【Chapter Twenty-One】

1

After Mingdao returned home, he said to his mother, Lin Peixuan, “Mom, tomorrow I’m going to Xiaoqiao’s house to celebrate her birthday. I want to prepare a birthday gift for her. What do you think girls would like?”

Lin Peixuan said, “I think you could buy a cake and a doll as gifts for her. Mom will pay for the gifts.”

The moment Mingdao heard this, he became overjoyed. “Thanks, Mom. Then I’ll head back to my room.”

After Mingdao returned to his room, Lin Peixuan said, “Honey, it seems our son has grown up already. He’s starting to want a girlfriend now.”

Ouyang Jing burst into laughter upon hearing this. “This brat truly takes after his father.”

Lin Peixuan unhappily asked in return, “Oh? What do you mean by taking after his father?”

Ouyang Jing suddenly realized he had misspoken and hurriedly tried to brush it off. “Nothing, nothing. That was all in the past. A true man does not boast about his former glory.”

However, Lin Peixuan seized the opportunity to bring up old grievances and pressed Ouyang Jing about his romantic history. “I remember ten years ago, there was that woman named Xiuyi or something. At the time, you said it was because you were so charming that she kept clinging to you. Why don’t you explain exactly how charming you were? How many women admired you?”

Ouyang Jing said with a miserable expression, “Oh, heavens bear witness, I really didn’t do anything with her! Don’t go imagining things.”

Lin Peixuan said, “Don’t think you can evade the important parts and gloss things over!”

Lin Peixuan’s relentless questioning left Ouyang Jing utterly unable to defend himself. Inwardly, he sighed deeply, “Sigh! It’s all because of my big mouth. Now my ears are never going to have peace again.”

2

Wenyan and the others arrived at Xiaoqiao’s house. Xiaoqiao opened the door and saw Wenyan and the group.

Xiaoqiao said in surprise, “You all came! I thought... Mom, you didn’t tell me beforehand at all.”

Zhai Jialing said with a smile, “Your classmates said on the phone that they wanted to give you a surprise. Come in, everyone.”

After the group entered the living room, the housekeeper served fruit, candy, and drinks to entertain everyone.

Mingdao took out a gift box. “Xiaoqiao, this is the gift I prepared.”

Yutang took out a gift box. “This is a gift from Yuhui and me together.”

Baofeng took out a gift box. “Xiaoqiao, happy birthday.”

Xiaoqiao accepted the gifts one by one and placed them on a nearby table.

Xiaoqiao said emotionally, “Thank you, everyone.”

Wenyan awkwardly put down his backpack and pulled out two bags from inside.

Xiaoqiao asked curiously, “Wenyan, what are these? They smell so good!”

Wenyan scratched his head and foolishly grinned. “Freshly roasted sweet potatoes and taro.”

Yutang burst into laughter. “Whoa! Who gives sweet potatoes and taro as birthday gifts? Don’t be so old-fashioned!”

Wenyan grinned foolishly and said, “These were grown in my family’s fields. My mom said convenience is fine, and that sincerity is what matters most.”

Mingdao said, “This gift really is very special.”

Xiaoqiao said, “Wenyan, I like them! I’m already tired of eating birthday cake. Sweet potatoes and taro are much better!”

Mingdao smiled bitterly and thought to himself, “Looks like my little princess has rather unusual tastes too.”

The housekeeper wheeled out a birthday cake with candles already inserted into it. Mingdao and Wenyan helped light the candles.

Baofeng said, “Let’s sing the birthday song together, and then the birthday girl can blow out the candles and make a wish.”

Everyone gathered around the large cake and sang the birthday song.

Baofeng said, “Birthday girl, blow out the candles while making a wish.”

Xiaoqiao blew out the candles and clasped her hands together as she made a wish.

Baofeng asked, “Xiaoqiao, what wish did you make?”

Xiaoqiao said, “Me? My wish is that two years from now, we’ll all get into National Taiwan University together.”

Mingdao said with a smile, “Xiaoqiao, that’s quite a grand wish!”

Baofeng said, “Xiaoqiao, it’s time for the birthday girl to cut the cake.”

Xiaoqiao cut the cake and distributed slices to her classmates.

Xiaoqiao said, “Wenyan, this portion is for you. I’ll eat the sweet potatoes and taro you brought.”

Yuhui said, “Senior Xiaoqiao, you’re really so nice to Wenyan.”

Xiaoqiao and her mother Peixuan savored the taro and sweet potatoes with great enjoyment. Wenyan, Baofeng, and the Yutang siblings devoured the cake enthusiastically. Mingdao held taro and sweet potatoes in one hand and cake in the other, completely at a loss. After hesitating for a moment, he decided to alternate between bites of cake and bites of taro and sweet potatoes.

Yutang asked, “Mingdao, mixing them together like that, what kind of taste is it?”

Mingdao said, “Why don’t you try it yourself?”

After a while, a string of farting sounds rang out. Everyone fell silent, and Xiaoqiao lowered her head with a flushed face.

While eating cake, Wenyan pinched his nose and asked, “Who farted? Why does it smell so bad?”

