Chapter 50: The Evil Stepmother of the 1970s 17 New Story Started “Mom…

Chapter 50: The Evil Stepmother in the 1970s (17) New Story Published: "Mother..."

How could Xu Ziyan possibly become a writer? Getting published in the country's top newspaper?

If Xu Ziyan were truly this capable, she wouldn’t have run off with the family’s money. So everything was just her own speculation? Xu Xiuyun’s face grew paler by the second. Suddenly, it dawned on her—she had been played by Xu Ziyan!

This was all Xu Ziyan’s doing. Knowing Xu Xiuyun was the overthinking type, Xu Ziyan deliberately let her see things that would lead her down that path. Once Xu Xiuyun believed it and spread the word, they would humiliate her publicly, making her even more of an outcast in the village.

Xu Xiuyun threw the newspaper aside and blurted all this out.

Fang Nan scooped up the newspaper, carefully dusting it off, and said angrily, "You got no manners at all—you dirtied my mom’s newspaper!"

Fang Bei charged at Xu Xiuyun like a little cannonball, sending her sprawling. "You mean old witch! Don’t you dare badmouth my mom!"

The villagers around them remarked, "Just look at how fiercely these kids defend their stepmom. Xu Ziyan’s gotta be good people—kids know who treats them well."

Old Lady Fang grew even angrier. "Xu Xiuyun, instead of minding your own business, all you do is stir up trouble. And now you’re even claiming someone set you up? Really? Who told you to go sneakin' around at night? Did we tell you to come to our doorstep and cause a scene? Did we make you spread rumors? Look at what you’ve done—ain't you got no shame? How can you even say these things?"

Xu Xiuyun lay there moaning forever, but no one helped her up. The Xu Family used to dote on her because she was obedient and sensible. But ever since the fallout with Xu Ziyan, where they lost favor with the battalion commander, their affection for her had cooled, and they only put up with her out of courtesy now.

Now, because of her, the entire Xu Family had become a laughingstock. Even her own parents and brother had about enough of her. Why couldn’t she just live peacefully? Why’s she always startin' trouble? What good did all this pointless drama do her?

This was what everybody was wondering in the village, and the only conclusion they could draw was that Xu Xiuyun was truly jealous of Xu Ziyan—she just couldn’t stomach Xu Ziyan doing well.

To verify the truth, the village chief went to make a phone call. A bunch of nosy neighbors followed, crowding around the receiver to listen.

When the call connected, the village chief politely asked a few questions. Sure enough, it was the newspaper editor. Old Lady Fang grabbed the receiver, exchanged greetings, and the moment the editor heard it was Xu Ziyan’s family, their tone perked right up. They confirmed they’d met Xu Ziyan and her husband, praising them as wonderful people who had traveled safely and urging the family not to worry.

Old Lady Fang beamed as the editor complimented Xu Ziyan’s talent and Fang Lihai’s upright character. She puffed up with pride, chatting a bit more before hanging up.

Now the truth was undeniable. How could a phone call from the capital be faked? Where would they even find someone to pull off such a deception? This was the honest truth.

Fang’s father said sternly, "Before, out of respect for our shared roots, we didn’t push them to move out. But who knew she’d still be watching us? Village chief, today they must leave. There’s no way they can stay next to us—it gives me the creeps."

Old Lady Fang clutched her chest. "Exactly! Living next to them, I couldn’t sleep at night, afraid Xu Xiuyun would peek over the wall. She’s plumb crazy."

With things having escalated this far, no one listened to Xu Xiuyun anymore. The village chief sent someone to fetch Song Dongbo from town, ordering them to move out immediately.

Song Dongbo was in the middle of mindin' his stall when he was abruptly summoned back to move—all because Xu Xiuyun had provoked the Fang Family again. Mad as hell, he laid down the law to Xu Xiuyun for the first time: "If you dare cause trouble again, I’ll divorce you! I mean it—don’t blame me for being heartless."

Xu Xiuyun bawled her eyes out, not out of self-pity but getting beat by Xu Ziyan just killed her. This time, it was clear Xu Ziyan had set a trap, and she—blinded by jealousy—had walked right into it, making her name mud and becoming the village laughingstock.

Worse, no one had known about Xu Ziyan’s published article until Xu Xiuyun’s outburst. Now the whole village knew Xu Ziyan was a big-shot writer, the village’s literary prodigy who had dined with editors in the capital—practically their golden phoenix.

Xu Xiuyun had unwittingly glorified Xu Ziyan while burying herself in disgrace. How could she not be devastated? It ate her up inside.

All her life, she’d been the smarter one, the one destined to outshine Xu Ziyan. She was the vibrant flower; Xu Ziyan was just the background. So how had Xu Ziyan suddenly stolen the spotlight, leaving her as the villain everyone despised?

