Chapter 1479: Old Yi Returns

Dongli Village

The village chief organized the villagers: "Everyone, be quick. Don't miss the deadline for handing in the public grain. Let's strive to earn an advanced title this year."

Handing in public grain!

This was the top priority in the countryside at the moment. Peasants would rather go hungry than be short on public grain.

Having emerged from the evil old feudal society, the peasants were full of love for this country. Their enthusiasm for handing in public grain was high, and they regarded it as an obligation and an honor to contribute to the country.

Sack after sack of sun-dried grain was loaded onto carts, wheelbarrows, donkey carts, and ox carts. Villagers without carts carried them on shoulder poles. Even if they had to walk, they would deliver the grain to the grain station.

When Cao Weiguo arrived in the village, the team leaders led the way. The commune members stuck red flags on their carts. Even if their clothes were full of patches, everyone was smiling, their spirits high, and they set off with the large force, full of drive.

Because most people had gone to hand in the public grain, the village was unusually quiet, empty and desolate. However, this made it convenient for Cao Weiguo to do his business. He walked alone into the rented "warehouse" and stacked up sack after sack of grain, wild boar bacon, pressed duck, chestnuts, peanuts, melon seeds, walnuts, wood ear mushrooms, chili peppers, and other dry goods. In addition, there were baskets of eggs, duck eggs, goose eggs... a wide variety, all sorts of things.

"Brother Weiguo!"

After putting the things away, Cao Weiguo locked the door and prepared to leave. Cheng Yong and a group of friends ran over, panting.

Cao Weiguo rubbed Cheng Yong's head: "Xiao Yong, you've grown quite a bit in a few days. It won't be long before you surpass me."

Cheng Yong said excitedly: "Brother Weiguo, we caught a big gray goose. That goose is so beautiful. Do you want to go see it?"

"A big gray goose? Let's go, take me to see it."

Cao Weiguo followed Cheng Yong and the group of children to the river and saw the poor big gray goose.

This big gray goose was actually a wild goose with an injured wing.

Cao Weiguo took a big bag of milk candies out of his briefcase as if by magic: "Cheng Yong, this is a wild goose. I want to take it back to cook. Will you give this wild goose to me? I'll trade you with candy."

"White Rabbit!"

"Okay, okay!"

"Cheng Yong, I want to eat milk candy!"

Seeing the White Rabbit milk candies in Cao Weiguo's hand, the eyes of the group of children lit up, and they swallowed their saliva.

Milk candy for a wild goose, the group of children readily agreed.

This bag of milk candy weighed more than three jin, and everyone could get quite a bit. Compared to a skinny wild goose, the children wanted to eat the sweet and fragrant White Rabbit milk candy more.

Cao Weiguo handed the milk candy to Cheng Yong to distribute and smiled as he carried away the wild goose that the children had tied up.

Because Cheng Xin had gone to hand in the public grain, Cao Weiguo didn't linger in the village. He rode his bike to Dongjiazhuang, Dashicun, Qinggangcun, Changshuicun... mixing the private goods into those temporary warehouses, and in a few days, he would have Section Chief Liu take the things to the food factory to fulfill the quota.

Red Star Sihe Academy

Just as Cao Weiguo was running around, the bearded Yi Zhonghai was brought back to the Sihe Academy by the neighborhood office, causing a huge sensation in the whole hutong. The old and young men all ran out of their houses, watching this "mysterious man" with surprised eyes.

"Old Yi! Old Yi! Is it you! It really is you! Old Yi!"

Seeing Yi Zhonghai, First Aunt couldn't control herself, lunging at him and crying loudly.

Yan Fugui looked at Yi Zhonghai, who had empty eyes, smelled of sourness, and was like a walking corpse, and sighed. Thinking back, how high-spirited Yi Zhonghai was—an eighth-grade worker, the First Uncle, a moral benchmark... whether in the factory or the hutong, he was a figure. But look at him now, like an eggplant hit by frost, an old cucumber pickled too long, rotten meat that had started to stink.

Liu Haizhong ran to Director Wang's side and asked in a low voice, surprised: "Director Wang, what's going on? Why is Yi Zhonghai back? Has his case been cleared? That can't be, right?"

Director Wang said sternly: "Comrade Liu Haizhong, this matter is very complicated and needs to be kept confidential, so I can't tell you much. But as the managing uncle of the Red Star Sihe Academy and the captain of the Red Star Rolling Mill's labor inspection team, as an old comrade who actively participates in the revolutionary movement, I hope you can shoulder the heavy responsibility of serving the people and contributing to the country. From now on, you will closely monitor Yi Zhonghai's every move... ensure the safety and stability of the Red Star Sihe Academy, and report any abnormalities to the neighborhood office in a timely manner."

Liu Haizhong, with his blood boiling, stood at attention and said: "Thank you for your trust, Director Wang. Please rest assured, Director Wang, I, Liu Haizhong, will certainly shoulder this heavy responsibility. I will not let the organization and you down, and I guarantee that I will do a good job supervising Yi Zhonghai."

Director Wang nodded with a straight face: "Then thank you for your hard work, Old Liu. I'll go back first. If you find any situation, report it in time. Pay attention to safety."

Liu Haizhong escorted Director Wang out of the gate, then puffed out his big belly and walked to Yi Zhonghai with a serious face. Just as he got close, the sour smell hit him, making him hurriedly cover his nose: "Old Yi, I'm very happy to see you back, but because your problem is too serious, I hope you can perform well in the coming period. As the managing uncle of this courtyard, I will closely monitor you. You should also pay attention to your attitude, seriously reflect and introspect..."

"Liu Haizhong, that's enough. Old Yi just got back, what are you doing? He's not a prisoner!"

Liu Haizhong kept on with his official jargon, making the good-tempered First Aunt anxious. On the contrary, Yi Zhonghai stood there like a wooden chicken, saying nothing, like a wooden man.

Liu Haizhong scolded sternly: "What kind of attitude is this? I am talking to Yi Zhonghai on behalf of the whole courtyard. I am also doing this for his own good. Look at your attitude. Yi Zhonghai has a problem, and you, as his wife, also have a responsibility. Haven't you checked yourself? Don't think that just because Yi Zhonghai is back, it's okay. That is the organization's tolerance, but you cannot take the organization's tolerance as weakness! If Yi Zhonghai cannot seriously reflect and repent, and makes any more illegal or undisciplined things, there will be no turning back. You, as his wife, won't be able to escape the consequences either."

First Aunt had never seen this posture before and was scared by Liu Haizhong's training, unable to say a word. Yi Zhonghai, who had been silent, opened his mouth with dull eyes: "Old woman, Old Liu is right. He is doing this for my own good. I must thank the country, thank the organization, and also thank the neighbors in our courtyard for being able to come back this time. In the future, we will live well, abide by the law, try our best to contribute to the country, and accept the supervision of the people."

Liu Haizhong sneered: "Old Yi, you finally spoke. Otherwise, I thought you had become a mute. It's good that you can still speak. Come here, as the managing uncle and also a cadre of the Rolling Mill, I need to talk to you alone."

"Okay." ===== CHAPTER 1481 =====