Mingdao raised his hand and said, “It was me. I confess.”

Xiaoqiao froze for a moment, then lifted her head to look at Mingdao. Mingdao winked at Xiaoqiao.

3

Inside the hospital ward, Dong Zhiqian lay on the hospital bed. The doctor entered the ward with two nurses, and one of the nurses changed Dong Zhiqian’s IV drip.

Dong Zhiqian asked, “Doctor, can you let me leave the hospital now?”

The doctor said, “Mr. Dong, I believe I don’t need to say this. You should already understand your physical condition very clearly yourself.”

Dong Zhiqian shouted, “It’s precisely because I understand it clearly that I want to leave the hospital.”

The doctor shook his head. “I’m very sorry, but I truly cannot agree to your request. If you stay here peacefully and recuperate, perhaps...”

Dong Zhiqian interrupted, “Perhaps I can shamelessly drag out my life for a few more weeks, right?”

The doctor said, “Sir, that’s not what I mean.”

Dong Zhiqian laughed dryly. “Enough, enough. How could I not know that’s exactly what you mean? Anyway, this life of mine is already beyond saving. Just hurry up and let me out to fend for myself and die on my own. That way your morgue won’t have to take up one more space.”

Nurse A said, “Sir, if you can maintain an optimistic and positive attitude at all times, then perhaps your illness...”

Dong Zhiqian smiled bitterly and said, “Miss Nurse, stop feeding me nonsense. All that optimistic and positive talk—this world itself is hell. Only death can bring release. If you people are really that optimistic, then fine, let me leave the hospital! I guarantee that the moment I step out of the hospital, my illness will be cured.”

The nurse was frightened by Dong Zhiqian’s abnormal smile and for a moment did not know how to react.

The doctor sighed and said, “Sigh, Mr. Dong, forgive me, but I cannot agree to your request. Please stay quietly in the hospital and recuperate.”

After the doctor finished speaking, he turned to leave with the two nurses. Suddenly, Dong Zhiqian yanked the IV needle out of his hand and struggled to get up. Seeing this, the doctor hurriedly turned around to restrain him. Dong Zhiqian continuously shouted at the top of his lungs, “Let me out! I have to return to Luku! Let go of me! Let go of me!”

The doctor struggled to restrain Dong Zhiqian and ended up covered in sweat. He turned back toward the two stunned nurses and shouted, “What are you two standing there for? Hurry up and help! Tie him down!”

The two nurses snapped back to their senses. Nurse A helped the doctor restrain Dong Zhiqian, while Nurse B took out restraints and tied Dong Zhiqian up. After a period of frantic chaos, they finally managed to bind Dong Zhiqian securely to the hospital bed.

Nurse A stopped Dong Zhiqian’s bleeding and reattached the IV drip. Meanwhile, Dong Zhiqian stared straight at the ceiling with both eyes wide open, continuously muttering to himself. The doctor shook his head and signaled for the two nurses to leave with him. The three of them walked out of the room.

4

The doctor and nurses looked at Dong Zhiqian’s X-rays inside the examination room.

The doctor said, “I truly don’t understand it. Judging from these X-rays, this patient’s cancer cells have already spread so severely. Logically speaking, he should even have difficulty walking by now. Not to mention that he’s already limping on one leg. Why is he so desperate to leave the hospital? Where exactly does he want to go?”

Nurse A said, “That man looked like he had gone crazy. It was terrifying!”

Nurse B said, “Maybe he has some unfinished wish?”

The doctor said, “Even if that’s the case, I still cannot let him leave the hospital. If he leaves the hospital, I’m afraid he probably won’t survive even a week.”

Nurse A said, “It seems all we can do is pray that he behaves himself a little more from now on.”

The doctor said, “Sigh! Let’s hope so.”

5

Wenyan and his group were studying in the school library.

Xiaoqiao asked, “Wenyan, why did you suddenly decide that you want to apply to the law department?”

Wenyan said, “Oh, because I plan to become a lawyer in the future. Lawyers earn high salaries, and their lives are stable. It’s pretty good. After graduation, I also won’t have to worry about not knowing what kind of job to look for.”

Xiaoqiao said, “But the acceptance rate for judges and lawyers is very low, and those legal statutes are boring to death. Your writing is so good. Why not simply study Chinese literature instead? Why choose such a difficult path?”

Wenyan pondered for a while before saying, “When my youngest uncle was arrested, I thought about many things. Back then, it was thanks to Mingdao’s father helping out that my uncle was released so quickly. If I also understood the law myself, then wouldn’t I be able to help more people with similar experiences in the future, just like Mingdao’s father?”

Mingdao patted Wenyan on the shoulder and said, “Wenyan, I support you. With your abilities, you can definitely get into the law department at National Taiwan University.”

Baofeng said, “I think that’s probably not the only reason you want to study law, right? Tell the truth. Do you actually want to investigate the truth behind the tragedy that happened in our Luku Village back then?”

When Yutang heard Baofeng say this, he also became curious. “Is what Baofeng said true?”

Wenyan remained silent.

