"I've heard that Aunt Bai's chopped peppers are delicious. My cousin's father-in-law also planted a few pepper trees, which produced a lot of peppers. They are all red now. Can I learn how to make chopped peppers from Aunt Bai?" Chen Ying asked her.

"Chopping peppers is very simple to make. You can learn it after watching me do it once." Bai Shuixian opened the door and invited her to come in and sit down.

Chen Ying followed him into the house and saw that it was very tidy and the study door was open. She asked, "Sister-in-law, why don't you rest at home on the weekend? Is she reading in her room?"

"No, she just went fishing with Xiao Jiang."

Bai Shuixian brought the peppers into the house and went to the kitchen to get an enamel cup of water. "Chen Ying, would you like tea or water?"

"Aunt Bai, don't worry, I just drank some water at home."

While Chen Ying was speaking, he walked to the door of the study and glanced into the room. It was unknown what he saw, but a strange light flashed in his small eyes.

When Bai Shuixian poured her some water, she had already sat down at the table. After taking the cup, she chatted casually, "Aunt Bai, I heard that you used to teach in your hometown for many years. Now that you've quit your job at the nursing home, do you plan to teach at a school?"

"I don't have such plans for now. Linglong is pregnant now, so I will take good care of her first. After she gives birth, I will help her take care of the baby at home so that the couple can go to work without worry."

Seeing her picking pepper stems, Chen Ying helped as well, saying, "Deputy Commander Lu and your sister-in-law both have respectable jobs, with generous monthly salaries and allowances. If you don't go to work, life will be easier for your family. You won't have to worry about having two or three more children in the future."

"Every family's situation is similar, barely making ends meet."

Bai Shuixian is usually very low-key and lives a simple life. She occasionally buys some meat dishes during this period. This is because there are guests at home and her daughter is pregnant. It is normal for her life to be a little better.

They chatted briefly for a few minutes, and then Liao Qiuhua and Wang Yumiao came over. They also wanted to learn how to make chopped peppers, so they all helped her pick the peppers and prepare.

When Gong Linglong and the others came back with a few big fish, the peppers had been chopped and Bai Shuixian was packing them into jars. Everyone else had gone back.

"We have too many fish at home and can't finish them all. Linglong, please send the ones you caught these past two days to the canteen so they can add another meat dish."

Jiang Yun lived at home, so it was not convenient for them to raise the fish in the space. Gong Linglong put away the fishing rod and sent the fish to the cafeteria with Jiang Yun. After they came back, they prepared lunch.

The weather was hot, and even Gong Linglong's appetite was very poor. At noon, they stewed pork tripe soup, baked some sauerkraut pancakes, and mixed tomatoes with sugar. The three of them had a simple meal, and then took a nap at home in the afternoon.

Jiang Yun went to work as usual on Monday. She went to the post office to send a telegram. After breakfast, she went to the city early with Gong Linglong.

Bai Shuixian was busy with housework at home. After she was done, she closed the door and translated medical books in the study. She did not go out to chat with other neighbors.

“Knock, knock… knock, knock…”

At about ten o'clock, someone suddenly knocked on the door outside. Bai Shuixian had to put down the pen in her hand immediately and got up to open the door.

When the door opened, she saw Political Commissar Zhao standing outside, along with a group of cadres in military uniforms. All of them looked solemn. Bai Shuixian hurriedly asked, "Political Commissar Zhao, what happened?"

"Comrade Bai, we've just received an anonymous report that Deputy Commander Lu has banned books hidden in his home. We hope you'll cooperate with our investigation."

Political Commissar Zhao's face didn't look very good at this time, and there was worry in the depths of his eyes, but they had received a report and had to conduct an investigation according to normal procedures.

Banned book?

When Bai Shuixian heard this, she guessed that it was the English book she was translating and nodded, "Okay, how can I cooperate?"

Seeing that she looked calm and not panicked at all, the worry in Political Commissar Zhao's eyes gradually faded. He pointed inside the house and said, "Comrade Bai, we need to go inside to search. Please wait outside. We will ask you questions after we finish the search."

"Okay, please feel free to do as you please." Bai Shuixian cooperated and walked out.

There was a lot of noise here, and the neighbors in the family compound all came over. Wang Yumiao frowned, a little worried: "Auntie Bai, are you okay?"

"Political Commissar Zhao has received an anonymous report. Let them investigate it first." Bai Shuixian looked calm and not worried at all.

The people brought by Political Commissar Zhao searched very carefully and quickly, and did not turn the house upside down. After about five minutes, they came out holding a stack of English books.

"Comrade Bai, these books were found in the study and are spread out on the desk. Are you reading them?" Political Commissar Zhao strode over and asked her with a frown on his face.

"Yes, I am reading it. It's an English medical book." Bai Shuixian answered calmly.

"hiss!"

When they heard that it was an English book, the military families who were watching the fun behind them collectively gasped and their faces changed.

"Oh my god, Comrade Bai Shuixian, you actually read banned foreign books at home. You are so bold! Your behavior is like, like a spy..."

Someone shouted loudly from behind the crowd. Bai Shuixian turned around calmly and saw that it was Aunt Jiao who spoke. She looked at her deeply and said, "Aunt Jiao, Political Commissar Zhao's investigation has just begun and he's only asked one question, but you're so eager to convict me. That's a bit too aggressive."

Just now, when Political Commissar Zhao and his men were searching, Bai Shuixian stood at the door and thought carefully, and had a guess about the person who made the anonymous report.

Yesterday, only Chen Ying, Wang Yumiao and Liao Qiuhua came to her house. The latter two sat at the table and helped her pick peppers. They did not walk around the room until they left. Only Chen Ying might have walked around the house.

She had only suspected the target, but now that Aunt Jiao spoke, she was basically certain.

Now everyone's eyes fell on Aunt Jiao. Even Political Commissar Zhao looked at her with scrutiny, but did not say anything.

"Political Commissar Zhao, please continue your investigation. I was just surprised when I heard that it was a foreign language book, so I talked nonsense. You guys continue with your work." Aunt Jiao smiled embarrassedly.

Bai Shuixian's cold eyes moved away from her and quickly slid across Chen Ying. Seeing her lips pursed unnaturally, she had a better idea in her mind.

She took out a bunch of keys from her pocket and handed them to the clerk next to Political Commissar Zhao. She said calmly, "Political Commissar Zhao, leaders, these foreign books are mine. As for why I'm reading these English books, please use your keys to open the drawer of the left bedroom wardrobe. There's a small aluminum box with my legal documents and information inside. Take it and verify it."

Political Commissar Zhao nodded, asked the person next to him to take the key and get something, and ordered: "Bring it out."

Jiang Yaping and others nearby saw that she was not nervous or worried at all, and remained calm and composed in the face of difficulties. They all admired her composure and felt relieved.