Xie Yan nodded obediently, like a docile little lamb, and was led by Yu Yuehui with light steps into the house.
The room was warm and cozy, and the welcoming atmosphere instantly soothed Xie Yan's weary body and mind.
"Have some soup first. You haven't eaten much in so long. Drink some to warm your stomach before you eat," Yu Yuehui said gently, her eyes full of concern.
She turned and walked to the table, picked up a soup spoon, and carefully ladled a bowl of soup from the steaming pot. Her movements were skillful and gentle. Xie Yan watched her, his chin resting on his hand, his eyes filled with endless joy.
He really likes this feeling of home; it gives him a very satisfying and grounded sense of security.
After serving the soup, Yu Yuehui gently handed the bowl to Xie Yan, saying, "Try it quickly, stop looking, aren't you hungry?"
Xie Yan picked up the bowl and said with a smile, "I'm hungry, but I can't help wanting to look at you."
Yu Yue glared at him and said, "Drink up, stop being so cheeky."
Xie Yan nodded, picked up the bowl, and drank half a bowl of soup in one gulp.
He was starving, and after drinking, he was even hungrier. He started eating without looking up, wolfing down his food like someone who hadn't eaten for days was seeing a delicacy.
Yu Yuehui felt heartbroken seeing him like this. She gently patted Xie Yan's back, her eyes full of heartache and pity, and murmured, "Eat slowly, don't choke."
After the banquet, Xie felt much better and, holding Yu Yuehui's hand, began to complain incessantly about what had happened that day. "You have no idea, the two people I picked up today were in terrible health, so weak. I was on tenterhooks the whole way, afraid they'd die on the way..."
At this point, Xie Yan suddenly stopped, a look of horror on his face, realizing that such a possibility really existed.
He immediately looked at Yu Yuehui nervously and said anxiously, "Wife, should we talk to Father and see if we can spare some leaves from the firewood for heating the kang (heated brick bed) for them?"
"It's freezing cold. The little bit of bedding they brought won't be enough to keep them warm. They might really freeze to death."
Yu Yuehui looked at Xie Yan, who was somewhat agitated, and smiled. She reached out and took Xie Yan's hand, gently comforting him, "It's alright, Father knows what to do."
Her father didn't serve as the brigade leader for so many years for nothing.
Xie Yan still looked worried, his brows furrowed.
These people are now "criminals" who have been sent down to the countryside, but their future is uncertain.
If they really died in Xiliu Village, and were later exonerated, if their children felt that the village hadn't taken good care of them and blamed the village, their father-in-law would definitely be the first to suffer!
Thinking of this, Xie Yan became even more anxious. He held Yu Yuehui's hand tightly and said urgently, "Wife, why don't you go and tell Dad? Although these people are sent down to the countryside, if something really happens to them here, it will be a real problem!"
Yu Yuehui couldn't help but smile when she saw Xie Yan's anxious expression. She gently squeezed Xie Yan's hand and said, "Don't worry, Father knows this very well."
"Don't let my dad's stern face fool you and make him seem not very smart. He's actually quite shrewd and has a lot of cunning."
"How could he not have thought of something so simple?"
"Haven't you noticed that very few people in our village go to the cowshed to beat and scold those people?"
Xie Yan looked at Yu Yuehui with a puzzled expression and asked, "Are there already people in the cowshed?"
So, it seems there are already people in the village who have been sent down to the countryside!
How come he hadn't heard of it before?
Yu Yuehui smiled and nodded.
Xie Yan suddenly realized what was going on and couldn't help but laugh, saying, "I didn't expect my father-in-law to be so capable! I always thought there was no one in the cowshed!"
Seeing Xie Yan's surprise, Yu Yuehui continued enthusiastically, "My father said that those heavy, dirty, and tiring jobs alone are enough to reform them, and there is no need to criticize and educate them further."
“That would not only waste everyone’s time, but if the trend spreads throughout the village, it would also be bad for the village.”
“The village officials in our village held several meetings about this, and finally decided to do as my father said.”
"So, apart from the team leader in charge going over to inspect the work at the cowshed in our village, no one else takes care of them."
Xie Yan nodded admiringly, but was still somewhat puzzled. He scratched his head and asked, "Won't the red armband inspectors coming down from up there say anything?"
Speaking of this, Yu Yuehui couldn't help but laugh out loud. She said with great interest, "You don't know, before you came, the red armbands came down."
“They were very dissatisfied that our village hadn’t criticized and denounced those people, and they even wanted to cause trouble for Dad.”
"As a result, my father simply handed them the sickle in his hand and said unhurriedly, 'If you want to criticize and denounce, then please have the leaders cut the wheat in this field so that we will have time to criticize and denounce.'"
As he spoke, Yu Shan also called on the others to hand the sickles to the red armband-wearing individuals.
The people in red armbands were used to being imposing, and this was the first time they had encountered such a situation. Looking at the menacing-looking people who had gathered around, they were both scared and angry. Their faces turned red with anger, and without saying a word, they turned around and left.
After witnessing the tyranny of Stream Village, the Red Armbanders rarely came over anymore.
At this point, Yu Yuehui became arrogant, "Even if they come again, we're not afraid."
Don't let the fact that our village people have different surnames and seem a bit disunited fool you; that's only true when it comes to internal affairs. When it comes to external matters, we're incredibly united!
Not to mention, my father also called a few people from each household to hold a large meeting and clearly explained to them what the consequences would be if the trend of criticism and struggle were to take hold.
To make everyone take it seriously, Dad even took the head of each household to other villages to watch the denunciation meetings.
You haven't seen it, some villages have gone crazy with their criticism and struggle sessions, they don't care whether they're from the village or not, as long as there's some grudge, they'll start making trouble.
They turned a perfectly good village into a mess, with almost every household having some kind of conflict with others.
If our village were really influenced by this trend, wouldn't it be our own people who suffer? The villagers aren't stupid; after witnessing how terrible things can be, they all went back and gave their families a good talking-to, which is why our village hasn't had those awful incidents.”
After hearing this, Xie Yan nodded again and exclaimed sincerely, "I have to say, our father is really cut out to be an official! He handled this matter so well."
Xie Yan recalled his brother-in-law's behavior earlier that day, and driven by curiosity, he leaned close to Yu Yuehui's ear and whispered, "Wife, tell me, what was my brother doing back then?"
Yu Yuehui couldn't help but laugh when she saw Xie Yan's curious look. She deliberately kept him in suspense, whetting his appetite.
Xie Yan scratched his head anxiously and urged, "Tell me quickly!"
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