Yutang said, “Wenyan, as your good friend, I advise you not to do anything foolish. Let the past stay in the past. You still have a bright future ahead of you. There’s no need to spend your whole life trapped beneath the shadow of Luku. Do you understand? If the authorities discover that you’re investigating that incident in the future, there’s no guarantee that something bad won’t happen to you!”

Wenyan said disapprovingly, “You think we should just let it go like this? Yutang, that was the lives of hundreds of people in the entire village!”

Yutang said, “So what? Are the dead really more important than living well?”

Wenyan said, “You can say that because your father is still alive. My father is already gone. He was arrested and executed by firing squad!”

The two gradually raised their voices, drawing the attention of the surrounding students.

Yutang said, “You... you’re unreasonable!”

Mingdao quickly tried to smooth things over. “Enough! Both of you shut up! Everyone is staring at us!”

The two fell silent, and the atmosphere became extremely awkward. After a while, Yutang stood up and packed away his books. “I’m going somewhere else to study. I can’t concentrate here.”

Yutang stood up and left. Mingdao, Baofeng, and Xiaoqiao watched him leave, while Wenyan lowered his head and deliberately pretended not to care.

Mingdao said, “Wenyan, Yutang said those things for your own good too.”

Wenyan said, “I know.”

Everyone fell silent. No one was willing to say anything more.

6

The doctor came to Dong Zhiqian’s hospital room for a follow-up examination. Dong Zhiqian, who was tied to the bed, was no longer making noise or causing trouble. He merely gazed quietly out the window.

The doctor said, “Mr. Dong, I’m here for your follow-up checkup. If possible, I hope you can cooperate.”

Dong Zhiqian turned his head to look at the doctor without saying a single word. He merely nodded slightly. The doctor checked Dong Zhiqian’s blood pressure and pulse and listened to his heartbeat with a stethoscope. Dong Zhiqian behaved very cooperatively throughout the examination.

The doctor said, “Mr. Dong, I will now ask the nurses to untie you. But can you promise me not to make trouble again like before?”

Dong Zhiqian nodded. The doctor signaled to the nurses with a nod, and the two nurses removed the restraints from Dong Zhiqian’s body.

The doctor and nurses left. After a while, Dong Zhiqian got up, removed his tubes, put on his overcoat, and limped out of the hospital room. His footsteps conveyed a certain unwavering determination. Some doctors and nurses who passed by him saw him in that state, yet none of them tried to stop him. They merely looked at him with confusion.

Dong Zhiqian walked to the hospital entrance, hailed a taxi, got inside, and left.

7

Wenyan, Baofeng, and Wenying were riding on Ayuan’s ox cart along the mountain road leading toward Luku Village when Wenyan suddenly noticed what seemed to be a person lying by the roadside. He hurriedly patted Ayuan on the shoulder.

Wenyan said nervously, “Youngest Uncle, stop the cart, stop the cart!”

Ayuan did not understand what was happening. Wenyan stretched out his hand and pointed toward the figure lying on the ground. Ayuan hurriedly stopped the ox cart.

Wenyan jumped down from the cart and ran toward the person lying on the ground. Wenyan lifted the man up. The person was none other than Dong Zhiqian.

Wenyan asked, “Sir, sir, are you alright? Sir?”

Seeing that Dong Zhiqian was still unconscious, Wenyan waved his hand, signaling for Ayuan to come help. Wenyan and Ayuan worked together to lift Dong Zhiqian onto the ox cart.

Wenying asked, “Brother, what happened to this uncle?”

Baofeng said, “Wenyan, judging from the situation, he seems seriously ill.”

Wenyan said, “I don’t know either. He looks extremely weak. Let’s bring him back to the village first and ask a doctor to examine him.”

The ox cart continued traveling up the mountain. Baofeng and Wenying took out bamboo hats and fanned Dong Zhiqian. In his half-conscious state, Dong Zhiqian continuously muttered under his breath. Wenyan tried to make out what he was saying, but could only vaguely hear fragmented phrases such as “Luku,” “I’m sorry,” and “I feel terribly guilty.”

Baofeng said, “This outsider seems to have something he wants to tell us.”

The more Wenyan listened, the more something felt wrong. He stretched out his hand, wanting to shake Dong Zhiqian awake, but seeing that the man before him was already delirious, Wenyan forcibly restrained the urge to wake him and withdrew his hand.

Wenyan said, “Let’s bring him back to my house first. Once he regains consciousness, we can question him and find out his identity and background.”

8

Inside the guest room of Wenyan’s house, Dong Zhiqian, who was lying on the bed, slowly opened his eyes.

Wenyan said, “That’s great, you’re awake. I was just about to go find a doctor.”

Wenyan took a cup of water and carefully fed Dong Zhiqian a drink.

Dong Zhiqian weakly asked, “Where is this place...?”

Wenyan said, “This is Luku Village.”

“Luku Village!?” Dong Zhiqian, who had originally been extremely weak, suddenly became highly agitated and struggled to sit up.

