Knowledge: Exposing this Matter
“…You’re not a child of the Xie family?”
Xie Mingtu nodded silently, his eyes clouding over with a shadow of gloom.
Su Xiaoman fell silent at his response. She reached out and held his hand, their palms pressed together, the warmth blending between them.
Xie Mingtu already knew the truth, so it was time to start preparing for what was to come.
Su Xiaoman wasn’t sure if paternity tests existed in this era, but she had noticed something curious: Jiang Yantang bore a strong resemblance to Xie Mingtu’s second brother—or rather, to all the Xie brothers to some degree.
Of course, Jiang Yantang’s demeanour and attire set him apart from the Xie brothers, making it unlikely for anyone to link them together.
If this truth were to be exposed, the best timing would likely be on the day the family split. Furthermore, Su Xiaoman wanted to avoid emotional manipulation from onlookers saying things like, “Even if Sun Mei swapped the children, she raised you; you should forgive her. Don’t be ungrateful.”
Such comments would only end up blaming the victim and excusing the wrongdoer. It was both absurd and laughable.
Public opinion had to be on their side first.
The plan was clear: build goodwill, expand their reputation, and sway the sympathies of the villagers towards Su Xiaoman and Xie Mingtu. Even within the Xie family, there needed to be allies.
In this case, the eldest and third sisters-in-law of the Xie family could play a key role. Both of them harboured resentment toward Sun Mei and could serve as valuable witnesses to her cruelty, preventing her from using her “nurturing grace” as leverage against Xie Mingtu.
Those who had wronged others in the Xie family wouldn’t end well. Sun Mei’s deliberate swapping of the children was a crime; at the very least, she should face several years in prison.
—
Back in the village, life bustled with activity. The villagers, led by Liu Zhaoqiang, began planting mulberry trees and digging fish ponds. For the first few days, a bulldozer was rented from the agricultural station to excavate dozens of acres of fish ponds. Mulberry saplings were planted along the edges.
Su Xiaoman joined the village women in planting the saplings and grafting mulberry branches. Meanwhile, Xie Mingtu, driving a tractor, transported soil and saplings up and down the mountains. His presence attracted the attention of many young women who couldn’t help but steal glances at him.
Old man Chen, who had carefully researched fish farming techniques, stood nearby giving detailed instructions. Tasks included disinfecting the ponds with lime and fertilizing them. Liu Zhaoqiang worked alongside him, discussing schedules and division of labour.
The village even opened a new mill recently, powered by an internal combustion engine, which made milling far more efficient than manual or animal labour. The whole production team had transformed, with everyone busy and productive.
—
“Is that really Xie Lao Wu? Xie Mingtu?”
“He’s like a completely different person.”
“Marriage really does make a difference, huh?”
“I heard he can even fix tractors!”
Just a few days ago, the brigade’s tractor broke down. Unable to fix it, they somehow heard about Xie Mingtu and sought him out in Qiao Xin Village. To everyone’s surprise, Xie Mingtu repaired it.
“You can fix tractors too?” Liu Zhaoqiang, Su Xiaoman’s uncle, couldn’t help but re-evaluate his nephew-in-law. Initially, he had thought Su Xiaoman had married a plain, unremarkable farmer. Who would’ve guessed this son-in-law had such a skill? Even the commune leaders praised him, calling him a talent.
“I learned from Uncle Zhou during my time away.”
“Xiaoman said you can also drive a freight truck?”
“Yes,” Xie Mingtu nodded, “but I don’t have a license, so I can’t drive here.”
Most vehicles were public property at the time, and driving required a government-issued license. Such licenses were allocated based on quotas and were not easily obtained.
Liu Zhaoqiang nodded thoughtfully. “It’d be great if our team could get a freight truck one day.”
He patted Xie Mingtu on the shoulder. “Keep up the good work, kid!”
—
In recent days, Su Xiaoman’s reputation in the village had improved significantly. No one brought up her past infatuation with Jiang Yantang anymore—it was ancient history. Now, people saw her as a renewed, hardworking Su Xiaoman.
She worked alongside the women, never shirking her duties, even offering help when needed. This won her the admiration of many older women.
Rumours spread about her talents. Word had it that she was skilled in embroidery and had learned about sericulture during her time away. She even received a batch of high-quality silkworm eggs as a gift from an expert. With the village planning to start sericulture next year, many anticipated seeking her guidance.
Her improved reputation was partly thanks to the efforts of the Xie family’s eldest and third sisters-in-law, who frequently spoke highly of her.
