In the fiery red era of the heavens, refrigerators are refreshed daily.

Chapter 186, page 185: Search Results. Further Discussions. Leaving Room for Maneuver. A Cold Sweat.

Yang Guangming spent an extremely long and restless night in the hospital ward.

The hospital's hard beds were cold and uncomfortable, making it very difficult to sleep on.

As dawn broke, the corridor was filled with various sounds that marked the start of a new day—the light footsteps of nurses changing shifts, the gradually bustling sounds of washing up in the washroom, the clinking of enamel mugs, and the soft coughs of patients.

These sounds, like reveille, instantly woke Yang Guangming from his restless sleep.

He slowly opened his eyes, feeling as if his brain was stuffed with cotton, and it felt slightly swollen.

He got up quietly, trying not to make a sound so as not to disturb his second brother, who was still fast asleep beside him. His second sister, Xiangmei's, bed was empty; he didn't know when she had woken up.

He quickly put on his half-new Zhongshan suit jacket and washed his face briefly with the cold water in the room. The icy water stimulated his facial skin, bringing a brief feeling of tightness that instantly dispelled the remaining drowsiness and grogginess.

Just then, the ward door was gently pushed open, and the second sister, Xiangmei, walked in. In her left hand, she was holding an aluminum lunchbox containing a few steaming buns made from mixed flour that she had bought from the hospital cafeteria, and in her other hand, she was carrying a dark green tin thermos.

"Little brother, you're awake? You still don't look too good. You must not have slept well last night."

Yang Xiangmei saw that he was already dressed, and her eyes were filled with concern and a hint of barely perceptible dependence.

After Yang Guangming's reasoned analysis last night, she felt as if she had found her anchor. Although her worries had not disappeared, she was at least not as completely lost as she had been a few days ago.

"It's alright, I took a nap." Yang Guangming took the still warm steamed bun and took a bite.

Northern cornbread buns have a rough and firm texture, are slightly hard, and have a unique grain aroma. They can be eaten with hot water to suppress hunger.

As the two were talking, the ward door was pushed open again, and a male doctor in his fifties, with a serious expression and wearing a white coat, walked in with two doctors who looked quite young.

The doctor must be coming to make rounds.

Yang Xiangmei immediately stood up and greeted him respectfully, "Director Huo, thank you for coming to check on the patients so early."

Yang Guangyao was also startled awake by the noise and subconsciously tried to sit up.

Director Huo simply nodded slightly in response, then walked straight to Yang Guangyao's bedside, his gaze falling on Yang Guangyao's sling: "Yang Guangyao, how are you feeling today? Is your leg still very painful? Does it feel numb or swollen?"

"Much better... Director Huo," Yang Guangyao replied cautiously, his voice still sleepy and weak. "It's just that being suspended for so long makes me feel like my blood isn't flowing properly. It's a bit swollen and painful, like being pricked with needles, but it's much better than the sharp pain I felt yesterday."

Director Huo bent down, extended his cool fingers, carefully examined the plaster cast, gently pressed the exposed toes, observed the color and temperature, and asked questions about the toes' mobility and sensation.

Two interns watched intently from the side, occasionally taking notes in their notebooks.

Then he straightened up and, in Mandarin with a local accent, said to the two interns behind him:
"The tibia fracture is closed, and the alignment appears to be acceptable at present, with no obvious signs of displacement."

The key to treatment is absolute bed rest and immobilization. Under no circumstances should the patient bear any weight, not even the slightest bit, in order to prevent secondary injury or even displacement.

It is important to change the dressing regularly and closely monitor the reduction of swelling and distal blood supply.

After saying that, he turned to Yang Guangming and Yang Xiangmei, and said in a serious tone: "The family members must pay special attention to this point. They must not let his leg be strained or accidentally bump or hit."

Nutrition is also essential; bone healing is a slow process that requires both time and sufficient nutritional support.

Taking the opportunity, Yang Guangming stepped forward and asked in a humble and sincere manner, "Director Huo, hello. I am his younger brother, Yang Guangming, and I just came from Shanghai."

I would like to ask you for more details about my second brother's injury, specifically what details need to be paid attention to during the subsequent treatment and recovery process.
Given his condition, how long will it take before he can get out of bed? Will there be any... long-term effects?

Director Huo adjusted his glasses, his gaze lingering for a moment on Yang Guangming's composed face. Seeing the sincerity in his tone and the accuracy of his question, he unusually offered a few more words of explanation:
"The key to healing a bone fracture is 'rest.' As the old saying goes, it takes a hundred days to recover from a bone fracture, and you've only taken the first step in a long journey. As long as you strictly follow the doctor's orders, stay in bed, and prevent infection or accidental displacement, then restoring normal walking function shouldn't be a big problem."

He paused, then emphasized his point: "However, in the future, on rainy days or after strenuous activity, this injured leg is more likely to experience soreness, weakness, or even pain than the other leg."

Heavy physical labor, especially that which requires leg strength, will definitely be affected and requires extra attention; it should be avoided as much as possible or even completely.

