As soon as Lu Jingchuan left, Chen Ying came over with something in her hands.
She stood outside the yard and heard a lot of voices in the house. She knocked on the door: "Aunt Bai, sister-in-law."
Bai Shuixian and the others were cleaning up the fish they had just caught in the house. Hearing her voice, Gong Linglong winked at the others, stood up and strode out.
"Sister-in-law, you are at home today." Chen Ying smiled when he saw her.
"Something happened at home today, and some guests came over, so I asked for leave this morning and came back."
Seeing that she was carrying something, Gong Linglong said, "I heard that Deputy Battalion Commander Yuan is back too. Are you going to the Yuan family?"
"No, it's not."
Chen Ying quickly shook her head and glanced inside the room. Seeing that Bai Shuixian hadn't come out, a hint of embarrassment was evident on her face. "Sister-in-law, I'm here to apologize on behalf of my cousin."
"This morning, my cousin's quick-witted nonsense almost got Aunt Bai in trouble. We came from the countryside and had never seen the world, so we didn't realize the seriousness of the matter at the time. Only after hearing about it from other neighbors in the family compound did we realize that her nonsense almost got Aunt Bai into trouble."
"Sister-in-law, my cousin didn't mean it. She's just quick-witted and doesn't think before she speaks. I want to apologize to Aunt Bai on her behalf. This is a small token of our appreciation. Please accept it."
Gong Linglong's lips curled slightly, and she looked at her with a faint gaze, saying, "Chen Ying, I'm also from the countryside. I was born and raised in the countryside. Rural people are not all unworldly, nor do they all fail to distinguish between the important and the unimportant."
"Normally, people like to talk nonsense, but when it comes to things like 'banned books,' 'enemy agents,' 'J spies,' and so on, the reactions and behavior of rural people are no less than those of city people."
Chen Ying's mouth was stiff, and she couldn't smile: "Yes, sister-in-law, you are right."
"Your cousin has been with the army for a year or two. She should be well aware of how strict the army's management of the family compound is."
"Especially since the enemy spy incident at the East District Family Compound a while ago, the army has been continuously providing ideological and cultural education to the compound. Even if your cousin has never been to school and has no education, she should be able to understand the propaganda and education content on the radio."
"Political Commissar Zhao received an anonymous tip and came to our house to investigate. Before he could even say anything, your cousin couldn't wait to jump out and convict my mother. Whether she was doing this out of ignorance or on purpose, we both know."
Seeing that she suspected her cousin's motives were not pure, Chen Ying hurriedly explained, "Sister-in-law, my cousin really didn't mean it. She doesn't understand anything and just talks nonsense. This is the first time she's heard of such a banned book, and she was excited and spoke nonsense."
While they were talking, the neighbors on both sides opened the door and came out.
Seeing that all the men were at home, Gong Linglong beckoned, "Sister Liao, Sister Yumiao, come over here."
"Linglong, what's wrong?" Wang Yumiao handed her son to the man and immediately strode over.
Liao Qiuhua had just listened to their conversation from the other side. She heard everything they said clearly and came over to ask, "Linglong, what do you want to talk to us about?"
Gong Linglong's gaze swept over the two of them and Chen Ying, and she spoke in a voice neither too loud nor too soft for others to hear: "Sister Liao, Sister Yu Miao, you both came to my house yesterday afternoon, right?"
"Yes." They answered in unison.
Wang Yumiao glanced at Chen Ying and added, "And Chen Ying, the three of us are here. Aunt Bai is teaching us how to make chopped chili peppers."
Gong Linglong nodded, her eyes fixed on Chen Ying, and she said, "At the time, Jiang Yun and I went fishing by the river, and my mother was picking peppers in the vegetable garden. When she came back, she ran into Chen Ying, and then the two of them went into the house together. You two came later."
"Yes, we came here together later." Liao Qiuhua nodded and asked, "Linglong, what are you talking about?"
"My study room was not closed yesterday."
She suddenly said this, and Liao Qiuhua was stunned: "What do you mean?"
Liao Qiuhua was still confused, but the attentive and clever Wang Yumiao quickly realized what was going on and said, "Linglong, I didn't go to your study. I sat on the stool outside the room as soon as I entered. I waited for Aunt Bai to finish chopping the peppers and then left."
Even if Liao Qiuhua was dumb, he guessed it now. His face changed drastically and his voice rose: "Linglong, I didn't wander around. Yu Miao and I went in and out together. I sat down in the house and didn't move my butt."
"My two sisters-in-law, don't be anxious. I didn't say that you were the ones who made the report this morning." Gong Linglong made the topic clear.
Liao Qiuhua wanted to say something, but Wang Yumiao pulled his hand. Seeing the look in her eyes, he understood instantly. Then he looked at Chen Ying and saw that her eyes had changed.
All eyes around him fell on him. Chen Ying felt a little panicked and looked grim: "Sister-in-law, what do you mean?"
"I mean, you have no idea?" Gong Linglong asked back.
"Sister-in-law, do you suspect that I was the one who reported it?"
Chen Ying's heart sank slightly, and there was a hint of anger on his face. "Sister-in-law, you suspect me, do you have any evidence?"
"I'm just suspecting someone, why should I provide evidence?"
Gong Linglong sneered, "The person who reported it behind the scenes didn't provide any evidence, and she reported it anonymously. When I suspect someone, I only need to provide doubts, not evidence."
"Sister-in-law, you misunderstood. I didn't do such a thing."
"I followed Aunt Bai into the house and sat down at the table properly. I didn't wander around the house."
"I don't know what banned books there are, and I've never seen any. I get along well with you guys, and we've never had any arguments or quarrels. I won't harm you for no reason." Chen Ying looked aggrieved.
Gong Linglong did not have any solid evidence in her hands. She deliberately laid the matter out to cooperate with Lu Jingchuan's action plan.
Tear her face off and ruin everyone's impression of her, so as to force her to take the next step.
So, even though she pretended to be aggrieved, Gong Linglong didn't tolerate her. "Whether you were the one who reported it anonymously or not, we both know it. Also, if I were you, I would control the mouths of certain relatives and not show it so hastily."
"Sister-in-law, I just said that my cousin didn't mean to talk nonsense." Chen Ying defended herself with her head down.
"Whether you were unintentional or intentional, I have a scale in my heart. My eyes and heart are not blind. I can see clearly and tell the difference."
Gong Linglong's voice rose, and she also put on a strong side. "Chen Ying, I don't care if you are jealous or have other motives. Today, I am making this clear. You are not welcome in our family, and you are not welcome to visit us anymore."
"I hate people who stab me in the back the most. If someone who doesn't like me fights me openly, I will respect him as a gentleman."
"But if someone makes an anonymous report like today, hiding in the shadows and waiting for an opportunity to harm someone, I better not catch him, or I'll chop him into pieces."
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