Chapter 84: There’s One Tricky Matter
Director Hu arrived relatively late, and he didn’t look too good.
Old Luo said that the morning conversation wasn’t very pleasant.
Wei Qiang was very irritable. He still had to work, so where did he have time to take care of his wife and child? Moreover, he had been busy lately. But he was a filial son. Although he was unhappy inside, he didn’t say anything bad about his parents.
Sister Hua said: “I only hope Wei Qiang doesn’t turn around and blame Zhang Quan for dragging him down.”
At this time, Huang Juan and Sister Qiao walked in. They had gone to Wei Qiang’s home in the morning and helped tidy up the room a bit. Huang Juan frowned and said to Director Hu: “There’s something here that’s quite tricky. The money Wei Qiang kept in the drawer is missing. He said that when he left, he left fifty yuan at home along with quite a few tickets. I told him to go to his parents’ home at noon to check how much was left.”
Wei Qiang had even told Huang Juan at the time where the money was kept.
But after Huang Juan went there, she found that the wallet with the money in the drawer had vanished, let alone the money and tickets.
Everyone was silent for a moment. More people in their hearts leaned toward Old Man Zhang and Old Woman Liu having taken the money, but there was no evidence now.
It all depended on how Wei Qiang reacted.
Old Luo said: “Wei Qiang naturally wouldn’t say anything bad about his parents. That man is hot-tempered, but he’s very filial.”
Old Hu said sternly: “Being filial to parents is no problem. Don’t use that as an issue. And don’t jump to conclusions on things without evidence.”
Everyone stopped talking.
Director Hu was right. This was at the work unit; they couldn’t let personal emotions color how they viewed the various disputes that occurred.
Lu Qiaoge had originally planned to find Director Hu to report on the flaky pastry matter and her ideas.
But Director Hu came in a hurry and left in a hurry too; he was called away by Director Hao with one phone call.
However, with Director Hu not there, reporting to Deputy Director Huang was the same.
Unexpectedly, Huang Juan called out to Lu Qiaoge: “Come on, come with me to Wei Qiang’s parents’ home.”
Lu Qiaoge saw that Sister Qiao had just taken people to the Second District.
She thought they weren’t going to Wei Qiang’s home anymore.
So naturally, she quickly followed Huang Juan.
Both of them had bicycles, and the place they were going was District Seven.
It took about twenty-plus minutes by bike.
When they arrived, both were sweating profusely.
Huang Juan looked at Lu Qiaoge, very gratified, and praised: “I really didn’t expect you, Qiao Ge, to work like this.”
Lu Qiaoge smiled brightly: “Aunt Huang, I definitely have to do a good job. Not only can’t I bring shame to my parents, but I also can’t make you, who worked hard to get the recommendation quota, worry.”
Huang Juan smiled very comfortably: “That’s the reason. Do a good job!”
At this time, an old woman saw the two of them and greeted them happily: “Deputy Director Huang, are you here to visit?”
Old Huang smiled and said: “Aunt Zhou, I’m going to Wei Qiang’s parents’ home.”
Aunt Zhou blinked her eyes, leaned forward and said: “Wei Qiang just left earlier. I heard Old Woman Liu crying and shouting something about how she’s old and not in good health, so where does she have the energy to take care of her daughter-in-law and grandson? She also said she didn’t intend to leave without saying goodbye; it was Zhang Quan who lost her temper and insulted us old couple first. She got angry and left. She also said she didn’t know who stole the money at home and told Wei Qiang to hurry to the Security Department to report it…”
Huang Juan and Lu Qiaoge exchanged a glance.
Old Man Wei and Old Woman Liu didn’t take the money, so who took that fifty yuan?
Aunt Zhou said: “Old Woman Liu is like that too. Since she knows she’s old and can’t take care of her daughter-in-law, she should let Zhang Quan’s mother from her maternal home come take care of her. Instead, she insists on inserting herself. In the end, isn’t it all for Zhang Quan’s subsidy and salary?”