“Sir, don’t rush to get up yet. Lie down here for a while. I’ll go get a doctor and come right back.” Just as Wenyan turned around to leave, Dong Zhiqian suddenly grabbed Wenyan’s hand. Wenyan turned his head to look at Dong Zhiqian.

Dong Zhiqian said, “There’s no need to waste time anymore. Let’s quickly deal with the important matter.”

Wenyan said in confusion, “Important matter? What important matter?”

Dong Zhiqian asked, “Young man, what’s your name?”

Wenyan said, “My name is Yu Wenyan.”

Dong Zhiqian asked, “Wenyan, do you remember the incident ten years ago when the military entered the village and arrested people everywhere?”

Wenyan’s heart jolted, and his expression darkened. He slowly nodded and said, “My father was also taken away back then. After that, he never came back again.”

Dong Zhiqian asked, “What was your father’s name?”

Wenyan said, “My father’s name was Yu Lianfu. Because he limped on one leg, everyone called him Lame-Leg Lianfu.”

Dong Zhiqian muttered, “So you are Yu Lianfu’s son.”

Without warning, Dong Zhiqian suddenly knelt down before Wenyan. Wenyan was utterly shocked and hurriedly tried to help him up. “Sir, don’t do this! Please get up quickly!”

Dong Zhiqian said in a choked voice, “I wronged your father.”

Wenyan said, “Whatever it is, get up first before we talk!”

Dong Zhiqian said, “I have no right to stand up, do you know that? The chief culprit who caused the destruction and deaths of your Luku villagers was me!”

Wenyan was profoundly shaken. He grabbed Dong Zhiqian by the shoulders with both hands. “What did you say!?”

Dong Zhiqian said, “I hope you can help me gather the villagers. When the time comes, I will naturally confess everything before everyone and kneel to admit my crimes to the villagers.”

Wenyan remained silent for a long while before saying, “Alright. But I can’t gather the villagers myself. I’ll take you to see the village chief and ask him to help.”

Dong Zhiqian said, “Alright.”

Dong Zhiqian struggled to stand up. Wenyan froze for a moment before stepping forward to help him up. Dong Zhiqian was also greatly surprised that Wenyan was still willing to help him after hearing what he had just confessed.

Dong Zhiqian said, “I am a sinner. I have wronged all of you...”

Wenyan was emotionally overwhelmed inside, but he still bit tightly on his lower lip and remained silent.

9

Wenyan supported Dong Zhiqian as they entered Liao Qingwen’s house.

Wenyan called out, “Uncle Village Chief! Uncle Village Chief!”

Hearing Wenyan’s voice, Liao Qingwen walked out of his room. “What’s the matter? Why are you shouting so urgently...”

Liao Qingwen first saw Wenyan, then noticed the man leaning against him. The moment he recognized Dong Zhiqian, Liao Qingwen froze in place and became speechless. Dong Zhiqian stared at Liao Qingwen, initially confused, but after recognizing who he was, he began trembling.

Dong Zhiqian muttered to himself, “Liao Qingwen... he’s the village chief?”

Wenyan noticed Dong Zhiqian’s strange reaction. His gaze moved back and forth between Liao Qingwen and Dong Zhiqian.

Wenyan said, “Uncle, this man says he has something important to tell—”

Liao Qingwen suddenly changed expression and coldly said, “Wenyan, thank you for bringing him here. Leave him here and go home first.”

Dong Zhiqian tightly grabbed Wenyan’s arm and said, “Yu Wenyan, you absolutely cannot leave me here alone. Otherwise, the villagers of Luku will never learn the truth behind the massacre.”

Liao Qingwen said, “Wenyan, didn’t you hear what I said? Leave him here.”

Liao Qingwen walked several steps closer to them. Dong Zhiqian shrank back fearfully by two steps. After Wenyan glanced at Dong Zhiqian, he made up his mind. “Uncle, I have the right to know the truth. I’m not leaving.”

Dong Zhiqian said, “That’s right! Wenyan, I’ll tell you right now. Back then, Liao Qingwen was the one who colluded with the Secret Bureau—”

Before he could finish speaking, a chair suddenly flew toward Wenyan and Dong Zhiqian. Wenyan hurriedly pulled Dong Zhiqian away, narrowly avoiding the chair.

Wenyan shouted, “Uncle, what are you doing!?”

Liao Qingwen charged toward them like a madman. Dong Zhiqian cowered trembling in the corner, covering his head with both hands and letting out a frightened cry. Wenyan stepped forward to block Liao Qingwen. Liao Qingwen grabbed Wenyan and hurled him aside, then rushed over and tightly strangled Dong Zhiqian’s neck. Wenyan climbed up from the ground. Seeing how critical the situation was, he ignored the pain in his body and rammed his shoulder into Liao Qingwen. Liao Qingwen was knocked to the ground, but immediately got back up and tried once again to attack Dong Zhiqian. In order to protect Dong Zhiqian, Wenyan grappled with Liao Qingwen.

After a fierce struggle, Wenyan shoved Liao Qingwen to the ground and pulled Dong Zhiqian up from the floor.

Wenyan said, “Quick! Let’s leave now while we can!”

