Chapter 3 Sudden Attack

  Lu Zhengdong always felt somewhat guilty about Yang Yaqing's death, especially since Dong Yangsheng was still in junior high school and didn't have a mother. A child without a mother is like grass, and he also grew up without a father. He could empathize with the pain that the Dong family would experience, and he continued to care about their situation, helping to solve some of their difficulties.

  Dong Yangsheng's home was a three-room tile-roofed house, standing alone between two courtyards. Having just held a funeral, the white couplets on the doors and windows were still a rather eye-catching sign.

  Dong Yangsheng was not at home, but there was still someone in the house. A woman was cooking and saw him knocking on the door. The woman wiped her hands on her apron and asked awkwardly:

  "...the village head... Dong Yangsheng invited people to repair the tomb of Yang Yiqing today, I helped with cooking, I went outside and called out, asking him to come back?"

  Lu Zhengdong waved his hand and said:

  "No rush, no rush, let Dong Ge busy himself. The weather has changed since we arrived, it's better to hurry up and finish the work. I'm now carefree and idle, waiting for him to finish..."

  "Zhang Shu doesn't need to call me Village Chief anymore, I'm about to be removed from office anyway, just call me Big Brother."

  Zhang Cui Ping probably didn't think he would know her, and was a bit surprised:

  "How would the county magistrate know me?"

  "I can basically remember everyone I've met..."

  Lu Zhengdong said casually.

  Zhang Cuiping definitely didn't expect that her husband, He Zhigui, would change like a shell with a different kernel inside. He was quite famous in the countryside for being a good-for-nothing, and he basically didn't take care of his family at all. It was common for him to not come home for one or two years.

  What's more, He Zigui later died in an accident outside, and Zhang Cuiping married Dong Yangsheng. Zhang Cuiping was good to both Dong Yangsheng and the children. Lu Zhengdong saw that life at Dong Yangsheng's home had stabilized, and only then did he put down the stone in his heart.

  Although Lu Zhengdong is now a person who is disliked by everyone, the host has to be hospitable to guests. Zhang Cui Ping is not the owner of the house, and with Lin Donghe around, she is still relatively polite to him. Although she looks somewhat unwilling, she still brings out a wooden stool and invites them to sit outside and wait for Dong Yangsheng to return.

  Lu Zhengdong sat there thinking about his troubles, looking at the gloomy sky that seemed to be on the verge of rain, and feeling somewhat melancholy in his heart.

  In the corner of Dong Yangsheng's house, a cat was frolicking with an earthworm, but the earthworm wasn't a mouse and its head was too small. When Dong Yangsheng's cat wasn't careful, the earthworm slipped into the pile of garbage in the corner of the wall.

  This seemed to excite the cat even more, and it continued to dig at the trash with its paws.

  Looking at the cat's reluctant yet focused expression, even Lu Zhengdong, who was lost in thought, couldn't help but smile slightly, and his attention was drawn to it.

  A ball of greyish-white inferior toilet paper was exposed, the cat's attention quickly shifted from the earthworm to this ball of toilet paper, scratching it with its paws, looking for something wrapped inside, seemingly wanting to dig out something interesting. As the cat's paws moved, the thing inside the toilet paper also came into view, and the cat seemed curious about what it was, scratching at it like a child with a strong desire for knowledge, curiously examining the thing.

  That thing completely caught Lu Zhengdong's attention, and his eyes lit up:

  Under the cat's paw was a sock...

  Lu Zhengdong's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly picked up a stone to chase the cat away. He patted his pocket and found that nothing was missing, then whispered to Lin Donghua:

  "Give me something, I'll go pick it up..."

  Lin Donghe obviously also recognized what the cat had dug up, her face turned bright red, and she whispered:

  "You... you... that's disgusting... filthy thing... don't pick it up..."

  Lu Zhengdong was stunned for a moment before he came back to his senses. He was still an unmarried young man, and Lin Donghe thought he didn't know what that thing was, so she smiled and said:

  "I know it's dirty, but it's also a lifesaver! Can't let the cat ruin it... Do you have a handkerchief? Don't take off your stockings for me..."

  Lin Donghe's neck turned red with shame, and she didn't dare lift her head:

  "Here, handkerchief..."

