Evil Doers Punished

No sooner had Shen Jianan and the others left than Feng Yi and the other educated youths spotted Jiang Hongmei and the Zheng Lei couple approaching from afar.

Seeing those three lunatics actually returning to the village together, everyone was astonished. They did not believe the three could possibly have patched things up.

After all, each of those three was crazier than the next. None of them had a normal brain, or how else could they have done so many baffling things?

Thinking of this, the educated youths immediately became wary. They lowered their heads and hurriedly packed up their tools, pretending not to see them. Feng Yi even directly told Song Yichen to leave first and inform Shen Jianan at Half-Mountain Courtyard.

"Okay."

Song Yichen acknowledged the instruction, glared at the three of them, then turned and ran off. A dark look flickered through Jiang Hongmei's eyes before she stepped forward with a smile and took the initiative to greet everyone.

"Long time no see. What are you all doing here? Need any help?"

As she spoke, she reached for the box in Lu Xiaoyue's hands. "Xiaoyue, let me help you!"

"No need."

Lu Xiaoyue sidestepped to avoid her. Only then did she notice the obvious bite marks on Jiang Hongmei's face and the scar at the corner of her brow. Her pupils contracted in shock. She had never expected Jiang Hongmei's injuries to be so severe. She opened her mouth, about to say something, but Jiang Hongmei spoke first.

"Is it ugly? Do you think I'm ugly?"

She fired off question after question. "Do you think we can't be friends anymore? Are you looking down on me? How can you treat me like this?"

Lu Xiaoyue rolled her eyes speechlessly. The tiny bit of sympathy she had felt for Jiang Hongmei instantly vanished without a trace. "We stopped being friends long ago. Don't try to guilt-trip me. What does whether you're ugly or not have to do with me?"

She slung the toolbox over her shoulder, then turned to Feng Yi, Li Jiaojiao, and the others, whose expressions were equally unpleasant. "Let's go. Put everything away and get ready to eat."

"Mm!"

Everyone nodded. Ignoring the other side's fury and the indignant expressions on Zheng Lei and Huang Qimei's faces, they quickly gathered their things and entered the brigade compound together, leaving the three standing there cursing, shrieking, and going completely berserk.

"What are you all so proud of? Why won't you talk to us?"

"You're forming a little clique, @¥&#％@..."

Those inside doing handicrafts and cooking heard the commotion and called out to ask what was going on outside. Why was someone howling like ghosts and wolves?

"Nothing."

Group leader Wang Hongbo replied irritably, "Jiang Hongmei and the Zheng Lei couple are back. We ignored them, and they got upset and started acting crazy."

"Are those three sick in the head?"

Bai Qiulian frowned and cursed. Li Shuqin nodded in agreement. "Weren't they hospitalized? How did they come back so quickly?"

"They've been in there long enough. They should be better by now."

Niu Chunhua answered, her eyes full of irritation.

"Oh, dear!"

Jiang Hong, Zhao Dayou's wife, slapped her thigh and cried out, "They'd better not cause trouble for our brigade again! Especially Jiang Hongmei. Zhao Qiancheng's family started having bad luck after getting involved with her."

"I don't like hearing that."

Niu Chunhua planted her hands on her hips and glared at her. "Zhao Qiancheng brought it on himself. He got what he deserved. It wasn't something Jiang Hongmei alone could have casually ruined."

"Chunhua is right."

Bai Qiulian took over coldly. "Jiang Hongmei may be no good, but if Zhao Qiancheng had truly been upright and unafraid of scrutiny, then even if Jiang Hongmei were Daji reborn, she couldn't have done anything to his family."

"Exactly."

Li Shuying shot Jiang Hong a glare as well. "Think before you speak."

Jiang Hong's cheeks immediately flushed red with embarrassment. She gave an awkward smile. "I-I was just saying it casually."

"Hmph! Let's hope so!"