This intention was too obvious.
Anyone could see at a glance what it was for.
Huang Juan took Lu Qiaoge and knocked on the door of Wei Qiang’s parents’ home.
At home were only Old Man Wei and Old Woman Liu, who had a bad look on her face.
Seeing it was Huang Juan, Old Man Wei hurriedly said: “Deputy Director Huang, I was just about to find you. This isn’t right. My old partner and I didn’t touch a single cent from my youngest son’s home.”
Over there, Old Woman Liu also said angrily: “What kind of neighbors are these? Helping out and they steal people’s money, and even stir up discord between mother and son. Just now my youngest son got angry with me and asked if I took the money. I’m so wronged.”
Lu Qiaoge naturally had a sharp tongue.
She directly told Old Woman Liu and Old Man Wei: “Let me introduce myself first. I’m the Neighborhood Committee mediator. My name is Lu Qiaoge. This morning, Fat Aunt, who lives downstairs from your youngest son’s home, came to the Neighborhood Committee. She said the mop was placed on the window sill again, and the dirty water from above dripped onto her home’s window glass.
Then I followed Fat Aunt there. Unexpectedly, your little grandson Xiao Bao was standing on a stool pulling at the mop downward. But he was really too small, and didn’t have enough strength. He might also have been anxious and scared, so he fell to the ground.
After Fat Aunt and I heard the noise, we hurriedly rushed to your youngest son’s home. Then we saw Xiao Bao sitting on the ground crying loudly and Zhang Quan lying unconscious on the bed.
Fat Aunt and I went in together. At the time, Fat Aunt held Xiao Bao, while I checked on Zhang Quan’s condition. I found her forehead burning hot, so I picked her up and rushed downstairs. Then Fat Aunt came out holding Xiao Bao. Fat Aunt and I can testify for each other. We didn’t go to the bedroom.”
Wei Qiang’s home wasn’t big, just one bedroom and living room plus a bathroom.
Old Man Wei and Old Woman Liu lived in the bedroom.
Then Zhang Quan’s family of three lived on the big bed in the living room.
The money was kept in the drawer of the desk in the bedroom.
Old Man Wei and Old Woman Liu didn’t expect the little comrade from the Neighborhood Committee to speak so rapidly like popping beans.
For a moment, they didn’t react.
After a while, Old Man Wei said: “You… you little comrade, I didn’t say you took the money.”
Then he added: “But there were others there at the time, a chaotic crowd with all sorts of people.”
Huang Juan’s expression gradually became stern.
The cadres of this era were all very straightforward. Most of them came up from the grassroots, had no airs, and when scolding people, they didn’t care who you were or what background you had.
How to put it?
Actually, this was a very humane era.
Cadres and workers could really blend together.
The working class being the leading class was not just empty words.
So Huang Juan didn’t hold back at all and sternly criticized them.
“Leaving the money issue aside for now—that will be handled by the Security Department or the police station. What I’m talking about is your two people’s behavior.
Even if Zhang Quan went too far, she’s a patient now, and her emotions are a bit agitated. As elders, we should give understanding, care, concern, and love. Not just leave without a care, especially when your youngest son wasn’t home at the time.
Old Woman Liu, you often stay at your youngest son’s home. You should know that sometimes he goes to the mine and might not come home for half a month. So have you two old folks thought about what a bedridden daughter-in-law with unstable emotions and a five-year-old little grandson might encounter after you just leave them behind?”
Old Man Wei and Old Woman Liu both had very bad looks on their faces.
If it were someone else saying this to them, they would definitely have a thousand and one reasons.
But this was Deputy Director Huang from Xiangyang Neighborhood Committee.
Moreover, their behavior really didn’t stand up to scrutiny.
The two of them sat there with gloomy faces, not speaking.
Why is everyone so quiet? It’s so cold and cheerless~ Continue asking for monthly passes
