Chapter 7: We’re All Law-Abiding Folks

Early the next morning.

After the children finished breakfast, they went off to school, leaving behind four-year-old Lei Qingyun at home with Zhao Cuilan for company.

Since Si Yueyue had just given birth the day before, Zhao Cuilan was worried something might happen and they wouldn’t be able to respond in time. So, for the next few days, she decided not to go to work and instead stayed home to take care of the mother and newborn.

Once Si Yueyue’s body had recovered a bit, Zhao Cuilan planned to return to the fields to earn work points.

Over on Lei Jun’s side, he had already set out for town before dawn, carrying a basket on his back. With only his two legs to rely on, he had no choice but to head out early.

The brigade did have an ox cart that made trips to town, but only every other day to allow members to buy supplies. Since the cart had already gone the day before, there would be no trip today.

So, if Lei Jun wanted to go to town today, he had to rely on his own two legs. There was a “28” heavy-duty bicycle in the brigade, but it was communal property, and it wouldn’t be appropriate for him to borrow it.

Using his own long legs, Lei Jun walked for over two hours to finally reach town. Upon arrival, he didn’t even take a break and headed straight to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative.

By that time, quite a few people were already lined up outside the cooperative. After all, the goods were in short supply every day, and if one didn’t line up early, there’d be nothing left. That’s why many had come to queue up first thing in the morning.

Lei Jun immediately got in line. When his turn finally came, he quickly spoke up: “Comrade, I’d like a can of malted milk powder, one jin of brown sugar, three liang of hard candy, and two jin of rice.”

“There’s no more malted milk powder. Brown sugar is 0.55 yuan and one sugar ticket, hard candy is 0.12 yuan, and rice is 0.36 yuan and two grain coupons. Altogether that’s 1.03 yuan and three tickets.”

Lei Jun quickly handed over the money and coupons, received the goods, packed them into his basket, and carried it on his back as he made his way to the post office.

When he reached the post office, he walked up to the counter and said: “Hello, Comrade.”

The postal worker looked up, recognized him, and smiled: “Oh, it’s you! There haven’t been any parcels for your family lately. What brings you here today? Sending a package or a telegram?”

The question wasn’t surprising. Back when Lei Zhen was still around, Lei Jun frequently came to pick up the packages, letters, and remittances he sent. So the postal workers were familiar with him.

Lei Jun shook his head and replied: “Neither. I just wanted to ask if you have the address for any publication office. Someone in the family wrote an article and wants to submit it for publication, just to see if it’s good enough.”

“Oh wow, that’s something! There aren’t many folks who earn their living with a pen these days. Let me think. I do remember something like that…”

The postal worker pondered for a moment and began rummaging through the desk. He remembered seeing an address printed in a newspaper before.

“Ah… found it! Look, here it is. There are two or three publication office addresses on this paper. I can’t give you the whole newspaper, but why don’t you copy them down on this paper and take it back with you?”

“Alright, thank you so much.” Lei Jun took the pen and paper and copied down the addresses. When he returned the pen, he also stuffed a few candies into the worker’s hand.

The postal worker accepted them and smiled at him.

Back at the Lei Family.

The police station had sent officers early in the morning to Shanhe Brigade to investigate what had happened the previous night.

Two police officers, upon receiving the assignment, arrived at Shanhe Brigade and saw some people under the big tree at the brigade entrance. They approached to ask for directions to the Lei residence.

“Comrades, we’re police from Lingshan Police Station. We’d like to ask where Si Yueyue’s house is located.”

“Why are you police comrades here at our brigade? We’re all law-abiding folks here—no one’s causing trouble.”

“We’re here to look into a case that happened last night. There are some things we need to clarify with the victim, Si Yueyue.”

“Si Yueyue? Which kid is that? I don’t know them.”

“Heh—Uncle Lin, you’re getting forgetful again! We only have one person surnamed Si in the brigade, one of the educated youth who came before. Didn’t she marry Second Brother Lei of the Lei Family?”

“That’s right, the educated youth Si is named Si Yueyue. Last night, Lei Dashu’s wife and his eldest daughter-in-law went to the educated youth site to find Educated Youth Lin.

That Educated Youth Lin is real trouble—caused Si Yueyue to give birth prematurely and ran off. She almost caused one corpse and three lives.”

“Tch, I know about this too. I was there last night. That Educated Youth Lin wouldn’t admit to anything and claimed we rural folks were trying to drive her to her death. She even held a hatchet to her neck and threatened us.”

