Chapter 182: Strange Winds and Clouds

On the fifth day after being "double-regulated" (detained for investigation), Zhu Shizhen took advantage of the guards' negligence, jumped from the fourth floor, and fell into a pile of cardboard boxes downstairs, breaking several ribs and his thigh.

This jump by Zhu Shizhen almost tore a huge hole in the officialdom of Chunshan County.

Guan Peishan gave instructions immediately: no one is allowed to visit Zhu Shizhen without approval.

After learning the news, Old Zhu's family dragged their children to the County Committee, the whole family squatting at the gate crying, demanding to see Secretary Guan.

Guan Peishan sat firmly in his office, turning a deaf ear to the demands of Old Zhu's family, and took a hardline stance: no matter the purpose, the family could not visit.

Old Zhu's wife was a typical rural old woman. The older of the two children was a boy who, after graduating from technical school, was assigned to the County Nitrogen Fertilizer Plant; he was twenty-five or twenty-six and not yet married. The daughter had followed her mother at home to "nurse the earth" after finishing junior high school; she was also nearly twenty-three and had no husband.

The eldest son, Zhu Mao, heard the secretary bring Secretary Guan's words and repeatedly questioned what crime his father had committed. People were forced to jump off a building, and they weren't even allowed to visit—what kind of law was this?

The secretary ignored his questioning, saying to himself that "double-regulation" is not equal to a crime; it is an investigation and handling procedure for Party cadres who have violated discipline. Whether Director Zhu has a problem, he knows it himself. If a person has no problem, why would they risk their life to jump off a building and commit suicide?

The secretary's rhetorical question left Zhu Mao speechless. Originally not good with words, and in a public place, he couldn't squeeze out a word for a long time. Thinking of his father, a man nearly sixty, jumping from the fourth floor, not knowing if he was dead or alive, the fire in his heart burned fiercely. He brushed aside the secretary, picked up a brick, and rushed to the glass display case of the County Committee's propaganda board. With one brick, it shattered into pieces, and his hand was cut by the glass, bleeding profusely.

The County Committee's security guard on duty wouldn't have it, chasing Zhu Mao around the courtyard with a baton. Suddenly, it was chickens flying and dogs jumping, a complete mess.

On this side, Old Zhu's wife was crying to heaven and earth, and the daughter, even more timid, shrank behind her mother, following with a sobbing cry, looking pitiful like pear blossoms in the rain.

Speaking of Old Zhu's daughter, she had grown into a beautiful and moving woman; the unique figure of a young girl outlined her peaks and valleys. Daughter Zhu Hua Yu had been sickly since birth; as a child, she was sallow and thin, her hair yellowish. No matter what medicine Old Zhu used to regulate her, it was like pouring water into a ditch—no movement. It was hard to wait until she finished junior high school, and Old Zhu made up his mind not to let his daughter continue her studies. Who knew that after eighteen, her figure and appearance changed day by day? By the time Old Zhu settled down to look, daughter Zhu Hua Yu had become a rare beauty in the ten miles and eight villages.

The more beautiful the daughter, the more Old Zhu felt he owed her. After becoming a beauty, Zhu Hua Yu's temperament changed greatly; originally she was careless about everything, but now, she would cry for half a day even if she stepped on an ant.

Because of her education, Old Zhu looked for many old acquaintances, wanting to find a job for his daughter, and even went to Guan Peishan, begging him to care and solve it. As a result, not a single friend helped, and daughter Zhu Hua Yu could only stay in Suxi Township with her mother, sighing day after day.

By the time Zhu Shizhen was transferred to the Martyrs Cemetery Management Office as Director, holding dozens of acres of land in the center of the county, the Guangdong boss knew his heart's desire and promised that as long as Old Zhu was willing to move the Martyrs Cemetery outside the city, he would not only solve daughter Zhu Hua Yu's job but also give him a house.

Zhu Shizhen knew that having the Guangdong boss solve his daughter's job was just a "drizzle" of a matter. But he also knew clearly that doing so was actually sending his daughter into a tiger's mouth. The Guangdong boss was very lecherous and wouldn't let go of his beautiful daughter. So he firmly refused, proposing to have a house and a storefront; his daughter's job would not trouble the Guangdong boss, otherwise, no deal.

Zhu Shizhen's plan was very simple: a house for son Zhu Mao to get married and live in, and a storefront for daughter Zhu Hua Yu to do business and make a living. After he retired, he would return to his old home in Suxi Township and live a pastoral life with his wife, ending his life there.

Old Zhu's idea was finally agreed to by the Guangdong boss, so he signed and stamped the agreement, covering it with the big red seal of the Martyrs Cemetery Management Office. Less than a week after the agreement was signed, Guan Peishan convened a style rectification meeting, and as a result, Old Zhu's jump occurred.

I heard this news two days later. No matter what, Old Zhu was once the Chairman of the Suxi Township People's Congress and had acted as Township Head for half a year. We had a three-year working partnership. Feelings between people can only be reflected at critical moments. Therefore, I decided to visit Old Zhu.

Just arriving at the County Committee, I saw Zhu Mao being chased until he was out of breath, so I shouted at the security guard, pulled him to my side, and asked where his father was now.

Zhu Mao had a crying face, and as soon as he opened his mouth, he called me "Uncle," making me blush.

I corrected his way of addressing me and comforted him carefully, "Don't worry, just tell me what you know."

Zhu Mao pulled my clothes, looking at the security guard, his legs trembling slightly, and said with a sobbing voice, "I don't know where Dad is either."

The County Committee office secretary recognized me and came over to talk to me, "Township Head Chen, something up?"

