Bai Xiaoyue was delighted to hear this and handed Bai Wenan 100 yuan:
"Uncle Xiang and Aunt Wen have been released. You should go buy medicine quickly."
Yan Ci glanced at the prescription; it was all Chinese medicine, which was hard to buy these days.
He stood up and said to Bai Xiaoyue:
"Honey, you stay home with the kids and don't go out. I'll go with Wen'an."
He also invited Bai Wenyi, who frequently dealt with the black market and had some connections.
The three of them searched all over the county town, but still couldn't buy everything; they were missing one ingredient: large blood vine.
Yan Ci told Bai Wen'an and Bai Wenyi to go back first, and then secretly went to find Grandma Liu.
Grandma Liu was surprised to see him:
"Yan Ci, what brings you to the city? Things aren't peaceful these days, so don't wander around outside too much."
Yan Ci asked, "It didn't affect you, did it?"
Grandma Liu: "I've been retired for many years, so it doesn't affect me much. What brings you here?"
Yan Ci said:
"Someone in our area is sick, but it's inconvenient for them to go to the hospital."
We're short of a piece of large-leaved vine (Sargentodoxa cuneata). Do you know where we can buy it?
Grandma Liu sighed and said, "Let me take a look at the prescription."
Yan Ci quickly handed it over.
Grandma Liu looked at the prescription, went back into the house and got a paper package for him.
Yan Ci thanked her repeatedly, but Grandma Liu just waved her hand, telling him to leave quickly, as saving lives was the priority.
He hurriedly went to the small courtyard where Xiang Zhennan lived.
The medicine was handed to Grandpa Cui, who looked at it, nodded, and instructed his daughter and Wen Tong to decoct the medicine.
Yan Ci noticed that Xiang Zhennan's feet had been bandaged.
Bai Wen'an and his wife stayed here to keep watch. He was afraid his wife would worry, so he put down the medicine and went home.
When Bai Xiaoyue saw Yan Ci return, she told him to hurry up and get on the kang (heated brick bed), and she noticed that his hands were very cold.
She was extremely distressed: "You've been out for most of the day, you must be freezing."
She quickly brought food to Yan Ci:
"Aci, eat quickly, you'll feel warm once you're full."
Yan Ci asked with amusement:
"Honey, aren't you curious about their affairs?"
Bai Xiaoyue: "I'll listen after you've eaten your fill, since Uncle Xiang and Aunt Wen are both back now."
After eating and drinking his fill, Yan Ci felt completely refreshed and rested.
Bai Xiaoyue finished tidying up the dishes and chopsticks before climbing over to Yan Ci and asking:
"Aci, how are Uncle Xiang and Aunt Wen doing?"
Yan Ci glanced at his wife before speaking:
"The medicine has been purchased. Grandpa Cui said that Aunt Wen's injury is just superficial and doesn't look serious."
Uncle Xiang's injuries are more serious, but the medicine has been bought, so don't worry.
Bai Xiaoyue patted her chest:
"That's good, that's good."
Yan Ci embraced his wife and closed his eyes to rest.
Seeing that Yan Ci was tired, Bai Xiaoyue didn't bother him. She just leaned against him quietly and listened to his heartbeat.
Meanwhile, Li Xinru, from the educated youth compound, was making a scene, threatening to report it to the police.
She wanted several educated youths to accompany her to the city to report the case.
Fang Wanzhi was alright; she was wearing a thick cotton-padded coat and a hat.
Luo Xiaowei's family may not be well-off; she was shivering from the cold in her old cotton-padded coat.
Li Damin said it was too cold and asked Luo Xiaowei to go back, but Li Xinru refused, saying that they were a team and should go together.
Li Damin roared angrily:
"Li Xinru, are you getting too big for your britches? So many people are going with you, isn't that enough? It's not like we're going to fight."
He turned to Luo Xiaowei and said:
"Luo Xiaowei, go back. If you catch a cold and get sick, it's no joke."
