Chapter 5 Rotation
  Based on the clues provided by Fang Qing, the police quickly arrested a group of major suspects. But with this good news, some rumors about Fang Qing also spread.

  "Hey, have you heard? The girl from the Fang family was raped by hooligans!"

  "Who told you that? I saw that girl going out to buy fabric yesterday, and she greeted me when we met. It doesn't look like anything happened?"

  "Tsk tsk, just pretending! Young people nowadays, such a small thing is nothing..."

  "Oh, that's a pity, I quite like that girl..."

  "Hey! What are you ladies talking about? Let me listen too."

  Fang Cuiying, the young lady of the Fang family, stood behind them at some point, folding her arms and looking at the neighboring ladies as if watching a show. Although she was smiling, her eyes were cold. After

  being caught saying bad things about someone, the few people were immediately embarrassed. They smiled and scattered like birds, leaving the young lady of the Fang family standing alone at the entrance of the alley, sulking.

  "A bunch of gossipy old bastards! If I hear you gossiping behind my back again, I'll break down your door!"

  Fang Cuiying spat in the direction the group left, then angrily headed towards her second brother's house.

  It was the weekend, and Fang Qing's father was at home resting. Her aunt wanted to consult her second brother about something, so she rushed over early with the materials. Unexpectedly, she heard someone making up stories about her own niece. After sitting in a chair and drinking two glasses of water, Fang Cuiying's anger subsided a little.

  "Second sister-in-law, why did you agree to Qingqing going to the police? Now those gossipers out there are spreading bad things about our Qingqing. What's going to happen to this child in the future?"

  Fang's mother was also helpless. She explained Fang Qing's reason for insisting on calling the police, and finally sighed, "She chose her own path, so let her go for it!"

  The aunt sighed helplessly and asked about her second brother. She learned that he had heard about the incident last night and had been drinking all night. He still hadn't woken up. She had no choice but to leave the materials in her hand and help her second brother look at them when he woke up.

  When Fang Qing heard her aunt coming, she immediately pulled her into her room and pointed to some pieces of cloth and a blueprint on the bed, asking her aunt for help. "Aunt, I want to make two schoolbags. Can you help me see how to sew?"

  Seeing the blueprint Fang Qing drew, Fang Cuiying was shocked. "Qingqing, where did you get these blueprints?"

  Fang Qing didn't know how to explain it for a moment. She couldn't say that she saw them on TV when she was in a mental hospital in her previous life.
  "Uh... My schoolbag is broken, and I have a lot of textbooks now. The single shoulder strap always hurts my shoulder, so I thought of a new one, but I don't know how to sew it..."

  Fang Cuiying understood, patted Fang Qing on the shoulder, and said with a reassuring expression, "It's easy. Leave it to me. I promise you will have new schoolbags in three days. You've got to say, your drawings are quite realistic. You are indeed a daughter of the Fang family. You are talented in art..."

  Picking up the cloth and blueprint prepared by Fang Qing, Fang Cuiying left with great interest.

  In the evening, Fang Ming returned home on his bicycle. His mother noticed the bruises on his face as soon as he entered the house. No matter how much his mother questioned him, he simply claimed he'd fallen off his bike and then hid inside, refusing to come out.

  A short while later, his uncle, Fang Deli, arrived.

  "Sister-in-law, what are you cooking today? I can smell it from way off." Fang Deli leaned against the kitchen doorframe, peering inside, only to be slapped out by his mother.

  "Go away, if you're not helping, just sit back down. Why did you leave the cinema today?" Fang's mother asked about her uncle's situation while cooking.

  Fang Qing's uncle, spoiled by his family since childhood, developed a lazy and gluttonous personality. Now, in his late twenties, he lacked a partner and even a stable job. He spent his days enjoying himself with his friends, drinking, and having fun. Lately, he'd become addicted to movies, constantly asking his older brothers and sisters for money.

  Fang's mother knew from his expression that her uncle was broke again. Her husband's salary hadn't been paid yet, and she'd just paid the children's tuition a few days before. How could she afford to splurge?
  Just as Fang's mother was worried, Fang Ming opened the door and walked out, greeting his uncle.

  "Daming, what's wrong with you?" Though his uncle Fang Deli wasn't a regular at work, he was deeply devoted to his children, especially Fang Ming and Fang Qing, whom he'd raised under his care, and naturally had a special bond with.

  Seeing Fang Ming silent, Fang Deli rolled his eyes, figuring something was amiss. He dragged Fang Ming out into the yard, where they engaged in a series of whispers.

  Fang Deli's expression, initially nonchalant, gradually grew serious, until he rolled up his sleeves, his face livid. He patted Fang Ming on the shoulder, "Don't worry, I'll take care of this. I'll take care of these bastards!"

  With that, he angrily opened the door and disappeared into the night.

  In the attic, Fang Qing, who had been reviewing her lessons, overheard a conversation between her brother and uncle. Learning that rumors about her were spreading like wildfire, Fang Qing, understanding this was inevitable, lost interest in her studies and instead began packing her luggage for the next day's return to school.

  Seeing an extra box of plaster in her luggage, Fang Qing immediately thought of the Wen siblings.

  She had been in such a hurry to leave the Wen family that day that she had forgotten her bag, so the siblings had made a special trip to personally deliver it to her. The younger Wen sister even held her hand and urged her to rest. They even agreed to get lunch together after returning to school, which gave her hope for the future.

  Holding the ointment in her hand, Fang Qing seemed to finally find a glimmer of courage to face the day ahead, her restless heart gradually settling.

  Unbeknownst to Fang Qing, her actions had triggered a series of changes, and the gears of fate had begun to shift.

  In a private house, a couple was also discussing Fang Qing's situation.

  "I used to like Fang Qing, but now that this has happened, I think we should just call off the marriage that Grandpa arranged..."

  The man took a sip of tea and nodded. "That's for sure. Our son is a handsome man, destined to be a distinguished talent in the future. How could his future partner have such a stain? Besides, this matter was originally decided by Grandpa, and we weren't even asked back then. Now it's a new era, so we don't need to stick to these old customs."

  The woman was relieved. "Then you should do it as soon as possible to avoid trouble later."

  "Don't worry, I know."

  Meanwhile, different scenes unfolded across Jingtan County:
  Outside the steel plant's residential compound, two groups of young men were fighting with shovels and sticks. With the arrival of the police car, the crowds fled in all directions...

  In a dark corner in the suburbs, a filthy, curly-haired beggar stole a passerby's bag and hid in a corner, frantically searching for money. However, he was recognized while dining at a restaurant and fled into the night, grabbing his steamed bun...

  In the dance hall, a pretty girl listened to the recent rumors about Fang Qing, her face beaming with satisfaction.

  "Fang Qing, the show has begun."

  (End of this chapter)