Chapter 126: A Breath of Relief
Du Xuewen thought of it too. If Zhang Jingxian hadn’t remembered the wrong place, then the person who secretly took the letter of introduction must have been from the educated youth spot!
If an outsider had stolen the letter and then didn’t want it anymore, there would’ve been no need to return it. The risk of being discovered by the owner was too high. Besides, anyone carrying a shoulder bag close at hand would usually have some money, ration coupons, or other valuables inside. How could a thief fail to recognize those?
“If it was someone from our educated youth spot, why would he do it? If it was accidental, why not say so at the ticket inspection? If intentional, why not destroy the letter or simply throw it away—why bother putting it back?”
Yan Xuan had only learned how Zhang Guodong and Zhang Jingxian had caught up with the group after arriving here. “Don’t you think that makes it even scarier?”
Everyone looked at him.
Yan Xuan said, “Think about it. If Comrade Zhang and Little Zhang hadn’t run into Comrade Tang, whether they went to the educated youth office or the production brigade to reapply for the letter, they’d have only been able to catch the next train—arriving three or four days later than us. Who knows if they’d even have been accepted upon arrival? Imagine the mental torment on the way. Finally, they arrive, unpack their bags, only to discover that the letter hadn’t been lost at all. Anyone with a weaker mind might’ve gone mad from anger.”
So terrifying!
Miao Jiaze sucked in a sharp breath.
Yan Xuan said, “If the one who took the letter did it on purpose, it feels like he was playing with people. That’s frightening.”
Mu Lantu commented, “Killing the body is nothing compared to killing the spirit.”
Xu Huazhang added, “You’ve overlooked one thing. From beginning to end, did you see anyone showing a guilty conscience?”
Miao Jiaze, Du Xuewen, and Yan Xuan all shook their heads.
Du Xuewen rubbed his arms, goosebumps rising.
“This proves even further that the person did it deliberately, and very likely had planned it all along. Who could it be?”
Miao Jiaze stuffed food into his mouth. “Well, it’s not us anyway.”
Yan Xuan hurried to add, “Not me either. I haven’t even spoken to Little Zhang.”
Du Xuewen snatched a juicy piece of chicken from under Miao Jiaze’s chopsticks. “Feels like ever since Brother Xu Jincheng left, the educated youth spot’s been full of trouble. It’s nothing like the peace we had before. Luckily, we moved out!”
Miao Jiaze felt the same.
Mu Lantu did have a suspect in mind, but he couldn’t say. He couldn’t give everyone the god’s-eye view.
Wait.
Maybe… half of it?
“Today, when Huazhang and I went hiking, we passed the educated youth spot and heard a female comrade calling another ‘Jiang Qiaozhu.’ Her name differs from Jiang Qiaohui’s by only one character—quite a coincidence.”
Xu Huazhang gave him a smiling glance, softening again.
“Sounds like sisters,” Du Xuewen said.
Since it was someone else’s business, they dropped the subject after a little talk.
Day after day of picking cotton—though they could earn forty to fifty thousand points in half a day, and though they had 005 reading audiobooks to accompany them—Mu Lantu still found it hard to keep his spirits up. But he had to endure.
On the tenth day in Xinjiang, Zhang Guodong’s leg was broken. He had eaten a few extra pieces of watermelon that night, and when he got up at midnight to use the toilet, someone beat him.
Zhang Jingxian first went to the brigade leader, then to the public security bureau, but they couldn’t find the culprit—didn’t even have a suspect. This left the officers very frustrated.
Usually, someone commits violence with a purpose: for money, lust, power… unless it’s a lunatic acting without logic.
But after a detailed investigation, they learned Zhang Guodong had a generous character and had never made enemies in those regards.
After two fruitless days of investigation, the matter was left unresolved.
After being discharged, Zhang Guodong recuperated in the dormitory.
Zhang Jingxian still worked during the day and then cared for him afterward. She grew thinner by the day, but never uttered a word of complaint.
It was clear their sibling bond was truly deep.
In private, Zhang Guodong told Mu Lantu and the others, “I have a feeling that Jingxian and I are being targeted.”
Miao Jiaze and the others felt chills down their backs.
“Could it be you’re overthinking it?”
Zhang Guodong said, “Then why is it that everyone else is fine, but only Jingxian and I keep running into trouble?”
But—there was no evidence.
Everyone fell silent. Without proof, they were powerless.
Mu Lantu was eighty percent sure it was Jiang Qiaohui.
There had been four attackers against Zhang Guodong. For the mastermind to move so many people and keep them under control—it could only be someone local, or a local educated youth who knew which people could be used for this sort of thing.
It was impossible for the newly arrived educated youths to find so many reliable helpers in such a short time.
Except Jiang Qiaohui.
And Jiang Qiaohui and Jiang Qiaozhu were indeed sisters, confirmed after Miao Jiaze asked around.
With Jiang Qiaozhu helping, it would have been no problem.
[Little Five, if I ever get thrown into a book again, don’t tell me I’m in one.] Mu Lantu was deeply troubled.
He was in an awkward position: if he didn’t intervene, Zhang Guodong and Zhang Jingxian might suffer terribly. But if he did intervene—he didn’t know much, had no proof. He couldn’t just attack Jiang Qiaohui on a mere suspicion.
005 didn’t understand why the host suddenly gave this order, but still agreed. [Yes, Host.]
