Chapter 141: The Original Protagonists Are Actually Involved with Enemy Agents

Xiao Jingyao happened to have a day off today. When he went to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy some daily necessities, he coincidentally saw Xu Mo. Normally, prisoners doing labor reform at the pig farm were not allowed to be released unless under special circumstances. Xiao Jingyao found Xu Mo somewhat suspicious and decided to secretly follow him.

He trailed him all the way to a small woodland on the outskirts of town and witnessed a scene. Although it was a bit far and he couldn’t hear their conversation, the expressions on their faces showed they were both excited and happy. Xiao Jingyao raised his eyebrows slightly. He wasn’t interested in the affair of this young couple; what piqued his curiosity was how Xu Mo had managed to get out of the pig farm and who had granted him such a privilege.

Upon returning to the pig farm, Xiao Jingyao went straight to Director Hu’s office. As soon as he entered, he got straight to the point: “Director Hu, I saw Xu Mo on the street today. Did you have someone release him?” Director Hu was reading a newspaper with his head down. Hearing this, he looked up in shock. “I didn’t! Are you sure you saw correctly? Prisoners like him have no right to leave.”

Xiao Jingyao said, “I’m sure. I even saw him secretly meeting with Zhu Qingqing in the woods.” He spoke plainly about their bold behavior. He wasn’t one to mince words about such matters. Let no one tell him about how a girl’s reputation was important these days. With Zhu Qingqing’s shameless conduct, she had long abandoned any so-called reputation. Since she didn’t care, why should a stranger like him bother hiding it for her?

Hearing this, Director Hu was visibly angry. “How did the Zhu family raise such a shameless daughter? It’s infuriating!” It was also because Old Zhu had been too indulgent that she turned out this way. If it were him, he would have punished her long ago.

Xiao Jingyao said, “Director Hu, don’t be so quick to get angry. The real concern now should be who let Xu Mo out.” Director Hu grew anxious. The pig farm had thousands of people, and he couldn’t manage them all personally; each area was managed by a steward. But for special cases like letting labor reform prisoners out, the steward had to report to him and get his permission before allowing passage. Clearly, someone had acted without his consent, secretly causing trouble.

Director Hu said, “Let’s go; I want to find out what’s going on.” When they arrived, Lin Xiaodou was just asking the steward, “It’s bad enough Xu Mo is gone, but that big fool Niú isn’t here either. There’s a lot of pig manure that hasn’t been cleaned today.”

The steward nervously scratched his nose, “Don’t worry, they’ll be back this afternoon.” Director Hu approached and asked, “What’s going on?” Seeing Director Hu, the steward panicked, “Director Hu, what are you doing here?”

Director Hu snorted, “If I didn’t come, who knows what kind of mess someone would make right under my nose! Tell me, who ordered you to do this? If you don’t explain clearly, forget about your steward position!”

The steward’s legs went weak, and he hurriedly confessed, “I’ll tell you, I’ll tell you!” It turned out that recently his mother had fallen ill and needed a large sum for treatment, which his family couldn’t afford. While he was anxious and stressed, someone approached him, offering to pay for his mother’s medical expenses in exchange for lax supervision of Xu Mo and Big Fool Niú.

The steward admitted, “I thought it wouldn’t cause much harm or trouble, so I agreed.” Director Hu was furious, “It may not affect you, but if it gets out that labor reform prisoners at the pig farm can wander freely, and someone reports it to the higher-ups, I’ll be in big trouble!”

The steward looked ashamed and apologized, “Sorry, Director Hu. I was wrong.” Xiao Jingyao, with his police experience, quickly spotted the suspicious detail. “Big Fool Niú is an idiot. Why would anyone take special care of such an unremarkable person? There must be something wrong.”

Lin Xiaodou added, “Big Fool Niú sometimes even gets lost picking up pig manure. How could someone like that not get lost if he went out?”

Their words alarmed the steward; he had never considered these possibilities and only hoped they wouldn’t cause trouble or bring him problems.

Director Hu originally planned to relieve the steward of his duties, but Xiao Jingyao gave him a subtle look. Being a smart man, Director Hu immediately understood. “Steward, you went too far this time. But since you’re so devoted to your mother, I’ll forgive you this once. Don’t let it happen again!”

