Siheyuan: Starting from a Truck Driver

Niu Meng didn't notice Cui Dake's thoughts. She had already found her target, and she pulled the hemp rope that was originally used to tie the oilcloth and tied up Cui Dake who was still chattering.

Cui Dake wanted to resist, but was kicked into silence. Looking at Cui Dake who had been tied up like a dumpling, Niu Meng grabbed the rope and prepared to drag him to the river.

This action frightened Cui Dake. Being dragged like this would damage his dignity and even his body. He quickly shouted, "Big **, I can walk. I am willing to go to the river with you. Please don't do this to me!"

Niu Meng curled his lips, dropped the rope in disappointment, and picked up the pole: "Then let's go, if you dare to run, I will break your legs!"

Let’s go to the river quickly. Twenty people will carry the sacks, stack them up, and tighten the joints like building a house. They will also drive wooden stakes into the front!

The leaking areas must be quickly filled with mud and compacted with a shovel to prevent the water from overflowing again!

The Xiaobei River dam was turbulent and full of danger. Fortunately, Li Weidong had experience in flood control and disaster relief in his previous life. In addition, the Xiaobei River dam was built firmly. The villagers tried their best, and even children of seven or eight years old carried stones and rushed to the dam. Soon, the danger was under control.

At this time, the heavens seemed to be moved by people's efforts, and the rain finally stopped. Li Weidong was exhausted and sat down in the mud. Cui Shanhe hurried forward to support him: "Comrade driver, are you okay?"

Li Weidong wiped the rain off his face, looked at the surging river, and said with a smile: "Serving the people is not tiring at all."

Cui Shanhe looked at Li Weidong, who was soaking wet and his trouser legs were covered in mud, and felt that he should express gratitude. He could have chosen to stand aside and drive the truck to high ground to wait for the flood to recede, but he chose to risk his life to help the commune.

Cui Shanhe turned to the cheering villagers and said, "Cui Daniu, carry the driver back to the room!"

"Here we go! Comrade driver, please get in." A sturdy young man ran over from the crowd, squatted in front of Li Weidong, and motioned him to lie on his back.

Li Weidong naturally couldn't accept it. How could this be possible? How could a grown man carry him? He felt that this was more like the plot of Brokeback Mountain. If he was to carry him, he should have let his apprentice Niu Meng do it.

When Li Weidong thought of Niu Meng, he looked around, but he didn't see her, and he couldn't help but worry. Niu Meng had been moving the car for almost an hour, so she should have returned long ago.

Did something happen?

Just as he stood up with the help of the tree and tried to find his apprentice, a commotion came from afar. "Hey, isn't that Cui Dake? Why are you tied up?"

"Humph, of course it's because he did something he shouldn't have done. Auntie, have you seen my master?"

"Comrade driver, he's over there, he seems very tired, the secretary is looking for someone to carry him!"

"Ah, Master can't stand up. Master! Master!" With anxious shouts, a swaying figure rushed out from the crowd. The bank was slippery and she almost fell, but she did not slow down and staggered to Li Weidong.

Niu Meng's face was full of tension. She was relieved to see that Li Weidong was safe and sound. "Master, are you okay?"

"What can happen to me? But you, what happened to you?" Li Weidong pointed at Cui Dake who was tied up like a dumpling.

Cui Dake was covered in mud at this time. His clothes, face, head, and even his hair were all dirty. He looked extremely miserable, as if he had just rolled eighteen times in a mud pit and been beaten and kicked by a group of strong men.

Niu Meng was still immersed in the nervousness just now. This was the first time she cared so much about others. Even when her brother Niu Yong was besieged by seven or eight gangsters when she was a child, she was not so nervous. In her heart, the master was the closest person.

Hearing what Li Weidong said, she was stunned for a moment, then replied: "Master, when I was moving the car, I found Cui Dake under the truck. He must be stealing food." Along the way, Niu Meng severely taught Cui Dake a lesson several times. He beat him if he walked slowly and he also beat him if he walked fast.

In the end, Cui Dake could only walk side by side with Niu Meng. Niu Meng even said that his right foot was raised higher than his left foot, and hit Cui Dake's leg hard with a stick.

Oh my god, in this dark, can you see that it’s a weasel?

Cui Dake was already filled with rage, but he was afraid of being beaten and did not dare to say a word.

At this time, seeing Cui Shanmin was also there, he plucked up his courage, straightened his neck and said:

"Little driver, don't talk nonsense.

I was just hiding under the truck to avoid the rain, not stealing food.

Besides, you didn't find any food in me, did you?

I know that city people always look down on us old farmers.

But you can’t blame me for that.”

Cui Dake is a man of deep scheming, and cannot be ignored.

With just a few words, he not only cleared himself of suspicion, but also pushed Li Weidong and Niu Meng to the opposite side of the commune members.

For five thousand years in Chinese history, farmers have always been at the bottom of society, even in this relatively fair era.

