Chapter 97: Reported

After ending the call, Gu Chenghuai went to the county government building to find Yang Junzhi to inquire about the brigade's electricity.

Yang Junzhi wasn't in charge of this area, but he knew the news.

After all, electricity was a major event for the entire commune.

"Electricity? Soon, just wait a bit. According to the plan, every brigade in our commune will have electricity in the second half of the year."

Gu Chenghuai had originally thought that if the brigade didn't have an electricity plan, he would have to find a way. He didn't expect it to be such a coincidence that the entire commune had an electricity plan.

"Got it, thank you."

Yang Junzhi punched Gu Chenghuai on the shoulder and said unhappily, "Thanks for nothing."

He only answered a question; what was there to thank him for.

"I'm used to it." Gu Chenghuai chuckled, "After all, there are four cubs at home, and my wife told me to be a good role model."

Yang Junzhi was speechless, "Are you showing off?"

"Is it that obvious?" Gu Chenghuai raised an eyebrow.

"..."

Director Yang was almost laughed to anger.

"You still owe me a meal." He decided to fleece Gu Chenghuai hard.

Gu Chenghuai: "Where do you want to eat?"

Yang Junzhi was stunned.

"What? I can choose?" The corners of his mouth curled up.

"Hmm." Gu Chenghuai said indifferently, "Two choices: either the state-run restaurant or my house."

Yang Junzhi said jokingly: "You're cooking?"

Joking aside, he didn't think his comrade-in-arms would enter the kitchen; the kitchen didn't suit him at all.

"If I don't cook, could it be my wife cooking? You're dreaming." Gu Chenghuai's expression was meaningful.

"?"

Yang Junzhi was so shocked he lost his composure, "You can cook too? Is that for real?"

"Is it strange?" Gu Chenghuai asked back indifferently, his eyes filled with the steadiness of someone in control of everything.

"Strange! How is it not strange! You're not a cook!" Yang Junzhi felt it was absurd.

"You even specifically learned to cook?" He was incredibly shocked, "Do you believe that if your soldiers knew you could cook, they would definitely react more strongly than me."

Gu Chenghuai didn't care.

He wasn't a man who only cared about face and didn't care about his wife's feelings.

Housework wasn't just his wife's job; he was also a part of the family, and he already felt guilty enough for his wife and children for being away from home so often.

If he were to just stand there and do nothing, he might as well not come back; it would be more annoying at home.

"Do I care?"

Yang Junzhi knew his comrade's family was building a house and they were moving to the old house, so where would they have room to entertain him? He smiled, "We'll taste your cooking when there's a chance later. Remember, you owe me a meal. This time, let's go to the state-run restaurant. I'll treat you and your wife, and bring all four of your cubs, how about that?"

"We met last time, but didn't say a few words. With you there this time, let's get to know each other again. Don't overthink it; I'm talking about your cubs. My wife heard your family has two pairs of twins and is very curious, always saying she wants to see them."

What could Gu Chenghuai overthink? If he couldn't even trust his comrade-in-arms, then what else was real?

He also wanted to introduce Zhao Zhao to Yang Junzhi and his wife.

After all, he was far away, and if something really happened, he would have to find his comrade.

"Good."

Gu Chenghuai didn't argue with Yang Junzhi about who would pay. When the time came, he would just let Ercai pester the person, and he would go pay.

After finishing the business, Gu Chenghuai remembered he still had to go to the Wei family to give an answer. They agreed on the next time to eat, and without further delay, he said goodbye and left.

Arriving at the Wei family, he told his sister and brother-in-law the news he had gathered.

Wei Xiangdong was quick-witted and instantly understood his third brother-in-law's meaning, "You mean, we have to send Little Stone to the Youth Palace to learn table tennis?"

"It depends on what you think." Gu Chenghuai wouldn't interfere too much; he was just an uncle, and regarding Little Stone's future, he couldn't take charge.

"You can understand it in advance, but the national situation is not good. No one knows what direction the Youth Palace will take next."

Given the current situation, he guessed that the learning content of the Youth Palace would change, shifting toward the direction of red literary propaganda teams, but this was temporary, and sports would eventually be valued again.

