Chapter 51: The Killing Blade is Gone

With Director Xu shielding him, Liu Weidong strutted through the detention center as if he owned the place, sharing his three daily meals with the guards and quickly becoming well acquainted with them.

"I asked around quietly," Director Xu said, sitting across from Liu Weidong in the director's office. "That truckload of saplings is still impounded at the forestry station, but your commune and village leaders have already gone to the county leaders to coordinate. You, kid, are just a scapegoat, a sacrifice in the struggle between two lines."

Director Xu wasn't treating Liu Weidong like a common criminal; otherwise, he wouldn't have said such things.

"Brother Xu, judging by what you're saying, is there still a disagreement in the county over these saplings?"

Director Xu nodded. "Of course. Otherwise, why would the branch bureau have gone all the way to the city to arrest you? But I can't tell you the specifics. Once you get out, you'll naturally figure it out."

Liu Weidong frowned deeply. "Brother Xu, what I'm concerned about right now isn't how long I'll be stuck here, but that truckload of saplings. If they're locked up for a few more days, they'll all dry up and die. Our production team wouldn't be able to afford the total loss even if we sold the shirts off our backs. I've got more than three thousand yuan of my own money invested in this too, and if the saplings die, all my money goes down the drain."

Director Xu shook his head repeatedly. "Do you think the county leaders wouldn't think of something you can figure out? Every complicated mess has a deeper reason behind it. I reckon the county's target might not even be those saplings; they're probably after something else. There's no use in you being anxious—just sit tight."

Furious, Liu Weidong slammed his fist down onto the desk.

What worried him now wasn't just the saplings, but Lou Yanru. With him suddenly arrested, would she even have the heart to take the exam? If she missed this year, the policies might change by the next.

Just as Liu Weidong was burning with anxiety, the door to the director's office pushed open, and a guard walked in. "Director, two jeeps just arrived outside, saying they want to see Liu Weidong, but they don't have paperwork from the branch bureau. Should we let them visit?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Weidong immediately looked at Director Xu.

Director Xu let out a cold snort. "Why wouldn't you let them? Since when are family members not allowed to bring things? Have them wait in the visiting room, and I'll bring Liu Weidong over right now."

The police officer nodded and left.

"Thanks, Brother Xu. I was just getting desperate. My wife has her college entrance exams tomorrow, and if she can't see me, she probably won't even show up for the test."

Director Xu told Liu Weidong to tidy his clothes and wash his face before leading him to the visiting room.

The moment Liu Weidong stepped inside, he was completely stunned.

Not only had Lou Yanru come, but Song Yi, Factory Director Lü, Wang Li, and Li Tie were all there.

"Weidong, are you okay? Did they hit you? Are you getting enough to eat?"

Lou Yanru's eyes were red and swollen from crying. She rushed over, grabbed Liu Weidong, and felt him all over from head to toe, terrified he might be missing something.

"Little Sister, what kind of talk is that?" Director Xu said, caught between laughter and tears. "Even if Zhang Yang didn't give me a heads-up, the kind of situation you're imagining couldn't possibly happen here. This is a detention center, not a concentration camp."

Liu Weidong hurriedly broke free from Lou Yanru. "Wife, don't stand so close to me, I've got lice. Why did you all come? Did something go wrong with the machinery?"

Li Tie gave a cold snort. "The machinery is fine. We're here to put pressure on the county government. What era is this? Are they still playing those old tricks of a single letter costing two cents, where even if it doesn't cost you your life, it makes you sick for half a year? If they don't release people today, dammit, I'm going straight to the provincial committee to file a complaint."

Wang Li patted Li Tie on the shoulder, urging him to calm down.

"Didn't you understand just now? This isn't about an anonymous denunciation letter; it's about the struggle between two lines at the county level. Even if you go to the provincial committee to complain, the result will be the same. Isn't the city government also divided on this?"

With that, Wang Li turned his gaze to Liu Weidong. "I told you before, you can't take steps that are too big, but you wouldn't listen. Do you believe me now?"

