Rebirth in 1972: Redemption in Changbai Mountain

"What, people from our village?"

"No way? Who would do something like this?"

"They caught Zhou Rui's family? Rui's life has been tough enough. He's an orphan, and he has to support three kids who only spend money and can't do any work. Who would be so heartless as to steal from his house?"

"Exactly, a person like that is so wicked, he'd be a son without an anus."

Zhou Ping, holding Xiao Niangao, stood on the periphery, but he also heard Wei Dazhi's words, his eyes gleaming. So this was his second brother's plan—to capture his eldest cousin on the spot.

However, he was also a little worried, since Wei Dazhi had just said that his second brother had asked for help, and he didn't know if he was injured.

"You mean you heard Zhou Rui's cries for help and went to assist him. You ended up catching three thieves, only to find out they were villagers. Why didn't you realize they were villagers when you were arresting them?"

Zhao Youzhi was somewhat puzzled, but he still wanted to find out. Could it be that these educated youths had injured someone, and now they were striking first?

"Didn't I just say that they were wearing masks? We only saw who they were after their masks were knocked off?"

Wei Dazhi was getting impatient. Had I not explained myself clearly? I had spent a long time thinking about how to phrase it on the way here.

Zhao Youzhi was about to ask another question when Zhou Shumin walked over to his side.

"Village chief, let's not ask anymore. Let's go to Ruiwa's house first, and everything will be clear when we get there."

Zhao Youzhi nodded solemnly. That was the only way, but today's matter seemed rather serious. Zhao Youzhi glanced around; almost everyone in the village had been drawn by Wei Dazhi's bell.

"Let's go to Zhou Rui's house together," Zhao Youzhi said to the women's director and militia captain who had already arrived.

Hundreds of people marched in a long procession toward Zhou Rui's house. Aside from those who had other matters to attend to at home, almost all the villagers had come. It was the dead of winter, and with nothing else to do, wouldn't it be a shame not to watch such a fascinating show up close?

Meng Huaiyuan and the other educated youth were talking when they saw a large group of people walking towards them.

"So many people. Did Wei Dazhi bring everyone from the village?" Xu Jun was dumbfounded.

Zhou Rui stood with his hands in his pockets, gazing into the distance with a somewhat enigmatic expression. "This is more interesting," he thought. "The more people, the better. Otherwise, who would watch my carefully arranged performance?"

Meng Huaiyuan, Lin Qiuyue, Yang Ping, and other educated youths joined Zhou Rui, their host, to welcome Zhao Youzhi.

"Grandpa Zhao." "Village Chief Zhao." "Brigade Leader."

Zhao Youzhi led accountant Zhou Shumin, women's director Yang Guilan, and militia captain Zhao Changshan into the courtyard.

Then they saw Zhou Rui and Meng Huaiyuan, along with other male and female educated youth, standing there, while Zhou Chen, Chen Dabiao, and Chen Erbiao were bound hand and foot on the ground.

Scattered around were some cured meat, a rifle, a tied-up hen, and a tightly sealed burlap sack. The sack was bulging, and it was unclear what was inside.

"What exactly happened?" Zhao Youzhi's face was gloomy, revealing no particular inclination; he just wanted to find out the facts first.

As the leader of the educated youth team, Meng Huaiyuan stepped forward first: "Village chief, it's like this. We were studying inside when we heard Comrade Zhou Rui shouting 'Catch the thief!' and we ran over to help. We saw three people with their faces covered by cloths. Just these few pieces of cloth."

Meng Huaiyuan handed the three pieces of bluish-gray cloth in his hand to Zhao Youzhi.

"Then we did the right thing and caught the three of them. Only later did we find out that the three were villagers: Zhou Chen, Chen Dabiao, and Chen Erbiao."

"Chen'er, my darling, who tied you up?" Aunt Tian Xiuying squeezed through the crowd and began wailing loudly before even entering the courtyard.

Just as Tian Xiuying was about to step into the courtyard, a large foot appeared out of nowhere, and with a bang, Tian Xiuying was kicked away again.

"Get out. This is my home. Who allowed you to step into my house?" Zhou Rui said calmly, with a hint of hatred in his expression.

"Ah...ah...Zhou Rui, you little beast, I'm going to tear you apart!" Tian Xiuying hated Zhou Rui to the extreme. This was the second time that Zhou Rui had kicked her in the chest twice.

"Hold her back. No matter who she is, no one is allowed in until we have a clear picture of the facts. That includes Zhou Chen and Chen Dabiao's parents." Zhao Youzhi finished speaking and glared at Zhou Rui. That kid Rui was always causing trouble for him.

A group of women outside immediately grabbed Tian Xiuying, preventing her from breaking free. Zhou Dashan and Chen Qiang, who arrived later, were also stopped by the militia.

"Zhou Rui, this is your home. Tell me what happened." Zhao Youzhi stared intently at Zhou Rui, wanting to see what he would say.

"I was drinking at Uncle Changhai's house just now. When I ran out of alcohol, I came back to get some. Before I even got to my house, I saw the front door open and three masked men sneaking out, carrying a lot of my things and my rifle."

"They had guns, so I didn't dare go forward. I picked up ice blocks outside the courtyard and started smashing them while yelling. Luckily, the other educated youth were all good people. They heard my shouts and came to help, and that's how we managed to arrest them all."

"If I were alone, and they were armed, I couldn't possibly win."

Lin Qiuyue and Yang Ping looked at Zhou Rui with strange expressions. "You're the kind of person who can take down Hei Xiazi with your bare hands, how could you be no match for these three scoundrels, Zhou Chen? Keep pretending."

Zhao Youzhi also had some doubts. Zhou Chen and the other three had been beaten by Zhou Rui several times without suffering a loss. Now there were only three of them. How could they not be able to handle them?

This brat is too smart. Zhao Youzhi has a feeling that Zhou Rui is involved in today's events, but he has no proof. Hmm, weren't there four people? Where's Qian Fulai? Why isn't he with Zhou Chen and the others?

"Zhou Rui, you're talking nonsense! How could my Chenbao steal anything? You're spreading rumors! I'm going to report you to the commune and have you arrested!" Tian Xiuying was furious and kept jumping up and down.

Zhou Rui merely glanced at Tian Xiuying, completely disdaining to speak to her. This vicious, foolish woman wasn't worthy of his attention.

Zhao Youzhi shouted angrily, "What are the militiamen outside doing? Gag Tian Xiuying!"

So two people grabbed a piece of cloth, whose purpose was unknown, and stuffed it into Tian Xiuying's mouth. Even Zhou Dashan's attempts to stop them were futile.

"What did you steal?" Zhao Youzhi continued to ask Zhou Rui.

"I haven't had a chance to check yet, I'm afraid someone will say I'm framing them. I didn't even touch those three, they were all tied up by the educated youth, Meng and the other educated youth can testify to that."

Aside from what's on the ground, I don't know if they have anything else on them; that'll have to be checked by your superiors."

Zhou Rui recounted the events calmly, without embellishment. He had already prepared everything for Zhou Chen and the others on the kang cabinet at home, and he didn't believe they wouldn't take it.