Chapter 38 Trivial Matters
The interrogation initially went very poorly.
Luo Jianguo denied participating in the gambling, saying he was drunk and was taken there by someone. As for stealing from the car, he had no knowledge of it at all.
After waking up, Cao Qin refused to admit to participating in the car abduction, and only said that she and Zhou Xinfang were passing by on their way back from watching a video in Huangniba Commune. She even specifically mentioned the illegal video parlor located in the commune alley.
Zhou Xinfang's testimony was completely consistent with Cao Qin's; the two even clearly stated where the video arcade was located.
It was obvious from their conversation that the three had coordinated their statements in private. Captain Liu from the county public security bureau suggested taking them back to the police station and slowly wearing them down, until someone would eventually give in and confess.
Gao Ming felt that the key to breaking through these three people lay with Tang Junjie.
Therefore, with Captain Liu's personal authorization, Gao Ming participated in the interrogation of Tang Junjie.
Tang Junjie is a bastard, but he really likes Hu Yue'e.
Gao Ming used Hu Yue'e as a breakthrough point, which prompted Tang Junjie to quickly confess that he was coerced by Cao Qin into participating in the theft of goods from a car, as well as how he obtained information from Zhou Xinfang and then passed it on to Luo Jianguo, and a series of other details.
They not only stole vehicles from the Hongri Machinery Factory, but also from several other Third Front factories located near the Huangniba Commune.
After obtaining the intelligence, Gao Ming interrogated Zhou Xinfang, first repeating Tang Junjie's confession and then inadvertently revealing that the money she received was actually less than one-twentieth.
Of course... the claim of unequal distribution of spoils was just Gao Ming's wild fabrication.
"How do you know that Zhou Xinfang cares most about money?" Chen Yun asked curiously.
Gao Ming chuckled: "You can't even afford to buy yourself a decent pair of shoes when you've received so much money. You must value money very much."
Upon careful recollection, Chen Yun realized that Zhou Xinfang was indeed very frugal, seemingly because she had a family in Taicheng waiting for her to support them.
“As long as Zhou Xinfang was willing to speak, Luo Jianguo would vomit everything out if he was even slightly frightened. You didn’t expect that, did you? The most stubborn person is Cao Qin.”
Cao Qin surprised Chen Yun by raising her eyebrows time and time again.
I thought they would only resort to underhanded tactics, but I never imagined they could use threats and mind control to such a terrifying degree.
Luo Jianguo was terrified of Cao Qin; it was a deep-seated fear.
Even with all the evidence laid out before her, Cao Qin remained stubborn and refused to admit that she was the mastermind, instead pushing all the blame onto Luo Jianguo.
Luo Jianguo overheard Cao Qin denying everything, but then confessing to something only the two of them knew.
The source of the stolen goods was an employee of the county's Material Supply Bureau, who... was Cao Qin's cousin.
At this point, the whole truth about the series of events came to light.
"You can also conduct interrogations?"
The series of interrogation methods Gao Ming used were a typical interrogation technique of breaking down the enemy one by one.
“Back in the army, I interrogated a traitor with the regimental commander and learned a little bit.” Gao Ming laughed, his short hair brushing against Chen Yun’s arm. “Let’s sleep a little longer. We have to drive all night tonight.”
"Go to sleep."
The breathing sounds coming from her abdomen gradually became shallower. Chen Yun moved Gao Ming's head onto the pillow and quietly closed the door.
After Yang Juhua's commotion, my drowsiness had vanished.
It takes more than ten hours to drive from the factory to the provincial capital. Most of the way is in the wilderness with nowhere to eat. When the convoy runs to the county town, they usually just bring two dry biscuits to eat.
Chen Yun wanted to prepare a hearty meal for them before they set off.
He went downstairs, used the key to open the desk drawer, and took out two meat coupons from the tin biscuit box.
