Chapter 48: Thinking Too Small

The following day.

Tang Banxia took a handful of sweets, borrowed a bicycle from the brigade leader’s house, and rode with Wen Mubai to the county town.

First, they went to the post office to send off parcels for Tang’s parents. Then Wen Mubai brought Tang Banxia to visit some acquaintances of his.

Wen Mubai’s acquaintance was a burly man. When he saw the pair, he was delighted. “Liang Yuan, what are you doing here?”

“Brother Gang, I go by Wen Mubai now,” Wen Mubai reminded him with a gentle smile.

Chen Gang was taken aback for a moment, then quickly caught on and nodded, turning to Tang Banxia at Wen Mubai’s side.

“And this is?”

Wen Mubai’s smile softened. “Brother Gang, this is my wife, Tang Banxia.”

“Well done, boy! You’ve already married!” Chen Gang clapped Wen Mubai’s shoulder, his joy unmistakable.

“Come in, come in,” he ushered the couple inside.

A plump woman with a cherubic face emerged to greet them. “Ah Xiang, this is my neighbor’s younger brother, Liang—Wen Mubai—and his wife…”

“Tang Banxia,” Tang Banxia interjected right on cue.

The woman, Ah Xiang, had an endearing doll-like face, slightly plump, with an innocent air between her brows. “Hello.”

Tang Banxia extended her hand for a handshake.

Ah Xiang’s nature was warm and welcoming, without a trace of the suspicion often reserved for poorer relatives seeking handouts. She invited Tang Banxia and Wen Mubai inside.

“This is my little rascal. Come, greet your uncle,” Chen Gang tousled his son’s hair.

“Hello, Uncle and Aunt.”

Tang Banxia handed him a sweet. “Good boy.”

Their timing was perfect; the Chen couple had just finished breakfast and were about to leave for work.

But seeing Wen Mubai and his wife visit, Chen Gang simply had a coworker request leave for him, and he stayed home to host them.

“Old Chen, I’ll take our son to my mother’s,” Ah Xiang said, putting a hat and scarf on the boy.

Chen Gang replied, “Go ahead. When you come back at noon, stop by the state-run restaurant and order a few dishes. I want to have a good drink with Mubai.”

Ah Xiang nodded, preparing to leave.

Wen Mubai and Tang Banxia exchanged a glance. Wen Mubai called out, “Wait, Sister-in-law.”

The Chen family turned, puzzled.

“I heard you work at the public security bureau?”

Though Chen Gang didn’t understand, he replied, “Your sister-in-law works in the bureau’s cafeteria.”

Wen Mubai breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s it. We have a matter and would like to trouble you…”

He explained the situation in detail.

Finally, Wen Mubai said, “We’d like to ask you to help pass this information on to the public security comrades.”

The Chen couple were stunned.

“Mubai, you—this—this—” Chen Gang stammered.

Wen Mubai smiled bashfully. “I don’t have any evidence, and I’m afraid they won’t believe me, so I had to come to you.”

“What does evidence matter?” Ah Xiang raised her voice, her brows furrowed with disgust. “Any such report, our bureau will never let it slide.”

“I was too narrow-minded,” Wen Mubai apologized.

Chen Gang thought of Wen Mubai’s past hardships. “Don’t blame yourself; you’re just being cautious.”

“Leave it to your sister-in-law,” he said, pounding his chest.

Ah Xiang chimed in, “That’s right, leave it to me.”

Wen Mubai was grateful. “Thank you both.”

“Brother Gang, I’m really sorry to bring such trouble to you the moment I arrive, but I truly couldn’t think of anyone else.”

Chen Gang had watched Liang Yuan—no, Wen Mubai—grow up, and once, Wen Mubai had saved him. He’d always considered him a younger brother. Hearing this, his expression grew stern. “Why so formal with me?”

“I should scold you—coming here for rural work and not visiting me! I thought you…”

“Brother Gang,” Wen Mubai interrupted, “something happened, so I ended up in the countryside.”

“For now, the priority is the matter with the kidnappers,” Wen Mubai said. “Banxia and I still have to live in the village, so could you help keep this confidential? I don’t want to attract attention.”

On the topic, Chen Gang’s thoughts returned to the present. “You’re right to be careful.”

“From what those brothers said, there’s someone above them. If they find out you reported them, they’ll certainly try to retaliate.”

He smiled with satisfaction. “You’ve grown up—thinking things through.”

Wen Mubai smiled obediently.

But Chen Gang added, “Though you can’t be exposed, you shouldn’t be denied your due credit.”

He pulled Ah Xiang aside, gave her careful instructions, and saw her off.

“Mubai, you and your wife should have lunch here today,” Chen Gang said. “It’s been so long since I’ve seen you.”

Wen Mubai considered, “Let’s do as Brother Gang says.”

Chen Gang was finally content.

He busied himself pouring water and bringing out snacks.

Sitting down, he said, “Mubai, I’ve heard about your family. Going to the countryside is good.”

“Better to avoid that madwoman. With your abilities, you’ll do well even in the village,” Chen Gang spoke candidly.

Wen Mubai acknowledged this and asked after Chen Gang, “Brother Gang, how are you?”

“How are Uncle and Aunt Chen? And Chen Qiang and the others?”

“All good, everyone’s well.” Mentioning his family, Chen Gang’s smile widened. “My father is now the production supervisor at the factory, and my mother moved to logistics.”

“Chen Qiang joined the army. The younger ones are still in school.”

Wen Mubai listened with a smile. “When Uncle Chen was transferred, people in the courtyard gossiped behind your backs. I wonder if they regret it now?”

Chen Gang scoffed, “As if we didn’t know.”

Soon, the Chen family’s door was knocked.

Chen Gang opened it and returned with Ah Xiang and a stranger.

Ah Xiang introduced him, “This is Director Yu.”

Director Yu sized up the three. “Who is the informant?”

Wen Mubai stepped forward.

Director Yu glanced at him. “Comrade, we’ll need you to guide us.”

The situation on the mountain was complex, unfamiliar terrain could alert the suspects.

Wen Mubai hesitated.

Director Yu seemed to understand. “You only need to guide me along the route. Don’t worry about anything else.”

After some thought, Wen Mubai saw no way to refuse. He agreed, “Brother Gang, I’ll owe you this lunch. Once this matter is resolved, I’ll visit you again.”

Chen Gang nodded, understanding the urgency. “Be careful.”

To avoid attention, Tang Banxia and Wen Mubai returned to the village first, returned the bicycle, strolled about, and went home openly.

Then, Wen Mubai slipped out over the wall, avoiding people as he climbed the mountain.

Fortunately, there were few households nearby; with caution, he met no one.

Once on the mountain, Wen Mubai met up with Director Yu and led him to the gorge. “I overheard the Ma Wu brothers here. I don’t know the details inside.”

Director Yu glanced at the disguised footprints. “That’s enough.”

He then parted ways with Wen Mubai, instructing him to go home early and not linger on the mountain.

Wen Mubai agreed readily, hurried down the mountain, slipped over the wall, and returned home.

“How did it go?” Tang Banxia poured him a cup of hot water.

Wen Mubai shook his head. “I don’t know. I brought him there and left.”

Tang Banxia brushed the dew from his clothes. “That’s just as well. We shouldn’t get involved. The more you know, the more dangerous it gets.”

She was a person of small ambitions.

Such sordid affairs only sour one’s mood.

She had no desire to witness the darkness of human nature…