novelslam Chapter 109 The Deaf Old Woman's Tricks, the Martyr's Family Member in Disguise
Chapter 109 The Deaf Old Woman's Tricks, the Martyr's Family Member in Disguise
The factory's decision was like a cold wind, sweeping through every corner of the Hongxing Courtyard. As dusk fell, thin wisps of smoke rose from the chimneys of every household, but no one gathered around the stone mill in the central courtyard to chat as usual. Even the sounds of children chasing and playing had disappeared, with only the occasional timid chirping of sparrows at the base of the wall, which were quickly swallowed by the oppressive silence.
Qin Huairu squatted in front of her stove, clutching a rag stained with wood ash, but hesitated to wipe it on the iron pot. The flames in the stove weakly licked the bottom of the pot, casting flickering light on her face. The corn porridge in the pot had thickened, and its aroma should have made the three children cheer, but Jia Geng was huddled in the corner of the kang (heated brick bed) fiddling with a broken slingshot, and Jia Dang sat on the threshold with his younger sister Jia Huaihua in his arms, their eyes filled with longing for dinner, but no one dared to urge them.
"Cough—cough—" A deliberately amplified cough came from the inner room, followed by a sarcastic muttering: "Some people, you know, their connections are like mountains crumbling and rivers drying up. They used to fawn over Master Yi like a father, but now they've had their apprentice status stripped away. From now on, our Jia family's food supply will probably depend on starving!"
Qin Huairu's shoulders stiffened abruptly, and the rag in her hand fell to the ground with a "thud." She knew her mother-in-law's words were meant for her. When the factory's notice came down that morning, changing her from Yi Zhonghai's apprentice to Lin Chen's apprentice, Jia Zhangshi hadn't given her a kind look. Now, seeing the deathly silence in the courtyard, she vented her anger on her even more.
"Mom, Master Lin is very skilled. If I learn from him, maybe I can pass the assessment sooner, get a permanent position, and get a raise." Qin Huairu picked up the rag, her voice extremely low, yet filled with a confidence that even she herself didn't believe. She knew perfectly well that this was just self-comfort. For the past two years, she had been learning from Yi Zhonghai, but to keep her firmly tied to Sha Zhu, he hadn't genuinely taught her the core techniques. Now, with Lin Chen, a tough guy who couldn't even beat Yi Zhonghai, would he really teach her, this "remnant of the retirement group"?
"Can good skills put food on the table?" Jia Zhangshi, wearing a patched cotton-padded coat, came out from the inner room, her triangular eyes glancing sideways at the porridge in the pot. "What kind of status does Uncle Yi have? He's an eighth-grade fitter, even the factory leaders give him face. Before, Sha Zhu's lunchbox was delivered on time every month. Now that it's Lin Chen, will he give you a lunchbox? Will he give you food coupons? I think you've been sold out and you're still helping him count the money!"
These words struck a nerve with Qin Huairu. She instinctively touched the cloth bag hidden in her clothes; inside was her apprentice's wages for the month—only 18 yuan. After deducting 5 yuan for Jia Zhangshi's asthma medicine and buying rations, there was hardly anything left. Before, with Yi Zhonghai mediating, Sha Zhu's lunchbox would always have a piece of meat or two steamed buns. Now that Yi Zhonghai was in dire straits, could Sha Zhu still be relied upon?
Just as she was pondering this, she heard Sha Zhu's footsteps outside the courtyard gate. Qin Huairu's eyes lit up, and she quickly wiped her hands and straightened her clothes. Just as she was about to go out to greet him, Jia Zhangshi grabbed her arm. "What's the rush?" Jia Zhangshi lowered her voice, wiping the saliva from the corner of her mouth with her sleeve. "Show some respect. Don't be like before, rushing around like that, making it seem like our Jia family has no one left. Let him take the initiative to bring the things in; that's what real skill is."
Qin Huai hesitated for a moment, then stopped in her tracks. She leaned against the doorframe, watching Sha Zhu walk in from the gate carrying an aluminum lunchbox, his chef's uniform still smelling of cooking oil. Usually at this time, she would have already gone up to him to ask all sorts of questions, and casually mention the family's difficulties, but today, looking at Sha Zhu's expressionless face, she suddenly felt her throat tighten, and she couldn't utter a single word.
