Only seven little bok choy, the two postal workers split three and a half each.
With Director Jiang absent, Wu Jingjing was the queen bee, pulling Chen Mianmian off to rest.
But Chen Mianmian asked, “We have two classmates who are militia brothers, each wearing a Meihua Watch…”
Wu Jingjing immediately said, “Ma Jiguang and Ma Jiye—two losers.”
Chen Mianmian squeezed her hand.
“Where are they?”
Zhao Lingcheng thought his ex-wife would first chat with her female classmates at the guesthouse, while he went to find his uncle and catch Xu Dagang.
But in fact, Chen Mianmian and Wu Jingjing quickly reached the militia team’s gate before him.
It was a small unit with a small courtyard, and it stank terribly.
There were no municipal services yet; the militia’s main job was to collect city manure and transport it to the countryside.
Looking from outside to inside, Xu Dagang’s militia vice captain’s office was locked, clearly he wasn’t there.
Wu Jingjing led Chen Mianmian to the back yard’s manure collection site and shouted, “Ma Jiye!”
A man hauling manure looked back but then bowed his head again.
He was also militia, but the lowest kind—those doing manure transport while the better ones supervised prisoners on the farm.
Chen Mianmian saw Ma Jiye and immediately scolded, “Your sister appeared to me in a dream last night, calling you a donkey, you worthless bastard!”
Ma Jiye trembled all over but still said nothing.
Wu Jingjing was a little dumbfounded.
“Mianmian, you’re a living Lei Feng—use civilized language, no cursing.”
Chen Mianmian noticed Ma Jiye’s arm was empty, then scolded again, “Where’s the watch your sister died for? Why don’t you wear it, you worthless bastard? For a broken watch, it didn’t matter your sister died? You’re a useless coward who can’t even spit out a fart! Your dead father must be so ashamed he buried himself in your mother’s crotch, you know that?”
Ma Jiye covered his face with both hands and squatted down.
But a hand grabbed Chen Mianmian.
“Who the hell are you cursing?”
Wu Jingjing said, “Ma Jiguang, behave yourself. Mianmian is a soldier’s wife.”
Ma Jiguang was Ma Jiye’s younger brother, also a manure hauler, but with a slightly fiercer temper.
He raised the manure shovel.
“Don’t think you’re special just because you married a soldier. I, I…”
Chen Mianmian puffed up her chest.
“Xu Dagang slept with your sister, got her pregnant, then refused to marry her. Your sister jumped into the water pit. Xu Dagang even told you he had my husband in the army and if you cause trouble, my husband would kill you, right?”
Wu Jingjing finally understood.
“Xu Dagang threatened you with Mianmian’s husband?”
Ma Jiguang said angrily, “Sooner or later, I’ll stab all of you.”
Chen Mianmian sneered, “Bullshit—you’ll just burrow into your mother’s crotch.”
She had only guessed this from the start because when she first got married, Zhao Lingcheng bought a Meihua watch for the female supporting character, who gave it to Xu Xiaomei.
Then Zhao Lingcheng bought her another, which she gave to Chen Jinhui.
The two watches later mysteriously ended up on Ma Jiye and Ma Jiguang’s wrists.
They had an older sister, quite pretty, but later she jumped into the water pit and died.
When Chen Mianmian saw her after she was pulled out, her belly was very large.
Coincidentally, the Ma siblings were orphans, so Chen Mianmian guessed that Ma sister’s belly was caused by Xu Dagang.
Sure enough, the Ma brothers covered their faces and crouched down, crying.
Seeing how pathetic they were, Chen Mianmian made it clear, “My husband won’t help Xu Dagang. He’s just abusing his power. The police will come to deal with him. Now, I’m going to interrogate you two, and you must tell the truth.”
The two brothers were still confused but said together, “Ask.”
She motioned for Wu Jingjing to keep watch and said, “He slept with your sister at your place. Afterward, he probably didn’t dare to stay overnight, right?”
The brothers nodded together.
Chen Mianmian asked, “Where does he usually sleep? The farm or his own home?”
Ma Jiguang said, “Back then he was at the Labor Reform Farm; he’d go back there.”
Sleeping around and getting caught could mean execution, so Xu Dagang left immediately after.
Chen Mianmian asked, “How often did you see him go back home?”
Ma Jiye said, “Only around New Year’s.”
Only returning home for New Year meant he had no time to bring anything back, so his home could be excluded.
That left two places—the farm or the Gobi Desert.
Chen Mianmian asked again, “After your sister died, who was he with?”
This was crucial, related to finding stolen goods.
Just then, Wu Jingjing suddenly whispered, “Shh, Mianmian, he’s back.”
