Battle with Qin Fengying

Early in the morning, Zhao Gang arrived at the brigade. Without even taking time to check on everyone's work, he called Zhao Hongjun and several other cadres into the office and told them what had happened at the Public Security Bureau yesterday.

After hearing this, everyone looked deeply worried, fearing that the entire Chaoyang Production Brigade would be implicated by the Zhao brothers.

After all, when Zhao Qiancheng had done those immoral things, quite a few people in the village had taken part. If the matter were truly pursued, nearly half the village might be dragged into it.

Just as they were fretting, heart-rending wails suddenly spread from outside. Zhao Gang immediately furrowed his brows, rose to his feet, and roared, "Who the hell is howling like they're mourning the dead this early in the morning!?"

He strode forward and yanked open the office door. A slightly plump figure came hurtling in, startling him into quickly stepping aside.

Unable to stop herself, the person sprawled onto the ground with a heavy crash.

Bang!

"Ahhh—heartless people! My Qiancheng has only just been wronged, and already someone is bullying me... Boohoo! I can't go on living!"

That familiar voice made the cadres in the office stiffen. They all frowned, while the onlookers who had followed over to watch the commotion wore equally unpleasant expressions.

"Qin Fengying! What nonsense are you spouting? Have you got no shame? Who bullied you?"

"Has your Zhao family become addicted to framing people?"

"You think your family still gets the final say around here?"

Shen Jianan and Gu Yu had just entered the courtyard when they heard those words. The two instantly understood each other and raised their voices.

"What's going on here? Why is everyone gathered around the office door?"

Hearing that familiar voice, Qin Fengying, who was lying on the ground, shot Shen Jianan a venomous glare. She scrambled up and pointed at him as he squeezed through the crowd, cursing, "You black-hearted bitch! How did my Qiancheng and Jianguo offend you that you had to harm them like this?"

"You've got some nerve saying that!?"

Shen Jianan's face instantly turned cold. Frost coated his voice as he said, "Your family brought this upon yourselves. You tried to scheme and force Gu and me to marry Zhao Xiufen and Zhao Xiaojun. When the girls refused and ran away from home, you turned around and framed us, claiming I forced them into marriage.

"But the Public Security Bureau saw through your lies. Then, with a casual investigation, they discovered that your husband, your son, and Zhao Manjiang and his wife were politically 'not red,' so they arrested them. How can you lie through your teeth and bite back instead?"

Qin Fengying had already been furious, but when she heard him say her husband was politically "not red," her face immediately drained of color. She stammered defensively, "Y-you're talking bullshit! I..."

"The Public Security Bureau said it themselves. Could that be fake?"

Gu Yu coldly cut her off. "If you don't believe it, ask the brigade leader and the Commune secretary!"

Seeing Zhao Gang and the others still saying nothing, he felt sickened. So he opened his mouth and stirred the waters. "Let me tell you, this isn't as simple as them forcing marriages.

"Yesterday, the Commune secretary, Director Liu from the Educated Youth Office, Minister Li from the government, Zhao Manjiang, and the head of Lin Manqing's work unit all went to the Public Security Bureau.

"After investigating, the Public Security Bureau comrades found that the four of them had impure thinking and improper conduct. As successors of socialism, not only did they fail to promote the Chairman's great thought, they even openly practiced the remnants of feudalism and harmed the fine young people of our motherland."

He pointed at Shen Jianan and continued with a grim face, "The higher-ups suspect they're enemy agents lurking among the masses. Yet you still dare make a scene here and falsely accuse people. Looks like you've participated in quite a few of their activities yourself. I'm going to report you."

The moment he finished speaking, the crowd erupted. All kinds of gazes converged on Qin Fengying. She shuddered in fright and waved her hands frantically. "Y-you're talking nonsense! Our family, we're all... all..."

"Look at that!"

Shen Jianan looked at the crowd and pointed at her, jabbing his finger through the air several times. "She can't even speak properly. One look tells you she's guilty."

Gu Yu nodded as though it were perfectly true. "Absolutely. Otherwise, why wouldn't she say that her red heart is devoted to the Party? It's obvious there's something fishy going on."

"No, no, don't talk nonsense."

Qin Fengying was practically in tears. Nearing a breakdown, she said, "I'm just bad with words. Our whole family stands with the Party and with the people. We absolutely aren't the enemy agents you said we are."

"Is that so? I don't believe you."

Shen Jianan smiled faintly and eyed her sideways. "Unless you swear before everyone that you and Zhao Qiancheng never did anything during your terms of office that betrayed the country or the people. If you're lying, then your husband and son will stay locked in prison for the rest of their lives and never come out."

At that, Qin Fengying's face turned even whiter. She was so frightened that her mind went blank. Leaving aside anything else, she and her husband had done plenty of taking, demanding, and extorting. How could she dare swear such an oath casually? What if it came true? Wouldn't the Zhao family be finished?

Seeing her hesitate for ages without managing to fart out a word, Shen Jianan felt indescribably pleased. But he had no intention of letting her off so easily, so he pressed his advantage.

"What? You don't dare say it? Feeling guilty?"

