Chapter 14

The four Red Armband members from the commune, under the watchful eyes of Jiang He, Lan Xiruo, and others, along with the looming threat of sticks and clubs, finally finished searching the shed where they stored their fishing gear.

Finding nothing, the searchers remained calm, but Lian Laidi immediately started nagging.

“Even if nothing was found here, it doesn’t clear you of suspicion. We still have to search each of your homes and the educated youth station.”

“Go ahead! After searching our station and Uncle Jiang He’s home, I demand that we also search your house. Do you dare?” Lan Xiruo, already running out of patience, challenged her.

Lian Laidi, completely unfazed, lifted her chin proudly. “Hmph! Why wouldn’t I? My family has been poor for three generations.”

Tsk, you’re poor and proud of it, huh?

Since the Red Armbands didn’t find any treasure, they were naturally unwilling to give up. The opportunity to search more homes was exactly what they wanted, so they quickly moved on to continue their search.

Unfortunately, after thoroughly searching Uncle Jiang He’s home and the entire educated youth station, they still came up empty-handed.

By now, the Red Armband members’ patience had worn thin. Waking up early just for a fruitless search, not even getting a sip of water—it was infuriating.

Yet Lian Laidi, oblivious as ever, kept muttering under her breath:

“This isn’t possible… How could we not find it? I clearly saw Educated Youth Lan carrying something in this direction.”

Annoyed beyond measure, one of the Red Armbands finally snapped and shouted at her:

“Shut up! If you’re so capable, why don’t you search yourself? You reported false information before even investigating properly. If this gets traced back, it’s all on you!”

Lian Laidi, despite being older, was scolded like a grandchild by the younger Red Armband members. Her face turned a dazzling array of colors in shame.

Lan Xiruo watched her colorful expression with amusement before speaking leisurely:

“Comrades, don’t be so quick to get angry. There’s still one place we haven’t searched—her house.

There’s an old saying: ‘A thief cries thief.’ And another that says, ‘The darkest place is right under the lamp.’”

The Red Armbands exchanged glances at her words, then immediately shoved Lian Laidi forward. “Move. Let’s check your house.”

Once they arrived at Lian Laidi’s home, Lan Xiruo took advantage of the distraction to discreetly slip a foreign book, wrapped in a rag, into a crack in the wall.

A Red Armband member noticed the unusual gap in the wall and pulled out the item. Upon unwrapping it, they exclaimed, “Look what we have here!”

“Well, well, well, your family dares to hide books like this? You’re coming with us.”

Lian Laidi was taken away, looking utterly confused. She had no idea how a book had suddenly appeared in her home.

Everyone assumed she’d be released after a few days of detention.

But three days passed, and she didn’t return. In the end, even her entire family was taken away.

—-

On the island, the news of Lian Laidi’s arrest was met with cheers. The people were relieved—one less menace to their community.

As for her family’s fate, few sympathized with them.

After all, if they were truly good people, would they have allowed Lian Laidi to wreak havoc for so many years and harm so many others?

Lan Xiruo was somewhat surprised that a random book had caused such a huge stir. Thinking back on the book, she nearly burst into laughter.

Le Maître Chat.

Hahaha—

Lian Laidi was doomed. Never mind the book’s content; the publication date alone was enough to get her interrogated harshly.

1986 edition.

Karma really came full circle!

Well, that was a problem for another time.

For now, their entire morning had been wasted. Lan Xiruo and the others would have to wait until after lunch to start mending the fishing nets.

They had lunch together—braised rabbit with potatoes.

Fortunately, they had hidden several rabbits in the firewood earlier.

If the commune officials had seen them, they would’ve definitely been confiscated.

There were seven rabbits in total. They ate one, and the remaining six were divided equally among them.

Uncle Jiang He’s wife was skilled at smoking fish, so Lan Xiruo asked her to smoke the rabbit meat as well. Seeing this, Sun Yuqing also asked for help.

It was a small favor, and Uncle Jiang He gladly agreed on his wife’s behalf.

After lunch, they finally started repairing the fishing nets.

Lan Xiruo hadn’t been on the island for almost ten years. Holding the bamboo shuttle in her hands, she was momentarily at a loss.

After watching Sun Yuqing’s hands for a while, she slowly regained her technique.

As they worked together, they chatted, making the task less tedious.

At one point, the simple-minded A’Dong asked a question that sent Lan Xiruo and Sun Yuqing into fits of laughter.

He asked, “Educated Youth Lan, you look so delicate—how do you have such great strength?

That thick wooden stick—you snapped it in half with just one move!”

Sun Yuqing clutched her stomach as she laughed, then explained, “Hahaha! Xiruo isn’t actually that strong. She used a hatchet to cut most of the way through the stick, leaving just a small bit attached.”

“Huh? That works?” A’Dong was dumbfounded.

Lan Xiruo raised an eyebrow. “Why wouldn’t it? Did I fool you?

In situations like this, it doesn’t matter how you intimidate people, as long as it works.”

“The commune officials don’t listen to reason.

The only way to deal with them is to show that we’re willing to risk everything. That’s what makes them back off.”

Uncle Jiang He sighed. “Educated Youth Lan is right. Those people… Ha!

If they weren’t so unreasonable and blindly followed rumors, would we be living such difficult lives?”

Uncle Jiang He had a brother whose entire family was driven to jump into the sea by those same people, leaving behind two orphaned children that he now cared for.

The topic was heavy, and Lan Xiruo didn’t like it. She changed the subject and asked about the fishing boat.

“Uncle Jiang He, our fishing boat has been drying for a day. How much longer before we can start repairs?”

“Repairs will begin this evening. After that, we’ll take another day to rest, then head out to sea the day after.”

No one had any objections.

—-

The Beijing Cultural Relics Bureau arrived even faster than they had expected.

They reached the island before dawn.

Lan Xiruo sent Sun Yuqing ahead while she carefully carried the treasure.

When she arrived at the brigade headquarters, she was immediately met with a dozen pairs of glowing green eyes staring at her.

She paused, then nodded at the dusty officials.

Immediately, they swarmed forward, completely surrounding her.

“This thing is so heavy! How could you make a girl carry it? Let me do it!”

“Hey, hey, Lao Yu! Don’t shove! Be careful not to hurt the treas… I mean, the young lady.”

“Quiet down, or you’ll scare the girl.”

—-

A dozen hands stretched toward Lan Xiruo, all eager to grab the treasure first.

Yet, despite their excitement, they remained disciplined—none of them dared to snatch it from her hands, only arguing loudly among themselves.