Chapter 60 The Zhu family is a unique household...

The Zhu family's house was a detached one-courtyard dwelling, meticulously maintained. A grapevine was laden with glistening grapes, while a pomegranate tree bent its branches under the weight of its fruit, the split skins revealing agate-like seeds, their redness dazzling. At the base of the wall was a neat vegetable garden, with purple eggplants, red peppers, and green cabbages, all growing lush and robust, without a single weed in sight.

In the shade under the eaves, there were two slicked-back rattan chairs. A well-to-do old woman squinted as she slowly knitted a brand-new sweater with unusual navy blue yarn.

In another wicker chair, an old man wearing reading glasses was reclining, fanning himself with a palm leaf fan in one hand and holding a newspaper in the other.

In the courtyard, a chubby boy of about six or seven years old was riding a finely crafted wooden horse. The horse was clearly made by a skilled carpenter, perfectly round and shiny. He brandished a small leather whip, cracking it sharply on the horse's rump, and shouted, "Giddy up! Giddy up! Charge! Kill those bad elements!"

The old lady looked up at the sound, her face full of wrinkles and a doting smile: "Oh my little darling, wait a minute! Are you hungry? Do you want to eat first?"

The old man looked up from his newspaper and chuckled, "Dongdong just ate a chicken leg, how could he be hungry so soon, right?"

The three generations of the family lived in harmony, a truly peaceful and idyllic scene.

There was a commotion outside. The old man stood up, craned his neck to look outside, and said, "Whose house was raided? I didn't hear Jingsong mention it."

Upon hearing about the house being searched, Dongdong's eyes lit up instantly. He jumped off the wooden horse, brandishing his leather whip, and charged out, shouting, "I want my house searched too!"

The old lady smiled indulgently, put down her knitting needles, and followed her out: "Take care!"

The door was kicked open and crashed to the ground, the dust nearly blinding Dongdong. The chubby boy was stunned at first, but after recognizing the group of menacing-looking people before him, he let out a loud wailing, "You dare scare me! I'll have my dad beat you all to death!"

Relying on his family's usual prestige, he raised his leather whip and lashed it at Cheng Xiuying, who was in charge.

Cheng Xiuying's eyes turned cold as she looked at the greasy face that was exactly like Zhu Jingsong's. She felt no pity for the child, only disgust. She raised her hand, grabbed the whip that had been lashed out, and pulled hard, causing Dongdong to fall to the ground.

Cheng Xiuying cursed, "You little beast!" With a flick of her wrist, the leather whip lashed back at the brat, whistling through the air.

"My grandson!" Old Mrs. Zhu screamed and rushed forward, using her body to shield herself from the whip. She winced in pain, "This is outrageous! Open your eyes and look! This is the home of Director Zhu of the Revolutionary Committee! My son can send you all to jail and have you shot with a single word!"

Old Zhu also threw down his newspaper, shakily rushed over, and pointed at Cheng Xiuying and her group, roaring, "Lawless! Which unit are you from? Who ordered you? Today, not one of you will escape!"

The Zhu family has always been arrogant and domineering in the county! At this moment, there is only anger, not a trace of fear.

With icy eyes, Cheng Xiuying raised her whip again and lashed it straight at Old Man Zhu's pampered face!

With a sharp 'smack', a bloody mark immediately appeared, stretching from the corner of his eye to his chin.

Old Zhu screamed and staggered backward, clutching his face.

Before he could react, Cheng Xiuying took a step forward and kicked him hard in the chest, knocking the old man to the ground and covering him in dust.

Looking down at the old man sprawled on the ground and the terrified old woman, she shouted in a firm voice, "Tie up these two old parasites who oppress the masses and bully others!"

Cheng Xiuying led her people into the Zhu family's living room, and the sight before her made her and the people behind her gasp in shock.

This is hardly the home of a revolutionary cadre! It's clearly the mansion of a capitalist from the old society! The floor is so shiny it reflects your image, a set of smooth calfskin sofas surrounds a heavy mahogany coffee table, and in the most conspicuous place on the wall, a huge red banner looks benevolently at everything in the room, as if draping this luxurious room in the most legitimate revolutionary cloak.

The table was even more eye-catching. Large and small badges of various materials were piled up like a small mountain, and next to them stood a white bust of Premier Zhou.