“Little Five’s wife brought us snow cream—it makes your hands and face so much softer.”
“She even got toothbrushes for all the kids.”
“Look at this pencil case—she picked it out too… She’s really planning to settle down and build a good life with Little Five.”
Hearing such praise, many young unmarried men in the village secretly cursed Xie Mingtu’s luck. He had managed to marry the beautiful Su Xiaoman, who not only excelled at cooking and embroidery but was also hardworking and resourceful.
As Xie Mingtu drove the tractor, he drew envious, jealous, and resentful stares from the village’s young men. Some even fantasized about dragging him into the woods for a beating.
—
“Xiaoman!”
“Hello, Third Aunt!”
These days, whenever Su Xiaoman went out, the village women greeted her warmly. Though some of the older women were a bit unsophisticated, their enthusiasm was genuine.
While watering the mulberry saplings, she encountered a familiar face.
It was Sun Xiaoqiao.
Sun Xiaoqiao was an average-looking village girl, short, with dark skin and a few freckles from sun exposure. Her hair was tied into two simple braids, and her patched clothing reflected her humble circumstances.
“Xiaoqiao!” Su Xiaoman called out.
Hearing her name, Sun Xiaoqiao turned and froze upon seeing Su Xiaoman. “Xiaoman?”
She hadn’t expected Su Xiaoman to greet her.
The two had been friends once—or more accurately, Sun Xiaoqiao had been Su Xiaoman’s little shadow. They often played together as children. Su Xiaoman, pampered and temperamental but undeniably beautiful, had been the target of teasing from the village boys. Whenever that happened, the sturdier Sun Xiaoqiao would step in to chase them away.
Sun Xiaoqiao, with her good-natured temperament, became a constant companion to Su Xiaoman, who shared her treats and trinkets with her.
As they grew older, their friendship endured—until the arrival of the educated youth Jiang Yantang, who Su Xiaoman fell for. That marked a turning point in their relationship.
Su Xiaoman had developed a liking for the city-born intellectual youths who came to the countryside. She admired their clean and cultured demeanour and envied the stylish way the women dressed. Gradually, she started imitating their clothing and fashion choices. Over time, she began to view the local village girls as rustic, with Sun Xiaoqiao being the epitome of “country bumpkin”—a rural girl with just an elementary school education and little sophistication.
Su Xiaoman aspired to befriend the educated women and integrate into their circle. She even dreamed of marrying Jiang Yantang and eventually becoming a city dweller herself.
On the other hand, Sun Xiaoqiao was a practical person who believed the educated youths from the city were fundamentally different from them. She also noticed that the city girls looked down on Su Xiaoman, often ganging up to tease and ridicule her. Sun Xiaoqiao couldn’t stand seeing this and tried to dissuade Su Xiaoman from liking Jiang Yantang, suggesting she find a hardworking, down-to-earth rural man instead.
The two disagreed, which led to a major argument and a gradual estrangement. They hadn’t been in touch much since.
Sun Xiaoqiao’s family was struggling financially, and her father had recently fallen ill. She intentionally avoided Su Xiaoman, and the two hadn’t seen each other in some time.
She had only heard from others in the village that Su Xiaoman had been saved by Xie Lao Wu after falling into the water and was then forced to marry him. Sun Xiaoqiao had lain in bed feeling sorry for her former friend for a long time.
Although she hadn’t liked the idea of Su Xiaoman being with Jiang Yantang, she had secretly hoped her friend could get what she wished for.
Who would’ve thought things would turn out this way?
The beautiful Su Xiaoman had married a poor boy from the village. By all logic, someone like Sun Xiaoqiao—with her looks and family background—would have been a more fitting match for someone like Xie Lao Wu. For Su Xiaoman, proud and ambitious, to marry Xie Lao Wu must have felt like a huge injustice.
Initially, Sun Xiaoqiao had wanted to comfort Su Xiaoman. She even wandered near the Xie family home a few times but ultimately never went inside.
Later, she heard rumours that Su Xiaoman had changed. She no longer liked Jiang Yantang and was determined to build a good life with Xie Lao Wu. She even went with him to study outside the village. Upon returning, Xie Lao Wu seemed like a completely different person—a handsome young man.
It was true. Over the past few days, Sun Xiaoqiao had deliberately taken a few glances at Xie Mingtu when he passed by on the tractor. To her surprise, this once ragged boy had cleaned up and turned into a dashing young man who could make girls blush.