Unlike usual, Sha Zhu didn't glance towards the Jia family's house; he walked straight towards his own. Passing the millstone in the central courtyard, he noticed the still-scrambled pickled vegetable shreds and broken jar pieces on the ground. He paused, a flicker of disgust crossing his eyes. He had witnessed the entire chaos caused by Xu Damao yesterday, and he had overheard Yi Zhonghai and Yan Bugui's schemes perfectly. He had only pretended to be oblivious because he had been blinded by promises of "retirement" and so-called "loyalty."
"Silly Zhu, you're off work?" Qin Huairu finally couldn't help but speak, her voice carrying a deliberate gentleness. "What delicious food did the cafeteria serve today? My Huaihua has been craving meat for days." As she spoke, she secretly stretched out her cracked hand in front of her, trying to gain sympathy with her old tricks.
Sha Zhu merely glanced at her hand indifferently, without showing the usual look of concern. Instead, he frowned and said, "The cafeteria made braised pork today, but I saved some for Yu Shui. She's been working overtime lately and is tired." After saying that, he turned to walk home.
Seeing this, Madam Jia panicked and quickly shoved Qin Huairu, saying, "Tell him! The rice jar is empty, the children will go hungry tomorrow!" She then squatted down on the ground, wiping her eyes and muttering, "My poor son Dongxu, if you were still here, our family wouldn't have fallen to this state..."
This trick used to work every time, and Sha Zhu couldn't stand it. But today, Sha Zhu just stopped, turned around and looked at Jia Zhangshi with icy eyes: "Aunt Jia, if Brother Dongxu were still here, he would probably be furious to the point of coming back to life if he knew that you were instigating Qin Huairu to scheme against me every day."
Jia Zhangshi's crying stopped abruptly, and she stood there stunned for a long time, unable to react. Qin Huairu also panicked and quickly tugged at Shazhu's sleeve: "Shazhu, why are you saying this? I didn't scheme against you, it's just... it's just that the family is really having difficulties."
"Difficulties?" Sha Zhu pulled a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to Qin Huairu. "This is the receipt from last Wednesday. You took the soap I gave you and sold it at the supply and marketing cooperative for fifty cents. I asked Yu Shui to check. You said the soap was for the children to use for washing clothes, but you sold it for money. Where did the money go? Did you buy candy for Aunt Jia?"
Qin Huairu's face turned deathly pale in an instant, her fingers trembling as she hesitated to take the receipt. She hadn't expected that her little scheme would be so thoroughly investigated by Sha Zhu. Jia Zhangshi, standing nearby, panicked and stood up, ready to throw a tantrum: "Sha Zhu, you're talking nonsense! Our Huairu isn't that kind of person! Don't make false accusations!"
"Whether I'm making baseless accusations or not, just ask the neighbors in the yard." Sha Zhu raised his voice, deliberately making sure everyone could hear. "Last Thursday morning, didn't you have Jia Geng walk around my door three times with an empty bowl? Last Friday, you deliberately 'bumped into' me on my way home from get off work, saying Jia Huaihua had a cold and needed to borrow 50 cents for medicine, but I saw Aunt Jia eating sesame candy at the door that afternoon!"
These words were like slaps to Qin Huairu and Jia Zhangshi's faces. A window in Yan Bugui's house in the front yard creaked open, clearly someone was eavesdropping; a cough came from Liu Haizhong's house in the back yard, obviously they were also paying attention. Qin Huairu wished she could disappear into the ground, her head bowed low, tears welling in her eyes.
"I know Dongxu passed away early, and it's not easy for you to raise three children alone." Shazhu's voice softened a bit, but his eyes held a complex emotion. "I was willing to help you before because of my relationship with Dongxu, and also because I thought about neighborly help. But I'm not stupid. I can't let you take advantage of me forever. Grandpa Yi treats you like a tool for retirement, Aunt Jia treats you like a cash cow, and what about you? Are you just willing to keep scheming like this?"
Qin Huairu suddenly raised her head, tears finally falling: "I didn't want to! But what could I do? Three children need to eat, my mother needs medicine, and I'm just an apprentice; my wages aren't enough to live on! Uncle Yi said he'd help me, and I had no choice but to believe him..."