Cheng Xiuying felt a surge of anger rush to her head. She said, "Take away the portraits of the Chairman and the Premier! Leave none behind, and carefully wrap them in red cloth! We must not let the leader's glory shine here. The Zhu family is not worthy!"

She jumped onto the cabinet, carefully took down the huge portrait on the wall and rolled it up. The others also found red cloth and carefully wrapped all the items up, placing them properly in the cabinet before they began further searching the house.

The Zhu family lived in extreme luxury. The cabinets in the living room were full of snacks, pastries, dried meat, canned goods, and malted milk powder. The kitchen was piled with ham, cured meat, canned goods, rice, flour, and cooking oil. There was also steaming chicken soup in the pot, a piece of pork belly on the cutting board, and two grass carp swimming happily in the bucket.

Everyone's eyes were red with envy; what kind of family is this!

This is all the hard-earned money plundered from the people.

In the corner of Zhu Jingsong's room, there was a little girl locked up, her hands and feet bound, and a wad of cotton cloth stuffed in her mouth. Cheng Xiuying glanced at her, immediately closed the door, and took Yu Jiajia and Gu Yongyi inside, leaving the others outside.

No one could see clearly; they could only vaguely make out that there were people inside.

Cheng Xiuying cursed Zhu Jingsong under her breath, thinking he deserved to be torn to pieces. She tried her best to speak in the gentlest voice, "Don't be afraid, Zhu Jingsong has been defeated, you are safe now."

Gu Yongyi: "Listen, all you can hear outside is the sound of ransacking houses. No one can hurt you now."

The girl, about eighteen or nineteen years old, huddled in a corner, her swollen eyes filled with tears.

Yu Jiajia said cautiously, "We'll untie you now, okay?"

The little girl nodded.

Cheng Xiuying quickly pulled the cloth out of the little girl's mouth and untied her.

The little girl's name was Xia Qiuyu. She was unfortunate because she was tricked by her own brother and given to Zhu Jingsong.

But luckily, those who came to the Zhu family in the morning didn't see Zhu Jingsong. She tried to run away, but was beaten by Granny Zhu, who tied her hands and feet and gagged her. She was rescued that evening.

Xia Qiuyu couldn't believe that she had actually been saved.

Cheng Xiuying looked at the little girl's cute face and said, "How lucky."

Xia Qiuyu, her eyes brimming with tears, said, "Thank you, thank you!"

Cheng Xiuying helped her straighten her clothes and hair. "You hide behind the curtains. When everyone comes in, you quietly come out and hide in the crowd."

Zhu Jinsong's crimes are already sufficient; there is no need for the young girl to testify again.

A girl's reputation is extremely important.

For the Yu family, bringing down Zhu Jingsong is a life-or-death struggle for survival. The Yu sisters' willingness to risk their reputation can incite the masses.

Xia Qiuyu wiped away her tears, "Auntie, thank you."

Gu Yongyi looked at the carefree Cheng Xiuying and was amazed at how thoughtful and considerate she was of others.

Cheng Xiuying opened the door, and everyone came in. A young man from the security department asked, "Where is that person?"

Cheng Xiuying patted his head: "There's no one here, hurry up and search."

Xia Qiuyu emerged from behind the curtains amidst the crowd. With the help of Yu Jiajia and Yu Jiamin, her appearance was so inconspicuous that it seemed as if she had come to ransack the house.

Yu Jiajia smiled at Xia Qiuyu and immediately joined the raiding party.

There were two watches, a little over a thousand yuan, and some receipts in Zhu Jinsong's room. There wasn't a single piece of gold or silver, or any other treasure. Did Zhu Jinsong put all his gold in the toilet?

In Old Mrs. Zhu's room, they found a jewelry box filled with gold jewelry, weighing about a pound.

In addition, there's the wine in the basement, a room of about ten square meters filled with fine wines.

The yard was dug up, the vegetables were gathered up and sent to the food station, but they couldn't find anything useful after digging three feet into the ground.

Yu Jiajia originally thought she could find some bargains, but there was really nothing to find. She felt it was too illogical. Zhu Jingsong's house was too clean. There were fewer banknotes and bills than Liu Duobao's brother-in-law's house. Moreover, there was no study in the house, only a pile of newspapers that old man Zhu liked to read, and no other documents.

