novelraw Chapter 321 - 319: Envy Is a Disease That Needs Treatment, the Report Letter Flies to the Revolutionary Committee
Chapter 321 - 319: Envy Is a Disease That Needs Treatment, the Report Letter Flies to the Revolutionary Committee
The dusk in the courtyard is more fragrant than the New Year.
White smoke billows from Sister in law Liu’s chimney.
A big bowl on the square table inside the house is steaming.
It’s old hen soup that’s been stewing for two whole hours, with a layer of golden oil floating on top.
"Dear, drink the soup."
Sister in law Liu pushed the bowl in front of her husband.
Her husband’s injured leg was propped on a stool; as he looked at the bowl of soup, his Adam’s apple bobbed up and down twice.
"Is... is the whole chicken in here?"
"Indeed it is."
Sister in law Liu untied her apron, her face glowing red.
"Wanyi gave it, said it’s a deposit. As long as I do a good job, next week there’ll be a pound of pork belly."
Her husband picked up the bowl and took a big gulp, the heat made him gasp, yet he couldn’t bear to spit it out.
"A good person... she is our family’s living savior."
...
The courtyard next door.
"Bang!"
Aunt Wang slammed her chopsticks on the table.
On the table were a plate of salted vegetables and a few dark mixed-flour buns.
The aroma of chicken soup drifted through the air, hooking directly into her nostrils.
"Eat, eat, eat! All you know is how to eat! Let’s see if you’re able to eat to death!"
Aunt Wang cursed, taking a vicious bite of the bun.
Too hard.
Almost broke her tooth.
She clutched her cheek, angrily spat in the direction of the Gu Family.
"A bunch of shortsighted fools, acting like lackeys for the capitalist lady, you’ll get shot sooner or later!"
...
Supply and Demand Cooperative Office.
Zhao Jian Country looked at the pile of cotton-padded coats in the corner.
Originally piled to the roof, they were still piled up to the roof.
Not a single one missing.
Even a layer of dust had settled on top.
"Manager, someone came asking about the down jackets again today."
Sales clerk Xiao Zhang came in, shoulders hunched, holding a ledger in his hand.
"Our cotton coats, still zero sales. At this rate, by the end of the year inventory check, we’ll all get criticized."
"Get out!"
Zhao Jian Country grabbed an abacus from the desk and smashed it on the ground.
The beads scattered everywhere.
Xiao Zhang was so frightened, he shuddered and turned to run.
Zhao Jian Country panted heavily.
He walked to the window, looking at the occasional cyclists on the street outside.
The figure wearing a maroon fitted coat was as glaring as a thorn.
Stealing business?
Stealing public business?
This is seeking death.
He sat back at the desk and spread out a piece of letter paper.
The pen tip scratched noisily on the paper, the force went through the back.
"Accusation letter."
"Hereby accuse Lin Wan Yi from the military district family compound of using bourgeois lifestyle, privately employing labor, engaging in illegal processing and manufacturing..."
"This is undermining socialism! This is capitalist restoration!"
"Requesting the organization to strictly investigate! Strictly handle!"
Zhao Jian Country finished writing the last word, snapped the pen cap on with force.
He planned to send this letter straight to the district revolutionary committee.
Director Li from the security office was on the same side with the Gu Family and couldn’t be trusted.
If it’s to be done, then do it big.
This time, not only did he want Lin Wan Yi to cough up all that money, but also to have her locked up for life.
...
The next morning.
The sun was shining bright.
The sound of "da da da" from sewing machines filled the Gu Family Courtyard.
Jiang Zhou’s remodeled washing machine was whirling in the corner.
A few military wives chatted and laughed.
"I heard that yesterday there was another quarrel at the cooperative, saying the cotton clothes couldn’t be sold."
"Serves them right! Who’d want those clothes that weigh like a millstone and cost a fortune."
The scissors in Sister in law Liu’s hand moved swiftly.
"We earn our livelihood by skill; Wanyi says this is called earning by labor."
Lin Wan Yi sat by the stone table, checking Gu An’s homework.
Gu An lay on the table, his little butt sticking up, holding a pencil, drawing with his face covered in black chinagraph marks.
Little Grey lay at Lin Wan Yi’s feet, basking in the sun, occasionally sweeping the ground with its tail.
Peaceful times.
...
Security Office Duty Room.
Director Li was holding a tea mug and reading the newspaper.
Suddenly.
"Vroom——"
The roar of an engine sounded.
Director Li’s hand shook, spilling tea onto his pants.
Ignoring it, he rushed out of the duty room in a few strides.
A dark green jeep, followed by a big truck, drove straight into the courtyard, kicking up dust.
A red flag was hung at the front of the vehicle.
