“What do we do now?”
Lin Jianjun countered, “You tell me. Your family can’t cover this up on their own. Someone has to take the fall, otherwise not only you, but I’ll also be implicated.”
Lin Chaohai understood immediately what he meant.
Even before meeting Lin Jianjun, he had been thinking about this for a long time.
Lin Jianjun glanced at him and suddenly asked, “What about your little sister? Still at the hospital?”
Lin Chaohai had a younger brother and sister. His brother was Lin Chaoye, and his sister was Lin Xiaomei.
The family had come to the city to take care of their father’s leg, while Lin Chaoye managed the fields. Lin Xiaomei, originally in high school in the countryside, had been called to the city over a week ago to take care of their father. At night, she set up a makeshift bed in the hospital’s public area.
Hearing this, Lin Chaohai frowned. “Xiaomei’s been in the city just over a week, and has been staying in the hospital the whole time.”
“How is she eating?” Lin Jianjun asked.
“Sometimes she goes home to get meals, occasionally my mother brings them over,” Lin Chaohai answered.
“That explains it!” Lin Jianjun analyzed. “Qiao Qingqing likes you, and her family wants to use you to ‘clean your class status.’ Xiaomei is naïve and easily influenced. She accepted money from the Qiao family, helped set this up, and hid the gold under your mother’s bed. It makes sense.”
He added, “She’s taking the fall. The worst-case scenario is being sent down for reeducation—no settlement or subsidy—but otherwise it’s the same as other sent-down youth. City girls can handle the hardships of the countryside; for a rural girl like her, it’s nothing.”
Lin Chaohai frowned. “But…”
Lin Jianjun interrupted him. “But what? Think about it—you can’t lose your family, and I can’t be affected either. Xiaomei just finished high school—what can she do? She won’t get into a Worker-Peasant-Soldier university. Eventually, she’ll still stay in the village, farming and getting married. Once her mindset is properly handled, if she has no settlement, we can chip in a bit, send her things from outside. Life will be better than staying in the village. Don’t get soft-hearted.”
After hearing this, Lin Chaohai finally spoke. “But the gold is hidden under my mother Li Xiulian’s bed. She can’t completely wash herself of this.”
Lin Jianjun froze. “Then how do we handle it?”
Lin Chaohai took a deep breath. “My father’s leg had surgery and he’s still under observation in the hospital. He hasn’t even met Qiao Qingqing. That makes him the cleanest.”
He paused and added, “I reported my intent to marry Qiao Qingqing to the military. I don’t know her family’s background, but it can be managed. My mother, however, can’t handle it.”
Lin Jianjun opened his mouth but had no words, silenced by the logic.
He believed that a grown man shouldn’t have a woman’s sentimentality, but he hadn’t expected Lin Chaohai to push his own mother forward.
After considering it carefully, he realized Lin Chaohai was right.
The gold was hidden under Li Xiulian’s bed. During the house search, her strong reaction suggested she knew about it—she couldn’t be fully absolved.
“If she’s sent down, Xiaomei goes with Mom. Mom’s old, and Xiaomei can look after her a bit.”
Lin Chaohai made a difficult decision. “You’re right. Someone has to take the fall.”
Lin Jianjun looked at him and thought, “He’s ruthless… but effective. Who will handle Xiaomei’s political education?”
“I’m not in a position now. You go talk to her,” Lin Chaohai said. “Tell her if she’s sent down, I’ll give her 200 yuan settlement. Otherwise, she can marry. There are plenty of bachelors in the village. Let her weigh it herself.”
Lin Chaohai didn’t think Lin Xiaomei would suffer.
She had been excited just seeing Qiao Qingqing from afar, saying her dress couldn’t be bought in department stores, and encouraged him to approach.
Now the gold was gone, but if things worked out, the family would have money—Lin Xiaomei would benefit as well.
She only wanted benefit, not risk; nothing in the world comes for free.
The two men talked a bit more and quickly divided the money obtained that day.