This injustice inevitably leads to discrimination.

Whether you admit it or not, this kind of discrimination has always existed, just like people cursing while eating.

Hearing this, the members all frowned. It was indeed excessive to accuse the members of stealing without any basis.

Cui Dake's uncle Cui Shanmin also took the opportunity to walk up to Cui Shanhe and said, "Secretary, although Dake has made mistakes, he is also a child who has watched us grow up. He is not a bad person. How could he steal the relief food? That is the lifeline of all our members!"

After that, he walked towards Niu Meng again: "Little comrade, you may have misunderstood, but your vigilance is worth learning from, don't you think so?"

These words made Niu Meng a little hesitant for a moment. She was eager to show off to her master, but she really lacked solid evidence.

Li Weidong almost applauded the uncle and nephew in his heart. It not only cleared their suspicion but also gave them a way out.

However, Li Weidong was not so easily fooled. He pulled Niu Meng behind him and said to Cui Shanhe, "Accountant Cui, we will find out if the grain is lost when we go back and check it out."

"Okay, Driver Li is very thoughtful." Cui Dake answered impatiently before Accountant Cui responded.

He only stole two or three hundred kilograms of grain. In comparison, the tons of grain in the warehouse were nothing.

Besides, even if Li Weidong found out that there was less food, he could convince Cui Shanmin to explain it by saying it was a loss.

The worst case scenario is to give more food to Cui Shanmin after things calm down.

Cui Shanhe, the commune secretary who had been silent, nodded in agreement: "I agree with driver Li's suggestion. Let's not rest. When we get back, we will go to the commune and investigate the matter thoroughly."

The secretary's words decided the matter. The villagers didn't even bother to wash up and rushed to the commune with their families.

Soon, the commune was packed with people.

Cui Daniu found some firewood from the cafeteria, tied it up with rags, sprinkled kerosene on it, and made more than a dozen torches.

On the dark night, Nantai Commune is brightly lit.

Cui Shanmin pulled Li Weidong's clothes and said, "Comrade, let's check if there is any shortage of food. You should have the account book, so just check it."

Li Weidong waved his hand and said, "No hurry."

He ignored Cui Shanmin's surprised look and Cui Dake's terrified gaze, crawled under the truck, and searched carefully with a flashlight.

It is impossible that Cui Dake hid under the truck for no reason. He must have some ulterior motive.

On the truck, Li Weidong found something more precious than food - gasoline. However, stealing gasoline is not as simple as stealing food, and tools are needed. When he shone a flashlight on the ground, he found a strange object, which turned out to be the pig bladder that Cui Dake used to steal gasoline. This simple soft rubber tube is actually a tool used to siphon oil from the tank into a container.

Cui Dake's face turned pale when he saw the pig bladder in Li Weidong's hand. He tried to deny his guilt and smiled calmly, saying that it was a pig bladder thrown under the car. However, Li Weidong handed the pig bladder to Secretary Cui Shanhe, who knew that the pig bladder smelled like gasoline. Later, Li Weidong asked the secretary to smell Cui Dake's mouth, and Secretary Cui Shanhe's face also lost color. Although Cui Dake felt wronged about his situation, he was discovered by Niu Meng when he was stealing gasoline and was unable to destroy the evidence, so he was caught in the act.

Secretary Cui Shanhe realized that Cui Dake's behavior might affect the aid relationship between the commune and the steel mill, and he was very angry and felt humiliated. Li Weidong advised Secretary Cui not to escalate the matter, pointing out that Cui Dake's behavior was not the commune's fault, and he suspected that Cui Dake might have done other bad things. Secretary Cui Shanhe also realized that Cui Dake's behavior should be exposed, and he did not hesitate to expose Cui Dake's misconduct to those present.

Under such circumstances, Cui Shanmin (Cui Dake's uncle) hesitated about how to respond, but quickly agreed with Secretary Cui's opinion that Cui Dake should be given a chance to repent. However, this was obviously not what Li Weidong wanted to see, and he emphasized that Cui Dake's behavior could have a devastating impact on the reputation of Nantai Commune. The sound of gasps rang out in the commune, indicating that they realized the important role of the steel mill's assistance.

Overall, Li Weidong cleverly used the pig bladder he found to expose Cui Dake's theft, and through the description of the possible serious consequences, he made the commune realize that Cui Dake's behavior needed to be dealt with seriously, even though he was the nephew of Cui Shanmin, who was all-powerful. This reflects Li Weidong's keen insight and sense of justice, and also shows the corruption problems within the commune and his deep understanding of social impact.

If Cui Dake loses support, the loss will be immeasurable. Moreover, Cui Dake has a long history of bad deeds, and the villagers hate him very much! Immediately, Cui Qingming, the oldest in the village, stepped forward and said, "Some people try to suppress others' speech, and everyone is panicking, but I am old and fearless. I remember Cui Dake stealing sweet potatoes at the east end of the village, and I saw it with my own eyes."