Chapter 33: The Green Hemp (Part 1)

At the entrance of the officer’s family compound, Chen Yufeng happened to run into Commander Xu’s orderly, Xiao Qin.

“Aren’t you the sister-in-law who makes amazing pickled vegetables?” Xiao Qin greeted her warmly. “Are you here to see Commander Xu? Come on in.”

“No, no, I’m here to see Director Ma. My husband, Han Chao, should be coming too. He’s not here yet?” Chen Yufeng asked.

“Captain Han? He was here earlier but then left for the main office. There’s a meeting there tonight, so the leaders haven’t finished work yet. If you’re in a hurry, you can wait in my dorm,” Xiao Qin offered enthusiastically.

Just then, Mimi spotted Wang Jiajia playing in the courtyard and immediately ran over. “Wang Jiajia!”

“No need,” Chen Yufeng replied. “We’ll just wait here and let the kids play for a bit.”

City kids were different from rural ones. Take Wang Jiajia, for example—he was only playing downstairs, yet his mother, Mrs. Wang, was still keeping an eye on him.

Mrs. Wang had been chatting with some other women but came over when she saw Chen Yufeng. She asked, “Comrade Xiao Chen, I hope you don’t take this the wrong way, but did you send a lawsuit to the military court?”

Chen Yufeng’s lawsuit against Chen Fanshi had not yet received a response from the military court, but Madam Wang had previously been a senior leader in the military court. Now, with the policy of rehiring retired personnel as consultants, she likely learned about the case through her continued involvement.

“Yes,” Chen Yufeng confirmed.

“Before accepting a case, the military court typically contacts witnesses for verification. Ma Ji and Xu Yongyi have both agreed to testify for you.” Madam Wang paused before adding, “I’ve worked with Zhang Yanli before, but we’re not the same kind of people. To put it simply, she presents one face in public and another behind closed doors. If she receives the lawsuit and realizes she might not win outright, she’ll find other ways to manipulate the situation. I happened to review your case and added a provision for evidence protection. You don’t mind, do you?”

Just as a cat has its paths and a crab has its ways, Zhang Yanli had extensive connections. If she were served with the lawsuit, she might not focus on fighting it through legal means but instead resort to underhanded tactics.

Madam Wang was a seasoned judge who had seen all kinds of cases. Her experience was invaluable.

Evidence protection would be of great help to Chen Yufeng.

But she never expected Madam Wang to go out of her way to assist her so significantly.

“Thank you,” she said quickly. “I’ve always heard you were a judge, but I didn’t expect you to be so fair and strict.”

Madam Wang waved off the compliment. “It’s nothing,” she replied. “Normally, I wouldn’t think so far ahead, but I happened to have tried your dumplings before. You’re still young and inexperienced, so I figured you might not be aware of these things.”

“You worked with my Aunt Zhang, but you don’t seem to…,” Chen Yufeng hesitated, sensing that Madam Wang didn’t have a favorable opinion of Zhang Yanli.

Madam Wang was quite candid, shaking her head. “We have different personalities. I studied law, so I rely on evidence in everything I do. But she prefers speculation, always speaking without proof. Besides, despite her time in the countryside, she barely worked, never underwent military training, and wasn’t particularly educated. However, she and Ma Lin share a deep bond—Ma Lin went through the grief of losing her daughter, and Zhang Yanli was there for her. As long as she doesn’t cross the line too much, the leadership tends to turn a blind eye.”

Since Zhang Yanli had accompanied Ma Lin through her loss, and everyone sympathized with Ma Lin, many were willing to tolerate Zhang Yanli’s behavior as long as it wasn’t excessive.

Chen Yufeng had no idea what Han Chao would say, nor did she know what had happened to Ma Lin’s daughter.

In a way, it seemed that Zhang Yanli had built her position in the military district at the expense of Wang Guoguo—leaning on her in the first half of her life and later relying on Zhou Yafang.

Chen Yufeng couldn’t help but wonder if her two mothers had wronged Zhang Yanli in a past life, leading to such entanglement in this one.

Since the senior officials had not yet returned, she continued, “By the way, Director Ma and Commander Xu must have been quite in love back then. It’s unfortunate how things turned out.”

“You could say that. When Commander Xu was young, he was quite popular with the ladies. Xiao A’mi, Ma Lin, and many others liked to be around him. But he was especially fond of Ma Lin and Xiao A’mi. When Xiao A’mi left, he married Ma Lin instead.” Madam Wang smiled. “Back then, the national policy encouraged marriage and childbirth to help increase the population for the country’s modernization.”

