Chapter 18: Wang Dazhu Gets Foiled

Chapter 18: Wang Dazhu Gets Foiled

With Wang Dazhu’s words, they had no choice but to go in.

He Daixing entered first. Passing by Wu Meixia and the others, he noticed cold sweat beading on their foreheads, and his heart sank. Could there really be banned books?

He Daixing stepped into the room with a heavy heart, Wang Dazhu close behind. They went straight into Wu Meixia’s room. Once inside, everything in the small space came into view.

Apart from a few quilts, some neatly folded clothes on the bed, and pots and pans stacked in the corner, the room looked just like any ordinary household.

He Daixing glanced at Wang Dazhu. “Where are these banned books you mentioned?”

Wang Dazhu scratched his head and casually pried open a jar by his feet. “I don’t know where they put them. Brigade Leader, you help me look. They’re definitely somewhere in this room.”

“Really giving me trouble,” He Daixing muttered, moving a nearby tray aside. Finding it empty, he went on to search another box.

The others had been ordered to stay outside, only allowed to watch from the doorway or the window. Wu Meixia nervously clutched Tong Lingxian. Every time Wang Dazhu or He Daixing moved something, her heart skipped a beat.

There were no banned books in the house, but there were other items, several porcini mushrooms hidden under the bed. She blamed herself for being lazy that morning. She had intended to sneakily eat the mushrooms, but the night before she had overeaten, and that morning she couldn’t manage any. Now, someone had reported her stash.

Porcini mushrooms weren’t as serious as banned books, but they could still attract jealousy.

Tong Lingxian was equally tense, frequently glancing toward her own home. They hadn’t had a chance to go inside yet, and Yaoyao wasn’t home either, perhaps she was next door with Xixi. The items they had brought weren’t particularly valuable: a baby bottle, some malted milk, and a jade pendant on Xixi. If these people decided to search their house, theirs would be even more vulnerable.

In no time, the room had been mostly searched. Only the bed remained untouched.

He Daixing was about to lift the bedding when Wang Dazhu suddenly called out.

“I’ll do it! Brigade Leader, I’ll take care of this part. You’ve worked hard; leave the rest to me.”

Politely, Wang Dazhu pulled He Daixing aside and swiftly climbed onto the bed, shaking out the neatly folded quilts.

He Daixing folded his arms and stood behind him. Seeing Wang Dazhu act so unusually, he finally understood why the man had been acting odd all day, it turned out he had been crying wolf.

He should have known. Wang Dazhu was never this diligent. Skipping going home after work might make sense, but voluntarily offering to help search? He had no idea the man even thought that way.

But why target these people for no reason? They hadn’t wronged him. Or was Wang Dazhu trying to drag him into this mess?

He Daixing watched Wang Dazhu’s back, clenching his sleeves tightly.

The quilts were lifted, but the banned books Wang Dazhu spoke of were nowhere to be found.

He Daixing grew impatient. “Wang Dazhu, are you done? The room isn’t that big. Where could anything be? Do you really take me for a fool?”

“Don’t rush, Brigade Leader, let me look some more,” Wang Dazhu replied casually. He let go of the quilt and reached into the gap between the bed and the wall. “Brigade Leader, I…”

His smile froze as he was about to announce success. His hands found nothing.

Cold sweat broke out on Wang Dazhu. He hurriedly swept his hands under the bed several times. Nothing. How could there be nothing? He had hidden it himself, so where had it gone?

He Daixing’s heart skipped a beat. “What? You found it?”

Wang Dazhu trembled, quickly retracting his hands and turning pale as he faced He Daixing. “Brigade Leader, wait a moment. There’s definitely something here.”

He climbed down and probed under the bed.

Wu Meixia’s pupils dilated, and she gripped Tong Lingxian tighter. Her heart pounded like a drum, fearing she would be taken away to the farm for re-education and not survive the ordeal. “Please don’t find it,” she prayed.

Seconds dragged on like years.

After a few minutes, Wang Dazhu gave up, retracting his hands and kneeling on the floor with his eyes lowered, lost in thought.

“Brigade Leader, I didn’t find the banned books.” His voice was hoarse, hands empty as he reluctantly stood.

He looked miserable as he faced He Daixing. “Sorry, Brigade Leader, I was mistaken.”

“Elder sister, I misjudged last night. I’m sorry.” Wang Dazhu also apologized to Wu Meixia.

Hearing this, Wu Meixia and the others exhaled in relief. Thank heavens, nothing was found tonight.

He Daixing quietly relaxed and sneered. “Wang Dazhu, next time make sure you know the facts before reporting to me. No one has the time to play games with you. If it delays the harvest season, I’ll tell you, no one can take responsibility for that.”

His words were harsh, and Wang Dazhu, along with Niu Dacao, shrank back like quails, no longer daring to act arrogantly.

After venting, He Daixing left. Seeing Wang Dazhu still standing in place, he frowned and scolded again. “Not leaving yet?”

“I’m going, I’m going,” Wang Dazhu hurriedly said, rushing out. Passing the doorway, he glared angrily at a few people. “Just wait.”

Once they left, the others slowly dispersed. Only when no one was in sight did Wu Meixia slump into Tong Lingxian’s arms.

“Sister Xia, are you okay?” Tong Lingxian asked anxiously, helping her up.

Wu Meixia waved her hand, standing with Tong Lingxian’s support. “Lingxian, you don’t know, just now I nearly died of fright. I was terrified Wang Dazhu would find the hidden items. Luckily, he didn’t, or tonight would have been disastrous.”

Moments ago, she had almost imagined her father coming to get her. Luckily, Wang Dazhu didn’t uncover anything, or her soul might have left her body from the scare.

Tong Lingxian also felt relief. She had worried the brigade leader might search other rooms. Thankfully, he seemed rational and probably saw through Wang Dazhu’s intentions.

Ever since they started searching, she and Fang Bo Song had sensed Wang Dazhu acting strangely, rifling through things at random, yet always keeping his eyes on the bed.

After failing to find anything, he was even more eager to climb onto the bed. His actions were deliberate, ignoring the quilts and reaching straight for the wall.

All these details clearly showed Wang Dazhu’s intent. Perhaps he had sneaked in while the house was empty, deliberately trying to frame Wu Meixia.

But in the end, why didn’t he find anything? Had someone taken it away beforehand?