Chapter 48

This Operation is Unmatched

Xu Jiajia was very interested in the big news Chen Ji mentioned. Her eyes sparkled with gossip, urging him, “Tell me, tell me.”

Chen Ji didn’t beat around the bush and went straight to the point: “Song Ran, out of hatred for love, reported Xu Xin, saying that she has questionable conduct and is engaging in promiscuous relationships.”

Xu Jiajia was shocked: “…”

This operation was unmatched!

“Then what happened?”

Chen Ji drove all the way to Xu’s house without even taking a sip of water. His mouth was dry, so he ran inside, poured a glass of water, and drank it down before continuing, “Then the Revolutionary Committee arrested Xu Xin for investigation.”

Xu Jiajia gave him a thumbs up: “Amazing, it really proves that saying, ‘If you can’t have it, destroy it.'”

Chen Ji looked down on Song Ran’s actions. He sneered, “I don’t know what kind of taste he has, to actually like that kind of woman.

Even if he likes her, why do so many stupid things? It’s simply embarrassing for us men!”

Just as Chen Ji finished sharing this, Li Chengye also rushed over. Before he even entered the yard, his voice could be heard: “Xu Jiajia, I have to tell you…”

Stepping into the yard, he saw Chen Ji there, and his voice stopped abruptly. After a moment, he asked, “Why are you here?”

Chen Ji retorted, “Why can’t I be here?”

Li Chengye remembered the purpose of coming to Xu’s house and didn’t continue the topic. He turned to Xu Jiajia and happily shared the good news: “Xu Jiajia, luckily you didn’t marry that bastard Song Ran. He’s very insidious.

He wants to destroy what he can’t have.

The woman he likes is close to other men.

He wrote a letter of denunciation…”

Chen Ji interrupted Li Chengye’s next words with a snort: “You’re late, I already know about it.”

Li Chengye instantly understood. He glanced at Chen Ji and said sarcastically, “Having no job means you have more time. Unlike us who work, we have to ask for leave whenever we go anywhere!”

Chen Ji treated these words as envy. He grinned, “Jealous? Jealousy won’t get you anywhere. Why don’t you ask your mother to put you back in her belly and rebuild you?”

Li Chengye: “…”

Damn it.

I really want to punch him!

Seeing that he didn’t speak, Chen Ji added another sarcastic remark: “Or, should you ask your mother to put you back in her belly and rebuild you?”

Li Chengye gritted his teeth in anger: “Being reborn is great, huh? You think I won’t be reborn into a wealthy family next time?”

Chen Ji laughed heartily: “Hahaha, you haven’t figured out this life yet, and you’re already thinking about the next one. Who can guarantee that you’ll have a good life in the next one?”

Li Chengye was speechless by Chen Ji’s rebuttal: “…”

How could he be so confused, to talk so much to this jerk!

Xu Jiajia found their bickering very entertaining. She sat beside them, munching on melon seeds and enjoying the drama.

My goodness, they have such great chemistry.

…

Liu Yi only supervised for two days.

But Liu Kui paid him five yuan, calculated as a month’s salary.

Liu Yi looked at Liu Kui in surprise: “Liu Public Security, that’s too much. Three cents is enough.”

Liu Kui stuffed the five yuan into his hand: “Although it was only two days, your hard work and responsibility are seen and remembered by us. This five yuan is what you deserve.”

Liu Yi was touched by these words.

Growing up, this was the first time he had been praised.

His eyes reddened, and he choked out, “Thank you, Liu Public Security.”

Liu Kui waved his hand: “Don’t mention it.”

After Liu Kui left, Liu Yi stared at his back for a long time.

His eyes were firm and full of strength.

As if he was contemplating a major decision.

…

Three days later, in the morning, Liu Yi appeared at Xu’s house with a bag of grain.

He originally wanted to buy malted milk with the five yuan he earned, but he couldn’t get a ticket.

Xu Laotai had met Liu Yi before and remembered him: “You, what are you doing here?”

To show his sincerity, Liu Yi knelt down in front of Xu Laotai: “Grandma Xu, I want to ask you something!”

Xu Laotai helped him up: “Talk properly, don’t kneel down all the time!”

Liu Yi scratched his head: “Grandma Xu, I heard from a friend that your grandson-in-law is a soldier. I want to ask him, can I still join the army at my age?”

Xu Laotai was quite surprised: “You want to join the army?”

Liu Yi nodded, saying seriously: “Yes, soldiers are very dignified.”

Anyway, he didn’t like farming, so he might as well join the army.

He just didn’t know if the army would accept him!

