Rebirth in 1972: Redemption in Changbai Mountain

Zhao Changshan seemed to have wheels of fire under his feet, and he dashed back to his own yard in a flash.

He valued his reputation above all else, and today, with the whole village pointing and whispering about him in front of everyone, he felt utterly humiliated.

As dinnertime approached, the commotion escalated, eventually reaching the ears of team leader Zhang Aimin and former Party secretary Zhao Youzhi, who were so angry they nearly smashed their bowls.

Zhao Changshan's outrageous behavior has indeed had some impact. At best, it's seen as him showing off his power and bullying his fellow villagers; at worst, it's seen as a serious smear campaign against the Party and the country's cadres.

The rough porcelain bowls for dinner had just clattered on the table when the old Party Secretary Zhao Youzhi, clutching his pipe, stepped into Zhao Changshan's house, followed by the brigade leader Zhang Aimin, whose face was ashen.

The aroma of corn porridge wafting from the kitchen hadn't dissipated yet when Zhao Changshan's wife came out carrying dishes. She immediately saw two people in charge blocking the main room, and her hand trembled, almost causing her to tilt the dishes.

"Changshan, tell me the truth, did you really do those things that are being talked about in the village today?"

Zhao Youzhi slammed his pipe against the edge of the table, sending sparks flying that burned Zhao Changshan, causing him to jump up abruptly.

"Secretary, I'm innocent!" Zhao Changshan's face turned bright red, and he slammed his hand on the table.

"How could I, Zhao Changshan, a grown man, do something like bullying the weak?"

"As a cadre, I lead people into the mountains before dawn every day, just to beg for some meat for the village. Look at all these cuts and bruises on my body!"

He suddenly rolled up his trouser leg, revealing a dense network of bloodstains across his calf, with blood beads seeping from some places.

Zhang Aimin frowned and glanced at him: "Didn't you steal it?"

"Everyone in the village, from east to west, knows that you, Zhao Changshan, led the militia to block Chen Datou's path, intending to take his fat badger home for a free drink. Surely this rumor didn't just come out of thin air?"

Zhao Changshan's mind went blank for a moment, and the anger that had been building up all afternoon finally found an outlet.

He instantly recalled Zhou Rui's ambiguous smile, and remembered how this kid had stood in the middle of things yesterday in the mountains, pretending to smooth things over.

"It's Zhou Rui, it must be Zhou Rui who did this!" Zhao Changshan clenched his fist tightly, his knuckles turning white.

"Yesterday he was with Chen Datou and the others. Today when I returned to the village, I heard the whole village was talking about it. No one but him has the time to gossip like this."

Zhao Youzhi and Zhang Aimin exchanged a glance, both of them a little uneasy.

Zhou Rui may be a bit domineering, but he's always smiling, has a sweet tongue, and is hardworking. He's always had a positive reputation in the village, so why would he spread such rumors for no reason?

"You say it was Zhou Rui who spread it, do you have any evidence?" Zhang Aimin asked in a deep voice.

"That young kid, why doesn't he have a good life instead of spreading rumors about you, the militia captain? What's his motive?"

Zhang Aimin disliked Zhou Rui's personality and thought he was a troublemaker, but he still had basic logic.

Zhao Changshan was speechless when asked the question. He couldn't very well say that he and Zhou Rui had grown to dislike each other and that he wanted to find an opportunity to get back at him, could he?

Saying this only made him seem petty and narrow-minded.

He was pacing anxiously when a commotion suddenly came from outside the door. Zhao Jie scrambled in, his face covered in bits of grass.

"Uncle, great-grandfather, captain."

"I just overheard Aunt Wang talking to someone by the well. She said she saw Zhou Rui holding two children this morning, under the old locust tree, by the well, and in the threshing ground. She recounted the whole story from beginning to end."

They said that Captain Zhao and a few of us tried to steal Chen Datou's badger, and even kicked over Xiao Huaihua's wild vegetable basket.

As soon as these words were spoken, Zhao Youzhi and Zhang Aimin's expressions changed instantly, and Zhao Changshan's face turned ashen.