Gu Chan and Wei Xiangdong's brains were like a ball of paste.

"Youth Palace, does the county have one?" Wei Xiangdong asked.

"The county doesn't have one, but the provincial capital does." Gu Chenghuai passed through the provincial capital when he returned, and he knew there was one.

The couple was even more confused.

They rarely even went to the county, and the provincial capital was even further away.

They had the heart to fulfill their child's wish but didn't know what to do.

The couple's faces were full of difficulty.

Gu Chenghuai understood.

"I asked a friend to buy a new pair of table tennis rackets, and I'll give them to Little Stone when they arrive. Brother-in-law, make him a table tennis table at home. If he likes it, let him practice on his own when he's free."

Familiarizing himself with it would be better than knowing nothing when the opportunity arose later.

He didn't mention finding relevant materials; it wasn't time for that yet. One had to eat one mouthful at a time.

Wei Xiangdong listened to his brother-in-law, "Good, I'll make it when I have time."

That chatterbox Ercai had already spilled the dimensions, so he didn't need to ask again.

Gu Chan couldn't help much, only saying, "I'll give you the money."

"No need." Gu Chenghuai spoke up.

That was his own nephew; would it be right to take money?

Zhao Zhao said that her eldest sister had helped the family a lot, and she praised her whenever she was mentioned. His comrades were all over the country, and he could get a lot of news, so he couldn't not help.

"If there's any news, I'll tell you in time." He emphasized.

As for whether Little Stone could achieve anything in this line, Gu Chenghuai didn't care.

It was like planting a fruit tree; no one could guarantee... that it would definitely bear fruit.

Gu Chan was so grateful she didn't know what to say.

"Thank you, Chenghuai."

Gu Chenghuai said the same thing: "Little Stone is my own nephew."

If it were someone else, he would still help, but he definitely wouldn't help like this.

Big Stone knew his younger brother's matter had troubled his third uncle, and he kept his kindness firmly in his heart.

He couldn't repay his third uncle's family now, but when he grew up, he would treat the four cubs well and treat them like his own younger brothers and sisters.

"Thank you, Third Uncle."

Seeing his younger brother happily foolish beside him, he patted Little Stone's back, "Is your mouth glued shut? Say thank you; Third Uncle bought you table tennis rackets and is also keeping an eye on news for you."

Big Stone felt his younger brother was truly a little dull.

"Thank you, Third Uncle." Little Stone said softly.

Gu Chenghuai wasn't wearing his military uniform today, so the child didn't dare to get too close. He had taken the initiative to ask for a hug before because he saw him wearing his military uniform.

He was young, but he also knew that those who wore green military uniforms were... good people who protected the country.

After speaking, Gu Chenghuai didn't stay long and returned to the Harvest Brigade. The family was building a house, so he had to keep an eye on it, and there were also the four cubs.

Wei family courtyard.

Gu Chan said to her two sons, "Your third uncle is good to you two; you must remember that, do you hear me?"

The two Stones answered decisively.

"Heard it." They weren't ungrateful wretches; they knew who was good to them.

Little Stone looked up and met his father's eyes, "Dad, can I play ball in our courtyard from now on?"

"Yes." Wei Xiangdong reached out to wipe the sweat from his younger son's forehead and said, "When the table tennis rackets arrive, you can practice. Let your brother accompany you."

Big Stone thought of his younger brother's fanatical appearance when playing ball, curled his lips, and didn't really want to be a sparring partner.

Playing for a while left him covered in sweat, sticky, and it was incredibly uncomfortable!

Little Stone didn't know his brother's thoughts and smiled shyly.

Wei Xiangdong found someone to make the gate, using wood from the carpenter's family, which cost two yuan.

The money was a bit much, but he needed it quite urgently.

It wouldn't do without a gate at home; A-Chan couldn't sleep soundly.

"I'll build the courtyard wall higher today."

Gu Chan reminded, "And stick sharp stones on top."

Actually, broken tiles were better, but tiles cost money, and using stones was the same.

"I have a plan in mind." Wei Xiangdong said.