"Uncle Yi will help you? He's just helping himself out in his old age!" Sha Zhu sneered. "When the factory was dealing with him yesterday, why didn't he say he'd help you? He couldn't even keep his own model worker status, how could he help you? Qin Huai, let me tell you, from now on, I won't bring your family a single bite to eat. If you continue to get involved in scheming and plotting with Yi Zhonghai and his gang, don't say I have no old friendships, we won't even be neighbors anymore!"
After saying that, Sha Zhu turned and left, the aluminum lunchbox jingling in his hand, but he made no further move to hand it to Qin Huairu. Jia Zhangshi wanted to chase after him and cause a scene, but Qin Huairu grabbed her arm tightly. "Mother, don't go!" Qin Huairu's voice trembled with tears. "He's right, we can't go on like this."
Jia Zhangshi was so angry she jumped up and down: "You useless thing! If he won't give it to us, can't we just ask for it ourselves? Tomorrow you go to the workshop and find Uncle Yi, and ask him to stand up for you! Don't go to Lin Chen's place either, why should we put up with his nonsense?"
"What good would it do to go?" Qin Huairu finally exploded, her voice filled with long-suppressed grievances and anger. "Uncle Yi can't even take care of himself, how can he stand up for me? Lin Chen is my new mentor. If I don't go to learn the skills, I won't pass the assessment, and I'll lose my job! What will become of our family then?"
This was the first time Qin Huairu had ever argued with Jia Zhangshi. Jia Zhangshi was stunned for a long time, too angry to speak. She pointed at Qin Huairu's nose for a long time before finally stomping her foot and going back to the inner room to smash things. Qin Huairu stood there, looking at the timid eyes of her three children, her heart aching as if pricked by needles. She knew that Shazhu had truly come to his senses this time, and Yi Zhonghai could no longer be relied upon. She had to find a way out for herself and her children.
Meanwhile, Lin Chen was fiddling with a pile of scrap metal in his yard. A system panel appeared before him, displaying various data from the "Advanced Material Analysis" function. The 500 points and "Skill Transfer Efficiency Improvement" buff he received after dismantling the Retirement Alliance yesterday had put him in a good mood. He was currently considering using this scrap metal to forge a set of basic tools suitable for Qin Huairu's practice.
"Master Lin, are you home?" Qin Huairu's voice came from outside the courtyard gate, tinged with hesitation and restraint.
Lin Chen closed the system panel, got up, and opened the door. He wasn't surprised to see Qin Huairu standing there, her eyes red, carrying something wrapped in cloth. "Come in," Lin Chen said, stepping aside to let her in and pointing to the stone bench in the courtyard. "Sit."
Qin Huai sat down awkwardly and handed over the cloth bag in his hand: "Master Lin, this is some pickled vegetable that my mother made. It's not worth much, please don't mind it. I... I'm here to apologize to you. I used to cause you a lot of trouble when I was with Uncle Yi and the others."
Lin Chen glanced at the cloth bag, which contained a small jar of pickled radishes that looked clean. He didn't take it, but simply said, "Let's not talk about the past. The factory has assigned you to work under me as an apprentice, and I will teach you the skills properly. As for past grievances, as long as you don't get involved anymore, we'll just be master and apprentice, and neighbors."
Qin Huairu's eyes lit up, and she quickly said, "I won't! I'll never get involved in those things with them again! Master Lin, I want to learn the skills properly, I want to pass the assessment, get a raise, and support my child with my own abilities." Her voice was filled with sincere longing, and her eyes were full of expectation.
Lin Chen nodded and picked up a pile of tools he had just assembled from the corner: "These are practice tools I made from scrap steel. They're lighter than the ones in the workshop and suitable for beginners. Your angle for holding the file is inaccurate, so I added anti-slip texture to the handle and made a positioning device to help you find the right angle. Drilling holes is prone to deviation, so I made a simple guide frame. Practice at home first, then go to the workshop for real-world practice."
Qin Huairu's eyes reddened again as she looked at the tools, polished smooth and gleaming. These tools were clearly made especially for her by Lin Chen, with even the smallest details considered—more meaningful than any of Yi Zhonghai's words of "study hard" over the past two years. Her hands trembled as she reached out to touch the tools, choking back tears as she said, "Master Lin, thank you... I... I will definitely study hard and won't let you down."