Bai Qiulian sneered and ignored her. The educated youths gave Jiang Hong cold looks before carrying their things into the office. They disliked Jiang Hong as well.

Before Zhao Qiancheng's family got into trouble, she and her husband had practically wanted to lick their shoes in front of them. Behind their backs, though, they called them "Huang Shiren."

After the Zhao Household was arrested and fell from grace, the couple started acting crazy again. One moment, they would speak up for them; the next, they would accuse Zhao Qiancheng of "bureaucratism." From time to time, they even picked fights with Zhao Xiufen and Zhao Jiaming.

In short, their words changed faster than a child's face. Everyone particularly disliked the couple, and unless necessary, no one wanted to speak to them.

Seeing that no one would pay attention to her, Jiang Hong was dissatisfied, but she knew she had angered everyone and did not dare show it.

She could only shamelessly keep trying to talk to Bai Qiulian and the others. It was not until everyone was pestered beyond endurance and reluctantly started speaking to her that she finally stopped.

Meanwhile, Song Yichen successfully reached Half-Mountain Courtyard and told Shen Jianan and the others that Jiang Hongmei's group had returned.

Upon hearing this, they immediately went to the fields to find Zhao Gang and the other cadres, asking them to send someone to keep watch in case the three caused trouble.

The cadres were afraid too. They had previously wanted to kick those three out of Red Flag Commune, but Chaoyang Production Brigade's reputation was already terrible. Their hospital brawl had become widely known as well. Who would be foolish enough to take them?

"Sigh, we were still one step too slow."

Zhao Gang said that he had discussed it with Lei Zhensheng. They had originally planned to wait until things quieted down, then talk to Jiang Hongmei and send her near the farm where Zhao Jianguo was being reformed. After all, the two had once discussed marriage.

As for Zheng Lei and Huang Qimei, he had planned to send them to the forestry farm. They were always short on people there, and both of them were able-bodied workers. If transferred there, the person in charge probably would not refuse them. Who knew the matter would not even be settled before they came back?

Zhao Gang frowned. "You don't know it, but I have a really bad feeling. I keep thinking that something bad will happen now that they're back."

Shen Jianan's eyes flickered, and he nodded in agreement. "It's fine. We just need to keep our guard up. Let's go check out the brigade first."

"Alright, alright. Let's go."

Zhao Gang hurriedly agreed and strode ahead. The others followed closely behind him toward the brigade, but before they even arrived, they heard fierce shouting and fighting from inside the compound.

Everyone hastened inside, only to find Jiang Hongmei, Zheng Lei, and Huang Qimei attacking one another while also cursing and brawling with the women cooking. The freshly prepared food had been spilled everywhere.

Zhao Gang's anger surged at once, and he roared, "What are you all doing? Let go, all of you!"

His furious shout instantly suppressed the scene. The people fighting quickly released one another and stepped aside. Seeing the food all over the ground, Zhao Gang's eyes reddened with heartache.

"Why are you wasting food like this? Aren't you afraid of being struck by lightning?"

"Secretary, it wasn't our fault."

Niu Chunhua stepped forward and explained pitifully, "Jiang Hongmei and the others started acting crazy first and smashed the food we cooked."

"Bullshit! Obviously, it was you people..."

"You're the one talking bullshit!"

Niu Chunhua raised her voice and cut off Jiang Hongmei's explanation, quickly recounting what had happened earlier. She was not going to give the other side a chance to argue.

Earlier, because the educated youths ignored them, the three had gone wild outside, cursing up a storm. When it came time to eat, they did not feel embarrassed at all. Carrying their bundles, they entered the brigade compound, planning to freeload food and drink.

Everyone disliked the way the three behaved. They had both openly and indirectly said several times that those who did not work would not eat, but the three pretended not to understand and kept sitting beside the pot.

They even took advantage of a moment when no one was watching to reach into the pot and grab the few slices of meat. Li Shuqin happened to turn around and see it. She and Bai Qiulian cursed furiously, but the three refused to move.

