RYEY – Chapter 144 Li Huan Wants to Improve

“Chai Jianmin, what’s going on with you?”

“Squad leader, why are you here? Oh right, has Doctor Ye arrived?”

“Doctor Ye? What would he be coming for?”

Chai Jianmin realized things had shifted, so he quickly exaggerated the story, pointing at his leg and claiming that in a few more days he’d be able to walk again.

Jiang Guangrong was confused by Chai Jianmin’s account. After organizing his thoughts, he asked why Chai Jianmin had smashed Wang Qin’s forehead.

Chai Jianmin was startled. He pointed at his still-aching teeth and protested: how could he have smashed her with a stone? She had crashed into him herself, her forehead hitting his teeth.

Jiang Guangrong felt dizzy. He hadn’t even seen Wang Qin’s wound himself. If it was really just a tooth injury, why would she need to be sent to the county hospital?

“Can you stand up now?”

Chai Jianmin’s eyes flickered. It looked like the extortion wouldn’t work this time. He obediently accepted the way out, let Jiang Guangrong help him up, and then stood with effort.

“Squad leader, I can already walk, just unsteadily. I should be able to go back to work tomorrow.”

Jiang Guangrong nodded and left. He needed to ask Cheng Qiao how badly Wang Qin was actually hurt.

Cheng Qiao seemed to be waiting for him. When asked, she recounted exactly what she had seen, adding clearly that Wang Qin had said her forehead was smashed by Chai Jianmin with a stone.

“Chai Jianmin fell into the trap again.”

Cheng Qiao shook her head. She just didn’t know what role Chen Dazhu played in this. From what she knew of Wang Qin, that woman wouldn’t have thought of such a scheme on her own.

Li Huan already had an answer forming in his mind—Chen Dazhu was manipulating Wang Qin. Whether it was for money or for her body, Chen Dazhu wanted it all.

“Go back to work. We’ll deal with them when they return.”

But Chen Dazhu and Wang Qin didn’t come back. Instead, leaders from the county commune and the Public Security Bureau arrived in Xiangyang Village with medals and prizes.

Li Huan was overjoyed. He had barely taken office, yet he was already being praised by higher-ups. As Cheng Qiao put it, this was solid political capital.

“Comrade Li Huan, it seems appointing you as Xiangyang Village’s head was the right choice. How did you even come up with the idea of forming a security team?”

“I heard from the educated youths that there were human traffickers in the neighboring village. Since we also set up a literacy class here, I wanted to ensure the safety of the children, so I came up with the idea of a security team.”

“You also set up a literacy class? How’s that going?”

The commune leader’s eyes lit up. This kid really had the makings of a village head. Chen Weidang had been in charge for more than ten years and had never thought of such a thing.

“Report, leader. From young to old, our villagers have basically shed illiteracy. Even eighty-year-old grannies and three- to four-year-old children can at least recognize twenty-five characters.”

“Good, good, very good. That literacy class is excellent. Where did you find the teachers?”

“No need to hire teachers—we selected them from the educated youths.”

“And the villagers and educated youths all cooperate like this?”

“Our villagers and educated youths all work with one heart for the country. No one cares about personal gain or loss. But to boost confidence, we do have a reward system. I’ll show it to you later.”

The commune leader nodded. That was the way. This little rascal knew how to wave the big flag.

“You’ve made a contribution this time, though there won’t be any certificates or prizes. But as long as you don’t overstep, I can grant you one request.”

Li Huan’s eyes lit up. He had expected this chance and had already discussed it many times with Cheng Qiao. Hearing the olive branch, he immediately straightened up and solemnly declared:

“Report, leader. I want to join the Chinese Communist Party.”

The commune leader smiled. This little rascal—no, this youngster—really did know what he wanted. Since he dared to catch the opportunity, why not let him?

“First, write an application. We’ll conduct strict observation of you, no less than two years. Work hard—opportunity always favors those who are prepared.”

Li Huan grinned so wide his eyes nearly disappeared as he agreed loudly. Behind him, Chen Weidang could only feel desolate. Why hadn’t he thought of that?

“Take us to Chen Damao’s home. We want to present him with a certificate and prizes.”

“Old village head, quick! The commune leader is going to your house. Lead the way.”

Chen Weidang quickly composed himself, lifted his head excitedly, and hurried forward. After wiping his hands repeatedly on his pants, he finally extended one to shake the leader’s.

Of course, the commune leader gave him that face. After all, he was once the village head. And besides, the rascal currently holding office hadn’t fully grown yet—he still needed the old one’s support.

The group headed to Chen Weidang’s home. Cuihua, following nervously, walked so awkwardly that villagers pointed it out before she embarrassedly returned to normal.

Along the way, Li Huan kept showering the commune leader and the public security officer with sweet words, and in the process also learned the outcome of the trafficker.

“That trafficker is strange. During interrogation he could still ask for water. But once he drank, his voice was gone.”

“How could that happen?”

Li Huan was secretly delighted, knowing it was his wife’s handiwork, but outwardly he acted surprised.

“We don’t know either. At first, we thought he was pretending to get away with it. Later, we noticed he kept rubbing his eyes—turned out he’d gone blind.”

“Ah… how could that be?”

“We brought in doctors, but they couldn’t find the cause. Likely, he ate something unclean that ruined his throat. As for the blindness, maybe one of our colleagues struck too hard with a hand-chop and damaged the optic nerve.”

Li Huan finally felt relieved. Blind and mute—then he was safe. Thank you, wife, thank you, gods above.

“And what will happen to this trafficker?”

“He’s dangerous. From what we know, he’s tricked more than a dozen children. Some grew old enough to resist, and he cruelly killed them.”

“Then he must be executed.”

Hearing this, Chen Weidang’s anger surged. If not for his own son Damao, little Gousheng would have been lost. That family would’ve gone mad.

“Yes, we’ve already reported it. The higher-ups agree. This Sunday morning, we’ll gather everyone in the county to watch the execution. You’re welcome to attend.”

Li Huan nodded repeatedly. He absolutely had to see this trafficker executed. Small-time shady business was one thing, but to betray one’s own, and to be a trafficker on top of that—if he didn’t die, who should?

Meanwhile, Damao was lying on the kang reading. Cheng Qiao had told him often: read whenever you can. In books there are houses of gold; in books there are maidens fair.