"Determination alone isn't enough; you have to put in the hard work." Lin Chen handed her a bound notebook. "Inside are my basic techniques and practice plans. Arrive at the workshop half an hour early every morning, and I'll guide you through the fundamentals. Practice at home with these tools in the evenings, and feel free to ask me anything you don't understand."
Qin Huairu took the notebook and hugged it tightly to her chest, as if it were a lifeline. She stood up and bowed deeply: "Master Lin, I will remember your kindness. If you ever need any help, just let me know and I will be there whenever you call."
Lin Chen waved his hand: "No need. Your best reward to me is to master the skills and pass the test." He paused and added, "Uncle Yi and Yan Bugui may come looking for you again. Think carefully about whether you want to continue scheming with them or make a living with your own skills."
Qin Huai shook her head firmly: "I've thought it through. It's better to rely on yourself than on others. If they come looking for me again, I won't pay them any more attention."
Watching Qin Huairu leave with her tools and notebook, Lin Chen smiled faintly. He knew that dismantling the retirement group's alliance was only the first step; guiding these manipulated and manipulated individuals onto the right path was the true solution. Qin Huairu's transformation was undoubtedly a good start.
When Qin Huairu returned home, Jia Zhangshi was still angry in the inner room. Seeing her return carrying a pile of tools, Jia Zhangshi sneered, "What? Went to be Lin Chen's lackey? Can you even get food with this junk?"
Qin Huai ignored her, walked straight to the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), put the tools on the table, then opened the notebook and showed it to Jia Geng and Jia Dang: "From now on, I will learn a skill well, and you must study hard and be good people. We will not rely on others, but on our own hands, and we will definitely be able to live a good life."
Jia Geng's eyes lit up as he looked at the novel tools: "Mom, what's this locator for? Can it help me make a slingshot?"
Qin Huairu smiled and patted his head: "Once I've learned the technique, I'll teach you to make a better slingshot. But you have to promise me that you won't steal anything anymore. It's only honorable to make things yourself."
Jia Geng nodded, seemingly understanding. Jia Dang, holding his younger sister, looked at his mother's serious expression and whispered, "Mom, I'll help you start the fire after school from now on. You can focus on your practice."
Seeing how sensible the children were, Qin Huairu felt a surge of strength. She ladled out the corn porridge from the pot and shared it with the children, then picked up a bowl for herself and ate heartily. Although there was no meat or white flour buns, this bowl of porridge felt more comforting than ever before.
At Yi Zhonghai's house, the lights stayed on all night. Yi Zhonghai sat at the table, holding a piece of paper with Lin Chen's name written on it, surrounded by crosses. His wife sat beside him, sighing, "Old Yi, we'd better not fight with Lin Chen anymore. The factory has warned us; if we keep making trouble, we might lose our jobs."
"Can't keep our jobs? What will we do in our old age?" Yi Zhonghai slammed his hand on the table, his eyes turning sinister. "Qin Huairu has been transferred, and Sha Zhu isn't so stupid anymore. If we don't bring Lin Chen down, who will take care of us when we're old? I've already thought it through. Tomorrow I'll go find Yan Bugui, and we'll discuss it further. We'll find a way to make him stumble!"
Aunt Yi wanted to persuade him further, but Yi Zhonghai glared at her fiercely, so she could only swallow her words. The moonlight shone through the cracks in the window, falling on Yi Zhonghai's wrinkled face, making it look particularly menacing.
The situation wasn't peaceful at Yan Bugui's house either. Yan Bugui slumped over the table, calculating his expenses after the pay cut while cursing, "That idiot Yi Zhonghai made me lose ten yuan in wages! No way, I have to get that money back. Isn't Lin Chen smug? I don't believe he doesn't have something on him!"
His son, Yan Jiecheng, lay in bed, listening to his father's words. He turned over, his heart filled with disgust. He quietly got up and pulled a slip of paper from under his pillow. Lin Chen's address was written on it. The forging manual Lin Chen had given him during the day had given him hope of making a living through his skills. He decided to go to Lin Chen the next day and ask if he could learn the trade and finally escape this scheming family.
As night deepened, the courtyard finally fell completely quiet. But everyone knew this peace was only temporary. Yi Zhonghai and Yan Bugui's conspiracy was still brewing, and Qin Huairu's transformation and Yan Jiecheng's awakening would bring new variables to this struggle. Lin Chen stood in his own courtyard, gazing at the starry sky, his eyes resolute. He knew the road ahead was long, but he was prepared to meet every challenge.