Niu Chunhua already could not stand them. Seeing them shamelessly ruining the food like this made her even angrier, and she immediately tried to drag them away. Jiang Hongmei then said, "If you're not afraid of making me lose the child in my belly, then go ahead and pull me."

The moment she said that, everyone did not dare touch her. But the next second, Huang Qimei, whose eyes were full of venom, exposed her lie.

"Heh! Aren't you afraid your tongue will get twisted in the wind? You, Zheng Lei, and I fought at the hospital before, and you rolled straight down the stairs. If you really had Zhao Jianguo's bastard in your belly, it would have been shaken out long ago, right? Hahahaha..."

She threw back her head and laughed viciously, her voice shrill as a ghost's wail. Jiang Hongmei was enraged and sprang to her feet, raising her hand to slap her. "You bitch, you're still talking!?"

Huang Qimei's body tilted from the blow, and she fell off the bench, landing awkwardly on the ground. Zheng Lei merely gave her a cold look and said nothing.

Seeing how indifferent he was toward Huang Qimei, Jiang Hongmei immediately became smug and began mocking her.

"Whether I'm really pregnant or not, as long as I want a child, I can find any man I want. But you... heh!"

She sneered. "Even if you found a hundred men, you'd never be able to have another child."

"You... you bitch!"

Huang Qimei trembled from head to toe, her eyes blazing. "I ended up like this because of you! I'll fight you to the death!!"

She suddenly lunged up and rammed hard into the smug Jiang Hongmei. Caught off guard, Jiang Hongmei staggered backward. In her panic, she grabbed Zheng Lei, who was sitting beside her, and the two of them, along with their benches, tumbled straight into the huge iron pot full of food.

Bai Qiulian and the others did not even have time to save the food. Huang Qimei, meanwhile, went mad. She snatched the spatula from Li Shuqin's hand and rushed forward to beat Zheng Lei and Jiang Hongmei, who had fallen in a heap.

"You two bitches! Adulterer and whore, you're the ones who ruined me! You ruined me!!"

"Ahhh! Stop! Stop right now!"

"Help! Pull this crazy woman away!!"

Zheng Lei and Jiang Hongmei howled as they were beaten. Everyone was furious and anxious, but they still had some sense left. Seeing Huang Qimei pound the two so hard that their noses bled, they feared someone would die and hurriedly stepped forward to break it up.

But Huang Qimei was so crazed that she hit them too. The scene immediately descended into chaos, and no one knew how it eventually turned into a massive brawl.

After hearing this, Zhao Gang was so furious that he pointed at Jiang Hongmei's group and cursed, "You three are nothing but walking disasters. Chaoyang Production Brigade has had eight lifetimes of bad luck to end up with you.

Because of your little mess, our reputation has been destroyed, and now you've even ruined lunch for everyone."

"Enough. Stop wasting words on them and throw them out."

Zhao Hongjun waved his hand impatiently. "Go to the Educated Youth Office this afternoon and have Director Liu get them out of here immediately. Our little temple can't accommodate great Buddhas like them."

"Why? Why should we leave?"

Jiang Hongmei demanded angrily, though panic filled her heart. Zheng Lei and Huang Qimei regretted acting so impulsively as well.

They were not stupid. They knew their reputations were ruined. If they could not remain at Chaoyang Production Brigade, they would only be transferred somewhere poor and miserable.

Thus, the moment Zhao Hongjun spoke, the two began making a scene alongside Jiang Hongmei. But everyone had already been disgusted by the three to the extreme. Why would they listen to their nonsense? They immediately shoved them out of the compound.

Shen Jianan stood in the courtyard, coldly watching everything unfold. After a moment of silence, he gave Gu Yu a meaningful look and walked out with him.

Seeing that, just as he expected, the three had not left, Shen Jianan's eyes shifted. He pointed at the blackboard bulletin on the wall and said, "Brother Gu, since we can't eat right now, let's hurry up and make the blackboard bulletin!