The steward’s anxious face brightened, and he nodded eagerly. “Thank you, Director Hu. I won’t do it again. I promise to change!”

Xiao Jingyao reminded, “Don’t let this matter get out today. Director Hu has other plans.” The steward agreed hastily, relieved that no one else would hear of it.

Earlier, Lin Xiaodou had noticed the interaction between Xiao Jingyao and Director Hu and found it strange. Although Director Hu was the pig farm’s head, he listened attentively to Xiao Jingyao. Lin Xiaodou was puzzled but soon forgot about it in the busyness of the day.

After Xiao Jingyao and Director Hu left, they returned to the office. Director Hu said, “Officer Xiao, do you think Big Fool Niú is suspicious?” He always called Xiao Jingyao that informally in private.

“Possibly,” Xiao Jingyao replied, his eyes dark and thoughtful. Recalling his previous encounters with Big Fool Niú, a sudden insight struck him. “That Big Fool Niú might be pretending to be an idiot just to deceive everyone.” With this conclusion, Xiao Jingyao immediately began a thorough investigation.

Three days later, he found clues confirming Big Fool Niú’s dubious nature. Just as he was about to act, an accident occurred in Lin Xiaodou’s area. Someone found the steward lying unconscious on the ground, bleeding from a head wound. Meanwhile, Xu Mo and Big Fool Niú had escaped—along with Zhu Qingqing!

...

At the Zhu family home early the next morning, Zhu Damei discovered her sister was missing. The whole family searched everywhere but found no trace of her. Zhu father and mother were frantic. Just as they were about to report to the police, Xiao Jingyao and Director Hu suddenly arrived.

Upon hearing that Xu Mo had also escaped from the pig farm, Zhu father and mother grew furious. “Xu Mo must have used sweet talk to trick Qingqing and take her away!” Zhu Damei was speechless. “Mom, Dad! You’re still defending her? Doesn’t she bear any blame?”

Zhu Damei had once loved Zhu Qingqing dearly, but now she was deeply disappointed. Her sister had become selfish and cold-hearted. Since starting work at the veterinary station, she hadn’t had a peaceful day. She had caused countless troubles and made their parents clean up after her, never considering their feelings.

If she believed in ghosts, she might think her sister was possessed by some wandering spirit. The change after returning from the cultural troupe was drastic.

Hearing her eldest daughter’s complaints, Zhu father sighed, “Damei, Qingqing is still your sister. Don’t speak of her like that.” Zhu mother hesitated, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

Seeing her parents like this, Zhu Damei felt deeply frustrated. They had always favored their younger daughter, often making her the priority. Before, her sister was obedient and respectful, so she tolerated it. But now, with this completely changed sister, she could no longer bear it.

“I’m done with Qingqing’s mess. You all can deal with it as you please!” she said angrily and stormed back to her room.

Zhu father and mother exchanged a glance and sighed together.

Director Hu frowned, “Old Zhu, you’re really confused. You may not realize how big a mess Qingqing has caused!” Big Fool Niú was likely an enemy agent, and Xu Mo and Zhu Qingqing’s involvement with such an agent spelled disaster for the Zhu family.

But since the situation was unclear, Director Hu couldn’t tell them outright. Instead, he spoke indirectly. Zhu father and mother clearly misunderstood, thinking he was blaming them for poor parenting that led their daughter to elope with a labor reform prisoner. Such a scandal would bring disgrace, and if exposed, they might be publicly humiliated.

Zhu father hung his head, “I was wrong.” Zhu mother muttered, “Qingqing really is impossible.”

They felt responsible for their daughter’s downfall.

Xiao Jingyao spoke, “Uncle Zhu, Aunt Zhu, did Qingqing leave any message before she left?” He was here to investigate, not to hear confessions.

Zhu father and mother didn’t know Xiao Jingyao well and assumed he was helping Director Hu with inquiries since two prisoners had escaped.

Zhu mother nodded and pulled out a note from her pocket. “Qingqing left this before she left. Take a look.”

Xiao Jingyao took it. It read:

“Mom, Dad, I’m leaving. Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine—happier than before!”

