Chapter 29: Chapter 29: An Aggravated Crime

He Xianghua refused outright. “Since you’re from the neighboring brigade, I’ll have your captain come and collect you.”

“Captain He, I’m an orphan, all alone in this world. I just got out of the joint last year. If I go back in, my life is over. I’m begging you, please let me off just this once.”

As he spoke, Zou Zhonggui turned to Lin Lan and Yang Liying. “Ladies, I beg you, I promise I’ll never come back. I swear on my life—if I ever come back, may I, Zou Zhonggui, die without any heirs!”

Everyone present knew the real reason he was there cutting grass, but nobody wanted to blow the matter up.

Seeing him swear such a heavy oath, He Xianghua decided he didn’t want to make a mortal enemy out of someone like this. He shot a meaningful look at Yang Meihua.

Yang Meihua pulled Lin Lan aside. “Lin Lan, there’s an old saying: ’Always leave yourself an out.’ It means you shouldn’t burn your bridges. Of course, it’s not like we’d ever want to see someone like him again.

But if you back a hooligan like him, who has nothing to lose, into a corner, God only knows what he’s capable of.”

Lin Lan thought for a moment, then nodded. She stepped forward and stared coldly at Zou Zhonggui. “I can let you go on one condition. You have to write a confession stating that Liu San sent you here to cause trouble.

Otherwise, I’ll drag my own name through the mud if I have to, just to send you to a labor camp. It’s your second offense, so the sentence will be harsher. By the time you get out, your hair will probably be white!”

Zou Zhonggui had planned on using the fact that he was a single ex-con to intimidate them, but he never expected Lin Lan to turn it right back on him as a threat. He was filled with regret. ’If I’d known she was this fierce,’ he thought, ’I wouldn’t have done this for a thousand yuan.’

’All that for nothing,’ he fumed inwardly. ’I cut the grass twice, got beaten up, and even got my face all scratched up. I have to get Liu Jinbao to compensate me for this!’

Having made up his mind, he glanced at He Xianghua, then gritted his teeth. “I’ll admit to what I did. But I can’t just go around saying Liu San sent me. If you’re not satisfied, then just send me to the police station. The officers there will conduct a proper investigation.”

He Xianghua considered this. ’He’s right,’ he thought. ’The police station won’t sentence him to a year or even six months. At most, they’ll just detain him for a few days.’

’And once he gets out, who knows what other trouble he might stir up.’

“Lin Lan,” he said, “in my opinion, we should just have him write a confession. He assaulted someone, so he should pay for medical expenses. What do you think?”

Zou Zhonggui was so furious he could have spit blood. ’I assaulted someone? Open your eyes and take a good look! Who’s the one who got beaten up here?’

Lin Lan felt a surge of frustration. She was certain that bastard Liu San had put him up to this, but she had no proof. She could only nod. “I’ll do as Captain He says, but he must write that confession.”

He Xianghua turned back to Zou Zhonggui. “Write the confession and pay twenty yuan for medical expenses, and we’ll call this matter settled.”

Zou Zhonggui heard this and thought to himself, ’I got fifty yuan from Liu Jinbao. If I pay twenty, I’m still up by thirty.’ “Fine,” he said. “Get me a pen and paper. I’ll write it.”

He Xianghua looked at Old Chen. “Old Chen, do you have a pen and paper?”

Old Chen nodded. “I do. I’ll go get them for you.”

He Xianghua was all smiles. “Thanks, Old Chen. We’ll just have him write it over at your place.” He’d already heard the rumors that Old Chen was about to be officially rehabilitated.

’I heard he held a pretty high-ranking position in the provincial capital before all this,’ he thought. ’Good thing I never gave him a hard time. Liu Guozhi has been pale with worry these past few days.’ At this thought, his smile became even more genuine.

“Nothing to thank me for. Pen and paper are meant for writing,” Old Chen said with a smile as he headed back.

The group dragged Zou Zhonggui into the straw shed, and Old Chen handed him the pen and paper.

Zou Zhonggui painstakingly wrote it all down: how he came to Niu Bei Mountain to steal grass, the slanderous things he’d said, and a guarantee that he would never come again—or else may his family line end with him.

Then he pulled two crisp ten-yuan bills from his pocket and handed them to Lin Lan.

Lin Lan then made him dip his thumb in the blood from his cut lip and press it onto the paper as a thumbprint. She also asked He Xianghua to sign as a witness.

Yang Liying glared fiercely at Zou Zhonggui. “If you ever dare to come back, you won’t be let off so easily.”

Zou Zhonggui nodded vigorously. “Don’t you worry, ma’am. I’m a man of my word.”

He Xianghua glanced at him. “Go on, then. And try to live an honest life from now on.”

“Thank you, Captain He,” Zou Zhonggui said before limping away.

Lin Lan bowed deeply to Old Chen, He Xianghua, and his wife. “Thank you, Captain He, Meihua, Old Chen! Thank you all! Once the busy farming season is over, I’ll treat everyone to a meal.”

He Xianghua smiled. “Don’t be so formal. It’s not easy for you, raising a child on your own. Use that money to buy something nice for Little Douzi, help him build up his strength. We’re all family here, after all. If you ever need anything, just let Meihua know.”

Yang Meihua also smiled. “That’s right, Lin Lan. Just say the word if you need anything.”

Lin Lan nodded gratefully. “Okay, thank you.”

Yang Meihua smiled and patted Lin Lan’s arm. “Now that that’s settled, you should go home, eat, and get to work.”

Zhao Dehai nodded. “My food is still on the stove. I’m going to be late for work.”

“I’m sorry for all the trouble, Liying, Dehai,” Lin Lan said.

Yang Liying smiled. “Don’t say that. We’re family.”

The group emerged from Old Chen’s straw shed and went their separate ways.

Lin Lan hadn’t even reached the tractor path when she saw Wu Shufen standing at their doorway, holding Little Douzi’s hand and looking in her direction.

She broke into a run, crossing over the Shiqiao bridge. “Mom, have you eaten yet?”

Little Douzi looked up at her. “Mama, Grandma said we should wait for you to eat together.”

The three of them entered the courtyard and headed for the kitchen. Wu Shufen asked, “What took so long? Did you catch that son of a bitch?”

Lin Lan nodded. “We caught him…”

Wu Shufen felt a flash of satisfaction. “Good. I hope you tore his mouth off so he can’t spout any more nonsense.”

Lin Lan picked up a bowl and started scooping rice. “He paid twenty yuan in compensation. When my brother gets here, I’ll go buy some meat and wine and invite everyone over for a meal to thank them.”

“As you should!” Wu Shufen said, placing a dish of cold shredded radish and another of scrambled eggs on the table. The three of them began to eat.

After a few bites, Lin Lan remembered the breakfast she’d promised Old Chen. “Mom, did you save any food? Old Chen already paid.”

Wu Shufen smiled. “I did. How could I possibly take his money for a little bit of porridge? I boiled an egg for him, too. You can take it all to him.”

“Okay!” Lin Lan finished her meal and said to Little Douzi, “Douzi, you be a good boy and listen to Grandma, okay? Mama is heading out to work now.”

Little Douzi nodded. “I know. Grandma and I are going to cut grass to feed the piglets.”

“Good boy!” Lin Lan gave him a quick kiss. She then ladled some pea porridge into an enamel mug, added the side dishes, and grabbed the egg. With her work basket on her back, she headed toward the fishpond.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep