"Comrade Deng, what brings you here today?"
The village chief approached with a stiff expression, only to be shoved aside by Deng Jun. "Enough with the pleasantries! This is our town’s Revolutionary Committee Director, Director Nan. She’s here to interrogate you—didn’t you hear? Hurry up and fetch a chair!"
At the mention of the Revolutionary Committee Director’s arrival, the village chief grew even more terrified, and the other villagers visibly panicked.
Nan Sheng, in particular, looked like someone not to be trifled with. She immediately zeroed in on the village chief.
"Every other village I passed on my way here is working overtime on autumn sowing. But Yunshui Village? You’ve gathered everyone here to listen to scandalous gossip. Where’s the brigade leader?"
A middle-aged man quickly spoke up, "I’m the brigade leader of the village. What are your orders, Director?"
"Leave a few able-bodied young men here. You take the rest of the villagers back to work. And I hereby announce the immediate dismissal of the village chief. For now, the brigade leader will temporarily oversee village affairs. Is that clear to everyone?"
"Yes, Director!"
With the village chief already dismissed, who dared to disobey?
Nan Sheng coldly snapped, "If it’s clear, then get back to work! Nothing is more important than farming. If I ever catch you neglecting your duties for personal matters again, the entire village will be sent to the mines!"
The brigade leader quickly assigned the required men and scurried away, leaving only the Liu family behind.
Nan Sheng, annoyed by the crowd, barked, "Everyone except the village chief and Liu San’s family, get out! If you don’t leave now, I’ll charge you as accomplices!"
At this, Liu San’s parents and siblings fled, as did the village chief’s family, leaving only the village chief and his wife, along with Liu San and his wife, to experience the harsh truth of "every man for himself when disaster strikes."
Nan Sheng pointed at the man restraining Liu Yun. "Let Liu Yun go. Liu Yun, explain—what exactly happened here?"
Liu San’s wife trembled with fear, desperate to convince Nan Sheng. "Director, she’s a sent-down element. We’re the real villagers here. You should hear our side first!"
Nan Sheng glanced at Deng Jun, who immediately stepped forward, stuffing the rag that had been in Liu Yun’s mouth into Liu San’s wife’s mouth instead. He then called over two villagers.
"Hold her down. She doesn’t speak unless the Director allows it!"
The village chief had been in a daze since his dismissal, his mind racing for a way to beg the Director to reinstate him. His wife suddenly whispered a reminder.
"Husband, the Revolutionary Committee doesn’t have authority over us, right? Why don’t you run to town and beg the Party Secretary for help? Tell him you were tricked by Liu San."
The village chief’s eyes lit up.
That’s right—only the Party Secretary could dismiss village chiefs. And Secretary Cai had always been at odds with the Revolutionary Committee. Maybe he really could get his position back.
But there was no rush. He’d wait until the blame was firmly pinned on Liu San before making his move.
When Liu Yun saw Nan Sheng, it was as if she had grasped a lifeline. She forgot the persecution the Revolutionary Committee had inflicted on her, thinking only that as a fellow woman, the Director might be more inclined to help.
"Comrade Director, my name is Liu Yun. Like my late husband, I was a professor at Peking University. We were sent to Yunshui Village for re-education. My husband was frail—he passed away after just a year here, leaving me alone to endure."
"Enough nonsense!"
Nan Sheng corrected her sharply. "This isn’t ‘enduring’—it’s reforming yourself and becoming a new person!"
Liu Yun quickly amended her words. "Yes, yes! I’m the only one left continuing my re-education. Liu San started harassing me six months ago. At first, he just talked to me and brought me food. I knew his intentions were improper, so I avoided him and never accepted anything.
But he escalated. Whenever he saw me alone, he’d make advances. I knew I couldn’t fight him, so I just kept my distance. But today, he waited until I came back at noon to drink water and tried to force himself on me. If his wife hadn’t followed him, I would’ve—"
At this, Liu Yun broke down sobbing.
Nan Sheng turned to Liu San, who hadn’t spoken a word the entire time. Was he confident or resigned to his fate?
"Liu San, do you admit to what Liu Yun said? Did you harass her against her will and attempt assault today?"
Liu San lifted his head, revealing an unremarkable, even somewhat honest and dull face.
"I didn’t do it," he said. "Liu Yun and I have been involved for six months. She’s lying!"
The village chief’s wife chimed in, "That’s right, Director. If what Liu Yun said was true, why didn’t she ask for help earlier? She’s only playing the victim now because she got caught."
Deng Jun scowled at the interruption. "Who asked you? One more word, and we’ll tie you up too."
The village chief’s wife immediately covered her mouth. The Revolutionary Committee members were terrifying!
With both sides contradicting each other and no evidence, Nan Sheng threw up her hands. "Then there’s no point in questioning further. Both will be punished for hooliganism. And since I’m not in the best mood today, I’ll make it quick—a bullet to the head."
The color drained from everyone’s faces—except Liu Yun’s. She was eerily calm.
"Director, as long as you execute Liu San to avenge me, I’ll die willingly. I came into this world with integrity, and I’ll leave the same way."
But Liu San suddenly lunged at Nan Sheng, his formerly meek demeanor vanishing. "You want me dead? I’ll kill you first!"
Truly, appearances could be deceiving.
He moved too fast, slamming Deng Jun aside as he charged. Just as his hands were about to close around Nan Sheng’s throat, a flash of silver sliced through the air—followed by Liu San’s agonized scream.
Wen Min snapped out of her shock and threw herself in front of Nan Sheng, only to shriek in horror the next second.
On the ground… there were severed—
No wonder Liu San was howling in pain! The fingers were still twitching!
Wen Min turned and saw Director Nan holding a razor-sharp dagger, her face utterly calm, like a battle-hardened soldier.
The remaining villagers finally reacted, pinning Liu San to the ground. The only sounds left were the pounding of hearts and Liu San’s cries.
Seeing everyone’s pale faces, Nan Sheng chuckled lightly.
"Why so tense? It’s fine. Take Liu San to town for execution. As for Liu Yun—she’s innocent. I’ll transfer her to another location for re-education. From now on, no one in Yunshui Village is to speak of this matter again!"
Truthfully, Nan Sheng’s heart was still racing. She hadn’t been able to bring the family’s chopping knife, so she’d tossed the dagger into her space instead.
Luckily, it was small enough that its sudden appearance could be passed off as having been hidden on her person.
After such a harrowing day, Nan Sheng decided to deal with these people thoroughly. Liu San’s wife wouldn’t escape either—a year of re-education for her.
And the village chief… Wait, where was the village chief?
When had he slipped away?!
