The police were stunned.
Xiao Li looked at Zhao Lingcheng and asked, “Colonel, should we still arrest this guy?”
Zhao Lingcheng had come to make the arrest, but his wife was currently busy flattering Xu Dagang to the extreme.
What should he do?
If they rushed out to catch him, they’d probably be torn to pieces by those enthusiastic Red Guards.
The Quancheng Public Security Bureau was divided into two branches: criminal and civil.
Not wanting to escalate the situation for now, Zhao Lingcheng went to the civil branch, where the police officers’ professional skills were generally lacking.
Especially Xiao Li—he looked a bit dim-witted, but was armed when on duty, and the gun was in his hands.
Zhao Lingcheng patted him on the shoulder, “Give the gun to Xiao Liu. You’re in charge of handcuffing the suspect.”
Xiao Liu looked alert and immediately took the gun, unlocking the safety catch.
They were outside the wall, and Zhao Lingcheng raised his gun, “Don’t aim for vital spots; target the limbs. Just make sure he can’t escape. This is the new era. We don’t take human life lightly, but if we have to shoot, we must be precise.”
Xiao Liu nodded and quietly aimed at Xu Dagang’s leg.
In truth, Zhao Lingcheng was the most confused of all.
His ex-wife’s transformation was too drastic—she was nothing like the woman she used to be.
But he could accept it, and immediately understood her intentions.
His uncle, Lin Yan, was both brave and cunning, having once led the Nationalist Army’s most formidable Assault Unit, whose battles had sent the Japanese forces howling in terror.
At first, he was loyal to the Party and Country, but after witnessing the catastrophic breach of the Yellow River, he summoned his supervising officers under the pretense of a meeting, executed them all, and then led his troops to defect to the Gongjun side.
So it was possible Chen Mianmian had finally seen her mother’s true colors and awakened.
Yet her behavior still amazed Zhao Lingcheng.
She sent a group of Red Guards to embrace and shake hands with Xu Dagang.
How could he possibly escape?
Was that really the kind of cunning thought that her scatterbrained mind could come up with?
Had she taken some brain-enhancing drug, or was it that while most women become dull for three years during pregnancy, she somehow gained intelligence instead?
Xu Dagang felt the situation was dire as soon as he saw Chen Mianmian.
But he remained calm and struck first: “Sister Mianmian, has the father of your child been found yet?”
Pushing the Red Guards aside, he added, “Your belly’s so big now, focus more on your baby and less on meddling in society, especially revolution—it’s a man’s business, not a woman’s, especially not a pregnant woman’s.”
He belittled her, and naturally, the Red Guards looked down on her as well, making her words carry no weight.
Chen Mianmian stood firm and said loudly, “Comrades, our leader taught us women can shoulder half the sky. Xu Dagang is the most enlightened male comrade in Quancheng, and among the female comrades, I am the best…”
She shamelessly went that far.
Xu Dagang looked like he was ready to jump up and beat her, just like Xu Cigang.
Sure enough, the Red Guards were skeptical, all eyes on Chen Mianmian.
Wu Jingjing was a bit scared and spoke softly, “She’s our live Lei Feng of the Hexi Red Specialized.”
Chen Mianmian added, “Actually, I’m a top student—the best in class.”
Being a live Lei Feng at the Red Specialized was like a golden reputation, and the Red Guards exclaimed in unison, “Wow, this sister’s amazing!”
Chen Mianmian smiled and said, “You’re all welcome to apply to Hexi Red Specialized and strive to be live Lei Fengs.”
With that, her credibility was equal to Xu Dagang’s.
If the police came to arrest Xu Dagang and she stopped the Red Guards, they would probably listen to her.
Xu Dagang grinned, “Why stand so far? Come over, let’s share our stories of suffering.”
The Red Guards enthusiastically said, “Come on, sister, let us hear your story.”
These days, the most popular activities were “Remember the Bitterness, Appreciate the Sweetness” and “Complaints Meetings.”
Xu Dagang had just been complaining to the Red Guards about his hardships.
He talked about the past suffering to persuade them to love the people and even the manure, showing his revolutionary spirit.
He was smarter than his younger brother—not only did he know how to win over the Red Guards, but by tricking Chen Mianmian to come over, he essentially had a hostage ready.
Chen Mianmian’s new jacket didn’t show it clearly, but as she unzipped it, she said, “I need to pee.”
She added, “But I can hold on a bit. Captain Xu, what did you say you ate just now?”
Standing at the toilet door, she acted like she had to go but was holding back, blocking Xu Dagang so he couldn’t escape under the pretense of borrowing the bathroom.
Xu Dagang needed to assess the situation, see if Chen Mianmian had brought police with her, and consider under what pretense she might try to trap him, so he could prepare a counter.