I smiled and said, "Nothing. Heard Old Zhu couldn't think straight and did something stupid, so I came to see him."

The secretary pulled me aside and lowered his voice mysteriously, "Township Head Chen, you're a brother, so I'll tell you straight. You'd better not wade into this muddy water."

I deliberately pretended to be surprised and looked at him, "That serious? Can't even visit?"

The secretary shook his head and said, "You're a cadre, you know the rules. During the double-regulation period, you can't meet anyone. This case is being handled personally by Secretary Guan. I advise you not to worry about this."

"Old Zhu has been timid and afraid of trouble his whole life; how could he have something like this happen today? Maybe it's a mistake?" I probed.

The secretary straightened his face seriously, "Brother, before the organization reaches a conclusion, don't think about any guesses."

I knew this secretary had been mixing in officialdom for half a lifetime, and his ability to observe colors had been practiced to perfection. If it weren't for my cousin-in-law standing behind me, a Township Head from a backward township like me wouldn't even be a fart in his eyes.

"You came just for this?" The secretary was puzzled, scratching his head and asking, "Back then, the matter of Secretary Liu Quan was reported to the county by Old Zhu. By rights, you and Liu Quan were on the same side, so why are you concerned about him?"

I looked displeased and said, "I'm not on the same side as anyone; I only obey the organization."

The secretary felt his words were out of line, smiled embarrassedly, and said, "Township Head Chen, Old Zhu's matter, before it's transferred to the judicial organ, everything still has hope. These family members just don't understand the law, making trouble unreasonably. Would the organization wrongly accuse a good cadre?"

After speaking, he pulled me to the display case and pointed to the glass on the ground, "Attacking party and government organs is a crime. Smashing public property, at the very least, means two years of re-education through labor."

Zhu Mao heard this sentence behind me and was so scared he almost cried.

Old Zhu's wife saw me, brought Zhu Hua Yu over, and said timidly, "Township Head Chen, you're here."

I comforted her, "Sister-in-law, don't worry. Old Zhu won't have any problems."

Zhu Hua Yu looked at me quietly, wanting to speak but stopping.

My heart stirred, and I pointed at her, "You're Old Zhu's daughter?"

Zhu Hua Yu nodded shyly, and a flush of red quickly covered her cheeks.

Old Zhu's wife hurriedly pulled her daughter from behind her, repeatedly saying, "Hua Yu, hurry and call Uncle."

Zhu Hua Yu opened her lips but didn't make a sound, lowering her head and saying softly, "I won't call him Uncle, calling him Brother is about right."

Old Zhu's wife slapped her daughter and said anxiously, "You have no manners." After speaking, she gave me an apologetic, bitter smile.

Just as I was about to speak, a police car drove into the County Committee gate, its police lights flashing. It stopped in front of us, and as soon as it stopped, two policemen came out, holding handcuffs, and asked the secretary, "Who is smashing things?"

Zhu Mao was so scared he hid behind me, holding my clothes with both hands, refusing to let go. When common people see the police, they are most afraid; a single police cap can scare people out of their wits. Old Zhu's wife saw the situation was wrong and rushed over, holding her son's hand, her face pale and trembling.

Before the secretary could open his mouth, I spoke first, "Such a small matter, and you need to use police brothers? Isn't that making a mountain out of a molehill?"

The two policemen stared at me strangely and scolded, "Who are you? Daring to talk nonsense."

The secretary blocked the police and introduced, "This is Township Head Chen of Suxi Township, who just happened to encounter this matter. It's nothing."

The two policemen clearly had heard my name and hesitated, not knowing how to speak. The secretary was smart, saying, "How about this, since Township Head Chen has come to care about this matter, I'll give you face. We won't talk about re-education through labor, but compensation must be paid."

I hurriedly took over, "Of course, it must be paid." I took out a stack of money from my pocket and said, "Compensate according to the price, it's a must."

"The compensation needs to be priced by the Government Affairs Bureau." The secretary pushed my hand away, "Everyone disperse."

Watching the secretary walk away, I pulled the two policemen and said, "Brothers, you've worked hard, I'll treat you to dinner tonight."

The two policemen had dark faces, declined, saying, "Next time, next time." After speaking, they climbed into the car, flashed their lights, and disappeared the way they came.

After a false alarm, the three members of Old Zhu's family were stunned. I patted Zhu Mao's hand, which was clutching my clothes, and said, "Take your mother back. Don't come to make trouble again. Making trouble won't solve the problem. I'll inquire about your father's matter."

Zhu Mao looked at me gratefully, his mouth moving, unable to make a sound, tears swirling in his eyes, trying hard not to let them fall.

The three of them walked away one after another. When Zhu Hua Yu passed by me, she said shyly and softly, "Thank you, Brother."

I watched them walk out of the County Committee courtyard gate, savoring Zhu Hua Yu's voice, which was like pear blossoms in the rain. In the five years in Suxi Township, I had heard before that Old Zhu had a beautiful daughter, and I had been to his house for a few meals, but every time I had no chance to see her. I didn't know if Old Zhu had deliberately hidden his daughter or if I didn't have the luck.

Zhu Shizhen worked in Suxi Township his whole life, starting from the commune militia battalion commander and becoming the Chairman of the Township People's Congress. He was a man who had experienced many storms. Back then, he opposed Liu Quan's fundraising mainly because he didn't have much income, and his family was a "half-side household." Except for his son, who was eating "national grain," his daughter and wife were rural household residents.

Now that Zhu Shizhen had jumped, there must be many unknown secrets hidden inside! ===== CHAPTER 183 =====