Chapter 51: Chapter 51: Well-Prepared for the Dismissal
Zhao Nuanyue had been searching for a legitimate reason to go raise a ruckus at Miao Dahai’s place. Now that Liu Lanhua was handing her such a golden opportunity, it would be a complete waste not to take it.
Seeing this, Liu Lanhua and Li Siming exchanged a look. Worried that Zhao Nuanyue was going to tattle on them to Miao Dahai, they turned to run.
Of course, Hua Yusen couldn’t let them get away. He grabbed one with each hand, stopping them in their tracks.
"You slandered us. Now you’re coming with us to face the village leadership. We’ll see how they take your side!" Hua Yusen sneered, playing along with Zhao Nuanyue.
Although the two of them hadn’t planned this, he understood what Zhao Nuanyue was trying to do.
Even Hua Yusen hadn’t realized that, without knowing it, he and Zhao Nuanyue had developed a tacit understanding.
With just a few words, they knew what the other was thinking and how to act accordingly.
Wailing, Zhao Nuanyue ran all the way to Miao Dahai’s house, shouting, "They’re trying to kill me!"
Miao Dahai was sweeping snow from his doorway when he saw Zhao Nuanyue running toward him, crying. He jumped in surprise. ’That last incident just ended. We can’t let anything happen to another one of the young people!’
"Ms. Zhao, what happened?" Miao Dahai asked urgently, his hand gripping the broom so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
"Uncle Miao, I was just on my way to visit Aunt Li. After everything that’s happened, I was scared and just wanted to talk to someone. But on my way through the village, I ran into Liu Lanhua and Accountant Li. They accused me of slandering and framing them," Zhao Nuanyue explained through her tears. "I... I only told the truth about what I saw that day to cooperate with the public security investigation. Now they’re screaming that they’re going to beat me and kill me, that they wish they could just strangle me to death. If anything happens to my brother and me, it’ll be because of Liu Lanhua and Li Siming!"
Hearing this gave Miao Dahai a splitting headache. ’It’s just one thing after another!’
’Liu Lanhua was released, and she’s already causing trouble again.’
"This isn’t your fault. You were just telling the truth," Miao Cunzheng nodded. "Don’t be afraid. The village will stand by you."
Just then, Hua Yusen arrived, dragging Liu Lanhua and Li Siming with him.
When Miao Cunzheng saw them, he bellowed, "Aren’t you embarrassed enough already? Li Siming, you’ve spent quite a bit of money and given away a lot of gifts these past few days, haven’t you? You know full well what the truth is. If you want another dead body on your hands, then go ahead and keep making a scene! We’ll see how much you have left to bribe people with!"
Miao Dahai was perfectly aware of what Li Siming had been doing.
Even if Miao Dahai didn’t know the specifics of Wang Dadan’s situation, he knew that Wang Dadan must have also been giving things away during his absence from Nianqiao Village.
’The two of them were acting like thieves with a guilty conscience!’
Miao Dahai was one hundred percent certain that Wang Dadan and Liu Lanhua were behind that incident.
Those people had taken bribes from Wang Dadan and Liu Lanhua and just let them off the hook. It was obvious they had help from someone in the county seat—they had powerful connections.
And as it happened, he had just finished laying his own plans. It was time for Miao Dahai to make his move.
So, Miao Dahai had Big Pillar beat the gong to summon the villagers for a meeting.
Wang Dadan had returned home in the middle of the night, full of pent-up anger with nowhere to direct it, so he took it out on his wife. He had just managed to fall asleep when he heard the gong outside, but he had no desire to get up.
"Husband... our child’s father, the village is holding a meeting. Aren’t you going?" Wang Cuihua asked timidly. Her husband had come home in a foul mood and beaten her yesterday, making her even more afraid of Wang Dadan.
Wang Dadan snapped, "Get out! I’m sleeping. As for that bullshit meeting, whoever wants to go can go!"
Seeing this, Wang Cuihua quickly backed out and closed the door.
Although it was freezing and no one wanted to leave their homes, the gong had already sounded twice. People began heading over to the village center in small groups.
Once most of the villagers had arrived, Miao Dahai took out two sheets of paper and read aloud: "Recently, our village has suffered a series of heinous incidents that have had a terrible impact. For failing to fulfill his duties, Wang Dadan is hereby demoted and placed on probation. Wu Dazhu is appointed to oversee security for Nianqiao Village, effective immediately. Li Siming of Nianqiao Village is suspended from his duties on suspicion of embezzlement and accounting irregularities. A final penalty will be determined after an investigation. Dong Sanshu is appointed acting accountant and will work with three other members of the village committee to audit the books..."
Hua Yusen and Zhao Nuanyue were astonished to hear Miao Dahai’s announcement.
This had clearly been prepared in advance; it wasn’t just a reaction to her raising a ruckus this morning. ’This confirms it,’ they thought. ’Miao Dahai was indeed wary of Wang Dadan, Li Siming, and Liu Lanhua, and he had already been planning his response.’
Li Siming grew anxious. He had cooked the books to make them look balanced, but he knew a careful audit would still uncover the discrepancies.
"Miao, our Lanhua was wrongly accused for doing a good deed! The moment she got back to the village, that Zhao Nuanyue started harassing her. She only argued with Zhao Nuanyue because she was angry, she didn’t mean it. We didn’t want anything to happen to those volunteers either. You can’t punish the whole village just for a few outsiders," Accountant Li said frantically. "Besides, I’ve been doing a perfectly good job as the accountant. You can’t just replace me on a whim! This kind of despotism is outrageous! Everyone, tell me I’m not right!"
In the past, a few people might have spoken up in support of Li Siming. But anyone with eyes could see that Miao Dahai and Aunt Li were finally making a move against Wang Dadan and Li Siming. Besides, Wang Dadan really had been doing a poor job. As for Li Siming, he was an even bigger rat. Who knew how much he and Liu Lanhua had pilfered from the village collective?
’Otherwise, how come everyone else in the village is bone-thin while their two families are full of plump people with rosy cheeks? Just think of all the good food they must have been eating!’
’You don’t get fat from drinking cold water and breathing air, that’s for sure!’
Seeing that no one in the village spoke up for Accountant Li, Miao Dahai nodded to himself. ’It seems my work these past few days wasn’t for nothing. Li Siming and Wang Dadan are truly unpopular in the village.’
"The villagers have no objections. Besides, this decision comes from the leadership above. I am merely relaying their directive," Miao Cunzheng said sternly. "As for whether there are any problems, the audit will naturally tell us."
’And if someone is determined to find problems, how could they possibly fail?’
A chill washed over Liu Lanhua. ’If my husband can’t be the accountant anymore, how will we ever pay back our debts? There’s no way we can get by on his work-point wages alone!’
"You’re all bullies! Is there no justice in this world? It doesn’t pay to be a good person!" Liu Lanhua started wailing, slapping her thigh before plopping down onto the ground. "My husband works himself to the bone for this village, asking for no credit, and you can’t just bully him like this! My son is an important man in the city! Aren’t you afraid of what he’ll do when he finds out about this?"
Miao Dahai watched Liu Lanhua’s tantrum with a smirk. "If you can’t do the job, then you shouldn’t have it. And it doesn’t matter who you bring into this."
