Qin Huai led them along a mountain road on the outskirts of the city. The snow had just melted, and not long after they started walking, they saw a body lying in the snow. He must have died before the snow fell, and was exposed after the snow melted. The older man did not go up, but watched from a distance for a long time without saying a word.

Then I walked forward and saw a few boys talking nonsense, and there was a person lying among them.

Qin Huai walked over and asked, "What are you doing here?"

One student said, "Today is Saturday, and our school is closed. My mom said my uncle had gone out and hadn't come back, so she asked us to go out and look for him. We looked at the body lying on the road one by one. It took a long time before we found it. It was my uncle. He was so hungry at home that he wanted to crawl to the county town to find his son and my cousin to get something to eat. But before we could find my cousin, he had already starved to death on the way."

Qin Huai said, "Don't carry him by yourselves. Go home and ask an adult to find a way to get your uncle back."

The students said, “I understand.”

The older man turned and asked Qin Huai, "Is this a common situation?"

"It was like this throughout the county. During the autumn harvest, if the reported grain output was high, the public grain tax would be high, leaving every farmer's house empty. Then, grain-searching teams emerged. Each one had eyes like a hawk. They would break into any farmer's house and search for grain if they saw smoke coming out of it. Anyone who dared to resist would be beaten to death..."

"Stop talking, let's go back." The younger one showed an expression of reluctance.

"Go back. You don't even need to look. The whole county is in the same mess."

The young people were so shocked that they dared not speak. The older people asked Qin Huai, "Thank you, Comrade Qin Huai. If you hadn't brought me to see it in person, I wouldn't have known that Wanbei County had become a hell."

Qin Huai said, "If you see this, you will try to save people, right? Although I don't know who you are and I don't know if it will be of any use to tell you, I still want to tell you, if you have a way, I beg you to save the people of our Wanbei County."

The older man said, "Since I've seen it, I can't just ignore it. Comrade Qin Huai, I'll be honest with you. I'm the Commissioner of our Administrative Office. My name is Zhao Qishan. Today is my first day in office. Don't worry, I won't let this kind of tragedy happen again."

"Comrade Zhao, you are a senior leader and you must keep your word."

The young man scolded him, "How do you talk to your boss?"

Zhao Qishan said, "Comrade Qin Huai is right to be worried. He is a young man with a sense of justice. It is the actions of some of our cadres that have disappointed him. Comrade Qin Huai, rest assured. I, Zhao Qishan, can assure you that I will not let you down."

Qin Huai said, "Then let me first thank the leaders on behalf of the people of Wanbei County."

Zhao Qishan took Qin Huai back to where they parked and insisted on returning the money to Qin Huai. Qin Huai said, "Leader Zhao, there's no rush to return the money. I'll remember what you said. When you can save all the people in the county, I'll accept the money in front of all the people in the county."

"good."

Zhao Qishan solemnly agreed. After getting in the car, he rolled down the window and said, "Comrade Qin Huai, I will remember you. You are a young man with a strong sense of justice."

To be honest, Qin Huai was unsure. No matter what time, few officials would tell the truth. But Zhao Qishan looked serious, so he just hoped that he could do what he said.

When he returned home, he found Qin Wei there. He hurriedly pulled Qin Huai outside and said, "Qin Huai, something happened in the village. Qin Laoshuan was arrested by the commune. His sister came to me and asked me to find a way to save him."

Qin Huai's heart sank, and he immediately thought of the eight pigs.

He asked hurriedly, "Didn't the commune say they were going to arrest me?"

Qin Wei asked doubtfully, "Catch you? Why would they arrest you?"

"Didn't Qin Laoshuan give me away?"

Thinking of this, Qin Huai hurriedly said, "I was terrified. Why was he arrested?"

"He's incredibly audacious. Eight of the commune's pigs died, and he actually took it upon himself to distribute the pigs to the farmers in Qinjiazhuang without informing them. Now he's been taken to the commune, and they're preparing to deal with him."

Qin Huai was very moved when he heard this. Qin Laoshuan usually looked ruthless and ungrateful, but he didn't expect that he could handle this matter by himself.

But in this way, no matter what he said, he could no longer remain indifferent.

Qin Wei added, "The people of Qinjiazhuang are too lawless. When they were arresting people, the whole village came out to stop them from taking Qin Laoshuan away."

These words touched Qin Huai's heart. The people of Qinjiazhuang knew how to be grateful.

No, this is my fault. I can't let Qin Laoshuan take the blame for me. People these days use cruel methods. We must rescue him as soon as possible.

But how to save people?

The more he thought about it, the more desperate he became. He was just an ordinary citizen, and no one would listen to him.

No, we must find a way.

Qin Wei said, "I'm here to tell you that things have been unsettled in the village these past few days. Don't go back, understand Qin Huai? You're the one I'm most worried about, so don't run around."

"I understand, uncle, don't worry."

The old man said, "Don't worry, Dawei. I will watch over him and won't let him go back."

After Qin Wei finished his instructions, he rode away on his bicycle.

Qin Huai said, "Grandpa, it was my idea to sell pork for grain. I should be the one to be arrested, not Qin Laoshuan."

Old Man Qin asked calmly, "What are you going to do?"

"Grandpa, you know where the money in the house is kept. Don't tell Yatou and Xiaomi about this. I'll leave them to you."

He said, turning around and walking out.

Qin Laoshuan said, "Qin Huai, you're only a little old. Who would believe what you said? You should stay at home and take care of Yaya and Xiaomi. I'm already old, and I've lived a fulfilling life to have you as my grandson."

He resolutely pulled Qin Huai into the house and continued, "I'll go."

Qin Xiaoyun and Qin Xiaomi burst into tears.

Qin Huai said, "Grandpa, don't argue anymore. You have no idea how this happened. Only I can explain it to you."

The old man was stunned and turned around and walked out.

The old man opened the door and shouted anxiously, "Qin Huai, come back. Maybe things are not that bad yet."

Qin Huai said, "This matter cannot be delayed any longer. The sooner we go, the sooner we can rescue him. Qin Laoshuan has been taken to the commune. If we delay for too long, he might be beaten to death."

He walked out resolutely, and heard the crying of Yatou and Xiaomi in his ears: "Brother, don't go."

He hardened his heart and didn't look back.

He went to the commune to inquire about Qin Laoshuan's whereabouts. A thin middle-aged man asked warily, "Who are you and what are you looking for Qin Laoshuan?"

"I'm a villager from Qinjiazhuang. Qin Laoshuan was arrested for our entire village, so everyone sent me here to give him money and food."

After hearing this, the man sneered and said, "I don't think it's necessary to give me money. I don't think Qin Laoshuan will live to spend it."