That roar really made everyone freeze.
The four-pocketed officer’s uniform worked better in this remote, impoverished countryside than the big-brimmed hats of the county officials.
No one dared to be the first to make a move.
If anyone really swung a club and hit this man, their entire family, young and old, would suffer the consequences.
Shen Yu felt a surge of satisfaction.
She reached back and grabbed Gu Huai’an’s sleeve—why not make use of this ready-made banner when it was right there?
Playing the fox borrowing the tiger’s authority was something she excelled at.
“Commanding officer, they just said they were going to drag me through the streets for public shaming, and they called you a wild man.”
Gu Huai’an glanced back at her but didn’t expose her little scheme.
“Who said that just now? Step forward and let me have a look.”
Wang Dashan broke out in a cold sweat: “A misunderstanding, it’s all a misunderstanding… Our production brigade was just trying to address issues of misconduct…”
“Whether my wife and I have issues with our conduct—is that any business of a village Party secretary like you?” Gu Huai’an sneered. “You want to investigate me on behalf of the organization?”
“I wouldn’t dare! I wouldn’t dare!”
Wang Dashan was so frightened he nearly knelt. He turned to look for Lin Qichuan and Wang Zhaodi to take the blame, but the two had already shrunk behind the door.
Shen Yu snorted a couple of times and was about to strike while the iron was hot when a sudden wail cut through the air.
“Shen Yu! You damned little whore!”
The crowd was shoved aside as Erliuzi’s mother, Widow Lai, rushed over with disheveled hair, brandishing a pair of scissors aimed straight at Shen Yu’s face.
This woman had always been a troublemaker in the village, relying on her poor peasant status to throw tantrums without consequence.
“You kicked my son useless and think you can just walk away? No way! If you don’t give me an explanation today, I’ll stab you to death with these scissors!”
Xiao Zhang reacted swiftly, stepping forward in a flash to block Widow Lai and stop her in her tracks.
She didn’t try to force her way through but instead collapsed to the ground.
“Heavens above! There’s no way to live anymore! I could’ve accepted that this loose woman seduced my son into the cornfield! But she pulls up her pants and denies everything, and even goes for the kill! My family has had only one son for three generations—she’s trying to cut off my lineage!”
Hiding in the back, Lin Qichuan’s eyes lit up.
If the charge of intentional injury was confirmed, not even a commanding officer—not even the highest authority—could openly shield her!
Shen Yu frowned and was about to retort when a large hand pressed down on her head, pushing her behind him.
Gu Huai’an stood in front of her, looking down at Widow Lai rolling and thrashing on the ground.
“So you’re saying my wife kicked your son’s dick to uselessness?”
The man’s voice was low, his tone betraying neither anger nor joy, carrying a rough edge.
Widow Lai was stunned. She hadn’t expected an official to speak so bluntly and was at a loss for words.
“Ah… yes! That’s the family jewel! Even the doctor said it’s uncertain whether it’ll ever work again! She has to pay compensation! And… and she has to marry my son to atone for her crime!”
A few of the men nearby flushed red, wanting to laugh but not daring to.
Shen Yu’s face also grew warm—this man really had no filter.
Gu Huai’an chuckled. “Kicked it well.”
Widow Lai was dumbfounded. “What?”
“I said she kicked it well.”
He struck a match, took a deep drag of his cigarette, and said, “That two-ounce meat between your son’s legs was too restless, daring to harass a military wife. Getting it ruined is letting him off lightly.”
He pointed outside with his cigarette-holding hand. “If I’d been there, I’d have cut the damn thing off and fed it to the dogs, so he wouldn’t cause trouble for anyone else in the future.”
The crowd: “…”
Lin Qichuan's face turned green. This was no commanding officer; he was practically a military ruffian!
Gu Huai'an wasn't finished yet. He turned his head to glance at Shen Yu behind him:
"With her skinny arms and legs, how much strength could she possibly have? If he got kicked and became useless, it just proves your son's thing was never any good to begin with—a total softie."
Shen Yu, who had been boiling with anger, couldn't help but laugh out loud at this.
"Exactly, I didn't even use much force. Who knew he'd be so fragile?"
The Widow Lai was so enraged by this barrage of words that she rolled her eyes, scrambled to her feet, and brandished her scissors, ready to charge forward.
"I can't go on living! Officials bullying ordinary folks!"
"Xiao Zhang!" Gu Huai'an barked sharply.
"Sir!" Xiao Zhang by the car immediately snapped to attention.
"Go to the Commune police station. Tell them someone at the Xiangyang Brigade is armed and attempting to assault, with intent to harm a military officer's family. Take that useless waste and his whole family away. Investigate them thoroughly—three generations back!"
Hearing that they were going to arrest people and investigate three generations, Widow Lai froze, scissors still raised in mid-air.