Fang Wanzhi and Wang Wei also urged Luo Xiaowei to go back quickly. Luo Xiaowei glanced at Li Xinru cautiously and hurriedly ran back to the courtyard.
By the time Li Xinru and the others arrived at the police station, it was already noon.
The police questioned several people in detail and took notes.
Then, he said to Li Xinru:
“Li Zhiqing, you can go back now. I have made a note of this, and the bureau will send someone to the Hongxing Brigade to investigate.”
Li Xinru said excitedly:
"Go and arrest them now."
The police asked, "Who do you want us to arrest? We need time to investigate."
Li Xinru: "I don't care, go and arrest them now."
She shouted angrily, and when she saw a policeman come out of the inner room, she ran up to him and grabbed him.
The police officer taking notes quickly stood up and greeted him:
"Team Leader Liu, this educated youth Li insists that we arrest him right now."
This Captain Liu is Liu Guoan, and he is now the captain.
After learning about the whole incident, Liu Guoan said to Li Xinru:
"You asked us to arrest someone, but the clues you provided were completely worthless."
They only provide one tattered sack, an ordinary one that every household has.
You're new here and haven't made any enemies.
We're completely clueless right now; who are we supposed to arrest?
Li Xinru hesitated for a long time before speaking:
"I reported the capitalists and even identified them. Could this be retaliation against me?"
Liu Guoan said, "Since there are suspects, then let's investigate."
He summoned a junior police officer:
"Song Haodong, go to the Hongxing Production Brigade."
Li Xinru wanted to say something, but was intimidated by a stern look from Liu Guoan.
When Song Haodong arrived in the village, he first went to see the place where Li Xinru had been beaten. It had been a night, so there were no traces left.
He went to see Secretary Bai again, and Li Xinru wanted to go with him, so this time only Liu Aiguo accompanied him.
Fang Wanzhi, Luo Xiaowei, Wang Wei, and Li Damin were so cold that they stayed on the kang (heated brick bed) and refused to come out.
No matter how eloquent Li Xinru was, it was no use.
Bai Wenyi returned with the medicine and was discussing the Wen'an family's affairs with his elder brother.
Song Haodong and his group arrived at the Bai family's house, and he directly explained their purpose to Uncle Bai:
“Secretary Bai, Li, a educated youth, reported to the bureau that someone beat her yesterday, and she suspects it was someone from the village.”
Uncle Bai asked, "Officer, who does she suspect?"
Song Haodong: "She said she had a feud with Bai Wenan's family, so I came to investigate."
Bai Wenli said to his younger brother:
"Wenyi, didn't you say you were going to pick up your sister-in-law? Go soon and come back soon."
Bai Wenyi was very clever; he immediately said to his father:
"Dad, I'm going to pick up He Miao and the child."
Uncle Bai nodded, and after seeing his son leave, he said to Song Haodong:
"Officer, to be honest, the Bai Wenan you're investigating is my nephew."
I think I should ask our battalion commander to go with us, just to avoid gossip.
Then he instructed his son, "Wenli, go and call the brigade leader."
Uncle Bai poured hot water for the group and told them to wait patiently.
Ye Jianguo had just returned home when he and Bai Wenli hurriedly arrived at the Bai family's house.
Uncle Bai and Ye Jianguo then led a few people to Bai Wen'an's house.
Bai Wen'an and his wife were at home. He invited everyone to sit down before asking:
"Uncle, Captain, what's the matter?"
Song Haodong continued, "Comrade Bai Wen'an, I'm from the Public Security Bureau, and I'd like to ask you about some things."
Bai Wen'an nodded in agreement:
"Officer, please tell me, I don't know how I can help."
Song Haodong said directly:
"I just want to know, what were you doing there between 7 and 8 pm last night?"
Bai Wen'an recalled for a moment before saying:
"I went to the brigade leader's house after dinner and didn't pay attention to the time."
Ye Jianguo nodded and said, "Yes, Wen An went to my house and didn't leave until almost 8 o'clock."
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