After thinking it through, although something had gone wrong, the sky hadn’t fallen, and Lin Jianjun felt better. Seeing the time, he was about to leave when Lin Chaohai stopped him.
“One more thing,” Lin Chaohai said grimly. “That Xu Peiling dared to trap me—we can’t let her go.”
Even if Li Xiulian and Lin Xiaomei took the fall, he would still be implicated and disciplined by superiors.
First, issues with personal conduct—he would face public criticism.
Then, regarding political stance, at least three months of intensive study, or even demotion and reassignment to a remote area.
His superior was a stubborn, justice-driven old hand. No matter what, future promotion would be impossible.
“She didn’t report her in-laws? Then wherever they go, she’ll follow—probably the harshest northern regions,” he said angrily.
He had considered helping her before, out of past favor—but she brought disaster on herself.
Lin Jianjun, still furious, said, “Don’t worry, I’ll handle it. If she hadn’t filed the report, those big yellowfish wouldn’t have been found without getting her share. Cutting off someone’s livelihood is like killing their parents—do you think I’ll let her off?”
“What about Qiao Qingqing?” Lin Jianjun asked. “Will you still help her? Honestly, I’ve never seen anyone prettier than her. No wonder you were smitten.”
Lin Chaohai shook his head. “I’m powerless.”
His feelings for Qiao Qingqing were too complicated.
There’s a big difference between obtaining something and being denied it.
It’s like dangling meat in front of you—no matter how long you stretch, you can’t bite it, leaving you frustrated.
He wasn’t reconciled to this.
…
What Lin Chaohai and Lin Jianjun were plotting, Qiao Qingqing didn’t hear—but she could imagine.
She was mentally prepared: it would be best if Lin Chaohai got expelled from the military.
But Lin Chaohai had no other abilities, and was cunning and vicious—he could easily shift the blame.
Either way, Li Xiulian couldn’t escape.
When Qiao Qingqing entered the study class, her valuable dresses and leather shoes were taken, supposedly to “strip the capitalist dogs of luxury.”
She was given a worn-out cotton-linen outfit, slightly musty. She behaved obediently and put it on.
Dirty clothes didn’t matter; clean underwear was enough.
The hardest part was using the toilet.
The training team wouldn’t allow her to go. With someone always watching, she couldn’t use her space; she had to hold it in, unable to stand. The team pointed and laughed; she silently endured.
Not until nightfall, when they left, did she finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Qiao Qingqing knew these measures weren’t just punishments—they could also be exploited.
No toilet breaks, no sleep, but you could pay for it, use goods to offset it, or send a note to relatives and friends for help.
She had already told her mother that the safe’s code, bankbook password, and hidden money could all be used for exchange. Money could be earned again; no one should suffer.
Her interrogation was the next day.
The interrogator, surnamed Yang, was short, stocky, with a pockmarked face. Qiao Qingqing was a bit surprised—this was Yang Mazzi, the current head of the special task force.
She stood obediently, answering every question.
She denied any romantic feelings with Lin Chaohai, framing everything as a transaction: her family paid, Lin Chaohai “cleansed” the class status.
Evidence: Lin Chaohai had a recent relationship with Xu Peiling, who he nearly married, but then began contacting Qiao Qingqing and accepted her family’s money.
Yang Mazzi asked, “According to Li Xiulian, you’ve never met Xu Peiling, nor has she mentioned her. How do you know about her?”
Qiao Qingqing answered fluently, “I met Xu Peiling. She approached me. Twice when I walked in the alley, I felt watched, then she appeared and told me she’d been involved with Lin Chaohai.”
Yang asked, “This is your claim only. Any evidence?”
Qiao Qingqing: “No direct evidence, but Xu Peiling lingered around the alley those days. I believe many saw her. Just ask, and you’ll know.”
Yang asked, “Were you jealous and therefore resentful toward Lin Chaohai?”
Qiao Qingqing shook her head. “I have no reason to resent him. He abandoned Xu Peiling for me. I benefit. If anyone should be resentful, it’s Xu Peiling.”
Yang Mazzi nodded, seemingly accepting this logic.