Chapter 212: You’re Blind in the Heart
Su Jinbao and Su Xiaoman were held back by Cao Hongmei, afraid they might get hurt by mistake.
Old Man Su’s tears streamed down. The son he had painstakingly raised wasn’t even as dependable as Tie Zhu, a grandson picked up along the way!
A trace of guilt flashed across Third Son Su’s face, but excitement quickly replaced it.
As long as they found that booklet, Su He would be brought down!
Then he could claim the benefits Shen Ruyi had promised him!
Like the saying goes—if a man doesn’t look out for himself, heaven and earth will destroy him. If anyone was to blame, it was her bad luck!
He told Chief Sun:
“Chief Sun, you saw it yourself, didn’t you? Su He has no remorse at all, she’ll never confess on her own.
Go in and search!
In the east room’s cabinet there’s a travel bag, the booklet is inside!”
By now, many villagers had gathered in Su’s courtyard to watch the commotion.
Since it involved a suspected traitor, no one dared speak up—after all, one could get dragged in.
Still, the looks they cast at Su Laosan and his wife were not kind.
Su He had brought orders to Huangxi Village, and it was said she was even planning to set up a branch factory in the commune. If she were convicted, the branch factory would surely fall through.
Besides, they didn’t believe she was that kind of person.
Even Old Lady Liu, who always liked to show off, felt that Third Son Su was spouting nonsense. Su He might be flashy like her grandmother, but she was warm-hearted—how could she be a spy?!
At this moment, Director Luo rushed in.
The moment he got the news, he had pedaled his bicycle frantically, sparks almost flying off the pedals!
He didn’t believe for a second that Su He could be a traitor!
No wonder she’d asked Sister Wu to keep an eye on news in Huangxi Village—something really had happened!
Maybe it was all Third Son Su’s setup!
That so-called booklet could very well have been planted by him!
He said to Chief Sun, “Old Sun, I’ll vouch with my character—Comrade Little Su would never do such a thing. There must be something fishy here.
You must get to the bottom of this!
We can’t wrong a good person, and we absolutely can’t let a bad person go free!”
Su He’s heart warmed. She hadn’t expected Director Luo to say such words.
If it were a petty theft, him standing up wouldn’t mean much. But this was a capital crime!
If she were convicted, Director Luo could be implicated.
She made a note of this favor.
Su He said calmly, “Director Luo is right—right and wrong must be made clear. I, Su He, stand upright with a clear conscience. Chief Sun, please go in and search.”
Chief Sun could only nod and led the men inside.
Sure enough, in the west room’s cabinet, they found a travel bag. Unzipping it, a red booklet was right there in plain sight.
Third Son Su and Zhang Lianxiang were ecstatic, “Yes, that’s it! It’s full of foreign writing!”
Chief Sun flipped it open and studied it for a long time.
Third Son Su thought, He must understand foreign languages. This time Su He is done for!
“Chief Sun, didn’t I say? All bad things written inside! Su He is a traitor! Now that we have the evidence, can’t we take her away?”
Chief Sun asked, “Are you sure this is the booklet?”
“Of course, I remember there’s a nick on the cover—this is it!”
Chief Sun nodded and handed the booklet to Director Luo.
Director Luo read for a bit, then smashed the booklet into Third Son Su’s face.
“This is your so-called evidence? Your ‘foreign writing’?
This is clearly Chinese Pinyin, with Comrade Su He’s notes added, used for literacy classes!
She even wrote down her patriotic feelings and lofty words about building her hometown!
And you call this foreign writing? Proof of treason?
I say you’re not blind in the eyes—you’re blind in the heart!”
Third Son Su opened the booklet and froze.
Yesterday, it had been all letters. But today, tones had been added above them—it was obviously Pinyin, and even excerpts from Quotations.
At the back, there were even written reflections.
Zhang Lianxiang was dumbfounded too.
How could this be?!
Could that Luo Xiaoling yesterday have been setting them up?
While the couple were still in shock, Su He sneered, “Yesterday, when Jinbao fell into the river, we all ran to the riverbank. Only you, Zhang Lianxiang, dawdled and went later.
That night, I noticed the three hundred yuan in my travel bag was gone. I guessed you took it.
I had wanted to spare you some face, and ask you privately—if you returned it, I’d let it go.
But I never thought you two could be so vicious. Just to pocket three hundred yuan, you’d try to frame me!
What’s laughable is, you don’t even recognize Pinyin, mistaking it for foreign script.
Since you’ve already called the comrades here, then let’s go ahead and deal with your crimes!”
The couple’s eyes nearly popped out of their heads!
Zhang Lianxiang jabbed a finger at Su He, “You—you’re spouting nonsense! When did I ever take your three hundred yuan?! And you, little girl, where would you even get that much money?!”
Su Xiaoman waggled his little cowlick, “That’s what you don’t know! My sister’s earning several wages now, plus bonuses!
That money was for my sister to honor my grandpa!
I was naughty and got ink spots on some of the bills.
I remember—three ten-yuan notes, two fives, and two ones… If you don’t believe me, take out the money and show everyone!”
Zhang Lianxiang’s head buzzed.
Last night, she had counted the money secretly several times, and had indeed seen the ink stains.
But she hadn’t cared—stains didn’t stop her from spending it.
Only now did she realize—they’d been tricked!
Chief Sun saw her panicked face and immediately ordered a search.
Since all the officers were men, Cao Hongmei volunteered. Soon she found a hidden pocket at Zhang Lianxiang’s waist and pulled out a roll of cash.
Over 380 yuan in total—and sure enough, several notes had ink stains, exactly as Su Xiaoman described.
Chief Sun’s face darkened, “Slandering Comrade Su He might be excused as ignorance. But stealing such a large amount is a serious crime. You’ll come back with us to await punishment!”
The couple were utterly panicked.
If convicted, they’d definitely end up in prison!
Zhang Lianxiang quickly protested, “We didn’t steal this money, someone gave it to us—”
Before she could finish, Third Son Su cut her off, “Enough! We did wrong, we must admit it!”
He was shrewder than she was. If they revealed Shen Ruyi, they might escape the theft charge, but they’d be guilty of framing instead.
And Shen Ruyi would surely retaliate. Better to swallow the blame quietly, then demand compensation from her later.
He crawled over to Old Man Su and Old Lady Su, “Dad, Mom, your son knows he was wrong!
I was muddle-headed!
Please, beg for us!
As long as Su He doesn’t press charges, this can stay a family matter, and we won’t have to go to prison!
Even if not for me, think of Little Tiger!
If he has parents in jail, how will he live?
We’ve wronged Su He, we’re willing to make amends. The extra eighty yuan—we won’t take it back, let that be her compensation…”
