Chapter 44

Chapter 44

"Did you two go to the outhouse? You're only just getting back now?" Shen Zhenhua stood under the tree, eyeing his nephew suspiciously. "You didn't take Xiao Yue to do something bad, did you?"

Shen Wenyi felt a sudden pang of guilt, but he quickly realized—he hadn't taken Xiao Yue to do anything bad; if anything, it was Xiao Yue who had dragged him into mischief, if setting a small patch of weeds on fire could be considered bad.

Shen Guoqiang watched as several children nimbly clambered down from the tree. He patted their heads before turning to Shen Wenyi. "Went to watch the commotion, didn't you? Wenyi has loved a good spectacle since he was a kid, right?" Shen Wenyi had grown up with Shen Guoqing, and Shen Guoqiang had often looked after them, so he knew his cousin quite well.

Shen Wenyi opened his mouth but didn't dare tell the truth, so he just owned up to it. "Well, we just stumbled upon it and got curious, so we took a look." To be honest, even if he hadn't been the one to set the fire... he probably would have gone to watch the commotion anyway.

Shen Zhenhua shot him a skeptical look and said, "Just 'a look'?" With all that time, it wasn't just a look—it was more like two hundred looks.

But he was also curious. "What exactly happened? How did a fire start?"

He and Shen Guoqiang were with three young children, so naturally they couldn't run over to watch the excitement. However, from their position, they could see clearly: many people had run over to watch, and among them were people with red armbands. Later, it looked like the ones with red armbands were leading someone off.

Unfortunately, those people had left from the other side, so they hadn't gotten a clear look at who was taken away.

Of course, even if they had seen clearly, Shen Zhenhua felt sure he wouldn't have recognized them anyway.

Shen Wenyi, completely unaware of his uncle's thoughts, immediately blew his theory out of the water as soon as he spoke. "Did you see it just now? That educated youth, Zhu Juncai, and Hu Caidie, another educated youth, were both taken away by the Revolutionary Committee!"

The old ladies of the "Little Feet Detective Squad" couldn't handle such a big "case," so they eventually called in the Revolutionary Committee. Zhu Juncai and Huang Xiuli, being the parties involved, were naturally taken away. Hu Caidie, implicated in the matter, was also taken along for questioning.

Shen Wenyi didn't dare say that he and Shen Banyue had set the fire. He only said that when they returned from the outhouse, they saw that a fire had broken out over there. Many people ran over to put it out, and then someone spotted Zhu Juncai trying to climb over the wall to escape. Thinking he was the arsonist, they pinned him down, only to later discover Huang Xiuli as well.

Since there were little kids around, Shen Wenyi didn't explain things too explicitly. The younger kids naturally didn't understand, but Shen Zhenhua and Shen Guoqiang quickly grasped what had happened.

When they heard that Zhu Juncai had been constantly egging on Hu Caidie and Huang Xiuli to scheme against Shen Guoqing, Shen Zhenhua and Shen Guoqiang's faces darkened.

Although everything had now been exposed and Shen Guoqing hadn't been affected, thinking about it still sent a chill down their spines.

These two female comrades—one was an educated youth in the production brigade with plenty of opportunities to interact with Shen Guoqing, and the other was someone who had once been introduced to Shen Guoqing as a potential match, they almost ended up on a blind date.

Shen Zhenhua let out a long sigh. "It's good that these people turned on each other and were exposed. Keeping them in the brigade would always be a hidden danger."

But his older brother, the brigade leader, was probably in for a headache over this. With such educated youths in the brigade, regardless of whether it was due to their own poor character, the brigade couldn't escape responsibility for inadequate ideological education work.

The movie had already ended. Since they had many children with them, they weren't in a hurry to leave and waited under the tree for others to go first. About ten minutes later, Zhao Yongjun, Wang Guizhi, and their group found them.

By then, the school grounds were much less crowded, with people leaving in twos and threes. Shen Guoqing and Zhao Yongjun were carrying long benches they had borrowed from Zhou Yaoyao's classmate who lived nearby and needed to return them first.

Fortunately, that household wasn't far away. The three of them went to return the benches while the others waited at the intersection.

Wang Guizhi had already heard about Zhu Juncai and was in a foul mood. With Zhou Yaoyao present earlier, she had held back, but as soon as the three left, she couldn't help but curse that bastard Zhu Juncai. "What did our Guoqing ever do to him? How can he be so vicious, constantly targeting Guoqing?"

He Yingyu and Jin Qiaohe knew exactly how Wang Guizhi felt. As mothers themselves, if someone were so deliberately scheming to harm their children, they would also want to take a knife to that bastard.