Wenyan supported Dong Zhiqian as they reached the front courtyard. When he turned around, he discovered that Liao Qingwen had gone berserk and was charging toward them while brandishing a machete and roaring wildly. Wenyan grabbed Liao Qingwen’s hand. The situation was extremely dangerous.

Yutang, Yuhui, and Wu Zu returned from outside and were shocked to see Liao Qingwen clutching a machete while struggling with Wenyan. Yutang and his mother hurriedly rushed forward and restrained the screaming Liao Qingwen.

Liao Qingwen shouted loudly, “Don’t leave! Stay here!”

Yutang shouted, “Dad! What are you doing!?”

Wu Zu said, “Calm down! Don’t do this!”

Liao Qingwen said with extreme agitation, “I can’t let him stay alive. I absolutely cannot let him walk out alive! All of you get out of my way! I’m going to kill him...”

Dong Zhiqian shouted, “Liao Qingwen was the chief informer who colluded with the Secret Bureau back then and caused the deaths of the villagers!”

Hearing these words, it was as if Liao Qingwen had been struck by lightning. The machete slipped from his hand, and he collapsed onto the ground crying bitterly, muttering continuously, “I was forced... I was forced...”

Wenyan, Yutang, and Yuhui were utterly shocked, while Wu Zu silently lowered her head. For a moment, the air itself seemed frozen.

Dong Zhiqian seized this opportunity and rushed out the door. Seeing this, Wenyan snapped back to his senses and was about to chase after him when Wu Zu grabbed hold of Wenyan and knelt beside Liao Qingwen.

Wu Zu pleaded, “Wenyan, Auntie begs you, please don’t tell anyone about this, alright?”

Wenyan said awkwardly, “Auntie, I...”

Yuhui tugged at Wu Zu’s sleeve and said, “Mom, please don’t do this...”

Wu Zu said, “My husband’s life and mine are worthless. But please, for the sake of these two children, let us off, alright?”

Yuhui tugged at Yutang’s sleeve. “Brother, help persuade Mom too!”

Yutang walked over to Wu Zu’s side and knelt down.

Yutang said, “Wenyan, I’m begging you too. Please spare my father.”

Seeing this, Yuhui also knelt down.

Wenyan helped Wu Zu to her feet and said, “Please stand up first. I’ll go find Mr. Dong and bring him back.”

Yutang said, “I hope you can promise us first that you absolutely won’t tell anyone.”

Wenyan struggled internally for a while. He looked at the Yutang siblings, and memories surfaced in his mind of the three of them playing together over the past several years. He finally said, “Alright, I promise you.” After speaking, Wenyan turned around and ran out the front gate.

10

Dong Zhiqian wandered aimlessly through Luku Village. By coincidence, Chen Huolu passed by and noticed from afar that Dong Zhiqian’s appearance and clothing did not resemble those of a villager, so he walked over.

Chen Huolu asked, “Sir, what important business brings you to our village?”

Dong Zhiqian raised his head and looked at Chen Huolu.

Dong Zhiqian asked, “Old Village Chief!? Have you forgotten who I am?”

Chen Huolu stared at Dong Zhiqian, and the expression on his face shifted from confusion to shock. “You... you are Dong Zhiqian! Didn’t you escape from Luku? Why have you come back now after all this time? You committed so many immoral acts in your youth, and you still have the nerve to return?”

Dong Zhiqian smiled bitterly and said, “I’m afraid there are even more immoral things that you still don’t know about... Old Village Chief, could I ask you to help gather the villagers together? There is something extremely important that I absolutely must tell them personally.”

Chen Huolu said, “No problem. But first you must tell me what you intend to say. Whether there is a need to gather the villagers will be for me to decide.”

Dong Zhiqian said, “Alright.”

Chen Huolu accompanied Dong Zhiqian as they slowly walked toward his house. Dong Zhiqian limped laboriously on one leg with great difficulty.

11

Inside the living room of Chen Huolu’s house, Dong Zhiqian revealed everything to Huolu, Aijiao, and Baofeng.

After hearing everything, the expressions of the three became grave.

Meijiao pleaded, “Dad, I beg you, spare my younger brother Qingwen. Let this matter go no further, alright? I’ll ask their entire family to move away from Luku Village and never return again.”

Dong Zhiqian said, “Mrs. Chen, when I went to the Liao house earlier, Liao Qingwen recognized me and actually took out a machete to try to kill me to silence me. That proves he feels no remorse at all. Do you really think someone like that deserves protection?”

Meijiao said, “But he is still our younger brother after all!”

Baofeng said, “Mom, I disagree too. Back then, Dad and Big Brother were arrested and executed by gunfire. Have you forgotten that grievance? Even if he is our uncle, so what? How can we just let him go?”

Meijiao said, “If this matter is exposed, have you thought about how Yutang and Yuhui will live their lives afterward? After all, the two of them are innocent.”

After hearing this, Baofeng lowered her head as fierce conflict raged within her heart.

Huolu said, “Aijiao, I completely understand how you feel. But this matter is too important. It is no longer just my personal affair. The entire village must be informed, and they must decide what to do.”