As dawn broke, a layer of frost still clung to the blue brick ground of the central courtyard. Yi Zhonghai, carrying half a bag of flour he had just exchanged from the grain station, walked towards the backyard, his feet crunching on the frost. His cotton shoes made a jarring "crunch" sound on the frozen earth, particularly jarring in the quiet morning. It caught the eye of Aunt Li from the west wing, who peeked out, but quickly ducked back in when she saw him—after yesterday's farce, everyone in the courtyard knew that Uncle Yi was holding back a grudge, and no one wanted to be the one to get caught in the crossfire.
The innermost room in the backyard was the deaf old lady's residence. A faded wooden plaque reading "Family of Martyrs" hung above the door, a gift from the neighborhood committee two years ago. Yi Zhonghai raised his hand and knocked lightly on the door three times. There was a rustling sound from inside, and after a moment, the door creaked open. The deaf old lady stood inside, wrapped in a worn raccoon fur coat. Her cloudy eyes revealed a shrewdness, showing no sign of deafness or poor eyesight.
"It's Zhonghai! Coming so early, is something urgent?" The old lady's voice was clear and bright, not at all like someone in their seventies. She glanced at the flour bag in Yi Zhonghai's hand, stepped aside to let him in, and closed the door halfway. The room was much warmer than outside, the kang (heated brick bed) was burning hot, and an enamel mug sat on the coal stove in the corner, emitting wisps of steam. A faint aroma of jasmine tea wafted in the air—this tea cost five cents a tael on the black market, something ordinary people couldn't afford.
Yi Zhonghai placed the flour sack on the low table beside the kang (a heated brick bed), rubbed his hands, and sighed, "Auntie, you have to stand up for me! That Lin Chen is too arrogant. Yesterday at the factory, he really messed things up for me and Yan Bugui. Not only was my technical allowance withheld, but even my apprentice Qin Huairu was transferred to learn from him. Our retirement plans are in jeopardy..."
The moment the words "retirement plan" were uttered, the deaf old lady paused, taking a sip of tea before slowly saying, "I thought it was something important. He's just a young punk. Back when your master was alive, I saw plenty of hotheads like him. But then again, you two are useless. Two old folks can't beat a young one. It'll be a laughing stock if word gets out."
Yi Zhonghai's face flushed red and then paled, but he dared not refute her. This deaf old woman had been a fixture in the compound for thirty years, and it wasn't just because she was a "martyr's family member." It was said that her husband was a Red Army cadre who had died in the early years, and after liberation, the neighborhood committee took great care of her. The factory often brought her things, and everyone in the compound, young and old, respectfully called her "Auntie." More importantly, she was very close to the neighborhood committee director's mother, and her words carried far more weight than those of Yi Zhonghai, an eighth-grade fitter.
"It's not that we're useless, it's just that that kid is too cunning and knows some underhanded tricks." Yi Zhonghai lowered his voice and embellished the story of how Lin Chen used a "handwriting comparison tool" to expose Xu Damao's forgery of letters, emphasizing that Lin Chen "didn't respect the elderly" and "didn't even give face to the families of martyrs." He knew that what this old lady valued most was her status and face.
Sure enough, the deaf old woman's face darkened, and she slammed her teacup heavily on the kang table with a loud clang. "What an arrogant fool! No one in this Red Star Courtyard area dares to be so cocky!" She threw off the blanket covering her legs, stood up, and paced around the room. "Don't worry, I'll handle this. This afternoon I'll go to the neighborhood committee to find Old Mrs. Wang and tell her that Lin Chen encroached on my vegetable garden and even dared to lay a hand on me, a martyr's family member. I'll make sure he regrets it!"
Yi Zhonghai's eyes lit up, and he quickly said, "Auntie, you really have a way! That vegetable garden..." He remembered that the old lady's yard didn't have a vegetable garden at all, only a small flower bed planted with henna.
"Idiot!" The deaf old lady rolled her eyes at him. "Take that public green space in the front yard, for example. My husband cultivated it when he was alive, but now Lin Chen has fenced it off and is using it to pile up junk. Those people in the neighborhood only care about the title 'family member of a martyr.' If I say anything, they'll definitely back me up. Then we can make Lin Chen apologize to me, transfer Qin Huairu back, and get your allowance reinstated at the factory. Wouldn't that settle things?"
