As she spoke, Bai Lili secretly pinched Li Tao hard.
The little boy yelped in pain. Seeing his mother crying so pitifully, he immediately burst into tears as well. Soon, the courtyard echoed with the mother and son’s wailing, making them sound genuinely wronged.
Bai Lili’s hastily concocted sob story was far-fetched, but at first glance, it almost seemed believable.
Especially since she insisted that everything had been done “to make it easier for everyone to eat together and take care of one another.”
Using the banners of “good intentions” and “we’re family,” she managed to make some of the onlookers hesitate. The accusations against her softened slightly.
Political Commissar Zhang frowned deeply. He looked at Bai Lili kneeling on the ground, crying dramatically, then at the sobbing child. Finally, his gaze shifted to Su Jiuyue, whose face was pale and lips tightly pressed together.
Beside her stood Jiaojiao, silently shedding tears while clinging tightly to her mother. Her tiny finger pointed accusingly at the toy car on the ground.
Huo Tingxuan slowly swept his gaze across the crowd before stopping on Su Jiuyue’s hand, white-knuckled around the hammer, and the unyielding fire burning in her eyes.
The courtyard seemed frozen.
Everyone’s attention centered on Su Jiuyue.
They wanted to hear what she would say.
Huo Tingxuan remained silent as well, his eyes never leaving her.
If this had been the old Su Jiuyue, she might have accepted the blame.
She might even have doubted herself.
But the woman standing here today was Su Jiuyue—the one who had died once and clawed her way back from hell.
“To make things easier?”
Instead of being moved by Bai Lili’s so-called kindness, Su Jiuyue let out a cold laugh, as though she’d heard the greatest joke in the world.
“Sister-in-law, your definition of ‘convenient’ is certainly impressive! Convenient enough that the little toy car Commander Huo specially gave my daughter somehow ended up in your house for your son to play with?
Convenient enough that even the half bag of sugar I kept in my cabinet for Jiaojiao to drink with water found its way into your sugar jar?
Were you planning for my daughter and me to live on nothing but the northwest wind while conveniently moving that into your kitchen too?”
Her words tore apart Bai Lili’s fake kindness completely.
“And another thing.”
Su Jiuyue didn’t give her a chance to respond.
She turned directly toward Li Yanchuan.
“Big Brother.”
The title itself made her let out a sarcastic chuckle.
Li Yanchuan’s heart skipped a beat. For a moment, he thought Su Jiuyue had somehow figured everything out.
But her next words struck him like a bolt of lightning.
“Big Brother! This morning, in front of everyone, you swore you’d take good care of us—a widow and her child. Yet the moment you turned around, you let your wife sneak into my house and carry off everything she could!
Is this what you call taking care of us?
Taking care of us until our house is stripped clean? Even stealing a little child’s toy?
Your kind of care is more than we can bear! I’m afraid if I fall asleep one day, you’ll take the skin off my back while you’re at it!”
“You…!”
Li Yanchuan trembled with rage. Veins bulged on his forehead.
Unable to endure her relentless accusations any longer, he stepped forward, trying to project the dignity and patience of an elder brother.
“Su Jiuyue! Watch your mouth! Lili… she meant well. Maybe her methods weren’t the best.
We’re family. How can taking a few things from family be called stealing? We were… we were only keeping them safe for you so you wouldn’t be reminded of your husband every time you saw them!
Why are you making such a scene? Do you want everyone laughing at our family?”
He tried to steer the issue toward a mere family dispute and paint Su Jiuyue as the unreasonable one.
“Meant well? Keeping them safe?”
Su Jiuyue laughed as though she’d heard the most absurd words imaginable. She deliberately raised her voice so everyone present could hear.
“Li Haichuan! Save those lies for someone foolish enough to believe them!
My husband has only just died. His ashes aren’t even cold yet!
And already you’re prying open my locks, rummaging through my cabinets, and carrying off my belongings!
You didn’t even spare my child!