The afternoon sun was scorching and bright. The light was reflected off the river and shone directly onto the front door of Chen Yun's house. As soon as she stepped out, the light was so bright that she couldn't open her eyes.
It would be great if we could put up a sunshade at the entrance.
The sun was so strong that it was as if a mirror had been placed at the doorway, and on rainy days, the raindrops dripped from the eaves and hit the threshold. If the rain was even slightly heavy, they would all drip into the house.
We need to build a rain shelter or extend the eaves further outward before the rainy season arrives.
"What are you looking at, Miss Chen?"
Grandma Ma was sitting at her doorstep twisting straw ropes. A few days ago, she had given Chen Yun two straw stools that every household in her village made. They were quite breathable and comfortable to sit on.
"I'm thinking of getting the tiles fixed when I get back from the provincial capital, otherwise all the rain will flow into the house when the rainy season comes."
“I was just talking about this with Zhigang yesterday. You said that when Guixiang is in confinement after giving birth, it will be the rainy season. Shouldn’t we replace the roof tiles?”
The blue tiles on the roof have never been replaced since they were moved in. Old Ma noticed that the tiles on the overhanging eaves were a bit sandy. If there was a heavy rain, the tiles might fall off and leak. Yesterday, she was discussing with Ma Zhigang about replacing them while the weather was good.
Old Lady Ma had a far-sighted perspective than most educated city women. She would never focus on the immediate future to save a pittance. The more Chen Yun spent with her, the more she liked this old lady.
“Auntie, you can have yours replaced first. When I come back from the provincial capital, I’m also planning to find a tiler to replace a batch of new tiles.” Chen Yun turned and pointed to the eaves, which were almost the same size as the walls: “I also want to find someone to add two beams to make the eaves look a bit bigger, and raise the threshold a bit.”
Last year during the rainy season, Chen Yun was not yet married. She still vividly remembers the scene of rainwater constantly seeping into the house through the cracks in the window. She heard that in the low-lying areas of the factory, the water was up to her calves.
They live in an area at the foot of the mountain, which is extremely low-lying and is guaranteed to flood during the rainy season.
If Yang Juhua were here, she would definitely tell her that last year the water was above her ankles, and the river rose to the bottom of the bridge, almost overflowing.
“We’ll repair our house together then,” Old Ma said through gritted teeth. “My Guixiang can’t take any more damage right now.”
"Want to go grocery shopping together, ma'am?"
Chen Yun closed the door and took a vegetable basket from the wall and carried it in her hand.
"That's really strange." Old Ma patted the bits of grass off her pants, stood up, and tiptoed to take down a small bamboo basket. "I see Comrade Xiao Gao carrying a basket to buy vegetables every day, and it's a little unusual to see you carrying one now and then."
“We can’t let Gao Ming do everything. Even when I’m not busy with work, I still have to cook and do laundry,” Chen Yun said with a smile.
Saying you won't cook or do laundry before marriage is just a joke. If couples don't understand and care for each other, problems will inevitably arise over time.
Even if... you are as beautiful as a fairy descended from heaven, it doesn't matter.
In her past life, Chen Yun's parents taught her the basic principles of how couples should get along. Unfortunately, her parents failed to see the root of the problem and thought she had simply met the wrong person.
So they both remarried quickly, but their lives were still a mess. Every time I called Chen Yun, all I heard were their complaints about their marriage.
"That's the right way to think!" Old Ma nodded with a smile. "Nobody is born to serve others. Even if Xiao Gao is easy to talk to, you can't expect him to do everything for you. Why don't you think..."
He tilted his head and gestured towards Zheng Wen's house, his disdain undisguised.
"Why haven't I seen Song Shiwei go out lately?"
Chen Yun still felt strange when Zheng Wenjia was mentioned.
Since that incident at the hospital last year, Chen Yun has rarely seen Song Shiwei leave the house. The beautiful chrysanthemums at the door have long since dried up and turned a scorched yellow.