Liu Weidong wore a speechless expression. "Brother Wang, you haven't been down to the countryside to see what people in the disaster-stricken areas are eating. I just wanted my dad and my wife to have enough to eat, and incidentally helped the production team find a few more ways to bring in some money. How could I have known it would turn out this serious? I don't care when I get out of here, I'm just worried about that truckload of seedlings. If they stay impounded for a few more days, they'll die."

At this, both Wang Li and Li Tie fell silent.

Only then did Liu Weidong look at Lou Yanru.

"What did you tag along for? The exams are tomorrow, why aren't you focusing on your review?"

Lou Yanru hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Weidong, I don't want to take the exam this year. With you like this, how could I have the heart to test?"

Liu Weidong's face darkened instantly. "What nonsense are you talking about? Why did I end up like this? I spent a whole month staying up late and burning the midnight oil with you two sisters, and now you're telling me you won't take the exam?"

Lou Yanru's eyes turned red, and she lowered her head.

"This is definitely that bastard Li Baotian's doing. There are some things I can't handle while locked up in here. Tomorrow, hand over the photos and Li Hong's certifying documents to Secretary Zhao. You can't show any mercy to that grandson; ideally, they should throw him in the same cell as me, and let's see if I don't..."

Lou Yanru's eyes reddened again, and she burst into tears.

"Weidong, I'm sorry. Li Hong took the photos away. It's all my fault, I didn't think those things would still be useful."

I...

Liu Weidong was at a loss, tears welling up without any place to vent. How could he have overlooked that detail? No wonder Li Hong had asked where Lou Yanru was studying last time—she had been eyeing those photos all along.

Lou Yanru covered her face with her hands and sobbed in the chair.

Liu Weidong sighed, walked over, and pulled his wife into an embrace.

"Alright, stop crying. My evidence-gathering process wasn't exactly above board anyway, so if they're gone, they're gone. Now you don't have to worry about me constantly looking at pictures—it's a clean break."

Lou Yanru, who had been filled with crushing regret, burst into laughter through her tears upon hearing this, and gave Liu Weidong a couple of hearty thumps.

The others had no idea what secret code the couple was speaking in and didn't dare interrupt. Seeing that Lou Yanru's emotions had stabilized, Song Yi spoke up.

"Little Sister, you mustn't let the college entrance exams get delayed. As an outsider, I know how much effort Weidong put into your preparation. I heard this is the last year the policy for educated youth is being relaxed; it would be far too much of a pity to miss it."

Wang Li chimed in, "Exactly, Little Sister. Why do you think Weidong bought that house in the city? Wasn't it precisely to save you the trouble of transferring your household registration for university? You mustn't let him down after all he's done."

Seeing everyone urging her, Lou Yanru finally nodded and stopped crying.

Liu Weidong looked at Song Yi and Li Tie. "Director Li, Brother Song, during the time I'm away, even if the steel mill finishes processing those parts, don't test-run them yet. The parameters I need must be personally verified by me.

"Still, I have complete confidence in what I've designed; it will definitely go into production by the end of the year. If the factory wants to push ahead with the schedule, you can start sourcing raw materials now. I just don't know how much longer I'll be stuck in here."

"Weidong, what kind of nonsense are you talking about?" Wang Li said. "Even if we have to crawl through dirt, we'll get you out. Because of you, city leaders have already arrived in Yongchuan—do you really think you can hide out here in peace?"

Wang Li's remark cracked everyone up.

Wang Li continued, "Secretary Zhao has already arrived in Yongchuan, so I estimate we'll have a result within a couple of days. My thought is to let Factory Director Li and Engineer Song take Yanru back first. I still have some connections in Yongchuan to handle the sapling issue for you—at the very least, we can water them daily. If they really dry up and die, the loss will be massive."

Only then did Liu Weidong remember the foreign businessmen and hurriedly asked, "Brother Wang, you're not in the city. What if that Hong Kong and Macao delegation arrives?"

Wang Li smiled. "Could I possibly neglect something this important? Before I came here, I checked with the Foreign Trade Bureau; they said the foreign guests won't arrive until next week. There's plenty of time."

Only then did the heavy stone finally drop from Liu Weidong's heart.