Chen Mianmian hid behind a tractor and saw Xu Dagang enter the yard.
The three Xu brothers shared similar sharp, chiseled faces and narrow eyes.
He brought along seven or eight boys around fifteen or sixteen, all in green uniforms, full of vigor.
In the yard, Xu Dagang spread his hands and took a deep breath, asking the boys, “Comrades, do you know what this smell is?”
The boys answered in unison, “The smell of manure, the smell of the poor masses.”
Xu Dagang smiled, “If we love the people, we must love their smell.”
The half-grown boys took a deep breath near the manure pit, “Mmm, smells great.”
But of course, though they said it smelled good, they wouldn’t come to sort or soak manure.
Only the Ma brothers did the dirty and hard work.
At the manure pit, Wu Jingjing whispered to Chen Mianmian, “You mean Xu Dagang’s red and dedicated image is just a performance?
He’s actually a bad man who messed around with girls, causing one to jump into a well, and he uses your husband’s name to threaten people?
Really?”
Chen Mianmian looked back at the Ma brothers, the victims, who sighed together, “Ugh!”
Ordinary children from the common folk weren’t as slick or performative as the Xu brothers.
The boys with Xu Dagang were the so-called Red Guards, being toyed with by him.
The Ma brothers knew his true nature but dared not expose him.
Of course, they were too stupid to do so; it required the female supporting character’s identity and Chen Mianmian’s eloquence.
But she had to wait for the police to arrive first; after all, the baby in her belly was more important.
At the detention center, Lin Yan was held in a single room because he was an enemy agent.
From the window, he faced the wall, sitting in a corner.
By the door was a travel bag—the one Zhao Lingcheng had asked Zhao Hui to bring two days ago.
Police Officer Xiao Liu saluted first, then shook his hand.
“Colonel, a female leader came two days ago. He didn’t say a word, no conversation.”
He added, “But he ate something last night—a can of meat.”
He probably ate the canned meat to gather strength to make it to the train station.
Zhao Lingcheng motioned for Xiao Liu to leave, then spoke to the window, “In two months, my daughter will be born.”
After a moment, he said, “I will raise her well, so she won’t become…like her.”
Hearing this, Lin Yan, who had been sitting upright, gently bowed his head.
No words were needed; they both understood who “her” was.
Yes, it was Lin Yan’s sister and Zhao Lingcheng’s mother—her name was Lin Yun.
This was the craziest thing Lin Yan had ever done in his life.
When his sister tried to escape to the other side, bidding him farewell, he betrayed her itinerary to his brother-in-law, Zhao Yong.
Zhao Yong, Zhao Lingcheng’s father, personally piloted a plane to intercept it, causing it to break apart midair, exploding like fireworks.
They were originally family, though on different sides; they started united in the anti-Japanese struggle.
He was once a carefree rich kid who joined the army at Lin Yun’s urging.
They were passionate at first, raising fists, saying they would save the country and the people.
They swore to drive out all foreign powers.
But later, they drifted apart.
He fought bravely on the front lines, seeing starving corpses everywhere, young soldiers who barely lasted hours in battle—boys and girls barely fourteen or fifteen, bleeding rivers.
He also saw from bottom to top the stupidity, corruption, and greed of the leadership.
But his sister? She was aligned with the leadership—indulging in the decadent lifestyles of Shencheng and Chongqing.
Revolution was just a tool for their rampant profiteering.
Because of party differences, they slaughtered their own clans and even crazily shouted to ask the Americans for nuclear weapons.
Lin Yan saw his once-idealistic, spirited sister rot and decay.
He had to betray her because the military intelligence agents took coordinates of all the mainland’s military factories.
They were going to the Americans to ask for nuclear weapons.
His sister, he saw her go mad and become insane.
Lin Yan had to stop them.
But he always missed the sister who, in youth, had raised her fist and vowed to save the country.
He wished she had been born in peaceful times, unpolluted, uncorrupted, to live a happy and safe life.
Zhao Lingcheng said again, “By the way, Little Chen said the baby will be a genius.”
Lin Yan still didn’t turn around but finally spoke in a hoarse voice, “That…country girl?”
He had seen Chen Mianmian, shaved bald, squatting in the fields catching blind fish.
He felt guilty because if not for him, Zhao Lingcheng wouldn’t have married such a girl.
He killed his sister and ruined his nephew’s marriage.
But when his eldest nephew spoke of that girl today, his voice softened noticeably.
He said, “My dad always said, laboring people are the most lovable. Strange, but she seems just like that.”
He paused, then added, “The baby’s name will be Niuniu. Witness her birth with me—you can also give her a formal name. If it’s good, I’ll adopt it. I’ll raise her well to become what you dream.”