However, they didn't get to curse for long before Shen Guoqing and the others quickly returned after giving back the benches.

After walking a bit further, Zhao Yongjun's family, Shen Zhenhua's family, along with Shen Guoqiang, Wang Guizhi, and Shen Dechang—who were taking Xiao Dizi, Little Stone, and Xiao Jie, the three younger ones—headed first in the direction of Xiaodun Brigade. Shen Guoqing and Shen Wenyi, along with Shen Banyue and Lin Mian, the four of them together escorted Zhou Yaoyao home.

After the two groups separated, Zhou Yaoyao visibly relaxed and said self-deprecatingly, "Whew, I was actually a bit nervous."

Although she had known Wang Guizhi and the others before, her status was different now, so it was still a bit awkward.

But Zhou Yaoyao was naturally cheerful. After saying that, she laughed first herself and changed the subject, joking with Shen Guoqing, "I didn't expect you to be such a hot commodity."

When the crowd dispersed, they had run into an auntie from Xiaodun Brigade who had gone to watch the commotion near the classrooms. That auntie had a booming voice and explained the whole story to them, repeatedly saying how lucky Shen Guoqing was.

Shen Guoqing was also speechless.

He had always thought Hu Caidie was possessed by some "dirty thing," but it turned out she was just there to trap him.

Shen Wenyi nudged Shen Guoqing with his elbow and laughed. "You really have to thank Xiao Yue and the others. If it weren't for them playing matchmaker and finding you a partner like Nurse Zhou, you might have already fallen into the spider demon's web by now."

Shen Guoqing shuddered at his words and immediately moved closer to his partner, stubbornly saying, "I'm not afraid of them." Even if Hu Caidie wasn't a real ghost or monster, he had "immortals" protecting him; otherwise, he would have fallen for their trap that day in the private plot.

Zhou Yaoyao's father was an employee of the towel factory, and her family lived in the towel factory's residential compound.

Shen Wenyi couldn't help but ask Zhou Yaoyao curiously, "Do you know that person surnamed Fu?"

Zhou Yaoyao sighed helplessly. "Yes, I do. His daughter is actually my classmate. He always seemed so amiable and upright in normal times." The feeling of stumbling upon gossip about someone you know was complicated—it completely overturned her usual impression. However, there were many things she didn't understand, so she didn't say much more.

The group chatted as they walked and soon arrived at the towel factory residential area.

In this era, there weren't many entertainment activities. Normally, most people would be asleep by this time, but tonight, because the movie had just ended, they frequently saw people along the way. When they reached the towel factory residential area, they found even more people here. Many households in the alley had their doors half-open, leaning out to watch the excitement.

"It's the Revolutionary Committee people, going to the Fu family," someone whispered to Zhou Yaoyao as she passed by.

Zhou Yaoyao's expression changed slightly. She nodded at the person and continued walking.

Shen Banyue patted Lin Mian's shoulder and made a gesture to him. The two of them each took one of Zhou Yaoyao's hands.

Zhou Yaoyao was taken aback for a moment, then smiled. "Thank you!"

Late at night, a group of men and women walking together could easily get into trouble with the Revolutionary Committee. But having children with them was different—people would just think they were a family. Maybe these two children hadn't thought that much about it, but Zhou Yaoyao immediately understood.

Not far ahead, a piercing wail suddenly erupted. Soon after, a group of young people wearing red armbands pushed a person forward.

This person was wearing long johns, slippers, and had hastily thrown on a padded jacket over them. His hair was disheveled, clearly having been dragged out in a hurry.

Pedestrians returning from the movie in the alley all hurriedly made way upon seeing this scene.

A stumbling figure chased after them, crying and shouting, "What right do you have to take my dad away? What right?!"

She reached out to pull at one of the people wearing a red armband. One of them suddenly turned around and kicked her, sneering, "What right? The right of him being an adulterer! If you keep making trouble and obstructing us from rooting out bad elements in the revolution, I'll take you away too!"

The girl was kicked so hard she nearly knocked into Shen Wenyi by the roadside. Shen Wenyi, startled, hurriedly caught her. The girl stood up and tried to rush forward again but was grabbed by Zhou Yaoyao. "Fu Yue!"

The young man wearing the red armband glared at them coldly and arrogantly pushed the man away.

From beginning to end, "Factory Director Fu" kept his head down and didn't make a sound.

Fu Yue, tears streaming down her face, struggled briefly. Zhou Yaoyao simply wrapped both arms around her. "Fu Yue, whatever it is, we can talk about it tomorrow!" She lowered her voice, leaning close to Fu Yue's ear. "Those people are capable of anything. It's not safe for a young girl like you to follow them."

Fu Yue burst into loud sobs.

