Rebirth in 1972: Redemption in Changbai Mountain

"Did this guy offend you, brother? Should we get someone to beat him up?" Tong Lei probed, trying to see just how much of a grudge Zhou Rui had against this woodworking factory worker.

"We had a grudge. It's one thing to hire someone to beat him up. But I was thinking of finding something on him and dealing with him fair and square."

Hitting someone is child's play, it's not satisfying. Zhou Rui only wants to scheme against people behind their backs, and it would be best to send them to jail for rehabilitation. Doing good deeds anonymously is just too satisfying.

"Okay, then tell me his information in detail."

The two then whispered in the yard for a while before returning to the house.

"Let's go to the supply and marketing cooperative."

At the gate of the supply and marketing cooperative, Zhou Rui tied the mule outside the gate and peered inside.

"What are you doing here if you're not going inside?"

Zhou Rui didn't turn around: "Let me see if that old lady from last time is still here."

"What if it happens?" Gu Shaofeng wanted to know how Zhou Rui would solve this problem.

Zhou Rui turned his head, his eyes calm: "If your aunt is here, then you go buy things, I'll wait for you outside."

"No way?" Gu Shaofeng's eyes widened. "You're too scared to go in yourself, but you want me to go in?"

"Aren't you already married? Don't worry, your aunt won't introduce you to anyone." Zhou Rui said matter-of-factly.

Gu Shaofeng rolled his eyes, speechless.

Gu Shaofeng swaggered inside, leaving Zhou Rui shivering in the cold wind outside.

"Big guy, here to buy things again? Where's your junior brother? Why isn't he here?" The old lady said, glancing behind Gu Shaofeng as she spoke.

"Ahem... Junior Brother had something to do this time and didn't come with me." Gu Shaofeng's voice sounded somewhat unnatural.

"Oh." The old woman's mood immediately fell. "What do you want to buy?"

Gu Shaofeng was once again discouraged. Was he really that insignificant? Without Zhou Rui, that hot commodity, he couldn't even come to buy things anymore.

After sighing, Gu Shaofeng could only act as a qualified tool, buying everything Zhou Rui needed.

"Let's go back." The two sorted out their belongings and prepared to head home.

Zhou Rui nodded silently; after being away for so long, all he wanted to do was go home. He tightened his backpack, stood up, and prepared to leave.

"Hey, Ruiwa, look at those two, aren't they Doctor Tong from the mountains and that mute guy? They seem to be looking for someone, should we go say hello?"

Zhou Rui quickly pulled Gu Shaofeng back: "Don't go. I have a feeling that there's something wrong with those two. We'd better keep our distance."

"Hmm? Okay." Gu Shaofeng retracted the leg he had stepped out with.

Although he didn't quite understand, numerous incidents proved that Zhou Rui was smarter than him, and listening to him was definitely the right thing to do.

Zhou Rui glanced sideways at the street corner and became increasingly convinced that the two men didn't look like a doctor and a farmer. Only after they were out of sight did he lead the mule home.

Zhou Rui finally got home, only to find the house completely silent. It seemed the two wild kids had run off to play again; he wondered where Xiao Niangao was.

The mule was injured, tired, and hungry. Zhou Rui led the mule to the woodshed; he had to get it some good food today, otherwise it would be a waste of its injuries.

Zhou Rui carried his backpack inside, making sure to put his things and money away before he could get to work.

"Oh, you two are home. I was wondering where everyone had gone since there was no sound in the house." Zhou Rui pushed open the door to the inner room and found Lin Qiuyue and Yu Sitian chatting on the kang (a heated brick bed), though their voices were a little soft.

"Shh, keep your voice down. Little Niangao just fell asleep, don't wake her up." Lin Qiuyue said as she gently patted Little Niangao.

"It's alright. She only wakes up when she's hungry or needs to pee. She won't be woken up if you talk normally." Zhou Rui hung up his coat, his voice not lowering.

"By the way, what are you two talking about?"

"Qiuyue is worried about her parents and brother. They've been at sea for so long, and I don't know if they've settled down yet. I'm just trying to comfort her."

Yu Sitian casually chimed in. This was something Lin Qiuyue had mentioned to her before; Zhou Rui knew about her family's situation and had even given her advice, which was why she dared to speak up.

"Don't worry. Your parents have decades more life experience than you, and they can think things through in advance. The most important thing for you now is to take good care of yourself and wait to see your family again in the future."

Zhou Rui really didn't have a good solution to this, after all, he wasn't a clairvoyant.

"By the way, after your parents and brother moved overseas, did you ask Yu Sitian's father to place a notice in the local newspaper for you?"

"What kind of announcement is it? A missing person notice? My parents are at sea, they won't be able to see it."

"No." Zhou Rui's expression suddenly turned serious: "It's a letter severing ties."

"Why, why? My parents just didn't have time to take care of me, there's no need to sever ties with them, is there?" Lin Qiuyue was frightened by Zhou Rui's words and even stammered a bit.

"Yes, Zhou Rui. Qiu Yue's parents are so good to her. Before she left, they even asked my dad to send her some things." Yu Sitian also spoke well of Lin Qiu Yue's parents.

Zhou Rui was speechless. This was supposed to be someone from a big city, yet they couldn't even see things clearly. It seemed they had been too well protected by their families.

"You don't know what collective punishment is, do you? Lin Qiuyue's parents fled overseas. Regardless of whether the things the enemy is investigating are true or not, they have already committed a crime."

"As the child of a criminal, Lin Qiuyue, who is still at home, has no other choice but to publish a letter severing ties with her family in your local newspaper."

"This means you've broken ties with your capitalist parents and severed all relations so you can avoid being implicated."

Then, Zhou Rui's voice softened: "Of course, this doesn't mean you have to really break with your parents; it's just a way to deal with the Revolutionary Committee."

Lin Qiuyue clenched her fists tightly, leaving purple marks, her face streaked with silent tears.

"Should this be done... should it be done immediately?" Yu Sitian's voice trembled. Her family hadn't experienced these things, but she had already witnessed several instances at the factory where children reported their parents and severed ties with their relatives.

"Of course, it has to be quick. And after it's published, have your father send you a copy, just in case."

Yu Sitian hugged Lin Qiuyue, constantly comforting her. Then she looked at Zhou Rui, and seeing his serious expression, she understood the gravity of the situation.

"Okay, I'll go to the town post office tomorrow and call my dad to get it done right away."

"No need to say too much, there are too many people watching. Just tell them that you're publishing a letter of severance for Lin Qiuyue, and your father will understand. He should also know what to write."

After Zhou Rui finished speaking, seeing that Lin Qiuyue was still immersed in her own emotions and was very sad, he quickly took out a can of fruit and let the two of them share it.

It's said that sweets can improve one's mood, and perhaps this is one way to do so.

Neigh... The mule in the woodshed cried out.

Zhou Rui slapped his forehead. How could he have forgotten about the big mule? He hadn't fed it yet.

Zhou Rui quickly went outside, took out a bunch of cabbages from the cellar, chopped them up, and even added a few eggs to them.

The mule neighed happily as it ate, seemingly having lost its fear of death in the mountains and finding a sense of security in Zhou Rui's house.