Yi Zhonghai was overjoyed and thanked him repeatedly. He made promises such as "I'll take care of your firewood from now on" and "I'll send you two catties of eggs every month" before leaving happily. As soon as he left, the deaf old lady pulled out an oilcloth bag from under the kang mat. Inside was a stack of brand-new banknotes and several grain coupons. She counted them and a satisfied smile appeared on her face—these were all the benefits she had "obtained" from the factory and the neighborhood over the years by virtue of her status as a "martyr's family member." If Lin Chen broke her rules, he would be cutting off her source of income.
Around noon, Lin Chen had just returned home from the workshop when he saw a crowd gathered in the courtyard. An elderly deaf woman, leaning on a cane, stood by the stone mill in the middle courtyard, accompanied by Xiao Zhang, an official from the street office. Yi Zhonghai and Yan Bugui stood to the side, their faces beaming with schadenfreude. Qin Huairu, holding Jia Huaihua, stood at her doorway, her brow furrowed, clearly startled by the scene.
"Lin Chen! You're finally back!" The deaf old woman raised her voice as soon as he entered, slamming her cane on the ground. "Tell me, what right do you have to occupy my vegetable garden? My husband sacrificed himself for the revolution, and I rely on that little plot of land to grow vegetables to make a living. And you, you've fenced it off and piled up your junk. How can you live with yourself like that?"
Xiao Zhang quickly stepped forward to stop the old lady who was about to throw a tantrum, and said to Lin Chen, "Comrade Lin, this is Zhang, the family member of a martyr. She says you have encroached on her private vegetable garden. What do you have to say about this? If it's true, you have to move your things away immediately and apologize to the old lady."
Lin Chen glanced at Yi Zhonghai and Yan Bugui, then at the old lady's flushed face, and instantly understood. He walked to the public green space in the front yard, pointed to the pile of scrap metal on the ground, and asked, "Aunt Zhang, you say this is your vegetable garden? Then I'd like to ask, when did you cultivate this garden? What vegetables do you grow? I've lived here for almost a year, and I've never seen you grow anything here, only air out your quilts."
"I...I used to grow spinach and bok choy, but I didn't plant any this winter!" The old woman's eyes flickered, then she hardened her stance again. "This land was left to me by my husband, everyone in the neighborhood knows that! Don't try to deny it!"
"The neighborhood knows?" Lin Chen smiled and turned to Xiao Zhang, saying, "Comrade Xiao Zhang, I suggest you check the neighborhood's records. This green space was planned as a public area when the hospital was built in 1950, for all residents to use for drying clothes and activities. There are original building plans to prove it. Moreover, Aunt Zhang doesn't have a vegetable garden at all. Her food rations and vegetables have always been supplied by the factory and the neighborhood according to the standards for martyrs' families. She also receives a monthly subsidy of one jin of pork. She doesn't need to grow her own vegetables at all."
Xiao Zhang was taken aback. He had only recently been transferred here and wasn't familiar with the situation in the compound. He had initially thought it was just a simple neighborhood dispute, but he hadn't expected there to be so many complications. Seeing this, Yi Zhonghai quickly stepped forward and said, "Xiao Zhang, don't listen to his nonsense! What the old lady says can't be false, can it? She's a martyr's family member!"
"Does the word of a martyr's family member necessarily mean it's true?" Lin Chen interrupted him coldly. "Yesterday, Xu Damao accused me of reselling scrap metal, and what happened? Uncle Yi, you should think about the fact that you're withholding apprentice benefits. If I hand over the evidence to the factory's disciplinary committee, you might lose your level eight fitter title."
Yi Zhonghai's face turned deathly pale. He took a step back, too afraid to speak again. Yan Bugui, seeing this, tried to slip away, but Lin Chen stopped him: "Teacher Yan, don't rush off. I've already reported your secret tutoring and egg-collecting to the school. The principal asked me to ask you: do you think you deserve the title of 'District-Level Outstanding Teacher'?"
Yan Bugui was so frightened that his legs went weak and he almost sat down on the ground. He quickly waved his hands and said, "I didn't! I was just tutoring students for free!"
