He was a disabled military officer who doted on his research work in the Northwest.

She sighed and glanced at her sisters-in-law around her.

"I think—no matter what happened back then, she came all this way, a young woman squatting on the ground crying like that, and Commander Mu's attitude...what would outsiders think? They'd say that people from our compound are heartless..."

As she said this, her gaze unconsciously drifted towards Chen Zhiyuan—he had just come out of the camp and had probably heard the commotion.

Liu Fang's implication was clear: Mu Qinghan was cold-blooded and inhuman, and Shen Tang was also ruthless.

If the sisters-in-law present agreed with this statement—

Once the news spread, a voice would emerge in the compound: "Shen Tang doesn't even acknowledge her own parents; she's too heartless."

"Oh."

A cold laugh rang out from the side.

Zhang Cuihua crossed her arms and glanced sideways at Liu Fang.

"If you feel sorry for her, then take her to your home." She'd been keeping a close eye on Liu Fang these past few days, just waiting to find something to use against her. Now that Liu Fang had spoken, she immediately chimed in, her voice so loud the whole alley could hear, "I just don't know if Deputy Regiment Commander Chen would be willing."

Liu Fang's smile froze for a moment.

Has Zhang Cuihua taken some kind of poison today?

"Sister-in-law Cuihua, that's not what I meant—"

"Everyone knows what you mean," Zhang Cuihua snorted. "Who doesn't remember the chaos you caused by bringing Bai Wei into the compound last time?"

Someone nearby muttered, "That's right... Wasn't Bai Wei's affair all brought about by Liu Fang?"

Wang Xiulian chimed in, "Yeah, Liu Fang, what business is it of yours what Tangtang's family affairs are? You're meddling in other people's business."

Liu Fang's expression changed, and her lips moved as if she wanted to explain.

But before she could speak—

"Liu Fang, shut up! You have no right to speak here!" A sharp, angry shout rang out from behind the crowd.

Niu Niu's mother squeezed out from behind, her face flushed red.

She was Liu Fang's neighbor, and they saw each other all the time. Liu Fang was also good at interpersonal relationships, so their relationship had always been good. But ever since Liu Fang invited Bai Wei to live in the compound and caused the incident where Niu Niu almost choked to death on peanuts, Bai Wei became indifferent to Liu Fang, only maintaining a polite facade.

But at this moment, her eyes were practically spitting fire.

"I haven't even settled the score with you for the peanut that got stuck in my child's throat!" Niu Niu's mother said, one hand on her hip and the other pointing at Liu Fang's nose. "A three-year-old! Almost died! If Tangtang hadn't been there—"

Her voice choked.

She remembered the scene vividly—Niu Niu's face was turning blue and purple, her mouth agape as she struggled to breathe, and she was so frightened her legs went weak. It was Shen Tang who rushed over and saved Niu Niu.

"Tangtang saved my daughter's life!" Niu Niu's mother's voice was shrill and harsh. "What business is it of yours what her family's affairs are! Who are you to interfere?! Who are you to Shen Tang?!"

Liu Fang's face turned pale. How could this be... Before, she was the most popular person in the compound. Whatever she said, if not everyone praised it, at least no one would publicly humiliate her. But now—

The way people were looking at them had completely changed.

Zhang Cuihua's cold laugh. Niu Niu's mother's angry curses. The other sisters-in-law's open or subtle disdain.

She intended to use her kind-hearted persona to stir up public opinion, but instead she was attacked on the spot.

Liu Fang subconsciously turned her head to look at Chen Zhiyuan—

He stood on the periphery of the crowd, his hands in his pockets.

Liu Fang looked at him pleadingly—say something! Help me out of this predicament.

Chen Zhiyuan glanced at her, then looked away without saying a word. Even his expression was indifferent, as if he hadn't seen her plea for help at all.

Liu Fang's heart sank suddenly.

Why is he so cold?

In the past, even if she just frowned, he would be the first to step forward.

No… not this time, but he’s been so cold towards me lately. Before, he would always hold my hand when we went for walks, but now I’m the one who takes his arm first. He—

It's been a long time since I've taken the initiative to hold her hand.

Liu Fang gripped the handle of the vegetable basket tightly, her knuckles turning white.

She dared not say anything more. She lowered her head, turned around, and quickly walked to Chen Zhiyuan's side, reaching out to tug at his sleeve.

But before she could reach out, he had already taken a step forward, and Liu Fang missed her target. She was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly followed, no longer caring about Zhang Cuihua's taunts behind her back.

"Some people have a ton of problems of their own, yet they're always worrying about other people's business." Zhang Cuihua said in a strong voice, as if she was deliberately trying to let her hear.

Liu Fang quickened her pace, whether to catch up with Chen Zhiyuan or to escape Zhang Cuihua's words, it was unclear.

……

The main hall of the Mu family.

Shen Tang sat in the chair on the left.

She was washing her face when she heard the words "Your parents are here." She paused for two seconds, then continued drying her face, changed into clean clothes, and went into the main room.

She was now sitting in a chair, and Mu Qinghan was sitting next to her.

opposite--

It is Shen Guoping, Shen's mother, and Shen Yao.

The three of them looked disheveled, carrying only simple luggage. Shen's mother's eyes were red, and she clutched a handkerchief in her hand. Shen Guoping's back was hunched.

Shen Yao stood at the back, wearing a plain cotton-padded jacket, her hair neatly braided, and without makeup. A faint handprint could still be seen on her left cheek—although it had mostly faded, it was still visible upon closer inspection.

Her eyes were slightly red, as if she had just been crying.

"Tangtang—" Shen's mother cried again as soon as she saw Shen Tang, "Mom is so sorry..."

Shen Tang sat there, without moving.

His expression was calm, as if he were looking at three unrelated strangers.

"Why are you here?" Her voice was neither warm nor cold.

Shen Guoping opened his mouth, but hesitated to speak.

Shen Yao stepped forward from behind, tears silently streaming down her face.

"Sister..." Her voice trembled, choked with suppressed sobs, "It was me... I begged Mom and Dad to come..."

She lowered her head, her hands twisted together, her knuckles turning white.

"You know what happened at the factory. The Zhao family broke off the engagement, and Zhao Jianhui went to jail... But his family keeps retaliating against us. They splashed paint on our door, there are dead rats outside, and someone even follows me on my way to school..."

"This isn't a police station," Shen Tang said, looking at her. "Why didn't you call the police?"

Shen Yao raised her head, tears clinging to her cheeks. She deliberately struck a pose she had practiced in front of the mirror, which revealed the faint handprint on her left cheek, making her look especially pitiful.

"Sister, I'm scared... I don't know who to turn to. Even if the police come, it won't help; they can't protect us every day..."

Shen's mother cried even harder beside her: "Tangtang... no matter what... you are my child... I know I've wronged you, and I accept your resentment. But Yaoyao is innocent! She didn't know anything about Zhao Jianhui's actions, and now the Zhao family is venting their anger on her. You can't just stand by and watch her be bullied!"

Shen Tang looked at her mother and said, "This is between her and the Zhao family. What does it have to do with me?"

"Besides, I remember you two signed a disassociation agreement six months ago, and even put your fingerprints on it. You gave me three hundred yuan, and we were even."

The sound effect of Shen's mother crying was stuck.

"Have you all forgotten all of this?"