Marriage certificates nowadays weren’t called certificates but two sheets of paper.
Printed in color with peonies and magpies, one copy for the man and one for the woman.
Chen Mianmian arranged to meet Wu Jingjing at the Credit Union, then the two would go together to the Steel Plant guesthouse.
Zhao Lingcheng still had to find the stolen goods, so after dropping her off, he quickly rode away.
Wu Jingjing held the two deposit books: “I already checked for you. The money’s in the books; you can withdraw with them. But it’s a one-year fixed deposit. If you take it now, you lose the interest.”
In total, 800 yuan.
The annual interest was five per mil. Losing it was a pity.
But now bank deposits only had deposit books as proof.
Knowing the numbers, you could report loss and reissue.
Xu Xiaomei worked in finance and didn’t know if she’d be arrested too, so the money was safely taken.
Chen Mianmian didn’t bother with the interest—eight hundred yuan, she took it all in cash.
As they left the Credit Union, they just saw Zhao Lingcheng and Officer Xiao Liu rushing past on bicycles.
Wu Jingjing couldn’t help but ask, “Mianmian, what exactly is your man so busy with?”
They were headed to Director Jiang’s house, but no one knew how much they would find.
Chen Mianmian smiled, “Let’s not bother with them. Let’s go to the Steel Plant guesthouse.”
From the city to the Steel Plant was still two kilometers—could take a shuttle or walk.
Chen Mianmian’s belly was heavy and she couldn’t walk, so she dragged Wu Jingjing to wait for the bus.
Just as they got off at the Steel Plant stop, a convertible car came out of the main gate.
Yan General was sitting inside.
Then came bicycles, one after another, heading forward.
Wu Jingjing, noticing their direction, felt uneasy: “Mianmian, they seem to be going to Director Jiang’s house. I have a bad feeling.”
They had spent a long time waiting for the bus and walking.
Chen Mianmian checked her watch—it was already four in the afternoon.
She guessed Zhao Lingcheng and the others had found something.
Or in other words, the secret affair between Xu Xiaomei and Director Jiang, and the death of his wife, would be revealed to the world.
To Wu Jingjing, this was unbelievable.
Because in daily life, she had never noticed any private relationship between Director Jiang and Xu Xiaomei.
Although everyone said Director Jiang killed his wife and dumped her in the water cellar, it was just rumors—no proof.
Because Director Jiang’s house was near the Steel Plant, and the police got help from the Steel Plant Security Section to search, Wu Jingjing not only witnessed a rumor being confirmed but also got a fresh, juicy scoop.
Waiting to watch the drama, Chen Mianmian didn’t go to the guesthouse to check in right away but waited near the Steel Plant gate.
At five p.m., Qiu Director of the Women’s Federation came walking from afar.
She was worried she had no gossip to tell, but upon seeing Wu Jingjing and Chen Mianmian, blurted out, “Do you know? Director Jiang at the guesthouse is a big embezzler!”
Chen Mianmian thought, as expected, they must have found the goods.
Wu Jingjing asked, “Embezzling what? Our guesthouse’s sheets and quilts?”
Qiu Director laughed, “Nonsense, several boxes of gold and silver treasures.”
Wu Jingjing hurriedly asked, “What kind of gold and silver?”
Qiu Director animatedly replied, “I didn’t see exactly, just heard. But Director Jiang said the stuff wasn’t his, it belonged to Xu Xiaomei, his brother-in-law’s wife. He claimed Xu Xiaomei seduced and raped him, and they have an improper relationship.”
Wu Jingjing was dumbfounded, “Xu Xiaomei raping him? Is she crazy?”
Director Jiang was fat, ugly, and coarse.
The idea of a woman seducing and raping him was laughable.
Just then, a loud slogan sounded outside: “Down with the landlord dogs! Down with the embezzlers!”
Wu Jingjing ignored the rest and went outside to watch the commotion.
As a modern woman, Chen Mianmian thought things were developing too fast.
But it made sense—since Xu Xiaomei and Director Jiang went to detention, the Red Guards were there.
When Zhao Lingcheng and the others found the goods and were to have Director Jiang identify the scene, the Red Guards arrived.
With them present, it wasn’t just scene identification—it was a public criticism meeting.
Sure enough, Chen Mianmian stepped onto the street and saw Xu Dagang, covered in blood, shackled with a cangue and high hat, being led past the Steel Plant gate.
Qiu Director came out to watch and said to Chen Mianmian, “Xu Dagang brought it on himself, hanging out with a bunch of Red Guards every day. Serves him right.”
People who are too good or too bad will sooner or later bring trouble upon themselves.
The Steel Plant was Quancheng’s showcase factory, and its plaza outside the gate was a perfect place for public trials.
Originally, the Red Guards only wanted to hold a public trial for Xu Dagang.
Now, with Director Jiang and Xu Xiaomei being dragged away to the central plaza, the crowd was packed.
Xu Xiaomei was truly clever, but sadly used it wrongly.
She screamed hysterically, “I’m reporting Director Jiang in person! He beat his wife to death and dumped her in the water cellar. I have proof—the rolling pin with her blood on it.”
Director Jiang shouted back, “You heartless woman, you’re the coward who urged me to hit my wife! You’re the real killer!”
Xu Xiaomei usually spoke softly, but today her voice was sharp, “You raped me.”
Director Jiang yelled, “Pah! You seduced me!”
Xu Xiaomei yelled louder, “I was only fifteen that year! You bastard, I was underage!”
She shouted, “Director Jiang killed his own wife with a rolling pin! He’s a murderer!”
It was just quitting time at the Steel Plant; all workers came out, and the crowd was packed shoulder to shoulder.
Chen Mianmian thought it was too crazy and didn’t want to watch or get crushed with her big belly, so she stepped out of the crowd to a quiet spot.
After resting a bit, Officer Xiao Li ran over, saying, “Xiao Chen, the leader is looking for you. Come quickly.”