And he wasn’t just good-looking. He could drive a tractor and had even been asked by the commune to repair one recently. He was clearly a capable man, and Sun Xiaoqiao felt genuinely happy for her former friend.
“Xiaoqiao, long time no see,” Su Xiaoman greeted her with a smile and walked over to hold her hand. “I recently went outside and brought back a gift for you—a box of snow cream from Shanghai and some soap.”
Su Xiaoman had come to mend her relationship with Sun Xiaoqiao. Having the combined memories and experiences of two lifetimes, she realized that Sun Xiaoqiao had been one of the rare, genuinely kind friends in her life.
Her past friendships with wealthy socialites were superficial and competitive, full of backstabbing and schadenfreude.
But memories of Sun Xiaoqiao reminded her of two silly little girls playing in the fields, sneaking to the river, and holding hands to catch frogs in summer. Once, a giant toad the size of a human head had scared her so much that she cried for half the day, and it was Sun Xiaoqiao who comforted her.
Another time, after school, they had encountered a massive black snake basking in the sun by the roadside. It was thicker than their thighs, and they were so terrified that they ran home hand in hand, trembling the entire way.
Such simple and pure memories brought warmth to Su Xiaoman’s heart.
“For me?” Sun Xiaoqiao was taken aback, her eyes lighting up with joy as she looked at Su Xiaoman.
Su Xiaoman nodded, and the two shared a smile as if their past differences had melted away, rekindling their friendship.
During their chat, Su Xiaoman learned that Sun Xiaoqiao was about to get married. Her fiancé was from a nearby family in the village. The family wasn’t well-off; they had a bedridden grandmother in her eighties and aging parents in poor health. The fiancé was the eldest son, had dropped out of school after elementary grades, and worked in the fields while taking care of his younger siblings, who were still in school.
Despite the challenges, Sun Xiaoqiao was content. Her future husband was hardworking, kind, and tall—a strong worker in the fields. She believed they could make do together and have a decent life.
Since both families were poor, they didn’t plan to hold a formal wedding. Instead, she would simply wear a red cloth and marry him in the plain manner typical of impoverished families.
Hearing this, Su Xiaoman suddenly remembered something. “I recall you have an old red dress. How about giving me the dress and the red cloth? I’ll alter them and make you a proper wedding outfit.”
Sun Xiaoqiao was stunned. “That dress is too small for me now. It was a hand-me-down from a cousin.”
“Let me try. I want you to look beautiful on your wedding day!”
Moved by Su Xiaoman’s words, Sun Xiaoqiao nodded eagerly.
Later, she brought the old dress and a small piece of red cloth to Su Xiaoman, who took them back to the Xie family home.
—
That evening, under the dim light of an oil lamp, Su Xiaoman spread the old dress and the red cloth on the table, contemplating how to redesign them.
The materials weren’t sufficient to make a stunning wedding outfit, but Su Xiaoman planned to secretly buy more red fabric with her own money to complete it.
Sun Xiaoqiao had been so kind to her in the past, and Su Xiaoman genuinely wanted to make her look radiant on her special day.
Creating a wedding dress for her with her own hands was a token of their enduring friendship.
For Su Xiaoman, sewing wasn’t difficult, though she sighed, “If only I had a sewing machine.”
“If you want a sewing machine, I can find one for you,” Xie Mingtu said from the side, where he was whittling wood.
“Really? But I can’t afford it.” Even if she could, she wouldn’t place something so valuable in the Xie family home.
“How about an old one?”
“Of course, that’s fine!” Su Xiaoman turned to him, curiosity shining in her eyes. “Can you really get one?”
Could he possibly know someone who wanted to sell a second-hand sewing machine? In these times, sewing machines were considered a major household item, rarely replaced or sold. Moreover, very few people in their area even owned one.
“Manman, I have an idea,” Xie Mingtu said mysteriously.
When Su Xiaoman pressed him for details, he simply smiled and refused to elaborate. The next day, they both took leave from work, obtained a recommendation letter, and caught a ride to Nanjing City.
When they arrived in the city, Su Xiaoman was still dazed. By contrast, Xie Mingtu, who used to be somewhat apprehensive about urban environments, now navigated the streets confidently, expertly guiding her to their destination.
Holding his hand, Su Xiaoman followed him to a local garment factory. There, they found the manager, Wang Fengshan, and inquired about old or broken sewing machines. As it happened, the factory had a batch of outdated and damaged sewing machines they were planning to discard.
