He Jianian was off work today, so Wu Meili went to see him instead. She saw a piece of paper with writing on it and asked who wrote it. He Jianian said it was Song Yan's handwriting. Even though she wasn't educated, she could tell the handwriting was neat. Wu Meili was immediately jealous. After leaving the educated youth settlement, she ran into the storekeeper and was going to report to the militia captain that the cage was missing. Normally, if the brigade captain wasn't there, they should go to the secretary, but their brigade had never had a secretary. Wu Meili wanted to pin the blame on Song Yan to teach her a lesson. She knew her father wouldn't allow it when he returned, so she took advantage of his absence to force Cheng Yousuo to search Song Yan's house, scold her, and embarrass her. Unexpectedly, Cheng Yousuo refused to go. She really went along with it. She thought Cheng Yousuo was afraid of her father and wouldn't dare say anything. So she made up a story without any scruples.
Wu Meili was stunned. How was she supposed to face people now? "No, no, it's not like that," she stammered, her voice weak and unconvincing.
It's easy to tell who's telling the truth and who's lying.
Everyone had finished work. There were over a hundred people, including militiamen and onlookers. Apart from Cheng Yousuo's wife, who cried loudly, no one else made a sound.
Wu Changsheng felt like he was about to have a stroke. But he couldn't collapse. "Disperse! Militia disperse! Everyone else disperse!" They did indeed retreat, but they didn't leave. The excitement today was too great, too captivating!
"Disperse, disperse! Those who stay will be served food!" Accountant Li De stepped forward. Most of the men had left, but a few nosy old women remained. Li De didn't dare to force them to leave. Women were not to be trifled with; Cheng Yousuo's wife was still crying!
"Disperse, disperse, go home and look after your own children!" the women's director said. Women should manage women's affairs.
The villagers had all dispersed. All the officials from Qingshan Brigade were here. Brigade Leader Wu waved his hand and said, "Aiguo, let's go into your house and talk!" He entered Wei Aiguo's house without waiting for Wei Aiguo's consent.
Aunt Wei overheard the whole thing from inside the house, and upon seeing Captain Wu, she immediately said, "Captain, my wife didn't steal the brigade's cage. I've seen that cage; it's not something one person could carry. I know my son; he would never do such a thing."
The brigade leader waved his hand to stop Aunt Wei from speaking, "Sister-in-law, it's my fault for not raising my daughter well, it has nothing to do with your family." He had figured out what to do, but it was difficult to swallow his pride.
Wei Ping and Wei An ran to Song Yan's side, each taking one of her hands.
The brigade leader thought highly of Wei Aiguo, believing he had potential. He wanted to marry his daughter to her, but both his wife and daughter disagreed, so the matter was dropped. Song Yan, putting aside everything else, had just seen the article she wrote; she must be quite capable. The fact that these two children were so close to her showed she knew how to handle things. Aunt Wei and Wei Aiguo genuinely loved these two children; to gain a foothold in this family, she had to win them over first. They had to spend money raising children who weren't their own, and with everyone poor these days, were two children so easy to raise? Song Yan was willing to tolerate it. Compared to what she was raising...
"Wu Meili, do you think you did something wrong today?" The captain asked this question in his capacity as captain.
"Dad! Dad!" Wu Meili moved closer to her father and tried to tug at his sleeve.
Sigh! Wu Meili still hasn't grasped the situation! He Jianian has chosen such an idiot.
"Since Comrade Wu Meili doesn't realize her mistake, Captain Cheng, let's send her to the commune!" the brigade leader said, rubbing his head. If Meili can now understand and immediately humble herself to admit her error, things will be much easier. Look at her, she still thinks she's at home!
"No way! If you dare send my daughter away, I'll kill myself!" the captain's wife threatened.
"The river has no cover, and you have a rope at home. Which do you choose? If you don't want to choose, go back to your parents' house right now!" The brigade leader spoke with a serious, businesslike attitude.
"I raised my children, and now you want to kick me out," the team leader's wife said, looking incredulous.
The team leader's eldest son, Wu Dayong, and his wife, Liu Xiaoli, entered the house and heard their father telling their mother that she either had to die or go back to her parents' home. "Dad, don't you want my mother anymore?"
"Son, your father is a heartless scoundrel. How can I face anyone?" Having just been beaten, and now being sent back to her parents' home, the team leader's wife truly felt ashamed.
The brigade leader didn't want to get entangled. "Captain Cheng, have someone take Meili to the commune."
Wu Meili was terrified when her father got serious. "Brother, brother, save me!"
Wu Dayong had already heard the gist of the matter and thought it was just a matter of an apology. He figured that since the Wei family had relented, his father wouldn't hold a grudge. The problem lay with Aiguo. "Wei Aiguo, what do you want? It's just that my sister offended you, isn't an apology enough?"
Wei Aiguo also had a temper. "No way."
Wu Dayong was quite respected in the brigade because his father was the brigade leader and he never abused his power. Aiguo's tone angered him. He pointed at Wei Aiguo and said, "Are you looking for a beating?" Actually, he was just saying it casually.
Wei Aiguo stepped forward, and Wu Dayong couldn't very well back down. He grabbed Wei Aiguo by the collar, "Hey! You still have the nerve to talk back..."
"You started it, and I'm not going to let you get away with it?" Before anyone could see how Wei Aiguo made his move, Wu Dayong was thrown to the ground.
Liu Xiaoli was furious. From what she'd heard, she knew Wu Meili had started the trouble. This sister-in-law was always the boss at home, and her three sisters-in-law had suffered a lot because of her. Her husband always told her she was young and needed to be given in. They spoiled her, and now she was lawless outside. Her family could tolerate her, but could outsiders? Wei Aiguo was invincible in the village; her husband was asking for a beating. But she still had to protect her husband.
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