A middle-aged man in military uniform stepped down from the jeep.
His features looked strikingly familiar—it was none other than Liu Haitao, Liu Cuilan’s cousin from her maternal side.
When Liu Haitao was twenty, he enlisted in the army. Later, he married the daughter of a military commander and was promoted within the ranks, eventually settling down in a big city.
The last time anyone saw him was a few years ago, at his father’s sixtieth birthday celebration. By then, he was already a regimental officer.
He held a high position and was acquainted with Secretary Wang. This was great news! If he spoke to Secretary Wang about dealing with Zhou Zhijun and Li Chun Tao, things would surely be more certain.
Liu Cuilan recognized Liu Haitao immediately and hurried over excitedly. “Cousin Haitao, is that really you? What are you doing back in our little town?”
Liu Haitao was also taken aback when he saw her, his eyebrows arching slightly. “Cui Lan, what are you doing here?”
Liu Cuilan quickly squeezed out two tears and grabbed hold of his military uniform sleeve. “Cousin Haitao, no one stands up for me, a poor orphaned woman. Today, you have to stand up for your little sister…”
The young man accompanying Liu Haitao was his driver and bodyguard. Hearing that the two were relatives, he didn’t dare pull her away forcefully but whispered gently, “Ma’am, please let go of the commander first. We can talk slowly.”
At that moment, the old gatekeeper rushed over, with Wang Jinlong following behind.
Liu Cuilan was still holding tightly onto Liu Haitao when the gatekeeper hurried up and pulled her away. “What are you doing grabbing this commander? Let go at once!”
“Haitao!” Wang Jinlong quickly approached, casting a sharp glance at Liu Cuilan before frowning at Liu Haitao. “What’s going on here?”
Just the words Wang Jinlong said were what Liu Cuilan had been waiting for. She immediately turned and knelt before Wang Jinlong. “Secretary Wang, I have a huge grievance and no one to turn to for justice. Seeing my cousin made me so upset that I just had to speak to him!”
Wang Jinlong quickly reached out to support her, his tone growing stern. “What are you doing? If you have something to say, say it properly. Is it appropriate to kneel like this?”
Liu Haitao raised his hand and gently pushed Liu Cuilan’s arm away, then offered an apologetic smile to Wang Jinlong.
They had been classmates in high school and were as close as brothers. Their relationship remained good to this day.
“Jinlong, this is my cousin, Liu Cuilan, from Wangjiazai village.
I was just returning to the unit and stopped by to say goodbye, didn’t expect to run into her.”
He glanced at Liu Cuilan, who was about to speak again, and lowered his voice. “Cui Lan, don’t be so loud. Secretary Wang is a government official. If you have a case, lay it out clearly.”
Wang Jinlong’s frown eased, and he gave her a way out. “So she’s our girl. No wonder she looks familiar.
If you have a grievance, speak openly. The commune will handle it if it’s fair and reasonable, but you have to be rational—no nonsense.”
Seeing the two men soften, Liu Cuilan looked pitiful and said, “I’m embarrassed to even say this, but I really have no choice…”
“What’s so hard to say?” Wang Jinlong frowned.
“Well, I’ll say it then…”
Liu Cuilan dodged the core of the matter and exaggerated as she spoke, “The worthless neighbor from my family seduced my daughter-in-law, and now she’s pregnant with his bastard child!
Director Wu at the police station is corrupt. Not only does he refuse to help, but he’s protecting that scoundrel!”
Liu Haitao’s face darkened instantly, his brows knitting into a tight knot.
He knew Liu Cuilan was hot-tempered and unreliable with her words. Raising his hand to cut her off, his tone cold and authoritative, he said, “Cuilan! You can’t just say whatever you want!
The police station chief is a public official. You don’t throw around accusations of corruption and abuse of power lightly!
What exactly happened? Explain clearly—don’t exaggerate or falsely accuse anyone!”
“I’m telling the truth! If there’s a single lie, punish me however you want!” Liu Cuilan stamped her foot in frustration.
Wang Jinlong’s brow furrowed so tightly it could crush a mosquito. Knowing Wu Mingwei’s character well, he said in a low voice, “Cuilan, I have to warn you seriously.
Wu Mingwei is always by the book. Do you have any proof that he abused his power? Empty accusations like that come with consequences!”
Liu Haitao took over, his tone straightforward, “Jinlong’s right.
