Chapter 222 A Difficult Conscience
Song Lubai really didn't know where Wang Hai had gone wrong.
Seeing him being criticized and insulted by the crowd, she couldn't bear it and turned her eyes away.
Everyone must express their opinion; otherwise, it means you are the same kind of person as Wang Haiquan.
When it was Song Lubai's turn, she stammered and couldn't utter a complete sentence.
She simply couldn't bring herself to say anything bad about Wang Haiquan against her will, just like everyone else.
All eyes turned to her; her heart pounded with nervousness, and she broke out in a cold sweat.
Looking at the expressions of doubt, indifference, or amusement around her, she knew that if she didn't say something, she would end up like Wang Haiquan.
Her gaze finally settled on Wang Haiquan's face.
His expression was compassionate yet tolerant, and the corners of his mouth even curved slightly, as if to tell her: Go ahead and tell me, I won't hold it against you.
Song Lubai lowered her head and opened her mouth in shame: "Wang Haiquan, Wang Haiquan is so rude..."
She simply couldn't find any fault with Wang Haiquan; her mind went blank, and she had no idea what she was saying.
Before she could finish speaking, the next person, waving their fist and looking indignant, eagerly said, "Wang Haiquan lives a life of extravagance. Everyone else is thin, but he's very fat. His behavior must be immoral..."
Song Lubai glanced at the other person and thought he was indeed very thin, so thin that his life seemed very fragile.
She lowered her head silently.
Wang Haiquan and his wife Yan Fangjie had helped her a lot, but she took advantage of her misfortune at this time. She really had no face to face Wang Haiquan anymore.
Everyone had to give their opinion. When it was Lu Xingye's turn, he looked at the crowd with his one eye and sneered, "A bunch of people with feverish heads!"
Someone shouted, "Lu Xingye, do you think Wang Hai is completely innocent? Are you on the same side as him?"
Lu Xingye looked at the man, his single eye full of sarcasm: "I don't know if others are wrong or not, I only know that you are all sick, and seriously sick at that. If you have the guts, take me with you! I'll let you curse me, I'll see what you can do to me! Don't be arrogant with me, my eyes and my legs were all injured on the battlefield, let's see how you deal with me!"
Upon hearing Lu Xingye's words, the man who had been shouting earlier still couldn't swallow his anger and shoved Lu Xingye to Wang Hai's side.
Even though Lu Xingye had just been hit a few times, he still looked defiant and mocking at the crowd, as if they were all clowns who disgusted him.
Song Lubai felt deeply ashamed. She didn't have Lu Xingye's courage; she was a despicable follower.
After it was over, she returned to her dormitory and buried herself in the blankets.
Sun Hong said that hearing her sniffling made her feel sad, even sitting there.
"Stop crying, think of a way to save them."
Sun Hong rubbed her hands together, her conscience deeply troubled.
She didn't understand the point of doing that, but if they didn't, they would also be targeted by those radical troublemakers.
Song Lubai threw back the covers and asked in a nasal voice, "How do we save him?"
Sun Hong shook her head. "I don't know either."
Just sitting here makes my conscience uneasy.
Song Lubai couldn't sit still. Remembering the old leader that Wei Yang had mentioned to her, she and Sun Hong went to the division headquarters together.
This wasn't her first time here; she'd been here a few days before. Six guards at the entrance watched them warily.
"What are you here for?"
Song Lubai didn't recognize any of these people. After she explained her purpose, the six of them looked them up and down. "What is your relationship with him?"
Song Lubai sensed something was wrong and immediately said, "It's nothing."
As she pulled Sun Hong around to leave, the men shouted, "Stop!"
The two of them were completely stiff.
Just when Song Lubai thought she was doomed, a familiar voice rang out.
"Song Lubai, what brings you here?"
As Chen Weiliang emerged from the compound, the six men immediately explained to him the suspicious circumstances surrounding Song Lubai and Sun Hong.
Chen Weiliang said to the group, "This man is from my hometown, and his background is impeccable."
As Song Lubai watched Chen Weiliang talk to the others, she clearly noticed that the six people treated him with great respect.
After Chen Weiliang finished talking with the other party, the six people stopped pursuing the question of what the relationship was between the two men and that person.
After walking a bit further away, Chen Weiliang asked, "What is your relationship with him?"
Song Lubai shook her head, "It's nothing."
Seeing that she didn't want to talk about it, Chen Weiliang told her the news that the person had made a mistake.
Song Lubai felt heavy-hearted upon hearing this.
She asked stiffly, "Comrade Chen, do you remember Director Wang Haiquan from our supply and marketing department?"
Chen Weiliang was stunned for a moment, then said, "Something happened to him?"
Song Lubai nodded, hoping he could lend a hand.
But Chen Weiliang shook his head: "At this critical moment, Song Lubai, you should take care of yourself first."
Song Lubai remained silent for a moment before asking, "Didn't you go to Shanghai with Yang Lizhen? How are you feeling? Judging from your appearance, you should be alright now."
Recalling the doctor's conclusion, Chen Weiliang's eyes darkened.
He said naturally, "There's no problem."
Song Lubai nodded, "That's fine then. I'll be going now if there's nothing else."
The two returned to their dormitory in silence. Feeling uneasy, Song Lubai went to the Jiefang Road Department Store to find Feng Ying.
Recently, the department stores have been selling very few items, and customers have been making multiple trips without finding what they want.
Song Lubai wanted to buy brown sugar, but it was out of stock, so she could only buy some biscuits made with saccharin.
Brown sugar biscuits were out of stock; the only items on display that could sweeten one's palate were saccharin biscuits.
Feng Ying listlessly slumped on the counter and asked, "How's the food in your cafeteria lately?"
Song Lubai said, "It's not as good as before. We only get to eat eggs once a month because they say there's no stock."
Feng Ying rubbed her stomach and said, "I haven't had any food in my stomach lately. I get hungry and anxious before mealtimes every day."
Goods are becoming increasingly scarce, and the chances of finding bargains without paying for them or taking money are dwindling.
The two talked for a while longer until it was completely dark. Song Lubai then took the biscuits to Wang Hai's house.
Yan Fang and the children were at home. When Song Lubai entered, Yan Fang was wiping away tears.
Upon seeing Song Lubai, Yan Fang hurriedly wiped away her tears. Unable to force a smile, she stood up and said, "Why are you here? You're here, so don't bring any more things."
Song Lubai took a deep breath and said, "Sister Fang, I'm sorry, I'm sorry to Director Wang. I criticized him in public today, and I'm ashamed to face you."
She came here because she felt guilty; bringing something would ease the torment of her conscience.
Yan Fang remained silent for a long time.
Seeing Song Lubai standing there with her head down, Yan Fang said, "I don't blame you. You still came here, so I don't blame you. He made a mistake and should accept criticism in order to improve..."
Looking at Yan Fang's trembling lips, Song Lubai said, "I don't think he did anything wrong, Fang-jie. We just need to wait. These things are definitely only temporary."
Yan Fang's already swollen eyes started to shed more tears.
Hearing her cry, Song Lubai's throat also began to choke.
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