Chapter 13

Lan Xi and the others had just arrived at the village entrance, carrying bundles of firewood, when they were stopped by Jiang He’s seven-year-old grandson, who spoke anxiously:

“Grandpa, you’re finally back! Lian Dapo brought people from the commune, and they’re heading to search the shed!”

“What?! Lian Laidi’s mother really went to the commune to call for people? Let’s go, everyone, come with me to check!”

Jiang He was furious. He threw the firewood off his shoulder, grabbed his sharp carrying pole, and ran back. Before leaving, he turned back and instructed his grandson:

“Asheng, stay here and watch the firewood. Don’t let anyone take it away.”

A’dong and the other two did the same—grabbing their carrying poles and running off.

Lan Xi and Sun Yuqing were carrying a bundle of firewood together.

Seeing this, they also put down their firewood. Sun Yuqing pulled out a shoulder pole, while Lan Xi picked up a sturdy tree branch from the pile and chased after them.

“Search! Search thoroughly! Don’t leave a single spot unchecked!”

Before they even reached the shed, they could already hear someone giving orders.

Jiang He forcefully planted his sharp carrying pole into the ground and shouted:

“Whoever dares to mess with our fishing nets, I’ll fight them to the death!”

A’dong, Heiyu, and Jiang Dazhu mimicked his stance, their presence just as intimidating as Jiang He’s.

They were quite a force to be reckoned with.

Lan Xi walked past the crowd and stepped to the front. Without changing expression, she took the thick wooden stick—about the size of a baby’s arm—and snapped it in half in front of everyone.

She didn’t say a word, yet the effect was even more terrifying.

Everyone except for Sun Yuqing: “!!!”

So Lan Zhiqing (educated youth Lan) was actually a strong woman!

The four or five Red Armband members from the commune were immediately scared stiff by them.

Lian Laidi, seeing how cowardly the people she had brought were, was displeased but didn’t dare lash out at them.

Instead, she sneered at Lan Xi and the others. “If you haven’t done anything wrong, what are you afraid of? Acting like this—isn’t it just a guilty conscience?”

Jiang He was so enraged that he pointed his sharp carrying pole at Lian Laidi and shouted:

“Lian Laidi, stop spewing your mother’s nonsense!

I, Jiang He, have lived an upright life, always doing things with a clear conscience. Why would I be guilty?”

“You’re already acting aggressive, yet you still claim you haven’t done anything wrong?

Just admit it already! I heard with my own ears last night—Lan Zhiqing and you all were talking about some kind of treasure you fished out of the sea, saying it was extremely valuable.

Did you hide it away, planning to secretly sell it?”

Lian Laidi rattled off accusations against Lan Xi and Jiang He, then turned and flatteringly said to the four Red Armband members:

“Comrades, I definitely didn’t hear wrong last night. They’re engaging in capitalist activities.”

Oh? She actually knew not to drag Captain Jiang into this? Looks like Lian Laidi had at least a little bit of brains—but only a little.

Lan Xi smirked sarcastically, unbothered, and looked at her calmly.

“You claim you heard me talking about some treasure—then explain in detail.

Where exactly were we last night? What time was it? How many people were there? Other than discussing this so-called treasure, what else did we talk about?”

Lian Laidi’s gaze flickered, but she quickly answered, “It was around 7 p.m. last night. Your six-person team was right here in this shed.

You even said that the treasure was left behind by your ancestors and was extremely delicate, so it couldn’t be bumped or damaged.”

Lan Xi’s expression immediately turned serious. She asked sternly, “Are you sure we were here talking about that around 7 p.m.?”

“Of course!”

“We were at Captain Jiang’s house from 7 p.m. until nearly 9 p.m., discussing matters. Are you really saying you saw us here at that time?”

Lan Xi put on a concerned expression. “That’s not good! The shed was clearly empty, so how could you have heard something?

Did something happen to you? Otherwise, how could this be?”

Lian Laidi’s mouth opened and closed, but she was at a complete loss for words.

The commune members’ expressions had already changed. One of them, with a stern face, warned Lan Xi:

“Comrade, watch what you say.”

Lian Laidi glanced at them in confusion, then suddenly slapped her thigh.

“Aha! You’re trying to say I saw a ghost, aren’t you?

Comrades, look at her nonsense! Quickly, arrest her!”

She spoke while blatantly gloating.

Lan Xi looked utterly confused. “When did I spread feudal superstitions? I just said something was wrong with you.”

“Comrades, look! She’s still refusing to admit her mistake!”

The commune members’ faces darkened, and one of them said coldly:

“Comrade! If you continue spreading feudal superstitions, don’t blame us for taking you back to the commune for re-education.”

Lan Xi spread her hands. “This old woman never went to school, so I can understand if she doesn’t understand human language.

But you comrades can read, right? Tell me, which word of mine promoted feudal superstitions?

I’m just worried that this old woman is seriously ill—she’s even experiencing auditory hallucinations. She should go to the hospital for treatment.”

The people in the small group and the onlookers: “…”

Educated youth really do have a way with words!

The commune members were put in an awkward position by Lan Xi’s words, their expressions turning even more unpredictable.

After a moment, one of them pointed at the shed and said:

“If you have nothing to hide, open the door and let us search inside.”

Lan Xi: “Search! I never said you couldn’t. But let me make this clear—

If anyone damages our fishing nets, you will compensate us at full price. Otherwise, don’t blame us for taking this up with your superiors.”