Chapter 45: Could It Be Her Who Stole The Chicken?
Lu Qiaoge didn’t have time to go to Hongxing Lake.
Early the next morning, she put on rain boots and went to the work unit.
The military factory still had quite a few dilapidated houses and houses in low-lying areas.
Last night’s heavy rain was terrifying.
It was like the sky had a hole in it, with water filling the ditches level full.
Water entered the Lu family’s kitchen, and as soon as the rain stopped, the Lu family members got up to drain the courtyard and check the storage room. Fortunately, they were prepared, and the grain and such had all been placed high up.
The swallow’s nest was fine, and early in the morning the naughty swallow flew out to hunt for bugs.
Meng Xia filled out the form with both anxiety and joy, Old Lu carefully put it into his bag, and rode his bicycle to work.
Walking on the road, Lu Qiaoge saw that the roadside drainage ditches were full of water, and the branches of the old locust tree broken by the wind were floating in the puddles.
The cadres from the neighborhood committee arrived quite early. Director Hu called out to Lu Qiaoge: “You and Shao Le follow Cadre Liu to West 45th District to investigate. The chickens and ducks raised by households in that area were stolen. These bastards are simply taking advantage of a crisis to make trouble—no, taking advantage of the rain to rob—and they even pushed down an old man, who’s now in the hospital…”
Deputy Director Huang said: “The police station said this is a repeat offender. They definitely knew there would be a storm at night, so they came out to steal things. They’re also screening, and over thirty households lost things last night, though mostly chickens and ducks.”
Ren Xiaocui said worriedly: “This won’t be easy to investigate. That heavy rain last night was too big; it would have washed away a lot of traces.”
Shao Le asked: “Can’t we look at footprints?”
Cadre Liu: “Even if there are footprints, they would have been destroyed long ago.”
When the three arrived at West 45th District, they saw many people bustling about.
Some were hurrying to work, some were hurrying to drain their courtyards, and others were climbing ladders to check their roofs.
“The comrades from the neighborhood committee are here!” Someone shouted, and the crowd gathered together automatically parted to make a path.
The screening had to start from the first household.
Lu Qiaoge took out her notebook from her shoulder bag and listened to Granny Wang, who came up to greet them, talk about what happened last night.
“Last night around midnight, the rain was pouring fiercely. I heard movement in the chicken coop…” Granny Wang clenched her skinny hands, then continued: “I just couldn’t rest easy, so I quickly put on my raincoat and went out. Then I saw a figure carrying a bag flip over the top of my wall…”
Cadre Liu asked: “Did you see what the other person looked like?”
Granny Wang shook her head: “With that heavy rain and wind last night, it was as scary as could be. How could I see what the other person looked like?”
Only chickens and ducks were stolen, clearly the work of local thugs and street loafers.
Who knows, they might have already stewed and eaten them by now.
As for the aroma of the chicken meat…
They’re not fools; they wouldn’t eat in the family courtyard, so the place where they fence the goods won’t be close by.
Someone from the next household ran over and told Cadre Liu: “You should check my house first. My chicken coop collapsed, and three chickens were injured by the debris. Oh, and I saw footprints by the chicken coop—are those the thief’s?”
Cadre Liu asked as he walked: “Your chickens weren’t stolen?”
“The chickens weren’t stolen, but a duck was.”
When Lu Qiaoge and the others arrived at the backyard, she looked toward the collapsed chicken coop. Three drenched calico chickens were huddled under the broken tiles, their orange beaks opening and closing.
No inner voice, not a trace could be heard.
Either they were too scared, or it hadn’t developed yet.
At that moment, several public security officers walked over this way.
Cadre Liu hurried to greet them.
These were the police officers from Xiangyang Street police station.
Officer Li measured the footprints with a tape measure. Cadre Liu asked: “Any leads on your end?”
Officer Li said: “This rain washed away all the evidence. The granny didn’t see the face clearly either—no leads…”
Someone in the following crowd said angrily: “Who with a proper job would do something like stealing chickens and dogs? I say it’s unemployed youth or educated youth returning to the city.”
“They’re all wandering around doing nothing proper. I said they’d get into trouble sooner or later. Look, all these chickens and ducks stolen—over a hundred, right? Definitely not one person; it was a whole gang!”
“I suggest capturing all the jobless educated youth who’ve returned to the city, men and women alike. We can definitely get the truth out of them.”
Shen Yun, standing in the crowd, sneered coldly and retreated a few steps back.
She stared coldly at Lu Qiaoge. She hadn’t expected the report to be useless; this bitch actually got admitted.
She was very passive now, not even daring to meet Liang Aishu.
Uncle Liang was the union vice chairman, and her father was the logistics director.
They cared about reputation, so they were even stricter than before.
When Lu Qiaoge was around, they could chat freely. Without Lu Qiaoge, why couldn’t they even talk?
If Lu Qiaoge honored past affection and quietly broke off the engagement, how could she and Liang Aishu have ended up this passive?
Today’s spectacle wasn’t for nothing; those people’s words earlier had reminded her.
Lu Qiaoling was a sent-down educated youth, with household registration still in the rural area, and no job yet.
According to regulations, she couldn’t stay in the city without reason.
She worked in the factory’s labor and wages section, and a few days ago the section chief had said they needed to repatriate some educated youth staying in the city without reason back to the countryside.
Shen Yun got on her bicycle and headed to the work unit.
She had to go to work today; she was going to get Lu Qiaoling repatriated.
Lu Qiaoge, oh Lu Qiaoge, if you’re heartless, don’t blame me for being ruthless.
If I can’t live in peace, you won’t have good days either.
Meanwhile, about a hundred people were gathered here, chattering noisily.
Cadre Liu hurriedly said: “Everyone, don’t argue. We’ll start registering now.”
Lu Qiaoge was surrounded by the crowd. She took out her fountain pen and glanced at Shao Le: “You record or me?”
Shao Le: “You just handle the registration; I’ll take care of the rest.”
He had seen it—Lu Qiaoge’s calligraphy was very beautiful.
It was said she practiced it herself.
With her fountain pen handwriting, she was one of the best in the neighborhood committee.
As Lu Qiaoge began recording what things each household had lost, she saw some people in the crowd with flickering gazes. She earnestly reminded everyone: “We must be truthful and not lie about losses. With the joint investigation, the thieves will be caught soon. What you actually lost will be clear after review—don’t cause yourself trouble.”
With that, a few people who wanted to take advantage of the chaos to lie gave up their schemes.
Suddenly, Lu Qiaoge heard a flapping sound from overhead, and over twenty pigeons flew up in alarm from one household’s courtyard.
【People from the military representative office were coming over in formation.】
【Representative Qin was leading the team?】
【Isn’t it just chickens and ducks stolen? Could valuable items have been stolen too?】
【Do you see that human? The one holding the notebook.】
【What’s with her? Could she be the one who stole the chickens?】
Lu Qiaoge glanced at the pigeon flock still circling overhead, then quietly withdrew her gaze.
Qin Hengzhi had actually come.
【That calico cat is hers; let’s fly higher. Who knows what it’s eaten lately to be able to jump and catch us.】