As family members, you must supervise him closely during this period. Don't let him get out of bed too early just because he seems to be feeling better; that would harm him.

"Understood, thank you Director Huo. We will definitely keep your words in mind and strictly follow your instructions." Yang Guangming nodded solemnly in thanks, having gained a clearer and more practical understanding of his second brother's injuries and subsequent care.

After seeing Director Huo and his entourage off, the ward returned to silence. Yang Guangming instructed Yang Xiangmei:
"Second sister, you stay here and take good care of second brother. Make sure he takes his medicine and eats properly, and don't let him move around too much."

I'm going out for a bit to get a room at the guesthouse across the street. It's not a good system to keep cramped in the ward like this; you won't get enough rest at night, and it's inconvenient for me to take care of some things."

"Okay, go ahead. I'll take care of things here, don't worry," Yang Xiangmei quickly agreed.

Yang Guangming picked up his still heavy travel bag and walked out of the hospital again.

On a crisp early winter morning, the sun had already risen high, but its light seemed to be filtered through an invisible film, appearing thin and weak, barely bringing a faint warmth. The temperature was still very low, and breath instantly condensed into white mist.

He stood on the cement steps at the entrance of the hospital, looking around at the street scene. Not far across the street was a two-story brick building with a white sign that read "Workers, Peasants and Soldiers Guesthouse" in black lettering. The storefront was small and looked quite old.

He stepped across the narrow street, pushed open the wooden door of the guesthouse, and was greeted by a smell that was a mixture of tobacco and cheap disinfectant.

Inside the door was a small, dimly lit reception room with a dark wooden table behind which sat a middle-aged woman wearing a woolen scarf, knitting with her head down.

Hearing the door open, she looked up, revealing a face that was rough and red from the north wind.

"Hello, comrade. Do you have any rooms available?" Yang Guangming asked as he stepped forward.

The woman put down her knitting and looked him over. "Yes. Do you have a letter of introduction? How many people are staying here?" Her tone was businesslike and indifferent.

Yang Guangming took out a letter of introduction from the factory from his inner pocket and handed it over: "I live alone, so I would appreciate it if you could provide me with a quiet private room."

The woman took the letter of introduction, examined the official seal and contents closely, then glanced at Yang Guangming's neat attire and composed demeanor, and her attitude softened slightly.

"Single rooms are available for 60 cents a day. The bedding is all freshly washed and very clean. Public toilets and water rooms are at both ends of the corridor, and hot water is available twice a day, morning and evening."

“Okay, I’ll take a single room. I’ll stay for three days, maybe longer.” Yang Guangming took out the money and handed it over.

The woman took the money, opened a drawer to make change, and then took out an old, large key with a small wooden tag with the room number attached: "Room 206, go upstairs, turn right, and it's the last room. Keep it quiet."

"Thank you, comrade." Yang Guangming took the keys and change, picked up his bag, and went upstairs.

The room was at the end of the second-floor corridor. It was very small, only about eight or nine square meters, and could only fit a narrow single wooden bed, a small square table with peeling paint, and a wooden chair that looked rather unstable.

The walls were mottled, with the lower half painted green. A thin wooden window faced the backyard. The windowpane was polished to a shine, and white strips of paper were used to carefully seal the gaps, but cold drafts still seeped in.

The bedding looked fairly clean, but it felt a bit cold and hard to the touch and had a faint, not unpleasant, camphor ball smell.

The accommodations were indeed very basic, but compared to the noise, inconvenience, and lingering smell of disinfectant mixed with the smell of sick people in the hospital ward, this was at least a private space where he could think quietly, relax temporarily, and handle some personal matters.

He placed the travel bag on the bed and opened it to check it.

Important items, such as most of the cash, national grain coupons, letters of introduction, and the note given to him by Zhao Guodong, had already been carefully stored in that absolutely safe refrigerator space.

Outside, only a few changes of clothes, toiletries, some change and small-denomination food coupons were left, along with a bag of White Rabbit milk candy used to cover up the truth and a few other commonly used miscellaneous items.

I glanced at my watch; it was just past 10 a.m.

After putting down his luggage and resting for a while, not wanting to linger too long, he locked the door and quickly returned to the hospital.

He needs to wait for news of Sun Degui and Wang Yuanjun at the hospital; that is the most important thing right now.

Just after noon, as the hospital corridor began to fill with the mixed smells of food, the familiar voices of two people with Northeastern accents could be heard coming from outside the ward, growing louder as they approached.

The door was pushed open, and Sun Degui and Wang Yuanjun walked in one after the other. Wang Yuanjun was carrying the three aluminum lunch boxes that were stacked together and had been washed.

"Secretary Sun, Captain Wang, you've arrived." Yang Guangming immediately stood up from the stool and greeted them with a perfectly timed smile.

Yang Guangyao, lying on the bed, struggled to sit up, his face filled with eagerness and anticipation, but Yang Guangming stopped him in time with a look.

"Lie still and don't move. Taking good care of yourself is the key." Sun Degui waved his hand, indicating that Yang Guangyao didn't need to be polite. He walked to the bedside and carefully examined Yang Guangyao's complexion. "Hmm, your complexion looks brighter than yesterday, and you have some color in it. That's right. Don't overthink anything. Relax, and your injury will heal faster."

Wang Yuanjun slammed the three lunchboxes onto the bedside table, his voice still loud and clear: "You brought the lunchboxes back, and washed them clean."

His gaze fell on Yang Guangming, his eyes filled with a familiarity that was completely different from yesterday, even mixed with a bit of urgency, and the closeness of looking at "one of his own." "Comrade Guangming, have you been waiting for a while?"

Yang Guangming immediately understood and knew that things were bound to improve.

He said very naturally, "I really feel bad that you two leaders went to the trouble of bringing these lunch boxes all the way here."

It's almost lunchtime. If you two gentlemen don't mind, how about we go to a restaurant and chat over a meal? You two look travel-worn; you probably haven't had lunch yet, have you?"

Sun Degui and Wang Yuanjun exchanged a glance, their eyes both revealing joy.

“Okay, let’s talk while we eat. I have something to tell you.” Sun Degui nodded, his tone carrying a businesslike calmness.

"Shall we go back to the same place as yesterday? It'll be quieter and easier to talk," Yang Guangming suggested.

“Okay, let’s go there,” Wang Yuanjun replied, sounding somewhat impatient.

The three of them left the hospital, walked through the deserted streets, and arrived at the familiar state-run restaurant.

It was lunchtime, and the hall was even noisier than the night before, bustling with people and almost every seat was taken.

Behind the counter, the same middle-aged man surnamed Wang was extremely busy, collecting money and tickets while fiddling with the abacus beads, his forehead even beaded with sweat.

When Yang Guangming came in, his eyes lit up immediately, and a warm and familiar smile spread across his face. He greeted him from afar, "Oh! Comrade Yang, you've arrived! What would you like to eat today?" His attitude was noticeably more attentive than he would to other customers.

Yang Guangming walked over with a smile, naturally took out a handful of White Rabbit milk candies from his pocket, about seven or eight, and placed them on the counter with smooth movements: "Master Wang, are you busy? Here are a few milk candies for your kids to sweeten their mouths, don't mind them."

Master Wang's smile instantly became even brighter and more genuine, and he said, "Oh, I can't accept this, you're too kind, Comrade Yang!"

His hands moved swiftly and naturally, sweeping the handful of rare milk candies into his drawer under the counter. "You've come here today...?"

"Are there any quieter private rooms available today? Or would you like to discuss something with two friends?" Yang Guangming asked.

"Yes, yes, yes! You've come at the right time. The room from yesterday was just available! No leaders are coming today, so you can all go in right away! I'll have someone make you some tea right away!" Chef Wang enthusiastically directed them, as if Yang Guangming were some important VIP.

Yang Guangming waved the three empty lunchboxes in his hand: "Master Wang, I need to trouble you with something else. I'd like to borrow these lunchboxes for another two days. Is that alright? I promise to clean them thoroughly and return them to you after I'm done."

"No problem! Comrade Yang, you're too kind! Use it as you please! Just take it back whenever you're done with it! It's no big deal!" Master Wang patted his chest loudly, readily agreeing and appearing extremely generous.

Yang Guangming handed the lunchbox back to him and then said, "I have another favor to ask of you. I'd like to pack three main dishes to take home, to add some food to my family's diet and help them get some nutrition."

"Do you have braised pork today? Or any other signature dishes or side dishes that go well with rice, please arrange them according to your preference, and make sure the portions are generous." As he spoke, he reached for his money.

Watching from the side, Wang Yuanjun felt bad that Yang Guangming was spending too much money, and quickly spoke up to stop him: "Comrade Guangming, look at you... this is too extravagant. There's no need to be so particular. Just get some simple dishes, as long as they have some oil..."

Yang Guangming interrupted him with a smile, his tone firm yet comforting: "Captain Wang, don't be so polite with me, this is all I should do. When we go to a restaurant, we have to think about our families, right? This money should be spent."

He insisted on ordering a juicy braised pork, a fragrant stir-fried pork, and a hearty pork stew with vermicelli.

Master Wang quickly wrote it down and assured him, "Don't worry! The head chef will make it for you in a bit, and it'll be packed in a box right away. I guarantee it'll be piping hot and full of goodness!"

With the main dishes for the two village officials to take home secured, Yang Guangming ordered four more dishes for lunch: a braised fish, a pork stew with vermicelli, a plate of oily scrambled eggs, a clear stew of cabbage and tofu, and a bottle of locally produced Shaodaozi liquor.

After ordering the food and drinks, Yang Guangming, along with Sun and Wang, walked into the quiet private room as if they knew the place well.

The private room remained the same, quiet and secluded, isolated from the outside noise. The round table had been wiped clean and seemed even cleaner than yesterday.

Yang Guangming took out a small can of tea in an exquisite little tin box from his handbag and brewed it with practiced ease.

Hot water is poured into the teapot, and a rich aroma of tea fills the air.