He swept his eyes over the vindicated-looking crowd and the cadres whose expressions were complicated, then gave a cold snort. "It seems you two really have been eating public grain without properly serving the country and the people. For Chaoyang Production Brigade to have cadres like you is simply a disgrace!"

His voice suddenly rose, frightening Qin Fengying into dropping onto the ground. She burst into loud sobs. "Y-you're talking nonsense! My husband and I have always worked diligently and tirelessly for the brigade. We have never done anything to betray the country or the people."

The moment she said that, everyone revealed scornful expressions. They silently cursed her for having the nerve to say such things. Didn't she feel ashamed?

Seeing that the effect was good, Shen Jianan and Gu Yu continued taking turns hammering at her.

"What's the use of telling us that? The Public Security Bureau comrades and Minister Li need to believe you!"

"Exactly."

Gu Yu chimed in, "I heard that Minister Li had originally planned to give Jianan a commendation banner at the end of the year, and our brigade would have received a reward too. But after your family caused all this trouble, it's all gone!?"

"That isn't even the worst of it."

Shen Jianan raised his voice indignantly. "The main thing is, what if they really uncover something? Your family would deserve it, but you'd drag down good cadres like the brigade leader and the Recorder, as well as innocent villagers."

The young man pointed at the indignant crowd and shouted with a frown, "I worked so hard to connect our brigade with people from the Supply and Marketing Cooperative and the Public Security Bureau compound. We were just about to sell hair accessories and backpacks so everyone could live better lives.

"But after your family's stunt, this matter is bound to blow up. If Director Zhang of the Supply and Marketing Cooperative and those comrades from the compound think our brigade is shielding you and get a bad impression, they'll definitely end our cooperation. Then our reputation will be completely ruined.

"And from then on, whenever there's anything good in town or at the Commune, Chaoyang Production Brigade will only be able to watch from the sidelines. Don't even dream of getting a turn."

Everyone's expressions changed upon hearing this, especially Zhao Gang and the other cadres. Earlier, they had feared the matter growing too large because many people in the village could suffer for it, and the brigade's reputation could be damaged.

Yet they had forgotten what Shen Jianan and Gu Yu had said. The higher-ups had already launched a full investigation. If they continued covering things up, then once the truth came out, no one would escape unscathed. The brigade's reputation would fare even worse. But if they actively cooperated with the investigation, then even if the matter was exposed, its nature would be different.

Everyone would only think that they had been deceived, that everything had been done by Zhao Qiancheng's family. Perhaps those partnerships could even be preserved.

Seeing their expressions loosen somewhat, Shen Jianan added more fuel to the fire. "Originally, I was thinking that if this batch of goods turned out well and made money, I'd discuss with everyone about setting aside some public funds to buy glass jars.

"At the end of the month, we could take everyone up the mountain to pick ripe wild fruit and make canned fruit and pastries to sell. That way, the brigade would have another way to earn money.

"But now... I don't want to stay in this place anymore. The next time the Public Security Bureau calls me in to assist with the investigation, I'll go find Minister Li and Director Liu and apply for a transfer. Anyway, with my skills, any brigade would want me."

He looked at Gu Yu as though it were completely serious. "Gu, when the time comes, I'll visit you once a month."

"Mm!"

Gu Yu answered, his expression turning extremely ugly. The cadres and the watching villagers grew panicked as well, and they hurriedly tried to persuade him.

"Shen, don't!"

Niu Chunhua was the first to wail, "Zhao Qiancheng's family are rotten to the core for scheming against you and Gu. We didn't know before, but now that we do, we definitely won't shield them."

"Yeah, yeah!"

Her close friend Zhao Hongying echoed her, "We all know how good you are. You've done so much for our brigade, unlike some people who eat public grain while doing nothing but things that eat people without spitting out the bones."

"What's the use of saying all that?"

Feng Yi tugged at the corner of his mouth and called out, "If the fundamental problem isn't solved, then even if Shen stays in Chaoyang Production Brigade, the higher-ups may still stop our brigade from developing a collective economy because of Zhao Qiancheng's family and certain people's ideological problems. There'd be no point in him staying."

After watching for so long, he had finally understood. Shen Jianan and Gu Yu wanted to drag Zhao Qiancheng's family down from their "altar," hammer them completely into the mud so they could never rise again, and while they were at it, clean up those worthless bastards in the village.

The brigade villagers' faces changed again at his words. Shen Jianan silently praised Feng Yi for catching on, then looked at Qin Fengying, who was utterly dumbfounded and knew only how to cry.

"Director Qin, stop making trouble for no reason and making everyone hate you. If you have the time, you'd be better off going home and thinking carefully about how to explain your family's ideological and work problems to the Public Security Bureau comrades. If..."

He paused, changed tack, and continued, "If your family was truly wronged, then think carefully about who led you into making mistakes. That person definitely has ulterior motives. Perhaps she is the real enemy agent hiding among the crowd.

"Her aim is to break down you and Secretary Zhao's mental defenses, make your whole family commit mistakes and become despised by the world, until you have no choice but to serve the enemy country. A person like that is truly terrifying."