Xu Laotai was happy to help him: “Just so happens, Jiajia is going to send a letter to Xiao Shen today. I’ll ask for you then.”

Liu Yi was grateful: “Thank you, thank you, Grandma Xu.”

Xu Laotai smiled: “You’re welcome, go back and wait for the news.”

Liu Yi turned to leave, but Xu Laotai called out to him: “Take the grain with you.”

As soon as these words fell, Liu Yi’s feet were like they were on a wind-powered wheel, running as fast as he could.

Xu Laotai: “…”

If you didn’t know better, you’d think there was a wild beast chasing him!

…

Inside the house.

Xu Jiajia finished sorting out the tickets in her hand and shouted to the outside: “Grandma, are we going to the city together?”

Xu Laotai walked in: “I have to go to work, you go.”

Xu Jiajia didn’t want the old lady to be so tired: “Grandma, the city is far away. You’re so strong, come with me, you can protect me.”

These words made Xu Laotai feel very useful. She said proudly, “This family can’t function without me.”

Xu Jiajia held Xu Laotai’s arm and nodded in agreement: “Yes, yes, you’re the anchor of this family.”

A smile appeared on Xu Laotai’s weather-beaten face. Then, she remembered something and said, “Jiajia, that Liu Yi fellow came earlier. He wants to join the army. When you write the letter, ask Xiao Shen if he can enlist at his age.”

Xu Jiajia nodded: “Okay, I’ll buy shirts and shoes for him and send them together.”

Xu Laotai remembered the fermented bean paste she made: “Also send five jars of sauce to Xiao Shen.”

Xu Jiajia made an OK gesture: “Got it.”

…

When Xu Jiajia and Xu Laotai arrived in the city, it was already twelve noon.

They had been on the bus for several hours.

They were tired and hungry.

Xu Jiajia pulled Xu Laotai straight to a nearby state-owned restaurant: “Grandma, let’s fill our stomachs first, then go shopping at the department store.”

Xu Laotai hesitated: “Eating a meal will cost a lot of money!”

Xu Jiajia patted her pocket: “I have money, don’t worry about me going bankrupt.”

Xu Laotai: “…”

Was that what she meant?

Forget it, listen to the young people!

The state-owned restaurant in the city was much bigger than the one in the town.

It was full of customers.

Xu Laotai was amazed: “So many people!”

Xu Jiajia laughed: “There are more rich people in the city.”

They waited for a while before a table became available.

Xu Jiajia ordered three dishes.

A spicy fish head, braised pork ribs, and an egg soup.

The three dishes cost five yuan and eight cents, plus four ounces of grain tickets.

…

Coming out of the state-owned restaurant, Xu Laotai rubbed her slightly protruding stomach: “The food was so delicious. If I wasn’t so full, I could have eaten another bowl.”

Xu Jiajia smiled brightly: “Let’s come again next time.”

Xu Laotai shook her head quickly: “It’s too expensive. If we eat here a few times, we’ll go bankrupt.”

Xu Jiajia’s monthly salary was over forty yuan, and Shen Yuebai gave her sixty yuan every month, adding up to over one hundred yuan.

“Grandma, you underestimate your granddaughter.”

Xu Laotai had lived through the war-torn years, so she knew the importance of money: “Jiajia, you can’t spend money recklessly. When you have children, there will be even more places to spend money.”

Xu Jiajia was a good listener: “Grandma, I know.”

…

This was Xu Laotai’s first time visiting the city’s department store.

The city’s department store was located on the most prosperous street.

Besides the department store, there was also a cinema, post office, and library on this street.

The women in the shop windows, the children playing in the shopping mall, and the crowds in front of the cinema all painted a vivid picture of life.

Xu Laotai was amazed: “So many people, the buildings are so tall.”

There was only a supply and marketing cooperative in the town.

It was no match for the department store.

There were too many people, so Xu Jiajia was afraid that the crowd would separate them. She held Xu Laotai’s arm all the time: “The city is better than the town, and the province is better than the city. Grandma, when we have the chance, I’ll take you to the province to see it.”

Xu Laotai didn’t take it seriously, but she was happy inside. She grinned: “Okay, Grandma will wait.”

Xu Jiajia’s purpose of coming to the city this time was to buy shirts and shoes for Shen Yuebai.

She liked the white Dacron shirts, the quality was good, and the workmanship was exquisite.

The liberation shoes were different from the ones in the supply and marketing cooperative.

This type of shoe was designed for the outdoors, the anti-slip studs on the soles were obvious, and the soles were thick, capable of adapting to harsh outdoor terrain.

The clothes cost fifteen yuan.

The shoes cost twelve yuan.

