After confirming that Dai Honghua was telling the truth, Shuzhen quickly pulled her and Lianshan as they rushed towards the scene of the incident.
She feared that if they were a minute late, her elder brothers and sister-in-law, who were already at a disadvantage, would suffer further losses against those wolf-like workers.
With her heart pounding, she ran desperately towards the scene. When they finally arrived, gasping for breath, she heard Wu Xia confidently spewing nonsense: "After all, I’ve been a daughter-in-law of the Liu family for eight years. Even if Liu Shouren and I are not destined to grow old together, there is still a bond from the nights we have spent together, like a hundred days’ grace for one night as husband and wife, and eight years is as deep as the sea. Unless it’s absolutely necessary, do you think I’d willingly come forward to expose him?
But he just wouldn’t listen no matter what, and I have no other way. I can’t let him keep sinking deeper and deeper."
"Bah! If you’re going to expose someone, just do it. Why pretend to be virtuous and upright? Wu Xia, is there no limit to your greed? Don’t treat us all like fools. Isn’t it true that because of your poor character and health issues, you can’t have children, and now you can’t find a better match, so you’re clinging to the chance of remarrying my brother? What? My brother saw through your filthy character and would rather stay single than be with you, so now you want to drag everyone down with you because things didn’t go your way?
And false accusations, you really are something!
Do you know what kind of place this is? Do you even realize what you’re doing?
If you alarm my grandfathers and uncles from their peaceful rest, can you bear the consequences? They are lauded heroes!
Because of a barking mad dog, disturbing the peace of heroes. Captain Lin, you’re really something, trusting Wu Xia . Aren’t you afraid she’ll make a fool of you again?
If it turns out you persist in your nonsense and it’s proven she’s just raving, how are you going to clean this up then!"
"So what does this person think...?"
"I’m the niece of Liu Chengji and Liu Chengyou, and a victim of this slander by former sister-in-law Wu Xia and Captain Lin. I’m the wife of Lianshan from the Liu Family Village production brigade, this leader may address me as Lianshan’s wife or Sister Liu." Shuzhen calmly interrupted, briefly introducing her relationship with the deceased, with no trace of fear or panic in her eyes.
Bold and confident, as if determined that Wu Xia and Lin Yuanzhi were falsely accusing. Just this demeanor easily surpassed Captain Lin by a great margin.
I’ve heard that she’s the unlucky Qin Xianglian who was abandoned by the modern Chen Shimei, Dai Weiguo, and also the inventor of some kind of ecological farming method using earthworms to feed chickens, ducks, and geese, and using that manure to raise earthworms, and applying the earthworm manure as fertilizer to fields. Given today’s controversy, whether she continues to shine or falls into disgrace hinges on the investigation’s outcome. Jiang Wenge’s eyebrows raised, feeling that today was certainly worth coming for.
"Oh, Comrade Liu, who do you think should be held responsible, and how should they be held accountable?" Jiang Wenge casually asked, hands in his pockets, as if he were merely discussing the pleasant weather.
A seemingly casual but formal question gave Shuzhen an opportunity to shine. Her eyes lit up as she emphatically stated, "Of course, it’s Wu Xia the false accuser and Lin Yuanzhi, the Captain who can’t distinguish right from wrong. Wu Xia, fueled by resentment, even disregarded the deceased hero’s reputation. This behavior must be severely punished, or else everyone might follow suit and cause chaos. Imagine, even if society doesn’t fall into disarray, wouldn’t you leaders be overwhelmed?
Busy and burdened, bearing the stigma for these false accusers, it’s quite unjust, no?
And Captain Lin, as the leader of the brigade, showing poor judgment. How can he lead us, a thousand folk of Liu Family Village, in development and construction, balancing both tasks with excellence?"
"Oh, does this mean you suggest removing Lin Yuanzhi from his captaincy? But then, what happens to Liu Family Village’s organization? Would you take over the large production brigade?" Jiang Wenge chuckled, speaking with a meaningful undertone. Although he looked down on Lin Yuanzhi, the cowardly man, there was a professional ethics code to follow—taking someone’s money to solve their troubles.
"Why wouldn’t it be possible? Our great leader said women hold up half the sky, and there should be equal pay for equal work. Why couldn’t Shuzhen manage the position of captain of Liu Family Village’s production brigade? First off, she has a junior high education and has self-studied up to high school level, handling ideological work and accounting with no problem. Plus, she discovered methods for earthworm farming and mushroom cultivation, and understands some pharmacology.
She can certainly lead all members of Liu Family Village to contribute more and better to socialism.
To say nothing else, with her leading, Liu Family Village can set new records in egg and mushroom supply.
Compared to Lin Yuanzhi, who only harms members’ interests for personal gain, we’d much rather have someone like Shuzhen leading us to contribute more and better to socialist construction while ensuring everyone has enough to eat!" Seizing the chance to prove herself, Dai Honghua quickly interjected. She was counting on excellent performance to be let off the hook.
When words about ’harming members’ interests for personal gain’ came from the current captain’s wife, they carried different weight, causing a stir on the scene.
It was widely acknowledged that Lianshan’s wife might not excel in other areas, but she was truly skilled in farming and cultivation.
Lin Yuanzhi, who once seemed assured of victory, instantly looked dismayed. In a fit of rage, he shouted at Dai Honghua, "You damned woman, what nonsense are you spewing? Get back home and watch the children. Say one more word, and I won’t tear your skin off when we get home!"
"I’m here today to uphold justice even if a knife is held to my throat. Even then, I have to speak, or I can’t face the guilt in my conscience. True, there’s nothing wrong with aspiring to be an official or even a high-ranking official. But you shouldn’t covet someone else’s achievements as your own. If you can’t out-compete them, don’t resort to dirty tricks and smears. Doesn’t your conscience bother you?" Dai Honghua broke into tears, perfectly embodying a saintly figure, unable to bear seeing her husband go astray, reporting and exposing with tears in her eyes.
To unsuspecting members, such an act appeared quite convincing.