Cangmang Asks the Way 1: Guardian of the Lamp

May 27th, night.

Wang Lide's home in the eastern suburbs of Nancheng.

The living room lights were on, and the TV was on, but no one was watching. Nianfeng was already asleep, and Ayun sat on the sofa, clutching a newspaper. It was yesterday's "Nancheng Daily."

She read the headline on the front page of the newspaper countless times: "The Shadow of the Heroic Construction Site—From Acts of Heroism to Shoddy Workmanship?"

The photo shows Cang Lifeng lying in a hospital bed—it was taken after the bank robbery last year. She remembered that day when the robber grabbed her by the hair and was about to cut her neck with a machete. It was a man named Cang Lifeng who risked being shot in the head to save her from the robber's knife, and also saved the child in her womb.

From that moment on, she vowed that she would spend her whole life repaying this kindness.

Later, when Nianfeng was born, she discussed it with Lide and named the child "Nianfeng." The "feng" in "Nianfeng" comes from "Cang Lifeng." She wanted the child to remember that his life was bought with the life of this person.

But now, the newspapers say that person is a "heartless contractor" and a "swindler who cuts corners."

She doesn't believe it.

She turned her head and looked at Wang Lide sitting at the dining table. He had his head down, his food untouched, and his chopsticks had been resting on the rim of his bowl for a long time. He looked terrible, with sunken eyes, as if he hadn't slept for days.

"Lide," she called to him.

Wang Lide raised his head, his eyes somewhat evasive.

"Tell me, is Cang Lifeng being framed?"

Wang Lide was stunned for a moment, then shook his head: "I...how would I know? I'm not at his construction site..."

"You're not at his construction site, but you're at Song Jinrong's company. Song Jinrong's construction site is his construction site. Song Jinrong's project is his project."

Wang Lide opened his mouth, but no words came out.

"The newspaper said he cut corners, tell me, is that true?"

"Ah Yun, don't ask anymore..."

"I'm going to ask!" Ayun's voice suddenly rose, then fell back down. She glanced in the direction of the bedroom; Nianfeng was still asleep.

She stood up, walked to the dining table, and slammed the newspaper on it.

"Wang Lide, look me in the eye and tell me, is Cang Lifeng innocent?"

Wang Lide didn't look at her. He kept his head down, staring at the table, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down.

Ayun stared at his profile, at his tightly pursed lips, at his slightly trembling fingers. Suddenly, she felt cold. Not the cold of the weather, but a cold that seeped into her very bones.

"You knew all along," she said.

Wang Lide remained silent.

"You knew all along that he was framed. You knew all along who did it. You just never said anything."

silence.

Ayun's eyes reddened. She took a deep breath, her voice even softer: "Lide, tell me, did you do it?"

Wang Lide suddenly raised his head: "No! It wasn't me! I...I am..." His voice was stuck in his throat, as if something was blocking it.

"What are you?"

"I just... know."

Ayun stared at him, at the expression on his face, an expression that contained fear and shame.

"Lide." Ayun walked up to him, squatted down, looked into his eyes, and said, "Look at me."

Wang Lide slowly raised his head.

"Lide, do you know how terrified and desperate I was that day at the bank, when the robber grabbed my hair and pointed a knife at my neck? When Cang Lifeng rushed at me, do you know what he was facing? Two more guns, the danger of being shot through the head instantly. Yet this man risked his life for me, a pregnant stranger! How can we repay such a benefactor with enmity? We'll be struck by lightning!"

Ayun's voice was soft, but every word struck Wang Lide's heart like a hammer.

"Lide, if you know anything, tell me."

"I……"

"Even now, are you still going to hide it from me? I'm going to take Nianfeng to him right now. I'll kneel down and beg for his forgiveness." Ayun became emotional.

Wang Lide was shocked.

"You know I'm capable of doing it," Ayun said.

Silence. A very, very long silence.

Finally, he spoke.

"It's...it's Song Jinrong."

Ayun's hand clenched tightly.

"And his cousin, Song Jiawen."

"The incident at the construction site... was orchestrated by them. They wanted to evade payment for Cang Lifeng's work and ruin his reputation as well."

"How did you do it?"

"They added powdered sugar to the concrete, making it too weak. Then...then they switched the testing materials and issued a false report."

How did you know?

Wang Lide's body began to tremble. He took out a cigarette from his pocket and tried to light it, but his hands were shaking so badly that he couldn't light it no matter how many times he tried. Ayun took the lighter and lit it for him.

