Chapter 41: Jia Dongxu Arrested

Wu Mishu escorted the He siblings to the Siheyuan gate and then left.

"Zhuzi, is this a phonograph?" Yan Butgui looked at He Yuzhu's phonograph in his arms and asked in surprise.

"Or maybe it's because Third Master has good eyesight." He Yuzhu said with a smile.

"Where did you buy it? This must cost a lot, right?" Yan Butgui continued to ask.

"It wasn't bought."

"It wasn't bought? What do you mean?"

"It wasn't bought, it was just given by someone else—that's what I mean." He Yuzhu said smugly.

"Zhuzi, let's discuss something." Yan Butgui leaned over and said.

"What matter?"

"Your phonograph is basically a gift anyway, so why not sell it to me?" Yan Butgui said.

"How much are you willing to pay?" He Yuzhu asked with a smile.

"Sixty, no, fifty." Yan Butgui said, gritting his teeth.

"Alright, your money is too much, we can't afford it." He Yuzhu said, holding the phonograph, and went into the Siheyuan.

"Don't go, the price can be negotiated." Yan Butgui shouted from behind.

Yan Butgui only focused on talking to He Yuzhu, not noticing He Yushui's murderous glare fixed on him.

"Ay!" Yan Butgui still wanted to chase after He Yuzhu, but he didn't notice He Yushui quietly stretch out a foot and trip him, sending him sprawling.

Seeing Yan Butgui fall to the ground, He Yushui walked past him laughing happily.

"Second Brother, I have something to tell you." After returning home, He Yuzhu put down the phonograph and went to Li Qiang's house.

"What's the matter, you look so rushed?" Li Qiang asked with a smile.

"Today the big leader told me to take Yushui to his house to play, and the leader's wife insists on adopting Yushui as her goddaughter."

"That's a good thing; with the big leader's support, Yushui's future won't need worrying." Li Qiang knew the big leader; in the original story, when the wind rose, the big leader went south to avoid trouble, and after the great movement ended he returned to Beiping, not only regaining his former post but even advancing a step. With his patronage, Yushui's future will certainly not be bad.

"As long as you don't object, it's fine." He Yuzhu said with a smile; from this one can see that He Yuzhu still cares about Li Qiang's attitude—in other words, if He Yuzhu had to choose between Li Qiang and the big leader, he would unhesitatingly choose Li Qiang.

"What's there to object to? I said it's a good thing, Zhuzi, you don't need to overthink." Li Qiang comforted.

"Hehe, nothing." He Yuzhu scratched his head and said.

Time flew by; in the blink of an eye it was 1958, and slogans were posted everywhere on the streets.

All over the country, grand canteens and steel smelting drives were launched.

The street office was no exception; every household was assigned the task of turning in twenty catties of scrap iron.

"Qiangzi, recently various places have launched the steel smelting campaign; your Security Section's task has become heavier—you must strengthen precautions and absolutely not allow any iron to be taken out of the factory." Factory Director Yang summoned Li Qiang to his office.

"Factory Director Yang, rest assured, we will conduct strict inspections."

After returning to the Security Section, Li Qiang immediately gathered all the team members.

"Everyone knows the situation: the whole country is engaged in steel smelting, the street office has issued some tasks, some comrades have set their sights on the steel mill, so the factory leadership demands that from today we strictly inspect personnel leaving the factory. Do you all understand?" Li Qiang shouted.

"Understood."

"Good, now everyone go to your posts and be sure to conduct strict inspections."

"Yes."

The steel mill workers leaving work surged toward the gate like a tide.

"Master, why is it so crowded today?" Jia Dongxu asked Yi Zhonghai, looking at the long queue at the gate.

"I'm not sure; something must have happened, it should clear up soon." Yi Zhonghai also didn't know what was going on; he thought something had happened.

But not long after, several workers were taken by the Security Section to a side room.

After much effort, Yi Zhonghai and Jia Dongxu reached the front of the line.

"Please open your satchel and lunchbox." A Security Section officer approached the two and said.

Yi Zhonghai calmly opened his lunchbox, which was held in a net bag, so he had no satchel; the officer simply patted him down and let him go.

"Please open your lunchbox." The same Security Section officer came up to Jia Dongxu and said.

Jia Dongxu heard the officer's words but delayed acting.

"Say it again—open your lunchbox." The officer said coldly.

Jia Dongxu looked at the officer's icy gaze, trembling hands slowly opened the lunchbox, revealing a steel plate weighing about two or three catties inside.

"Come here, take him away." The officer called to his colleague.

"What right do you have to arrest me?" Jia Dongxu shouted as the officer approached.

"What's wrong, comrade?" Yi Zhonghai came over upon hearing Jia Dongxu's shout.

"He stole factory property." The officer said coldly.

"Comrade, maybe there's a misunderstanding—this is just scrap iron, right?" Yi Zhonghai said, looking at the steel plate in Jia Dongxu's lunchbox indifferently.

"If it's scrap iron, is it no longer factory property?" The officer retorted.

"Comrade, please show some leniency." Yi Zhonghai pulled the officer aside, spoke softly, and handed him half a pack of cigarettes.

"I can't be lenient; this is today's order from the factory leadership." The officer refused without hesitation.

"I know your Section Chief Li Qiang; we live in the same compound." Yi Zhonghai then remembered Li Qiang.

"Go find our Section Chief; if he agrees, you can release him." The officer could not afford to offend Li Qiang's dignity, though he could ignore Yi Zhonghai's face—after all, Li Qiang, as Section Chief, is usually kind to the Security Section staff, and everyone remembers his goodness. Just after the meeting, they had reached a consensus: if Li Bin or He Yuzhu were found with contraband, they'd turn a blind eye and let them pass; everyone knows He Yuzhu calls Li Qiang his sworn brother, and Li Bin is Li Qiang's real brother, known throughout the steel mill.

"Then wait a moment; I'll go find him now." Yi Zhonghai said and ran toward the Security Section office, but upon arriving he discovered the office door was guarded by the Iron General, and Li Qiang was not in the office.

Li Qiang also knew someone would come to plead for him; after assigning tasks he slipped back home.

Yi Zhonghai failed to find Li Qiang and could only return to plead with the officer again. But seeing Yi Zhonghai repeatedly claim he knew Li Qiang yet failing to produce him, the officer naturally concluded Yi Zhonghai was bluffing, gave him no face, and directly locked Jia Dongxu up in the Security Section.

Yi Zhonghai realized he had no recourse; he could only run back to the Siheyuan to inform the Jia family.