He would go up the mountain from time to time and return late at night, so the house had to be guarded well.

Gu Chenghuai returned home and parked the bicycle.

Bang Bang came over and said with a smile, "Third Uncle, I want to ride the bicycle."

Hearing this, Gu Chenghuai took off the soft cushion from the back seat to avoid getting it dirty, "Ride it."

"Thank you, Third Uncle!" Bang Bang was incredibly happy, pushing the bicycle out the door.

Tie Dan grabbed the back seat, "Brother, take me!"

"Come."

Lai Mei had just come out of the outhouse, still pulling up her pants. Seeing this scene, she hurriedly put on her pants and chased after them.

"Wait for me."

The twins didn't even raise their heads; Gu Da Cai was sitting in the courtyard writing, and Ercai was squatting in the corner, drawing circles with a small wooden stick.

Gu Chenghuai raised an eyebrow in surprise, "What's wrong with you two?"

Ercai looked up and gave his father a look, sighing, "Sigh, you don't understand."

"?"

He didn't say, and Gu Chenghuai didn't ask much. He didn't believe these two wouldn't say anything when his wife came back.

Gu Chenghuai gave the mung beans, lily bulbs, and white sugar to Gu Mother, asked his mother to help cook the mung bean and lily bulb soup, turned around, and went to the new house to watch the progress while helping to build the wall.

Actually, when his family built the house, there were quite a few family members—Gu Father, Gu Yuanshan, and Gu Yucheng, and even Second Uncle Gu came, not to mention Lin Shichang and Lin Shisheng. There wouldn't be any problems, but Gu Chenghuai felt that as the male host, he should come.

The Lin brothers lived far away, and coming and going wasn't convenient. With his sister's bicycle, the two of them could save a lot of time coming and going.

"Eldest Brother, Zhao Zhao said there are things for you to take back this afternoon." Gu Chenghuai found Lin Eldest Brother and conveyed his wife's words.

Lin Shichang stopped working and looked over in confusion, "What things?"

"For Father." Gu Chenghuai didn't know either; his wife was mysterious. He asked, and Zhao Zhao just smiled—she smiled so beautifully that he just hugged her and kissed her for a long time without asking again.

Hearing it was for his own father, Lin Shichang had nothing to say.

They had no right to stop their sister from being filial to their father, and with Zhao Zhao's personality, saying a few more words would make her throw a tantrum, and they would have to coax her if she threw a tantrum.

Lin Zhao: "?"

In the county.

Lin Zhao had just arrived at the counter and hadn't even taken off her satchel when Li Fen rushed over and grabbed her hand, "Zhao Zhao, you saved my life!"

Not knowing what she thought of, her eyes turned red, and her emotions were visibly excited.

Lin Zhao widened her eyes.

?

She saved... Sister Fen's life?!

When did that happen?

"I didn't..."

Lin Zhao was about to speak when she was cut off by Li Fen.

"You did." She said, "Yesterday's eggs and white flour, you remember, right?"

Yes, white flour.

Li Fen only knew it was flour, but didn't expect Lin Zhao to be so generous, giving white flour.

White flour was so hard to get; Comrade Lin was truly generous.

Thinking of what happened last night, she felt more and more that giving her the matchbox job was super worth it!

"Of course I remember." Lin Zhao said helplessly. She had just given it away yesterday; how could she forget after only one night.

"Thanks to the things you sent." Li Fen's mood was complicated, both nervous and fearful, as if she had been through a life-and-death situation.

"How so?" Lin Zhao took off her satchel, put it into the cabinet, and looked curious.

To hear the story better, she pulled over a stool and sat down.

Li Fen also sat down.

"Yesterday, after receiving the thank-you gift you gave, I casually told the children's father to come back early so we could eat dumplings at night."

"My man hadn't eaten dumplings for a while and was craving them. Yesterday, he didn't take the initiative to stay for overtime and rushed home as soon as he got off work... It was fortunate he went back early, otherwise, you wouldn't see me for several days."

She would have had to go to the hospital.

Speaking of this, Li Fen's face changed slightly, her fingers gripping the fabric of her pants, her voice slightly hoarse: "Something happened at the matchbox factory last night."