Before Yang Guangming could even ask, Wang Yuanjun, clearly unable to contain himself, leaned forward sharply, elbows on the table, and, in a low voice, with barely suppressed excitement and lingering anger on his face, spoke first: "Comrade Yang! What you mentioned yesterday was absolutely right!"

A sudden thought struck Yang Guangming.

It's a success!

He feigned just the right amount of surprise and attention, leaning forward slightly as he asked, "Oh? Captain Wang, what are you referring to...?" He deliberately hesitated, guiding the other person to say it himself.

"It's about that bastard Li Dongliang writing incriminating materials and preparing to make false accusations!"

Wang Yuanjun spat, as if mentioning that name tainted his mouth, his face full of contempt and indignation. "This morning, after they all went to work, I took the militia captain and the educated youth in charge of the educated youth settlement and went straight to their dormitory. In front of everyone, I searched their bedding rolls!"

He described the scene from that morning with an excited tone, as if he were carrying out a family law.

The dormitories for educated youth were already rudimentary, with very few personal belongings and virtually no private corners.

“He didn’t even flip through it twice,” Wang Yuanjun continued, his eyes wide open, “he found a letter sealed with glue in an old copy of Red Flag magazine under his pillow! The recipient on the envelope was listed as ‘County Educated Youth Office’!”

Yang Guangming listened intently, his fingers unconsciously stroking the rim of the teacup.

"At the time, the person in charge of the educated youth settlement tried to stop me, telling me that I couldn't just open and read private letters, and that I had to follow the policy!"

Wang Yuanjun snorted coldly, his face full of disdain for such "outdated" rhetoric. "I don't care about that nonsense! What the hell are you talking about rules with this kind of backstabbing, wicked, and despicable person! I'd tear him apart right then and there!"

As he spoke, he made a tearing motion, which appeared domineering and satisfying.

He tore open the envelope, pulled out the letter inside filled with writing, and began reading it on the spot.

As Yang Guangming had predicted and guided yesterday, the letter mainly focused on accusing Yang Guangyao of a corrupt lifestyle, pursuit of personal enjoyment, and backward thinking. The specific accusations were that he frequently sneaked out to eat at restaurants in town to improve his meals and buy "luxury goods" such as cigarettes, alcohol, candy, and tea. More importantly, his ultimate goal was to corrupt and win over the brigade cadres with small favors in order to unfairly compete for the position of private school teacher.

Moreover, the letter was quite sharp in its wording, explicitly mentioning highly sensitive terms such as "accepting bribes" from Party Secretary Sun and Captain Wang, "showing obvious favoritism and preferential treatment" towards them, and "whether there was any power-money transaction involved is worth investigating."
"Damn it! It's written so vividly! If he actually sends this accusation out, even if it turns out to be a false accusation in the end, this mudslinging will still be there for him, like mud falling into his pants. Even if he doesn't look like shit, he'll still look like shit! He'll never be able to clear his name even if he jumps into the Songhua River!"

Wang Yuanjun grew increasingly agitated as he spoke, slamming his hand on the table, making the teacup clang loudly. "Isn't this a deliberate attempt to smear me and Secretary Sun, to ruin our reputation? Their intentions are despicable! They're rotten to the core!"

Although Sun Degui didn't show his emotions as openly as Wang Yuanjun, slamming his fist on the table and glaring, his face remained gloomy. He had a cigarette between his fingers and unconsciously tapped the table lightly, his sharp eyes quite intimidating.

Clearly, the words in the letter that targeted the village officials had truly touched a nerve with Sun Degui.

Sun Degui slowly took a drag of his cigarette, exhaled the smoke, and then spoke, his voice low but weighty: "The original letter is now in our hands. It's irrefutable evidence of his slander!"

He paused, then turned his gaze to Yang Guangming, his expression one of calm control over the situation. "We have witnesses now."

Yang Guangming cast an inquiring glance at the opportune moment.

Sun Degui continued, "The Yuan army's nephew, the one I mentioned to you yesterday who was gathering firewood on the opposite hillside, is called Wang Laowu."

We have already had a serious talk with him.

He has now made it clear that he is willing to testify.

Although he was quite far away at the time and couldn't see the specific expressions on their faces clearly, he did see that Li Dongliang and Yang Guangyao had a fierce physical altercation.

At the time, the two were pushing and shoving each other, and he clearly saw that Li Dongliang suddenly shoved Yang Guangyao in the chest, causing Yang Guangyao to lose his balance and fall down the hillside.

This testimony is vastly different from Wang Yuanjun's statement yesterday, which said, "We were too far away to see clearly, and I couldn't be 100% sure." It has become clear and certain, directly pointing to Li Dongliang's harmful behavior.

Yang Guangming understood perfectly well that this was naturally the result of Sun Degui and Wang Yuanjun's private "work".

After all, they were villagers from the same village, so the work wasn't difficult. The village officials used a combination of carrot and stick to get this originally ambiguous witness to give the testimony that was most favorable to them.