Even so, Zhu Jinsong's guilt is a foregone conclusion, and he is doomed to die.

The raiding party split into several groups, and Zhu Jinsong's right-hand men were all searched and confiscated. Cheng Xiuying led a group to Xiao Lixin's house.

Xiao Lixin had already been taken away by the military control committee for isolation and investigation. He had considered two possibilities: first, the Yu family was ruined, the Yu sisters fell into Director Zhu's hands, and the gold was recovered; second, Director Zhu was unlucky enough to die a tragic death, and he, as the deputy director, was promoted to director of the Revolutionary Committee.

How could everything have changed so drastically overnight?

Zhu Jinsong is indeed finished, but he's finished too.

Why is this happening?

The anxiety in Xiao Lixin's family ultimately did not bring them any relief. The search party quickly broke down the door. Although there was no gold or silver in his house, the thick stack of banknotes and grain coupons, along with the room full of cured meat and other preserved goods, showed just how wealthy his family was.

However, Director Zhu's right-hand men were incredibly capable. They found important documents in Chen Siwei's home, including thick stacks of documents and notes in a hidden compartment under the floor of his study. They had firsthand information on Qingshan County, covering everything from production data of various factories and grain output of communes to the flow of people on the streets. The details were so comprehensive that they sent chills down one's spine.

There was also a notebook that recorded the important figures in Qingshan County, such as Chen Xuefeng from the steel rolling mill, Xiao Zhenshan from the textile mill, Zuo Wen from the meat processing plant, and figures from the county party committee, public security bureau, various hospitals, and communes. Lu Chenzhou was among them.

Some have already been marked with a red cross.

Cheng Xiuying's gaze fell on Xia Mowen's name, followed by the name of an oil pressing factory. A chill ran down her spine. She called out to Chen Hongmei, "Find Xia's mother and ask her husband's name."

If Xia's mother's husband is Xia Mowen...

This isn't a notebook; it's clearly a death register from the King of Hell!

Are Zhu Jinsong and his gang planning to erase the pillars of Qingshan County from this world one by one?

This is terrible.

All of Chen Siwei's family members were arrested, and his relatives' doors were sealed off, restricting their movement and forcing them to stay at home.

A large amount of gold and silver was found in the home of another of Zhu Jinsong's capable henchmen. There were more than a dozen gold bars, dozens of Yuan Shikai silver dollars, a gold abacus, and another box of gold jewelry.

The confiscated abacus from Grandpa Hu's house has reached this point.

This comparison makes Zhu Jinsong's house seem strangely clean.

After ransacking the house, it was time to take the spoils back. Cheng Xiuying looked at the full boxes, suppressing her inner urge to gobble them up, and had everyone move all the boxes onto the tractor.

She stood on the first tractor, a pistol holstered on her arm, leading the group toward the county committee compound. Several tractors were loaded with boxes of gold and banknotes confiscated from the homes of Zhu Jingsong's faction. The boxes were all open, containing gold, silver, jewelry, watches, and other valuables. The banknotes were tied with rope and piled up in boxes as well.

Behind them were piles of various cured meats, sausages, fresh meats, rice, flour, and cooking oil, and two grass carp were carried onto the tractor in basins.

The crucial 'blacklist' notebook was carefully placed in her arms.

The procession marched through the main road of the county town, like a silent parade. The news spread like wildfire throughout Qingshan County, and crowds of people rushed to the scene.

Many people traveled from various communes to witness firsthand the downfall of Zhu Jinsong.

They crowded on both sides of the road, their eyes following the boxes on the cart with mixed feelings. Good heavens, this is not a revolutionary committee, this is a local tyrant!

Before even reaching the county government compound, I saw four long lines stretching for miles, all there to report grievances and seek redress.

Some cried out about Zhu Jinsong's series of crimes, while others filed complaints against the domineering Revolutionary Committee leaders in the factories below. The noise was deafening, forming a sea of ​​anguish.

Yu Jiajia lay on the tractor and looked out. She was shocked. Just how many evil deeds had Zhu Jingsong and his gang committed?

Soldiers from the county's armed forces department and military control committee stood at the entrance, fully armed, to maintain order. A huge banner with white background and red lettering, newly painted on the wall, read: "Resolutely and thoroughly eliminate the pernicious influence of Zhu Jinsong!"

