Even though the neighborhood gossip appetite was indeed ravenous, An Ning did not turn her attention back to that household until more than half a month later.

In the 1960s, university coursework was not light, especially at the prodigy-filled Jing University. Just in An Ning’s dorm alone, there were as many as three city top scorers, and one of them was even a provincial top scorer.

As the youngest student in that cohort and the national top scorer in literature and history, it was no surprise that An Ning was one of the focal points when she first enrolled.

The old professor in the mathematics department next door, in particular, always looked at her with especially complicated eyes.

An Ning: “…”

Professor Ge was an old acquaintance. Since 1955, there had been a number of math contests across the country, especially in big cities like the capital. To avoid destroying the whole genius persona, and amid the high expectations of many teachers at the university, she had still put in a real fight.

He probably never expected that she would ultimately abandon mathematics, not even choose science and engineering!

Fortunately, in this world—and especially at Jing University—there was no shortage of geniuses. Although it was regrettable, everyone had their own ambitions.

The old professor did not stay sulky for long; he simply watched over her a bit more in class from time to time.

Well, at least it was math…

In short, when she first enrolled, compared to An Ning’s own composure and practiced ease, Old Wang and Ms. Wei were even more excited. Before taking their daughter to register, the couple had specially tidied themselves up and pulled out the brightest clothes from the wardrobe. If the harvest hadn’t been poor this year, they would have insisted on going to the city department store and getting her a whole new outfit from head to toe.

Thanks to her good eyesight, An Ning even noticed traces of hair oil on Old Wang’s head…

An Ning: “…”

Hadn’t expected it—this cheap dad actually cares about his looks!

Putting those things aside, it was 1960. If everything proceeded normally, she could graduate smoothly in 1965. There was no need to skip grades, and with her prior experience, it had to be said she felt more relaxed than before.

Just now, after returning home and tutoring her eldest sister, she had been gleefully indulging in gossip.

Thanks to timely help, Second Sister Chen had ultimately been saved, but obviously, a grown man’s strength is not the same as an ordinary woman’s, and even a child might be comparable.

Not only had they spent a large sum on medical bills, her health had been ruined for good.

Unexpectedly, compared with Meng Yu earlier, Chen Fu Sheng did not end up in jail—even though Director Meng had deliberately tried to push his cheap son-in-law in there.

Even if they later harshly sent their daughter to the countryside, it would still be better than staying here.

After all, it was their own daughter; no matter what, they could not just abandon her. But unlucky for them, there was always someone worse. During the process, someone surnamed Zhou butted in, and the Chen second aunt’s family were not idiots either.

After ruthlessly extorting a big sum and forcing them to sign a stack of unequal agreements, they also signed a letter of forgiveness on the spot.

What a joke. In this era, the family was already struggling. Without the younger brother’s “support,” wouldn’t they really be reduced to hunger?

Director Meng—ha! No matter how powerful this director was, could he reach into the neighboring textile factory? Besides, the two older aunts didn’t have steady jobs; they did small piecework like gluing boxes. They had nothing to fear now!

After a long tug-of-war, the person came out, but Chen Fu Sheng’s job was completely lost.

Whether Minister Yang had a hand in it, An Ning didn’t know. But sometimes it didn’t matter; as soon as someone above showed even the slightest disgust, countless others rushed in and punished them, even kicking them when they were down.

Especially after entering senior high school, as coursework became heavier, Little Wang Brat’s health issues fully surfaced. He had to sleep and wake early every day; his schedule became astoundingly healthy. Don’t mention staying up all night practicing like An Yun; if he studied longer, his head would hurt.

During the famine years, without work and with a bunch of ailments clinging to them, and with vampires expected to take advantage, one could imagine how miserable the Chen family’s life had become.

Chen Fu Sheng, in particular, had been to the police station. Not only did he lose his job, but his previous image as an “honest man” was gone forever.

His whole demeanor turned gloomy beyond measure.

After enjoying the spectacle of the Chen family’s misery and knowing these people were truly in bad shape, An Ning fully let go. She kept attending classes and occasionally came home to struggle through tutoring.

Time flew. By the time An Ning learned the next news, it was already more than half a year later: Miss Meng herself had personally prepared a pot of soup laced with rat poison, and in one sweep had taken away all of her enemies along with herself, including the two older aunts who had come for free meals.

The day the police came, the whole alley unquestionably boiled over.

After the commotion, there came a vast, oppressive silence.

No one had expected that Miss Meng, who usually seemed to lack brainstem function, could be so ruthless.

In 1961, after nearly three years of disaster, at the entrance to Huaihua Alley, even the Wang family had secretly gone out several times to buy high-priced grain.

And that was while An Ning, a university student, received monthly grain ration coupons, normally not taking much from the household quota.

Given the Chen family’s state and everyone’s weak constitutions, even if the rat poison dose was not large, by the time the alley’s residents realized something was off—because the Chen family, unusually, was quiet— it was already too late.

In all these years in Huaihua Alley, this was the first time such a major violent death had occurred.

In these times, how could people not be terrified?

Even Old Wang and Ms. Wei could not help but go take a peek.

Just as An Ning returned, she heard her mother sighing while stir-frying:

“I used to dislike that Meng family, but compared to Miss Meng, the Chen family people—especially Chen Fu Sheng—really are no good!”

For some reason, compared to the Meng girl who nearly tricked her, Ms. Wei instinctively disliked Chen Fu Sheng more.

Now that the person was dead, she felt no pity; she even thought it served him right!

“And Old Meng,” she said, “look at him crying his heart out now—teaching your daughter like that, tsk, earlier he should have just broken her up!”

Exactly, An Ning nodded in agreement.

A person’s character is not formed in a day. Especially Miss Meng; compared with sheer malicious stupidity, An Ning found her to be even scarier in a different way.

Like an infant’s awakening, that kind of blunt chaotic self. Still, leading the whole family to go with her showed some growth.

But that final move was truly a rotten set-up.

“By the way!” After a while, the family finished eating, and Ms. Wei suddenly spoke:

“Ning Ning, did you know? Because of this, Director Meng can’t even be director anymore!”

Hmm…

To be honest, that was not surprising at all!

Lying on the sofa, An Ning satisfiedly bit into a juicy bit of gossip.

Don’t say it—modern political screenings go back three generations. In those days, if your own father wasn’t implicated, how could it be?

Perhaps as if on cue, just as An Ning stepped across the school gate that day, she ran straight into someone she knew…

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep