The first thing the investigation team wanted to know about Xu Keke was her family background, why she had so much money, and whether it was illegally obtained.
Xu Keke took out the letter Bai Lu's uncle had written to her and explained it to the investigation team.
“My mother passed away when I was three years old. My father married his current wife the following year. My stepmother has a son who is the same age as me but a few months younger. After graduating from high school, the neighborhood committee sent a notice to our house to go to the countryside. My name was on that list. But my father talked to me and said that I was the older sister and should act like one. Although I didn’t know what it would be like after going to the countryside, I agreed without hesitation. I thought the country wouldn’t lie to me. Fortunately, I didn’t regret it after I arrived.”
This is a classic case of "a stepmother brings a stepfather." The stepson should have been sent to the countryside, but instead, the biological daughter was sent there instead. Chen Jianguo, who accompanied the investigation team, sat in the courtyard and glanced at the window of Xu Keke's room. Unfortunately, the window was decorated with paper-cut window decorations, and the curtains were drawn, so nothing could be seen.
“My mother has an older brother who has always been in the military. My uncle went to work on a farm because of some issues. Last year, the government reinstated him. However, his health was damaged, and he is now recuperating at a military sanatorium. All the money I have comes from my uncle’s remittances.”
Fortunately, Bai Lu was meticulous, and Xu Keke took out all the remittance slips she had saved and showed them to the investigation team. Each remittance was about five yuan, a large sum for rural people, but not too bad for the investigation team members who earned only a dozen yuan a month. The money was sent almost once a month, very frequently.
The teacups were all used by the investigation team members, so Ma Yuying poured half a cup of tea from an enamel mug and handed it to Chen Jianguo. The two men were stunned when they heard the calculations being made inside. Two years, five yuan a month, only 120 yuan in total. She had already lent Chen Hong eighty yuan under various pretexts, not to mention their daily expenses. This child was too honest.
Now she's given all the money back to the village. Both of them felt the matter had been handled somewhat inappropriately. After that day, their team held a meeting and decided to keep twenty yuan to buy books and a blackboard for the children, and to add some supplies to the school, once the commune approved their plan to start a primary school. The remaining money would be returned to Xu Keke privately.
But now that these educated youths had caused such a commotion, they had no say in the matter. Both of them felt somewhat guilty.
“This is a letter from my uncle. He said that no matter what, we must believe in the Party and the people. We must be down-to-earth in our work and do our duty. I work and live in Chenjia Village, and the villagers here are all very kind to me. Being with them, I have experienced the joy of labor. I don’t spend much money here, and I know that this amount of money is not much. I just want to take my money and use it where it is needed more. For example, to help the brigade build a school so that the children can have a school.”
Just when Gao Zhe and others thought that an investigation team had entered and that both Xu Keke and the brigade would be severely punished, Xu Keke, as a successful model of educated youth going to the countryside for re-education, made it into the newspaper.
Even the brigade received praise from higher authorities. Their village was recognized as a model and advanced brigade.
If Xu Keke hadn't used illness and physical discomfort as an excuse to decline, the higher-ups would have arranged for her to go to various places to give reports to the local educated youth.
When Xu Keke was sick, Xiaodouzi was the one who visited her the most.
Little Bean sat down on a small stool by her bed. He took out a White Rabbit milk candy from his pocket and placed it next to Xu Keke's pillow. "This is what my second uncle brought back for me. There are five pieces. One is for Grandpa, one for Lanhua, one for Xiumei, and this is for Aunt Bai."
As they talked, Xiaodouzi took out another candy from her pocket, lowered her head, and carefully peeled off the wrapper with her little hands, muttering to herself, "My dad said he doesn't like candy because it's too sweet."
The milky-white sugar cube was sticking out. Little Bean picked up the transparent sugar coating, put it in his mouth, and gently smacked his lips. The sugar coating instantly melted in his mouth. Little Bean smiled contentedly.
"Aunt Bai, you should have some too." Little Bean looked at her expectantly and pushed the candy closer to her.
Hearing Xu Keke say that she didn't want to eat now and would eat later, Xiaodouzi wrapped up her candy with some disappointment.
Why aren't you eating?
"I want to eat with Aunt Bai, so that I won't be tempted when you're eating."
Xu Keke was amused by the child's logic: to avoid being tempted by others eating, she endured and waited. Sometimes, children understand better than adults how to control their greed.
Xu Keke didn't let the little guy wait too long and ate the candy with him. It was very sweet; as the milky sweetness filled her mouth, Xu Keke somewhat understood Bailu's wish: to help the children in the village build a school, to tell them about the bright future, and to build their hometown together.
Yes, many of the things Xu Keke said to the investigation team reflected Bai Lu's true feelings. This woman, though deceived her entire life by a scumbag and a friend she once trusted implicitly, and having lived alone in this village for most of her life, was not lonely. Even though she harbored deep hatred and resentment towards those who had cheated her, she never forgot the warmth this village had once given her.
"Aunt Bai, my second aunt is back."
Xu Keke didn't understand. She knew this, otherwise where would White Rabbit milk candy come from?
Xiaodouzi emphasized again, "My second aunt is back, and she said she's not going to the hospital."
Xiaodouzi was very patient with Xu Keke's slowness. "My dad said that when my second aunt comes back, you can move back. My second aunt is a great cook."
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