That day was a brush with death. By the time my comrades arrived, I was already wounded and had lost too much blood to fall into a coma. I didn't wake up until the third day.
Shen Changchuan had himself carried to find his son…
Unexpectedly, the woman had already left; she had paid a dime to stay there.
The man of the house was working the night shift, and his wife was home alone. Someone wanted to stay with them and offered to pay a dime. The wife was illiterate, but seeing that the person could produce a letter of introduction, she agreed.
When Shen Changchuan went in, the woman of the house had just gone to borrow something from the neighbor.
She returned to find a child suddenly appearing, which aroused suspicion in the family. The woman staying with them explained that a relative had given her the child, and she had come to the county specifically for this child, despite already having several daughters. It just so happened that the relative had asked another relative for help, knowing that the family had many sons and that the mother had died in childbirth. One man couldn't support the infant, so the family wanted to give the child away…
Her story was inconsistent. When the woman asked to stay, she said she wanted to visit relatives in the county but couldn't find them. But that day, there were gunshots outside for a long time—it was terrifying. Everyone was too busy keeping quiet to care about anything else, and the landlord didn't want to ask any more questions; he just planned to kick her out the next day…
The woman spoke with a local accent. When she left, the landlord asked her where she was from, and she said Sanquan Commune. That's all the information I have…
Although they only met once, Shen Changchuan could remember what she looked like. He had someone draw her portrait and searched all over Sanquan Commune, but he couldn't find this woman.
Wei Aiguo was from Qingshan Commune, which was in the south and Sanquan Commune was in the north... This woman was planning to steal the child, and she deliberately gave a fake address before leaving.
Why didn't I think of that back then!
The search area was later expanded to include all the communes in Hu County, but there was still no news…
If that woman were alive, he wouldn't have let her go. His son could have continued his studies and didn't have to suffer like that…
Think about the kind of life your daughter, Shen Ruomei, is living? What kind of life is your son living?
His son with Yinghong... Yinghong left so much for her son. Yet, the son has to eat meager rations. Even after the eldest son of the Wei family died, some people in the village bullied him...
Think of his son, Shen Changchuan. He has no money to go to school, his family is destitute, some people want to bully him, and he even has difficulty finding a wife.
Why should Shen Changchuan's son suffer like this, with his father around?
Fortunately, his adoptive parents, though poor, treated him well. His adoptive father even taught him hunting skills. Fortunately, his son didn't marry a vulgar village woman. Fortunately, his son joined the army, and became an excellent soldier. Fortunately, his son has good character. He still has the opportunity to pave a broad road for his son…
Despite trying to comfort himself, Shen Changchuan's hatred remained. If he found that woman, he would want to kill the person who stole his son with his own hands…
Secretary Fang waited outside the door for two hours. There was still no sound from inside. Feeling uneasy, he knocked and went in.
Commander Shen was still holding that photo. "You've been following Song Zhiqing's situation, haven't you? How is she doing now?"
"After I became suspicious of her husband's identity, I had someone keep an eye on her. This girl is quite capable."
Because of what happened in J City, I also investigated her family's affairs. She managed to smooth things over with her uncles and aunts. Housing is so scarce, yet she still managed to secure an apartment for her parents; she's a very capable young woman.
After she shot the wolves, her life in the village improved significantly. Unlike the other impoverished educated youth.
She lives a comfortable and carefree life in the village. You probably can't even compare to her family's lifestyle.
"How could she be doing better than me?" Shen Changchuan didn't believe it.
Secretary Fang highlighted the positive aspects, such as her constant supply of fish and meat. She learned kung fu from Old Zeng and could catch rabbits with deadly accuracy. Those on government-provided rations couldn't compare! She also mailed large packages of things to Wei Aiguo.
Which of Wei Aiguo's comrades-in-arms didn't envy him?
She had a good relationship with the wife of the director of the supply and marketing cooperative, and she could buy anything the cooperative had. People thought she was reselling it. Actually, she kept it all for herself. Old Zeng and his three companions needed a lot of things.
Commander Shen did subsidize Zeng Laoqian, but his salary was limited, and that money couldn't buy that much good stuff; it was for four people to eat.
Although no evidence was found that she was selling game privately, if the money she spent wasn't from selling game, where did it come from?
Her and Wei Aiguo's prize money is still in the bank!
However, I couldn't find out how she sold them. That shows she's quite capable.
In spring, there's plenty of prey in the mountains. She catches game to exchange for coarse food, and then trades the coarse food for refined food. Old Zeng and his family are living a very comfortable life now…
General Shen knew that Secretary Fang was trying to ease his sadness by describing Song Yan's life in such a vivid way. However, he still asked a lot of questions about Wei Aiguo, and he couldn't stop even at lunchtime.
Secretary Fang is really upset. No matter how they investigate, Wei Aiguo is confirmed to be the biological son of the Wei family. It seems the leadership is convinced that he is Shen Qian.
Seeing the worried look on Secretary Fang's face, General Shen knew what he was thinking. "Perhaps it's a father's instinct, but I just feel like he's my son."
But... there's always a chance something might happen!
"Even if he isn't, given the connection between Song Yan and Lao Zeng, can't I treat him like a junior?" Commander Shen looked at the photo; it looked so much like him, how could he not be his son?
Secretary Fang: "I'll have someone investigate again to see if he's really a child of the Wei family!"
"No, no! Let's try a different approach." Commander Shen pulled open a drawer and took out a portrait of a woman. "Take this portrait to Qingshan Commune and investigate whether this person exists!"
This is a portrait of a woman who steals children.
Secretary Fang felt guilty; how could she not have thought of that! "Since Wei Aiguo lives in Qingshan Commune, the person who stole the child might also live there, and might even know the Wei family. Oh dear! Is it possible she stole the child to give to the Wei family…?"
"That's unlikely. The Wei family already had an older son! They have no reason to have another child stolen," Shen Changchuan said. However, if the final investigation results show something to do with their family, even if Shen Qian doesn't want him to retaliate, he won't let his family members, young and old, off the hook.
"I'll arrange for someone to go right away!" Secretary Fang said.
"Keep it quiet and try to avoid attracting attention. If you find this woman, investigate her thoroughly!" Commander Shen's voice was soft, but his eyes were cold.
Several spies who participated in the ambush against him were sentenced to death. Commander Shen applied to his superiors to have the executions carried out by his own hand. This was his expression at the time.
Secretary Fang understood that even if Commander Shen hadn't said anything, he wouldn't have let that woman go. He'd even eaten Yinghong's cooking before! How old was he again? His first pair of new shoes was given to him by Yinghong.
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