In these times, whose family could withstand such scrutiny?
If all those old, buried family matters were dug up, they'd all be sent off for reform through labor.
Terrified, she stopped wailing, turned, and vanished into the crowd in the blink of an eye.
Gu Huai'an swept a cold gaze over the surroundings. "Anyone else have objections? Step forward together, and I'll have Xiao Zhang take you all away at once."
No one dared utter a word.
He turned to Wang Dashan, who was already trembling like a sieve, and pointed a finger vaguely in his direction.
"Write the letter of introduction."
Wang Dashan didn't dare waste another breath. Shaking uncontrollably, he fumbled for his keys, unlocked the drawer, and pulled out stationery and red ink paste.
That was the production brigade's official seal, usually treated with great reverence.
"Secretary Wang, don't let your hands shake," Shen Yu said with a curved smile. "Those who know might think you're writing me a letter of introduction. Those who don't might think you're signing a deed of servitude."
Wang Dashan gritted his teeth so hard they nearly shattered.
The red stamp came down, settling the matter.
Shen Yu stood before the desk, snatched the letter over, and pressed close to Gu Huai'an as she carefully read it from beginning to end.
She had just washed up that morning, carrying the scent of soapberries on her.
Gu Huai'an didn't mind it. He casually lifted his arm and draped it over her shoulder.
"See clearly now? No missing words, right?"
"None missing, just the handwriting's a bit ugly."
Shen Yu folded the letter of introduction neatly, tucked it securely inside her clothes against her chest, then extended a flat palm directly under Wang Dashan's nose.
"The letter's done. What about the money?"
Wang Dashan, who had just begun to relax, nearly choked on his breath at these words. "…What money?"
"Playing dumb, are you?"
The smile vanished from Shen Yu's face, her eyes turning cold.
"I'm a martyr's child. I receive a monthly living allowance of five yuan, all handled by you. Before, I was too naive, afraid to offend you by asking for it. Now that I'm leaving, we need to settle this account."
The villagers who hadn't yet dispersed immediately erupted in chatter.
"Goodness, five yuan a month—how many years has it been?"
"That must add up to several hundred, right?"
Wang Dashan's face flushed purple.
That money had long been spent—building a tiled house for his family and pulling strings to get his eldest son into the factory. How could he possibly produce it now?
"Shen Yu! Don't you dare slander me! I used that money for your food and clothing! Isn't this flesh on your body from eating? Didn't it cost money when you were sick as a child and needed medicine?"
"Food and clothing?"
Shen Yu sneered, tugging at her old jacket.
"Did you feed me dragon meat or dress me in phoenix feathers? This ragged outfit was given to me by the neighbor's aunt after she didn't want it anymore. Yet your own daughter changes her dacron clothes so frequently—seems like it's all bought with my father's life, isn't it?"
"You…"
"Not giving it back, huh?"
Shen Yu turned around, her expression shifting faster than flipping a page. Her eyes reddened instantly as she reached out and grabbed Gu Huai'an's sleeve.
"Commanding officer, look at this—this is the kind of cadre we have in our village. Bullying orphans and widows, embezzling martyr's pension. If this gets reported to the Commune, or even to the county…"
Gu Huai'an was so angry he almost laughed.
This woman really didn't hold back when using him. She slapped someone so effortlessly earlier, and now she's pretending to cry in front of him.
Did she really think he was a fool?
"Xiao Zhang," Gu Huai'an spat out the cigarette butt in his mouth and ground it under his military boot. "Go get the gun from the jeep."
"Yes, sir!"
Xiao Zhang responded loudly, turning and running toward the jeep.
"Wait! No, no, no! I remember now! It's still here! The money is still here!"
Hearing they were going to get the gun, Wang Dashan panicked and hurriedly pulled out the money.
He was genuinely afraid this soldier would act recklessly.
In this remote wilderness, if he got shot and they claimed it was an accident, who would he turn to for justice?
Wang Dashan counted out a stack of Big Unity bills with a heart-wrenching pain, then added some scattered Jiao notes.
This was the betrothal money he had saved for his second son's marriage—his life savings, his coffin fund!
"Hand it over!"
Shen Yu had no patience for his dawdling and snatched the money away.
Without any attempt to hide it, she licked her finger and counted the bills right in front of everyone.
Four hundred yuan and thirty cents in total.
Shen Yu frowned. "Why is it so little?"
Gu Huai'an glanced over. "It's not a small amount. If you push him any further, he'll hang himself. Just take it and be done with it."
Shen Yu stuffed the money into her pocket, patted the bulging pouch, and flashed a bright smile at Wang Dashan.
"Thanks, Uncle Wang. From now on, I won't come back to visit you during the holidays. Wouldn't want to upset you by reminding you of me."