With this malicious letter containing false accusations as a starting point, it could be used to guide public opinion among the villagers and educated youth.

The existence of this letter allows the villagers to know about it, but the village officials certainly won't hand it over.

With this now clear and definitive eyewitness testimony, Li Dongliang's situation is like a turtle in a jar, extremely unfavorable, with almost no chance of turning the tide.

"Where is Li Dongliang now? Has he admitted it?" Yang Guangming asked, this was the next step he was concerned about.

"He has no choice but to admit it!"

Wang Yuanjun's tone was ruthless, with the decisiveness of dealing with a family scandal: "When the letter was found and he was called back to be questioned in person, his face turned white with fright. He even tried to snatch it back, but the militia platoon leader twisted his arm on the spot!"

He's tied up right now and locked up in that empty warehouse next to the brigade headquarters where they keep farm tools. I've already assigned people to keep a close watch on him!
This kind of black sheep, who undermines the unity of educated youth, falsely accuses comrades, and even dares to smear cadres, must not be let off lightly! They must be dealt with seriously to serve as a warning to others! At this moment, the door to the private room was pushed open, and the waiter began to serve dishes. Braised fish, pork stew with vermicelli, scrambled eggs, and other hearty dishes were served one after another, and the rich aroma immediately filled the small room.

Yang Guangming stood up, picked up the bottle of strong liquor, skillfully unscrewed the cap, filled the glasses in front of Sun Degui and Wang Yuanjun to the brim, then raised his own glass, his tone sincere:

“Secretary Sun, Captain Wang, thank you so much! If it weren’t for your sharp eyes, keen observation, and decisive action in upholding justice, my second brother would not only have broken his leg, but would also have suffered this huge injustice!”
It might even tarnish your reputations! This glass is a toast to you both! My gratitude is all in this drink!

"Oh, you flatter me, Comrade Guangming. This is what we should do. We can't let good people suffer, and we can't let this kind of evil trend rise in Kaoshantun!" Sun Degui raised his wine glass, his tone steady.

"Yes! Cheers!" Wang Yuanjun was even more enthusiastic, raising his glass to clink together and tilting his head back to drink it all in one gulp.

The fiery liquor burned down my throat, bringing a warm, scorching sensation that made the atmosphere even more lively.

After eating a few bites of food to fill his stomach, Sun Degui put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth with a towel, and his tone became formal and solemn:

"Comrade Yang, the situation is now basically clear."

Li Dongliang wrote a false accusation letter, the facts are conclusive, and the evidence is right here; he is also suspected of intentionally harming a comrade, although the witness is a little far away, the testimony is clear.

The two incidents combined are extremely serious in nature.

Before Yuan Jun and I came here, we had a brief discussion and came up with a preliminary idea for how to handle the situation. We'd like to hear your opinion, since you are a family member of the victim.

"Secretary Sun, you're too kind. Please go ahead, I'm listening." Yang Guangming immediately put down his chopsticks and made a gesture of attentive listening.

“First of all,” Sun Degui said, extending his index finger, “Li Dongliang must bear all the expenses incurred by Comrade Yang Guangyao as a result of this injury, including his medical expenses, subsequent nutritional expenses, and lost wages. This is beyond question and a matter of course.”

Yang Guangming nodded: "That's right, reasonable and legal."

"Secondly," Sun Degui paused, lowering his voice to sound more candid, "and this is also the most crucial point, regarding how to deal with Li Dongliang. Our idea is that it's best not to report him to the police."

After he finished speaking, he carefully observed Yang Guangming's expression, as if trying to catch a trace of reluctance or objection.

Seeing that Yang Guangming remained calm, he continued to explain, "Comrade Guangming, as you know, once a report is filed and the police get involved, the nature of the matter changes, and it escalates."

When the police arrive, they conduct investigations, collect evidence, and conduct interviews—the whole process is quite a commotion.

Even if they eventually convict him and sentence him to several years, the process will drag on for a long time and have a worse impact.

This will negatively impact the overall reputation of our Kaoshantun village. It will definitely affect the commune's evaluation of advanced brigades and model educated youth sites at the end of the year.

It's not worth dragging down the whole brigade for such a scoundrel.

Wang Yuanjun, chewing on pork stew with vermicelli, added in a more direct tone:
"Moreover, although Li Dongliang's parents are just ordinary workers in the county and don't have any great abilities, if their son is really sent to jail, the old couple will definitely go all out to make a scene, crying and wailing, throwing a tantrum."

For a local resident like this in a county town, who knows what kind of relatives he might have working for in which departments? If someone tries to plead for him or put pressure on him, it could be a real problem.

A toad jumps on your foot—it doesn't bite, but it's disgusting!

"Why don't we handle this internally? It'll be cleaner, more efficient, and we can maintain control. We can punish him however they deserve, and he'll definitely regret it!"

Yang Guangming was already aware of their concerns.

Village officials are most afraid of things escalating out of control and affecting the stability of the village and their performance evaluation.

Internal handling would not only severely punish Li Dongliang and achieve the goal, but also keep the impact of the incident firmly under control within Kaoshantun, thus maximizing the preservation of the collective's face, their authority, and any potential "unspeakable" secrets.

