Hurrying over and blending into the crowd, Lin Qiao munched happily on a handful of sunflower seeds, thoroughly enjoying the spectacle.
Although a little disappointed she couldn’t take the stage herself, she reminded herself she was the playwright here! She just didn’t understand why the Xu and Sun families hadn’t shown up yet—if they were late, Director Ge might finish the entire performance on her own!
“Who do you think it is? That brat Zhao Hongbing dares slander me—wait till I go beat him to death!”
Zhao Jianjun tried to rush out, but his father stopped him. “Jianjun, don’t be impulsive! Speak properly!”
Zhao Jianjun was reckless and fearless, except when it came to his father. Being blocked by Zhao Shizhong, he dared neither speak nor act, clenching his fists, face red with fury, chest heaving, and glaring at Ge Hongxia like he wanted to kill her.
Usually, he was the one accusing others and slandering people. But today, this old woman Ge Hongxia had turned the tables on him, and he felt utterly wronged!
And Zhao Hongbing had the audacity to lie about him—this traitor wouldn’t be spared!
Zhao Shizhong, still smiling pleasantly, addressed Ge Hongxia: “Director Ge, one can eat carelessly, but one cannot speak carelessly! As I said, the shoe might have been stolen by some miscreant trying to frame my son. As for Zhao Hongbing’s claim of seeing my son steal chickens, it may not be true.
“Don’t worry, hear me out first. Although Zhao Hongbing works under Jianjun, he’s small-minded and may hold a grudge just because Jianjun scolded him a few times. He could be taking this chance to slander Jianjun.
“Don’t believe slanderers—they’d chill the hearts of revolutionary comrades!”
Ge Hongxia nearly laughed in disbelief. She had underestimated Zhao Shizhong before; her husband’s straightforward nature really hadn’t been wronged in losing the captain position.
This guy could even call black white! Why not say he can fly next?
Today, she was determined to crush this chicken-stealing accusation once and for all. Otherwise, with Zhao Shizhong’s sly, smiling-but-devious personality, who knew what future “punishments” he might try to sneak against the Zhang family?
The onlookers, played by this back-and-forth drama, were confused. Some began to suggest Zhao Jianjun might have been falsely accused. Others noted that Zhao Hongbing seemed so honest, they hadn’t expected him to be deceitful.
No one dared comment on Ge Hongxia, though—partly because she had real prestige in the village, and partly because anyone who offended her risked being verbally torn apart, unable even to relieve themselves in peace at home.
Even facing the Zhao family today, Ge Hongxia was restraining herself—this was mostly a verbal battle. She was already giving the captain some face.
The onlookers, hoping to see Ge Hongxia show her power but fearing collateral damage, watched intently.
Lin Qiao weaved through the crowd. “Right! Exactly what you said!” Her eyes sparkled as she echoed the crowd’s words, forgetting she was technically the director of this drama, fully immersed as an ordinary spectator.
Just as Ge Hongxia prepared to argue further, they heard Chunxing shouting from the Zhao yard:
“Father! Mother! Something’s wrong! Come look at the chicken coop! Our chickens…”
Chunxing, panting, ran to the gate, only to see her father-in-law’s glare full of killing intent. Her voice cut off abruptly.
Oh no! Had she messed up again?
She pressed close to the gate, shrinking into a ball, too scared to speak.
The crowd erupted in chatter:
“Did you hear what Chunxing just said?”
“Yes! About the chicken coop—could their coop really be hiding Director Ge’s chickens?”
“Don’t jump to conclusions. She didn’t say their chickens increased, let’s hear the rest first.”
“The captain’s strict with his family—look at Chunxing, scared like a quail!”
Zhao Shizhong glared at this meddlesome girl—she was stirring things up for the Zhao family!
Was it really the right time to mention the chicken coop? Even though Chunxing hadn’t finished, he already suspected something—maybe his family had been schemed against. But by whom? Zhang Lao San? He shook his head; Zhang Lao San wasn’t cunning enough. Then he glanced at Ge Hongxia, whose eyes sparkled with sly delight. Could it really be this woman?
What was she plotting? Even if she framed his son for stealing chickens, would her husband suddenly become village militia captain? That was wishful thinking! He was still alive!
Forget it. Whatever, today they had to resolve this. He couldn’t let these people storm his yard to inspect the chicken coop. What would happen to the captain’s authority?
“Director Ge, you see—”
Ge Hongxia, done listening to his evasions, knew this man was sly and cunning. Fairness and justice? His heart was black as coal.
She shoved Zhao Shizhong aside, walked to Chunxing, and asked kindly, “Xing’er, what did you want to say about your chicken coop?”
Chunxing was about to cry, too scared to speak. She regretted coming out and worried her father-in-law might send her back to her parents’ house.
After a moment, seeing Chunxing still too scared, Ge Hongxia wasn’t upset. Turning to Zhao Shizhong with a look of seeing through everything, she smiled: “Captain Zhao, since Chunxing doesn’t dare speak, will you dare open your house doors and let us all see your chicken coop for ourselves?”
Zhao Shizhong’s face alternated between red and white in anger. This audacious woman actually dared to demand everyone see his backyard—did she think it was a public market?
Just as the standoff escalated, two women pushed through the crowd: “Make way! Let us through.”
“Push? Even watching a show requires a line!”
“Move aside! Our chickens were stolen too!”
Hearing this, Lin Qiao’s heart leapt. She pushed aside the people around her and grabbed the two women, bringing them to the front. Scolding them playfully: “The drama’s almost over—why are you two only showing up now?”
Xiaofang’s mother was confused—who was this girl?
Tiezhu’s wife, embarrassed, quietly explained: “The dogs barked all night, we woke late, just came as soon as we heard.”
Lin Qiao raised her fists in encouragement: “It’s fine, go on! Seek justice, settle scores!”
Tiezhu’s wife nodded firmly and continued forward.
Xiaofang’s mother hesitated: “How did you know we weren’t just here to watch?”
Lin Qiao blinked innocently: “Didn’t you just say it yourselves? Your chickens were stolen too?”
Though skeptical, Xiaofang’s mother didn’t delay further and followed Tiezhu’s wife to Zhao’s gate.
By now, no one in the crowd spoke—no one willing to yield.
Finally, Tiezhu’s wife, tearful, softly said, “Director Ge, you must help me! Two of our chickens were stolen last night!”
Xiaofang’s mother quickly added, “Director Ge, ours too—two chickens gone!”
Lin Qiao thought: well done!