Aijiao thought for a moment before helplessly saying, “Alright, Dad, I understand. Sigh...”

12

Laichun was busy drying tea leaves in the front courtyard when Axi arrived at her house.

Axi shouted, “Sister Chun! Something huge has happened in our village!”

Laichun stood up and asked, “What huge thing happened? Why are you acting so panicked?”

Axi said, “Actually, I don’t know either. Just now the village clerk was walking around beating a gong, saying that the old baozheng wants everyone to gather at Village Chief Liao’s house because there’s something important he wants to announce.”

Laichun laughed and said, “You don’t even know what happened, yet you’re already shouting so loudly. If you actually knew, wouldn’t the whole village be turned upside down? Alright then, I’ll go with you.”

Zhou Tianmei heard Axi’s voice and walked out the door.

Laichun said, “Mom, the village clerk just notified everyone to gather at the village chief’s house. I don’t know what they’re planning to announce, so Axi and I are going to listen. Please help look after Wenying for a while.”

Tianmei said, “Alright, you two go ahead.”

Just as Axi and Laichun were about to leave, they encountered Wenyan returning home at the doorway.

Laichun asked, “Wenyan, I haven’t seen you all day long. Where did you run off to?”

Wenyan said, “I... I went to handle some matters. Mom, are you and Auntie heading out?”

Laichun said, “Yes. The old baozheng notified us to gather at the village chief’s house.”

Wenyan thought to himself, “No wonder I couldn’t find Dong Zhiqian anywhere. So the old village chief brought him there. This is bad...”

Wenyan said, “Mom, I’m going too.”

Laichun said, “Children always love joining the excitement.”

The three of them rode off together on bicycles.

13

A crowd of over a hundred villagers had gathered outside the entrance of Liao Qingwen’s house, talking loudly among themselves. Chen Huolu and several villagers supported Dong Zhiqian as they arrived at the main gate. Chen Huolu wore a grave expression. The crowd automatically parted to make way for them. The group entered the courtyard of Liao Qingwen’s house, and the villagers followed, squeezing into the courtyard. Those who could not enter stood outside the surrounding wall.

Chen Huolu said, “Fellow villagers, the reason I called everyone here today is not for anything else, but to let everyone understand the truth about the tragedy that happened in our village ten years ago.”

The previously noisy villagers immediately fell silent after hearing this.

Chen Huolu continued, “Ten years ago, military police rushed into our village and started arresting people without even clarifying anything. My eldest son Chen Qi-wang and my eldest grandson Chen Tian-qi were also taken away. At that time, I asked them why they were arresting people so indiscriminately. They said they were arresting communist spies. It is true that some people did have close ties with the base, but many more villagers were wrongly accused, causing many families in our village to be destroyed. Those military police did not give any of the innocent villagers a chance to defend themselves. Were they not extremely vicious?”

A villager said, “That’s right! Those military police were truly vicious!”

Chen Huolu nodded and said, “I also used to think they were very vicious. But only today did I learn that there were other reasons behind all of this. I will now let the person involved tell you themselves.”

Chen Huolu stepped aside. Two villagers, one on each side, escorted Dong Zhiqian to the center of the courtyard as if they were escorting a criminal. The two released him and returned to stand beside Chen Huolu.

Dong Zhiqian said, “...I am Dong Zhiqian.”

A villager asked, “Dong Zhiqian? That name sounds very familiar.”

Another villager said, “Could it be the one whose hamstring was cut by the old village chief ten years ago?”

Another villager said, “Look, he’s limping. It must be him! I heard he escaped from Village Chief Chen Qi-wang’s house back then. How did he end up here?”

Dong Zhiqian took a deep breath and said, “Back then, the Secret Bureau knew that a group of communists was hiding in Luku Village, and also knew which villagers were in contact with people from the base. All of this was because the Secret Bureau planted two undercover agents in the village. One was a former colleague of the novelist Lu He-ruo, a reporter from the Guangming Daily. The other was a relative of the then village chief. These two, fearing for their lives, made a deal with the Secret Bureau and betrayed the villagers.”

At this point, Dong Zhiqian was exhausted and gasped for breath heavily. Chen Huolu signaled for a villager nearby to bring him water.

At that moment, Wenyan, Laichun, and Axi also arrived at the scene. They were pushed to the very outer edge of the crowd and could only see a sea of heads, unable to tell what was happening inside the courtyard.

Axi said, “There are so many people. What is going on right now?”

Laichun tapped the shoulder of a villager in front of her. “Sister Mei, do you know what is happening?”

The woman said, “I’m not too sure either. I only know that someone seems to be talking about the truth of what happened in our village ten years ago.”

Laichun and Axi exchanged glances. After hearing this, Wenyan stepped back a few paces, carefully observed the outside of the Liao household, and decided to enter through the back door.

After drinking water, Dong Zhiqian took a deep breath and continued, “The condition they accepted was that they must constantly report every movement in the village and the base to the Secret Bureau, and collect lists of communist members and investigate villagers closely associated with communists. If they successfully completed the mission, they would receive a large sum of money and live without worry for the rest of their lives. But if secrecy failed, they could be killed.”

