Chapter 21 Indirect Support
Taicheng, Beiqiang Street.
In late October, the autumn wind was chilly in Taicheng. After two days of rain, the sun finally peeked out from behind the clouds.
"You'll get what's coming to you today for drinking so much yesterday!"
Whether it was because she had some oil in her stomach or not, Xu Cuihua felt much better when she woke up in the morning. She rummaged through her drawers and cupboards to take out her shoes, which had been soaked and stained by the flood, and washed them.
On the contrary, Chen Shu drank too much yesterday because he was in a good mood. He vomited several times last night and was so weak in the morning that he couldn't even get out of bed.
"I'm happy." Chen Shu's weak voice came through the window, as if he was still immersed in the afterglow of yesterday: "Our daughter has made something of herself, aren't you happy!"
"Happy? Of course I'm happy."
"How many ambitious men in Chang'an, despite all their scheming and plotting, cannot compare to you..."
Xu Cuihua couldn't shake her habit of reciting a couple of lines of poetry whenever she felt inspired. Too lazy to pay attention to her husband, she rolled up her sleeves and went to the side room to fetch a ladder to repair the tiles.
Although the foundation of the old house is solid, it has been neglected for many years, and the roof tiles of several rooms have become brittle, with many sliding off to the ground when it rains.
"I'll come and fix it this afternoon."
"You can sleep for half a day. I can handle the housework."
"I'm already timid, what if I fall down from such a height?"
"She's not that delicate..."
Bang bang bang—
Their conversation abruptly ended as someone banged loudly on the courtyard gate, shaking the dried dust on the door panel and scattering it all over the ground.
Xu Cuihua had experienced this scene many times in the past few years. Her eyes immediately turned cold, she picked up the broom by the wall and angrily opened the courtyard gate.
Reasoning with them won't work; only by throwing a tantrum and losing face can you maintain a moment of peace.
creak—
But it wasn't a troublesome neighbor coming to the courtyard gate; it was Gao Ming.
"Aunt Xu." Gao Ming scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly and gently straightened the rickety door: "I didn't control my strength. I think this door needs to be replaced."
What brings you here?
Yesterday at the dinner table, the elderly couple agreed to deliver the supplies to the supply department's guesthouse that evening, so they wouldn't trouble Gao Ming to make the trip again.
To my surprise, the person not only arrived early, but also brought a lot of things.
“Yesterday I saw that the roof of the old house was broken in many places. Since I had nothing to do today, I asked a few colleagues to help me repair the roof.”
Gao Ming took a step to the right, and Xu Cuihua then saw that there were several young men standing not far away, and several carts piled with tiles and bricks were parked by the wall.
Xu Cuihua was so moved that she didn't know what to say.
The elderly couple had endured enough indifference in the past few years, and when someone suddenly showed them such concern, their noses immediately started to sting with tears.
"What are you standing at the door for? Quickly let Xiao Gao and his colleagues come in and rest..."
"Come in and have a drink of water before you get busy." Xu Cuihua hurriedly ushered people into the courtyard, then turned around and shouted loudly at Chen Shu, who was peering out the window, "All you do is talk! Hurry up and come out to greet the guests."
Gao Ming rarely asked his brothers for help, and all the team members who came to Taicheng were eager to contribute, their enthusiasm even higher than on the day they received their paychecks.
"Captain, which house should we repair first?"
Su Weiming was particularly proactive; he was only able to get the house thanks to Gao Ming's intervention, and he had been determined to do something to repay the kindness.
The cunning fellow, who usually avoids people whenever possible, started bustling about as soon as he entered the courtyard.
"First fix the main house, then fix the sides if we have enough tiles."
Gao Ming didn't bring enough money with him on this delivery trip. The bricks and tiles he brought were bought with money pooled together by the team members. He could only prioritize repairing the houses where people lived.
"Brothers... get on the roof!"
At Su Weiming's shout, the Chen family immediately began a flurry of activity.
Gao Ming first removed the rotten gate, and after the team members carried the cart into the house, he took out a measuring tape from his bag and measured it against the gate.
Repairing walls and tiles, shoveling mud and washing floors, even the eight-immortal table in the main room was moved out to be re-washed and repaired.
Since the elderly couple couldn't help, they went to the kitchen to chop firewood, boil water, and make tea.
Just as they were busy with their work, bells rang in the alley, and two police officers rode their bicycles wobbling past each house.
"It's the police."
"What happened... Why are there police officers in our alley?"
"Could it be that someone's house was reported?"
"Let's go take a look."