After all, as a Militia Vice Captain, he wouldn’t flee into the Damo lightly.
He couldn’t understand how, in this era, parents treated daughters like livestock, lacking any independent thought and only serving brothers and husbands.
His eldest sister, Xu Xiaomei, was no different.
Women were like two-legged sheep—basically livestock.
But why had Chen Mianmian suddenly rebelled and stopped obeying?
With things as they were, he decided to talk.
“I’ve eaten Guanyin Soil, Qiaokang, and tree bark.”
Most Red Guards were born after liberation, had experienced hunger but not to the extent of eating soil and bark.
They were still kids and sympathized, “Brother Xu, you’re so pitiful.”
But no one held Xu Dagang’s hand anymore, and he quietly turned around, probably to grab a gun.
Chen Mianmian called out, “Dagang, wait.”
She continued, “I taught you my unique technique for catching Xiaxia. Now all the farms are full of Xiaxia, even fatter than sheep in September or pigs in December. Look how skinny the comrades are. Why haven’t you taught them how to catch Xiaxia?”
Xiaxia, in the Hexi Corridor, was the only meat that could rival lamb.
To get some meat, whenever Red Guards had free time, they would crawl around the fields catching them.
But Xu Dagang actually had a unique skill for catching Xiaxia?
Two Red Guards immediately grabbed his wrist, “Brother, that’s unfair!”
Xu Dagang gritted his teeth, “Chen Mianmian, when did you teach me how to catch Xiaxia?”
Although the secondary female lead gave everything to her natal family, she had never taught the unique Xiaxia technique.
Not because she didn’t want to, but others were too stupid or simply hadn’t starved enough to learn it.
Looking at the Red Guards, Xu Dagang said, “She’s better at catching Xiaxia—go find her.”
Chen Mianmian shrugged, “I’m just a woman; how could I be better than a man?”
The Red Guards all said, “Yeah, she’s just a female comrade. How can she be better than you, Brother Xu? Teach us, please.”
They mainly wanted the meat, so they all said in unison, “Teach us, teach us.”
Xu Dagang’s head was in a mess, mostly confused about what Chen Mianmian was trying to do.
While his thoughts were in chaos, Chen Mianmian shouted again, “Comrades, stop messing around. Captain Xu ate too much Yushu Pi and got poisoned—he’s mentally ill and can’t stand your teasing. Let go now.”
The Red Guards sympathized even more, “Brother Xu, you’re poisoned? You’re sick?”
Xu Dagang knew Chen Mianmian had bad intentions and wanted to trap him, but this was a good excuse.
He turned and headed toward the office, “Yeah, my head hurts a bit now.”
Chen Mianmian chased after him a few steps, smiling, “Who told you Yushu Pi was sweet? You just ate too much out of greed.”
Xu Dagang was still laughing when he reached the office door and saw Ma Jiye and Ma Jiguang blocking the entrance.
Just as he was about to bare his teeth, Chen Mianmian yelled, “Donkey! Damned Ma Jiye, he’s a landlord’s brat, damn him! Why aren’t you beating him…”
With Ma Jiye’s shout, chaos erupted.
Xu Dagang threw a punch at Ma Jiye, but Ma Jiguang grabbed his fist and got kicked away.
With another kick, Xu Dagang broke open the office door and charged in.
Ma Jiguang pulled his leg, but he kicked fiercely in response.
The Red Guards watched and cheered loudly.
Xu Dagang fought like he was invincible.
Chen Mianmian anxiously jumped up and down, “He’s a landlord’s brat! Beat him, knock down the landlord’s brat!”
But Xu Dagang had already stormed inside, ruthless and decisive, reaching for a gun.
Because his younger brother hadn’t escaped only due to lacking a gun, and only with a gun could one flee into the Damo.
For someone like him who had some education and ancestors who served in the Nationalist Army, there were ways to survive and start over.
He had a handgun and a hunting rifle.
He rushed to the hunting rifle on the desk.
But with a bang, he felt his outstretched hand explode, blood spurting out.
Then a group of police officers rushed in, “Stop! Don’t move!”
The bullet had come from outside the window.
Xu Dagang thought it was the police.
Seeing Xiao Liu aiming at his foot, he feigned surrender and raised his hands.
But the moment Xiao Li pulled out handcuffs, he leapt up, flipped over the window, kicked two Red Guards down, and ran wildly amid gunshots, jumping onto the wall only to fall heavily.
Another shot hit his leg.
The moment he hit the ground, several officers swarmed and handcuffed him.
Since Xu Cigang had almost escaped, Xiao Li also cuffed Xu Dagang’s feet tightly.