“Brother Zhang, there’s another possibility. Could it be that you two accidentally blocked someone’s path?” Mu Lantu suggested.
Yan Xuan had plenty to say about that.
“Exactly! Even if you didn’t do anything, you might still have hindered someone. Take my father, for example. He’s a small cadre. Competent enough at work, but not ambitious, and has no obsession with promotions.
When his superior was about to be transferred, the only candidates for the position were my dad and another man of similar seniority. That man treated my dad like a thorn in his side, constantly making things hard for him at work!”
“I see…” Zhang Guodong fell into deep thought.
Du Xuewen said, “You should carefully consider whether you or anyone close to you might have conflicting interests with others.”
Miao Jiaze added, “And don’t forget Little Zhang. Could she have conflicts with those around her? Didn’t you say you suspected both of you were being targeted?”
Zhang Guodong said gravely, “I’ll think it over carefully.”
The educated youths picked cotton for twenty days in total.
Tomorrow, they would board the train back to the city.
Yan Xuan hired a master to roast a whole lamb.
Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang, in high spirits, borrowed bicycles to go to the county, bringing back a fine bottle of liquor.
Du Xuewen and Miao Jiaze prepared four extra dishes to offset the grease.
The others found their own amusements, but Zhang Guodong and Zhang Jingxian still wore worried faces.
Zhang Guodong’s leg hadn’t healed yet. If he wanted to return, he could only take a sleeper berth—but none were available. He had no choice but to stay behind and recover.
Since he had only worked ten days, he hadn’t completed the mission. If an opportunity came later to attend the Workers-Peasants-Soldiers University or return to the city, he would have no advantage at all.
Zhang Jingxian didn’t feel at ease leaving him alone, so she wanted to stay, but the Dongfanghong Brigade wouldn’t approve leave, nor would this side issue her a new letter of introduction.
Zhang Guodong also didn’t agree. If she encountered trouble again, he wouldn’t be able to protect her. It was safer for her to return with the others.
Truly—some rejoice while others grieve!
At dawn, Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang set out first.
The train was at three in the afternoon, but they wanted to have fun in the county first.
They ate authentic hand-grabbed rice, naan with meat, and smoked horse meat at the state-run restaurant, then went to the black market to sell off a huge batch of rice and flour, expanding their profiteering business and earning over ten thousand more.
Afterward, they went to the station, paid a large bribe to the attendants, and secured two sleeper tickets.
This time, they didn’t plan to bring Miao Jiaze and Du Xuewen along. They were all adults now—they needed to learn to walk independently.
They slept comfortably all the way from the starting station to the end, and rejoined the others full of energy.
Miao Jiaze immediately noticed the change.
“You two got haircuts.”
All the other men’s hair had grown long in Xinjiang, since no one had bothered to cut it.
Mu Lantu said, “Too hot, so we cut it.”
“The brigade leader didn’t send a tractor to pick us up. How are we going back?” Bai Ningning asked weakly.
Yue Xiaoying said, “Rent a horse cart or ox cart? I don’t want to walk—I have no strength left!”
Xie Xiaojun yawned listlessly. As he got off the train, his right leg suddenly gave way. He fell forward hard, smashing into the ground. The crowd was so packed that no one saw whose foot had stepped on his leg—but it was broken.
Xie Xiaojun let out a scream and fainted.
Everyone was startled, quickly carrying him to an open space.
Cai Xiufen rushed over in distress.
“Xiaojun!”
“What do we do?”
With Zhang Guodong gone, everyone looked to Lu Manman. Now she was the highest “official” among them.
Exhausted, Lu Manman said, “What else? Take him to the hospital.”
So they all carried Xie Xiaojun to the hospital—and even had to front his medical expenses.
Even though food and lodging hadn’t cost anything during the trip, each of them had spent quite a bit, and now their money was running low.
Xu Huazhang naturally stepped in to pay fifty yuan for Xie Xiaojun’s treatment.
He hadn’t intended to kill Xie Xiaojun—just teach him a lesson. So paying this money was necessary, to reassure the hospital that treatment would be provided without worry of unpaid bills.
“Comrade Cai, if you’re staying to take care of him, should we help bring your luggage back?” Lu Manman asked.
Cai Xiufen stammered, “It’s not really proper for me to stay. I’m just his girlfriend, not his wife. Maybe a male comrade should—”
At that, all the men scrambled to run off—only a fool would stay behind.
Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang were the fastest, running while silently laughing to themselves.
At last, they had vented the frustration in their hearts! What a relief!
After leaving the hospital, Xu Huazhang asked, “Baby, should we go home and shower first?”
Too carried away?
Mu Lantu shot him a warning look.
Xu Huazhang coughed lightly. Thankfully, no one was around.
“Home it is!”
Back at their county home, they washed up and changed into fresh, clean clothes. After a short rest, they went to the state-run restaurant for lunch.
Braised pork—check!
Sautéed pork slices—check!
Pork belly with blood sausage—check!
Chicken stewed with mushrooms—check!
Back in Xinjiang, they had managed to exchange for plenty of national food coupons and meat coupons, so they could spend freely now.
After eating their fill, they rented a horse cart back to the brigade.
Entering the village, they circled to the back mountain, released Wangcai, and returned home together.
From the three neighboring households came the sounds of washing and scrubbing, water splashing, voices chatting freely—exuding a cozy, carefree atmosphere.
Mu Lantu took out the key to unlock the door, only to get a hand full of dust.
