The ending with the fat man’s fear when drinking water is a nice comedic beat. These little character reactions make the story more enjoyable than the main plot. The fat man is becoming my favorite secondary character. I hope he has more scenes where his personality shines, maybe with more dialogue that shows his wit or loyalty.
I love how the teacher realizes he needs to take charge. The class rep is about to step up, and the teacher pulls him back. 'I have to be the one to take the lead here.' That small moment defines his responsible character perfectly.
I can easily imagine the remote hillside, the muddy path back to the village, the simple clinic, and the educated youth point. The author paints a clear picture of 1970s rural China without overdoing it. The atmosphere feels both nostalgic and stark.
Yuan Zitong and her mother Ning Shi are such slimy villains already. The whole scene in Tongxiang Courtyard where Zitong smashes things because Yuan Ziyou survived, and Ning Shi calmly telling her to be patient and not rush – it shows how calculated they are. They’re not just impulsive; they’re planning long-term. The motivation (Zitong wanting Huo Xifei) is clear and makes sense for a jealous teenager. The mom is willing to ruin someone else’s life for her daughter. That’s cold. Makes me hate them even more.
I gotta say, Su Chacha kneeling and kowtowing is such a brilliantly infuriating scene. Shen Qingli is right, it's a show. She knows Zhao Yue or an elder is watching, or that it will be reported. It's a performance of guilt designed to make Shen Qingli look even more demonic. The fact that Shen Qingli can see through it in her mind is great, because it shows this life's protagonist is not going to be fooled.