The alley was unattended, and the dried mud made it particularly difficult to walk on. The two people rode their bicycles crookedly, moving slower than they could walk.
"Look, this is Chen Fentong's house."
The bicycle stopped at the gate of Chen Shu's house, and the two exchanged a few words in hushed tones.
Seeing that it wasn't their own family that was suffering, the neighbors on Beiqiang Street quickly mustered their courage and gathered at the door to watch the commotion.
Just like a few years ago when they were shouting and throwing stones into the yard with such excitement.
"Let's see how stubborn Chen Fentong is this time. We'll have to settle the score for him not letting us in to take shelter from the rain."
"The Reform Commission must have found out that Chen Fentong is a capitalist lackey."
Do you think they might be sent down to the cowshed to herd cattle?
“My husband, Lao Wu, will take up half of Chen Fentong’s house. If it weren’t for my wife Hongxia reporting him, the Chen family would still be living a capitalist life.”
The woman speaking was broad-shouldered and thick-waisted, with a pair of triangular eyes that were filled with an undisguised determination to own the courtyard.
After finishing her story, the woman proudly boasted to the others about her daughter's report from years ago, as if reporting a neighbor for many years was some kind of heroic feat.
As soon as he finished speaking, Gao Ming walked out of the courtyard, his cold gaze sweeping across the woman's face.
Just because Chen Shu was kind enough to let the female students who were going to marry according to their families prioritize their studies, he was falsely accused of having relatives who had defected to the capitalist camp.
They completely fail to appreciate kindness.
Later, a female student named Hongxia got married and had children, but was often beaten by her husband. She even turned around and blamed Chen Shulao and his wife, frequently reporting them and causing trouble for others.
As a result, the child fell into the water and drowned last year. The husband's family beat and kicked him, shouting that they wanted a divorce, but the divorce didn't happen... because Hongxia disappeared.
Some say they saw Hongxia eloping with someone in an oxcart, while others say she had actually died long ago, and her husband's family gave her family ten yuan in compensation and never looked for their daughter again.
Hongxia's biological mother, however, was only interested in seizing someone else's house.
Gao Ming had no kind words for such ungrateful neighbors.
"Company Commander Gao."
Just as everyone was gloating and waiting for the police to handcuff Chen Shu and his wife and take them away, a tall young man took off his hat and enthusiastically stepped up the stairs.
"Company Commander Gao!"
The other man's serious, frowning expression vanished the moment he saw Gao Ming. He casually tossed aside his bicycle, burst into laughter, and rushed over to hug Gao Ming.
Gao Ming became a company commander as soon as they joined the army. They went to the battlefield together, slept in trenches together, and were comrades who had shared life and death.
Later, when the army was reorganized, Gao Ming, who could have stayed in the army, took the lead in transferring to civilian work, and they were never seen again.
"Didn't I tell you to come at noon!" Gao Ming's eyes were also full of anticipation and excitement. After hugging them, he punched them hard on the shoulders a few times: "It's only been a few years, and you've already become an official!"
With a serious expression, the young man Xiao Mu wore a single star on his shoulder insignia, indicating that he was at least a captain.
"I was lucky and made a great contribution."
Xiao Mu raised his hand and ran his fingers through his short, prickly hair. Several horrific scars on his palm were testament to his epaulets.
"Xiao Mu is now the captain of our bureau's first team. Next year, when the deputy director retires, he will get an extra star on his epaulettes." Han Daqing grinned, revealing his big white teeth.
"Don't talk nonsense." Xiao Mu laughed and scolded, even when he wanted to stop Han Daqing, he waited until Han Daqing finished speaking before speaking.
When faced with superior skills, they had nothing to hide.
"Then why aren't you working harder, kid?" Gao Ming slapped Han Daqing hard on the shoulder: "Don't embarrass our company."
“Xiao Mu also has his shortcomings compared to me.” Han Daqing raised his chin and patted his chest proudly: “I’m a father now, while Xiao Mu is still single!”
"You little rascal!" Gao Ming laughed heartily.
As far as Gao Ming knew, Xiao Mu's whole family worked in Beicheng. Working in Taicheng was probably just a temporary thing, and they would eventually return to Beicheng.
As for marriage, most of the girls arranged by their families are local girls from the northern part of the city.
"Daqing and I just went out on a mission this morning, and we just happened to be passing by Beiqiang Street so we took the opportunity to patrol around."
Despite his burly appearance, Xiao Mu is more shrewd than anyone else. In just a few words, he turned his deliberate sneaking out to see Gao Ming into a job.
"Company Commander, what was the matter when you called yesterday?" Xiao Mu asked again.
