But most around him would be sent down, slowing their progress.
Overwork and illness, plus searching for Niuniu, would sacrifice him at his post.
And the original male lead, that rotten, arrogant cadre’s son, would be Zhao Lingcheng’s mortal enemy, always opposing him in the name of revolution, making his life miserable.
If Chen Mianmian stayed at the base, would she also be targeted?
Thinking this, half-joking, she said, “Don’t you think if I were a Red Guard, I could be excellent too?”
She didn’t really hate the kids—they were just immature and impulsive.
But Zhao Lingcheng viewed Red Guards like a natural disaster.
Now he was willing to admit his ex-wife’s ability.
That interrogation was textbook.
She disrupted Xu Dagang’s thoughts, forcing him to expose his true nature and landlord identity.
But if Chen Mianmian became a Red Guard, Zhao Lingcheng was firmly opposed.
He didn’t want their daughter to have a Red Guard mother, so he said, “Then add one more condition—if you become a Red Guard, Niuniu will automatically be mine. I will raise her and be fully responsible for her education.”
Afraid his ex-wife might get hung up on this, he added, “Let’s eat. Today we’re having lamb.”
He could accept her not being a Red Guard, which Chen Mianmian understood, but he always wanted to wrestle the child away, which annoyed her.
But Wu Jingjing and the Ma brothers were still nearby, so they focused on the present.
She said, “Wait, there are a few classmates with me. Tonight we have to treat them to a meal.”
Across the country, only one place served meat—the Guoying Fantian.
But getting meat wasn’t so easy.
If you weren’t a leading cadre, you needed merit.
For example, provincial-level model workers or heroes who had earned third-class or above military honors got a few pounds of free meat yearly.
Otherwise, it was just arrow-tongue pea flour with potatoes and cabbage—the usual.
Zhao Lingcheng wasn’t as impressive as Zhao Hui; he had ten pounds of meat, while Zhao Lingcheng had only three meat coupons and planned to enjoy them himself.
Chen Mianmian brought two male classmates, both smelling strongly of manure, plus Wu Jingjing—four people total.
For some reason, today the restaurant served only fatty meat, which looked greasy.
A waiter nudged Chen Mianmian with his hip, “Old classmate, look—this is fatty, very fragrant.”
It was actually Guli, the one who had brought Chen Mianmian ribs before—fatty meat was a benefit.
The two manure-smelling men were obviously Ma Jiguang and Ma Jiye.
Seeing Zhao Lingcheng looking like he had been bombarded, Chen Mianmian said to them, “Go wash your hands and take off your coats; look at yourselves—what a sight.”
Ma Jiguang said, “Smelling like manure, the scent of the poor masses—just right.”
In this era, the harder, dirtier, and more bitter your life, the more glorious it was, so they were proudly filthy.
Chen Mianmian was speechless, “I’m afraid you two will get diarrhea—go quickly!”
Ordinary people didn’t understand; these naïve northwest strongmen only listened when scolded.
Wu Jingjing was already drooling, and the two hurried to wash their hands and returned.
But they were still shy until Chen Mianmian passed them meat; only then did they take it.
They knew the lamb belonged to Zhao Lingcheng, so they stood up together, holding the meat, bowing, “Thank you, commander.”
Zhao Lingcheng was about to correct them, but Chen Mianmian gently said, “Call him ‘brother’ from now on.”
The two brothers’ eyes lit up immediately, grinning, “The big commander is our brother now.”
Lamb in Quancheng was best eaten fatty because it wasn’t gamey or greasy and had a unique sweetness.
Wu Jingjing swallowed twice and wiped her mouth, “Mianmian, why aren’t you eating?”
Chen Mianmian said, “We eat meat every day at the base. I’m a bit tired of it today, so I’m skipping.”
She wanted to eat lamb too, but the Ma brothers’ strong smell was too much.
Zhao Lingcheng sat with them, his pale skin stark against their dark complexions, like people from two different worlds.
Ma Jiye’s fingers were black with grime.
After wiping the grease from his mouth, he felt it was a pity and quickly stuffed a bite in.
Suddenly, fear filled Zhao Lingcheng’s clear but emotionless eyes.
Seeing Ma Jiye licking his fingers, his hair stood visibly on end.