Xiao Jingyao twitched the corner of his mouth. Zhu Qingqing truly was foolish. Running away with someone, with an uncertain future and a difficult journey ahead—how could she say she’d be happy?

He asked, “Did she take anything with her?”

Zhu mother: “She took a few changes of clothes and some flatbread. The flatbread was supposed to be breakfast this morning.”

Zhu father added, “She also took a boning knife I keep in the tool shed, a flashlight, candles, and a bundle of rope.”

Xiao Jingyao’s eyes darkened. “Those are definitely things Xu Mo told her to bring!”

With Zhu Qingqing’s simple mind, she wouldn’t have thought to take such items on her own. These were clearly to make their escape easier.

After leaving the Zhu home, Xiao Jingyao prepared to investigate further. Because this involved enemy agents, he didn’t want to make a public scene and planned to work quietly.

Director Hu worried about the difficulty of going alone and offered, “Should I assign a few people to help you?”

Xiao Jingyao shook his head. “No, too many people will cause confusion and alert the enemy. I’m skilled enough to handle several people on my own, so don’t worry.”

Director Hu was still uneasy. “Someone should be by your side for support.”

At that moment, Lin Xiaodou came looking for Director Hu.

She said, “Director Hu, the steward who was unconscious has been sent to the hospital. Should we assign someone to replace him?”

She was only a veterinary apprentice and couldn’t take on the responsibility of managing the farm area.

Director Hu had been debating whom to assign to assist Xiao Jingyao. Seeing Lin Xiaodou, he immediately brightened. “Lin girl, you don’t need to work for a while. I have another task for you.”

She was brave and skilled—definitely a good helper.

...

“What? You want me to assist Comrade Xiao in finding those two fugitives from the farm?” Lin Xiaodou was surprised. This kind of matter should be handled by the public security department, so why was she involved?

Director Hu explained, “The farm can’t let news of labor reform prisoners escaping spread, or higher authorities will reprimand us. I’ve suppressed the news for now. As long as you and Xiao Jingyao find them quickly, everything will be fine.”

Half of this was true, half was not. But Director Hu spoke sincerely, and Lin Xiaodou believed him.

Still, she said, “Director Hu, I’m just a veterinary apprentice. I’m not very capable. Maybe you should find someone else.”

After the male and female leads eloped, she wasn’t eager to help bring them back.

Director Hu said, “Whether you find them or not, after this is over, I’ll promote you. You want to be a veterinary consultant, right? I’ll have Mr. Wang personally guide you!”

Hearing this, Lin Xiaodou immediately stood up. “Let’s go, Comrade Xiao. We should find them quickly. It’s only been half a day; they can’t have gone far.”

Xiao Jingyao thought: The turnaround is incredible! If it were someone else, he might not have accepted. Most people weren’t as skilled as him and would be a burden. But Lin Xiaodou was strong and a bit wild—just his style.

“Wait a moment. Let me tell you the situation...” Xiao Jingyao explained the investigation and his visit to the Zhu family. He also confessed about the enemy agent matter. Since they were cooperating, he couldn’t keep it secret anymore; it would hinder their efforts.

After hearing Xiao Jingyao, Lin Xiaodou wasn’t surprised at all. From the first glance, she had sensed he was no ordinary person. Not only had he been a soldier, but he was also the county public security team leader.

Xiao Jingyao warned, “Very few know about the enemy agent issue. Until we catch the person, you must not tell anyone.”

Lin Xiaodou nodded, “Don’t worry, I understand.” She was quite patriotic and hated traitors the most.

She just hadn’t expected the male and female leads to be involved with enemy agents. The original story synopsis hadn’t mentioned this. Perhaps she had disrupted the plot, causing a butterfly effect.

Regardless, she was determined to capture the couple. Though they lacked a protagonist’s aura and posed no great threat to the world, leaving them at large wasn’t right. What if fate suddenly intervened? If the carefully maintained world she lived in was thrown into chaos, where could she turn for justice?

After discussing and deducing with Xiao Jingyao, they set out to search. After a day and night of tireless investigation, they finally learned of Zhu Qingqing and the others’ whereabouts...