Every year, Jiang Jianshe and his wife would return to the village to visit the original Jiang Lai, bringing cloth allocated by the textile factory along with small odds and ends.
Such things were nothing special in a textile factory, but they were valuable in the countryside.
After setting aside enough fabric for Jiang Lai to make clothes, Zhao Guoshi would divide the rest between her two daughters-in-law. She would also speak well of Ma Laihua in front of them. In return, whenever the two sisters-in-law had anything good to eat or drink, they would think of Jiang Lai.
Over the years, the original Jiang Lai had lived comfortably in the countryside.
Later, when she took over the family’s rustication quota, her uncles often supplemented her with grain as well. Compared with ordinary educated youths—and even her three older brothers in the city—she actually lived a much easier life.
The police officer taking notes looked up at Jiang Lai.
“You’re an educated youth who was sent to the countryside?”
Jiang Lai nodded.
“Yes. My parents work at Hongxing Textile Factory in the provincial capital. A few days ago, my mother secured a job position for me. I also meet the requirements to return to the city for work and was preparing to leave.”
“The day before yesterday, an educated youth accused me of having an improper relationship. She threatened that if I didn’t give her my job quota, she’d report me to the commune. She even found two so-called witnesses.”
The young officer exchanged a glance with the older officer before lowering his head to continue writing.
The older officer said solemnly,
“This is no small matter.”
“If the accusations are confirmed, no matter which offense it turns out to be, it will go into your permanent file.”
“It could affect your future work and your life.”
Zhao Guoshi had stayed beside Jiang Lai the whole time. Hearing that, she immediately became nervous.
“Lai-Lai…”
“How about we do what your grand-uncle suggested?”
“I’m still worried about you returning to the city.”
“Why don’t you just stay in the village?”
“Grandma, wouldn’t that be exactly what Educated Youth Song wants?”
Ever since receiving the letter from the city, the original Jiang Lai had been uneasy.
She had been raised by Zhao Guoshi since childhood.
Although Jiang Jianshe and his wife came back every year to visit her, occasional visits could never compare to living together day after day.
Then this incident happened.
Though the original Jiang Lai was devastated by the false accusation, she had no ability to fight back. Surrounded by adults who had already decided her fate after only a few words, she silently accepted it.
But fate had been cruel.
She died.
Before reaching twenty years old…
She was beaten to death by her husband.
Thinking about the original Jiang Lai’s ending, Jiang Lai felt a tight ache in her chest.
There were so many holes in the story.
Why had no one bothered to investigate?
Now that she was here…
She would never allow the novel’s ending to happen.
The officers questioned her in great detail.
Although she hadn’t inherited the original Jiang Lai’s memories, she remembered the novel’s plot and answered carefully.
“This matter requires verification from multiple parties.”
“You’ll come with us to the brigade office.”
“Once we’ve finished the investigation, you can return home.”
The two officers closed their notebooks and headed outside.
Zhao Guoshi hurried after them, worried her granddaughter might be bullied.
Five police officers had come to the Jiang family…
…and now they were taking Jiang Jianshe’s daughter away.
The gathered neighbors immediately began whispering among themselves.
Song Tian had used this matter to pressure both Jiang Lai and the Jiang family, so apart from the Jiangs and the brigade leadership, no one else knew what had happened.
“Jiang Lao San’s daughter always looked so quiet.”
“How did she end up attracting so many police officers?”
Leper Liu, sprawled drunkenly against a wall after who knew how much he’d had to drink, staggered over to the Jiang family’s entrance.
Belching loudly, he slurred,
“You don’t know?”
“That girl from Old Jiang’s family has no shame.”
“She was fooling around with Educated Youth Qin in a woodpile.”
“Educated Youth Song caught them.”
“She ran home with her clothes all messed up.”
His words instantly set the crowd buzzing.
“No way.”
“That girl’s always been quiet.”
“She doesn’t seem like someone who’d do that.”
“Exactly.”
Mingyuan’s mother squeezed into the crowd.
“It’s true.”
“My daughter saw it too.”
“That’s serious!”
“The police are here.”
“People who fool around get dragged out for public criticism!”
Before the second aunt had even stepped out of the doorway, she collapsed onto the ground, crying and cursing hysterically.
Everyone was too busy watching the spectacle to ask why she was crying.
Only a few women close to the Jiang family comforted her.
“Fenfen’s mother, we all know Jiang Lai wouldn’t do something like that.”
“Stop crying.”
“Let’s hear what the police have to say.”
The second aunt spun around in despair.
“What are we supposed to do now…”
It had been a long time since the village had seen such a scandal.