About five minutes after Zhao Lingcheng left, Lin Yan slowly turned, pulled out the travel bag.
Outside, the harsh blue sun of Hexi Corridor shone on the roof’s tiles opposite, turning them golden.
A sparrow perched there, its body also tinted blue by the sunlight.
After a moment, it flapped its wings and flew away.
A new life about to be born—an extension of the bloodline of a capitalistic heiress.
The miracle was that she had a mother who was illiterate and born in the most barren region.
What would she look like?
What kind of education would she receive?
How would she grow up on this land?
Lin Yan opened the bag, took out a pack of biscuits, and began eating.
He loved his sister deeply and wanted to witness the birth of her bloodline—so he could not kill himself yet.
Zhao Lingcheng took off his military uniform, changed into a corduroy jacket, and loaded his pistol.
Police Officer Xiao Li briefed him: “After Xu Cigang’s incident, Xu Dagang immediately distanced himself.
Militia Captain Deng issued a self-inspection report confirming he’s red and dedicated, no issues.”
Zhao Lingcheng flashed his officer ID.
“If Captain Deng needs someone, have him find me.”
Xiao Li smiled, “Just a militiaman. Colonel, the guy you want to catch wouldn’t dare say a word.”
Leaving the Public Security Bureau, Zhao Lingcheng asked, “I think Captain Deng is also a retired soldier?”
Xiao Li said, “Originally a subordinate of Wei Cuiyun, an anti-bandit hero.”
The militia leader was also a retired soldier, so his background was good.
But a good background didn’t necessarily mean a good man, because power, women, and money were like honey—sweet but causing inner rot.
Zhao Lingcheng said again, “I need to interrogate Xu Dagang alone, no record, no procedures.
Send a police special agent to assist.”
The special agent was Lei Ming, the old policeman who had saved Chen Mianmian and was the top authority in Northwest.
Xiao Liu and Xiao Li nodded.
Zhao Lingcheng pushed the motorcycle and noticed a broken cloth shelter in a corner, with something moving inside.
Surprised, he muttered, “You’re raising police dogs, but the treatment is a bit poor.”
The police didn’t know the details but recognized Zhao Lingcheng and knew his family situation.
Xiao Li was a little embarrassed.
“Sorry, that’s Comrade Wang Ximei.”
Zhao Lingcheng saw two little feet sticking out, thinking it was a dog, but it was actually his mother-in-law.
He jumped on the bike and sped off.
“Hurry, don’t let her see me.”
If anyone was more headache-inducing than his ex-wife, it was his mother-in-law.
He was afraid himself, and worried if his wife met her, she’d do that blindly loyal thing again.
He instructed the police, “My wife, Comrade Little Chen—Chen Mianmian—is also in the city. Don’t tell Wang Ximei she’s here.”
The police didn’t quite understand but all nodded in unison, “Yes, Colonel!”
Five of them in total—four police plus Zhao Lingcheng—and a motorcycle and two bicycles.
Catching one militiaman should be easy.
At the gate, the police prepared to enter.
But Zhao Lingcheng tiptoed to peek inside and signaled everyone to stop, asking, “Where did these Red Guards come from?”
Xu Dagang was sitting cross-legged on the ground in the yard.
Seven or eight boys about fourteen or fifteen sat around him, listening with adoring faces.
No one knew what Xu Dagang was saying, but the boys clapped in unison.
The police didn’t realize anything and were about to rush in.
They had believed that as long as Xu Dagang and Xu Cigang cut ties, Xu Dagang was a good man.
They underestimated his power.
But Zhao Lingcheng, having experienced it, knew best.
People who cared about family wouldn’t cut ties so quickly.
Those who immediately sever ties after family troubles were ruthless.
The Red Guards were fearless even of the police.
They were young and impulsive; if Xu Dagang riled them up, they’d jump out to oppose the police and let Xu Dagang escape.
He realized that Xu Dagang had the Red Guards to protect himself and the base.
He was reluctant to lose his squad leader position, but once trouble came, he’d run.
So the police should distract the Red Guards first, then he’d arrest Xu Dagang personally.
Just as he was about to give orders, he heard Chen Mianmian’s voice from afar.
How was she here?
And she was crying!
Chen Mianmian stood at the manure pit’s gate, crying and clapping, “Comrades, what Captain Xu said is absolutely right!”
Then raising both hands, she clapped toward Xu Dagang, “He’s the reddest, most dedicated, most outstanding, most conscious man in Quancheng.Comrades, what are you standing there for? Shake his hand, give him a hug, absorb his power!”
In Zhao Lingcheng’s stunned gaze, the Red Guards rushed toward Xu Dagang.
They gripped his hands tightly, hugged him, as if they could really absorb his strength.