Chapter 132

Lu Weiguo nodded. “Last time we went to catch Wei Jian, I noticed that the floorboards and bed boards in your old house had signs of being pried open. Someone was definitely looking for something, and it’s likely that thing is still with your parents.”

At this point, Lu Weiguo suddenly stopped speaking. If the person watching wasn’t an enemy, then they must be on their side. If important information was in his parents-in-law’s possession, it wouldn’t be surprising if superiors had sent people to protect them secretly.

He then thought of another possibility. His parents-in-law had been brought back from abroad with great effort by the state. It seemed unlikely that a simple report could get them sent to the countryside.

What if everything was a calculated move to keep them away from the center of the storm during these turbulent times, considering how fierce the internal struggle had become in recent years?

If the project his parents-in-law were working on was valuable, it would be a good strategy to keep them out of harm’s way by placing them in a less noticeable location.

Shi Tingyu had the same realization. If someone was indeed protecting her parents secretly, then their transfer wasn’t just a result of a mere report.

She remembered that the senior officer had played a role in their assignment to this village, suggesting there might be unknown factors involved.

At the time, there wasn’t enough evidence against them, and the transfer process had been unusually smooth.

Lu Weiguo said, “Tomorrow night, I’ll go and check if anyone’s still there. We can’t be sure if the person is from the team or if someone is truly watching from the shadows.”

Shi Tingyu was worried, “Could it be dangerous?”

“No worries, even if there is danger, I can still get away,” Lu Weiguo reassured her.

Hearing this, Shi Tingyu felt somewhat relieved.

The next evening, at the same time, Lu Weiguo went to the cowshed alone. The moon was high, providing some light to see by.

As he neared the cowshed, he again sensed someone’s presence.

This time, he walked a bit further ahead.

In the moonlight, he saw two figures hiding behind a tree.

At that moment, Lu Weiguo’s mind raced. He charged toward them, surprising them.

If they were on his side, it would be easier to talk face-to-face.

If they were enemies, he could claim he saw suspicious activity and acted to protect the team, and no one in the village would doubt him.

The two didn’t expect him to rush at them and were caught off guard.

Lu Weiguo quickly engaged them in a fight.

He held his own against the two, and as they fought, they all showed signs of surprise.

Their fighting styles were identical—military training—but Lu Weiguo’s moves were more brutal, honed by his battlefield experience.

The two men stopped fighting first.

“Comrade, are you a soldier?” one asked.

Lu Weiguo pulled back and asked in return, “Who are you? Why are you in our village?”

The two exchanged glances but didn’t reveal their identities.

“Are you watching the people in the cowshed?” Lu Weiguo tried to probe.

They instinctively denied, “No.”

Lu Weiguo felt relieved. He turned slightly, letting the moonlight fall on his face.

Seeing his face clearly, one of them hesitated for a moment and then said uncertainly, “Are you Lu Weiguo?”

Raising an eyebrow, Lu Weiguo realized they knew him, confirming his suspicion that his parents-in-law’s transfer was not straightforward.

He didn’t beat around the bush, “Are you here to protect Professor Shi and his wife?”

This time, the two were surprised. They thought Lu Weiguo might see them as enemies, given how aggressively he had approached them.

Given the situation, they saw no point in hiding the truth. “Yes, we’re here to protect the Shi family.”

Lu Weiguo didn’t ask further. Knowing this was enough, and he figured they couldn’t divulge more information anyway.

At this moment, Shi Tingyu’s parents, having heard the commotion, came out dressed.

The two men quickly hid.

Seeing Lu Weiguo, Shi’s parents looked around but saw no one else, so they invited him inside.

“Why are you here at this hour? Where’s Xiaoyu?” Shi’s mother asked.

Lu Weiguo didn’t mention the fight, saying, “Xiaoyu and I came last night but encountered someone from the team, so we returned for safety. Tonight, I came to check first, and I’ll bring Xiaoyu over later to be sure.”

Shi’s mother accepted this explanation, understanding the need for caution.

After a brief visit, Lu Weiguo left and brought Shi Tingyu over.

On the way, Lu Weiguo didn’t say much, and they walked silently to the cowshed.

It was only when they got close to the cowshed that Shi Tingyu could see inside.

Rather than a cowshed, it was more like a shack, with no cows or unpleasant odors.

Inside the shack was a mud-brick house where her parents were living.

Only after her parents were sent there did Shi Tingyu realize that during this special period, “cowshed” didn’t literally mean a place for cows.

It was a place for detaining and reforming so-called “monsters and demons,” restricting their personal freedom. Offices, schools, guest houses, basements, farms, and other places were all called “cowsheds.”

The Qianxi Brigade’s cowshed had once held some intellectuals, referred to derogatorily as “stinking old ninths.” Back then, it was a real cowshed. But now, the brigade leader had it cleaned up and secretly added many things, resulting in its current state.

When they entered the house, Shi Tingyu saw that the cowshed actually had a kang, a traditional heated bed.

Seeing Shi Tingyu, her parents couldn’t hold back their tears. Her eyes also grew moist seeing them.

“Mom, Dad, how are you doing?”

Her parents, not ones to be overly emotional, quickly wiped their tears and reassured her, “We’re fine, everything’s fine. Come, let’s have a good talk.”

Lu Weiguo pulled up a wobbly stool by the door, ready to keep an eye on the outside.

Shi Tingyu sat on the kang with her parents.

She mostly asked questions while they answered.

Knowing her parents hadn’t been mistreated, Shi Tingyu finally felt at ease.

Her parents didn’t ask how her married life was going.

First, because her husband was there. Asking such questions might put her in a difficult spot. If things were good, it would be easy to say, but if not, she couldn’t openly discuss it in front of him.

Second, her appearance didn’t suggest she was unhappy. Her complexion was rosy, and she looked energetic.

Like tonight, it was her husband who had come to check the path first.

Before returning, Lu Weiguo had planned to ask if her parents had any important documents.

But now, knowing their transfer wasn’t what it seemed, he didn’t ask.

Such matters would be handled by the authorities, and meddling could backfire.

Also, judging by their behavior, her parents probably didn’t know they were being secretly protected and were in the dark.

That was for the best, as her parents weren’t the type to put on a front.

Knowing her parents had to get up early for work, Shi Tingyu secretly added some spiritual spring water to their water tank before leaving with Lu Weiguo.

Knowing her parents were alright, Shi Tingyu felt relieved.