If that isn’t theft, then what is?
Do you have to wait until after my husband’s first-seven mourning period, after you’ve driven my daughter and me out of our home, before it counts as stealing?”
She turned toward Political Commissar Zhang and the gathered neighbors, tears overflowing once more.
“Commissar! Aunties, sisters-in-law, brothers—please judge this fairly!
I’m putting my words on the record today!
I know every single thing they took!
One pair of enamel mugs, bought just last year for 1.20 yuan at the supply and marketing cooperative!
Five feet of blue floral cloth that I saved ration coupons for three whole months to buy so I could make Jiaojiao a New Year’s outfit!
Half a pound of sugar for my daughter’s drinks!
And Jiaojiao’s toy car—that was a gift from Commander Huo!”
Taking a deep breath, she pointed at the toy car on the ground, then toward the stolen items still visible inside Bai Lili’s house.
“Every one of those things must be returned today!
Not a single item can be missing!
And from this day forward, my home has no place for the two of you!
Your so-called care—
I don’t want it.
Stay as far away from my daughter and me as possible!”
“That’s right! Return everything!”
“How shameless! Give it back!”
“Commissar Zhang, you have to stand up for Comrade Su Jiuyue!”
Su Jiuyue’s firm stance and detailed accusations reignited the crowd’s outrage.
Voices rose one after another in support of her, while the looks directed at Li Yanchuan and Bai Lili were filled with contempt.
Political Commissar Zhang’s face had turned as dark as the bottom of a scorched pot.
He shot Li Haichuan a fierce glare as the man still tried to defend himself, then looked at Bai Lili, kneeling on the ground with tears streaming down her face while her eyes darted about guiltily.
He could see the truth as clearly as day.
“Good intentions”? “Eating together”?
What nonsense.
This was nothing less than taking advantage of a grieving widow and her child.
The nature of the offense was extremely serious.
He refused to hear another excuse.
His voice rang out with unquestionable authority.
“Enough! Everyone be quiet!”
The courtyard instantly fell silent.
Commissar Zhang first turned to Su Jiuyue, his tone gentler.
“Comrade Su Jiuyue, I understand how you feel, and your demands are entirely reasonable.”
Then he faced Li Haichuan and Bai Lili.
“Li Haichuan! Bai Lili!
Your actions have seriously violated discipline, undermined the unity of military families, damaged relations among the residents, and caused an extremely negative impact.
No matter what excuses you make, facts are facts.
Taking someone else’s property without permission is wrong.
This matter will be dealt with seriously.”
Li Haichuan’s face turned deathly pale. His lips moved, but he no longer dared utter a single word in protest.
“I now announce the decision.”
Commissar Zhang raised his voice.
“First: All property taken from Comrade Su Jiuyue’s home that has not been used must be returned immediately, in its original condition.”
He deliberately emphasized the words “original condition.”
“Second: Any items that have been used or cannot be returned as they were shall be compensated at current market value. Comrade Li Haichuan will reimburse Comrade Su Jiuyue accordingly. The Family Compound Committee will verify the exact amount.”
“Third.”
His sharp gaze swept over Li Haichuan and Bai Lili.
“Given the serious nature of this incident, Comrade Li Haichuan is required to submit a written self-criticism and make a public self-criticism before his company Party branch.
The organization will determine whether further disciplinary action is warranted based on his reflection and future conduct.”
Li Haichuan felt the world spin.
A public self-criticism… possible disciplinary punishment…
His future…
“And fourth—and most importantly.”
Commissar Zhang’s tone was absolute.
“Effective immediately, unless Comrade Su Jiuyue gives her explicit consent, Li Haichuan and Bai Lili are forbidden from disturbing Comrade Su Jiuyue and her daughter for any reason or in any form.
You are also prohibited from approaching them or interfering in their affairs under the pretense of helping or caring for them.
From now on, the two households will keep their distance and live their own lives.
Is that understood?”
This was nothing less than a complete severing of ties.