The image of the man grabbing her hands, pressing them above her head, and forcefully penetrating her flashed through her mind. Hua Li felt as if she were experiencing the excruciating pain of her body being torn apart again, and she huddled in the corner of the sofa, trembling.
Luo Yan hadn't expected Luo Shicheng to have such a deep impact on Hua Li. She ran over, climbed onto the sofa, and hugged Hua Li, who was whimpering like a kitten.
"Mommy, don't be afraid, Yan Yan will give you a hug..."
Although Luo Yan and Hua Li were about the same age before she transmigrated, Luo Yan was an orphan in her previous life and is now a little baby, so calling Hua Li "Mom" is perfectly acceptable.
The baby's embrace was soft and gentle, and although it was small, it gave Hua Li an unparalleled sense of security.
Hua Li gradually pulled herself out of the terrifying memories and hugged Luo Yan back, crying her heart out.
Luo Shicheng was surprised by Hua Li's reaction and was at a loss for what to do.
"Reporting to the commander, Comrade Liu has arrived."
The guard knocked on the door and invited Liu Jingqiu in.
Liu Jingqiu didn't know Commander Sun at all, but Commander Sun specially invited him to his office. Liu suspected that it must be related to Luo Shicheng and made a lot of preparations in advance.
Upon seeing Hua Li and her daughter, he knew a tough battle was about to begin, so he walked in and greeted Sun Bailing in a generous manner.
Sun Bailing observed Liu Jingqiu's calm and composed demeanor, while Hua Li looked like a frightened little rabbit, his old eyes coldly sweeping over Luo Shicheng.
"Comrade Liu Jingqiu, please sit down."
After Liu Jingqiu thanked him, he seemed to only then notice Hua Li.
"Comrade Hua Li is here too. Before I came, I saw your neighbor looking for you everywhere. They said someone had delivered a letter to you."
As he spoke, Liu Jingqiu took a letter out of his pocket.
The envelope had neither a mailing address nor a parcel address; only the four large, ugly characters "To be opened by Hua Li" were visible on it.
Hua Li is an orphan with a cold personality and almost no friends. How could someone possibly go to his house to deliver a letter? Luo Shicheng frowned.
Hua Li looked bewildered, took the envelope, tore it open, and pulled out the letter inside, which brought out five ten-yuan bills.
Hua Li looked at Luo Shicheng guiltily. Luo Shicheng's face was ashen, and his eyes were chillingly cold.
Hua Li unfolded the letter with trembling hands. It read in crooked handwriting, "Don't let the children go hungry. If you need money, come to me."
Luo Shicheng saw it at a glance, snatched the letter, and handed it to Sun Bailing.
Sun Bailing frowned. "Comrade Hua Li, how do you explain this?"
In the late 1970s, a worker's basic wage was only 20-30 yuan a month. 50 yuan was almost equivalent to two months' wages. Who would give so much money all of a sudden for no reason, unless there was a special relationship?
Hua Li had never seen so much money before and shook his head in bewilderment.
"I...I don't know."
Luo Yan was also a little confused, mainly because this part wasn't in the book, so where did the money come from?
Luo Shicheng clenched his fist and asked Liu Jingqiu in a cold voice, "Which neighbor gave you the letter, and what did they say to you?"
Liu Jingqiu looked puzzled.
"It's your neighbor, Aunt Wu."
She said that her husband, Lao Li, had broken socks and was planning to buy some at the supply and marketing cooperative, but as soon as she stepped out, she encountered a man with yellow teeth looking for Comrade Hua Li.
Sister-in-law Wu said that Hua Li was not at home, so the man gave her the letter and asked her to help pass it on to Comrade Hua Li.
Just then, Commander Sun's bodyguard came to find me and said that Comrade Luo Shicheng was also there.
When Sister-in-law Wu heard this, she said, "Let me give the letter to Comrade Luo Shicheng and have him pass it on..."
As she spoke, Liu Jingqiu nervously rubbed her hands together.