He had anticipated this and was pleased with its outcome.

After all, if the police were to investigate further, it would not be a good thing for my second brother, whose record is not clean, and could very well backfire.

Immediately, a look of deep agreement and unwavering approval appeared on his face, even showing a hint of consideration for the other person:
"Secretary Sun, Captain Wang, you've thought of everything so thoroughly! Really, you've considered every aspect!"
To be honest, when I rushed over after receiving the call, I was both anxious and angry, but I never thought of reporting it to the police.

The collective honor and reputation of our Kaoshantun village are important, but the excellent situation and prestige that the two leaders have worked so hard to maintain are even more important!
If this matter concerning my second brother were to cause a huge uproar, tarnishing our village's reputation and causing a lot of unnecessary trouble for the two leaders, that would be absolutely unacceptable!

What kind of person would I be? That would be so inconsiderate!

His words were extremely well-spoken, completely empathetic, and showed that he was understanding and had the big picture in mind.

Upon hearing this, Sun Degui and Wang Yuanjun both showed expressions of satisfaction and relaxation, clearly indicating that Yang Guangming's reaction was exactly what they had hoped for.

"Comrade Yang truly lives up to his reputation as a cadre from a major factory in Shanghai. He is highly conscious, reasonable, and considerate of the overall situation! Dealing with you is a pleasure!" Sun Degui nodded approvingly and raised his wine glass to gesture again.

"So... how exactly do you two leaders plan to handle him internally?" Yang Guangming asked at the opportune moment, steering the conversation toward the implementation level.

"Report it! Report it directly to the commune's educated youth office!" Wang Yuanjun said decisively!

He spread his palms, slammed them on the table, and continued:

"Compile Wang Laowu's witness testimonies and submit them together!"

This reflects that Li Dongliang is extremely morally corrupt, deliberately harmed his fellow educated youth, seriously damaged the unity of the educated youth group, and had an extremely bad influence!
It is recommended that the educated youth office take serious action against this black sheep, and ideally transfer him to the most remote and arduous farm for labor, so that he can properly reflect on his ideological problems!

Sun Degui, puffing on his cigarette, added with a sense of control, "Once the educated youth gets the transfer order, he has no choice but to leave, whether he wants to or not."

Once he leaves, out of sight, out of mind. If he's sensible enough to know he's in the wrong, and we have such a big handle on him, he probably won't dare to cause any more trouble.

If they don't know what's good for them, and still dare to talk nonsense or have their family members come and cause trouble..."

He gave a cold laugh and didn't say anything more, but the chill in his eyes said it all.

In their own little world, they have plenty of ways to shut up someone who has lost power and is on the verge of punishment.

Yang Guangming nodded: "This is a good idea. It addresses the root cause of the problem, eliminates potential risks, and avoids a lot of subsequent trouble. I completely agree and have no objections."

He expressed his support clearly.

He hesitated for a moment, then spoke again as if somewhat embarrassed: "It's about... the medical expenses you mentioned earlier."

The doctor said that my second brother's injury takes a hundred days to heal, and he will have to stay in bed for at least three or four months. The subsequent medication, regular check-ups, and nutritional supplements will cost a lot over time, and it will probably add up to a considerable sum.

From what Captain Wang just said, Li Dongliang's family isn't well-off; they're just an ordinary working-class family. Asking him to come up with all of it at once... is indeed quite difficult. What if they push him too far...?

He paused at the right moment, giving the other person room to respond and express themselves.

He didn't really expect to get much compensation; the amount claimed was too large, and something might go wrong.

The amount of money demanded is not important; what matters is that Li Dongliang receives some substantial economic punishment within a manageable range.

And this made Sun and Wang think that they had "settled" the compensation issue and that the matter could be put to rest.

Sun Degui and Wang Yuanjun exchanged a glance; they had clearly discussed this issue before.

With an air of familiarity in handling internal affairs, Wang Yuanjun said, "It's alright! He'll be dividing up the work and money at the end of the year! This kid earned quite a few work points this year, I reckon he'll get thirty or forty yuan."

When the time comes, the brigade headquarters will hold a meeting and make a resolution to deduct all the work points he earned this year! Not a single penny will be left! It will be used to pay Comrade Guangyao's medical and nutritional expenses!

Although it might not be enough, it's still enough to make him bleed a lot, skin him alive! Let's see if he dares to cause trouble again!

This is exactly the attitude and result that Yang Guangming wants.

He immediately said, "I think it's a good idea! Let's do it the way Captain Wang suggested. We'll pay whatever compensation we can. The main thing is to punish him and teach him a lesson."

We must not allow the amount of compensation to create further complications and jeopardize the overall situation; stability and unity must always be the top priority.

His understanding and consideration for the overall situation won over Sun Degui and Wang Yuanjun once again.

"Comrade Yang, rest assured, we will definitely handle this matter perfectly for you! It's a sure thing!"

