Chapter 76 Even My Scalp Was Torn Bald

Suppressing the tumult within him, Song asked in a deep voice, “Where is Liuzi now?”
“I don’t know. When I left the city, I ran into the brothers who were watching over him. They’re searching for him too.”
The subordinate’s words confirmed Song’s suspicions—it really was a problem that originated with Liuzi.
That wretch, that traitor. If he ever crossed paths with Liuzi again, he swore he’d kill him.
“Song, what should we do now?” the subordinate asked.
What to do? What to do! Song wanted nothing more than to beat the subordinate as an outlet for his frustration, but he restrained himself. He had to find a way to survive this calamity.
“The trouble hasn’t reached you yet. Go home and lay low. When things settle down, I’ll come for you.
If they investigate you, just stick to your story—claim you know nothing.
If you really can’t escape, push it onto Liuzi.”
The subordinate nodded in contemplation, recalling his own deeds and quietly calculating if he could bluff his way through.
If bluffing failed, he’d have to find a way to hide.
Staying home as Song suggested didn’t feel safe, but he dared not voice his concern—he feared Song would turn on him.
Song assigned a few more tasks, then made up his mind to leave Qingshan County.
He had one last chance to turn his fate around—he would head to the Northwest.
As long as he obtained the Xu family’s treasure, he’d have something to show Seventh Brother.
No—why should he report to Seventh Brother at all?
A greedy light flickered in Song’s eyes. Why couldn’t he take the treasure and flee Dragon Country, escape to Port City?
With money, he could make something of himself.
Why work under someone else when he could be his own boss?
Song’s ambitions grew rapidly in that moment.
Before leaving, he entrusted the search for the missing treasure to his most loyal men.
He, meanwhile, led Dong and a few others trekking over mountains, leaving behind the county.
Yes, he didn’t dare take the highway, nor travel by train or bus—the safest way out was by mountain paths.
Once he crossed Qingshan’s boundary, he’d have a way to assume a new identity and survive.
Xu Lin returned to the Youth Academy after finishing work that afternoon, only to find Su Liang and Qin Fang there, their faces troubled.
Qin Fang’s eyes were red from crying; Su Liang’s lips pressed tight, his face full of dissatisfaction and anxiety.

With just a glance, Xu Lin could tell their attempt to stir up trouble at the commune had gone poorly, even resulting in a scolding.
Indeed, it was as she suspected—Su Liang had hit a wall, and a hard one at that.
Su Liang, who had always gotten his way, was humbled by his family.
His mother, over the phone, told him directly that if he wanted to return to the city, she could arrange it at any time.
But if he wanted to use the Su family’s influence to cause trouble at Xiangyang Commune, that was out of the question—they would not offer such support.
He now had two paths: abandon Qin Fang and return to the city, or stay with her in the countryside, enduring hardship for the sake of their love.
As for when they could return to the city, it would depend entirely on their own abilities; the Su family would not help.
Not only would they not help, his mother announced she would cut off his allowance—no more money or goods from home.
This was a collective family decision, a punishment for Su Liang’s disobedience.
During the call, his mother also scolded him for being troublesome and ignoring the family’s arrangements.
Originally, they had secured a worker’s spot for him in the place he’d been sent, but Su Liang’s actions had ruined it.
His mother fumed, wishing she could tear Qin Fang apart.
With the Su family’s status, what woman couldn’t he marry? Yet he insisted on marrying a spy’s daughter.
Su Liang was still young, unaware of how severe the consequences would be if he married Qin Fang.
But his mother and the rest of the family knew: marrying Qin Fang meant abandoning any political future.
How could his mother not resent and be angry?
If he hadn’t signed up for rural work behind their backs, making it impossible to stop him in time, she would have locked him up for life.
But as long as they weren’t married yet, there was still hope.
Once he’d suffered enough, he would realize love wasn’t as important as he thought.
If Su Liang would just obey, the Su family could be his safety net.
His mother and family agonized over him, but he didn’t understand and grew to resent them.
Driven by pride, Su Liang resolved to make his own way, to prove his worth to his family.
Even without them, he would live brilliantly.
Now that Su family could no longer be their support, both Su Liang and Qin Fang were weighed down.
Yet Qin Fang tried to be gentle and considerate, urging Su Liang to return to Beijing, insisting she could manage well on her own here.

The more she was gentle, the more Su Liang felt pity for her.
It wasn’t Qin Fang’s fault she was a spy’s daughter—why should she bear the consequences? No one cared for her, so he would.
But the blows they suffered were far from over.
After work, Wang’s wife, Miao Lingzhi—known as the village’s tigress—began her tirade.
Sitting across from the Youth Academy, she wailed loudly, and though she didn’t name names, it was as good as pointing directly.
She called Qin Fang a vixen, said she was always seducing men, inciting them to do wrong.
A clueless vixen dreaming of becoming a health worker—what a fantasy.
Why not look in the mirror and see what she’s really worth?
Anyone with ears and eyes could tell Miao Lingzhi was cursing Qin Fang, and naturally, both Qin Fang and Su Liang understood.
Furious, Su Liang stormed out to confront her.
But a young master from Beijing, skilled only at bullying, had no clue how to handle a shrew’s quarrel—he was utterly outmatched.
Qin Fang, hoping to prove her virtue, tried to argue back, but gained nothing.
Worse, she was dragged by her hair and beaten; her face was swollen, her scalp torn.
It was the first time Qin Fang had suffered such humiliation since arriving in the countryside, and her rage was murderous.
She harbored a deep grudge against Miao Lingzhi.
When the uproar grew, Wang Facai returned from the commune and was immediately alerted.
He showed Su Liang and Qin Fang no kindness, berating them directly.
His message was clear: either work diligently and complete daily tasks, or return to the Youth Academy for reassignment.
With the Su family refusing to intervene, Su Liang realized that if they were sent back, it would be nearly impossible to secure another good placement.
There was no choice—circumstances were stronger than people. Though they suffered tremendous loss, they had to bow their heads and admit fault, promising to work hard.
The farce ended under Wang Facai’s forceful intervention.
On the way back, Wang Facai warned Miao Lingzhi not to go too far—those two had powerful connections, and she shouldn’t bring trouble upon herself.