Chapter 51

Zheng Dacheng wasn’t just involved—he was the mastermind behind the croton powder incident.

This wasn’t a false accusation by Gu Shi’an, there was concrete evidence.

—This was overheard one evening when Dongzi was eavesdropping on a heated argument between Zheng Dacheng and his wife.

Lin Yao was stunned. Dongzi was eavesdropping?

Gu Shi’an cleared his throat, explaining that Dongzi’s small room was just across a long corridor from Zheng Dacheng’s house. With nothing better to do at night, Dongzi was assigned to listen in for useful information rather than idle away his time.

Lin Yao looked skeptical, “Dongzi is so obedient? That doesn’t seem likely.”

Without some kind of reward, Dongzi wouldn’t listen to anyone.

Of course, this didn’t apply to Zhang Cuilan. A mother’s words are to be respected.

Gu Shi’an cleared his throat and said, “I gave that little rascal two yuan as an errand’s fee.”

Lin Yao’s pretty face showed a look of curiosity, her long, curled eyelashes blinking as she seemed lost in thought.

Before she could say anything, Gu Shi’an asked, “How did Yao Yao know Liu Laidi was carrying croton powder?”

Lin Yao’s face turned red. She gave a forced laugh and said, “Well, during Chunmei’s wedding, Hutou found a small paper package at Old Zheng’s house. It had a strong, foul smell, like dry bean powder.”

Gu Shi’an smiled. “So, Hutou told you?”

Lin Yao continued to laugh awkwardly. “I also gave Hutou two pieces of fruit candy as a reward.”

Gu Shi’an: “…….”

Well, it seems the couple was truly made for each other, using the same methods to bribe children.

On the streets of Yunshui County in late autumn, an old man was pushing a tricycle with a round iron stove covered in a tin casing. Inside, charcoal was burning, and dozens of sweet potatoes of various sizes were being roasted. The old man, wearing old gloves, used an iron hook to open the stove and turn the sweet potatoes, their fragrant aroma wafting far away with the rising steam.

Lin Yao rubbed her face, which was sore from smiling, and longed for a roasted sweet potato.

Gu Shi’an, having been waiting for this, stretched out his long legs, stopping the bicycle at the sweet potato stand. He paid for five hot roasted sweet potatoes, one for two cents and five for ten cents.

The old man, who had just started selling, was busy as many workers returned from their shifts. Young couples nibbled on sweet potatoes as they walked.

On this chilly autumn day, the old man lifted the cotton cover from the sweet potato bucket, revealing a layer of crispy, delicious-looking sweet potatoes.

The old man quickly wrapped up five of the largest, best-looking sweet potatoes in a paper bag and handed them to Lin Yao, who was eagerly waiting.

“Thank you, Grandpa.”

“Don’t mention it, young lady. Sweet potatoes are best enjoyed hot. Be careful not to burn yourself.”

“Okay.”

Lin Yao smiled as she held the bag of sweet potatoes, choosing the largest one for herself and handing a slightly smaller one to Gu Shi’an.

“You have one too.”

Gu Shi’an adjusted the fallen cashmere scarf around her neck and said, “You eat it. It’s not convenient to eat while riding a bicycle.”

Lin Yao said “Oh,” and hopped onto the back of the bicycle, patting Gu Shi’an’s shoulder. “Deputy Director Gu, let’s go home.”

Gu Shi’an pedaled away, the bicycle starting up smoothly. Lin Yao carefully peeled off the crispy skin of the sweet potato and took a bite. The hot, sweet flesh was so delightful that it warmed her heart, completely dispelling the autumn chill.

As they approached home, Lin Yao became curious and asked how Gu Shi’an had set up Zheng Dacheng.

Gu Shi’an maintained a serious expression but spoke with a mischievous tone.

“Want to know?”

“Yes.”

“Then give me a kiss when we get home, and I’ll tell you.”

Lin Yao: “…….”

Ugh, go away!

Not receiving her promise for a kiss, Gu Shi’an was pinched by Lin Yao. If they weren’t on the street, she would have bitten him.

Lin Yao pinched him again, her voice soft and coquettish. “Are you going to tell me or not?”

In the end, Gu Shi’an couldn’t resist his little wife and revealed how he had set up Zheng Dacheng.

Setting up Zheng Dacheng was quite straightforward. Zheng Dacheng and his wife were both corrupt. Zheng Dacheng used his position to benefit himself by stealing and selling supplies from the canteen, shortchanging the workers at the steel factory. Although such practices were rare, Zheng Dacheng was very cautious. He usually had outside contacts handle the transactions with Liu Laidi, never appearing himself. This made it nearly impossible for outsiders to catch him.

In contrast, Liu Laidi, being less clever, was easier to deal with.

Liu Laidi had been pompous in the canteen for years. Initially, she tried to hide her thefts carefully, but as she grew bolder, she began to flaunt her stolen goods.

The canteen workers, not being foolish, noticed the discrepancies after a few times. They grew resentful of doing the work while Liu Laidi reaped the benefits.