Gao Ming glanced around at the still-persistent crowd against the opposite wall, his smile fading considerably: "I came here specifically to visit my partner's parents! I also wanted to fix up the leaky roof while I was at it. I was in a rush and didn't bring much money with me..."
He spoke at a measured pace, ensuring that everyone around him could hear what he was saying.
"..."
Xiao Mu had already explained the meaning to Gao Ming over the phone yesterday, so asking just now was completely unnecessary. However, Gao Ming explained it in great detail, even recounting how Chen Shu was exonerated after being reported.
“Since it has already passed the test of the Party and the State, it proves that Comrade Chen Shu is a good comrade.” Xiao Mu resumed his serious expression: “If anyone tries to cause trouble for Comrade Chen Shu again because of his class background, our Public Security Bureau will definitely deal with it seriously.”
After finishing his official business, Xiao Mu put on a smiling face again: "Company Commander, don't worry, your wife's parents are like my own uncle and aunt. I will definitely take good care of them for you."
Instead of enjoying the spectacle, people are worried about potential retaliation later.
The crowd dispersed quickly, each person walking briskly as if someone was chasing them, and soon the sound of doors slamming shut could be heard.
The gate was tightly shut... and there was absolutely no sound.
Gao Ming raised an eyebrow and chuckled, "Let's go inside and talk."
"Old Company Commander, tell us about your wife first." Xiao Mu only knew about the loan and knew nothing about Gao Ming's relationship: "If you don't tell us, I won't lend you a single penny."
“From now on, just call me by my name. I’ve been demobilized for so long, why are you still calling me company commander?”
“That won’t do. Once he’s the company commander, he’ll always be our company commander,” Han Daqing shouted.
The two were talking, but their actions of taking money and tickets out of their pockets were not hesitant at all.
"Here's the ticket. I've also arranged the hospital you're looking for." Xiao Mu handed the money and ticket to Gao Ming, glancing casually at the doorway of the house, and instantly understood the reason.
Chen Shu has to hold his glasses with one hand, which is inconvenient and will damage his eyes faster if he wears them for a long time.
Looking around the yard, Xiao Mu decided, "You take Uncle to the hospital, and Daqing and I will take care of the rest of the work in the yard."
"Old Company Commander, you can go without worry. Leave this to us." Han Daqing made a gesture as if to roll up his sleeves.
"Don't let this interfere with your work."
“It’s not a delay at all. Helping the people solve their difficulties is also part of our job,” Xiao Mu said with a smile.
"You guys... well, thank you in advance." Gao Ming smiled.
"Uncle Chen, you and the old company commander should go see your eyes first. I promise I'll fix the roof properly for you." Xiao Mu smiled, stood at attention, and saluted Chen Shu and Xu Cuihua: "I guarantee I'll complete the mission."
Xiao Mu was able to immediately call out Chen Shu's surname because Beiqiang Street was within the jurisdiction of the bureau, and the Chen couple's situation was special, so he already knew their names by heart.
Moreover, he has always respected intellectuals and has often stopped people with ulterior motives from deliberately making things difficult for him.
Gao Ming rode his bicycle to take Chen Shu to the hospital to have his eyes checked.
Seven or eight young people remained in the yard, chatting and laughing as they continued working. During this time, Xiao Mu even took the opportunity to inquire about Chen Yun's situation.
Su Weiming's eyes darted around, and he poured out a torrent of kind words, as if they were free.
Gao Ming said Chen Yun could cook, and when he said it, it sounded like he was a chef at a state-run restaurant. He even went so far as to say that he cured a patient with mild pneumonia by bringing him back from the dead.
The group was chatting animatedly on the roof when Xiao Mu's professional instincts immediately alerted him to the figures lingering outside.
"Aunt Xu, it sounds like someone is looking for you outside."
The woman in the alley looked to be in her early twenties. She had a bag tucked under her arm. She paused and looked around in front of the Chen family's house for a moment, then stamped her foot and walked towards the alley entrance, before turning back.
Perhaps startled by the lively chatter inside, he didn't dare to call out for a long time.
It wasn't until Xu Cuihua came out and her eyes met those of the young woman who happened to turn around that she timidly called out, "Auntie."
Xu Cuihua's eyes were calm, even somewhat indifferent.
"Who sent you?"
Seeing that her relatives showed no joy, Xu Cuihua's tone was cold, or perhaps more angry.
"Dad asked me to bring... to bring this."
The young woman was Xu Cuihua's niece, Xu Xingfang. She had lived in the Chen family until she was fifteen years old, and she and Chen Yun practically shared the same bed as when they grew up.