The more Xiao Zhang listened, the more uneasy he felt. Looking at the two aggressive elderly women before him, and then at the composed Lin Chen, he made his own judgment. He said to the deaf old woman, "Aunt Zhang, I will verify what Comrade Lin said. If it is indeed a public area, you can't just accuse someone. Besides, family members of martyrs should be more mindful of their image; if we're wrong, it will have a very bad impact."
"How dare you speak like that, young comrade!" Seeing that Xiao Zhang wasn't on her side, the deaf old woman immediately started throwing a tantrum, sitting down on the ground, slapping her thigh and crying out, "My life is so miserable! My husband has sacrificed himself, and no one is there to stand up for me! Even the people in the neighborhood are bullying this old woman!" While crying, she secretly winked at Yi Zhonghai, signaling him to chime in.
Yi Zhonghai, however, was already in dire straits himself and dared not get involved any further, so he lowered his head and pretended to look at the ground. Yan Bugui went straight into the house and closed the door. The neighbors in the courtyard gathered around and discussed among themselves. Aunt Li couldn't help but speak up: "Officer Zhang, I can testify that this land is indeed public. I've lived here for twenty years and have never heard of it being an old lady's vegetable garden."
"I can testify too!" Grandpa Wang stepped out from the crowd. "I dried corn here last autumn, and the old lady didn't say anything at the time."
With witnesses present, the deaf old woman's crying gradually subsided, and she looked somewhat embarrassed. Seeing this, Lin Chen stepped forward and softened his tone: "Aunt Zhang, I know you're old and might have misremembered. If you're short of vegetables, I have some cabbages and radishes that I just got from the countryside. If you don't mind, I'll give you some. But if you're deliberately framing me, this matter can't be resolved with just an apology."
The deaf old woman's eyes darted around, and seizing the opportunity, she wiped away her tears and said, "Since I misremembered, then let it go. Young man, I was wrong just now; I shouldn't have wronged you." She stood up, dusted herself off, and said to Xiao Zhang, "Young comrade, thank you for your trouble. I made a mistake; you can go back now."
Xiao Zhang breathed a sigh of relief, gave a couple of instructions on "neighbors should live in harmony," and then hurriedly left. As soon as Xiao Zhang left, the deaf old lady's face darkened. She glared at Lin Chen fiercely and turned to go back to the backyard. Yi Zhonghai also slunk home. The crowd in the yard gradually dispersed, leaving only Lin Chen and Qin Huairu.
"Master Lin, are you alright?" Qin Huairu stepped forward and asked with some concern. She had been standing by the side the whole time and had seen everything clearly. She admired Lin Chen even more now—he had even managed to subdue the most formidable deaf old lady in the courtyard. This new master was truly capable.
"It's alright." Lin Chen smiled. "These kinds of things might happen again in the future. You'll be learning the skills from me, and they'll inevitably target you. But remember, as long as we act uprightly, they can't do anything to us. Go to the workshop early tomorrow morning, and I'll teach you the correct way to hold a file."
"Okay!" Qin Huairu nodded vigorously, her eyes filled with gratitude. Watching Lin Chen turn and go back into the house, she secretly vowed to herself that she would study the skills diligently and never get involved in those scheming and backstabbing again.
After returning home, Lin Chen remained vigilant. He knew the deaf old woman wouldn't let it go so easily; this woman, who had been able to run rampant in the compound for thirty years using her "martyr's family member" status, was definitely not simple. He opened the system panel, looked at the "Advanced Material Analysis" function, and had an idea—he wanted to find out the deaf old woman's true identity and see if her "martyr's family member" status was genuine.
The next morning, Lin Chen went to the workshop early to give Qin Huairu her first formal technical lesson. Holding the locator he had fused the night before, he patiently taught Qin Huairu the angle at which she held the file, correcting her posture. Qin Huairu learned very diligently; although blisters formed on her hands, her face showed unprecedented focus and determination.
During his lunch break, Lin Chen went to the scrap yard and found Old Wang. Old Wang was a seasoned veteran, having collected scrap in the suburbs for decades and knowing all sorts of people. Lin Chen gave him a pack of cigarettes and asked, "Brother Wang, I'd like to inquire about someone. Do you know the deaf old lady in the Hongxing Courtyard? I heard she's a martyr's wife, and her husband was a Red Army cadre."