If it weren't for the lights on New Year's Eve, Chen Yun would have thought no one lived in the house.
"She's too scared to come out!" Old Ma pouted and whispered to Chen Yun when no one was around. "She got bruised all over and is too embarrassed to go out."
"Did Zheng Wen take the call?"
“The couple was fighting each other. This morning when Zheng Wen went to work, I saw that he had quite a few wounds on his arms.”
Old Mrs. Ma is getting old and has difficulty sleeping. Sometimes she has back pain in the middle of the night and will go to the door to walk around. The night before last, she went out and saw Zheng Wen and Song Shiwei fighting in the house.
The two were quite concerned about their image; they fought without saying a word, and if the doors and windows hadn't been left open, no one would have known they were fighting inside.
"Don't let Xiao Song's appearance fool you; she's just as good a fighter as Zheng Wen. My old man even said Zheng Wen was a soldier, but I... don't think so!"
"Does the old lady know why they're fighting?" Chen Yun asked curiously.
"Nobody in our area is on good terms with them, how would we know!"
"That's true."
Both of them valued their reputation more than their lives, and they would never mention fighting in front of outsiders. They would rather wear long sleeves to work every day than admit that they had been beaten.
Chen Yun had nothing to say about this.
As we walked, the vegetable market came into view.
"There are quite a few new dishes today, what are you planning to buy, Miss Chen?"
"Buy some cold dishes to take on the road tonight."
Chen Yun's gaze swept across the counter, noticing a small mountain of lettuce piled up in the corner, and she made a decision.
The weather in Panshui County ensures abundant produce, with a much wider variety of vegetables than in the north, so there has never been a rush to buy vegetables at the factory's vegetable stand.
Just as I was about to walk over, my arm was suddenly grabbed by Old Lady Ma.
"Buy meat first."
The man with the triangular eyes was blinking frantically, making Chen Yun almost burst out laughing. If he kept blinking like that, he'd probably get a cramp.
"Let's buy the meat first!"
Chen Yun smiled and turned to the meat stall at the far end of the vegetable market. After passing a basin of carp that had long since turned belly up, the few pieces of pork on the meat stall hung on hooks, attracting flies.
"Go away, go away." The saleswoman waved a towel to shoo away the flies, glancing at Chen Yun out of the corner of her eye as she said weakly, "There are only two front leg meats left, and this one has already been reserved."
The male sales clerk patted the meat with the back of his knife, almost pointing his nostrils at the two men.
The two front leg meats were so dark they were almost purple, while the one next to them that had been reserved was bright red. Anyone with a discerning eye could tell they weren't from the same batch.
"How do I make a reservation? I'll book in advance next time too."
Chen Yun had no other intentions; she was simply asking sincerely about her plans to host a small dinner party at home in a few days after returning from the provincial capital to invite Su Weiming's family, who had come to the provincial capital to help move the sofa.
"If you want to buy fresh meat, come and line up early in the morning. You still want to save it..." A disdainful look swept over Chen Yun from head to toe: "Does she think she's some kind of capitalist rich girl!"
"You clearly said someone else reserved this meat first, and now you're denying your own words!" Old Ma slammed her hand on the chopping board in anger. "You may have sores on your tongue, but we don't have sores on our ears."
"Who can prove I said those things? Watch your mouth, old lady." The male sales clerk shoved the knife into the counter, glaring menacingly at Old Lady Ma, his words dripping with threat.
Before Ma Laoniang could retort, Chen Yun suddenly tugged at her arm and shook her head.
"Comrade, I want to buy this piece of meat." Chen Yun smiled and took out meat coupons from his pocket: "If you don't have enough coupons, I have more. I'll take this whole piece!"
With her hand holding the ticket suspended in mid-air, Chen Yun's smile grew even gentler.
"..."
"Not for sale!"
After a long pause, the male sales clerk, his face etched with embarrassment, managed to squeeze out a dry sentence from his throat.
