Chapter 36: Accident

Chapter 36: An Unexpected Incident

The second household wasn't far away, but their situation was even harder than Liu Guihua's. The husband was still alive, but bedridden—unable to support the family, and needing help with eating, drinking, and using the toilet.

"Sister Li, here's your letter of introduction. Keep it safe and don't lose it under any circumstances. Report to the Women's Federation in three days, and our director and I will take you to the machinery factory." Lin Zhijin noticed the bruise on Sister Li's forehead. "For the sake of your children, you need to stand on your own two feet. They're still young—their father is bedridden, and if you, their mother, don't protect them, how are they supposed to survive?"

Sister Li had a good-for-nothing older brother who came by every few days to mooch off her. When he couldn't get money, he'd hit her. If he found out about this job, he'd definitely try to take it.

Lin Zhijin pressed her lips together. If only the Li family's eldest were older, she'd have given the job directly to the child instead.

"The Women's Federation went to a lot of trouble to find this job because of your family's hardship—it's a lifeline for you and your children. No one else can take it over. If we find out, the job's gone, and you won't get another opportunity in the future." Lin Zhijin emphasized again.

"I understand, ma'am. Don't worry, I'll hide it well and won't tell a soul." Sister Li looked around furtively, then carefully tucked the letter into her chest. "Ma'am, thank you so much. You're a lifesaver for our whole family."

"Alright, alright, go back inside. I still need to notify the others." Lin Zhijin waved her hand, glanced around but didn't see the children, felt the candies in her bag, and turned to leave.

She'd only managed to notify eight households in a whole day. Out of nowhere, a light drizzle started falling. Lin Zhijin sniffled and decided to call it a day, leaving the rest for tomorrow.

"Xiao Lin, you're back? The weather turned on a dime—did you get soaked?" Sister Su from the street office greeted Lin Zhijin with a smile.

"Just a sprinkle, no big deal." Lin Zhijin unwrapped her scarf and smiled back.

By the time she got back to the office, it was pushing five. Chen Qiuqiu handed her a towel. "It's this late, why didn't you just head home? Why'd you bother coming back?"

"I left my keys." Lin Zhijin found her house keys in the drawer and smiled apologetically. "My pants got a little wet, so I'll head home now."

"Alright, get going. How many did you get through? Hand me some of those letters—you don't need to come in tomorrow morning. I'll take care of a few myself." Chen Qiuqiu counted the remaining letters—nine in total—and took five. "Now get home quick, don't catch a cold."

"Sister Chen, I can do it," Wang Xiaoyao quickly offered.

"No need. Once you learn to ride a bike, then you can help out." Chen Qiuqiu put away the letters and chuckled.

As Lin Zhijin got close to home, she spotted Sheng Huaimin and his attendant and couldn't help frowning. Why did she have to run into him again?

"Young Master, let's go. The young miss is still waiting for you," Liu Yuan reminded him in a low voice.

Sheng Huaimin withdrew his gaze, his eyes filled with disappointment. Miss Lin really didn't seem into him. Then a dark glint crossed his eyes—no matter. He'd make Miss Lin like him.

Not far away, Sheng Huaizhen turned around with a sour look, giving orders as she walked. "Go dig up dirt on that woman. I was wondering why Huaimin couldn't stand Miss Tang—turns out he's been hexed by some fox spirit."

"Yes, I'll look into it right away." Old Lady Zhang, trailing behind her, kept her eyes down.

Lin Zhijin had no clue about any of that. She was busy fixing dinner. It was cold out, so she threw everything in one pot and ate right out of it—simple and warm.

When she woke up, the ground outside was covered in a layer of white snow. Lin Zhijin rubbed her hands together, bundled up tight, and headed out to deliver the letters to four more people.

The snow kept coming down harder. By the time she got to the third house, she had to walk her bike.

"Comrade Lin?"

Lin Zhijin turned at the sound of her name. It was Li Bing in a military overcoat, with an older cop beside him—probably out on a call.

"Officer Li." Lin Zhijin gave the other cop a nod. "Where you two headed?"

"We're headed to the East Gate. What about you, Comrade Lin?" Li Bing looked at her with slight surprise.

Unlike last time, when she'd been all dressed up, Lin Zhijin now wore a drab cotton jacket, cotton pants, and a military overcoat. Her hair was a mess from the cold wind, her nose was red from the chill—she looked a little rough, but still pretty.

"What a coincidence—I'm headed to the East Gate too." Lin Zhijin smiled.

Since they'd run into each other, they walked together. Little did they know they were headed to the same place.

Lin Zhijin saw a crowd of gawkers at the door, then glanced at Li Bing and his partner. A bad feeling crept up in her gut.

"Move aside, the cops from the station are here!" Someone spotted Li Bing and shouted.

The crowd split to let them through. Lin Zhijin pressed her lips together and followed Li Bing in.

The person who lived here was an orphan, a twenty-year-old girl. She'd lived with her grandma, who passed away early this year. Now she was all alone—a capable, sharp-tongued girl with a good head on her shoulders.