  Lu Zhengdong took the handkerchief and rushed over, although he was also nauseous to death in his heart, but still forced himself to carefully pick up the thing, wrapped it well, and then tore off a piece of plastic film to wrap it outside.

  Lin Donghe stuttered and asked:

  "Zhèng Dōng, nà ge... zhēn yǒu yòng ma?"

  Translation: "Zheng Dong, is that thing really useful?"

  Lin Donghe was so shy that she couldn't help it, but she cared about his affairs very much.

  Lu Zhengdong couldn't help but laugh at Lin Donghe's behavior. Lu Zhengdong had seen many women in his life, who were shy and timid when they were young girls, but once they got married, they became fierce and bold, telling dirty jokes and playing dirty tricks, with a daring attitude that would make many men flee. Lin Donghe sometimes joked around with the other women at the factory, without batting an eyelid, but in front of Lu Zhengdong, she was different, probably because she had a crush on him since they were young, and once someone develops feelings for the opposite sex, their mindset changes...

  Lu Zhengdong saw her awkward appearance and was afraid that others would notice, affecting what he wanted to do next, so he hastily reminded her:

  "It's hard to say, anyway it should be of some use, but what exactly, is not clear yet... Just pretend you didn't see this, and don't reveal a hint in front of others. Calm down and go help Zhang Cui Ping with cooking, at noon we'll think of a way to stay at Dong Yang Sheng's house for dinner..."

  Lin Donghe saw that he was serious, nodded, and only entered the house after the red glow on her face had dissipated.

  Before long, pea-sized raindrops started falling from the sky. Everywhere, people were shouting to hurry back home. Pedestrians on the road also quickened their pace. Dong Yangsheng and his companions had just returned when a sudden downpour arrived.

  Dong Yangsheng saw that although he was a bit dark-faced, he didn't want to drive him and Lin Donghe away because of the rain and the presence of others. Lu Zhengdong didn't care about the attitudes of Dong Yangsheng and the others, and continued to smoke and greet them. These people were still friendly to him despite having opinions about him, so Dong Yangsheng also casually invited him to eat.

  Dong Yangsheng didn't even invite him, but Lu Zhengdong would find a way to get himself invited to the dinner table. Dong Yangsheng called out to him and he naturally followed him into the kitchen.

  Lu Zhengdong was already seated at the dinner table, but several people treated him and Lin Donghe as unwelcome guests. Although their words were veiled, they were undoubtedly criticizing them. However, Lu Zhengdong had heard worse before and remained calm, inquiring about Dong Yangsheng's recent situation and asking if he had any difficulties. He also asked about the harvest of other families, speaking warmly and kindly. Gradually, the people at the table improved their attitude towards him.

  "Will our country's land contract system be continued or abolished?"

  An elderly fellow countryman who looked rather concerned about current events couldn't help but ask.

  After 1989, the media was full of news opposing bourgeois liberalization and preventing peaceful evolution. For rural ordinary people, they may not necessarily understand what bourgeois liberalization and peaceful evolution are all about, but rather care more about whether the country's rural policies will change or not.

  And he doesn't care if he will be dismissed or not, after working in the government for so long, he should know something, now that there is such an opportunity, it's natural to ask.

  Lu Zhengdong analyzed it for them and told them that land contracting would not only continue but also get better and better, and in the future, policies towards rural areas would only increase and become more favorable. These farmers had never met anyone who could analyze domestic and international situations so thoroughly, and they felt a sense of relief while also opening up and talking more freely. The atmosphere at the table became more relaxed as everyone let their guard down.

  Lu Zhengdong took this opportunity to observe the expressions between Dong Yangsheng and Zhang Cui Ping...

  After having enough food and drink, the people who came to help at Dong Yangsheng's house went back home one after another. When Zhang Cui Ping was about to leave, Lu Zhengdong stopped her:

  "Zhang Shuizi, don't be in a hurry, I have something to ask you."

  Several others hastily left, Zhang Cui Ping was a bit surprised, but seeing Lu Zheng Dong still being very gentle on the table earlier, she stopped in her tracks.

  Lu Zhengdong suddenly asked:

  "Zhang Cui Ping, Yang Yu Qing died at that time where were you? Were you at Dong Yang Sheng's home?"

  Lu Zhengdong's gaze was like a thunderbolt that exploded above Zhang Cuiping's head, and she was completely unprepared, so she was stunned...