If we finish it, when the town leaders come tomorrow for the legal education class and see how thoughtfully we arranged everything, they'll definitely change their opinion of all of Chaoyang Production Brigade. Don't you think?"

The moment Shen Jianan moved his backside, Gu Yu knew what he was planning. He immediately nodded along, his face solemn. "Let's do it. This is Chaoyang Production Brigade's only chance to turn things around."

"Mm!"

Shen Jianan answered, then called into the courtyard, "Chen Ming, Feng Yi, come out quickly. While everyone is still cooking, let's finish the blackboard bulletin first."

"Coming!"

The moment he finished speaking, the voices of the two came from inside. Before long, the educated youths, Chen Ming, Zhang Qiao, and Qu Feng ran out. Chengcai, Zhang Tian, Cheng Guang, and the other teenage boys who were helping carry tools came with them.

While everyone was busy, Shen Jianan walked over to Chen Ming and whispered in his ear, "Once you finish drawing that main image, stop."

Chen Ming froze slightly, not understanding what he meant. Shen Jianan patted his shoulder and murmured coldly, "Just do as I say. Don't worry about anything else."

Since Shen Jianan had said so, Chen Ming did not ask further. "Okay."

He immediately picked up his brush and started painting. Not far away, Jiang Hongmei's group watched them busily work together in harmony, their hearts filled with anger and hatred.

They were all educated youths. Why did Shen Jianan and cadres like Zhao Gang treat Feng Yi and the others so well, while treating them so poorly?

Now they were even going so far as to drive them away. Thinking of everything they had suffered, the three became even more resentful. Jiang Hongmei in particular felt that she was destined to be the female lead, loved by everyone and successful in all things.

Yet now, her looks had been ruined, while Gu Yu and Shen Jianan were thriving. How could she accept that? As she thought about it, a vicious plan quietly formed in her mind.

She turned to Zheng Lei and Huang Qimei, temporarily suppressing her anger, then stepped forward and whispered a few words into their ears.

Their expressions changed at once. Then they nodded and left the brigade compound with her. Shen Jianan watched their departing backs, his gaze gradually turning sharp.

Because of the earlier farce, the brigade members did not get to eat until after two in the afternoon. They had no time to rest before following the cadres out to work in the fields.

On Shen Jianan's side, however, everyone deliberately loafed around for the entire afternoon at his signal. In the end, they left a small section of the blackboard bulletin unfinished, saying they would complete it the next morning.

Though Zhao Gang was anxious, he could not say much. He only told them that it had to be finished before the leaders arrived the next day, then let them go back to rest.

Night gradually fell. The people who had worked all day went to sleep, and the whole village became exceptionally quiet. Before long, several shadows appeared furtively near the brigade compound, carrying a bucket.

The three were so focused that they did not notice a stream of liquid silently flowing into their bucket out of thin air.

They walked beneath the wall, looked around for a while, and, seeing no one, took out the wet towels from the bucket and quickly began rubbing the blackboard bulletin.

But they had only wiped twice when they felt something was wrong. Before they could figure out what had happened, dense footsteps sounded ahead.

The three froze. Looking up, they saw Feng Yi's group from the Educated Youth Station and Shen Jianan's group racing toward them along the village road. Terrified out of their wits, the three quickly turned to flee.

But they were a step too slow. Gu Yu, Zhang Qiao, and Qu Feng, charging over at full speed, kicked them hard to the ground. Feng Yi and the others hurried to inspect the blackboard bulletin, only to find it smeared with red paint. Their eyes reddened with fury.

"They ruined the blackboard bulletin and smeared it with red paint."

"Let me see."

Shen Jianan anxiously squeezed forward. When he saw that the portrait of XX in the main image had been smeared beyond recognition with red paint, his entire expression darkened.

"Quick, call the secretary and brigade leader. They actually publicly vandalized XX's portrait. Brother Gu, gag the three of them."

"Alright."

"I'll go."