The villagers below began to murmur loudly. Those inside the courtyard relayed the words outward to the crowd outside. Axi and Laichun listened with grave expressions.

Liao Qingwen crouched in a corner of the room, trembling continuously, muttering incomprehensible words. Wu Zu and Yuhui held each other tightly. Yutang sat on the floor hugging his knees, a machete placed beside him.

Footsteps were heard outside the door. Yutang instinctively grabbed the machete, stood up, and glared toward the door. The door opened, and Wenyan appeared.

Yutang lowered the machete. “Wenyan!? How did you get in here?”

Wenyan said, “I came in through the back door. Yutang, hurry and take your father and mother away from here. If you don’t leave soon, it will be too late.”

Yutang smiled bitterly. “Where can we go? My father is already in this state. Even if we leave, we won’t get far. But if anyone tries to come in and harm him...” Yutang raised the machete, “I’ll be the first to fight them!”

Yuhui said, “Brother, don’t do this!”

Wenyan said, “Yutang, don’t be so foolish. There are over a hundred people outside. How long can you hold them off alone? Why don’t you not resist and go out to explain things properly? Maybe there’s still room for change.”

Yutang asked, “Do you think that’s possible?”

Wenyan was speechless.

Outside in the courtyard, villagers, seeing that Dong Zhiqian had no intention of continuing, began to ask questions.

A villager asked, “Are those two people still alive?”

Dong Zhiqian said, “Both are still alive.”

After saying this, he fell silent for a moment, then suddenly knelt down with both knees.

“I, Dong Zhiqian, hereby formally confess my guilt to the villagers of Luku. I was one of the undercover agents back then.”

The crowd erupted again in agitation.

A villager cursed loudly, “Damn it! So you’re the one who destroyed so many families and killed innocent villagers! You’re truly vicious!”

Another shouted, “Give us back our sons!”

The unrest grew louder and louder. Inside the house, Wenyan and Yutang remained in a tense standoff.

Wenyan said anxiously, “Dong Zhiqian has already told the truth. Yutang, you should leave quickly! Go as far as you can. If the villagers catch you, the consequences will be unimaginable...”

Wenyan bit his lip and could not continue.

Yutang heard the chaos outside, fear swelling inside him like a rolling snowball. He looked at Wenyan, then at his family. After hesitating, he threw the machete forcefully to the ground.

“Yuhui, help me support Dad. Mom, pack the valuables. We’re leaving through the back door!”

Outside, the villagers’ anger reached its peak.

A villager shouted, “Who is the other informer!?”

Many echoed, “Who is it!? Speak up! Who is it!?”

Dong Zhiqian remained silent for a moment, then said, “The other one is your current village chief, Liao Qingwen.”

The crowd instantly fell silent.

After a few seconds, they erupted again in rage and curses.

“Damn it! A traitor became village chief!?”

“Drag him out!”

“This kind of man needs a lesson!”

A group of villagers rushed into the house, breaking through the door, and saw Yutang and Yuhui supporting Liao Qingwen, trying to escape through the back.

A villager shouted, “Damn it! No one’s getting away!”

Yuhui cried, “Please don’t take my father!”

She was pushed to the ground. Yutang, enraged, was about to throw a punch when Wenyan grabbed him from behind.

“Yutang, don’t act rashly!”

Yutang struggled and shouted, “Let go of me!”

Liao Qingwen was dragged into the courtyard by the furious crowd. Wu Zu rushed out carrying a cloth bag, which she threw aside. Jewelry and cash spilled out.

Liao Qingwen was brought beside Dong Zhiqian. Wu Zu knelt beside them, crying uncontrollably. Yutang broke free from Wenyan and shoved him to the ground. The siblings rushed into the courtyard but were pulled aside by villagers.

Yutang shouted, “Let me go! Father! Father!”

Villagers hurled insults, spat, and threw vegetables, sweet potatoes, and stones. Wu Zu and Dong Zhiqian tried to dodge or block them with their hands. Liao Qingwen, however, stared blankly with no reaction.

A stone struck his forehead, causing blood to flow, yet he remained motionless. The villagers grew even angrier and kicked him in the chest, knocking him down.

Yuhui turned away in pain. Yutang cried with his head lowered. Aijiao and Baofeng, standing beside Chen Huolu, could not bear to watch.

Aijiao pleaded, “Dad, please stop them! If you don’t, someone will die!”

Chen Huolu said angrily, “Hmph! They brought this upon themselves.”

Baofeng said, “Grandpa, do you really want to see your own brother beaten to death?”

Chen Huolu hesitated, then raised his hands and shouted, “Everyone, calm down!”

But the villagers were too enraged. The crowd pressed closer to Dong Zhiqian and the others.

Suddenly, a sharp gong sound rang out. Everyone turned toward the source.

Wenyan stood there holding a gong.

Wenyan said, “Everyone, listen to me! Ten years ago, my father Yu Lianfu was also arrested. I hated these two people just like you, and I once wished to kill them with my own hands. But think about it—if we use violence now, if our loved ones in the afterlife see our hands stained with blood, will they be happy?”