Wang Yuanjun patted his chest and assured everyone, his face flushed with the smell of alcohol, "After the year-end bonuses are distributed and the accounts are settled, the brigade headquarters will directly transfer this money to Comrade Yang Guangyao."

"Thank you so much! We've gone to so much trouble for you two leaders!" Yang Guangming raised his glass again, his expression earnest. "Everything is in this drink! On behalf of my second brother, I thank you both for upholding justice for us! We are deeply grateful!"

The three of them clinked glasses again and drank it all in one gulp.

With the matter settled and their minds at ease, Sun Degui and Wang Yuanjun's appetites truly returned, and they began to focus on the main dishes on the table.

Yang Guangming ate and drank with them, no longer discussing serious matters, but instead occasionally talking about the different customs and traditions of the North and South, and interesting anecdotes from the factory, making the atmosphere more harmonious and relaxed.

Because he still had to go back in the afternoon to deal with Li Dongliang, who was still in custody, and to organize materials to report to the educated youth office, he finished one bottle of strong liquor and didn't ask for a second one.

After finishing his meal, Yang Guangming got up to pay the bill.

He handed the three packed dishes to Wang Yuanjun: "Captain Wang, please take these three dishes back with Secretary Sun so that the elderly and children in your families can try them. It's just a small token of my appreciation."

Wang Yuanjun said, "I can't accept this, you're asking for both food and gifts," but his face lit up with a smile. After declining for a moment, he accepted it with a smile, thinking to himself that Yang Guangming was really good at handling things and was very generous.

As Yang Guangming saw them off at the restaurant entrance, he stood in the cold wind and watched Sun Degui and Wang Yuanjun get on their bicycles, the three lunchboxes dangling from the handlebars.

Watching the two figures gradually disappear into the distance, Yang Guangming stood still, lit a cigarette, slowly took a drag, and then exhaled completely, as if the tension and planning of the past few days were slowly exhaled with this puff of smoke.

Things were progressing almost exactly as he had planned, even more smoothly than he had anticipated.

The existence of that whistleblower letter was the most crucial and unexpected turning point, directly hitting Li Dongliang's weak point and completely eliminating the last possible wavering between Sun and Wang.

He threw down his cigarette butt, stomped it out, and turned to go back to his small room at the guesthouse.

He needed to rest for a while, let his rapidly working brain relax, and also sort out his thoughts.

After resting for about an hour, he returned to his hospital ward with steady steps.

Pushing open the ward door, only Yang Guangyao was lying on the bed, staring expectantly at the doorway with a look of anxiety and anticipation. Yang Xiangmei was nowhere to be seen.

"Little brother! How did it go? What did they say when they arrived?" As soon as Yang Guangyao saw him come in, he struggled to sit up, his voice hoarse and urgent, even trembling noticeably.

Yang Guangming closed the door behind him, walked to the bed, pulled over the stool and sat down, looking at him with a calm and expressionless face.

"Second Brother, the matter is basically resolved. Li Dongliang is finished." Yang Guangming's tone was calm, but it carried the power of a final decision.

Yang Guangyao's eyes widened suddenly, his pupils contracted, and his breathing became rapid: "How was it resolved? Did they really believe it? What did they say? How should we deal with Li Dongliang?" A series of questions shot out like bullets.

Yang Guangming didn't answer immediately. Instead, he glanced around the ward and asked, "Where's my second sister?"

"She went to the washroom to do laundry... just now! Tell me quickly! I'm so anxious!" Yang Guangyao was impatient and wanted to get up and grab his younger brother's arm to shake him.

Yang Guangming then slowly began to speak, his voice low, and briefly recounted the conversation at the dinner party. He omitted the details of how witness Wang Laowu changed his story, but briefly summarized the rest, including the discovery of the accusation letter, its contents involving village officials, the village's decision to report it to the educated youth office for serious handling, and the recommendation for transfer.

When he heard that the deadly whistleblower letter had indeed been found, and that its contents directly implicated the Party Secretary and the team leader, Yang Guangyao's face showed a complex expression of extreme fear and immense relief.

When Yang Guangyao heard that there was actually an eyewitness at the scene, and that the eyewitness was Wang Laowu from the village, his face turned deathly pale, he broke out in a cold sweat, his lips trembled uncontrollably, and his voice quivered:
"A...a real eyewitness? He...he really saw it clearly? He saw it was me...it was myself..."

The last few words were almost stuck in his throat; he dared not utter them.

This is what he fears most deep down, what he is most afraid of being exposed.

Looking at his face, which had instantly lost blood, and his terrified eyes, Yang Guangming sighed inwardly, his tone becoming serious, carrying a hint of warning:

"Second brother, are you scared now? Where were you before? Luckily, that so-called 'eyewitness' was Captain Wang's nephew, and they were able to persuade and control him to change his testimony."

If it were someone stubborn, inflexible, or someone who usually has a good relationship with Li Dongliang who happened to see this, your little trick, your self-inflicted injury, would not only be a waste of effort and a pointless injury, but you would also be exposed on the spot and charged with falsely accusing and framing a comrade!

