The guest houses of the 1980s followed the same pattern as modern hotels. Using Anqing County’s guest house standards as an example, there were several accommodation types: large dormitory rooms sleeping over a dozen people, located either on the damp ground floor or basement, costing only 1 yuan per night. Slightly better were four-person rooms at 2 yuan per bed. Then there were single rooms for 6 yuan, and the best option was the 15-yuan suite.

Suites were typically reserved for traveling unit leaders. However, units with poor financial conditions couldn’t even afford the 15-yuan suite for their leaders. The suites at Anqing County Guest House remained empty most of the year, and this was exactly where Zhou Cheng and Kang Wei were staying. The room featured cream-colored floor tiles, dark red solid wood furniture, bright lighting, and even a 14-inch television. Zhang Er Lai had never seen such a luxurious room and couldn’t fathom Kang Wei and Zhou Cheng’s background.

Why had the police brought him to the guest house?

If they weren’t police officers with guns, Zhang Er Lai would have felt even more uncertain.

Zhou Cheng had been out all day, and while he hadn’t noticed it when he was with Xia Xiao Lan, he now felt uncomfortably sweaty. Looking at Zhang Er Lai’s sleazy appearance and thinking about those nasty rumors made his mood even worse.

“This kind of person doesn’t deserve to sit on a chair – he’ll just dirty the guest house furniture. Just squat there and confess your wrongdoings properly,” he said.

Kang Wei turned on the ceiling fan, its whirring blades dispersing some of the stuffiness.

Zhang Er Lai put on a fawning expression. “Comrades, I don’t know what you want me to confess. Could you give me a hint?”

Zhou Cheng glanced sideways at Kang Wei.

Noting that Brother Cheng was in a foul mood, Kang Wei said ingratiatingly, “It’s about the future sister-in-law’s matter. I caught this good-for-nothing and brought him here for Brother Cheng to handle.”

No wonder Zhang Er Lai was confused.

Zhou Cheng was pleased by Kang Wei’s reference to “future sister-in-law.” He lit a cigarette and nodded at Zhang Er Lai: “Tell us, what’s the story with Xia Xiao Lan?”

Asking about Xia Xiao Lan?

Zhang Er Lai’s mind started working. “So you two also want a piece of that woman? That chick—”

He’d barely started speaking about Xia Xiao Lan, his favorite topic when Zhou Cheng kicked him with full force. The kick was so powerful that Zhang Er Lai crashed into the corner and remained motionless for a while.

Zhou Cheng, his face full of anger, grabbed Zhang Er Lai’s hair and lifted his face.

Zhang Er Lai’s mouth was full of blood, and he couldn’t even struggle. Zhou Cheng’s kick had likely injured his internal organs.

“Now, are you ready to talk properly? I only listen to the truth. Those who lie to me don’t get a second chance.”

Zhang Er Lai had never believed that bragging could be fatal. After people started saying he had an affair with Xia Xiao Lan, he felt quite proud.

Now he realized that bragging really could get you killed.

With tears and mucus streaming down his face, he cried, “I’ll… I’ll tell the truth. I never touched Xia Xiao Lan!”

Zhou Cheng kept his grip on Zhang Er Lai’s hair. “There’s no smoke without fire. The rumors about you and Xia Xiao Lan are everywhere. There must be a reason. Tell me, did you do something bad to her?”

Zhang Er Lai’s eyes darted around, refusing to speak.

Zhou Cheng slammed his head against the ground and cocked his gun. His wolf-like ferocity suggested he really might shoot.

Zhang Er Lai knocked his head against the floor repeatedly: “Don’t kill me, don’t kill me, I’ll tell you everything! Xia Xiao Lan was beautiful, and two years ago when I visited relatives in Qi Jing Village, I fell for her at first sight. I tried to flirt with her, but that educated youth surnamed Wang from Qi Jing Village interfered. After that, I didn’t have many chances to get close to Xia Xiao Lan. I just hung around Qi Jing Village, but she was fierce, and I never got anywhere with her… Later…”

Zhang Er Lai hesitated, and when Kang Wei raised a chair to hit him, he decided to spill everything:

“Later, someone left notes on my window, saying Xia Xiao Lan wanted to meet me. The notes said she liked me but was worried her family wouldn’t approve of our marriage because I wasn’t respectable. They… they suggested I should force the situation by getting her pregnant!”

Terrified by the beating, Zhang Er Lai revealed everything at once.

He seemed to harbor his grievances as he continued, “But when I went to find her, she denied knowing anything about the notes. She even insulted me, saying I was a toad trying to eat swan meat. When I grabbed her, that bastard Wang showed up again to ruin everything! Listening to them talk, I learned that Wang was her cousin’s boyfriend. They were talking about disappointment and stuff – they must have been having an affair!”

Having missed his chance while someone else got ahead infuriated, Zhang Er Lai.

Moreover, Xia Xiao Lan was carrying on with her future brother-in-law while acting like a pure woman in front of him. The more Zhang Er Lai thought about it, the angrier he became. Somehow, rumors spread throughout the area about him and Xia Xiao Lan rolling in the hay. When people asked Zhang Er Lai, he’d smile without denying it, and everyone believed it was true. As the rumors intensified, Zhang Er Lai grew worried – what if Xia Xiao Lan reported him to the police station?

Fortunately, no one from the Xia family had stepped forward, and Xia Xiao Lan had attempted suicide by running into a wall.

Zhang Er Lai tried to clear himself while simultaneously smearing Xia Xiao Lan, claiming she had an affair with her future brother-in-law. The worse he made Xia Xiao Lan sound, the better it would be for him.

With his eyes swollen nearly shut, Zhang Er Lai secretly watched Zhou Cheng’s expression.

No matter how clever he thought he was, he couldn’t fool Zhou Cheng or even Kang Wei.

How could Xia Xiao Lan ignore someone like Brother Cheng and go for Zhang Er Lai instead? What nonsense – have some shame even when lying!

The notes weren’t from Xia Xiao Lan.

Kang Wei understood – someone was plotting to ruin Xia Xiao Lan.

“Brother Cheng…”

Kang Wei felt quite uncomfortable.

Zhou Cheng didn’t blame him, instead asking Zhang Er Lai with a cold laugh: “Which hand did you touch her with?”

Zhang Er Lai trembled and denied it: “I never touched her, I just tore one of her sleeves.”

The fact that this worthless person had driven Xia Xiao Lan to attempt suicide made Zhou Cheng so angry that he laughed.

“Very well!”

Kang Wei worried Zhou Cheng might shoot Zhang Er Lai. “Brother, don’t do anything rash, we can’t kill anyone here… Sorry for my loose tongue, we shouldn’t kill anyone anywhere. Why dirty your hands dealing with him?”

“Let’s hand him over to the police station!”

Zhang Er Lai was terrified. He’d figured out that Xia Xiao Lan must have found a powerful man, and these two were here to avenge her. The police station? That would be the end of him.

In his fear, Zhang Er Lai found a desperate courage:

“If you send me to the police station, it’ll confirm Xia Xiao Lan’s reputation as a loose woman. I’ll make sure to tell everyone about our affair!”

Zhou Cheng pulled out a trunk from under the bed, which was filled with money.

He stuffed several bundles of large bills into Zhang Er Lai’s arms. Zhang Er Lai thought it was hush money.

He’d struck it rich – these bundles must be worth thousands of yuan! But Zhou Cheng handled the money so casually, suggesting he had much more in the trunk!

Just as Zhang Er Lai was about to ask for more money, Zhou Cheng’s next words sent him straight to hell:

“Little Wei, ask the guest house to call the police station. We’ve caught someone who stole public funds.”