"Some employees in the factory teamed up with outsiders to steal property from the factory. They were discovered, injured three people, and escaped..."

Lin Zhao still didn't understand what this had to do with her.

Li Fen's words continued: "The reason I said you are my man's life-saving benefactor is because my man is a labor model in the matchbox factory. He usually goes back late, but yesterday he was rare to go back so early. My man heard the news about the factory incident early this morning and was terrified. The place where the factory employees were injured... was exactly where he usually passes by. Not only the place, but the time of the incident also matched. If he hadn't gone back early yesterday, he would definitely have been on the list of injured people."

"Look, aren't you a life-saving benefactor?"

She came back to her senses, her eyes full of gratitude.

"Zhao Zhao, I dare to tell you, as long as the matchbox factory doesn't go bankrupt and my man works there, your sister-in-law can always get work."

Li Fen was terrified.

She felt Lin Zhao was the type of person with very good luck, and she felt closer to her in her heart.

Lin Zhao understood now.

It was all a coincidence and didn't have much to do with her.

She smiled helplessly: "What life-saving benefactor? It's the blessings accumulated by you and your man; you were destined to escape this disaster."

"Are the people injured by the matchboxes seriously hurt?" She asked.

Li Fen still wanted to say a few more words, but hearing this, the topic was immediately diverted.

"Not seriously, fortunately, there were three of them. If it were my man..."

She didn't even dare to think about it.

"It's good that they're fine." Lin Zhao said.

They were all the pillars of the family; if something happened, it would be a devastating blow to that family.

"Have the criminals who hurt people been caught?" Lin Zhao asked next.

"Two have been caught, one slipped away fast, I heard they are still catching him." Li Fen answered.

Lin Zhao's face didn't look good, "I hope they catch him soon. It wouldn't be good for such a dangerous person to be wandering outside and hurting innocent people."

Li Fen felt Lin Zhao was truly kind and indeed worth befriending.

"Zhao Zhao, I made vegetable boxes early this morning and brought them specifically for you. You can't refuse; my man also said he wanted to thank you properly."

Lin Zhao was afraid she would keep dwelling on this matter, so she responded casually.

"Sister Fen, what does your younger brother mean? Does he want to meet my sister?"

Li Fen saw she didn't want to mention the life-saving benefactor matter, kept the gratitude in her heart, and talked about her younger brother, "He's willing, he agreed and said he has a day off the day after tomorrow."

"The day after tomorrow at noon, I don't know if your sister has time?"

Lin Zhao nodded, "That's fine, my sister has been at my house during this time, she has time. Shall we set it for that day?"

She wasn't the type to procrastinate.

The feeling of having something stuck in her heart was truly annoying.

"That's fine, it's settled then." Li Fen couldn't wait to set it early.

"Good."

The two finished their business when Liu Chunhong entered the supply and marketing cooperative.

Her gaze swept coldly over the counter where Lin Zhao was, her face gloomy and terrifying, her eyes rolling with bone-deep hatred.

The old employee who was on good terms with Liu Chunhong saw this, hurriedly pulled her sleeve, and advised in a low voice: "Restrain yourself, Comrade Lin didn't provoke you."

Liu Chunhong sneered in her heart.

Didn't provoke?

Her daughter was forced to board a train to the frontier; whether she could come back in this lifetime was an unknown.

All of this was caused by Lin Zhao!

If Lin Zhao hadn't snatched the job from her daughter, even if it was just a temporary worker spot, her daughter wouldn't have been assigned to... that godforsaken place as an educated youth.

Lin Zhao sensed a cold gaze falling on her, looked up, and met Liu Chunhong's gaze.

Liu Chunhong quickly turned her face away, but in that instant, Lin Zhao still captured the viciousness in her eyes.

Lin Zhao saw this look, and so did Li Fen.

"Zhao Zhao, be careful of Liu Chunhong. I heard her daughter was assigned to the frontier as an educated youth and is afraid she won't be able to come back in this lifetime. She treats your and Comrade Wang's job quota as her own and thinks her daughter not having a job was caused by you two. Comrade Wang has a good family background, so she doesn't dare to provoke her, so she holds a grudge against you..."