"If I had known there was money inside the letter, I wouldn't have accepted it. If it got lost on the way, I couldn't afford to pay for it."
When Hua Li heard Liu Jingqiu say that it was given by the man with yellow teeth, her heart clenched instantly.
She remembered that when she got dressed and ran away the next morning, she bumped into a man with yellow teeth blocking the door. She knocked him unconscious with the door latch... Could this letter be from him?
Hua Li dropped the letter and money, and hugged Luo Yan tightly in fear, her eyes filled with terror.
What am I going to do with such a cowardly mother? Luo Yan sighed, rubbing her forehead.
Luo Shicheng remembered that the man he knocked unconscious had big yellow teeth, but why would someone with big yellow teeth give money to Hua Li?
"Hua Li, who is he?"
They were both at fault. If Hua Li could stay quiet and protect the innocent child, he would turn a blind eye and give her a respectable status. But he could not tolerate her bringing men from outside into the house.
The unbearable past that she had finally managed to forget was suddenly brought up again, and even the people who had hurt her found her home. Hua Li felt like the sky was about to fall, and she couldn't hear anything Luo Shicheng was saying anymore.
Seeing that Hua Li was just crying, Luo Shicheng raised his hand and irritably stroked the thorn in his head.
Liu Jingqiu was secretly pleased to see this.
"Comrade Hua Li, the leaders and Comrade Luo Shicheng are here. Don't be afraid. If you have any difficulties, just tell us. The leaders will definitely stand up for you."
Hua Li was completely disoriented and crying uncontrollably. She couldn't answer any questions, let alone prove her innocence.
Liu Jingqiu sighed, seemingly with sympathy.
"Sigh, it's so hard being a woman..."
Take me for example. I'm a widow and orphan, and I'm constantly embroiled in gossip and trouble. Even when I do good deeds, I get misunderstood.
Because I was a family member of a martyr, I was assigned to the supply and marketing cooperative. Coincidentally, Sister Liu's eldest daughter at the supply and marketing cooperative was unemployed and had to go to the countryside.
Sister Liu is in poor health and her husband has died. She relies entirely on her eldest daughter to help her. If the eldest daughter goes to the countryside, how difficult it will be for her to take care of her little one.
Putting myself in her shoes, I gave my job to Sister Liu's eldest daughter, and I earned some money by doing odd jobs. With the military martyrs' family allowance, it was enough for my daughter and me to live on.
Later, when Comrade Luo Shicheng found out, he gave me Comrade Hua Li's job at the supply and marketing cooperative, but rumors spread that it was me and Comrade Luo Shicheng... Alas!
As she spoke, Liu Jingqiu also wiped away her tears. She looked aggrieved, but unlike Hua Li, who cried her heart out, she looked even more pitiful.
Sun Bailing remained unmoved, his face stern.
"Since Luo Shicheng gave you the job of Comrade Hua Li, why do you still accept Luo Shicheng's monthly subsidy of one hundred yuan?"
What?! That scumbag father only gives Liu Jingqiu 100 yuan a month?! Luo Yan's heart was bleeding when she heard this.
Liu Jingqiu calmly replied, "Comrade Luo Shicheng did indeed give me one hundred yuan every month, but that's because I gave most of my salary and allowances to families who were even more impoverished than me."
Including the money Comrade Luo Shicheng gave me, at least two-thirds of it was used to sponsor others. If the leaders don't believe me, I can go home and get my account books; every single expenditure is recorded there.
Sun Bailing summoned a guard to accompany Liu Jingqiu home. When they returned, Liu Jingqiu placed the account book in front of Sun Bailing on the table. Her humble yet assertive attitude drew Sun Bailing's attention.
Sun Bailing glanced through it and found that it contained not only the date, but also the name and address of the recipient and the amount of the donation, making it a very detailed record.
If it were falsified, the address and name would be easily identified through a search. So, is Liu Jingqiu doing a good deed? Sun Bailing frowned as he held the ledger.
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