The conspiracy of the courtyard

Chapter 207 Bold guess

The emergency bell rang, indicating that something big had happened in the village and that all villagers needed to gather at the threshing ground. When Uncle Fan, who was still half asleep, led the two brothers Fan Rong to the site, the stone platform was already full of people.

The village chief stepped onto the stone platform and shouted with red eyes:

"Everyone, be quiet. Someone was killed in our village last night. The militia needs to investigate. Everyone line up and wait for questioning."

The confused villagers lined up and whispered to each other for details. The person who asked Uncle Fan was the one who had been drinking with him yesterday. Only then did Fan Rong realize that the house of clan leader Fan had been looted and the clan leader had been drowned in the river.

According to the clan leader's family, three masked men with rifles broke into their home in the middle of the night, tied up everyone's heads and took them to the woodshed, leaving the clan leader alone outside. The others knew nothing. Their property was looted, which they only saw after they were rescued. The militia suspected that the villagers had colluded with the bandits to do it.

But the clan leader's family unanimously believed that it was the three brothers of the Fan family who did it, because the clan leader had a huge quarrel with them yesterday, and before Uncle Fan could protest for his innocence, the militia man said that the three of them had already testified on behalf of the two brothers, and asking him was just a routine matter.

After questioning all the villagers, three people really fit the characteristics of the murderer. They were all members of the Fan clan and were the closest to the clan leader. They were all bachelors and no one could prove that they were sleeping at home. They all had spears issued by the clan leader and knew best where the clan leader hid his money. They were not even given a chance to explain themselves. They were taken away by the militia to have their homes searched.

Fan Rong watched very carefully. It was these three people who broke into their home and kidnapped them and their son. It was also they who sank their mother to the bottom of the river.

Hearing Uncle Fan's family talking about revenge every day, Fan Rong already understood what they meant. When he saw them being taken away, he excitedly lay down in Uncle Fan's ear and whispered "revenge, revenge". Uncle Fan, of course, knew what he wanted to express and patted him on the back twice as a warning.

Fan Rong had heard about those gossipy women falling ill one after another. Some speculated that it was an act of revenge by Fan's father, and then there was the fire in the ancestral hall, which was basically confirmed. Until today, when the clan leader died a violent death, no one dared to get close to Fan Rong's family.

Although there was no large-scale drought or locust plague here, there were extortionate taxes by warlords at home and abroad. In order to fill their stomachs, no one investigated the outcome of the matter, and it was gradually forgotten. From then on, Fan Rong lived his previous leisurely life. Apart from missing his mother, he was free from worries.

It was not until two years later that my uncle brought back the bad news that the troupe led by Fan's father was forced by a Japanese officer to perform for a group of puppets and traitors. Because the content of the performance implicitly satirized the Japanese's evil ambitions, the troupe was tragically destroyed.

The 12-year-old cousin from my uncle's family was already inspired by several passionate teenagers. When he heard that his third uncle, who loved him the most, had been murdered, he became even more motivated. He lied that he was an orphan and signed up to work in the logistics department of the expeditionary force.

Although I cannot take revenge myself, being able to contribute is a great psychological comfort.

However, after careful investigation by the recruitment office, they discovered that my cousin's false report had to be dealt with seriously, because they knew very well that although they were recruiting young soldiers, the enemy would not respect the elderly and love the young on the battlefield, and they would be treated as ordinary soldiers. Therefore, there was a hard and fast rule that the recruits must be orphans with no one to rely on.

Anyone who makes a false report will be dealt with. In minor cases, the township will criticize and fine them. In serious cases, the entire family’s household registration will be cancelled by the county, and they will become illegal residents and be expelled from the county. This is very serious.

The uncle's family was shrouded in worry and anxiety. Fan Qiang secretly ran to the recruitment office and told them his situation. Both his parents were dead, and his father was killed by the Japanese. He met the requirements, and he begged his eldest cousin to sign up for him, so it was not considered concealment.

After another two days of verification, someone from the recruitment office came to my uncle's house to inform Fan Qiang that he had passed the review and told him that the trip was dangerous. Even though my uncle tried to stop him, he could not overcome my aunt's crying and Fan Qiang's insistence, and could only agree to let Fan Qiang raise Fan Rong well.

The night before he left, Fan Qiang solemnly said to Fan Rong:

"Brother, although no one has blamed me, I know in my heart that our mother was killed by those words of mine, and our father did not dare to come home because he wanted to avenge our mother. I regret it, but I really don't know how to make up for it.

Every time I woke up crying in the middle of the night, or saw you holding back tears and not daring to call me mom, my heart ached so much that I couldn't breathe, and I wanted to dig it out. But I didn't dare, not because I was afraid of pain or death, but because my parents had said many times that you are the hope of the revolution, the seed of light, and you must be protected.

I don't know what kind of seed you are that makes you so precious. My parents said that they must protect you even if it costs their lives, but I know you are very important. I feel that I am too young to raise you, and I am afraid of letting my parents down. I want to ask my uncle to raise you, but I can't say it out loud.

Now is a perfect opportunity. I will work hard for my cousin and my uncle will raise you for me.

After I'm gone, you must remember to burn paper for your parents' graves. The money and food left by our father are buried under the stone table in the yard. He said not to let anyone know. Only when our uncle's family is hungry can we dig out a little bit and use it.

Besides, Dad said there is a metal box there, which you can’t open until you can learn to read…”

When Fan Rong said this, tears welled up in his eyes again and he looked at Lu Zixuan.

"He was so small, half a head shorter than you are now. His words were so simple, but every word hit me hard. This was also the last time he spoke to me."

After Fan Qiang left, Uncle Fan took good care of Fan Rong until his comrades-in-arms who claimed to be his biological parents came to the village and brought half a jade pendant to recognize him as his biological parent.

During this period, Uncle Fan sent Fan Rong to the village school and opened the iron box. Inside was a notebook in which Uncle Fan's father recorded Fan Rong's life experience and half a jade pendant used for recognition.

"I have felt guilty all these years. If it weren't for me, my mother's family wouldn't have suffered such disaster.

I don’t know where my life is heading, nor do I know what the meaning of my existence is.

Since I went to Sijiu City to visit my biological father’s other comrades-in-arms the year before last, I was accidentally rescued by Xiaojing’s brothers and was taken to a training class. It was as if a new world had opened up for me.

I am even more fortunate to have met you, so I have the desire to follow you. Otherwise, with the county magistrate's little tricks, how could I take the blame for him? I don't even need to find someone to complain to, I will have to resign. But if I leave, I guess he won't be able to work for a few more days. Haha..."

Lu Zixuan pondered for a long time before speaking:

"I have a presumptuous question that I'd like to know the answer to. Do you remember the look on your mother's face when she passed away? I don't mean anything else, I'm just curious. You don't have to answer."

Fan Rong recalled for a while and replied:

"What's so presumptuous about this? I remember it very clearly. Why? Is there anything special about it?"

"Don't blame yourself too much," Lu Zixuan smiled indifferently.

"Perhaps you don't believe it, but based on my intuition, I would like to make a bold guess that your adoptive parents are not dead, at least not during the time period you mentioned."