Compared to Niu Maizi’s words, of course Li Shulan’s story was much more believable.Everyone knew what kind of people Niu Maizi’s maiden family were.Besides, the two households hadn’t interacted for years—not even during the New Year holidays. They were practically strangers now. What “good thing” could Niu Maizi possibly have that would make her suddenly show up at Li Shulan’s place?
Most likely it was exactly as Li Shulan said—Niu Maizi wanted to play matchmaker in the worst way possible.
Otherwise, why would Li Shulan be this furious?
Thinking of this, everyone looked down at Niu Maizi with open disdain.
Niu Maizi hurriedly said, “No, it’s not like that! I didn’t! I really did find a good man for Li Shulan. He’s only 38, a broadcaster at the commune, earns wages—if I’m lying, may lightning strike me!”
“Pah!” Li Shulan spat at her.
“You have a younger sister who’s a widow. If things were really as wonderful as you claim, would you not introduce him to your own sister? And you’d instead be so kind to me? I don’t believe a word of it, and neither does anyone else here! Stop twisting things around—I want my two hundred yuan. If you don’t return it, we’ll go straight to the town police station. I have plenty of things I’d like to discuss with them anyway.”
Finished speaking, she cast Niu Maizi a meaningful glance.
“Fine, let’s go! Li Shulan, you wicked woman—I’ll make sure you end up in jail!” Qin Dazhu roared.
But hearing Li Shulan’s blatantly threatening last sentence, Niu Maizi quickly grabbed her husband and glared at Li Shulan viciously. After a long moment, she gritted out,
“Li Shulan, you know very well I never stole your money. If you don’t want me to report you, then fine—pay me two hundred. No, four hundred! Or I’ll go to the police, and don’t blame me if your youngest son gets dragged into this…”
She thought she’d already compromised. If Li Shulan still didn’t agree, then she would fight to the end.As long as she could send Li Shulan to jail, her husband surely wouldn’t kick her out.Of course, getting four hundred yuan immediately would be even better.
Unexpectedly, Li Shulan didn’t even look at her. Instead, she lifted her head toward the brigade captain.
“Captain, I don’t want to go report this either—it’ll hurt our brigade’s year-end evaluation. But two hundred yuan isn’t a small matter. If Niu Maizi doesn’t bring out the stolen money today, I’ll have no choice but to ride my bicycle to town.”
Hearing this, plus seeing how afraid Niu Maizi was of going to the police, the captain made up his mind.
“Auntie Niu, if you accidentally took Aunt Lan’s money, just hand it back,” he said.
Niu Maizi’s eyes widened. “Captain, don’t listen to her lies! I didn’t steal anything—I didn’t!”
Li Shulan sighed. “Then I guess I’ll just have to head to town. Captain, if our brigade can’t buy fertilizer or seeds next year, don’t blame me.”
She turned as if to go get her bicycle.
“Hold it!” the captain suddenly barked.
He exchanged a glance with his wife. “Take a few people and search Auntie Niu.”
“No! You can’t search me! What right do you have to search me? It was Li Shulan who hit me—I’m going to the police! I’m going!” Niu Maizi shouted desperately, ready to risk everything.
But the captain replied firmly, “Even if you’re going to the police, we search you first.”
Qin Dazhu added angrily, “Fine! Qin Dan i u, you’re clearly siding with that wicked woman. After the search, not only will we report Li Shulan, I’ll go to the commune and report you for being unfair!”
Li Shulan spoke again, unhurriedly, “Captain, since the two of them were just hugging each other, we can’t rule out that Qin Dazhu helped hide the money. I suggest searching them both. Right here. Otherwise they might toss it somewhere.”
The captain didn’t comment, but he nodded for a few male team members to help. They used some undershirts to form two makeshift screens and began the search.
In less than a moment, a shout came from the women’s side.
“Found it! This shameless woman hid it inside her underwear!”
A woman stepped out, holding up a small fabric pouch.
“That’s mine!” Li Shulan immediately said. “I counted it just this morning!”
At the same time, Qin Dazhu stared at his wife in disbelief, and even Niu Maizi froze for a second before shouting, “Li Shulan, you’re talking nonsense—that’s MY money!”
“Oh please,” Li Shulan scoffed. “Every word you say costs money at this point. Keep lying—maybe next you’ll claim all the money in the bank belongs to you? That pouch was embroidered by my eldest daughter-in-law, and besides the flower on it, my name is stitched inside. Are you Li Shulan? Stop claiming things blindly!”
But Niu Maizi could no longer care about anything else.
“Captain, I picked that handkerchief in the field days ago! But believe me, the money inside really IS mine! Our families haven’t spoken in years—how would I know where she hides her savings? The money is mine!”
Li Shulan dramatically rolled her eyes.
The captain took the pouch from the team member and asked,
“Since both of you say the money is yours, fine—tell me how much is inside. Or whether there’s any kind of mark.”
Even in this era, many women marked their bills to guard against theft.Li Shulan had been repeating “two hundred yuan” nonstop, so the captain had heard it clearly.
Without thinking, Niu Maizi blurted out, “There’s two hundred yuan! It’s all our family’s savings!”
The captain frowned. Amount alone couldn’t prove ownership. He asked again,
“Any other identifying marks?”
Niu Maizi scowled. “I always keep the money on me—why would I mark it? But it’s mine!”
Not only was she planning to pocket Li Shulan’s two hundred—she wanted to extort four hundred on top of it!With six hundred yuan, she’d be able to rebuild a whole new house no matter what Li Shulan chose to do.
Li Shulan let out a sneer.
“Sister-in-law, you say you lost two hundred, and you truly believe there are only two hundred inside? I’ll tell you right now—there are exactly two hundred thirty-five yuan and twenty cents in that pouch!”
“Not only that, every ten-yuan note has a tiny needle hole in the upper-right corner. And the last ten-yuan note at the bottom? Its serial number ends in 888!”
Hearing this, Niu Maizi’s face went deathly pale.
That wretched woman!She had set her up from the beginning!
The captain opened the pouch and counted the money inside—it was exactly as Li Shulan described: 235.2 yuan, needle holes, and even the 888 bill.
Niu Maizi was left speechless.
Li Shulan, however, didn’t let up. “Weren’t you going to the police? Go then! You thief. For more than two hundred yuan, breaking one of your legs would be lenient—breaking both would be fair!”
Niu Maizi glared at her, eyes blood-red.
“It was you! You framed me! You put the money on me on purpose!”
“Oh sure—because Shulan has three hands, right? Enough to slip money into your underwear without you noticing,” the woman who searched her mocked. “I saw your fifth child steal eggs from my chicken coop last month and swear they were laid by your own chickens. Looks like he learned from his mother. Thieves raising thieves—what a family!”
Another woman chimed in, “We were in the same group cutting wheat a few days ago. That egg in my bowl definitely went missing because of this thief. Eats it without fearing her mouth will rot…”
“Absolutely true. Last time I went home to use the toilet, I saw your fifth child sneak in through the window into his uncle’s room. With moves like that, he’s clearly practiced. If the kids are like this, imagine what the mother is capable of…”
“I didn’t! You people are spouting nonsense! My fifth child doesn’t steal—Li Shulan framed me!”