"Poor Xiaofen!"

"Such a hard life. Lost her folks young, her grandma this year, and now this awful thing happens."

"I can see blood under her—that bastard. Who knows how bad she's hurt? Could she end up unable to have kids?"

"Li Er's wife, if you can't say something nice, shut your mouth. Xiaofen's blood is from fighting off the attacker. She's still a pure, innocent girl."

Lin Zhijin's heart sank with every word. She hurried to catch up with Li Bing and saw Wang Xiaofen sitting there, pale, biting her lip. Next to her, a neighbor or relative was trying to comfort her.

"Xiaofen, the police are here. Don't be scared—they'll catch that animal." An older woman held Wang Xiaofen's hand, offering constant reassurance.

Wang Xiaofen looked up and saw Li Bing and the others, then spotted Lin Zhijin. Choking back sobs, she said in a shaky voice, "Officers, Comrade Lin... someone tried to kill me."

Lin Zhijin was taken aback. Kill her? Then it hit her—rape would ruin a woman's reputation, but attempted murder was a bigger charge and meant a harsher sentence if he got caught.

"Alright, alright, stop crowding around. Anyone not connected to the case, get out now. If you know something, come talk to me." Li Bing waved his hand, then noticed Lin Zhijin. "Comrade Lin, you're here to see Comrade Wang Xiaofen too?"

"Yes." Lin Zhijin took out the letter of introduction. "The Women's Federation found a job for Comrade Wang Xiaofen. I came to notify her to report tomorrow. I didn't expect something like this to happen."

Li Bing scanned the messy living room and said in a low voice, "It's no longer safe for Wang Xiaofen here. Can the Women's Federation help arrange accommodation? Also, she's been seriously traumatized today—she may need counseling from you all."

"Your investigation will take a while. Here's what I'll do—I'll deliver the last letter of introduction, then come back and take her to the Women's Federation." Lin Zhijin nodded without hesitation.

The attacker hadn't been caught yet. He could come back at any time. Wang Xiaofen was the only one left in the Wang family—staying here was too dangerous.

"Alright, go do what you need to do. I'll ask around for information." Li Bing watched Lin Zhijin leave into the wind and snow, and his earlier impression of her as delicate and pampered faded considerably.

The last person to notify was also an orphan, a year older than Wang Xiaofen. She looked gentle but was fiercely strong-willed. Relatives and neighbors who had tried to bully her for being an orphan had all been driven off with a carrying pole and a hatchet.

"Cadre Lin." Zhao Haihua was sweeping snow off her roof from a ladder when she spotted Lin Zhijin approaching from afar. She quickly climbed down to open the door.

"No need to rush—take your time." Lin Zhijin worried she might fall.

"It's fine." Zhao Haihua waved her hand dismissively and stepped aside to let Lin Zhijin in. "Cadre Lin, it's cold outside. Have some hot water to warm up."

She didn't have a thermos, but she had a stove with burning charcoal—good for both warmth and boiling water.

She carefully scalded the bowl with boiling water, afraid Lin Zhijin might find it unclean.

"Thank you." Lin Zhijin took the bowl with several chipped edges, blew on it gently, and took two small sips. "I've come to deliver your letter of introduction. It's for the machinery factory—the specific assignment will depend on the leadership there."

"A job?" Zhao Haihua's hands trembled slightly as she took the letter, tears glistening in her eyes. "You're really giving me a job? I... I'll work hard. I won't let the Women's Federation down."

Lin Zhijin noticed that Zhao Haihua's place wasn't far from Wang Xiaofen's, so she asked casually, "Do you know Wang Xiaofen?"

"Wang Xiaofen from the East Gate? I know her, but not well." Zhao Haihua thought about how Wang Xiaofen was also an orphan, and her eyes lit up. "Is she going to the machinery factory too? Then we'll be colleagues."

"Something happened on her end." Lin Zhijin briefly explained what had occurred, then asked, "Do you have any suspects? The attacker got away—there's no telling when he might come back."

Zhao Haihua furrowed her brow in deep thought, then suddenly clapped her hands and said, "Wang Lei from Little East Gate—he's always wanted to marry Xiaofen, but his family's poor, his dad's a gambler, and his mom's notoriously hard to deal with. No girl's willing to marry into that family. His older brother Wang Yang got his wife by harassing her into marriage. Wang Lei's had his eye on Xiaofen for a while—it wouldn't surprise me if he followed his brother's example."

"Little East Gate, Wang Lei—any other suspects?" Lin Zhijin noted the name and continued asking.

"Guo San from North Gate Alley—he's always ogling widows and girls with no one to back them up. He once came pawing at my courtyard gate, and I drove him off with a carrying pole. He's been lurking around here lately—he's a possibility too." Zhao Haihua thought for a moment and offered another name.

"Alright, got it. Thanks for the leads—I'll be off now. Don't forget to show up at the Women's Federation at eight tomorrow." Lin Zhijin waved and headed back toward Wang Xiaofen's place.

Author's note: None