Sha Zhu's Rebirth in the Courtyard: Starting with Hitting Someone in the Head

Chapter 95 Interview and Review

Ten days later, two people from the Municipal Supply and Marketing Cooperative arrived. They entered Director Zhou's office and closed the door behind them. When Director Zhou came out, his expression was not good. He walked to He Yuzhu's desk and said in a low voice, "Zhuzi, the comrades from the cooperative want to talk to you. Cooperate with the investigation. Tell us everything."

Director Zhou paused deliberately and shook his head slightly.

He Yuzhu stood up, straightened his collar, and nodded slightly to Director Zhou.

He pushed open the door and entered. Two cadres sat behind a desk with several account books spread out on it. The taller one gestured for him to sit down and got straight to the point: "Comrade He Yuzhu, recently some people have reported that during your tenure as deputy head of the supply department, you are suspected of abusing your position to privately allocate scarce materials. Today, we are here on behalf of the head office to verify a few issues with you."

He Yuzhu sat down in the chair, placing his hands on his knees: "Please ask."

The short man opened the ledger, his finger tracing the numbers: "Last November, you imported a batch of peanut oil from Shandong. The books showed 15 tons in storage, but the stores in the east of the city only actually received 10 tons. Where did the missing 5 tons go?"

"Those five tons were specially allocated by the logistics department of the steel rolling mill. They have the signature of the current deputy factory director, Mr. Li, and the allocation order from the head office. The documents are on the third shelf of the filing cabinet. You can look at them now." He Yuzhu read out the filing cabinet number and the allocation order number. The short man found the ledger, flipped to the corresponding document, looked up at the tall man, and didn't say anything.

The tall man then asked, "What's your relationship with Li Huaide from the steel rolling mill?"

"It's normal business dealings. The supply and marketing cooperative is responsible for allocating non-staple foods to the steel rolling mill canteen. As the deputy head of the supply department, it's my job to liaise with the logistics department."

"Some people have reported that you received kickbacks from this."

"Deputy Factory Director Li treated me to several meals, at Fengzeyuan and Quanjude. I personally gave him some wild game, and he reciprocated with cigarettes and alcohol. It was all within the scope of normal social interactions." He Yuzhu spoke calmly, without the slightest stutter.

The tall man abruptly changed the subject: "How did you build your courtyard? As far as we know, you started selling boxed lunches in 1951 and only joined the cooperative in 1954. Where would an ordinary purchasing agent get the money to build twelve rooms?"

"It was given by my father, and the people in the courtyard paid for it. Comrade Chen Xiangqian, the director of the municipal tax bureau, knew about these things. There was also money saved from selling boxed lunches. From 1951 to 1953, I sold 400 boxed lunches every day at noon at Qianmen Railway Station, at three cents a box. Starting in 1954, I went to the countryside to hunt and buy things. In those years, I saved nearly 10,000 yuan. I didn't lack money, and I couldn't spend it all."

The short man jotted down a few notes, then looked up and asked, "Your wife, Lou Xiao'e, is the daughter of the capitalist Lou Bancheng. Did you gain any improper benefits from marrying a capitalist's daughter?"

"Are you deaf? I don't lack money, what benefit could I possibly gain? My father-in-law, Lou Bancheng, voluntarily applied for public-private partnership in 1953, which was featured on the front page of the Beijing Daily; he was a model citizen promoted by the city. My wife and I were in a free-love relationship and got married in 1959; we have a marriage certificate issued by the neighborhood committee. She is also a progressive youth of Beijing. You'd better think before you speak; can you take responsibility for what you've said?"

The short man's face turned bright red. He opened his mouth, then lowered his head to flip through the account book in front of him, his fingers trembling slightly as he pressed the pages.

The tall man glanced at him, a hint of reproach flashing in his eyes, but when he turned back to face He Yuzhu, his expression was calm.

"Comrade He Yuzhu, we have noted your opinion. Today we are here on behalf of the organization to understand the situation, not to make a judgment about you. We will record what you just said truthfully and take it back to the head office for further study." He tidied up the few sheets of paper in front of him and put them into his briefcase along with the account book.

The short man never looked up, put the pen back in his breast pocket, and closed the notebook.

