Chapter 63: In Case Someone Sees

The news I received from Officer Xiao Li allowed my heart to calm down for the time being. Liu Quan and Old Zhao are staying at the County Committee guesthouse; they are still cooperating with the investigation and have not been subjected to "under investigation at a designated time and place" measures, so their movements are relatively free. It is just that the Discipline Inspection Commission requires them not to leave the county seat, not to see guests, and to cooperate with the investigation at any time.

Xiao Li's words dispelled my idea of seeing them, so I handed Old Zhao's clothes to him and asked him to pass them on for me.

Unable to return to the city, I had no choice but to return to Suxi Township. When passing by Eagle Beak Village, I saw a red flag fluttering in the wind, and from afar, I saw Sister Yue Bai leading a group of young men and women working with great enthusiasm. Just as I was surprised, Old Bull Zhao Deliang saw me and ran over with a laugh: "Secretary Chen, here to inspect?"

I smiled and said, "No, I just came back from the county. Wasn't work stopped?"

"Township Head Zhu came yesterday and said to resume work completely. Our village started first." Zhao Deliang looked at me with a grin and said, "Were you at a meeting in the county?"

I shook my head and asked, "What is the deal with the red flag? Making such a big scene."

"Isn't this a Youth Shock Brigade organized by the County Youth League Committee? Township Head Zhu delivered the flag himself." Zhao Deliang shouted at Sister Yue Bai: "Yue Bai, Yue Bai, come over here, Secretary Chen is here."

Sister Yue Bai was wearing a straw hat, with a strand of sweat-dampened hair hanging down from the edge of the hat; Sister Yue Bai took off the straw hat and fanned herself with it.

"Secretary Chen, come home, Sister will make you something delicious today." She fanned a few times, glared at Zhao Deliang, and said, "What are you still standing there for? Go back to work."

Zhao Deliang gave an honest smile, revealing teeth blackened by smoke, and urged me, "You must eat at home."

I nodded in agreement. During the time I was stationed in the village, I established a very good relationship with them; in their eyes, a township government cadre eating at their home is a personal honor.

I pulled out a cigarette and took a deep drag. There have been too many changes during this period.

"Stopping work and then suddenly starting again, what kind of play is Township Head Zhu putting on?" I muttered. I really couldn't figure out what the trick was in this. But I felt that there must be something in it that I didn't know.

"Township Head Zhu said that the Youth Shock Brigade is the Youth Shock Brigade, and now the township pays wages every day. Otherwise, haven't you seen those young wives? They are working so happily!" Sister Yue Bai said with a grin, jumping over the small irrigation ditch like a young girl.

I didn't answer, and a thought popped into my mind.

Could it be that the funds from the county have arrived?

"Let's go." Sister Yue Bai shouted at me from the front: "What are you thinking about?"

I smiled and said, "Thinking about nothing."

I followed Sister Yue Bai back home and first drank a large glass of mountain spring water, the refreshing chill going straight to the bottom of my heart. Sister Yue Bai left me and went into the inner room; after a while, she came out having changed into a loose dress, told me to lie on the lounge chair to rest, and went to cook.

I returned to the main room and lay on the lounge chair, watching the chickens and ducks clamoring outside. The old yellow dog already recognized me; it came over, sniffed at my feet, wagged its tail, and lay down to the side, sprawling on the ground with its tongue out to enjoy a good sleep.