Prompted by his words, Qin Fengying's entire body stiffened. Her chaotic mind suddenly cleared, and she abruptly remembered that her family's misfortune had begun when her son Zhao Jianguo got together with Jiang Hongmei.

Cold sweat instantly broke out all over her. In her heart, she accepted Shen Jianan's explanation, then rose while gritting her teeth and cursing furiously.

"It must be that little slut Jiang Hongmei! She's the one who encouraged us to force Gu Yu to marry into our family and make you marry Zhao Xiaojun. I'll tear her apart!"

Still raging, she ran outside. Her strength was so great that she shoved aside several people in a row, drawing a chorus of curses.

"Are you rushing off to be reborn!?"

"She's crazy! This woman has really gone crazy!"

After that, quite a few people followed behind her to the Zhao Household.

The cadres were somewhat speechless. These villagers never knew what mattered most. The most urgent matter now was persuading Shen to stay and abandon the idea of transferring brigades, yet these people had run off to watch the show.

It seemed they could only step in themselves. But before they could speak, Shen Jianan opened his mouth first and blocked them.

"Brigade leader, everyone, I'm not feeling well. I won't be coming around for the next couple of days. You can handle the hair accessories and backpacks however you see fit. Anyway, they might not sell."

After saying that, he pulled Gu Yu toward the exit. After taking only a few steps, he stopped again and turned to remind them, "Oh, right! The person in charge of Zhao Qiancheng's case is named Zhang Dayong. He's also Director Zhang's son, and Director Zhang is in charge of the Supply and Marketing Cooperative. Brigade leader, you haven't forgotten, have you?"

With that, he and Gu Yu left the brigade expressionlessly, leaving the crowd standing there at a complete loss.

Cheng Hu watched their retreating backs for a moment before asking for leave. "Brigade leader, I've finished my task for today. I want to go home and rest. This leg is hurting a little."

As he spoke, he raised a hand and patted his lame leg. Zhao Gang, whose face was full of worry, glanced at him from the side. Seeing the pain on his face, he nodded in agreement. "Go on!"

"Thank you, Brigade leader."

Cheng Hu stood up, smiled at his wife and son, then turned and limped out of the brigade toward Half-Mountain Courtyard.

Meanwhile, Qin Fengying had already rushed into her home and slammed the door shut behind her, blocking the onlookers who had followed her. She then charged forward and began grappling with the bewildered Jiang Hongmei.

"You little slut, I knew you were no good."

She flung out a slap, instantly knocking Jiang Hongmei off balance and sending her crashing onto the table. The water in the enamel mug spilled everywhere.

"Ah!"

Jiang Hongmei cried out in pain. Turning around, she covered her face and glared at Qin Fengying with reddened eyes. "Are you crazy? Why are you hitting me again?"

"You're still pretending!?"

Seeing that she was about to cry again, Qin Fengying grew even more enraged. She grabbed Jiang Hongmei's hair with one hand and slapped her several times in rapid succession with the other.

Slap! Slap! Slap! Slap!

"Ahhhhhh!"

Jiang Hongmei's head snapped from side to side under the blows. She screamed hoarsely from the pain, then immediately fought back with all her strength. She kicked Qin Fengying hard, and amid the chaos, seized two handfuls of "soft flesh" and pinched and tugged with all her might.

"Ahhh—bitch, let go of me!"

Qin Fengying reached out to block her in pain, but those two claws seemed smeared with glue, stuck fast to her... and refusing to let go.

The pinching hurt too badly, and she kept sucking in breaths. With one fierce shove, she flung Jiang Hongmei to the floor. Jiang Hongmei was knocked senseless, and before she could get up, Qin Fengying viciously kicked her several times. "Bitch, you dare pinch me? I'll beat you to death!"

"Ah! Stop!"

Jiang Hongmei flew into a rage. Enduring the intense pain, she grabbed Qin Fengying's leg tightly and tripped her to the ground. Then she climbed on top of her with hands and feet, raised her palm, and began raining blows down on her.

"You old witch, I've put up with you for a long time! If it weren't for Zhao Jianguo, who the fuck would be willing to serve a whole family of country bumpkins like you!?"

Qin Fengying was temporarily unable to fight back under the blows, and now she heard Jiang Hongmei calling her family country bumpkins. Instantly turning fury into strength, she thrust up fiercely, flipped Jiang Hongmei over, and pinned her beneath her. Then she raised her fists and pounded them into Jiang Hongmei's body.

"You filthy whore, it's already merciful of me not to call you a worn-out shoe anyone can look at! And you dare call me a country bumpkin? I'll beat you to death!"

Before her words had even faded, she smashed a punch into Jiang Hongmei's left eye. Jiang Hongmei failed to dodge in time, and Qin Fengying's thumb caught the outer corner of her eye and dragged backward, instantly tearing open a gash.

"Ahhhhhh—!"

The shrill screams coming from inside the house made the people peeking through the door crack shudder. Thinking the two had beaten each other to death, they hurriedly rammed the door and tried to talk them down, while those with quicker reactions turned and ran to find Zhao Gang and the other cadres.