"did you mean?"

"Let the higher-ups arrange it!"

"You said it."

Not long after, about half a month later, Third Brother came again, but this time he brought two pheasants and a rabbit.

"The pheasants and rabbits were hunted on the way here. You should save them to eat; don't be reluctant to eat them."

"I know, is there anything else?"

"Yes, it's about the place I mentioned last time where we were planning to move you. The higher-ups already know and want to know where you're going. They'll make the arrangements then."

"Third brother, can you tell me which commander found out?"

"Commander Wang"

"he?"

"What's wrong"

"It's nothing, I just didn't expect you to talk to such a high-ranking official."

"I'm not saying this to criticize you."

"It was our battalion's political instructor who reported it to the higher-ups. The intelligence you provided last time was very important; you could say it led to the capture of quite a few enemies. So the organization is quite concerned about your situation. Actually, even if you hadn't mentioned changing locations, I think Uncle Zhou and the others would have brought it up with you soon enough."

"Oh well"

Where do you want to go?

"Third Brother, what do you think of me going to Xiangyang Brigade?"

"You mean go to where the old man is now?"

What do you think?

"There shouldn't be any problem."

"I'm afraid the higher-ups will find out."

Even if I knew, it probably wouldn't be a big problem.

"Let's choose this place then! It'll be more convenient to take care of Uncle Shen and Aunt Zhou."

"That's fine, but it'll be a lot of work for you then."

"It's nothing. You know how strong and capable your sister is."

"That must be quite tiring."

"Third Brother, have you gone to see Uncle Shen and the others again?"

"We've only met in passing from a distance; we can't get too close, for fear of being discovered."

"That's true. The situation is so serious right now, you'd better be careful."

When do you plan to go?

"Before spring planting! But..."

"But what? Tell me."

"Can you live alone? You know, with too many people, things can easily go wrong."

Okay, I'll ask around for you later.

"If that doesn't work, I can just pay for it myself."

"good"

And so, after living here for several years, I never imagined I would have to leave.

"Although I haven't had any conflicts with the other members, ever since the police came, no one has been talking to me and isolating me. I feel really bad about it."

Knowing I was leaving, I started slowly packing up some things from home and putting them away in the space.

As for the sweet potatoes in the cellar, just leave them there for now! Also, I need to take out some of the grain I have stored in my space, otherwise, it's hard to say what will happen if I don't have enough grain with me.

Also, I need to go to the county town to tell Uncle Zhou and the others, and also tell my elders and friends in Beijing and other places that I will no longer be in Fusong County, and that I can send any letters to Tongshi. I need to give them my address.

Since there was nothing else to do, I wrote a letter to everyone, telling them that I was going to change production brigades, but I didn't write down the reason.

When the Beijing Military Region received the letter and package from Li Mianmian, they were not surprised! However, when they saw the contents of the letter, Director Wang was greatly astonished.

Despite having other work to do, he quickly went to the commander and political commissar to explain the situation.

"You mean Mianmian wants to switch production brigades?"

"yes"

"Where did it say where to go?"

"I said, Tongshi, Hongqi Commune, Xiangyang Brigade."

Did the letter mention the reason?

"It's precisely because it wasn't mentioned that we felt it was a big deal."

"Old Ma, what do you think is the reason?"

"Let's call and ask!"

"Okay, I'll call Lao Wang first, then I'll call Zhou Jianbin."

"Okay, I'll call my relatives in Fusong County and ask."

Half an hour later, the leaders were shocked when they learned the reason why Li Mianmian had changed places. They were shocked that she was isolated just because she brought the police to the production team. This was too bizarre!

"I asked Xiao Ma to inquire about it from the sidelines; I have a feeling something's up."

"No need, Lao Wang already told me."

"What's wrong, Lao Chen?"

"I never imagined that a small production team, a village of three or four hundred people, could be so easily controlled by an old woman in her fifties or sixties."

What does that mean?

"This all started when Shen Bowen's son went to Fusong County to see Mianmian."

"You mean, this old lady from the Gu family is taking revenge on Mianmian because Shen Xi didn't take a liking to her daughter?"

"You could say that."

"What does this have to do with Mianmian?"

"Who can argue with that?"

"Besides, Shen Xi only met her once at the supply and marketing cooperative, and probably doesn't even know who she is, so why would he resent Mianmian?"

"Such selfish people never look for the reasons within themselves."

"What do you think this old lady is thinking? Does she think that since her grandson is in the army, he won't be able to control Mianmian anymore?"

"I'm afraid she didn't think of that; she just felt that at least she had avenged her daughter, and that was more important than anything else."

"That's why they say long hair means short wits."

"Then Secretary Gu didn't say anything."

"I'm afraid this matter is entirely within the purview of Secretary Gu."

"Do they think that Mianmian has nowhere else to go but to stay in their brigade, which is why they act so recklessly?"

"Probably. Besides, they just told the members to stay away from Mianmian; they didn't say or do anything else. Even if Zhou Jianbin and the others found out, they could just pretend they didn't know and that would be enough."

"Then swallow your pride."

"How could that be?"

"When Zhou Jianbin learned about this, he had already planned to have his wife find a reason to fire Gu Cuicui, but her husband was also a military officer, so it was difficult to do so?"

"Then what should we do?"

"What to do? It's easy. After Old Wang learned about this, he investigated and found that Gu Cuicui's husband happens to be from their military region. He's already making preparations."

"you mean"

"He won't do anything illegal or against regulations, but we can keep him from getting promoted, or not assign him many tasks, right?"

"Where is the other person from? Do they have connections?"

"He's just an ordinary soldier from the countryside who rose step by step to his current position, holding the same rank as Shen Xi—deputy company commander."

"That's a pity, ruining his future because of a woman whose background he doesn't know anything about."

"I'm afraid they don't know that Zhang Shugen's wife died in childbirth. His parents doted on his other sons and didn't care much about his own child. If they hadn't suddenly returned home and found their youngest son with a high fever who almost died, they wouldn't have rushed to separate the family property and arrange for him to get married. They would have at least inquired more about his situation."

"I'm afraid it's not that simple."

"One more thing, Zhang Shugen requires that the woman must be a high school student and unmarried."