Standing in the truck bed were two rows of people wearing red armbands, each with stern faces, holding sticks.
"This is bad!"
Director Li slapped his thigh.
This wasn’t a military vehicle.
It was the local revolutionary committee’s vehicle!
Why were these people here?
"Quick! Call the commander’s house!"
Director Li rushed back inside, grabbed the phone, and turned the crank frantically.
"Buzz buzz buzz..."
Busy line.
Dial again.
Still busy.
Director Li was so anxious that he slammed his hat on the table.
"Damn it!"
He pulled out the gun from his waist, thought for a moment, and then put it back.
These people came with authority from above; confrontation wouldn’t work.
He rushed out the door, got on his bicycle, and pedaled furiously towards the residential compound.
Hoping he could make it in time.
...
Gu Family Courtyard.
"The collar of this garment is a bit crooked, take it apart and redo it."
Lin Wan Yi handed a half-finished garment to Zhang Family’s Sister in law.
"Alright, got it."
Zhang Family’s Sister in law had no complaints, taking the garment and preparing to remove the stitches.
At that moment.
"Bang!"
A loud bang.
The previously closed courtyard gate was kicked open.
The two wooden doors slammed against the wall, making a cringe-worthy groan.
The courtyard fell silent instantly.
The sewing machines stopped.
The washing machine still turned two revolutions from inertia, then stopped too.
The scissors in Sister in law Liu’s hand clattered to the ground.
At the entrance.
A crowd dressed in all-black stood there.
Uniform in Zhongshan suits, with glaring red armbands on their arms.
The man at the front, with a face full of flesh, held a rubber stick in his hand.
Zhao Jian Country stood behind this man, half his body leaning out.
He glanced at the mounds of fabric in the courtyard and the military wives working there.
Smiled.
Laughed like a weasel successfully stealing a chicken.
"Director Wang! Look!"
Zhao Jian Country pointed to the crowd in the courtyard, his voice louder than a broken gong.
"I told you! This is a black market den!"
"Look at the scale! Look at the machines!"
"Caught red-handed!"
The military wives in the courtyard had never seen such a scene before.
During that era, a red armband meant everything.
"Oh my God..."
Zhang Family’s Sister in law’s legs gave way, and she slumped to the ground, the garment in her hand falling into the mud.
Sister in law Liu turned pale, her lips trembled, wanting to stand but her knees wouldn’t cooperate.
"What...what is this..."
Director Wang strode into the courtyard.
His bull-like eyes swept over everyone.
Finally, they fixed on Lin Wan Yi, who was sitting by the stone table.
"Who is Lin Wan Yi?"
Director Wang tapped the stone table with his stick.
"Look up!"
Gu Lan was so frightened that she burst into tears.
She rushed over, stood in front of Lin Wan Yi, stretched out her arms, like a hen protecting her chick.
"What are you doing! This is the Gu Family! This is a military family compound!"
"You can’t be reckless!"
"Slap!"
Director Wang raised his hand and slapped Gu Lan, knocking her off balance.
"Military family?"
Director Wang sneered, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth.
"Military families need to be supervised by the poor and lower-middle peasants even more!"
"Engaging in capitalist restoration, even the emperor himself wouldn’t be allowed!"
"Men!"
Director Wang waved his large hand.
"Confiscate everything! Take them away!"
With a whoosh.
A dozen red armbands rushed inside.
Some went to move the sewing machines, some went to seize the fabric.
Zhao Jian Country rushed to the front, heading straight for the money box.
"Nobody move!"
A clear shout.
The voice wasn’t loud, but it carried a chill.
Like a basin of ice water poured onto a red-hot iron plate.
The red armbands who were preparing to act were stunned for a moment.
Gu Lan, clutching her sore arm, turned around tearfully.
Lin Wan Yi stood up.
Today she wore a white turtleneck sweater, draped with a maroon down jacket.
Amidst this crowd of dusty blue clothes, she appeared so clean as if she didn’t belong to this world.
She didn’t look at those fierce people.
She bent down, picked up Gu An, and placed him in the small cart nearby.
Then patted the head of Little Grey, who wanted to charge forward and bite.
"Sit down."
Little Grey let out a low growl, but still obediently lay down.
After doing all this.
Lin Wan Yi then turned around.
She walked to the stone table and picked up the enamel mug.
Removed the lid.
Blew on the tea leaves on the surface.
Then slowly took a sip.
"Manager Zhao."
Lin Wan Yi put down the enamel mug, the porcelain bottom made a crisp sound on the stone table.
She looked at Zhao Jian Country, who was rummaging through boxes like watching a clown.
"With such a big scene, aren’t you afraid it might get out of hand?"