Song Yichen answered as well and immediately ran to notify the cadres. Gu Yu, Zhang Qiao, and Qu Feng worked together, casually taking off the three people's shoes and stuffing them into their mouths. They then tightly bound them with the ropes Chen Ming had found.

Very soon, the brigade cadres arrived with Song Yichen. When they saw that the perfectly good blackboard bulletin had been destroyed and XX's portrait smeared with red paint, rage exploded within them.

They immediately lost their heads, rushing forward to punch and kick the three while cursing furiously, "You rotten things! You even dare vandalize XX's portrait? Are you insane? Are you trying to destroy all of Chaoyang Production Brigade?"

The commotion was so loud that the villagers were awakened before long and came running over. After learning about the wicked thing the three had done, everyone instantly lost their minds and joined in beating them.

Before long, the three were beaten to the point of barely clinging to life, taking more breaths out than in. Zhao Gang and the other cadres felt their hearts lurch and hurriedly called for everyone to stop.

But the matter still needed to be resolved. They had an important legal education class to hold the next day. If they notified the Public Security Bureau and Educated Youth Office now, the brigade's reputation would only get worse, and the next day's class would be impossible to hold. For a while, everyone was trapped in a dilemma.

In the end, Shen Jianan came up with a solution. He had Zhao Gang invite Secretary Lei Zhensheng and several Commune cadres over first. After showing them the scene, they had people hold torches and flashlights to brightly illuminate the area, then used his camera to photograph the evidence of the three people's crimes.

After that, they immediately had the blackboard cleaned and began making a new bulletin overnight, while everyone else could return home to rest.

"How can that be!? We're all from the same brigade. Why should you stay up all night making sacrifices while we go home to sleep? What kind of people would that make us?"

Cheng Hu stepped forward unhappily and raised the flashlight in his hand a little higher. "I may not know how to do this, but I can at least give you light. Hurry and draw! If we don't get it done, it'll be too late tomorrow."

Hearing this, everyone expressed that they would stand together with them. They spread out on both sides and behind them, illuminating the surroundings as brightly as day.

Shen Jianan was moved. For the first time, he felt that Chaoyang Production Brigade was like a true collective. He did not delay any further and led everyone into action.

Lei Zhensheng and the other Commune cadres had originally been annoyed that Chaoyang Production Brigade had so much trouble and always dragged others into it. But when they saw the brigade's people unitedly staying up through the night for the next day's legal education class, they were moved as well.

For a time, their favorable impression of the entire brigade rose greatly. At the same time, they came to hate Jiang Hongmei's group, who were always causing destruction, even more.

Every one of them was thinking that once tomorrow's affairs were over, they would make those three pay a painful price.

Through everyone's efforts, the blackboard bulletin was finally completed successfully in the early hours of the morning. At Zhao Gang's request, Shen Jianan and the others went back to sleep for a few hours, then hurried to the brigade again to prepare for the afternoon's legal education class.

As everyone busied themselves, time gradually passed. Around five o'clock, people began arriving one after another. The first to arrive was Zhang Dayong, the day's main speaker.

To everyone's surprise, Bai Yun's father, Public Security Bureau Chief Bai Tiancheng, had come as well. Shen Jianan guessed that the matter involving Ling Ying had made him grant them a favor, so he led the teenage boys forward to greet them.

"Welcome, leaders, to Chaoyang Production Brigade's legal education meeting!"

"Chief Bai, Captain Zhang, you're here."

"Hey! You've done a fine job here."

Bai Tiancheng nodded with a laugh. He raised his hand and pointed at the children around Shen Jianan and the blackboard bulletin in the distance. "You put thought into it."

"It's what we should do."

Shen Jianan answered with a smile, then made a welcoming gesture. Just as he was about to invite them to take photographs, Li Zhong, Liu Jiang, and the others arrived, accompanied by four or five leaders from various departments. Cheng Guang, Zhao Chengcai, and the others' eyes immediately lit up. Without even needing Shen Jianan to call them, they hurried forward.