"Let's go to Zhou Rui's house." Zhao Youzhi tucked his pipe into his waistband and started walking out.

"We must get to the bottom of this today. If someone is deliberately stirring up trouble and causing panic in the village, I, the old Party Secretary, will be the first to object."

As soon as the group arrived at the gate of Zhou Rui's house, they heard lively laughter coming from inside.

Zhou Rui sat in the courtyard, fanning Lin Qiuyue with a palm-leaf fan to swat away the mosquitoes flying around.

He Wu was plucking the feathers of a pheasant. He had hunted the pheasant himself and was planning to cook it for Zhou Rui's family.

Little Goose and Little Rice Cake sat on the doorstep, clutching freshly roasted sweet potatoes in their hands, their faces covered in soot from eating.

Seeing a group of people barging in with dark faces, Zhou Rui seemed completely oblivious, quickly standing up with a smile plastered on his face.

"Secretary of the Party Committee, Captain of the Brigade, Captain Zhao, what brings you here? Please come in and sit down. I just brewed some wild mountain tea."

"Zhou Rui! Stop pretending to be confused." Zhao Changshan took a step forward and shouted, pointing his finger at his nose.

"You've been telling everyone today that I led the militia to steal Chen Datou's badger, didn't you?!"

Zhou Rui's smile vanished instantly. He took a half step back, as if startled, his eyes still filled with confusion.

"Captain Zhao, what are you saying? When did I spread rumors?"

"Still dare to talk back!" Zhao Changshan was so angry that the veins in his neck bulged. "Aunt Wang herself said that she saw you chatting about this with a group of women by the well this morning. Who else could it be but you?"

Zhou Rui didn't respond to him. Instead, he turned to look at Zhao Youzhi and Zhang Aimin, his tone tinged with grievance.

"Secretary of the Party Committee, brigade leader, I did take my two children around the village this morning and chatted with many aunties and grandmas, but I didn't tell a single lie."

He paused, then his voice became clear and loud enough for everyone in the courtyard to hear clearly.

"Yesterday afternoon, I went down the mountain with Brother Qingguo and He Wu and saw with my own eyes Captain Zhao leading people to block Chen Datou and Xiao Huaihua."

"Little Huaihua only picked some wild vegetables and fruits, and not only was her basket overturned, but a lot of them were also trampled. What a pity. Sigh..."

"You're talking nonsense! I'm just asking Chen Datou what he does on the mountain during the busy farming season, why he doesn't participate in collective labor, I have no other intentions." Zhao Changshan was so anxious that he jumped up and down.

"Oh?" Zhou Rui raised an eyebrow: "You really care about the village that much? Zhao Jie was even holding onto Xiao Huaihua and wouldn't let her leave, almost making her cry."

"Captain, I'm a straightforward person and I don't make things up. I can stand by what I say."

Zhou Rui turned to look at Zhang Aimin, speaking with a firm and powerful voice, his eyes shining with a clear and honest gaze. Zhang Aimin and Zhao Youzhi exchanged a glance, and most of their doubts dissipated.

Villagers had gathered outside the courtyard gate at some point, discussing the matter amongst themselves, and their gazes toward Zhao Changshan had completely changed.

Zhao Changshan stood there, speechless, and only when he saw the faint smile on Zhou Rui's lips did he realize that he had fallen into a trap.

No matter what, today's debate can't wash away the stain on his reputation. It's all Zhao Jie's fault for being such a brainless bastard and insisting on teaching Chen Datou a lesson.

"And I can find people to testify," Zhou Rui continued, then pointed to the corner of the courtyard.

"See that? That's Comrade He Wu from Xiangyang Forestry Farm, he..."

"Gu Dayong is back, and he brought two wild boars with him. Everyone, hurry up and go help."

A loud shout suddenly came from outside the courtyard, interrupting Zhou Rui's words. Then everyone rushed out of the village, and the Zhou family courtyard suddenly became quiet.

Zhao Changshan touched the back of his neck; his palms were covered in sweat.

He never expected that He Wu from the forest farm would still be here. If this man were to speak up, he would be speechless today.