Chapter 29 Qin Zongwu Files a Report

When others bought fabric by the foot, Xu Lin's purchasing it by the meter no longer seemed odd to the shop assistants—they understood that she needed a lot of material for her preparations. After all, she was heading up to the northeast, where it was bitterly cold; even thirty pounds of cotton might not suffice. But it was only the second month of spring, and there was still more than half a year left to gather enough supplies for winter. She could stock up again before the cold set in, and that should be enough.

The shop assistants didn’t try to persuade Xu Lin to buy anything else; however, her loud voice attracted the attention of others nearby. They couldn’t help but glance at her repeatedly. Seeing that Xu Lin was a frail, skinny girl, a look of sympathy crossed their faces. The northeast was a harsh, cold land—could such a delicate girl really endure it? But sympathy was all they could offer; given the times, there was nothing else they could do.

After purchasing fabric and cotton, Xu Lin went on to buy a kettle and other essentials. Though she had these items in her personal storage, she knew she had to buy them openly as well, so as not to raise suspicions should anyone decide to investigate her. Once she started shopping, Xu Lin couldn't stop. A kettle, a water jug, a lunch box—these were all must-haves for the journey. Towels and toothbrushes were essentials, too. Then there were snacks for the road; candies and White Rabbit sweets were indispensable for anyone heading to the countryside, and brown sugar was considered as good as currency. It was hard to come by brown sugar in the villages; the ration tickets for it were highly coveted.

With the ration coupons she had obtained from the Xu family, Xu Lin spent without the least bit of hesitation. By the time she was finished, four large burlap sacks sat at her feet—sacks she had to buy from the supply and marketing cooperative on the spot. The staff at the cooperative watched her with envy in their eyes, wishing they could splurge as she did.

Under their envious gaze, Xu Lin tied the four sacks together in pairs, hoisted one pair on each shoulder, and strode away. The display of strength caused another stir; with such power, she’d surely never go hungry in the countryside.

Xu Lin swaggered back to the Xu household, and even before she reached the door, she saw two law enforcement officers standing outside, talking to Old Madam Xu. At the sight of Xu Lin, the old woman shrank back and pointed, shouting, “The person you’re looking for is right there. Whatever you want to ask, ask her.”

The officers followed her gesture and looked at Xu Lin, their faces registering shock—they could hardly believe that such a skinny girl possessed so much strength. Xu Lin, however, approached with a calm and open demeanor, set down her sacks, and asked, “Hello, comrades, I am Xu Lin. Are you here to see me?”

“Hello, comrade. I am Officer Lin Qiang, and this is my colleague, Si Nan.”

As he spoke, Lin Qiang displayed his badge before continuing, “We’ve received a report from Comrade Qin Zongwu, and we need you to cooperate with our investigation.”

“Who? What about Qin Zongwu? Does this have anything to do with me?” Xu Lin asked, her face full of confusion. Her reaction made the officers themselves start to doubt. She went on, “Of course, it’s the responsibility of every citizen to cooperate with law enforcement. But before we start, could I take these things inside? I’m leaving for the countryside in a few days as a volunteer youth, and these are the supplies I’ve prepared for myself.”

She pointed to the sacks on the ground in explanation.

“Go ahead,” Lin Qiang said, even stepping forward to help, but found he couldn’t lift them.

Standing nearby, Si Nan looked at Lin Qiang with a puzzled expression that seemed to say, “Are you really that weak?”

Annoyed, Lin Qiang waved him off. “If you think you can do better, go ahead.”

Si Nan, who hadn’t spoken a word so far, didn’t get angry. He simply stepped forward and tried to lift the sacks himself. On the second attempt, he managed to move them, but his face turned red with exertion. Inwardly, he wondered just how much Xu Lin had bought—had she emptied out the entire cooperative?

Xu Lin cheerfully thanked them, bent down, and lifted the other two sacks herself, carrying them easily into the courtyard. Both Si Nan and Lin Qiang were left gaping in astonishment. They might not have known the weight before, but now, seeing her effortless strength, they began to seriously doubt their own abilities. How could they be bested by a mere slip of a girl?

Xu Lin put her purchases away in her room, then led the two officers to the main hall. When she began to fetch water for them, Lin Qiang quickly stopped her. “No need to trouble yourself, Comrade Xu Lin. We’re not thirsty.”

“Yes, yes, we’re not thirsty. Let’s get down to business,” Si Nan chimed in, gesturing for Xu Lin to sit.

Xu Lin made no protest, immediately seating herself across from them, her face wreathed in a pleasant smile. “What would you like to ask? I promise to answer everything truthfully and leave nothing out.”

“Thank you for your cooperation, Comrade Xu Lin.” Lin Qiang took out his notebook, his demeanor serious. “I’ll begin now.”

“Please, go ahead.” Xu Lin placed her hands on her knees, looking the very picture of demure obedience—so much so that Old Madam Xu, watching from the side, found her teeth aching with resentment. This wretched girl could put on a show of meekness, but it was all an act—she was a little demon. Yet the old woman dared not say a word or report anything to the authorities, fearful that a deeper investigation might uncover things that would leave her with no place to hide.

“Do you know Qin Zongwu?” Lin Qiang asked.

“I don’t, but I do recognize the name,” Xu Lin replied.

“If you don’t know him, how do you know his name?” Lin Qiang pressed.

Xu Lin answered, “My biological parents’ second son is named Qin Zongwu. Whether he’s the same Qin Zongwu you’re referring to, I can’t say for certain.” Xu Lin then briefly explained her connection to the Qin family, leaving Lin Qiang and Si Nan stunned and bewildered. But both men were professionals, and Lin Qiang continued his questioning.

“Around eight-thirty this morning, where were you?”

Xu Lin arched an eyebrow inwardly—here came the crucial point. That scoundrel really was shameless, calling the police just because he couldn’t win. Fortunately, she was well prepared. Without a flicker of emotion, Xu Lin replied, “Around eight-thirty this morning, I was at the supply and marketing cooperative.”

Lin Qiang stared at her, then exchanged a glance with Si Nan before raising his voice. “You weren’t on Guotai Road this morning?”

Xu Lin looked puzzled and shook her head resolutely. “No. After leaving the house, I first went to the breakfast shop, then headed straight to the cooperative. I arrived there before eight-thirty.”

“Are you sure you got there before eight-thirty?” Lin Qiang straightened in his seat, his tone stern. “You shouldn’t lie about things like this—it’s easy to verify.”

Si Nan nodded in agreement. Indeed, the truth could be easily checked with the cooperative.

“I’m certain. The first thing I did when I arrived was buy a watch at the counter.” Xu Lin lifted her wrist, showing off her watch with a proud little smile. “The saleslady even helped me set the time. It was eight thirty-one when she finished. If you don’t believe me, you can check.”

Lin Qiang studied Xu Lin’s confident face, doubt nagging at him. Could it be that Qin Zongwu had filed a false report? After all, even at a run, it would take at least twenty minutes to get from Guotai Road to the cooperative. There was no way she could have made it there within two or three minutes.