The group could only first escort Fu Yue home. When they reached the Fu family's doorstep, Fu Yue's emotions had calmed slightly, but she clung to Zhou Yaoyao's hand, unwilling to let go. "Yaoyao, do you know what's going on?"

Zhou Yaoyao hesitated for a moment but still told her what had happened at Yunling Middle School. After thinking for a moment, she added comfortingly, "Your dad is single, so it might be slightly better."

Factory Director Fu was named Fu Ming. His wife had passed away from illness five years ago, and he hadn't remarried since. Many people in the residential compound had even said he was deeply devoted to his wife. Who would have thought something like this would happen?

Fu Yue stared blankly, her mouth opening and closing, but no sound came out. Her face suddenly turned ashen, and her whole body began to tremble uncontrollably.

Zhou Yaoyao patted her and asked, "Where's your brother?"

Fu Yue shook her head and finally spoke after a long pause. "He went to our grandma's house. He's not here today."

Fortunately, Shen Guoqing wasn't home today. Otherwise, with those thugs barging in, ransacking and smashing things, the younger brother would have been even more terrified.

Zhou Yaoyao went quiet. After a while, Fu Yue finally calmed down, wiped her tears, and said, "You all can go home now. Thank you."

Zhou Yaoyao wasn't sure what else to say either, so she just patted Fu Yue's shoulder. "Let us know if you need any help."

After saying goodbye, Fu Yue opened the door and went inside. The others turned and headed toward Zhou Yaoyao's house. They hadn't gone far when a sharp scream came from the house behind them. They stopped in their tracks and hurriedly turned back.

Shen Banyue quickly ran over, leaped up, and slipped over the wall of the Fu family's courtyard like a fish. Shen Wenyi, right behind her, instinctively scrambled up after her. Shen Guoqing glanced at Zhou Yaoyao and Lin Mian, hesitated for a moment, told them to "Get to the side and stay out of sight!", and then also vaulted over the wall.

Just as Shen Banyue jumped into the yard, she saw a dark figure darting out from inside the house. She hesitated for a couple of seconds, but the man had already yanked the Fu family's door open.

At that moment, Shen Wenyi also jumped down from the wall. Shen Banyue narrowed her eyes slightly, kicked up a small stone from the ground, and nailed him right in the ankle. Simultaneously, she shouted, "Brother Wenyi, don't let this person get away!"

Shen Wenyi's body moved faster than his mind, and he reflexively charged forward.

The man, hit in the ankle by Shen Banyue, felt a piercing pain, his leg gave way, and he stumbled and fell against the door. At the same time, Shen Wenyi had already pounced on him. Before he could regain his balance, a fist landed on his head.

The punch made his head spin. Gritting his teeth, he pulled a dagger from his waistband and was about to stab Shen Wenyi when a sharp pain shot through his wrist. The dagger clattered to the ground.

Shen Wenyi hadn't even noticed the other man pulling out a dagger and continued raining punches on his head and body.

By then, Shen Guoqing, who had also jumped into the yard, ran over and lashed out with a couple of kicks to his legs. Outnumbered, the man was beaten by Shen Wenyi and Shen Guoqing until he howled in pain, lying on the ground unable to get up.

Shen Guoqing looked around. Shen Banyue, hiding by the wall, immediately ran over and handed him a hemp rope. Shen Guoqing twitched the corner of his mouth: "..."

Fu Yue then ran out of the house, holding a flashlight, shining it directly on the man on the ground.

The man on the ground wasn't tall but was quite stocky, with a fierce glare. Even under the flashlight beam, he didn't flinch, glaring ahead furiously.

Fu Yue trembled all over, and the flashlight beam shook slightly.

Shen Banyue couldn't help but ask, "Sister Fu, why not turn on the light?"

Fu Yue was taken aback, then quickly nodded. "Yes, yes, we do." She turned and ran inside to turn on the light.

Light flooded the yard from the windows. Shen Guoqing bent down to pick up the dagger from the ground and asked Shen Wenyi, "He pulled a weapon?"

Shen Wenyi was stunned. "Huh? He had a weapon?!" Looking at the dagger gleaming coldly under the light, he belatedly realized, "Damn it, you bastard, you were trying to stab me?!" He lifted his foot and kicked the stocky man a few more times.

A few minutes later, Zhou Yaoyao and Lin Mian, who had been hiding outside, also entered the house. The group gathered in the yard, staring at the stocky man on the ground.

"I wonder if Dai-ge is still at the commune?" Shen Wenyi scratched his head. "Should we take him to the commune?"

Shen Guoqing nodded. "How about you wait here for a bit? I'll take Yaoyao home first."