Xu Jiajia paid twenty-seven yuan and gave a cloth ticket and a shoe ticket.

Xu Jiajia paid without any pressure, but Xu Laotai felt a pang in her heart watching from the side. Money was not easy to come by, and a month’s salary was gone just from shopping.

Xu Jiajia was also going to buy one for Xu Laotai, but the old lady shook her head repeatedly: “No, no, Grandma has clothes at home.”

Xu Jiajia wouldn’t listen to her at all. She pointed at the blue jacket hanging there: “Let me see it.”

The saleswoman took down the jacket and handed it to Xu Jiajia.

Without Xu Laotai needing to do anything, Xu Jiajia helped her put it on.

The jacket looked great on the old lady, making her look much more energetic.

Xu Jiajia was very satisfied: “This one, how much is it?”

“Eight yuan.”

The price made the old lady gasp in shock: “It’s too expensive, don’t buy it, don’t buy it, Jiajia, buy some fabric and make one like this, it only costs two yuan and a few cents.”

Two yuan and a few cents could indeed make one, but the style wouldn’t be as nice: “Grandma, let’s buy this one first, and then buy fabric later.”

The old lady: “…”

Was that what she meant?

Seeing that the old lady didn’t say anything, Xu Jiajia directly paid and left.

The old lady was heartbroken. Young people spend money so recklessly, will they ever be able to save any? “Don’t shop anymore, let’s go send the things to Xiao Shen.”

If they kept shopping, they wouldn’t even have enough money left for the bus fare back.

Xu Jiajia didn’t know about the old lady’s worries. She thought for a moment and nodded: “Okay, we can come back and shop next time.”

Xu Laotai was startled and tense: “You’re coming back next time?”

She had promised to be frugal!

Xu Jiajia didn’t expect Xu Laotai to react so strongly: “Of course, why not? Grandma, I have over one hundred yuan a month. I only spend twenty or thirty, I still have a lot left. Don’t worry about me going bankrupt.”

Xu Laotai: “…”

She couldn’t persuade her, she couldn’t persuade her. This generation of granddaughters is too hard to handle!

They arrived at the post office.

Xu Jiajia put all the things and the letter into the package.

She paid the postage.

After getting the receipt, she left.

Walking out of the post office, she wanted to look around some more, but Xu Laotai was afraid she would spend too much money, so she pulled her: “Don’t go, let’s go to the station.”

Xu Jiajia looked at her watch, it wasn’t even three o’clock yet, it was still early: “We’ve come all the way to the city, we can’t just leave without taking a look around. It wouldn’t be worth the long bus ride.

Grandma, let’s go.

If we miss the bus, we can stay here overnight.”

Hearing this, Xu Laotai disagreed even more: “No, your father doesn’t know we’re in the city. When he gets off work and comes home, if he doesn’t see us, he’ll look everywhere for us.”

That was indeed a problem, so Xu Jiajia had to compromise: “Alright.”

Xu Laotai secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

…

It took two hours to get from the city to the town.

They arrived at five o’clock.

At this time, Xu Jianguo hadn’t gotten off work yet.

Xu Jiajia suggested: “Grandma, let’s go to the machinery factory and wait for Dad to go back together.”

Xu Laotai nodded: “Okay—”

…

At the entrance of the machinery factory.

There were three layers of people surrounding the place.

Xu Jiajia was confused: “What’s going on?”

Xu Laotai was afraid that Xu Jiajia would join the crowd and get trampled, so she pulled her hand and took her to a nearby sycamore tree.

Several women were standing there discussing the matter.

“There are all sorts of people in the world. For the sake of a job, she actually beat her daughter-in-law to death. That’s so vicious!”

“Did you see the injuries on the deceased? My goodness, she was covered in whip marks, there wasn’t a single good spot on her skin.”

“I heard the deceased was only twenty-two years old.”

“So young, didn’t her family do anything?”

“Heh, how could they not? Didn’t they even bring the body to the factory gate?

After the deceased died, her job went to her in-laws, but her family also wanted the job.

They’ve argued several times already.

The deceased’s family is not convinced, so they brought the body here and asked the leaders to make a decision.” The speaker said sarcastically.

Xu Jiajia didn’t expect that a job could drive people to such madness. She leaned closer and asked, “How did the deceased get this job?”

Speaking of this, the woman who had just been sarcastic said with a regretful tone: “The deceased passed the exam herself. She was good at studying, others took the exam several times before passing, but she passed on the first try.”

Xu Jiajia asked again: “Was she a child of an employee?”

The woman shook her head: “I heard she wasn’t.”

Xu Jiajia made a surprised sound: “Then she was still a high school student? I heard that people from outside who take the exam need to have a high school education to be eligible.”

