44: Chapter 44 The Madwoman

Village Secretary Wei Dabiao did not reply; he was still ruminating on what Committee Member Chen Qing had said.

Village Secretary Wei Dabiao had known Committee Member Chen Qing for over a decade.

Although he was a cautious man, he never spoke nonsense.

Since he was this nervous, it meant that this man named Xu might truly be extraordinary.

"Go and get it done," Village Secretary Wei Dabiao waved his hand, saying, "Better safe than sorry."

Village Head Wei Laosan nodded and pushed the door open to leave.

At 2:00 PM, a dilapidated Santana drove out of Hukuang Township Government, heading north along the potholed dirt road.

Xu Weidong sat in the passenger seat, with Director Li Zhongmin driving.

In the back seat sat a young police officer named Little Liu, who had just been assigned there last year.

He didn't talk much, but his eyes were very sharp.

"I've traveled this road over a hundred times," Director Li Zhongmin said, gripping the steering wheel with his eyes fixed ahead.

"With every trip, my heart grows heavier."

Xu Weidong did not speak, looking out the window instead.

Outside the window were rolling barren hills, with snow covering the terraced fields and withered grass.

Occasionally, a few adobe houses could be seen, scattered lonely in the mountain hollows.

Wisps of smoke curled up, yet the scene exuded an indescribable desolation.

"We are entering the territory of Qili Village up ahead."

"We'll reach the Village Committee in another half hour."

Xu Weidong nodded, and the car stopped before a mountain hollow.

Ahead was a steep slope; the snow had not melted, causing the tires to slip.

The three men got out of the car and walked into the village.

At the village entrance, Village Secretary Wei Dabiao and Village Head Wei Laosan were already waiting.

"Secretary Xu! Welcome, welcome!"

Village Secretary Wei Dabiao was all smiles, reaching out his hand from afar.

"It's been a tough journey! This terrible road, it's hard to travel, isn't it?"

Xu Weidong shook his hand and said, "Village Secretary Wei, you've worked hard."

"Qili Village is remote; it is not easy for you to hold your post here."

"Not at all, not at all, it's my duty!"

Village Secretary Wei Dabiao turned to the side to lead the way, saying, "Secretary Xu, let's go to the Village Committee first to sit down, have some hot water, and warm up."

The group walked into the village.

The village street of Qili Village was actually just a dirt road, with low adobe houses crowded on both sides.

Some roofs were thatched with straw, while others were plastered with cow dung.

Occasionally, a few elderly people wrapped in cotton-padded jackets could be seen on the road, squatting against the walls to bask in the sun, watching the newcomers with hollow eyes.

Xu Weidong looked around as he walked, asking questions from time to time.

How many households in the village? What is the population? What is the main source of income? How are party-building activities carried out?

Village Secretary Wei Dabiao answered fluently, providing accurate figures and vivid descriptions, appearing every bit the seasoned grassroots cadre.

Xu Weidong listened and nodded occasionally, his face unreadable.

Director Li Zhongmin followed by his side, but his gaze was searching everywhere.

Little Liu followed at the back, his hands in his pockets, not knowing what he was feeling for.

When they reached a fork in the road in the middle of the village, a commotion suddenly broke out.

"Let me go! Let me go! I'm not crazy! You are the crazy ones!"

Everyone looked toward the sound and saw two middle-aged men pulling at a woman.

The woman was disheveled and ragged, her cotton-padded jacket torn in several places, revealing blackened cotton stuffing.

She struggled desperately, shouting, "New pigs! New pigs have come to the pigsty! Go look! New pigs!"

Village Secretary Wei Dabiao's face changed drastically, and Village Head Wei Laosan reacted even faster.

He rushed up in a few steps, covered the woman's mouth with his hand, and cursed at the two men, "What are you useless people doing? Letting a lunatic run out and offend the leaders?"

The two men hurriedly dragged the woman to the side of the road.

The woman struggled desperately, making muffled noises, her eyes fixed intently on Xu Weidong.

That look was not like that of a madwoman, but rather like someone pleading for help.

Xu Weidong's brows twitched imperceptibly.

Village Secretary Wei Dabiao walked back quickly, looking apologetic as he said, "Secretary Xu, I am truly sorry!"

"This woman's husband died last year, and she suffered too much of a shock, so her mind became abnormal."

"The village takes care of her, ensuring she has food and drink, but she often has episodes, tearing her clothes and smashing things. I don't know how she ran out today."

"I am truly sorry for offending the leaders!"

Xu Weidong waved his hand, saying in a gentle tone, "It doesn't matter."

"Patients with mental illness do indeed need special care. It is not easy for the village to do what it has done."

Village Secretary Wei Dabiao breathed a sigh of relief and nodded repeatedly, saying, "Secretary Xu is very understanding!"

"Our rural conditions are limited, so we can only do our best."

Over there, the woman had already been dragged away, and her cries gradually faded into a certain adobe house.

The group continued walking forward, with Xu Weidong's expression remaining normal as he continued asking about party-building matters.

Village Secretary Wei Dabiao answered one by one, gradually setting his mind at ease.

At 4:00 PM, the investigation concluded.

Village Secretary Wei Dabiao and Village Head Wei Laosan saw Xu Weidong off to the village entrance, thanking him profusely and watching the three of them disappear into the snow.

As soon as they turned around, Village Head Wei Laosan's face sank, and he said, "That madwoman, how did she get out?"

Village Secretary Wei Dabiao also said with a dark face, "Where are the people guarding her? Investigate this for me!"

After that person left, Village Head Wei Laosan lowered his voice and said, "Should we... dispose of that batch of goods first?"

Village Secretary Wei Dabiao thought for a moment, then shook his head and said, "No need to rush."

"They have left, so it should be fine."

"However, keep things quiet for me these next few days; don't cause any more trouble."

Village Head Wei Laosan nodded and walked quickly back into the village.

The car drove out of the territory of Qili Village.

Xu Weidong sat in the passenger seat, not saying a word.

Director Li Zhongmin was driving, also silent.

Little Liu in the back seat suddenly spoke up, "Secretary Xu, I..."

"Don't speak."

Xu Weidong interrupted him, his gaze fixed on the road ahead.

Little Liu shut his mouth.

The car drove for another ten minutes or so before turning into a mountain hollow.

Confirming that there was no one around, Xu Weidong finally spoke, "Go ahead."

Little Liu leaned forward and lowered his voice, "I took advantage of the chaos to go to the pigsty they mentioned."

"There were indeed pigs there, but in the innermost pen, there were a few tattered cotton quilts covering the pig manure."

"I lifted them up to take a look; there were people underneath."

"Three women."

"Two looked young, in their teens."

"One was older, probably in her twenties."

"Their mouths were gagged, and their hands and feet were tied."

"Because the people on that side were very vigilant, I didn't dare to alert the enemy and ruin the leader's plan, so I withdrew."

Director Li Zhongmin's hands tightened on the steering wheel, and Xu Weidong closed his eyes, leaning back against the seat.

After a long while, he spoke, his voice very calm, so calm it was somewhat terrifying.

"Director Li, that madwoman, did you see her clearly?"

Director Li Zhongmin nodded, "I saw her clearly; she is not a madwoman."

"Can you find out her background?"

"Yes, but it will take time."

Xu Weidong opened his eyes, looking at the darkening sky outside the window.

"Then investigate it, quietly, and don't alert the enemy."

Xu Weidong paused, then added, "Also, those three women, we must find a way to save them."

Director Li Zhongmin was silent for a moment, then asked, "What should we do now?"

Xu Weidong did not answer, and the car continued to move forward.