Zhou Yaoyao looked at Fu Yue. "Why don't you come stay at my place for the night?"

They had already found out that this man had slipped into the Fu house while Fu Yue was chasing after the Revolutionary Committee members. Fu Yue had been in a panic when she ran out, leaving the door open and the light on. The man had snuck in, closed the door, and turned off the light. Distraught, Fu Yue hadn't noticed at all.

Now, even though they had caught him, leaving Fu Yue alone in the house again would indeed be frightening for her. She finally nodded, saying gratefully, "Yaoyao, thank you for all your help. Thank you all so much. Thank you!"

So, Shen Guoqing first took them to Zhou's house, leaving Shen Banyue, Lin Mian, and Shen Wenyi to "guard" the stocky man.

"You little girl, you're way too bold. You didn't even know what was going on, yet you dared to jump in! This guy had a knife. Luckily, I reacted quickly. Otherwise, if he had stabbed you, what would you have done?" Shen Wenyi began to nag.

Shen Banyue: "..."

Luckily, *you* reacted quickly? Hmph.

She defended herself. "When I jumped in, I didn't act recklessly. Besides, I run really fast. Ordinary people can't hit me."

Shen Wenyi laughed. "Oh, you even know the phrase 'act recklessly' now."

Then he turned serious again. "No, it's just that I've noticed you're way too bold, little girl. It was the same before." Glancing at the man on the ground, he said, hinting at her past actions, "You dare to do anything. Don't you think you're too bold?"

He turned to ask Lin Mian, "Don't you think Xiao Yue is too bold?"

Lin Mian blinked. "She is bold, but she's also really capable!"

Like him, even though he had practiced climbing trees for many days, he still couldn't climb walls. Just now, when they all climbed in, he was the only one who couldn't.

Lin Mian pursed his lips and sighed with the weariness of a grown-up. He still needed to keep working hard!

Shen Wenyi: "..." Asking the kid was pointless.

Shen Banyue, however, humored him and nodded very seriously. "Brother Wenyi, you're right. I'll definitely be more careful in the future." Her attitude was all about sincere admission of fault, with whether she'd actually change being another matter.

Not long after, Shen Guoqing returned. They checked the doors and windows of the Fu house, turned off the light and closed the door properly, then dragged the stocky man to the commune.

With all this commotion, it was getting quite late. Fortunately, they were lucky—Dai Xianghua was actually still at the commune, along with a few militiamen.

Every time there was a movie screening, Dai Xianghua and the militia would patrol nearby, since crowds often meant trouble. Sure enough, tonight they had caught two thieves.

Because they were busy catching the thieves, they had coincidentally missed the incident with Zhu Juncai and didn't know the Revolutionary Committee had also been active tonight.

But also because they had caught the thieves, they had been delayed handling the matter, which was why they were still at the commune. Now that the thief situation was dealt with, then along came a break-in. This one movie screening had really given them a lot of extra work.

As it was getting late, Dai Xianghua asked a few brief questions, locked up the stocky man, and then told Shen Guoqing and the others to go home.

The two men gave the two kids piggyback rides, slowly walking toward Xiaodun Brigade.

True to being good buddies, Shen Wenyi and Shen Guoqing chatted all the way back, rambling about this and that, quite cheerfully.

After being green with envy for a while, Shen Wenyi was no longer jealous that Shen Guoqing had both a girlfriend and a job. He curiously asked Shen Guoqing many questions about the factory and finally sighed, "Being a worker really is great!"

Shen Guoqing proudly said, "Of course." He had spent a lot of money, but after starting work, he felt it was quite worth it. He could learn a lot at the factory, the work was easier than farming, and he earned more money too.

Shen Wenyi remembered how both Hu Caidie and Huang Xiuli had tried to scheme against Shen Guoqing and laughed heartily. "You know, I really don't know whether to say you're unlucky or lucky. If I say you're unlucky, well, their plans didn't succeed against you. If I say you're lucky, you sure have had one thing after another."

He suddenly said, "Hey, don't you think there have been way too many incidents these past few months?" Even watching a movie, they had run into so much trouble.

Perched on Shen Guoqing's back, Shen Banyue suddenly pricked up her ears, listening to Shen Wenyi recounting the various events that had happened recently. She thought to herself, what's so strange about that? Isn't Xiao Dizi, the original female lead of the book, here? Think about it, which story's protagonist isn't an incident magnet? Otherwise, how would the plot progress?

As for the fact that Xiao Dizi wasn't even present when they encountered the stocky man tonight, Shen Banyue reasoned that they must have been caught in the tailwind of the "incident magnet" typhoon.

It definitely had nothing to do with her. Definitely!