Cuilan, I’m not here to back you up for baseless complaints. If you have evidence and are in the right, Secretary Wang will handle it fairly.
But if you’re just making a fuss without proof, I’m not involved, and you’d better not embarrass yourself here!”
Wang Jinlong added, “If you really want to solve this, tell the truth. The commune and the police station will investigate and won’t show favoritism.
Anyone who dares to falsely accuse others will face legal consequences!”
“Brother Haitao, don’t worry. Every word I say is true!” Liu Cuilan quickly patted her chest to assure them.
“Jinlong, time’s tight. I have to get back to my post now. We’ll meet again later!”
Liu Haitao said goodbye to Wang Jinlong and quickly walked to his car, which soon drove off along the muddy road.
Once the car was gone, Liu Cuilan once again approached Wang Jinlong to pour out her grievances.
Wang Jinlong had long seen through her; this woman was no pushover. He said gravely, “You should go back for now. I’ll have someone look into this.”
“Secretary Wang, you must hurry! This can’t drag on. The longer it takes, the more complicated it gets!” Liu Cuilan urged anxiously.
“Don’t worry, it won’t be left hanging.”
Wang Jinlong’s gaze settled on her, his tone steady, “But investigations have to follow procedure. We need to verify with those involved and check with neighbors. It won’t be settled in a day or two.
The New Year is coming soon. You should go back and focus on what you need to do.”
He paused, then his voice grew heavier, “Once it’s verified, we’ll handle it accordingly.
When there’s a result, the commune will notify you. No need to keep coming here to push for it.”
Liu Cuilan still wasn’t convinced. “Secretary, please go to the village and verify! Everyone knows about this!”
When Liu Cuilan returned to the noodle shop, Li Dazhuang hadn’t been served yet and was still waiting in line.
She stormed over and shouted in front of everyone, “Dazhuang, my Lanhua has been living honestly with you, but your sister’s carrying someone else’s child and is about to give birth!
You and your grandmother don’t even lift a finger. Your whole family is heartless!”
Those in line heard her and turned to look, eyes full of curiosity.
Li Dazhuang, who cared a lot about his pride, instantly flushed red and stiffened his neck, saying, “You can’t say things like that!
Everyone in the village knows what kind of life my sister had in your house.
She’s free now. She can live with whoever she wants, and no one can stop her!”
Li Dazhuang was usually a quiet man, not one to say much. Liu Cuilan never expected him to speak to her so boldly, and she immediately lost her temper.
“Li Dazhuang, don’t be so shameless! If it weren’t for Lanhua marrying you to help her brother find a wife, would she ever agree to marry you? Take a good look at yourself before you open your mouth! You’ve really crossed the line this time. Tomorrow, I’m going to bring Lanhua back home…”
For every word Li Dazhuang said, she fired back with a dozen, spitting and shouting all the while.
Dazhuang’s face flushed red with anger and frustration. Knowing he couldn’t win the argument and feeling embarrassed, he swallowed his rage and held it in.
Liu Cuilan kept shouting, “Li Dazhuang, I’m telling you the truth! I’ve already gone to Secretary Wang. He’s going to personally investigate this matter! When the time comes, your sister and that wild man of hers will both end up in jail—no one will get away!”
By late afternoon, after finishing his work kneading dough, Li Dazhuang slung the sack over his shoulder and trudged home in silence.
Once inside, he quietly relayed Liu Cuilan’s words from the noodle shop to Grandma Shen.
Old Mr. Shen, sitting on the bed, sighed deeply after hearing everything. “Don’t let Lanhua hear any of this. We can’t let her get upset…”
“Mm, I understand,” Li Dazhuang replied, lowering his head.
Last time, it was because he spoke out of turn that Lanhua lost the baby she was carrying and injured herself. Since then, she could never have children again.
That burden weighed heavily on his heart, filling him with guilt to this day.
Late into the night, only a dim kerosene lamp flickered in the room.
Grandma Shen tossed and turned, unable to sleep. She quietly got up and rummaged under a wooden chest, pulling out a faded handkerchief bundle. Carefully, she unfolded it to reveal a silver ring.
Her thin fingers gently caressed the ring, her eyes swirling with emotions she couldn’t quite name.
She had kept this secret hidden for twenty-three years, intending to take it to the grave. Yet now, she felt she owed it to her ill-fated daughter to finally confront the truth.