These machines were mostly on the verge of being scrapped. The better ones had already been taken home by the factory workers at low prices, leaving behind machines deemed too far gone to be of any use.
Hearing that the couple was interested in this “junk,” the manager brought them to the storage area to see the pile of more than a dozen broken sewing machines.
“They’re all broken, unusable. Some of these are so old that even repair specialists have given up on them,” Wang Fengshan explained.
Curious about their intentions, he asked, “What do you plan to do with these?”
“You can fix these?” Wang Fengshan was astonished when Xie Mingtu said he could.
Xie Mingtu had come prepared, borrowing a toolbox and spare parts beforehand. Right in front of the manager and Su Xiaoman, he quickly dismantled three sewing machines and reassembled the usable parts into one functioning machine. Both Su Xiaoman and Wang Fengshan watched in stunned silence as the newly assembled machine operated smoothly.
“Is your husband an apprentice of some kind of mechanical repair master?” Wang Fengshan couldn’t help but ask.
Su Xiaoman vaguely nodded, “Uh, yes, something like that.”
Xie Mingtu’s talent with machinery was undeniable. Not only was he adept at repairing and dismantling things, but his ability to reassemble them was extraordinary. Su Xiaoman even suspected he could completely dismantle a tractor and reassemble it with ease.
The sewing machine he repaired functioned perfectly!
Previously, Wang Fengshan had told them that the old sewing machines were being sold for ten yuan apiece. Effectively, they had spent thirty yuan to create a single “new” sewing machine.
Su Xiaoman threaded the machine, tested it with a piece of scrap fabric, and happily exclaimed, “It works so well! It’s even better than Sister Zhou’s machine. Mingtu, did you modify it?”
Xie Mingtu nodded. “Manman, does it suit your needs?”
“It’s better than I imagined!” Su Xiaoman was initially skeptical, thinking that even if the machine could be pieced together, it wouldn’t perform as well as a brand-new one. But to her surprise, it worked like a dream.
Thirty yuan for a fully functioning sewing machine, complete with lifetime repairs—provided by her husband!
She couldn’t help but look at Xie Mingtu with an expression full of admiration. “You’re amazing!”
Xie Mingtu stood still, flustered by her sparkling eyes. He didn’t know what to do with his hands or feet, as an uncontrollable wave of excitement and joy surged through him.
Feeling emboldened, he thought to himself that he could modify countless machines for her.
Ever since he started learning how to repair tractors with Zhou Heqiang, Xie Mingtu had discovered an innate talent for understanding mechanical structures. It was almost as if his intuition guided him.
“Can you repair other types of machines? One of our factory machines broke down, and the professional repair technician won’t be here until next week,” Wang Fengshan asked. Seeing the young couple’s demeanour, he suspected they were either students from a technical university or apprentices of a skilled master. It didn’t hurt to try his luck.
Xie Mingtu glanced hesitantly at Su Xiaoman. She nudged him, encouraging him to give it a shot.
“If you’re that talented, you should explore your potential. It’s a good opportunity to learn,” she said. “Don’t worry, we can stay here a few extra days. At worst, we’ll just have to endure some scolding from Sun Mei.”
Following her encouragement, they were taken to the faulty machine—a large, modern cloth pulling machine. Beside it was a user manual, written mostly in Soviet and English.
Xie Mingtu picked up the manual and studied it intently. Meanwhile, Su Xiaoman stood by, watching him closely, wondering if he could actually understand it.
“This machine was purchased from abroad. The manual is difficult for our technicians to decipher,” Wang Fengshan explained, watching Xie Mingtu with equal scepticism.
After inspecting the equipment, Xie Mingtu said, “The machine isn’t broken. It was assembled incorrectly. If we reassemble it, it will work.”
With the help of the factory’s technicians, Xie Mingtu disassembled and reassembled parts of the machine. Soon enough, it was up and running.
Relieved, Wang Fengshan couldn’t contain his gratitude. “Do you really understand this manual? There are several other issues our technicians couldn’t figure out. Could you help us interpret them?”
Xie Mingtu, it turned out, could read most of the manual. He spent some time discussing and resolving technical issues with the factory’s repair staff.
In the end, a grateful Wang Fengshan waived the thirty-yuan fee for the sewing machine and treated them to a meal in the factory cafeteria.
“If you need more sewing machines, the remaining ones can be sold to you for eight yuan each. I can approve this personally,” he offered.
Hearing this, an idea suddenly sparked in Su Xiaoman’s mind.
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