Shen Anran inhaled sharply.
She could feel her mother's pain without being told. Not being able to refute dirty rumors — not even having the chance to defend oneself — was a humiliation that ate into the bones.
Although their savings were now a little low after repaying the borrowed money, Shen Anran silently made a promise.
She would work harder.
One day, she would buy a house in Yuxi County.
It wouldn't be cheap, but it would be worth it. A better environment. A place for growth. A place where they wouldn't have to wake up every morning to whispers and disgusting insinuations.
As for Zheng Shanshan…
She would meet her Waterloo.
Shen Anran glanced at her mother's closed bedroom door and let her shoulders drop in quiet frustration. After cleaning the kitchen and packing away the dishes, she returned to her small table and opened one of the books she had bought for twenty cents.
Knowledge was cheap now.
But in the future, it would be priceless.
Liu Meilan, unaware, had fallen asleep.
In her dream, she was surrounded by mocking laughter. The village women stood in a circle around her, their voices overlapping like a swarm of flies.
"Shameless…"
"Cheap…"
"Dirty money…"
She found herself standing in a river — not of water, but of rumors. Thick, suffocating, rising higher and higher. The men who once greeted her politely now looked at her with vulgar eyes, as if she were nothing but an object.
She tried to run, but invisible hands held her down.
Pushed her.
Pressed her deeper into the current.
Her chest tightened with helplessness.
Then suddenly —
Shen Anran appeared.
Holding a long wooden stick.
She chased everyone away, her small figure fierce and protective.
"Leave my mother alone!"
The crowd scattered.
Liu Meilan began crying in her dream.
And when she opened her eyes, tears were already streaming down her face.
Memories flooded her.
When she barely had food, these same women had never looked her way. Some ignored her completely. At ten years old, Shen Anran had already followed her into the fields, helping scrape soil under the hot sun.
They planted vegetables.
They survived on potatoes.
Boiled potatoes.
Roasted potatoes.
White rice with only salt.
Sometimes she couldn't even afford seasoning.
When their vegetables ripened, she would carry them to Yuxi County, with Shen Anran trailing behind her obediently. Some days she earned only twenty yuan. She would stretch that money carefully, making it last until the next harvest.
During the dry season, they relied on stored grains and whatever coins she had managed to save.
They survived.
With occasional help from Zhao Jianwei, who sometimes brought fish or shrimp… sometimes grain.
It was ironic that he never ended up with Shen Anran.
And now — now their life was improving.
She had new clothes.
New shoes.
Light makeup.
Food with proper seasoning.
And people said she was selling her body?
Fine.
Let them think so.
Tonight would be the last night those rumors would disturb her.
With that resolve, she fell asleep.
Soundly.
The next morning was Sunday.
Shen Anran woke early and began washing clothes. She bent down to draw water from the well in their courtyard when she heard a familiar voice outside.
Zheng Shan.
Shen Anran's brows furrowed slightly. She stood and slowly opened the courtyard door.
Zheng Shan had come intending to scold her.
But strangely, no matter how she tried, the words wouldn't come out.
Was it guilt?
Or was it because Shen Anran always had this quiet, intimidating presence?
After a moment of inner struggle, she chose to believe it was the latter — Shen Anran's presence unsettled her.
She forced a smile.
Looking at Shen Anran up close, a faint pain stirred in her chest. Shen Anran had always been beautiful — effortlessly so. Perhaps that was one reason she resented her.
And now that Shen Anran's family was gradually improving, Zheng Shan's sense of superiority felt threatened.
Just as Shen Anran was about to speak, Zheng Shan beat her to it.
"Ah, Anran… you've become so thin. The work must be really tough on you," she said, stifling a pretentious laugh.
Yes.
This was how people like Zheng Shan comforted themselves.
No matter how pretty Shen Anran was, in their eyes she was just a tool for men.
Shen Anran pretended not to hear the sarcasm.
"Yes, the stall work is quite hard. I'm still getting used to it," she replied lightly.
"Is that so?" Zheng Shan raised an eyebrow. "Why don't you hire a helper?"
"I've just started and haven't fully mastered it yet. When things stabilize, I'll consider hiring help." Shen Anran looked at her calmly. "Are you interested?"
Zheng Shan stiffened, then laughed awkwardly.
She wasn't interested in becoming a "prostitute."
"No, no. I was just suggesting. I came to greet you — it's been a while."
Her eyes drifted to the heap of new clothes lying nearby.
Jealousy flickered through them.
So Auntie Si was right.
The job might be "dirty," but the money was enough to change one's life.
Greed flashed briefly across her gaze before she masked it.
Shen Anran saw it clearly.
She had seen that same look countless times in her previous life.
"Go on and wash your clothes," Zheng Shan said. "Greet Auntie for me."
As if remembering something, she suddenly grabbed Shen Anran's hand.
"Anran… ignore those rumors. People are just… jealous."
She didn't even know whether she was saying that to ease her own guilty conscience or to appear innocent.
Shen Anran smiled faintly.
"I'm not bothered. As long as I'm doing legitimate business, people can say whatever they want."
Zheng Shan nodded and turned to leave.
Just before she stepped away, Shen Anran added calmly:
"Shanshan, be careful coming here. If people see you, they might say I'm inviting you to join me. I can endure rumors — but you and your mother might not."
Her tone was gentle.
But sharp.
Zheng Shan's face stiffened.
Shen Anran closed the courtyard door and let out a soft hiss.
Then she continued drawing water.
After washing the clothes, she hung them neatly on the new rope she had bought. Then she went to the backyard and picked some vegetables.
Her gaze shifted over to the peanut plants.
Anchovies would be good for tomorrow's snack at the stall.
A new idea was already forming in her mind.