Back to 1984: Earning Money, Raising Kids, and Keeping the Household Busy

Chapter 46 A Big Blow
Lin Shaojun walked to the foundation of the house and found Lin Qin on the hill not far away, throwing stones down. He squinted and asked, "What are you doing throwing stones, Sister Qin? Are you going to use stones to build a house?"

Lin Yi gestured to the foundation and explained, "This is an island. They plan to use stones from the mountain and cement to raise the foundation. They've collected so many stones that they can start construction soon. It's just that my leg isn't fully healed yet, and Wenjun and Aqin don't know how to build houses, so we need to find someone to help us."

Lin Shaojun immediately patted his chest and said, "Looking for me? My dad and I do this kind of work. Just let us know when you need us."

"That's great! I really feel at ease having you guys around!" Lin Yi was overjoyed.

Chen Wenjun was extremely grateful. He helped Lin Shaojun move his bicycle up the mountain and hide it, brought him two big fish, and personally rowed him back.

Lin Shaojun's trip not only solved his bicycle problem, but also brought him two black carp weighing two or three pounds each. He hummed a song the whole way there.

When he got home.

When Lin Qingxiang saw the fish, his eyes widened instantly. "What happened? Why did you take the fish?"

Lin Shaojun said mysteriously, "Dad! You'd never guess, Aqin's husband bought a deserted island, and they're planning to build a house on it! Uncle Yi asked us to work as laborers, and I agreed."

"What? You bought an island? What nonsense are you talking about! If the Tanka people had the money to buy an island, wouldn't they be able to find wives?" Lin Qingxiang's wife, Huang Yuzhen, immediately retorted.

Lin Shaojun panicked, "Mom! I went to the island myself to check! It can't be fake! Wenjun said it's not safe to sell the car now. If we get caught and can't deny it, I'll hide the car on that island. Even if the police come looking for us, we can confidently say we don't know anything. We'll sell the car after things calm down."

"These two fish were given to me by Wenjun. Look, he casually gave me two big blackfish, worth several yuan!"

Huang Yuzhen looked at the two fish, speechless, but she doubted what Lin Shaojun had said.

Lin Qingxiang reminded you, "You all need to keep this matter to yourselves. If anyone asks, just say you don't know anything, understand?"

Huang Yuzhen rolled her eyes. "Do you even need to tell me! I get so angry just thinking about today! All those vegetables are rotten, they can only be used to feed the pigs! Liu Yongming has to pay us fifty yuan!"

"Cough cough cough," Lin Shaojun choked, looking at his mother in shock, "Mom! Isn't fifty yuan too much?"

The vegetables they grew probably weren't worth fifty yuan.

Huang Yuzhen rolled her eyes at her son, "What's so harsh about that? The vegetables I worked so hard to grow have been ruined like this! Is this about money? This is about character! If I don't fine him a lot, will that brat learn his lesson? Anyway, the vegetables are ruined, so I'll decide how much it costs!"

Lin Shaojun was rendered speechless by the rebuttal.

That evening, two police officers brought Liu Yongming over to deliver money and apologize.

It seems they've reached an agreement; the two police officers are even speaking up for Liu Yongming, trying to smooth things over.

Lin Qingxiang was unhappy, but ultimately gave the police face, accepted the money, and settled the matter.

Liu Yongming walked out of Shanglin Village with two police officers, his face grim.

Upon reaching the village entrance, the police officer warned Liu Yongming again: "Today, we're only letting things slide because someone higher up is speaking up for you and you've been relatively cooperative. We hope you'll learn from this experience, turn over a new leaf, and start anew."

"Exactly! Young man, don't be so impulsive! You're a college graduate, after all. You've been to the police station repeatedly, ruining your reputation. What kind of future can you expect?"

Liu Yongming lowered his head and nodded perfunctorily.

The two police officers glanced at him, then turned and left.

After they had gone some distance, Liu Yongming kicked a roadside tree a few times in frustration, muttering curses as he walked to where he had hidden his bicycle. Parting the bushes, he panicked.

"Where's my bicycle? Where's my bicycle?"

He searched the entire patch of grass, but couldn't find a bicycle, not even a wheel. He panicked and ran after the police officer who had left, yelling, "My bicycle has been stolen! My bicycle has been stolen!"

The two police officers were stopped halfway. Seeing that Liu Yongming was anxious and angry, with tears on his face, they had no choice but to turn back and help him search.

The three of them, carrying two flashlights, searched the entire area around the village entrance, but couldn't find a trace of the bicycle.

The two had no choice but to take Liu Yongming back to file a case.

The police officer looked at him with some impatience. "Why did you leave your bicycle in the bushes?"

Liu Yongming's eyes flickered. "I hid it there because I was afraid it would be stolen."

The police officer, looking like he knew everything, sneered, "I bet you came prepared, but you ended up losing more than you gained! Tell me! Where are we supposed to find you a bicycle this late at night? By tomorrow, that bicycle will be all over Anshi!"

Liu Yongming's face paled even more, and he burst into tears, crying, "Police officers, you must help me find my bicycle! It must have been those people from Shanglin Village who did it. They must have stolen my bicycle and sold it. You must help me!"

He didn't have much money to begin with, and the little bit of allowance he earned from his internship had almost all gone. He also had more than a hundred yuan in debt. If his bicycle was stolen, he would be really finished!
The police officers may joke around, but they won't be ambiguous about what needs to be done.

That evening, they searched all the bicycle repair shops they knew in the vicinity, but no one was there selling bicycles. The police even spoke to them and asked those people to keep an eye on things.

Early the next morning.

Several police officers went to Shanglin Village and went door-to-door inquiring about the whereabouts of the bicycle.

The villagers knew nothing when asked and couldn't provide any useful information. However, some mentioned that Lin Shaojun left the village in the evening and didn't return until dark.

The police came to investigate.

Lin Shaojun remained calm. "Officers, you know that the vegetable garden that was destroyed belonged to Lin Yi. With such a big incident, shouldn't I inform him? Look, I went there yesterday, and Uncle Yi even gave me two big black fish!"

After carefully examining the two fish and confirming that they were from the Nanxi River, the police officers' expressions softened considerably. "We were just conducting a routine investigation. Since you don't know, we'll be leaving now."

Lin Shaojun personally escorted them to the door.

Several police officers searched the entire Shanglin Village and confirmed that Liu Yongming's bicycle was not in the village. They could only go back and tell Liu Yongming to wait for news.

Liu Yongming walked out of the police station in a daze, and headed towards the city hospital like a lost soul, only to be stopped by Liu Yongguo halfway there.

"Yongming, where have you been? We've been looking for you all day. What's wrong with you?"

Liu Yongguo had only said a few words when he noticed that Liu Yongming's mental state was not right. He felt a chill and his face turned pale.

Liu Yongming threw himself into Liu Yongguo's arms and wailed, "My bicycle was stolen! I don't want to live anymore!"

(End of this chapter)