Several large pots were set up at the entrance of the county government compound, with fires blazing and white steam billowing from them. Staff members were busy distributing freshly steamed multigrain buns and piping hot porridge with cured meat to the people queuing up.

The aroma of food fills the air from afar!

Yu Jiajia breathed a sigh of relief; many people must have come to collect steamed buns and meat porridge.

When the tractor arrived at the entrance of the county government compound, Cheng Xiuying jumped off the tractor, grabbed Yu Jiajia by the armpits, and lifted her down.

Cheng Xiuying was liaised with He Yuanzheng, a representative of the Military Control Commission. The soldiers of the Military Control Commission carried the boxes into the temporarily requisitioned warehouse. Under the dim light, both sides opened the boxes one by one, sorting, counting, and registering the items. After each box was cleared, Cheng Xiuying and He Yuanzheng signed and sealed two copies of the list.

Most importantly, Cheng Xiuying solemnly handed the 'blacklist' notebook in her arms to He Yuanzheng.

He Yuanzheng opened the notebook, glanced at the contents, and closed it with a solemn expression.

This information is invaluable; it may change the current situation and save the lives of many more precious talents.

Cheng Xiuying carefully moved a box over and placed it in the safest and most conspicuous place, clearly separating it from the other boxes containing 'evidence'.

She straightened up, her expression extremely solemn, even reverent, and instructed He Yuanzheng word by word: "This box contains Chairman Mao's portrait and badges, as well as a sculpture of the Premier. When we brought it out from that filthy place of the Zhu family, we carefully wrapped it in red cloth. Please ask the comrades of the Military Control Commission to find a clean and solemn place to properly enshrine it."

Upon hearing this, He Yuanzheng's expression turned serious. Without any hesitation, he immediately addressed the soldier beside him:

"Immediately carry it to the rostrum of the county party committee hall! Arrange for dedicated personnel to guard it, and no one is allowed to approach or treat it with any disrespect!"

All the boxes were put into storage, and the warehouse door was sealed. It was already late at night.

He Yuanzheng then told everyone to rest, and the group followed the soldiers from the military control committee to the compound to get steamed buns and porridge with cured meat.

In that brief moment, Yu Jiajia and the others spotted Lu Chenzhou. He was practically on the ground, surrounded by people seeking his instructions. His voice was hoarse from talking so much, but his eyes were sharp as he quickly signed documents or issued concise and clear commands.

After finishing his most urgent tasks, he strode towards Cheng Xiuying, Yu Jiajia, and the other meritorious individuals.

His arrival instantly drew everyone's attention. No one recognized him, but so many people were reporting to him, so he must be a high-ranking official. Lu Chenzhou looked at the crowd and said in a deep voice, "Comrades, I am Lu Chenzhou, temporarily serving as the director of the Qingshan County Revolutionary Committee."

He paused, his gaze lingering on each face covered in dust and sweat, as if trying to remember everyone's contributions. "You all fought this battle brilliantly! Cleanly! Efficiently! Everyone worked very hard, and the organization will never forget the contributions of any comrade! Once the situation has stabilized, we will conduct an evaluation of all comrades who contributed, reward them according to their merits, and give everyone a fair account."

A heartfelt cheer and thunderous applause erupted from the crowd, as if all the hard work had been worthwhile at that moment.

Lu Chenzhou didn't say anything more, but nodded vigorously to everyone before being called away by several urgent calls of "Director Lu".

Cheng Xiuying felt something was wrong. The Yu family had used all their strength to bring down Zhu Jingsong, and now, the Revolutionary Committee Director had been replaced by Lu Chenzhou?

She's been maximizing her profits, and now Lu Chenzhou is the beneficiary? Oh, and He Yuanzheng too.

She tried hard to stop herself from rolling her eyes!

Well, she never intended to become the director of the Revolutionary Committee; she wasn't capable of handling such supreme power.

Could she become the deputy director of the steel rolling mill?

Yu Jiajia encouraged softly, "Mom, be bold, remove the word 'deputy'!"

Cheng Xiuying truly felt that her baby and she were telepathically connected; without her saying a word, her baby knew what she was thinking.

Yes, the steel mill manager, she's not incapable either!

Factory Director Cheng!!!

Oh my god, this sounds amazing!