"Why won't you sell it?" Chen Yun asked, and seeing the salesperson about to grab the fresh meat, he quickly snatched it away and dodged: "The meat is right in front of me, why won't you sell it!"
"No sale means no sale."
"Auntie, go and call the manager of the vegetable market over to listen."
The meat was definitely reserved for a leader's family member. Selling it to Chen Yun would offend them, so the salesperson would definitely refuse to sell it to him.
After all, Chen Yun was just an ordinary employee, and it was obvious which one to choose when comparing the two options.
"Vegetable station manager, where is the manager..." Old Ma frantically called out to people everywhere.
Instead of the manager, a man named Chen Yun appeared. He was an unfamiliar face, but you could tell who he was just by his name.
"Dr. Chen?"
The middle-aged woman with short, ear-length hair was full of energy; her voice seemed to echo throughout the room.
"Who are you?"
"I am Aunt Cai Fang. I didn't see you because I was working overtime the day Gao Ming and you came to deliver wedding candy."
"Hello, Aunt Cai."
Cai Fang, the wife of Liu Congwu, the head of the security department, often asked Gao Ming to bring things from the provincial capital. Over time, they developed a close relationship.
She and Gao Ming didn't hold a wedding banquet; they just gave some melon seeds, peanuts, and candy to their close friends and elders to share in the joy.
On the day I went to deliver the candy to Cai Fang, I found out she wasn't there. I didn't even go upstairs; I just asked a neighbor to deliver the wedding candy to her.
The eldest daughter liked Gao Ming and Cai Fang, and both of them knew it. Judging from their open and generous blessings to Chen Yun, the elderly couple must be good people.
"Are you here to buy meat?" Cai Fang asked.
"Auntie, are you here to buy meat too?"
Cai Fang smiled and nodded, then moved her gaze from the cutting board to the shelf, asking somewhat curiously, "Where did Liu Congwu from the security department put the meat he left behind?"
"..."
Chen Yun glanced at the saleswoman's stunned face with a half-smile, then picked up the meat: "Auntie, is this the one?"
“Yes, yes, this is it.” Cai Fang recognized the mark on the skin at a glance: “I didn’t plan to buy meat this morning, but the meat looked quite fresh... so I asked Chef Jiang to save a piece for me.”
Chen Yun smiled and handed over the meat.
"aunt."
They also called Old Ma back.
"Dr. Chen is also planning to buy meat?" Cai Fang noticed Chen Yun standing in front of the meat stall and quickly introduced him to the male salesman with a smile: "Old Jiang, this is Dr. Chen from our factory's staff hospital."
The saleswoman surnamed Jiang's expression turned truly ugly at this point, her Adam's apple bobbing up and down, but she didn't know how to make amends.
Unfortunately, Cai Fang was completely oblivious, and after removing the hook from the meat, she continued talking enthusiastically: "Old Jiang, hasn't your wife been coughing a lot lately... Go to the hospital and see Dr. Chen."
Chen Yun smiled at the sales clerk.
"Dr. Chen, shall I share half of the meat with you?" Cai Fang suddenly suggested.
"No need, there won't be enough to eat if we divide it up further." Chen Yun waved her hand: "Then Auntie, you keep an eye on things. I'll head back now."
"See you later."
Cai Fang still couldn't bring herself to say something like "come to my house." She wondered what her eldest daughter would do if she were home.
Polite words can't be said anytime, anywhere...
"Who was looking for the manager just now?"
The vegetable market manager arrived late, glanced at Chen Yun as she passed by, and continued walking inside.
"Let's just leave it at that!"
"Forget it!" Chen Yun smiled and switched the basket to the other hand. "If we make a scene, how will Aunt Cai face anyone?"
"You're right. We're all acquaintances from the same factory; we can't afford to fall out over a piece of meat."
Ma's mother discovered that although Chen Yun was young, he was very measured in his actions and not the kind of person who would act recklessly when he got angry.