Have you really considered how serious the consequences could be?

Sunlight shone through his head, cold sweat trickling down his temples. He gripped the blanket tightly with both hands, making gurgling sounds in his throat, but he couldn't utter a single word. He just nodded forcefully and mechanically, his eyes filled with unprecedented fear and lingering dread.

He now truly realizes the enormous risks hidden behind his "brilliant idea," as if he were walking on the edge of an abyss.

"A fall into a pit, a gain in your wit. Having learned from this experience, in the future, I must be down-to-earth and walk the right path in everything I do!"

Stop trying to be clever, take shortcuts, or have crooked ideas!
Doing this may seem like an easier approach, but it will actually lead to endless problems!

Taking the opportunity, Yang Guangming gave him a sharp rebuke, his tone heavy, "You were lucky this time, even God was on your side. Li Dongliang just had to leave behind such a huge, fatal weakness. Next time, you might not be so lucky!"

"I...I know...I'll never do it again...I really won't..." Yang Guangyao's voice was trembling and clearly tearful, obviously terrified.

Seeing his distracted and terrified state, Yang Guang knew the lesson had been profound enough, so he didn't say anything more harsh.

He softened his tone and then told him in more detail about the village's decision not to report the case, but to report it to the educated youth office to transfer Li Dongliang, and to use his work points to offset medical expenses.

Yang Guangyao was overjoyed to hear that he was not only safe and sound and cleared of suspicion, but would also receive a small but significant compensation.

Meanwhile, his biggest rival, Li Dongliang, was to be severely punished and transferred to the most difficult place for reform, ruining his future.

The sunlight was like a drowning person finally grasping at a straw, slowly recovering from extreme fear and regret.

He let out a long sigh, his whole body limp as if all his bones had been removed, collapsing completely onto the hospital bed, as if he had just fought an extremely tough battle and was utterly exhausted, his underwear soaked with cold sweat.

"That's good...that's good...finally...finally it's over..." he murmured to himself, his dazed eyes staring at the ceiling. His face gradually regained some color, and a feeling of exhaustion from surviving a disaster enveloped him.

Just then, Yang Xiangmei returned carrying a basin of washed clothes, her arms still damp with water.

As soon as she entered the room, she sensed that the atmosphere was different. Seeing her second brother's relieved expression, as if a heavy burden had been lifted, and her younger brother's calm yet relaxed look, she immediately guessed that things must have turned out as she had hoped.

"Little brother, did you finish the talk? What did the Party Secretary and the team leader say?" She put down the basin, not even bothering to wring out the water from her hands, and hurriedly walked up to Yang Guangming to ask.

Yang Guangming nodded, using a relatively brief and concise approach, omitting sensitive details such as the witness's changed testimony and the specific content of the accusation letter. He only emphasized that after investigation, it had been confirmed that Li Dongliang did indeed have problems, and the village had decided to deal with him seriously, and would order him to use his work points to compensate his second brother for medical expenses.

Upon hearing this, Yang Xiangmei was so happy she almost jumped for joy. She clasped her hands together, her eyes instantly welling up with tears, and repeatedly murmured towards the window:

"Thank God! God has blessed us! This is wonderful! This is truly wonderful! That wicked man has finally gotten his comeuppance! Let's see if he dares to harm anyone again!"

The pent-up grievances, anger, worry, and helplessness she had been suppressing for days finally found an outlet, turning into tears of joy.

Although there was a complex truth behind this joy, she was unaware of it.

For her, the outcome at this moment meant that justice had been served.

"That's great, Second Brother, you can finally focus on recovering! You don't have to worry about anyone causing trouble anymore!" She walked to the bedside and said to Yang Guangyao, her tone much lighter.

Yang Guangyao nodded, and a genuine, relaxed smile appeared on his face—the first one he'd shown since his injury, though it still carried a hint of weakness and paleness.

Seeing the long-lost genuine smiles and ease on his second brother and sister's faces, Yang Guangming's tense nerves finally relaxed a little, and he felt a sense of peace and relief.

This sudden storm, which was triggered by a dispute over a job and was full of calculations and risks, has finally seen the light at the end of the tunnel.

The rest was relatively simple: wait for the transfer order from the educated youth office, and then receive the year-end work points.

As long as no further complications arise, this matter can be put to rest.

Yang Guangming reiterated, "Although the matter is basically settled, we should still keep a low profile until the transfer order is issued."

Especially you, Second Brother, just focus on recovering and cooperating with the treatment. Don't worry about anything outside or within the team, don't ask about anything, and especially don't say anything to anyone. Too much talk leads to mistakes.

"Yes, yes, I know, I know. I definitely won't say anything and will just lie down and recover." Yang Guangyao nodded repeatedly. He had indeed grown a lot after this lesson.

Yang Xiangmei also assured him, "Don't worry, little brother, we definitely won't cause any trouble or add to your burdens. I'll take good care of Second Brother."

For the first time, the atmosphere in the ward truly and completely relaxed.

Outside the window, the afternoon sunlight seemed to have become brighter and warmer.

(End of this chapter)