Chen Shu and his wife raised her like a daughter, and when the incident happened, she was the first to jump out and distance herself from the situation.
Xu Cuihua's second younger brother works in another province. After the incident, he did a lot of help and has asked people to bring her food, clothing and other necessities over the years.
But the younger brother's family, who lived in Taicheng, seemed to be blind and deaf, and never appeared again.
Xu Cuihua didn't care what was in the bag. She glanced coldly at Xu Xingfang, whose face was full of shame, and said, "Tell your parents to stop worrying. My Chen Yun is doing well. No matter what happens in the future, this house will never fall into their hands."
The house had been in a state of disrepair for a long time, but in the last few months, he suddenly seemed to want to mend the relationship and even offered to pay for the repairs.
Xu Cuihua could easily know what was going on in his mind.
They simply heard from others that Chen Yun had gone to a remote mountain village and would never return, so they became attached to this courtyard.
Xu Cuihua's sarcastic remarks made Xu Xingfang feel ashamed. With so many eyes watching from the rooftop, he couldn't even utter a single word in rebuttal.
“Back then, when Lao Chen and I were forced to march in the streets, you and your mother led the way in saying that you wanted to sever ties with me. How come you call me ‘Aunt’ so easily now?”
Xu Cuihua continued to sneer.
"Aunt! I...I'm also going to support the Third Front factories. I just wanted to...come and see you today."
"Um?"
After stammering for a while, Xu Xingfang finally managed to squeeze out the factory name with a wry smile: "It's Hongri Machinery Factory."
Xu Xingfang was a sales clerk at the supply and marketing cooperative, a job her parents had worked hard to buy. After only a few months, she received a notice to support the Third Front, and she was sent to the Hongri Machinery Factory where Chen Yun worked.
Back then, her parents often mocked her uncle for going to great lengths to send Chen Yun to medical school, only to find out that she ended up working in a remote mountain village.
But only a few years later, she was going too.
The thought of meeting her cousin at the factory made Xu Xingfang reluctant to go. She wrote her application many times but it was rejected. In the end, she had no choice but to bite the bullet and go.
The skilled transport team was going to rest for two days in Taicheng so that they could pick up these new employees on their way back to the factory.
"What's the point of telling me all this?" Xu Cuihua retorted coldly, "Do you want Chen Yun to be as affectionate towards you as she was when we were kids?"
"Auntie, I know I was wrong." Xu Xingfang lowered her head with a sob in her voice. Whether she shed tears or not was unknown, but her right hand was wiping away tears one after another.
A few years ago, the gentle and easy-going Xu Cuihua might have been soft-hearted, but after experiencing so much, her heart has hardened long ago.
"If you're so capable, go and tell her yourself, and see if Chen Yun will still be nice to you."
Not only would she not call her Xingfang, but Chen Yun would also never call her Xingfang like before.
"They're actually going to the Red Sun Machinery Factory." Su Weiming let out a cryptic laugh. "Brothers, come and see. Maybe we'll have to ride in one of our cars tomorrow."
No one there was stupid; they could guess the whole story from the conversation.
"It's one thing to bully someone before, but now they have the audacity to come begging for peace. Tell me, how thick-skinned can this person be!"
Su Weiming is eloquent when it comes to saying nice things, and he's equally adept at being sarcastic and sarcastic.
Xu Xingfang was timid by nature, and she didn't dare to show her anger on her face. When she looked up at the eaves, the appearance of two green spots made her even more frightened and she quickly lowered her head.
"Put your things by the door, I...I'm leaving now."
Instead of trying to repair the relationship, I ended up being humiliated.
Xu Xingfang gritted her teeth in hatred, and this time she left with tears streaming down her face.
Xu Cuihua watched Xu Xingfang's figure walk away silently, and finally just sighed softly.
Everyone worked until dark that day.
The Chen family's house was renovated and looked brand new. Even though the courtyard gate hadn't been replaced yet, Xiao Mu patted his chest and promised that he would find a carpenter to replace it as soon as he had a break.
The laughter of the young people on Beiqiang Street lingered for a long time that night.
Chen Shu and Xu Cuihua never expected that their high-profile appearance today was actually a deliberate act by Gao Ming.
After this high-profile event, their lives surprisingly settled down.
In the future, whenever a neighbor wanted to cause trouble, they would remember this day, and in the end, none of them dared to try it.
***
Supply Department parking lot.
"The four comrades who went to the Panshui County Machinery Factory, come to me for roll call."
