Xu Ying’s eyes suddenly flared with a brilliant light. “Uncle, Aunt, Brother Shubo… I have to go out now!” she declared, her voice charged with newfound purpose, and without another word, she swept out of the Zhao’s house.
Her destination was the housing area reserved for the cadres of the meat processing factory. Unlike the bustling, communal dwellings of the factory workers, these residences were far more spacious, many boasting small vegetable gardens where their occupants cultivated their own produce. As Xu Ying, a vision of striking beauty, walked through the streets, the cadres she passed instantly looked up, their gazes filled with surprise and admiration.
“Auntie, could you please tell me where Deputy Director Wu’s home is?” Xu Ying asked a woman she encountered.
The aunt’s face immediately fell. She glanced around nervously, then pulled Xu Ying aside. “Who are you to Deputy Factory Director Wu’s family? If you’re looking for Wu Zhengyi, I advise you to leave quickly. That man is no good,” she warned, her tone laced with genuine concern.
Xu Ying offered her a grateful smile. “I’m not looking for Wu Zhengyi. I’m looking for Deputy Director Wu. I’m related to their family.”
At these words, the aunt’s expression shifted, a flicker of disgust entering her eyes. She quickly pointed towards a two-story building. “That’s the second-floor building of Xiaoyang. But if you go now, there might be no one home. Deputy Factory Director Wu and his wife won’t be back until noon.”
A wave of satisfaction washed over Xu Ying. She nodded, her steps quickening as she moved towards Deputy Director Wu’s house. Her plan hinged on their absence.
To ensure no one was present, Xu Ying arrived at the Wu family’s door and tapped lightly, calling out several times. When no answer came, she surveyed her surroundings, then, relying on her agile skills, climbed the wall. Fortunately, it was lunchtime, a period when most people returned home from work to eat and rest, leaving the streets largely deserted.
Xu Ying stealthily made her way to the Wu house, produced a piece of wire, and with practiced ease, quickly picked the lock. She slipped inside, and with a whisper of a shadow .
“System,” she commanded softly, her voice barely audible, “help me find where the Wu family hides their money! You can deduct my points for it .”
[Okay, host,] the system responded.
A series of beeps and notifications followed:
[Didi-di-di, gold bars were found in the wooden box under the bed.]
[Didi-di-di, I found a hidden compartment in the corner of the cabinet.]
[Didi, beep, there were signs of being pried open underneath the shoe rack.]
[Didi dididi…]
As the system continued its scan, Xu Ying located several hidden stashes of valuables. With so much evidence, she knew the Wu family’s downfall was imminent. She quickly gathered the items, then, as swiftly and silently as she had entered, she departed from the Wu residence.
Corruption, rape, and grave harm—these charges alone would be enough to condemn the Wu family to the gravest of sentences.
Leaving the Wu house, Xu Ying headed directly to the Public Security Bureau, where she reported her findings to the police. Then, with a fierce determination, she meticulously dispatched several letters of accusation.
Huo Chen, it seemed, had also been tireless in his efforts. He returned late, carrying a stack of multiple letters of report, though she hadn’t known how to persuade all those he had approached.
“What do you want to do?” Huo Chen asked, his gaze fixed on her.
Xu Ying took the letters from him, offering a brief word of thanks, and then returned to the locations where she had left her own letters that morning.
“The Wu family has committed too many evil deeds; they deserve to be punished,” Xu Ying stated, a flash of pure hatred darkening her features. A chilling realization struck her: perhaps the suffering her family endured in her previous life wasn’t solely due to Dong Wenzhong, but also to the malevolent influence of the Wu family.
These letters were now sent. If the Xiang County Secretary was an upright man, he would undoubtedly punish the Wu family. If he was corrupt, she vowed to find other means of revenge.
“Huo Chen, please help me go back and look after my family. I want to stay here and see the result.” Xu Ying realized that, apart from her own family, he was the only person she could truly trust, the only one who could help her in this desperate fight.
Huo Chen nodded, understanding that her family was her greatest concern. “I’ll go back first. Be careful,” he said, his eyes holding an inexplicable aura, a sense of security that settled over her.
Xu Ying nodded again. “Thank you.”
Huo Chen’s broad back quickly disappeared into the deepening night.
“System,” Xu Ying commanded, “help me print something. Just write, ‘The Wu family is corrupt, the Wu family’s son…'”
The red sun slowly ascended, casting its gentle light upon the world, and for a moment, silence reigned. It seemed as if all things were born for the light.
Simultaneously, many leaders in Xiang County began receiving the letters Xu Ying had so carefully penned. Their brows furrowed as they read, the damning accusations detailing the Wu family’s crimes over the years, including the complicity of those under their command.
Passers-by, on their way to work or to buy groceries, stopped in shock as they saw the letters scattered across the streets. “Why is this Wu family so vicious?” one exclaimed.
“Is this true? If it is, they truly have no heart.”
“It must be true. The girl next door to us was driven to her death by the Wu family!”
Someone in the growing crowd burst into tears. “My Daughter was also killed by Wu Zhengyi! God has eyes! The Wu family deserves to die!”
“My poor daughter, everything she said back then was true! I killed my daughter, the Wu family, I want to kill you all!”
At the same time, the Xiang County Public Security Bureau was swarming with people—girls who had been persecuted by the Wu family, their families, and their friends.
“My sister was defiled by Wu Zhengyi,” one young woman cried out, “which led to her marriage becoming a living hell, constantly humiliated by her husband’s family! Today, I want to seek justice for my sister. As for her husband’s family getting a divorce or anything, we are not afraid! At worst, my sister will live with me!”
“My daughter was also bullied by the Wu family!” another woman wailed. “They warned us not to call the police! My man wanted to call the police, but you officers were bribed too! The Wu family even broke my man’s legs! Wuwuwuwu…”
All these stories, tales of suffering and injustice, poured forth from the mouths of these helpless, impoverished people. They had endured for so long, yet a reservoir of strength had silently accumulated within their hearts. Now that someone finally dared to challenge the Wu family, their gratitude was immeasurable. Though they possessed little power and could offer scant practical help, they could no longer bear the world’s condemning gaze. Speaking out, they knew, was better than enduring a lifetime of silence. Every voice, every helper, increased their benefactor’s chances of victory.
“The Secretary is here too!” someone shouted from the crowd.
Xu Ying turned at the sound and saw a car pull up to the Public Security Bureau. A middle-aged man emerged, his face projecting a friendly, reassuring demeanor. He looked at the multitude of raised hands and declared unequivocally, “As everyone has said, I will never tolerate such harmful people in our Xiang County. Don’t worry, I will definitely get to the bottom of everything, clear everyone’s name, and give you justice. Otherwise, our group of people would not have been harmed by the Wu family in vain!”
The voice blaring from the radio caused a ripple of changing expressions across the faces of those present. Secretary Zhang’s own face grew increasingly grim.
“I can testify that what Comrade Xiao Xu said is true,” Director Sun announced, his face solemn, as he too arrived in Xiang County.
“I can also testify! I am the director of Yushan Commune. The boy from the Xu family was the top scholar when we were running, but he became a fool on the day of his wedding…” Director Sun added, having driven the commune’s tractor, which was filled with many villagers.