The old folks chimed in one after another, and soon the police officers had just about gathered all the statements they needed.

Still, they had to visit the Lei Family in person. Once they had the exact location, the two officers headed toward the Lei residence.

Zhao Cuilan heard a knock at the door and wiped her hands on her apron as she walked out, asking: “Who is it?”

“Comrade, we’re from the police station. Is this Si Yueyue’s home? There’s a case we need your cooperation with. Please open the door.”

“Coming, coming!” As soon as Zhao Cuilan heard it was the police, she quickened her pace to open the door.

“Of—Officer comrades, is… is there a case that needs our cooperation?”

When Zhao Cuilan saw it was indeed the police, she couldn’t help but grow nervous—just like how students instinctively felt anxious in front of teachers, even when they hadn’t done anything wrong.

“Comrade, no need to be nervous. Si Yueyue lives here, right? We’re just here to ask about the case. As long as no crime was committed, we won’t arrest anyone. There’s nothing to be afraid of.”

“O-Okay. Yes, yes, Si Yueyue is my second daughter-in-law. She just gave birth last night and is lying on the kang to rest…”

Just then, Si Yueyue, who had just finished breakfast and heard the commotion outside, raised her voice and shouted: “Mom, what’s going on out there? Are you alright?”

“Eh, don’t worry, I’m fine.”

Then Zhao Cuilan turned back to the two police officers. “Sorry about that, comrades. You said there’s a case you need to ask about. Please go ahead and ask. I’ll tell you everything I know.”

Officer Wang Guozhong nodded and said: “The brigade leader from Shanhe Brigade brought a female comrade to the police station last night, claiming she caused your daughter-in-law to go into premature labor…”

Wang Guozhong explained the case to Zhao Cuilan. After her statement matched what the others in the brigade had said, he continued speaking.

“Auntie, would it be convenient for us to ask the victim—the female comrade—a few questions?

Of course, we understand that she just gave birth and may be feeling weak, but there are some things we really need to clarify.”

“Comrade Officer, you’re right. It’s just that my daughter-in-law is still a bit weak after giving birth yesterday, and it’s not good for her to be exposed to the wind.

How about this—you come inside and take a seat while I leave the door open, and I’ll have my second daughter-in-law dress warmly before she comes out. Is that okay?”

“That works. Sorry for the trouble, Auntie.”

“Oh no, no trouble at all…”

As Zhao Cuilan spoke, she was about to go into Si Yueyue’s room when Lei Dashu returned home.

Seeing her husband come back, she couldn’t help but let out a sigh of relief. “You’re back! Sit with the comrades for a bit while I help Yueyue get dressed warmly so she can come out.”

“Alright, go ahead.”

Inside the room, Si Yueyue had caught most of what was happening from the bits and pieces she overheard. She understood she would need to give a statement, but she didn’t rush out and instead waited for her mother-in-law to come in.

Meanwhile, Lei Dashu poured water for the two police officers and asked about the brigade leader. When he learned that the brigade leader was still sorting things out with the people from the Educated Youth Office, he moved on to other questions.

After learning the general situation, Lei Dashu looked at the two police officers and said: “Thank you, comrades, for coming all this way.

Sigh… If my second son hadn’t sacrificed his life, and if his wife hadn’t risked death to give birth to those two children, we would never want to burden the country’s resources like this.”

The two officers exchanged a glance. They had thought this was just an ordinary family—turns out, they were a martyr’s family.

“Comrade, please don’t say that. We serve the people. Letting criminals go free just to avoid burdening the state would be wrong.”

“What you say is true, Comrade Officer. It’s just that our thinking wasn’t enlightened enough…”

Before he could finish speaking, Si Yueyue came out, wrapped up tightly by Zhao Cuilan so that only her small face was visible.

“Dad. Comrade Officers.”

“Comrade Si, please have a seat. We just have a few questions; this won’t take long.”

“Alright.” Si Yueyue nodded and sat down on the long bench Zhao Cuilan had placed inside, near the wall.

“It’s like this… we’re mainly here to confirm the details with you. Please answer truthfully.”

“Understood. No investigation, no right to speak—I’ll speak according to the facts and won’t lie.”

The two officers raised their eyebrows slightly. As expected of an educated youth—she quoted the party slogan so smoothly and even used it directly.

“Please walk us through what happened that day.”

“Alright.”

Si Yueyue, as if recalling the events, slowly began to recount what had happened the previous day.