Several young women, carrying large and small bags, gathered in front of the cadre, awaiting their upcoming journey.
A few meters away from them, there were five trucks parked in the parking lot, and several men were washing the trucks in front of them.
The brilliance lies in this.
A tall, handsome man with good looks is hard to miss.
When they gathered, many people glanced at them indifferently, and after they dispersed, they carried their things and headed towards the first truck.
"Comrade." The bolder young woman with short, shoulder-length hair spoke up shyly, placing her bag in front of the car: "Can I ride in your car later?"
The remaining three cast envious glances at them.
Xu Xingfang stood at the back, and although she didn't show it very obviously, she hoped that Gao Ming would refuse.
Gao Ming did refuse, but his reason disappointed everyone.
"Comrade, please take the back car." Gao Ming smiled gently: "The passenger in the front seat is taking something back for my girlfriend, so I reckon there won't be enough room for anyone else."
"Comrade, take our car." The team members waved and laughed from behind, "Our captain brought a lot of things for his wife, so our car is empty!"
Xu Xingfang walked towards the next car with some disappointment.
"Oh! We really ran into each other." Su Weiming leaned against the passenger door and saw Xu Xingfang walking over. He had no intention of moving aside at all: "My car is dirty. Please go to the back."
Xu Xingfang bit her lip and walked silently to the back.
One vehicle after another, until finally, driver Xiao Zhu had no more reason to push the car back, and irritably went around to the driver's seat, ignoring Xu Xingfang.
Everyone else had male colleagues to help them open doors and carry their luggage, but she was all alone, struggling to lift her luggage and stuff it into the car.
Xu Xingfang felt so wronged that she wanted to cry.
"You still have the nerve to cry? You didn't hold back when you were throwing stones back then." Xiao Zhu glanced at him sideways, full of sarcasm: "You really have the nerve to want to ride in the captain's car."
Xu Xingfang: "..."
Feeling wronged and angry, Xu Xingfang was already seething with resentment before even setting off. After climbing into the car, she sat silently in her seat and wiped away her tears.
She didn't understand why the people in the transport team disliked her so much. Could it be that Chen Yun was so popular in the factory?
She didn't stay sad for long before she found out the reason.
Xu Xingfang saw Chen Shu and Xu Cuihua in front of Gao Ming's car.
They walked straight to Gao Ming with Uncle Luo and handed him the things they were carrying.
Her uncle was wearing new clothes, his previously messy hair was now neatly combed, and he had new glasses. The silver pen in his breast pocket reminded Xu Xingfang of her childhood.
When she was a child, her family was so poor that they often couldn't afford to eat, so her parents sent her to live with her aunt.
My aunt's family only has one child, my cousin always wears new clothes, and my uncle often brings snacks home.
It would be a lie to say she wasn't jealous. Xu Xingfang even fantasized that if her family were doing well, her parents wouldn't have sent her to live with her uncle.
Her parents came to take her away as soon as her uncle got into trouble. In order to protect themselves, they had to take the lead in disowning her and participating in the criticism and struggle sessions.
Xu Xingfang felt a little ashamed and regretful, and later she wanted to secretly help her aunt.
But it remained just an idea for years, and I never actually put it into action until... yesterday when my mother urged me to deliver the millet cakes.
My cousin went to a remote mountain village, while she stayed in the city and became a sought-after saleswoman at a supply and marketing cooperative.
The joy was short-lived, but now they've followed in Chen Yun's footsteps.
"Brother Su, your wife's parents are here to deliver some things. Should we go down and say hello?"
The memory abruptly ended, and Xu Xingfang felt a thunderclap in her mind. She turned to look at Xiao Zhu, who was sticking her head out to speak, in disbelief.
"No need, let the captain and the uncles and aunts have a good chat."
At the front of the car, Xu Cuihua handed the cotton shoes she had made overnight to Gao Ming and urged, "Try them on. If they don't fit, I'll make two more pairs and send them to you."
"These shoes are definitely big enough..."
"Your Uncle Luo also brought something for Chen Yun..."
Despite saying that, Gao Ming still obediently put it on and tried it on. His tall figure squatted on the ground, his eyes narrowed into slits as he laughed.
"The captain has been smiling more often since he started dating his wife."
Xiao Zhu seemed to be talking to himself casually, but he was actually watching Xu Xingfang's expression out of the corner of his eye.
After the initial surprise, his expression turned even uglier, and he even dug marks out of the bag with his fingers.
He looks like a decent human being, but he does nothing but despicable things.
Serves you right!
Xiao Zhu thought to himself with a happy smile.
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