Before Jiang Linchuan could persuade her again, Xu Xinghe had already turned and run towards the place where the villagers were gathered.
The first person she contacted was Aunt Zhang, who was the person she knew best in Hongqi Village.
Every time Aunt Zhang saw her, she would warmly call her Fuxing. Before, she would always shove her little grandson in her arms into Fuxing's arms. The two were really familiar with each other.
"Aunt Zhang, it's been a long time." Xu Xinghe greeted her with a smile.
As soon as Aunt Zhang saw her, her face immediately lit up with a smile. "That's right! The last time I saw you was when we were dealing with the educated youth issue! I heard you're getting your marriage certificate with Commander Jiang? That's wonderful news!"
Xu Xinghe smiled helplessly and pulled her to a less crowded corner. "Don't even mention it. We were supposed to get our marriage certificate today, but then this Er Laizi thing happened, and now we can't leave at all."
Aunt Zhang frowned immediately. "Why can't we get it yet? Don't we know what kind of person Commander Jiang is? He's done so many good things for us ordinary people. If he really wanted something, he would have taken it years ago. Why wait until now!"
“That’s true, but there’s no evidence.” Xu Xinghe looked troubled and gently shook Aunt Zhang’s hand. “Auntie, to be honest, the situation is really difficult right now. Regardless of whether Lin Chuan is innocent or not, the higher-ups will definitely investigate him. If they can’t find any evidence to prove his innocence, he might be suspended from his post, or even have to leave the military… I’ll have to go with him then, and I’m afraid I won’t be able to see you again.”
"What? It's that serious?" Aunt Zhang was startled. As an ordinary rural woman, she didn't know anything about the rules of the military. She thought that if everyone trusted Jiang Linchuan, the matter would be over.
Jiang Linchuan was able to become a commander at such a young age not only because he was daring, adventurous, and willing to risk his life, but more importantly because he was willing to do practical things for the people.
During last year's snowstorm, he led people to shovel snow from house to house and repair roofs. When the village wells froze, he found tools to help break the ice.
If such a good official leaves, who knows if the next one will treat everyone sincerely?
“Sigh, that’s how the military operates. If you get involved in something like this, you have to investigate it thoroughly.” Xu Xinghe leaned closer and softened her voice. “Auntie, did you see any strange people or things today? Please help me and Lin Chuan out, thank you.”
"You child, why are you being so polite with me!" Aunt Zhang patted her hand, her tone urgent. "You and Commander Jiang have helped our village so much, how could we not help with this little bit? But I was at home feeding the pigs and tidying up the yard early this morning, I didn't go out until I heard the fire fighting."
She paused, then her eyes lit up. "Oh, right, my son went out to play with his friends this morning. Maybe he saw something. I'll go ask him right now!"
Aunt Zhang ran over to find her youngest son, but was stopped by Uncle Zhang, who was watching the commotion.
Uncle Zhang's face darkened. "Why are you meddling? This is Er Laizi's business with the military. What does it have to do with us? What if our son really saw something? Do you want him to testify? Don't make trouble for yourself!"
"What's wrong with testifying?" Aunt Zhang glared at her husband, her voice rising a little. "Xinghe came to us for help, how can we not help? Have you forgotten who gave you frostbite ointment during last year's snowstorm? Who braved the snow to help us repair the collapsed chicken coop? If you're going to be that ungrateful person, then don't live with me anymore!"
She pulled her youngest son, who was hiding nearby, over. He was her fourth son, only twelve years old, just a few years older than her grandson. "Son, we can't be like your father. We have to be upright people! We don't care about outsiders' business, but if our benefactor wants to help, we have to! There's nothing to be afraid of. Even if we have to testify, the military will protect us. No one will dare to bully us, understand?"
The younger son nodded vigorously, "I heard you, but Mom, I didn't pass by Erlaizi's house, so I don't know what happened. But Erdan's house is nearby, he must have gone out this morning, I'll go find him and ask!"
"Go on, hurry up." Aunt Zhang waved her hand.
Uncle Zhang watched his son's retreating figure, his face ashen. "How could I have married such a troublemaker? Wouldn't it have been better to live a peaceful life? Why did you have to get involved in all this mess!"
"You don't know anything!" Aunt Zhang was too lazy to argue with him. "You coward! I must have been blind to have fallen for you!"
She turned to find Xu Xinghe, her expression instantly changing to a warm tone, "Xinghe, don't worry, my son went to ask Erdan. Even if Erdan doesn't know, we can always find out by asking others. By the way, you probably haven't had breakfast yet, right? Come on, let's go to my house and have a bowl of hot porridge to warm ourselves up!"
Xu Xinghe was indeed feeling a bit cold standing there. Although it was springtime, the north wind still felt like knives on her face.
She had just troubled Aunt Zhang, so she couldn't refuse and followed her home.
As soon as you enter the courtyard and step into the main room where firewood is burning, warmth instantly envelops your entire body.
Aunt Zhang made her a cup of piping hot brown sugar water and brought over a plate of fried peanuts. "Sigh, it's been so many years since our village has had something like this. That lazybones is a real handful, all he does is gamble and drink all day, he never cares about his father's life or death. His father's health has been ruined for a long time, even without today's incident, he probably wouldn't have lasted much longer."
Xu Xinghe took the opportunity to ask about the reputation of Er Laizi and his son in the village, and Aunt Zhang opened up and poured out everything she knew.
Everyone knows clearly who borrowed money from Erlaizi and never paid it back, and whose chickens he stole.
The two chatted for a short while before the younger son came running back, panting, "Mom, Erdan said he didn't see anyone special this morning."
"Then go ask Little Stone at the east end and Niu Niu at the west end, ask them house by house."
The youngest son ran off like a gust of wind again.
Xu Xinghe, holding a cup of brown sugar water, lowered her voice and asked, "Aunt Zhang, if Erlaizi's father didn't commit suicide but was murdered, who in the village do you think is most likely to do it?"
"Oh dear, you can't just say things like that!" Aunt Zhang waved her hand in fright and retorted without thinking, "Even if there are conflicts among the people in our village, at most we'll have a few words to argue or a fight. Nobody would dare to do something as despicable as murder!"
Xu Xinghe had expected her to say that, after all, Hongqi Village had never had such a thing happen before in all these years.
"Have any outsiders come to the village recently? They're either educated youth or unfamiliar faces."
Perhaps it was Jiang Linchuan's enemies outside who secretly came and orchestrated all of this.
Aunt Zhang frowned and thought for a moment, then shook her head. "What outsiders are there? Besides the few educated youths at the educated youth settlement, there's a new teacher who recently came. His name is Shen An. He looks very polite and speaks very courteously. He doesn't seem like a bad person."
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