Ma Jiguang licked his fingers too.
Zhao Lingcheng jumped up, and Wu Jingjing quickly asked, “Brother, are you okay?”
He couldn’t bear it but only said, “I’m going to get some water.”
Guli came with a soup basin, “Why water? Here’s mutton broth—made from lamb bones.”
Glancing at the Ma brothers licking their fingers, Zhao Lingcheng lifted the cup, “I’m going to make tea.”
Guli took the chance to say, “Mianmian, your man looks better in civilian clothes.”
Green military pants, a black corduroy jacket, pale skin, and a buzz cut—
Zhao Lingcheng really stood out like a crane among chickens.
Wu Jingjing munched and said, “It’d be better if you beat him up.”
Zhao Lingcheng was nearby, pouring water from a thermos.
The water overflowed and burned his hand.
No meal was free, Chen Mianmian asked the Ma brothers, “Do you know who Xu Dagang is seeing now?”
They were too cowardly and weak to make waves; Xu Dagang didn’t even bother defending himself against them.
They happened to know some things.
Ma Jiguang said, “He’s not in a relationship, but plenty are chasing him. Unfortunately, none really like him.”
Wu Jingjing hurriedly gossiped, “Who are they after? Spill it.”
Ma Jiguang said, “One is the daughter of our Captain Deng. The captain openly said she won’t marry him. Then he went after the daughter of an old steel factory boss, but she doesn’t really care for him either. He’s been desperately chasing her lately.”
Chen Mianmian leaned in, voice low, “Without a woman, can he really hold back at night?”
Ma Jiguang sighed, “The situation’s tight. He doesn’t dare. He only sometimes goes to Director Jiang’s house. Two bachelors drinking, but he doesn’t dare get drunk, chasing after the leader’s daughter like a stray dog every day.”
Wu Jingjing added, “Director Jiang’s wife jumped into the water cellar; I heard his house is haunted. Xu Dagang still dares to go there?”
Ma Jiye said, “That cellar was supposedly filled in long ago.”
The Xu siblings’ goal was clear—scramble to climb the social ladder.
Chen Mianmian didn’t know who Xu Dagang would end up marrying.
But she knew that as long as he kept chasing, he’d marry into a leader’s family and become a relative, then be supported like Wei Cuiyun.
Chen Jinhui was just a stepping stone; the Xu family were the true Brahmins of Quancheng.
She served soup to the two men, “Eat, eat.”
They ate their fill of meat and soup but still weren’t satisfied, clutching bones and licking them.
Chen Mianmian was also overwhelmed by their stench and excused herself outside.
Zhao Lingcheng was already out.
Checking his watch, it was time for Lin Yan to be released from detention.
Since Lin Yan had asked, the police would first take him to the state-run barbershop to get shaved and cleaned up before handing him over to the militia.
Quancheng was just one street, and the barbershop was diagonally opposite, so Lin Yan should have arrived by now.
Zhao Lingcheng wouldn’t let Chen Mianmian meet Lin Yan but wanted his uncle to see his wife.
When he went back to the farm, he would tell his uncle that he was overwhelmed and powerless in the current situation.
It was his “red and specialized” wife who helped him, and the one who gave him life-saving food.
But Lin Yan didn’t show up—instead, a relative came: Xu Xiaomei.
Police officer Xiao Liu rode a bicycle twenty kilometers to find her—she must have come as soon as she heard.
She went straight to Chen Mianmian and handed over a passbook, sincerely saying, “Mianmian, I was wrong to you.”
She also pulled out a small box, “Not looking at the monk’s face, but the Buddha’s. Think of Jinhui, think of Dabao.”
Chen Mianmian looked at the passbook—there was 500 yuan on it.
That money was her bride price and also Zhao Lingcheng’s money, enough to buy a quarter of a washing machine.
She said, “See? When I return to Quancheng, I will definitely collect what’s owed to me.”
She took the passbook and looked at Wu Jingjing, “Help me check if this is a lost report.”
Then she looked at Xu Xiaomei, “What about the 300 yuan you took from my mother?”
Xu Xiaomei was unusually obedient and immediately pulled out another passbook, “This is what I want to give to our mother.”
Chen Mianmian snatched it, “This is my money too.”
