Transmigrated as Cannon Fodder — I Rise to Female Lead Through Hard Work-Chapter 164: Change of Guardian

The arrogance of Lv Amei disappeared when she saw the two police officers dressed in military green uniforms walking into her yard, revealing her small-town demeanor of fearing authority.

Liu Guangmao truly did not expect the police to visit his home, and he started to shiver.

"Auntie, why do we need to trouble the police with our family matters?" Liu Mohe whispered, but Liu Guangmei did not even spare her a glance.

Lou Wenjian looked at the people in the yard and saluted, saying, "Hello comrades, I am the head of the Public Security Management Brigade of the Huaixi County Public Security Bureau, my name is Lou Wenjian."

Liu Youning looked at Lou Wenjian with bright eyes as Lou Wenjian approached to help him put on his clothes piece by piece.

"Hey, I met this comrade yesterday."

"I saw him too; he came to inquire about Guangmao and his family."

"He specifically asked about Gouwa, who would have thought he came to understand the situation."

...

People around recognized Lou Wenjian. His stature and aura were undeniable, and his slight limp in the right foot, although not obvious, left an impression on those who saw him walk. Yesterday, some women noticed and lamented about it, never guessing he was a police officer.

"We pay special attention to the families of military veterans. Nationwide, incidents of bullying and mistreating the families of military personnel are not uncommon," Lou Wenjian said solemnly. "Soldiers have shed blood for the country and the people, many sacrificing their lives. If their survivors are treated this way, the country will not tolerate it."

"I was once a soldier too, and this foot injury happened back then. But I was lucky to survive, which makes me empathize with soldiers. Upon learning of mistreatment of a soldier’s survivors, it became my duty to intervene."

"But I cannot wrong any comrade without cause, so I came to investigate beforehand," Lou Wenjian explained methodically. "Liu Guangmao and Lv Amei are not capable of caring for a soldier’s orphan. They misuse the pension funds while neglecting Youning and Mohe’s needs, which is evident from their clothing compared with others."

"When Liu Guangliang was martyred, the state issued a hero’s pension of eight hundred yuan, with a funeral expense of two hundred yuan; Liu Guangliang has been deceased for twenty-six months and twenty-five days. His son, Liu Youning, has received a monthly veteran’s survivor pension for twenty-seven months, at twenty yuan per month."

The statement was like a drop of water into boiling oil, causing a stir: this is a lot of money!

"A total of one thousand five hundred and forty yuan," Lou Wenjian announced the amount, ensuring everyone knew.

"So much money, and they still hit the kid? If it were me, I’d treat him like a deity," said another.

"Exactly, how much can a child spend? If that money were mine, I would spend it without guilty conscience. More than fifteen hundred! A family working themselves to the bone all year can’t even get a hundred a year, and yet Liu Guangmao and Lv Amei have hearts like they were eaten by dogs."

"No wonder I saw their three daughters dressed well, getting new clothes often. It turns out they’re drinking the blood of their uncle and then beating his child. What kind of people are these?"

...

Liu Guangmei was also shocked by the amount of money. She only knew the pension was twenty yuan a month. "When Liang died, and his ashes were brought home, my sister-in-law said it cost a lot to settle Liang, and that they’d spend Youning’s pension on him, only deducting the funeral expenses first."

Liu Guangmao was in disbelief, while Lv Amei turned pale and continued to deny, stammering, "You, you’re slandering..."

"I suggest this comrade think carefully before speaking," Lou Wenjian interrupted. "Before coming, I called Liu Guangliang’s troop; they provided these figures. I have their telegram here—would you like to see it?"

Lv Amei seemed about to collapse.

"I specifically went to the post office to find records today," Lou Wenjian aimed this statement at Liu Guangmei. "Liu Guangliang had an elder brother, Liu Guangsheng, who works at the Huaixi County post office and knows about this matter best since the postal dispatchers handle the remittances every time."

"Impossible, we did not get that much money; we only received five hundred, said to be Guangliang’s hero’s pension," Liu Guangmao declared adamantly.

"I believe Lv Amei might be the one most aware of this," Lou Wenjian thought but refrained from disclosing the particulars. "Comrades, we will handle this matter properly from here on out. Please go about your own business."

After the outsiders had left, Lou Wenjian and his team entered the house, explaining to Liu Guangmao and Liu Guangmei, "Considering this is your family matter and for Liu Guangsheng’s career concerns, I revealed nothing outside. Liu Guangsheng told his wife, Yang Yufen, about the money division, which led to an agreement between her and Lv Amei to split the hero’s pension and funeral cost of a thousand yuan, each taking five hundred."

Liu Guangmao lowered his head in shame, while Liu Guangmei was full of disbelief; she did not expect her sister-in-law to have been involved.

"Liu Youning’s pension has been given to you, I won’t reclaim it, but the five hundred yuan must be returned to Liu Youning," Lou Wenjian spoke earnestly to Liu Guangmao and Lv Amei, "This sum is to be reserved for Liu Youning’s education and future marriage. Liu Guangsheng and his wife, Yang Yufen, have already returned the portion they took."

With these words, Lou Wenjian took out an envelope containing banknotes and a certificate signed by Liu Guangsheng and with fingerprints by him and Yang Yufen.

"Comrade Liu Guangmei, this is why I approached you to care for Liu Youning; neither Liu Guangmao nor Liu Guangsheng is qualified," Lou Wenjian said seriously.

With the presence of police comrades, things resolved smoothly. Liu Guangmei personally packed Liu Youning’s things, mostly old clothes worn out, shortened from the past few years. Only one new outfit, which she recalled had been supposedly bought out of concern by Lv Amei last New Year, was feigning sincerity.

Liu Guangmei took the child, accompanying the police to the commune on a tractor, then took a bus back to Huaixi County.

She brought him to the textile factory dormitory, tidying him up, bathing him thoroughly three times, cutting his hair, changing him into clean clothes, then coaxed him to sleep.

Afterwards, Liu Guangmei looked at the sleeping child and cried hard. When there was a knock on the door, she was puzzled, thinking her husband shouldn’t return this early, and her children weren’t due back from school. Upon opening the door to see a beautiful girl and a handsome young man, she stood stunned.