The woman was a local gossip: “No, she didn’t graduate from junior high school. Her parents were patriarchal and didn’t let her study.

Her teacher thought she was a good student and went to her parents’ house to talk to them personally.

Later, her parents agreed to let her study, but they didn’t want to pay for her tuition.

It was her teacher who paid.

She also got the connection to take the machinery factory exam through her teacher.

But she was determined and didn’t disappoint her teacher’s expectations.”

The woman sighed: “Such a good person, she’s gone just like that. I wonder if her mother-in-law will wake up in a fright when she sleeps!”

Xu Jiajia scanned the crowd, her face solemn, her eyes filled with coldness. That was a life, how could the factory decide her fate? They had to report it to the police!

Xu Laotai thought of the same thing. She patted Xu Jiajia’s hand: “Jiajia, go report it, Grandma will wait for you here!”

The woman was startled when she heard this: “This is a family matter, it’s not good to report it to the police, right?”

Xu Laotai smiled coldly: “Small squabbles can be considered family matters, but this is not. This is a life.”

The woman: “…”

It made so much sense, she couldn’t argue.

Xu Jiajia ran.

Liu Kui’s heart would tremble whenever he saw her, because whenever she came to the police station, it meant trouble: “Sister-in-law, what’s wrong?”

Xu Jiajia told Liu Kui everything she had seen, without missing a single detail.

After listening, Liu Kui’s face turned serious: “People’s legal knowledge is still too weak. I’ll go with you right away.”

…

When Liu Kui and his colleagues appeared at the entrance of the machinery factory, everyone was stunned.

This was getting serious!

Seeing the police arrive, the onlookers consciously made way for a small path.

Liu Kui walked over, his face stern, and asked coldly, “What’s going on here?”

With the police here, who would dare to lie? The security personnel told Liu Kui the whole story without missing a single detail.

After taking notes, Liu Kui turned to the two groups of people facing each other: “Who are you?”

The deceased’s family knelt down with a thud: “Police, police comrades, we are her family. You have to avenge my daughter, she died so tragically!

Wuwuwu, that vicious evil woman is so inhumane, that was a life, she just beat her to death like that.

Daughter, you died so tragically… Wuwuwu…”

The deceased’s in-laws were stunned, their minds blank. How did the police come here? Who the hell reported it!

Liu Kui scanned the in-laws before looking at the deceased lying on the ground. He lifted the white cloth covering the deceased and was shocked by the injuries on her body.

Her body was covered in wounds, whip marks, and bloodstains.

Even her face was covered in blood, her hair was messy and dirty, making it impossible to see her original appearance.

Liu Kui’s pupils contracted. He said to his colleagues: “Take the suspects away.”

Two colleagues rushed forward and apprehended the deceased’s in-laws.

The deceased’s mother-in-law was scared to pee her pants, but she still said ignorantly: “Let me go, let me go, this is our family matter, you have no right to interfere.”

Liu Kui’s face was wooden: “This is not a family matter, this is a life. Beating someone to death is punishable by imprisonment.”

For minor squabbles, the police usually wouldn’t interfere.

But for a case of murder, the police couldn’t ignore it.

The deceased’s mother-in-law trembled: “She wasn’t beaten to death by us, she was hit by a car, it has nothing to do with us.”

Then, she started wailing: “You shameless bitch, you’re dead and you still won’t let us live in peace!

If I had known it would be like this, I wouldn’t have married you into the family.

Damn it, we were tricked!”

The deceased’s husband struggled a few times, but the police were strong and he couldn’t break free. He cried and begged: “Police comrades, I have nothing to do with this, you can’t arrest people indiscriminately!”

The deceased’s four-year-old daughter was quite precocious and could already speak many words. She pointed at the man and complained: “Dad beat Mom, and he told Mom to die, he said that if she died, he could marry another woman.”

The man’s eyes were like they were poisoned, and he stared at the little girl: “You little bitch, you’re as cheap as your mother!”

The little girl was scared and hid behind Liu Kui, grabbing his pants with both hands: “Uncle, save me, Dad wants to beat me to death.”

The scene was chaotic.

Many workers came out to watch the commotion.

Xu Jianguo was one of them.

He was a doting father, and he couldn’t stand men who beat their daughters. He walked over, his face expressionless, and stared at the deceased’s husband: “You inhuman beast, you don’t even spare a child, why don’t you just go die!”

The deceased’s husband’s face turned green. He even slandered Xu Jianguo: “Are you having an affair with that cheap woman?”

Xu Jianguo slapped the man across the face: “You goddamn bastard, say it again and try!”