The tall man stood up, his voice softening: "Comrade He Yuzhu, we will verify the information you provided and the details about Comrade Chen Xiangqian. During the investigation, you are temporarily suspended from work. This is not a disciplinary action, but merely a procedural arrangement. Once the matter is clarified, we will naturally provide you with an explanation."

He Yuzhu stood up, took out his work ID from his breast pocket, and placed it on the table. He turned around, opened the door, and walked out of the office.

Director Zhou patted him on the shoulder, "Zhu Zi, go home and rest for a couple of days. Don't hold a grudge; the organization will clear your name. I'll keep an eye on this and let you know as soon as there's any news."

He Yuzhu nodded, his mind made up. Outside the supply and marketing cooperative, the sun shone brightly overhead, and he twisted the accelerator hard.

Back in the courtyard, just as the three-wheeled motorcycle was turned off, Lou Xiao'e carried He Xiao out of the inner courtyard. He Xiao tugged at her collar, babbling incoherently, while Xiao'e's hair was disheveled by the wind.

She stood beside the motorcycle, looking up at him. He Xiao, nestled in his arms, reached for his breast pocket, where his work ID had once been pinned. He took He Xiao's small fist in his hand and gently squeezed it.

"Brother He, where's your work ID? Did something happen to you?"

He Yuzhu got off the car seat, took He Xiao and held him in his arms. The little guy immediately reached out and grabbed his nose. "It's okay. Two people from head office came, asked about the accounts, and checked the purchase orders. Everything matches. It's just that I'll have to rest at home for a few days, which is like a holiday."

"Is this being censored?"

"It's alright. Just a simple procedure." He Yuzhu carried He Xiao towards the main room. "A few days off is good. I'm tired of working every day. Staying home to teach Ma Hua and Ma Qiang, and showing you around Beijing, is so relaxing."

Ma Hua poked her head out of the kitchen, still holding a cleaver: "Master, why are you back so early today?"

"I'm on vacation now, so I can teach you properly for a while."

MCA was taken aback: "A holiday?"

"Yes, the supply and marketing cooperative saw how hard I was working and gave me a long vacation. During this time, they've been keeping an eye on you two every day to practice your knife skills."

Ma Qiang peeked out from behind Ma Hua, his face covered in flour: "Master, you should have said so earlier! I didn't knead enough dough today."

He Yuzhu laughed and scolded, then handed He Xiao to Xiao'e, rolled up his sleeves, and went into the kitchen.

After putting He Xiao to sleep that night, He Yuzhu stopped humming and lay down next to Xiao'e.

"Brother He, tell me the truth. Will there be a record after the investigation? Will it affect your future work? Will my family's background implicate you?"

He Yuzhu turned to look at her, taking her hand in his palm: "Your father is a model worker in the cooperative, he's been in the newspapers. You're a progressive youth, 'My Motherland and I' is sung all over the country. No record can erase these two things. Once the investigation is over, everything will be clear. It's just a few days off, I can spend more time with you."

Xiao'e rested her head on his shoulder. He gently patted her back until she fell asleep, her breathing even.

In the dead of night, the courtyard fell silent, and the pomegranate tree leaves gleamed with a faint green light under the moonlight. He Yuzhu lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, mentally going over the questions the two cadres had asked him during the day.

There are very few people in the entire city of Beijing who have the ability to file a complaint with the municipal federation and get the federation to send someone down to investigate him, and who also know about his father-in-law's family background and the source of funds in his courtyard.

Only Yang Honglin.

Breaking Yang Honglin's leg back then only embarrassed him. I was too soft-hearted, afraid that the death of a cadre would cause trouble.

Yang Honglin still remembers this to this day. He didn't dare to take direct action, so he first used rumors to ruin him, and then falsely accused and reported him.

He Yuzhu gently withdrew his hand from under Xiao'e's head and sat up, leaning against the headboard. He didn't need evidence to do his thing. He only needed to give Yang Honglin a death without any hidden dangers.

Car accidents, drowning, and falling from buildings while drunk all seem too much like accidents, and too easy to uncover. He could only find an opportunity to put Yang Honglin into his spatial storage so that he could keep Liu Guangqi and Yan Jiecheng company.

Even if someone digs three feet into the ground in the future, they won't find a single bone. As for when to act and how to leave no trace, that needs careful consideration.

Yang Honglin often comes home late after get off work.