"You jerk. It's okay, I'll ask you to explain yourself properly and tell me what you did wrong."
Zhao Aiguo and Zhang Jianjun frightened Cui Daya from both sides. Cui Daya grinned, revealing his two big front teeth.
"Gentlemen, gentlemen, I really didn't do anything. I've been just an honest and law-abiding citizen."
"A dog can stop eating shit but it can't stop being a jerk. You're not going to confess, are you? Old Zhang, go get a basin of cold water. Wash his face and wake him up."
Zhao Aiguo said to Zhang Jianjun.
'Okay, no problem.'
Upon hearing this, Cui Daya could no longer hold back. He had been dragged out of bed and was now only wearing his underwear, with the outdoor temperature below zero.
He was already shivering from the cold. When he heard that they wanted to get cold water, he knew that these two people had no good intentions.
"No, please, you two. We have no past grudges or recent conflicts. I will answer whatever you ask."
Zhao Aiguo kicked Cui Daya. Cui Daya lost his balance and fell to the ground.
"You can't even stand up straight, how can I believe what you say?"
At this moment, Cui Daya was internally cursing a thousand curses, and he cursed every woman in the 18th generation of these two people in front of him. But he still smiled politely.
"My brother, it's my fault, it's my fault. I... I lost my balance. I'll answer whatever you ask, and I promise every word is the truth."
Zhao Aiguo and Zhang Jianjun exchanged a glance, knowing that this guy had become obedient now.
"What did you do last night?"
Cui Daya hesitated for a moment, then received a slap across the face. No one cares about civilized law enforcement when dealing with someone like him.
“I went to the black market last night.”
"Slap!" Cui Daya received another slap. "Do I need to remind you to keep talking?"
Cui Daya had no choice but to tell her what had happened the night before.
“Last night I went to the black market and there was a guy who was willing to exchange three jin of local grain coupons for one jin of national grain coupons. Can you believe how good this deal is? Everyone was scrambling to trade with him.”
Zhao Aiguo glared at Cui Daya, who continued, "I also traded some with him, but I only got a little over 100 jin because I had little capital."
Cui Daya glanced at the two men's expressions as he spoke, then continued, "After I finished changing, it was almost 1 a.m., and then I went to Widow Xu's house on the east side of the town!"
"Although we're not married, we have genuine feelings for each other."
Fearing suspicion, Cui Daya quickly explained.
"What feelings? Don't you know what Widow Xu does? Or do you want to be a pimp?"
Zhang Jianjun said with a disdainful look, "This Widow Xu is quite a notorious figure. She was a womanizer while her husband was alive, and later he went to the mountains to gather herbs and accidentally fell to his death."
Widow Xu thus became a notorious brothel owner in the area, frequently summoning shady characters. Cui Daya was merely one of her many patrons.
Upon hearing Zhang Jianjun's words, Cui Daya gave an awkward laugh.
"I won't pry into your private life, like what that person looks like."
Zhao Aiguo continued to ask.
"I couldn't see what he looked like because his face was covered, but he seemed to be in his 40s, rather thin, with small eyes."
Cui Daya tried hard to recall.
Zhao Aiguo and Zhang Jianjun exchanged glances. "Where are those grain coupons you exchanged? Take them out."
Hearing this, Cui Daya inwardly groaned; it seemed he couldn't keep what he had. But there was nothing he could do now; if he stayed outside any longer, he'd probably freeze into an icicle.
"It's inside, I'll go get it for you."
The two followed Cui Daya into the house. Cui Daya climbed onto the kang (a heated brick bed), and from a cabinet at the head of the kang, he took out a small package. Inside, it contained over 100 jin (50 kg) of grain coupons.
“That’s the one who gave Widow Xu 5 jin of grain coupons yesterday,” Cui Daya said hesitantly.
Zhao Aiguo and Zhang Jianjun took the grain coupons, then said to Cui Daya, "Alright, these are all stolen goods, we're taking them with us. Remember to let us know as soon as you have any news about that person."
Cui Daya's face was grim, but he still forced a smile, though it looked more like a grimace. "Don't worry, both of you. I'll tell you everything I know, and I'll come directly to you next time I see him."
Zhao Aiguo and Zhang Jianjun nodded in satisfaction and turned to leave. Cui Daya watched their retreating figures. "Pah, what a bunch of bastards, they made me lose over 100 jin (50 kg)."
But to his utter surprise, Zhao Aiguo and Zhang Jianjun, who had just left, returned.
Cui Daya trembled with fear. "I've given them both to you, there's really nothing left."
Zhao Aiguo reprimanded, "This is stolen goods, understand? Stolen goods."
Cui Daya said helplessly, "I've already handed it over to the authorities, why are you still looking for me?"
Zhao Aiguo asked, "You said that many people came to him that night to exchange their grain coupons, right?"
Cui Daya nodded, sensing something ominous.
"Well, such important news was sent out without being reported."
As Zhao Aiguo and Zhang Jianjun were talking, they were about to pull Cui Daya outside the door.
"Please, both of you, let me go," Cui Daya pleaded desperately.
Zhao Aiguo said, "Tell me, who are they?"
"Do I look like someone who would betray his friends?" Cui Daya was afraid, but betraying his colleagues would only lead to a terrible death.
"That means the price wasn't high enough. You don't need to say anything more, just kick us out. Let us stay here for ten days to two weeks first."
Cui Daya looked at the two of them, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
"But if you say all that, I can give you half back."
Zhao Aiguo waved the grain coupons in his hand.
Cui Daya was intrigued and immediately mentioned several people's nicknames. "Old Dog," "Mule," "Bald Liu"... As Zhao Aiguo kept raising the stakes, Cui Daya directly revealed six or seven of his colleagues.
"Alright, you've done a good job."
Zhao Aiguo and Zhang Jianjun nodded in satisfaction and were about to leave when Cui Daya saw this and quickly stopped them.
"The conditions that the two of you just agreed to."
"Conditions? You dare to negotiate with us? Oh, I remember now, you were just saying you'd get all this embezzled money, right? But I also remember saying you'd have to stay inside for 10 days to half a month. That hasn't been reduced, has it?"
Zhao Aiguo looked at Cui Daya with a sly grin. Cui Daya hadn't expected to run into someone even more shameless than himself. But for now, he could only swallow his pride and bear it.
"Ah, no, no, no, no, no." Cui Daya hurriedly denied it. He was already terrified by these two people and would rather lose the more than 100 jin of grain coupons.
"To admit one's mistakes and correct them is what makes a good comrade."
Zhao Aiguo patted Cui Daya on the shoulder. "You have to thank this era. If you had been born in the old society, you would have been dragged out and executed right now."
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