr. Rong, this reformed activist, were to attack the masses, the outcome would be very different.

Aunt Bai endured the excruciating pain, trembling as she pointed at Rong Zhaonan wanting to say something: "He...is..."

Ning Yuan, taking advantage of the act of supporting her, suddenly pressed down on Bai Yi's broken rib.fury, he could only beat the ground desperately.But the next moment, his arm was also stepped on by Rong Zhaonan's foot, completely unable to move.A few people were smoking in the front yard, complete...