Li Lan’s eyes reddened too, and she charged in, clawing at people. When she couldn’t reach them, she kicked Li Jiaojiao in the chest. She’d clearly inherited her mother’s skills.
Li Jiaojiao was terrified and struggled with all her might.
“Who are you people? Help! Mom, save me!”
Wang Yun and Li Hongyuan hurried to break up the fight, but the neighbors waiting outside to watch the commotion had already rushed in.
“Come on, you’re family. Talk it out!”
“You shouldn’t be fighting!”
Somehow, Li Hongyuan was “persuaded” to one side, while Wang Yun got swept right into the fray…
The sky had only just begun to brighten when Wang Yun urged Li Hongyuan to hurry and borrow a vehicle to go into town and get the money.
Wu Guihua was very diligent. She made several bowls of malted milk and even “kindly” brought one to Wang Yun.
Wang Yun’s hands trembled as she drank it. It tasted more bitter than goldthread.
But she didn’t dare say so!
The moment Li Hongyuan honked downstairs, the pig-faced mother and daughter fled as if for their lives.
They could save up more money!
As long as she kept Li Hongyuan on her side, she and her children would have better days ahead.
But if they didn’t get Wu Guihua out of there…
They wouldn’t live to see tomorrow!
Wu Guihua and her daughter took their time finishing their malted milk, then she gave her son a princely fifty cents.
Li Xiaojun darted out at once and ran to the service store to buy some snacks.
Li Lan kept watch at the door while Wu Guihua did a quick “tidy-up” inside. Then mother and daughter went downstairs.
Quite a few women like Auntie Liu were sitting in sunny, sheltered spots in the courtyard, mending clothes and socks.
Wu Guihua went over to talk to them, and before long they were chatting away like old friends.
Li Hongyuan and Wang Yun returned with the money, bringing Political Commissar Huang along as a witness.
As soon as they entered the courtyard, they heard Wu Guihua shaking her head and sighing, full of regret.
“The bed in the master bedroom is too small. My Hongyuan and Sister-in-law have really been put out all these years. But it’s cold here, so sleeping close together does keep you warmer…”
Li Hongyuan’s head nearly exploded. He rushed over and shoved a stack of ten-yuan notes into Wu Guihua’s mouth—no, her hand.
Wu Guihua smacked her lips twice, still not quite satisfied, then ended her little confidential-sharing session with all her newly made old friends.
“Li Hongyuan, Lanzi and I are heading back now. You and Sister-in-law need to take good care of Xiaojun. He’s frail; if you don’t look after him properly, he’ll get sick.”
Wu Guihua said the last sentence especially loudly.
Wang Yun wished she would vanish on the spot. She just kept nodding, unable to make out any deeper meaning.
Wu Guihua tucked the money into her clothes—actually sending it into her storage space—then strolled slowly toward the gate with her daughter.
Wang Yun breathed a sigh of relief and, with her legs gone soft, wanted to go home and lie down for a while.
But the moment she pushed open the door to her home, a scream shot up to the heavens!
Li Hongyuan and Political Commissar Huang came racing upstairs after her, and they were dumbstruck too.
The living room, once crammed full, was completely empty.
The table was gone, the sofa was gone, the thermos and tea mugs were gone, the washbasin stand was gone, and the cupboard where they kept their grain and cooking oil was empty!
The two bedrooms were just as bare. The beds, wardrobe, bedding, clothes, books, and notebooks were all gone!
Only a New Year’s poster of a chubby baby remained on the wall, grinning happily…
Wu Guihua ambled to the Military District gate. At last, Wang Yun and Li Hongyuan came running after her, followed by a whole string of young and old from the military family compound.
Wang Yun was truly desperate. She dropped to her knees with a thud and clung tightly to Wu Guihua’s leg.
“Waaah, Guihua! I know you’re angry because you misunderstood me. It’s all my fault—you can hit me, you can curse me! But how could you steal everything from our home? How are we supposed to live now?
“Please, have a heart and give me back Jiaojiao’s father’s compensation money, will you? Waaah, that was meant to be Jiaojiao’s dowry, and Pengyu’s betrothal gifts!