Song Dongbo showed no intention of comforting her, his mind boiling with anger. They'd married for convenience from the start—mutual convenience, no illusions. Yet now Xu Xiuyun kept making him look bad. What was the point of this marriage if it only brought trouble?

But since Xu Xiuyun’s antics targeted others, not him directly, he couldn’t easily file for divorce without risking his reputation. As a businessman, his good name meant everything, so he had to endure it for now.

Left with no choice, Song Dongbo swallowed his pride and enlisted a few friends to help them move. Xu Xiuyun trailed behind tearfully to their new home—a run-down shack with a crumbling fence, worse than the educated youth’s quarters, resembling the shacks for those sent to labor camps. Her heart sank.

The helpers shook their heads. You had this coming. Why not just live peacefully? Scheming against others—once or twice, fine, but endlessly? No one would tolerate that.

Still, no one had expected Xu Xiuyun to be this malicious. They’d all grown up together; some had even secretly admired her gentle, hardworking nature, assuming she’d marry an officer, someone beyond their league.

Now they counted their blessings she’d aimed high. Who’d want such a troublemaker at home? Just look at Song Dongbo’s misery.

And Xu Ziyan—once dismissed as a wild child, unfilial and unkind, someone no one wanted to associate with. Now they saw her for what she was: intelligent, resilient, a devoted stepmother who’d raised the boys well, and now a celebrated writer entrusted with managing the household.

Don't judge a book by its cover.

This whole mess showed the villagers to seek facts before jumping to conclusions. Rumors could destroy lives—had Xu Ziyan been weaker, their years of misunderstanding might’ve crushed her.

They also learned the value of resilience. Truth would eventually surface, but even if it didn’t, look at Xu Ziyan—she'd come out on top anyway, becoming a writer who rose above gossip. That was the attitude to emulate.

Many families now used this saga as a cautionary tale. In a way, Xu Xiuyun had single-handedly elevated the village’s collective wisdom—though she’d hardly consider that an achievement.

By the time the dust settled, Xu Ziyan had finalized her property purchase and returned.

They’d toured the capital, returning laden with souvenirs, so Fang Lihai escorted her home. The moment they entered the village, crowds swarmed them, eagerly asking about their trip.

Fang Lihai smiled. "Xu Ziyan had business in the capital, so I took leave to accompany her. We wrapped it up and hurried back—my leave’s ending, so I leave tomorrow morning."

The villagers bombarded them with questions: What was the capital like? Had they climbed the Great Wall? For those who’d never traveled far, "He who has not climbed the Great Wall is not a true man" was their ingrained image of Beijing. When Fang Lihai confirmed they had, they pressed for details—how long was it? How tall? How magnificent?

Xu Ziyan laughed. "We took photos. Why not come over and see?"

"Perfect! We can see the capital without leaving home!" Delighted, some ran to fetch their families, and soon the Fang residence was packed.

Xu Ziyan produced stacks of photos. She’d spared no expense capturing the era’s landmarks, documenting nearly every famous spot in the capital. The villagers marveled, hanging on her every word as she described each location, feeling as if they’d glimpsed Beijing themselves.

This further cemented the truth: Xu Ziyan had indeed gone to the capital with Fang Lihai, returning with gifts—generous ones for the elders and children, no less. The idea that she’d "run off with the money" was laughable. If anything, she was the family’s breadwinner, earning through her writing.

In their eyes, this was true prowess. Without realizing it, they’d begun treating Xu Ziyan with newfound respect, a far cry from their former casualness.

The next day, Fang Lihai returned to his unit, his bag stuffed with textbooks and study materials—the latest exam prep bought in the capital. He dove into them the moment his train departed, a model of discipline.

For days, the village buzzed about Xu Ziyan’s trip. Wherever Xu Xiuyun went, she heard praises for Xu Ziyan until she couldn’t take it, holing up at home. Song Jiao, too, faced taunts about her "wicked stepmom" and was shunned by peers. After several tearful outbursts, she also retreated indoors, her relationship with Xu Xiuyun deteriorating further. She even began soiling sheets deliberately to spite her.

Xu Xiuyun, wary of Song Dongbo’s recent coldness, dared not discipline her, swallowing her rage in silence.

Then, a bombshell announcement: The national college entrance exams were reinstated! The first round would be held that winter, the next in spring—open to anyone aged 15 to 35, married or not, employed or not.

The village erupted. Educated youths wept with joy as they signed up en masse; families with students or former scholars followed suit. Progress overshadowed all else, and gossip about Xu Xiuyun and Xu Ziyan faded.

Clutching her textbooks at home, Xu Xiuyun trembled with excitement. Her chance had come! She’