Old Wang took the cigarette, lit it, took a puff, and squinted, saying, "You mean that old lady Zhang? Of course I know her. She's not some martyr's family member. She used to be the owner of a silk shop in the suburbs. Later, the silk shop went bankrupt, and her husband died of illness, so she moved to the city. As for her 'martyr's family member' status, I heard it was a fake certificate she got in the early 1950s. Back then, the regulations were lax, and she was good at networking and got along well with the people in the neighborhood, so no one investigated."
Lin Chen's heart sank; just as he had guessed. He asked again, "Do you have any evidence? Like the silk shop's license from back then or something?"
"I don't have any evidence, but I know an old man who used to work at a silk shop and now lives in the east of the city. He definitely knows the details." Old Wang wrote down the address for Lin Chen. "But Lin, I advise you not to mess with that old woman. She has a good relationship with the neighborhood director's mother and is not someone to be trifled with."
"I understand, thank you, Brother Wang." Lin Chen put away the address, a plan forming in his mind. He didn't intend to expose the deaf old woman immediately; now wasn't the time. He needed to gather enough evidence first, and when the time was right, strike a fatal blow, completely bringing down this old woman who was bullying others with a false identity.
When Lin Chen got home from get off work in the afternoon, he saw the deaf old lady standing at his door with a cloth bag in her hand as soon as he entered the yard. Seeing Lin Chen return, she forced a smile and walked over to him, saying, "Little Lin, I was wrong yesterday. These are insoles I sewed for you. Try them on; they'll keep you warm."
Lin Chen glanced at the insoles in her hand and sneered inwardly—this old lady certainly knew how to play the emotional card. He took the insoles and said politely, "Thank you, ma'am, you're too kind."
"You're welcome. Neighbors should look out for each other." The deaf old lady smiled and patted his arm, but her eyes held a hint of scrutiny. "Xiao Lin, I've heard you're very skilled. If you ever need anything, feel free to ask if I can help."
"Okay, thank you, ma'am." Lin Chen said perfunctorily before going back inside. He closed the door, tossed the insoles on the table, opened the system panel, and began analyzing the old woman's behavior. The system notification read: "The target exhibits clearly benevolent behavior, suggesting an intention to ease tensions while simultaneously testing the host's strength. It is recommended to remain vigilant and gather more evidence."
Lin Chen nodded, opened the address Old Wang had given him, and began planning his route to the east of the city for tomorrow. He knew that a bigger storm was brewing, and he had to be fully prepared. He not only had to expose the deaf old lady's mask, but also completely dismantle the alliance between Yi Zhonghai and Yan Bugui, so that this scheming courtyard could return to its proper peace.
Meanwhile, at Yi Zhonghai's home, he was sighing over a table full of food. Aunt Yi placed a piece of braised pork on his plate and advised, "Old Yi, don't worry. The old lady has already reconciled with Lin Chen, so let's not provoke him anymore. We'll think of another way to take care of him in his old age."
"What plan do you want?" Yi Zhonghai slammed his chopsticks down. "Qin Huairu is now on the same side as Lin Chen, and Sha Zhu has also realized that no one will take care of us in our old age! I don't care, I must bring Lin Chen down, or I will die with regrets!" His eyes were sinister as he picked up the wine glass on the table and drank it all in one gulp, and began to plot a new scheme.
At Yan Bugui's home, he was frowning at the account book. The school had already spoken to him; although they hadn't revoked his professional title, they had deducted half a month's salary and made him write a self-criticism. Looking at the reduced income in the account book, he felt a deep hatred for Lin Chen. "No, I have to find a chance to get revenge on him!" He gritted his teeth, drew a heavy cross on the account book, and his eyes were full of calculation.
At Qin Huairu's home, however, the scene was quite different. By the light of a kerosene lamp, she was practicing filing with the tools Lin Chen had given her. Jia Geng sat beside her, holding the sketches Lin Chen had given her, trying to make a slingshot out of wooden blocks. Jia Dang held Jia Huaihua, helping his mother. Although the room was simple, it was filled with warmth and hope. Looking at the parts gradually taking shape in her hands, Qin Huairu's face showed a long-lost smile—she knew she had finally embarked on the right path.