He took a deep drag, and the smoke billowed from his nostrils, making him cough a few times.

"That day, it was May 8th, I was walking towards Boss Song's office, ready to report to him. Just as I was about to knock on the door, I suddenly heard Cang Lifeng's name coming from inside. So I listened carefully. But I couldn't hear it clearly, I only vaguely guessed that they were targeting him."

"Until May 17th, the day of the accident at the construction site, I had planned to go with them to watch Tianci's match, but then this happened. I went with them to the construction site where the accident occurred. At that moment, I instantly understood the whole truth. I carefully observed the scene and picked up a piece of cement from the pile of rubble..."

He pulled a fist-sized object wrapped in newspaper from his pocket.

"I had it tested. The results...it contains sugar."

Ayun took the paper package, her hands trembling. She didn't open it, but held it in her hands as if she were holding a red-hot coal.

"Lide, why haven't you said anything all these days?"

"I..." Wang Lide's voice trembled, "Ayun, you don't understand. Song Jinrong is a ruthless man. If I were to tell anyone, I... my family..."

He couldn't continue; his head drooped to his chest, and his whole body trembled violently.

Ayun stood there, looking at Wang Lide's bowed head, thinking about the consequences of Wang Lide revealing the truth: Lide would go to jail, and might even take revenge on her and her child.

A sense of fear welled up inside her. At that moment, she understood her husband's hesitation.

However, images of the bank robbery instantly flooded his mind: the robbers' ferocious faces, the cold touch of the gleaming blade against his neck, and Cang Lifeng's resolute expression as he charged forward...

A thought arose in her mind: "My benefactor is not afraid to die for a stranger like me, so what am I afraid of? Without him, my child and I would have died long ago. He gave me my life."

Her eyes cleared. Looking at her husband, she said firmly, "Wang Lide, you're afraid, but wasn't Cang Lifeng afraid when facing the dark muzzle of a gun? You have family, but doesn't Cang Lifeng have family too? Our lives are precious, but isn't Cang Lifeng's life precious too?"

Wang Lide was stunned.

Without waiting for his reply, Ayun continued:

"Lide, listen to me. You know Song Jinrong better than I do. You know too many of his secrets. Do you think he'll let you off the hook?"

Wang Lide's face turned pale. He remembered what Song Jinrong had said to him that day, and he couldn't help but tremble.

"Lide, by reporting Song Jinrong and testifying for Cang Lifeng, you are righteous, courageous, and grateful for what you did wrong. Even if you made mistakes before, everyone will think you had no choice. You are just an accomplice, not the mastermind. But if you don't speak up and he implicates you after something happens, you will be an accomplice."

Ayun grasped his hand, her eyes flashing with a resolute light.

"Lide, this is a great opportunity for us to repay our benefactor. We mustn't miss it. Don't worry about us, mother and son. We've already died once; I'm not afraid of anything. Remember, every day we live now is thanks to Cang Lifeng!"

Wang Lide looked into her eyes, and the light in them deeply moved him. His eyes reddened, and tears streamed down his cheeks. He stood up, went to the bedroom, and pulled a brown paper envelope from the bottom of the wardrobe. He returned and placed the envelope on the table.

He opened the envelope and took out the contents one by one, placing them on the table: a copy of the account book, bank transfer records, and the lab report. His hand trembled slightly with each item he took.

"Is this enough?"

Ayun opened the envelope and read through the reports one by one. When she saw the words "sugar content" on the lab report, her finger paused. She wasn't a professional, but she knew what those words meant. Her hand trembled, but her eyes shone brightly.

"That's enough," she said.

She looked at the materials again, then looked up at Wang Lide.

"Lide, don't be afraid, do what you want to do. Even if you go to jail for it, your children and I will wait for your return!"

Wang Lide's tears welled up again. He reached out, wanting to hug her, but then pulled his hand back.

Ayun grabbed his hand and pressed it against her face.

"Lide, you did the right thing this time. Nianfeng and I are proud of you."

Wang Lide didn't speak. He just held Ayun's hand tightly, as if grasping the last glimmer of light.

Nianfeng's sobs came from the bedroom. Ayun released Wang Lide's hand and stood up.

"I'm going to check on the children."

Wang Lide watched his wife walk into the bedroom, looked at the evidence on the table, and listened to Ayun coaxing Nianfeng from inside the bedroom. He could no longer hold back his tears, which streamed down his cheeks and fell onto the table one by one.