"Welcome, leaders, to Chaoyang Production Brigade's legal education meeting! Welcome, welcome! A warm welcome!"

The leaders, "..." Was this... a little too enthusiastic?

Bai Tiancheng and Zhang Dayong pressed their lips together to hold back laughter, then quickly stepped forward to exchange greetings.

Seizing the chance, Shen Jianan had several children go inside and notify everyone to sit down. He also had Chen Ming call Lei Zhensheng and the others, who were hiding in the office catching up on sleep, as well as the brigade cadres working in the fields. Once everyone had finished talking, he invited them to stand at the entrance to the brigade compound and before the blackboard bulletin for commemorative photographs.

The cadres were all surprised. They had not expected this brigade to make things so formal. Afraid they would think he was engaging in bureaucratic showmanship and extravagance, Shen Jianan quickly explained.

He was doing this because he wanted to make a commemorative booklet documenting how Chaoyang Production Brigade, under the Party's leadership and with everyone's help, gradually escaped poverty and moved toward a better future.

The leaders all laughed when they heard that. "Kid, that won't be easy to pull off, will it?"

"Exactly!"

They were not trying to mock him. They simply thought it would be difficult. Even their government offices had to ask newspapers for help when they wanted to do such things, let alone him, a lone commander with no one under him.

Zhao Gang and the other cadres also felt for the first time that Shen Jianan was a little unreliable. He dared to boast about anything in front of the leaders. But since he was doing it for the brigade, they said nothing, merely standing to the side and smiling awkwardly.

Shen Jianan understood what they were thinking, but before he had succeeded, he was not foolish enough to argue with anyone. He simply made use of his young age and begged everyone to cooperate and give him a chance. Even if he failed, at least he would have tried. He just wanted to do something for the brigade.

The cadres present had already formed a favorable impression of him. Hearing his request, they considered that he was doing this for the brigade's people and actively promoting the Party's policies. It was something worthy of support and praise, so they readily agreed.

After successfully taking the photos, Shen Jianan wasted no time. He invited everyone into the courtyard, where the leaders saw that the brigade members had all taken their seats. They were even more pleased, feeling that everyone's attitude toward learning was excellent.

The seating arrangement was rather strange, though. People sat in groups of three or five, seemingly with each family clustered together. The leaders asked what was going on and why they were not seated in neat rows.

Zhao Gang hurriedly explained, "Leaders, us country folk aren't educated. Many of us can't read, so I had each family sit together. First, if they don't understand something, they can ask someone in their family who can read.

"Second, children or adults who can write can note down the key points, then review them separately afterward, so they won't forget and end up breaking the law without even knowing it."

"So that's how it is. You've thought this through very carefully!"

Li Zhong nodded approvingly, then raised a hand toward Bai Tiancheng in invitation. "Then let's take our seats!"

"Alright."

After exchanging a few courtesies, Bai Tiancheng and the others took their seats one by one. Zhang Dayong adjusted his collar, then strode straight to the blackboard and began speaking.

"Hello, everyone. I'm Zhang Dayong, captain of the Criminal Investigation Brigade at the Xinghe Town Public Security Bureau. Now, I will give all you fellow villagers a..."

The moment they heard him, Feng Yi and Gu Yu sprang into action, hurrying to sit before the blackboard with their notebooks and take rapid notes. As for Shen Jianan, he held up his little camera and captured the precious moments.

Other than Zhang Dayong's firm, resonant voice and the clicking of the camera shutter, no one spoke. They listened intently to his explanation.

From time to time, one or two people would raise their hands to ask questions, and Zhang Dayong patiently answered every one of them.

The leaders watched with great satisfaction. Everyone was studying earnestly. It seemed their previous assessment of Chaoyang Production Brigade had been unfair.

As time passed, the legal education class gradually drew to a close. Amid the crowd's enthusiastic applause, Shen Jianan hurriedly snapped several photos.