Sister Hao, who lived in the neighboring courtyard and was also part of the steel factory’s worker, had a grudge against Liu Laidi. Sister Hao’s eldest daughter was supposed to become a purchasing agent, but Liu Laidi, using her connections, pushed her aside and took the position.

It was one thing to replace her, but Liu Laidi didn’t even do her job properly. She merely transported vegetables from the market once a day, leaving all other tasks like bookkeeping and accounting to Sister Hao and the other helpers.

Over time, the dissatisfaction grew among the workers.

Why should we do your work while you enjoy the perks? This is not just exploitation, it’s taking advantage of the revolutionary masses’ hard work!

Even Zhou Baopi wasn’t this heartless!

Recently, in the large courtyard where Sister Hao lived, Dongzi and his friends had been gossiping about the Zheng family. They mentioned how the Zheng family had eaten fried dough sticks and egg soup for breakfast and how the Zheng siblings were wearing new clothes. Liu Laidi had bought a pair of fashionable white nylon socks, which reportedly cost several dimes each. The gossip was that the Zheng family was indeed living in luxury.

Sister Hao and the others were already displeased with the Zheng couple, and hearing the chatter from a group of little kids only fueled their resentment.

In the courtyard of the steel factory workers, every family had several children—some as many as four or five, others at least two or three. With such heavy family burdens, not many families were like the Zhengs, who had dual incomes.

Moreover, the Zheng couple’s wealth was ill-gotten. Sister Hao had long been dissatisfied with them, and Liu Laidi’s theft of pork was just the final straw. Gu Shi’an’s intervention sped up Zheng Dacheng’s downfall.

“……”

Lin Yao swallowed nervously, thinking it might be better to be more obedient in front of Deputy Director Gu. Otherwise, she might end up being the one who gets hurt.

TvT

That day, the steel factory paid wages, and everyone went home with their salaries and food coupons. This semester, the factory’s performance had been good, and they also gave two extra coupons for meat to each factory cadre and workers of level two and above.

This was a great joy for everyone. Wives greeted their husbands with smiles and asked them to buy some meat from the supplementary food store. They quickly prepared a meat dish to add some variety to the family meals.

At the Gu family’s home, Gu Mancang, a level-five fitter, received not only his monthly salary of sixty-five yuan and ten jin of grain coupons but also five liang of meat coupons.

Zhang Cuilan was making scallion pancakes at home. When she saw Gu Mancang come back with a net bag, she happily wiped her hands on her apron and came out, saying, “Old man, this month’s benefits are quite generous.”

Gu Mancang, covered in grease, washed his hands and face, then sat in the yard, scrubbing himself clean.

“Now the whole country is focusing on production. Our steel factory has heavy tasks and a lot of overtime, so the benefits are also better.”

Zhang Cuilan nodded, taking the items back inside and locking them in the cupboard.

With the parents busy and the second daughter married off, the elder brother and sister-in-law still not back, Gu Shidong was lively, playing with a small rabbit in the yard and tossing a gray, worn sandbag around.

Zhang Cuilan called out to her son to help hang a jin of white flour from the beam. Lately, the courtyard had been infested with rats.

Last night, rats had stolen the sorghum cakes from Grandma Sun’s house.

Nowadays, rats were everywhere, scavenging any food they could find. The only way to prevent this was to tie the food up in burlap sacks with a rope.

“Mom, why do rats eat everything?”

“They have to eat something or they’ll starve.”

“Even if they starve, it doesn’t matter. Hutou’s cousin from the countryside roasts big rats and says they taste great. I want to try it too.”

“Try what? The family’s not short of food or drink. Look at your ambitions.”

“Hehe.”

Gu Shidong chuckled and didn’t say anything more.

Soon, Lin Yao hurried home, carrying a bag of roasted sweet potatoes for everyone to try.

“Mom, sweet potatoes don’t taste as good when they’re cold. You eat them, I’ll go get busy.”

Zhang Cuilan wanted to go to the kitchen to finish making the remaining scallion pancakes, but Lin Yao sweetly coaxed her into eating the sweet potatoes and quickly put on an apron, washing her hands to get back to cooking.

Zhang Cuilan, unable to persuade her, sat down with a smile.

“This child is as impulsive as her mother.”

She then glanced at the Gu brothers who were fetching water in the yard and said with a hint of disdain, “These little rascals are unreliable. It’s still Yao Yao who is considerate of the old lady.”

Gu Shi’an and his brother: “…….”

In the evening, the Old Gu family had scallion pancakes, some vinegar-stirred cabbage from the communal canteen, and a pot of wild vegetable soup. Such a simple meal was considered an improvement in their life.

The next morning, Gu Shi’an took his little girl to work as usual.

Lin Yao wanted to behave more obediently, thinking that Deputy Director Gu might go easier on her in the evening. So, she didn’t rest her hands on Gu Shi’an’s waist as usual but kept them tucked away, just like Zhou Xiaoxue.

Gu Shi’an’s gaze briefly touched her. As the bicycle jolted, Lin Yao let out a surprised cry and instinctively hugged his waist.