A villager shouted, “Damn it! If I could kill them myself, I’d accept prison!”

The crowd grew agitated again.

Wenyan struck the gong hard and shouted with all his strength, “How are we any different from the Kuomintang if we act like this!?”

The crowd slowly quieted. Silence fell.

Yutang and Yuhui seized the moment to break free and ran to their parents.

Chen Huolu finally came back to his senses.

Chen Huolu said, “Fellow villagers, what Wenyan said is right. Dong Zhiqian and Liao Qingwen are indeed wicked people, but we do not have the right to decide their lives or deaths. I ask everyone to temporarily leave them to me. I will give you a fair judgment. Is that alright?”

The villagers looked at one another in confusion.

Meijiao stepped forward and bowed in front of Liao Qingwen.

“Please, everyone, let this end here.”

Baofeng followed. Yutang and Yuhui did the same. Wenyan also joined them. The five of them bowed deeply to the villagers.

The villagers looked at them, then at the frail Dong Zhiqian and the broken Liao Qingwen. Their anger finally subsided.

A villager said, “We’re not unreasonable people. Alright, old village chief, we trust you. We believe you will give a fair judgment.”

One by one, voices of agreement arose.

“It’s fine.”

“Let the old village chief handle it.”

“I have no objection.”

“Let’s go.”

The crowd gradually dispersed.

Laichun and Axi finally squeezed into the courtyard. Laichun looked at Wenyan and the others, then at Dong Zhiqian and the others. Tears began to flow uncontrollably.

At that moment, rain began to fall.

Wenyan raised his head, letting the rain strike his face.

14

A light rain fell outside. Inside Laichun’s living room, Wenyan, Laichun, Zhou Tian, and Axi sat in the hall, all with solemn expressions.

At that moment, Aiyu, A Pao, and A Cai rushed in somewhat disheveled.

Aiyu asked, “Mom, why are you here?”

Axi asked back, “Ayu, where have you been? Didn’t you know something big happened in the village?”

Aiyu said, “We just went out to play with A Pao and A Cai. What happened?”

Everyone fell silent.

A Pao asked, “What exactly happened? Why is no one saying anything?”

Finally, Zhou Tian spoke.

“That Liao Qingwen is truly vicious. He did something as despicable as being an informer and still acted like nothing happened, living in our village with such thick skin.”

A Cai asked, “Wenyan, what exactly happened?”

Wenyan said, “Sigh... it’s like this...” and explained everything in detail.

A Pao cursed angrily, “Damn it! A Cai, let’s go! Let’s settle accounts with Liao Qingwen!”

As they were about to stand up, Wenyan grabbed A Pao’s hand.

“Even if you go, it’s useless. He’s already mentally broken and doesn’t even recognize people anymore.”

A Pao shook off Wenyan’s hand and shouted, “Damn it! This is unjust! This is completely unjust!”

He kicked over a nearby chair and collapsed to the ground crying. Aiyu came over and held his shoulders.

15

Late at night, Dong Zhiqian sat up from his bed. After coughing twice, he got up and walked to the desk. He sat down and carefully wrote a letter.

After finishing, he folded it, placed it into an envelope, and put it into his pocket.

He muttered, “It’s time for me to atone for my sins to the villagers...”

Then he put on his dirty overcoat and walked out the door.

16

At dawn, urgent knocking sounded at Chen Huolu’s door. Aijiao, who was preparing breakfast in the kitchen, came out to open the door.

Aijiao asked, “What happened?”

A villager said, “Sister-in-law, please quickly call the old village chief. Something serious has happened!”

Aijiao asked, “What exactly happened...?”

Her gaze shifted past the villagers and saw a hanging figure on a tree not far away.

Aijiao screamed in horror, “Oh my God!” and ran inside shouting, “Dad! Dad!”

Chen Huolu and Aijiao rushed under the tree where Dong Zhiqian was hanging. Several villagers had already gathered.

Chen Huolu said, “Hurry, before it gets fully bright. Take him down.”

Several villagers worked together to lower the body from the tree. Chen Huolu found a letter in Dong Zhiqian’s coat pocket and took it out.

“Village Chief: I have caused you much trouble during the day and I deeply apologize. My return to Luku Village to confess everything was entirely my own decision, with no one instructing me. Please rest assured. I have been suffering from a terminal illness and do not have long to live. For the past ten years I have been tormented by guilt and have not had a single peaceful night, so I decided to speak the truth before I die. Now that my wish is fulfilled, there is no need for me to continue living. In my coat pocket there is a bundle of cash—my entire savings. Although it is not much, I hope the village chief can distribute it to the families of the victims as a small compensation from me.

Dong Zhiqian, final words.”

After reading the letter, Chen Huolu took out a thick envelope from Dong Zhiqian’s coat pocket.

He sighed and said, “If only this had not happened. Take his body, place it in a coffin, and bury it properly. Use the money he left behind to pay for the coffin. That will be considered the least we can do.”