What do they call this in the brigade again... a cultured person!
Chen Yun was a cultured person.
"Does the old lady have any good places to buy groceries?"
What just happened was just a minor incident for Chen Yun. Judging from Old Ma's steps, she knew that she was definitely going to the vegetable market.
"The lettuce at the vegetable market is so old it's already flowering, why would I buy it?"
"I'm also wondering... how come there are so many vegetables left over at the vegetable market? And the meat doesn't look like it was leftover from yesterday."
As a place that provides daily necessities for tens of thousands of people, the vegetable stand has always been a bustling scene with people coming and going in Chen Yun's memory. It was never like today, with vegetables piled up like small mountains waiting for people to choose.
“I can tell you rarely buy groceries.” Old Ma whispered mysteriously in Chen Yun’s ear, “Now we buy them from the mountains… freshly picked vegetables, so tender you could squeeze water out of them.”
Old Ma led Chen Yun out of the factory gate and climbed up the mountain along the wall.
In just a few minutes, a flat area suddenly appeared in the woods.
Several men wearing straw hats were squatting on the ground; their ages were indistinguishable and their faces were not visible.
There were plenty of fresh vegetables in front of them; the red mud on the roots of the lettuce hadn't been removed, and the vibrant green bok choy was worlds apart from the old, slender leaves at the vegetable market.
How much is a bunch of cabbage?
The man held up five fingers, his voice hoarse and dry: "Five cents a bunch, twelve cents for three bunches."
Grandma Ma seemed to have come more than once, as she skillfully picked up three bunches of bok choy and tossed them into her basket.
"How much are the lettuce?" Chen Yun hurriedly searched through the crowd for the vegetables she wanted to buy. "And tomatoes! How much are the tomatoes?"
"Lettuce is one cent a piece, take your pick."
The man selling lettuce was an old man, and as soon as you got close, you could smell the aroma of dried tobacco.
"Comrade."
Suddenly, a young man appeared beside the old man, carrying a skinned rabbit: "Want a rabbit?"
"rabbit!"
The image of cold-cooked rabbit flashed before Chen Yun's eyes. What could be a more satisfying snack on such a long journey?
...Of course not!
Chen Yun didn't even bother choosing lettuce; she hurried over to ask the price.
I finally bought it for three yuan, wrapped it in leaves and put it at the bottom of the basket, then put two lettuce stalks and a few tomatoes on top.
On the way back, Chen Yun heard from Granny Ma that this vegetable market had only become known among the factory workers this year.
Most of the vegetable vendors were members of the nearby commune or family members of factory workers.
The factory's security department pretended not to know anything about this and secretly arranged for people to clear both sides of the road leading up the mountain to prevent snakes from appearing due to the dense grass.
Chen Yun hadn't seen the Reform Committee's banners and promotional activities for a long time. The once most prestigious office building was so quiet that its existence was almost forgotten.
All the signs of relaxation are actually moving in the same direction.
The day I go home to visit my parents is getting closer and closer...
***
Kun'an City.
The fog in the provincial capital in the early morning is formed by a mixture of coal ash and cooking smoke. The street near the Medical Security Bureau is lined with several rows of similarly gray brick and concrete buildings.
The walls were mottled with marks from the rain, and the slogans hanging on the utility poles had long since faded.
Chen Yun stood on the uneven cement road, idly kicking at the few clumps of wild grass that stubbornly sprouted from the cracks between the bricks.
A simple pot-mending stall has been set up at the street corner, and an old man in a blue cloth hat is squatting against the wall, slowly turning a hand-cranked grinding wheel.
A complex smell filled the air, and the coal smoke drifting from the small building formed plumes of black smoke that rose into the sky before Chen Yun's eyes.
The air was worse than in some major cities in her previous life, and the itchy feeling in her throat from the smoke made her cough.
Chen Yun looked into the gate, but Gao Ming was nowhere to be seen.
