frightfiction Chapter 1235 This time, it's truly a dilemma.
Chapter 1235 This time, it's truly a dilemma.
The old soldier wept uncontrollably, tears streaming down his face. Da Bao held his hands tightly; they were so thin they were just skin and bones, covered in knife wounds—these must have been from a bayonet fight with the enemy.
The villagers slowly put down their sticks and pitchforks, and some began to kneel down. Before long, all seven or eight hundred people were kneeling down. First, the women and children started crying, and then the men started crying too.
Da Bao felt as if his heart was being ripped out. He gripped the old soldier's hand and trembled. Shi Yun, Kuang Yun, and the soldiers behind him also couldn't help but sob.
Da Bao is now in a dilemma. These two thousand catties of grain are not much, but if he distributes them privately, according to the new laws and regulations promulgated in 1952, this would be considered embezzlement and theft. If someone investigates, no one can protect him.
But facing these seven or eight hundred people, Da Bao's conscience told him that it was impossible to ask Da Bao to take away the grain.
Kuang Yun had recovered a little. She walked over to Da Bao and said excitedly.
“Team leader, we can’t take the grain away. If we do, how will these villagers survive? Team leader, you can’t disregard the lives of the people for the sake of your official position. If you take it away, you’re treating human life like dirt.”
Da Bao's expression suddenly changed. He turned his head and looked coldly at Kuang Yun. Kuang Yun was startled by his gaze, but still bravely straightened his chest and said.
"What's wrong? Am I wrong?"
Shi Yun pulled her to the back, and she said to Da Bao with difficulty.
"Team leader, Xiao Kuang is still young and doesn't know any better. He may speak without thinking. Please don't take offense."
Da Bao shook his head and said with difficulty.
"No, Kuang Yun is right. If I take away this grain, I will be treating human life like dirt. How can I have the face to wear this military cap?"
He helped the old soldier up and asked...
"What's your name? Which unit did you serve in before you were discharged?"
The old soldier was a little excited, and he struggled to give Da Bao a salute.
"Reporting to the commander, Jiao Erhu, platoon leader of the first platoon of the 2nd Battalion, 8th Regiment, 3rd Division of the 26th Army, is reporting for duty."
Da Bao stood at attention and returned the greeting solemnly.
"The 26th Army? A heroic unit. The Battle of Chosin Reservoir demonstrated the spirit of soldiers. Jiao Erhu, now I have an important task for you. Do you have the confidence to complete it?"
Jiao Erhu answered loudly.
"Have confidence."
"Good! You truly are a hero who defends our country. From today onwards, you are the production team leader here. All this grain is entrusted to you; you are responsible for handling it. I have only one request..."
Da Bao's voice trembled.
"This winter, well, let's not let the people of a small village starve to death."
Jiao Erhu's answer was very loud.
"It is to ensure the completion of the mission!"
Da Bao whispered to Jiao Erhu.
"It's probably impossible to keep the fact that Xiaochenzhuang has grain a secret any longer. You need to be careful. In times of famine, people will do anything for grain. If you have any questions, you can come to the Xingzhou Military Region Guesthouse to find me. My name is Qin Dabao, and I am the head of the central working group."
"Yes, Commander Qin!"
The grain was left behind, and no one cared about the bad guys who had been arrested. Even the Meng family members didn't dare to stop Da Bao and his group. Da Bao and his group got on the bus smoothly and drove back to Xingzhou.
On the way, Shi Yun asked Da Bao thoughtfully,
"Team leader, didn't you originally plan to give this grain to the villagers? You told the platoon leader to tell the soldiers to unload all the bullets from their guns, didn't you?"
As Da Bao drove, he sighed. Indeed, he had told the platoon leader to unload the bullets from the gun and not to fire, lest they accidentally injure civilians. In this situation, he knew in his heart that anyone with a conscience would not take the grain away.
Taking the grain would mean taking away seven or eight hundred lives, but Da Bao understood that he had made a fundamental mistake. The best course of action he should have taken was to hand the grain over to the commune for distribution.
Da Bao gently opened a car window, letting the cold wind blow in. Looking at the sallow and emaciated villagers, his heart felt like it was being ripped out, and the pain made it hard for him to breathe.
Today, Da Bao received another piece of news: the Russians are going to withdraw their experts and force us to repay our debts. The country has entered its most difficult period, and everyone must tighten their belts and work together to overcome the difficulties.
Da Bao looked back at Kuang Yun, who was sleeping soundly wrapped in a military overcoat, and couldn't help but sigh. He was two years younger than Kuang Yun, but he had never had such a carefree good night's sleep.
Shi Yun asked with concern,
"Is it alright for us to divide the grain among ourselves like this?"
Dabao shook his head.
"Don't worry, big sister, it's alright. We have more important work to do when we get back to Xingzhou."
The convoy pulled into the military district guesthouse, and at that moment, a light snowflake began to fall...
……
The following day, the working group sent a document to the Xingzhou Municipal Party Committee, explaining in detail what had happened in Xiaochenzhuang and the series of inactions by the Bianliang County Party Committee and the Public Security Bureau. The document emphasized that the Bianliang County Party Committee had adopted a passive resistance and a series of inactions in response to the Four Cleanups and Five Antis Movement, and hereby decided as follows:
County Party Secretary Yu Tingzhi was removed from all posts and placed under investigation by the higher-level discipline inspection commission. County Head Meng Xiangyun was removed from all posts and handed over to the procuratorate for a thorough investigation into his actions as a protector of criminals Meng Fa and others. He was also removed from all posts as the head and political commissar of the county public security bureau.
This document stripped all the leaders of Bianliang County and several functional departments of their positions. The Nanhe Provincial Party Committee also produced an official document based on this document and distributed it to all cities and counties.
The cities and counties watched the working group's every move with trepidation, unaware that the working group had already torn a large hole in the provincial guesthouse and was preparing to conduct an in-depth investigation.
At the military district guesthouse, the number of soldiers on guard duty increased from a platoon to a company. People who wanted to plead for leniency lined up in a long queue at the guesthouse entrance, but unfortunately it was all in vain.
The work group operated in complete seclusion. Members had to be in pairs or more to supervise each other when leaving the guesthouse, and were also escorted by two fully armed soldiers. Those who tried to plead for leniency had absolutely no chance of getting involved.
The entire three-story guesthouse has been converted into offices on the first floor, half of the second floor has been converted into detention rooms and half into interrogation rooms, and the third floor is where the working group rests.
The interrogation was handled by Jin Hai and his team, so Da Bao didn't need to get involved. Besides, when it came to interrogation, no one was better than Jin Hai.
Da Bao put down the red phone and sat wearily on the sofa. He had just been severely reprimanded by his boss, not for misappropriating grain, but because he had angered Ren Guoxing to the point of having a stroke.
After a brief period of treatment, Ren Guoxing has been sent back to Beijing. His former superior slammed his fist on the table and berated Da Bao. Fortunately, the boss suppressed the matter, but this time, Da Bao has offended even more people, and at higher levels, making his situation even more difficult...