Xu Xiaomei was about to speak when Chen Mianmian said, “My eldest sister just had her second child—a girl. You promised her you could sell her to officials or military families and keep the money for yourself. Where’s the money?”
The Guoying Fantian was crowded, and the waiters watched, but everyone’s expressions were normal—selling girls to rich families was actually considered a good thing.
Xu Xiaomei looked embarrassed and said awkwardly, “I only took twenty yuan for nutrition fees; she was sold to a good family.”
Chen Mianmian didn’t press further for now but asked again,
“Why did you come to see me?”
The first brother being in trouble was bad enough, but now all three brothers were detained.
Xu Xiaomei patted her chest, “Jinhui and I really wronged you before, but Mianmian, let it go.”
She rubbed her hands, “Dagang and Cigang aren’t militiamen anymore. We’re all going back to the countryside to farm. Our mother isn’t alone—I’ll take care of her and help you pay her no more mind, alright?”
She was smart and chose the best solution, begging the aggrieved party.
After all, even if the landlord’s brat didn’t go to prison, labor reform and criticism meant hard times.
But if Chen Mianmian was the one to bring it up and promised not to pursue, there might still be a way out.
Having failed to trap others and now being trapped herself, Xu Xiaomei was truly scared and almost begged on her knees.
If Chen Mianmian were the secondary female lead, she might have forgiven Xu Xiaomei because she loved Chen Jinhui and Wang Ximei.
Xu Xiaomei wanted to quit and return home to care for their mother.
Could Chen Mianmian object?
Fearing refusal, Xu Xiaomei added, “Our mother is at the police station now. I’m going to pick her up. I’ll help bind her feet again. If things go bad, my brothers and I will be at your disposal.”
Wang Ximei guarded her tiny feet fiercely and refused to let go, but to walk these days, she had to painfully loosen the bindings.
Xu Xiaomei was sincere enough to pledge loyalty and even help rebind their mother’s feet.
Chen Mianmian clutched her belly and grabbed Zhao Lingcheng’s arm, “Help me to the bathroom first.”
Zhao Lingcheng was looking at a medicine—a single Angong Niuhuang Wan pill—that Xu Xiaomei returned to him.
The Guoying Fantian had a dry toilet.
Thinking Chen Mianmian wanted to use it, Zhao Lingcheng said, “I’ll take you to the steel factory. Their toilets near the border are cleaner.”
They went around the back courtyard of the restaurant, and Chen Mianmian smiled, “I’ve already found the stolen goods.”
Zhao Lingcheng was stunned and immediately asked, “Where?”
Chen Mianmian smiled again, “Want to know? There’s one condition: Niuniu will be raised by me from now on!”
Seeing Zhao Lingcheng just staring at her silently, she added, “Agree if you want to know, or else…”
Zhao Lingcheng wasn’t stupid.
Just then, the stout Director Jiang hurried over to Xu Xiaomei.
But Xu Xiaomei glared at him, and he smiled awkwardly, backing away.
Zhao Lingcheng sometimes stayed in guesthouses and knew Director Jiang, also aware of the letter he wrote for Jiang Xia.
He pointed, “It should be related to that man, Director Jiang.”
Chen Mianmian sighed softly, asking Zhao Lingcheng, “Just by his appearance, do you think he would beat his wife to death?”
From Director Jiang writing letters on her behalf, it was clear he had a close relationship with Xu Xiaomei.
Zhao Lingcheng had a near-harsh clarity, “Director Jiang was caught having an affair and beat his wife to death?!”
But his goal was clear—he only wanted to know where the stolen goods were.
So he asked again, “But what does that have to do with where Xu Dagang hid the goods?”
Chen Mianmian wasn’t fooled and raised her hand for a pinky promise, “Then it’s settled—I’ll help you find the stolen goods, and Niuniu will belong to me.”
Only then did Zhao Lingcheng realize his ex-wife was completely different from when she wore a buzz cut, clutched a small bundle, and sniffled.
The highland flush on her face had vanished, her waxy yellow complexion now had a strange glint in her eyes.
She even dared to openly challenge him, making him suddenly think of those old-fashioned Nationalist generals who once disciplined Lin Yan with brutal beatings.
They must have felt exactly like he did now—shocked, embarrassed, troubled, and helpless.
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