“Mom, it’s true. I’m willing,” Lin Zhixia said firmly.

“I’m going down to the countryside with you!”

Mother Xie’s eyes turned red. She was deeply moved. All her previous dissatisfaction with Lin Zhixia’s behavior disappeared at this moment.

She held Lin Zhixia’s hand and solemnly promised,

“Zhixia, thank you.

At home, how you are treated is how you will be treated after going down to the countryside.

Don’t worry, we will take good care of you.”

Hearing this, Xie Qingshu rolled her eyes.

She said helplessly,

“Mom, she’s your daughter-in-law, you’re her mother-in-law. Anyone listening would think we married a queen into our family!”

“Qingshu, don’t talk nonsense!” Mother Xie glared at her, though her eyes were still filled with warmth.

Xie Qingshu was completely speechless and was about to argue again.

Xie Jingheng suddenly spoke.

“Qingshu, the past is in the past. Your sister-in-law didn’t mean to do those things. She has changed now.

She is my wife, your sister-in-law. From now on, you are not allowed to speak to her so disrespectfully.

Do you understand?”

“Also, if I hear you say things like that again, I won’t be polite either!” Mother Xie added.

Even Father Xie looked over seriously and said,

“Listen to your brother.”

Xie Qingshu widened her eyes.

She was extremely unwilling, but no one was on her side. In the end, she could only nod reluctantly, glaring resentfully at Lin Zhixia.

Just wait—she would eventually uncover her true colors.

Although she didn’t understand why Lin Zhixia suddenly agreed to go to the countryside, she was certain the woman had bad intentions.

She might have fooled her mother, her brother, and her father—but she, Xie Qingshu, would never be deceived.

“Zhixia, since you’re going down with us, shouldn’t you inform your grandmother and your uncle’s family?” Mother Xie asked.

Lin Zhixia originally wanted to say no, but then she suddenly remembered something.

In the original story, the uncle’s family had secretly kept a large portion of the original owner’s parents’ inheritance—cash, ration coupons, and jewelry meant as her dowry.

Even the gold bracelet, necklace, and ring that Xie Jingheng had given her after marriage had been taken away by her cousin.

These things belonged to her—she definitely could not let them go to those people!

“Yes, of course I should,” Lin Zhixia said with a smile.

“I’ll go back personally and tell them.”

And take everything back while I’m at it.

Thinking of the jewelry, money, and coupons, she immediately became eager to act. After lunch, she quickly changed her shoes and prepared to leave.

“Dad, Mom, Jingheng, I’m going to my uncle’s house.”

“I’ll go with you,” Xie Jingheng stood up.

Lin Zhixia grabbed his arm and lowered her voice,

“No need. I’m going to reclaim what they previously took from me.

If you come, it’ll affect my performance.

It might also affect your reputation.”

Seeing his confusion, she explained,

“Think about it. Once something is given away, how can it be taken back so easily?

You’re not part of their family. They’ll definitely mock you and try to guilt-trip you, and they might even spread rumors about you.”

“It’s fine. I don’t care,” Xie Jingheng said calmly.

“I care. Your reputation shouldn’t be damaged because of them. They don’t deserve it.”

“Wait for me at home. I’ll be back soon.”

At Steel Factory staff housing compound.

Lin Zhixia followed the original owner’s memories and arrived at the small courtyard at the very back.

As she pushed open the gate, the original owner’s aunt, Liu Xiaolan, just happened to come out to collect sun-dried sweet potato strips.

Seeing Lin Zhixia, she looked surprised. A flash of annoyance crossed her eyes, though she quickly put on a fake smile.

“You child, look at you—you’re pregnant already. You should be resting properly. Why are you still running around?”

“If you need anything, just call us.”

Lin Zhixia couldn’t be bothered to exchange pleasantries.

Her goal was clear: take back what belonged to her and leave. Not a moment more.

In the original story, this uncle and aunt had even been accomplices in the original owner’s death.

Before being sold off to a remote mountain village, the original owner had managed to escape and return home to seek help.

But her uncle and aunt, eager to curry favor with Chen Xingyu, instead sent her back.

Thinking of this, Lin Zhixia refused to give her any polite expression. She didn’t even respond and walked straight toward the house.

“Hey, Zhixia, don’t go in!”

Liu Xiaolan blocked the door, her face full of disgust.

“I heard your in-laws were raided by the Revolutionary Committee and are about to be sent down to the countryside for reform.

It’s not that I don’t want you inside, but our family is clean and proper. If people misunderstand that we’re connected to bad elements, what then?”

“You can just stand at the gate and talk.”

“Don’t come in.”

Lin Zhixia’s gaze instantly turned cold.

She let out a sneer and deliberately raised her voice toward the neighbors nearby,

“Auntie, are you sure you want me to say it here at the gate? The dowry my parents left me back then…”

Hearing this, Liu Xiaolan panicked immediately. She grabbed Lin Zhixia and pulled her inside, quickly shutting the door to block the neighbors’ view.

Letting go of her arm, she crossed her arms and said irritably,

“What dowry? What nonsense are you talking about?”

“When your parents were sent down, everything was confiscated. Even the 30 yuan train fare was paid by your uncle because he felt sorry for them. What dowry could they possibly have left you?”

Lin Zhixia had already expected her denial.

She said calmly,

“My parents told me on the phone.”

“They said they left me a box of gold, silver, and jade jewelry—my grandmother’s inheritance.”

“I didn’t know before, so I troubled you to keep it for me. Now that I know, I won’t trouble you anymore.”

“Auntie, please return it to me.”

That box of jewelry alone was worth thousands of yuan—maybe even more. Liu Xiaolan had long since considered it her own and was absolutely unwilling to return it.

Rolling her eyes, she suddenly had an idea.

She pretended to be troubled and said,

“Zhixia, you should ask your uncle about this. I really don’t know anything about it.”

“Unfortunately, your uncle isn’t home. He went on a business trip with the factory director to another city and won’t be back for several days. You should come back later.”

Once Lin Zhixia left, she would immediately go to the factory and tell her husband to hide until Lin Zhixia left with the Xie family for the countryside.

Then everything would still belong to her.