Chapter 32: Donated Supplies

In the pitch-black depths of night, Zhong Xiao shadowed the Red Committee’s group, unseen by anyone, tracing their movements all the way to this vast farm on the outskirts.

Once, this had been a private establishment. But after the purges began, the farm’s manager was sent to the countryside for reformation, and the Red Committee seized control. Outwardly, the farm continued to raise chickens, ducks, geese, sheep, and other livestock. But in truth, it had become the Red Committee’s holding place for “criminal elements.”

Located in a remote area, with scarcely a soul nearby, even the loudest cries would go unheard. And even if someone did hear, no one would dare meddle. Though Zhong Xiao had tailed them here tonight, she dared not venture too close; she could only watch from a distant hillside, hidden from sight.

After confirming that Zhong Xiao and Zhou Yongxin were both imprisoned inside, she finally relaxed and slipped away unnoticed.

Returning home, Zhong Xiao headed straight for Du Ying’er’s bedroom and began rummaging through every drawer and cabinet.

Du Ying’er had always possessed a trump card that spared her from being sent to the countryside, and Zhong Xiao was certain that, when she’d driven Du Ying’er out, there’d been no time for her to take it. Back then, Zhong Xiao hadn’t allowed her even a moment to pack, forcing her straight out of the house.

There was nothing in the bedside table; Zhong Xiao had already turned it inside out when she’d tried to plant evidence against Du Ying’er. Such an important item must have been hidden elsewhere.

After a thorough search that lasted half an hour, Zhong Xiao finally discovered it in a place she’d never have expected—inside the soil of the pot holding the monthly rose in Du Ying’er’s room, tucked away in a yellow cloth envelope.

At first, she hadn’t thought to check such a secretive spot. But the rose bush had caught her attention: this was not the right season for it to bloom so beautifully. A closer look revealed it was a fake flower. The soil, too, was false. Probing with her fingers, she found the envelope just as she’d suspected.

Inside was the very reason Du Ying’er could avoid being sent away—a recommendation letter for the Worker-Peasant-Soldier University.

Zhong Xiao slipped the envelope into her pocket, satisfied, and went to bed. Before drifting off, she recalled the telegram she’d sent earlier that day. The people on Taizhou Island should have received it by now.

It seemed she would have to hurry. Once Zhou Yongxin and Du Ying’er were dealt with, only Du Huacheng remained. To lure him into her trap, she would have to rely on the Buddha statue in the courtyard.

With this in mind, sleep deserted her. She sat up quickly, went downstairs, and slipped out into the courtyard under the cover of darkness. Taking advantage of the moonless, windless night, with not a soul in sight, Zhong Xiao once again tried to move the Buddha statue into her spatial stash.

She was nervous after her failure last time, but to her surprise, it worked instantly—the statue vanished from the courtyard into her space!

In her space, a row of words floated gently before her eyes: “Donated medicine has saved thirteen lives. Merit points: 130,000.”

She immediately understood. The medicine she’d donated to Qin Dezheng’s hospital had saved over a dozen lives in just a few days!

Now that the Buddha statue was finally in her space, Zhong Xiao put its functions to good use—no matter how heavy the object, she could move it with ease.

In just a few minutes, she’d removed all the gold hidden inside the statue. The exterior was made of plaster, but the interior was solid gold. She took it all out, set it aside, and then, after a quick glance around, filled the statue with large stones, soil, and planks, putting a thin layer of gold closest to the outer shell.

This way, if Du Huacheng later grew suspicious and decided to check, he would see only the gold, never realizing she’d replaced the entire contents within.

Once everything was done, she closed her eyes, concentrated, and moved the statue back into the courtyard.

Only then did Zhong Xiao finally feel at ease and go to sleep.

At dawn, as soon as she stepped out, she overheard several elderly women from the chemical plant’s family quarters, chatting as they walked back from buying groceries.

“I heard they caught two hoodlums near West Lake Grove last night, did you hear?”

“I don’t think they were hoodlums—more like a group of men and women meeting secretly at night, caught red-handed by the Red Committee.”

“What’s the difference? Might as well be hoodlums! Maybe even worse!”

“Exactly. Anyone meeting in West Lake Grove at night can’t be up to any good.”

“Those two, now that the Red Committee’s caught them, they’re in for it! The Red Committee loves dealing with people involved in illicit relationships—it’s easy for them, no need to go through the police, they just lock them up and send them away themselves.”

Zhong Xiao strolled behind them, listening at a leisurely pace, then suddenly stepped forward and asked, “Aunties, do you know where the factory’s office is?”

The women turned to look at her. “The office? It’s on the fourth or fifth floor of the administrative building, isn’t it?”

“Yes, fourth or fifth. Just ask when you get there.”

Zhong Xiao thanked them, took a few steps, then turned back with a sly grin and said, “Let me tell you something—the two people caught last night? I know them. The man is the fiancé of the woman’s older sister. They’ve been sneaking around for ages!”

The women gasped. “Really? There’s such a thing?”

Zhong Xiao went on, “Of course! And I’ve heard the man got her pregnant. She’s still in confinement after childbirth, but couldn’t wait to meet with him again!”

The women clicked their tongues. “Tsk, tsk. I wonder if that man used some love potion—why is she so eager?”

“Women these days have even stronger desires than men!”

The group grew more animated, clustering together to gossip. Such secrets pique everyone’s curiosity.

Having stirred up their interest, Zhong Xiao slipped away as they were distracted.

When she reached the chemical plant’s entrance, pondering how to get inside, she heard the old security guard step out from the booth and call, “Are you the Zhong family’s girl?”

Zhong Xiao paused.

The guard looked ancient, his hair snowy white, and he walked with difficulty. But his eyes were bright and clear.

She stepped forward. “Grandpa, do you know me?”

Emotion flickered across his wrinkled face. “You really are the Zhong family’s girl,” he said. “I fled to Yuecheng from Shaanbei during the famine. If not for your grandfather saving my family, we’d have starved to death. Later, your grandfather found me work at the chemical plant. I wasn’t educated, couldn’t read, so he made me a gatekeeper. Even after the factory merged, he remembered me and made sure the factory took care of my retirement…”

As he spoke, he gazed at Zhong Xiao with deep affection.

“Child, what brings you to the chemical plant? Is there something you need?”

Remembering her grandfather with gratitude, Zhong Xiao replied softly, “I’d like to find the office. I have something to donate to the city’s civil affairs office, but I need an introduction letter from a work unit. That’s why I came.”

The old man nodded. “Just like your grandfather—kind and responsible.” He hesitated. “Normally, only employees and family are allowed inside, and I shouldn’t let outsiders in without permission. But I’ll take you to the office myself—if there’s any trouble, I’ll answer for it.”

Zhong Xiao smiled. “Thank you, Grandpa.”