After the truck arrives at the material distribution point, it must first be registered. Then, Chen Yun takes the medicine distribution certificate to the warehouse to collect the medicine.
I'll submit the application form tomorrow morning and then load the truck onto the truck to return home tonight.
Before that, Chen Yun and Gao Ming had to take the letter of introduction to the guesthouse to check in, and then they could arrange the rest of the time themselves.
Chen Yun submitted the application form, but Gao Ming still hasn't responded after a long time.
Just as I was getting bored, the loudspeaker on the street corner utility pole suddenly blared, emitting a few crackling sounds of electricity, followed by a notice announcing an evening meeting and study session that circulated throughout the area.
"You checked into your accommodation so quickly?"
The ringing of bicycle bells grew louder as Gao Ming and Su Weiming each rode a bicycle and stopped beside Chen Yun.
"It was all taken care of a while ago. We've been listening to announcements here for half the day. Tonight, the Medical Security Bureau's family quarters will be organizing a study session on the latest documents."
Chen Yun deliberately winked, turned her bag behind her, and jumped onto the back of the bicycle.
"Sister-in-law, I know a restaurant that specializes in hand-pulled noodles. Shall we go eat there?" Su Weiming stomped his foot on the ground, pointed his thumb toward the path behind him, and said, "I'll treat you and your brother to a meal."
"Are they open so early now?"
“It’s definitely open.” Gao Ming pushed off with his leg, and the car shot forward. “The noodle shop that Su Weiming mentioned is only so-so. It’s not as good as the spicy rabbit noodles you cooked last night. They’re more effective than strong tea.”
"What noodles?" Su Weiming, who had only vaguely heard the question, hurriedly followed up and asked, "Captain, what kind of noodles are you talking about?"
Chen Yun smiled and squinted, then patted the broad back in front of him hard.
"Could it be some little secret between the couple?" Su Weiming laughed along with them.
“It’s no secret.” Chen Yun laughed, pointing at Gao Ming: “Gao Ming ate noodles that were too spicy yesterday and had to go to the toilet several times. I didn’t expect that a dignified Beicheng native like him wouldn’t know how to eat chili peppers.”
People in Beicheng are known for their love of spicy food; it's rumored that they'd rather go a day without oil than a day without spice.
Chen Yun believed this rumor and used two large spoonfuls of dried chili peppers to stir-fry the spicy rabbit cubes last night.
As a result, Gao Ming was so overwhelmed by the spiciness that he had to run to the toilet three times before cautiously pressing the accelerator to start the car.
I didn't even dare to drink water on the bus, for fear of getting diarrhea, which would be both embarrassing and upset my stomach.
Chen Yun still finds it funny when she talks about it again.
"He didn't dare to doze off on the way, for fear that he would fart if he relaxed... It's more effective than strong tea."
"Hahaha--"
Su Weiming burst into laughter at Chen Yun's meaningful look after he farted, and nearly fell off his bike while riding it crookedly.
"You brat, have you forgotten about that time you got food poisoning and soiled your pants in the county town?" Gao Ming revealed his brother's secret with a forced smile: "You almost got scolded to death by your sister-in-law when you got back, and you still have the nerve to talk about me."
"Captain," Su Weiming said, blushing as he tried to stop him.
No wonder I didn't dare drink a drop of water on the way; it turns out there was a precedent to learn from.
"You should thank that bout of diarrhea, otherwise you wouldn't have been able to marry your sister-in-law so quickly," Gao Ming said with a laugh.
Su Weiming nodded, having to admit, "My wife says I've lost all sense of shame in front of her, and if I didn't marry her, no one else would be willing to marry me."
“Your sister-in-law and I are still newlyweds, unlike you…” Gao Ming quickened his pace.
The back seat of the car was so bumpy that even the sound of my voice changed; to be honest, it was not comfortable at all.
Many years later, when Chen Yun recalled it, all she could remember was the gentle touch of the wind on her cheek.
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