The team leader was taken over by the county public security bureau, and all the items found at the Xu Family’s home were to be taken away.
Ma Jiuxiang, with tears and snot streaming down her face, blocked the doorway. "What has Xu Wenchang done? My children and I had no idea! If you take all the money and property from our home, how will we live?"
The people from the Red Committee, already frustrated by their fruitless trip, now found an outlet for their anger. They bound Ma Jiuxiang as well, declaring, "As Xu Wenchang’s wife, you must also return with us for questioning."
At this, Ma Jiuxiang was dumbfounded. Her hands grasped the doorframe as she cried, "I know nothing! I won’t go!"
But no one listened. Two members of the Red Committee promptly pulled her away.
In her panic, Ma Jiuxiang cried out to the crowd for help, "Branch Secretary, please help me! I truly know nothing!"
Branch Secretary Yang Gengtian’s frown was so deep it could have crushed a fly. With such an incident occurring in the village, his position as Branch Secretary was likely compromised, and the team’s chances of being recognized as advanced would also come to nothing. He had no power to save anyone.
Besides, given Xu Wenchang’s current situation, it was inevitable that Ma Jiuxiang would be taken for questioning. Nobody could save her.
Soon, Xu Wenchang was also escorted out of the team office by the police. His head hung low in defeat, all his former vitality gone.
Ma Jiuxiang, being pushed forward by the Red Committee members, saw him. Breaking free from those restraining her, she rushed towards him. "Xu Wenchang, you damned bastard! What have you done? Are you trying to destroy me and the children?"
In her fury, her gaze inadvertently fell upon Qiu Baojuan standing behind the crowd, and her eyes instantly filled with bitter venom. "I want to report something! Xu Wenchang and Widow Qiu have been carrying on an illicit affair, and they even have illegitimate children! She must be in league with Xu Wenchang."
Immediately, the Red Committee members started shouting, "Where is Widow Qiu?" Read complete version only at NoveI~Fire.net
At those words, Qiu Baojuan, who had come out to gather news, collapsed to the ground. She had seen the fate of those taken by the Red Committee during a previous visit to the county. If her mother were taken away, how could she and her brother possibly go on living?
A woman who usually didn’t get along with Widow Qiu pointed towards the Qiu Family’s home. "The Qiu Family lives over there."
Only after speaking did she remember that Widow Qiu had been locked up the previous night.
Hearing this, Qiu Baojuan trembled with fury.
Then that woman added, "Last night, her affair with Xu Wenchang was exposed, and she was detained at the team office."
All eyes turned towards Branch Secretary Yang Gengtian, who was standing nearby.
Indeed, what else could the Branch Secretary say?
It wasn’t long before Widow Qiu was also escorted out. However, she was taken by the Red Committee, while Xu Wenchang and Ma Jiuxiang were taken by the police.
After those people left, Songling Village once again erupted into an uproar.
Someone spoke up, "Do you think the team leader really committed a crime?"
"Didn’t the police say they came to arrest him because they received a report?"
"But they didn’t specify what crime the team leader actually committed, did they?"
"With such a big commotion, the matter surely can’t be trivial."
"Who still calls him ’Team Leader’? We can’t afford such a disgraceful leader!"
"Exactly! I can’t believe he and Widow Qiu have been involved for so long."
"Qiu Baolin is Xu Wenchang’s son, so Qiu Baojuan must be involved too, right?"
"Then do you think Qiu Chunzhu could have been murdered by them?"
The discussion grew even more intense. "I always said, how could a strong man like Qiu Chunzhu suddenly fall ill and die? It must have been those two shameless scoundrels who harmed him!"