The scorching summer sun shone in the sky. The members of the Fourth Brigade gathered in the threshing ground. The police officers from the police station appeared on the platform and talked with the military doctor about the poisoning of Old Niu.
The villagers were surprised that there were poisonous mushrooms in Niu Lao's pot. Most of the villagers respected scholars. On the first day that Niu Lao moved into the brigade, the old masters told him about the types of mushrooms on the mountain. Uncle Lu San even took out some dried poisonous mushrooms from his home to explain.
The police came forward to talk about the progress of the case. After Mr. Niu woke up, they questioned him and he confirmed that he did not pick any poisonous mushrooms. Therefore, the police directly told the villagers that the nature of this incident was serious and there was a possibility of poisoning.
The villagers were all stunned and whispered in the audience. Since entering the village, Mr. Niu has been working with everyone, and he works more seriously than some villagers.
In his spare time, Mr. Niu also teaches children to read, which makes the villagers grateful.
"Village chief, we must find out who harmed Old Niu. We are not ungrateful people." The villagers suggested, "We must find out who harmed Old Niu."
Lu Xin looked at Lu Shiyi and Su Jin behind the crowd, and admired Lu Shiyi's suggestion to explain the matter in public and let the villagers cooperate spontaneously.
"As the village chief, I asked the police to come here to tell everyone the truth, to let everyone know the specific information, not my own half-understood misinformation," Lu Xin said publicly. "The people of the Fourth Brigade are honest and kind, and they wouldn't kill innocent people."
The villagers all agreed with Lu Xin. Everyone was thinking about competing for the outstanding team at the end of the year, and wondered whether this incident would affect the year-end selection.
Min Zhang stood on the stage and began to ask Mr. Niu about what happened on the day of the incident. Many villagers recalled and began to piece together the situation at that time.
Su Jin went down the mountain today to watch a show and find out who would attack an old man.
Lu Shiyi let Su Jin lean on him. The little girl seldom went out, and it was rare for her to be interested in walking a few more steps. Of course, he was happy to do so.
"Wife, let's go a little further back." Lu Shiyi found that some people in the crowd wanted to get out, and these people might be related to Old Niu's affairs.
Lu Shiyi held Su Jin's hand and walked to the back, away from the team. He made a few gestures towards a place not far away, and several team members disguised as villagers mixed in and approached the target that was about to move.
"Village chief, I remember that when Lu Fu's family was picking mushrooms that day, there was a poisonous mushroom. I saw it and reminded her at that time." Lu Bingniang patted her forehead and said loudly.
Lu Fu's wife stood stiffly in the team. She looked around and found that the villagers were all staring at her.
"Lu Fu's family, is what Lu Bingniang said true?" Lu Xin questioned Lu Fu's wife.
Lu Fu's wife is one of the gossipiest women in the village. She wastes the time working for the girls in the family every day. Lu Fu's wife never goes into the mountains to pick mushrooms.
"Lu Bing's mother, don't talk nonsense. When have I ever picked poisonous mushrooms?" Lu Fu's wife was pale and retorted stubbornly.
Lu Fu should go back and deal with the remaining evidence. This is the first time his family has done something against their conscience in order to get the 100 yuan.
"Have you ever gone into the mountains to pick mushrooms since your daughter Daya turned six?" Lu Bingniang sneered. "Didn't you let Daya and the other girls go into the mountains that time? You went there yourself to pick them that day."
After Lu Bingniang's reminder, several women joined in. They all saw Lu Fu's wife going into the mountains to pick mushrooms, and they were discussing whether Lu Fu's wife had a change of heart?
Daya and Erya stayed in the crowd, but there was a vicious look in Daya's eyes. Lu Fu and his wife only cared about their youngest son and didn't care about their two daughters.
Their role in the family is to take care of the family of three. When they grow up a little, the two daughters will be used as a dowry for the son.
"Daya and Erya were lazy and didn't go into the mountains that day." Lu Fu's wife's mind worked quickly. When she remembered that her two daughters did not go into the mountains, she immediately put the blame on them.
Old Niu saw that Daya and Erya were not full, so he would occasionally give them some extra food if there was something good.
Under Mr. Niu's care, Daya and Erya can not only read and write, but also occasionally have warm meals.
"Mom, didn't you tell me about the chicken stewed with mushrooms you prepared for Grandpa Niu?" Erya asked, looking confused. "My brother wanted to eat it, but you beat him up, didn't you?"
Erya's clear voice reached everyone's ears, and the police quickly identified Lu Fu and his wife.
Lu Fu's wife was waiting for Erya angrily. The two daughters were born to come to the house to collect debts.
If they worked slowly at home, Lu Fu's wife would beat or scold them. After the youngest son was born, the two older sisters had to stand aside. As long as the youngest son was not satisfied, Lu Fu and his wife would beat their daughters violently.
When the youngest son is in a bad mood, he will vent his anger by beating his older sisters.
The neighbors living near Lu Fu's home knew about the hard life the two girls had lived. They looked at Erya with concern. It was okay that Lu Fu and his wife were taken away and detained. If they were released, Daya and Erya would definitely be tortured.
"Lu Fu's family, is what Erya said true?" Lu Xin looked at Lu Fu's wife sternly. "You two love your youngest son the most. How could you not give him the chicken stewed with mushrooms?"
Lu Fu's wife trembled, because there were three poisonous mushrooms hidden in it. After Lu Fu took the money, the couple discussed how to deal with it.
Lu Fu's youngest son said that Daya once picked poisonous mushrooms and was beaten half to death by Lu Fu's wife.
The youngest son's words woke the couple up. Lu Fu's wife was worried that Daya and Erya would leak the news, so she immediately went into the mountains to pick mushrooms herself.
Lu Shiyi waved his hand, and the team members held back Lu Fu who had reached the end of the crowd.
Lu Xin looked at the commotion in the crowd and found that Lu Fu was about to leave secretly.
"Lu Fu, where are you going?" Lu Xin shouted loudly.
Lu Fu was escorted to the stage by two team members. Seeing that something was wrong, Lu Fu's wife immediately sat on the ground and burst into tears.
"I was forced to do it. Lu Fu took money and wanted to kill the old man." Lu Fu's wife didn't want to be involved, so she immediately put the blame on Lu Fu.
Lu Fu looked at his wife in surprise, because she was the one who collected the money.
"No, it was before Mom collected the money," Daya said loudly after being reminded by Erya. "My parents beat me so badly at that time that I was locked in the demolition house. I saw Mom collecting the money with my own eyes. After Mom and Dad came back, I told them about the poisonous mushrooms."
After he finished speaking, everyone looked at Lu Fu and his wife in surprise. Daya and Erya were often beaten and scolded. Everyone advised Lu Fu and his wife to be nicer to their daughters, but they had various reasons to refute.
Over time, the villagers stopped interfering.
Now, Daya and Erya pointed out the matter of Lu Fu and his wife in the crowd, and also mentioned the idea proposed by Lu Fu's youngest son.
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