He then rose and walked quickly forward, handing the camera to Gu Yu. He bowed to thank Zhang Dayong and invited him to take a seat.

Only then did he turn to face the crowd. He winked at Gu Yu, who had already raised the camera toward him, then spoke solemnly. "Fellow villagers, Captain Zhang's legal education class has benefited us immensely... I hope that from now on, everyone will strive—and must strive—to become law-abiding citizens, making their own due contributions to our country's political security, social stability, and economic development.

"Today's legal education class is now concluded. Once again, thank you to all the leaders for coming. The meeting is adjourned."

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhao Chengcai, Cheng Guang, and the other children presented the leaders with the pen holders they had prepared in advance. There were twelve in all, neither more nor less, exactly as Shen Jianan had predicted.

Li Zhong and the others had not wanted to accept them, but when they learned that they were special handicrafts painstakingly prepared by Chaoyang Production Brigade, offered as the highest courtesy to the leaders, they accepted them with smiles.

Only then did the villagers rise and applaud. Moved by their enthusiasm, all the leaders smiled and began chatting with them.

Most of their questions concerned the fields and whether there was enough grain at home to eat. They had only asked casually, but the brigade members unexpectedly turned into a praise squad, recounting once again how Shen Jianan had led them toward prosperity. Naturally, they also took the opportunity to kick Zhao Qiancheng's family while they were down.

Meanwhile, at Shen Jianan's request, Feng Yi seized every available opening to interview several important leaders.

As for Zhao Gang, Lei Zhensheng, and the other cadres, they struck while the iron was hot and told them about what Jiang Hongmei and the others had done.

"Leaders, we took photos. Once they're developed, you'll see just how outrageous those three were."

With reddened eyes, Zhao Gang said in a trembling voice, "Leaders, to tell you the truth, if our brigade hadn't united, lit torches and flashlights, and worked with Shen to repair the blackboard display overnight, not only would today's legal education meeting have been impossible to hold, but our brigade would have been saddled with the accusation of destroying the XX portrait. You leaders might even have been implicated. It's terrifying just thinking about it."

"Isn't that so? Those three scourges are utterly vile!"

Li Zhong angrily agreed. Then he turned to Bai Tiancheng with a grave expression. "Director Bai, we absolutely cannot tolerate people like this. They even dared to destroy an XX portrait. Who knows whether they might try to rebel in the future?"

Bai Tiancheng was so startled by his words that he shuddered. He immediately stated, "Don't worry. I will never allow such a thing to happen."

He then had Zhang Dayong and Zhao Gang, along with the other cadres, escort the three onto the vehicle. Only then did he bid everyone farewell and leave Chaoyang Production Brigade with Li Zhong and the others.

Early the next morning, Zhao Gang and the others hurried back to the brigade from town. They did not even stop to catch up on sleep before gathering everyone together and announcing the punishment handed down to Jiang Hongmei, Zheng Lei, and Huang Qimei.

The three had deliberately destroyed the XX portrait. In addition, the brigade cadres exposed evidence that they had repeatedly engaged in illicit relations between men and women, corrupted public morals, stolen educated youths' belongings, and falsely accused and spread rumors about others. They were directly detained by the Public Security Bureau, swiftly processed, and all sentenced to ten years in prison.

When Shen Jianan heard the news, the huge stone in his heart finally settled firmly into place.

Far away at the farm where he was serving his sentence, Zhao Jianguo learned the news from his younger sister. He seemed to have been struck by lightning, freezing on the spot for a long while before finally reacting.

He looked at his thin, haggard younger siblings, his eyes gradually reddening. "It's all Brother's fault. Go back. Once I get out, our family will live properly together."

With that, he got up and left. No matter how his younger siblings called after him, he refused to turn back.

Zhao Xiufen knew that although her brother had come to regret his actions, he was also truly heartbroken.

He had truly loved Jiang Hongmei. But that woman had never been worth his devotion.