That explained it. Based on what she knew of her mother-in-law’s character, she normally wouldn’t take someone else’s jade.

She must have had feelings for Commander Xu and taken the jade as a secret token of her admiration.

Of course, that was only speculation.

Chen Yufeng still found it hard to believe that her mother-in-law would steal someone else’s jade.

“Look, isn’t that Ma Lin… and Zhang Yanli is with her.” Madam Wang suddenly pointed out.

The military family compound had elevators, and the courtyard was small. Near the entrance, Chen Yufeng indeed saw Ma Lin and Zhang Yanli walking in together.

It was quite the coincidence. On the bus earlier, she had overheard people talking about using Zhang Yanli’s connections to expedite their severance payments. Now, Zhang Yanli was discussing the very same issue.

“Sister Lin, Wang Qin’s family is struggling terribly. Her husband was just hit by a car and urgently needs money,” Zhang Yanli said as they walked.

Ma Lin was walking briskly and responded without slowing down, “Everyone has urgent matters. Everyone needs money.”

“But other people’s husbands weren’t in a car accident or left with a broken leg,” Zhang Yanli insisted.

Finally, Ma Lin stopped walking.

Meanwhile, Mimi had been playing with Wang Jiajia on the low garden wall, pretending to drive a toy train. The little train suddenly came to a halt as she quietly listened.

Ma Lin said, “Have Wang Qin bring her husband’s hospital records and a verification letter from the police station. I’ll speak to the finance office on her behalf.”

“These things take time, but she needs the money right now. Can’t you just put in a word first?” Zhang Yanli pressed.

Mimi looked up at Chen Yufeng, her eyes silently conveying: She’s lying.

The little girl turned to watch Ma Lin, her idol, the person she aspired to become. She clearly wanted to see whether Ma Lin would be deceived.

Ma Lin hesitated. Mimi’s tiny fingers remained still, and she gazed up at the woman. Her large eyes reflected the twinkling lights of the high-rise buildings.

Chen Yufeng’s heart tightened. She didn’t know what Ma Lin would decide, but she feared that if Ma Lin acted unfairly, it would extinguish the ideal image that Mimi held of her.

Finally, Ma Lin reached into her pocket and said, “Here, I just got paid today—this is 200 yuan. Give it to Wang Qin. But for the severance process, she must wait in line. You know that everyone is in urgent need of money right now.”

“Forget it, your salary has been delayed for three months already. Don’t you need money yourself? I’ll help her out—I’ll give her the money,” Zhang Yanli said, turning to leave.

Mimi stood up and told Chen Yufeng, “Mom, I think I still like Grandma Ma.”

She had warmth but also principles. It was no wonder the leadership at the compound respected Ma Lin.

She truly had an admirable character.

Suddenly, a thought struck Chen Yufeng, and she called out, “Aunt Zhang?”

The reality was, as long as Wang Guoguo wasn’t present, no matter how the child had died, the negligence of the Zhang sisters was inescapable. Han Chao had only planned to speak with Ma Lin and Xu Yongyi, but Chen Yufeng felt that including Zhang Yanli might be even better.

“Yufeng? What are you doing here?” Zhang Yanli asked.

“I’m waiting for Han Chao. He has something to discuss with Director Ma and Commander Xu. I think it would be best if you were present as well,” Chen Yufeng said.

Zhang Yanli smiled slightly. “Still about the jade pendant? Yufeng, you really are…”

Ma Lin, uninterested in the conversation, turned to leave.

Just then, a group of leaders who had just finished their meeting returned together. Commander Xu and Commander Luo were among them, and Han Chao was walking alongside them.

They met head-on.

Commander Xu said, “Ma Lin, Han Chao wants to discuss a personal matter with us. Should we go to your place or mine?”

Ma Lin was puzzled. “Han Chao has personal matters with me?” She couldn’t imagine who Han Chao’s mother might be. The only connection she had with his family was that, misled by Zhang Yanli, she once suspected Chen Yufeng of bribery and went to her house to look for evidence. That had been a mistake, but not a grave one. So, she said, “Whatever it is, you can say it here. I have nothing to hide.”

“It’s about my mother,” Han Chao said. “It would be best to discuss it in private.”

Ma Lin found this even more ridiculous. She scoffed, “And who exactly is your mother? What does she have to do with me? I have a habit of keeping my house clean and don’t entertain guests. I won’t go to Commander Xu’s place either. If you have something to say, say it here.”