People forgot all about dinner and lingered nearby to watch.
When the police entered the Jiang home, they had sent both the brigade leader and the women’s director outside.
The two of them knew exactly what Jiang Lai had told the officers.
On the way to the brigade office, the brigade leader shot the women’s director a meaningful glance before hurrying ahead to usher the officers into the office.
The women’s director deliberately slowed her pace until she was walking beside Jiang Lai.
Lowering her voice, she said,
“Lai-Lai, things have already gone this far.”
“Just do what the brigade leader suggested.”
“When the officers question you later, don’t say anything.”
“Let the brigade leader handle it.”
“The police process is troublesome.”
“They’ll investigate everything.”
“If this reaches the commune, not only will your reputation be ruined, but you’ll also receive a major disciplinary mark on your record.”
Jiang Lai looked at her.
“Aunt Zhao…”
“What benefits did Qin Chengyuan and Song Tian promise you?”
“Why are you so determined to pin this on me?”
The women’s director clicked her tongue.
“You child.”
“How can you think like that?”
“Educated Youth Qin isn’t bad-looking.”
“It’s popular these days for village girls to marry educated youths.”
“If the two of you already liked each other…”
“…then marriage would solve everything.”
Jiang Lai didn’t even bother hiding her sarcasm.
“So according to you…”
“Why does it have to be me having an illicit affair?”
“Why couldn’t it have been attempted rape instead?”
She had no intention of wasting any more words.
She knew exactly what the brigade leader wanted.
He wanted this year’s Civilized Brigade banner.
He wanted the honor of speaking on stage.
Song Tian had seized upon that ambition.
Jiang Lai would never let them have their way.
If Song Tian wanted to return to the city, she could find another path.
She would not sacrifice the original Jiang Lai’s life to achieve it.
When she’d read the novel, she’d watched Jiang Lai’s fate dismissed in just a few short lines.
It had infuriated her.
Now…
She was Jiang Lai.
This tragedy would never happen again.
She strode into the office and, without waiting to be told, calmly found herself a seat.
The brigade leader busily poured tea for all five officers.
Glancing at Jiang Lai and seeing her sitting quietly without expression, he assumed she’d accepted the women’s director’s persuasion.
Smiling warmly, he said,
“The girl’s parents aren’t here.”
“I’ve been discussing a solution with her grandmother and uncles.”
“But the child has quite a temper.”
“She insisted on calling the police.”
“I’m only thinking about her reputation.”
“I’d rather keep this quiet.”
Jiang Lai interrupted him.
“Brigade Leader…”
“This concerns more than my reputation.”
“It concerns my future.”
“And my life.”
The brigade leader chuckled awkwardly.
“Now you’re exaggerating.”
“It’s the era of Reform and Opening Up.”
“Movies promote free love now.”
“But this is still the countryside.”
“People’s gossip can drown a person.”
“Here’s what we’ll do.”
“I’ll mediate with your grandmother.”
“This winter…”
“…you and Educated Youth Qin can just get married.”
The officers noticed that the brigade leader’s version differed completely from Jiang Lai’s.
They asked him to recount the entire incident once more.
After listening carefully, the senior officer turned to one of his subordinates.
“Officer Chen.”
“Go with the brigade leader.”
“Bring Song Tian, Qin Chengyuan…”
“…and the witnesses.”
The brigade leader saw the older officer’s official, uncompromising attitude and forced an awkward smile.
He pulled a crumpled pack of Golden Rooster cigarettes from his pocket, shook one loose, and offered it respectfully.
“Comrade Officer…”
“This matter…”
The older officer didn’t even reach for it.
Instead, he slapped his notebook heavily onto the table.
“Someone has filed a report.”
“Our duty is to investigate.”
Officer Chen immediately stood up.
The brigade leader frequently dealt with commune officials.
Seeing the older officer’s unwavering attitude, he wisely swallowed the rest of his words.
Silently, he tucked the cigarette back into the pack and headed outside.
Outside the brigade office, a crowd of curious villagers had already gathered.
The older officer stepped outside, looked around the crowd, then walked over to Jiang Lai.
“Just as your brigade leader said…”
“If the villagers all learn about this…”
“…your reputation will be ruined.”
Jiang Lai met his eyes calmly.
“Officer…”
“This is false accusation.”
“And blackmail.”
The older officer nodded.
“With so many educated youths currently returning to the cities, all cases involving them are investigated thoroughly.”
“If your report is true…”
“…the other party will receive a major disciplinary record.”
“And the case will be investigated to the end.”