Lin Zhao sneered, "So I'm easy to bully."

"It's fine, let her come; I'll take it."

If you don't do anything wrong, you don't fear ghosts knocking at the door; she shouldn't be the one afraid.

"Your attitude is right, don't be afraid, Sister will protect you." Li Fen patted Lin Zhao's shoulder and said seriously.

A warmth appeared in the corners of Lin Zhao's eyes and brows.

"Thank you, Sister Fen."

Liu Chunhong caught a glimpse of the smile on her face, imagined the scene of her daughter crying on the train, and was so angry she almost tore the rag in her hand to shreds.

Smile, keep smiling, you won't be able to smile soon!

Soon, the customers rushing to buy in the supply and marketing cooperative gradually dispersed, and the front of the counter became quiet.

Just at this moment, several people walked in from outside, dressed properly, with serious expressions; one look and they didn't look like they came to buy things.

Director Jiang of the supply and marketing cooperative was also there.

He glanced at Lin Zhao quickly, then moved his gaze away rapidly, his brows furrowed slightly, worry flashing in his eyes.

He hoped she wouldn't do anything foolish.

The middle-aged man in the lead had sharp eyes, scanned the counter, and a cold, stern voice rang out, "Who is Lin Zhao?"

Lin Zhao had a premonition early on and wasn't surprised.

She walked out of the counter calmly, her gaze sweeping toward Liu Chunhong without a trace.

Sure enough—

On Liu Chunhong's face, there was irrepressible joy and excitement.

It's here!

"I am Lin Zhao." Lin Zhao said calmly.

The middle-aged man was expressionless, "Comrade Lin Zhao, we received a report letter. The letter says you used your position to embezzle materials from the supply and marketing cooperative and privately collected kickbacks. Please cooperate with the investigation."

As his voice fell, the supply and marketing cooperative instantly became quiet, and everyone's gaze focused on Lin Zhao.

Liu Chunhong stood where she was, the corners of her mouth slightly raised, joy of success flashing in her eyes.

These people are here; Lin Zhao won't die, but she'll lose a layer of skin.

Lin Zhao wasn't panicked at all, "I didn't do it."

"You say I embezzled materials from the supply and marketing cooperative, where is the evidence?"

Li Fen stood up for Lin Zhao and couldn't help but speak: "That's right, empty words, you can't just frame people without evidence."

"Comrade Lin has only been in the supply and marketing cooperative for a few days, and she has been dutiful every day; it's impossible for her to embezzle."

"She is a military dependent, her ideological awareness is high, and her family conditions aren't bad; what could she embezzle? Anyway, I don't believe it!"

Wang Ju was very nervous, but also boldly said: "... I don't believe it either!"

The female employee on good terms with Liu Chunhong guessed that the report letter was written by Liu Chunhong, felt she was terrifying, and subconsciously moved further away from her.

"I don't believe it either." She said.

Comrade Lin didn't do anything wrong; Comrade Liu is bullying people a bit, isn't this picking the soft persimmon to squeeze?

Of course, she who had a good impression of military dependents would stand out.

"Just like Comrade Li said, Comrade Lin has only been in the supply and marketing cooperative for a few days; she comes on time every day and leaves the earliest, and only carries one cloth bag back and forth. She doesn't have the conditions to embezzle."

Lin Zhao: Thank you.

Seeing this scene, Director Jiang's expression relaxed.

In this situation, it should be fine.

He secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

During this period, the county was catching "embezzlement and theft" strictly. Once verified, let alone a job, they wouldn't even be fit to be a person.

Lin Zhao was introduced by him; if she fell, he would be implicated.

Director Jiang didn't want anything to happen to her.

Liu Chunhong stared at the person on good terms with her with the eyes of a traitor, resentment flashing in her eyes.

They had known each other for over ten years, and this is how they repaid her!?

It wasn't easy to get these people here; she wasn't willing to let Lin Zhao go like this.

So she jumped out voluntarily.

"I have evidence!"

Extra 1.4k~ ===== CHAPTER 98 =====