A private discussion would have been ideal, especially if Ma Lin and Commander Xu needed to relay information to their superiors later.

But since Ma Lin insisted, Han Chao was ready to speak right there.

During a previous visit to Commander Xu’s house, Chen Yufeng had noticed that the leaders didn’t particularly like Han Chao.

For one, he was too straightforward and never flattered his superiors. He spoke bluntly. And second, he had an uncanny habit of being right in most situations where he took a stand.

Leaders needed people like him—he was good at leading troops—but they didn’t necessarily like him.

People generally preferred smooth talkers, the kind who could say the right things, like Zhang Yanli.

The group of leaders didn’t know what Han Chao was about to say, but since it concerned Commander Xu and Ma Lin—two people notorious for clashing—they worried that an argument might break out. Han Chao, being the kind of person he was, wouldn’t try to smooth things over; if anything, he might make things worse. Even Commander Luo decided to stay and listen.

“Han Chao,” Commander Luo said, “whatever it is, say it here. Among soldiers, there are no private matters.”

No one, not even Commander Luo, expected the bombshell Han Chao was about to drop.

Han Chao took out the jade pendant, handed it to Ma Lin, and said, “My mother is from Mengzi, near the ’57 Cadre School. She is of Yi ethnicity, and her original name was A’mi.”

Commander Xu had assumed Han Chao just had some personal business to discuss. He never imagined Han Chao would claim that his mother was Xiao A’mi.

When Commander Xu had first seen the jade pendant, it had never even crossed his mind.

After all, how could a Yi girl from Mengzi end up near the capital? No one had ever considered that possibility.

At that moment, Ma Lin looked as if her world had shattered. She took the pendant, froze for a moment, then trembled, her lips quivering.

She wanted to say it was Wang Guoguo who killed her daughter and stole the jade pendant.

But she was so overwhelmed that she couldn’t speak.

And right then, Han Chao made things worse by contradicting her. “My mother said she picked up this jade pendant. But Director Ma, you said it was stolen. My mother doesn’t lie, and I believe you wouldn’t either. There must be some misunderstanding. I will do my best to investigate. However, about your daughter’s death…”

It was already 9:30 PM, and since it was a hot night, many people in the compound were outside, gathering around.

Although Ma Lin’s daughter’s death had happened years ago, everyone in the compound still remembered it.

Ma Lin continued to tremble, but she didn’t speak. Instead, she kept tugging at Zhang Yanli’s sleeve.

Commander Luo, seeing that Commander Xu remained silent, spoke in a heavy tone. “Han Chao, it’s been years, but we haven’t forgotten what happened.” He then turned to Zhang Yanli. “She was the first to discover the child’s body. Since you say you’re A’mii’s son, I’ll tell you responsibly—she saw it happen. We have witnesses!”

To everyone’s surprise, Zhang Yanli nodded and said, “I saw it. I saw a woman’s back. She was carrying the child and running away.”

The crowd murmured in agreement, with several people nodding along.

At that moment, Madam Wang approached Chen Yufeng and whispered, “No wonder you’ve been pestering me about the past. Han Chao is A’mii’s son?”

Chen Yufeng, too preoccupied with the unfolding events, merely nodded.

Madam Wang continued in a hushed voice, “Haven’t you noticed? He looks just like his mother.”

Wang Guoguo had naturally fair skin, and Han Chao inherited her complexion. His features also bore a striking resemblance to hers—delicate and well-defined.

Chen Yufeng absently nodded again, her mind fixated on how Commander Luo and the others would respond.

Commander Luo continued, “It wasn’t just Zhang Yanli—Zhang Aixia was there too. Both sisters can testify. Han Chao, I understand your intentions. You want to overturn the case. But do you have any evidence?”

Someone in the crowd muttered, “I remember someone saying they were at the riverbank back then and saw A’mii push someone.”

Many in the group had been sent to rural areas during the re-education movement, so another person added, “This case won’t be easy to overturn, Han Chao. No child believes their parent could do something wrong, but your mother wouldn’t have told you everything. Unless you have solid evidence, this will be tough.”

Another person agreed, “Exactly. This is an old case. Without concrete proof, how can it be overturned?”

Initially, Zhang Yanli had seemed nervous, but as more people spoke in support of her version of events, she gained confidence and even declared, “I’ve seen A’mi’s photo. I can confirm it was her who took the child.”