“It’s my fault for being useless, for failing to protect the money her father died earning! Waaah, I don’t want to live anymore. I’ve failed both my children!”
Li Hongyuan’s face turned livid. He grabbed Wu Guihua by the arm.
“Comrade Wu, you wanted money, and I gave it to you. What more do you want? Give our things back right now, or I won’t go easy on you!”
Wu Guihua wrenched her arm free and kicked Wang Yun, sending her sprawling face-first onto the ground.
“Are you people out of your minds? What kind of fit are you throwing first thing in the morning? Who stole your things? Explain yourself!
“I can’t make ends meet, so I brought my child here to ask for money for medical treatment!
“You felt sorry about the money and wanted it back—that’s one thing. But how can you smear me like this?”
Wu Guihua was so aggrieved she grabbed Political Commissar Huang, whose face was full of embarrassment.
“Commissar, you tell me who’s right! Yesterday I said I didn’t want to go to their home because I was afraid they’d pull something, but they begged and begged me to come. They were making eyes at each other right in front of me. I was so disgusted I went home early to give them some privacy. Was that wrong too?”
Political Commissar Huang grimaced in pain and hurried to explain.
“Comrade Wu, please calm down. Battalion Commander Li’s home has been emptied; not a thing was left. They’re panicking! And just now, you were the only ones at home…”
“Emptied? Not a thing left?”
Wu Guihua burst out laughing and clapped her hands.
“Someone saw injustice and stepped in! What kind of gallant bandit was it who knew those treacherous lovers had made my life so miserable and came to avenge me?”
“Wu Guihua, what nonsense are you talking?” Li Hongyuan moved to strike her again. “Give our things back!”
Wu Guihua wasn’t afraid in the least. She planted her hands on her hips and shouted back.
“Did dog shit clog your brain? Your home was emptied out, furniture, clothes, and bedding all gone, wasn’t it?”
“Yes!” Li Hongyuan’s head was already ringing at the thought of their empty two-bedroom apartment.
Wu Guihua patted her and her daughter’s bony frames. “You blockhead! Do we look like we could hide a wardrobe, let alone clothes and bedding?”
Li Hongyuan was momentarily stumped, and Wang Yun forgot to cry.
Political Commissar Huang’s face turned red with embarrassment.
They’d only remembered that Wu Guihua and her daughter were the last to leave the home. They’d forgotten that they’d left empty-handed…
Wang Yun wasn’t ready to give up. She pointed to the bundle on Wu Guihua’s arm.
“Jiaojiao’s father’s compensation money…”
Wu Guihua had been waiting for that moment. She untied the bundle and flung its contents out.
Inside two ragged jackets, patched over and over, was a large handful of colorful slips. They scattered across the ground.
Curious, many people bent down to pick them up.
Hospital payment receipts!
Blood donation slips!
Traditional medicine prescriptions!
An IOU for grain borrowed from the village!
Wu Guihua seized Li Hongyuan by the collar and forced him down toward the ground.
“Open your dog eyes and look! Look at these things—did I steal them from you?
“I secretly sold my blood to pay for your son’s medical treatment.
“I secretly went hunting in the mountains too, risking my life against a blind bear, to keep your mother well fed!
“I even secretly begged the village leaders just to borrow a little grain, because your mother had mailed all the grain from home to you!
“I did all those things in secret, and I admit it! But I never stole so much as a loose thread or a grain of rice from that doghouse of yours!
“Because I thought it was filthy. Filthy!”
A blood-selling slip stuck to Li Hongyuan’s face. He couldn’t say a word.
Wang Yun’s mind raced, but apart from crying and playing the victim, she couldn’t think of anything else.
An elderly woman from the military family compound couldn’t stand it any longer.
“Teacher Wang, you stole someone else’s husband. Fine—enjoy your comfortable life with plenty to eat and wear. But don’t torment Battalion Commander Li’s wife to death!”
“Exactly,” another military wife chimed in as a witness. “I saw Battalion Commander Li’s wife come downstairs. She was carrying only that ragged bundle. She didn’t take anything else.”
“I saw her too! Teacher Wang, how can you have so little conscience?”
“That’s right. You can’t treat people like this. Heaven is watching.”