Chapter 159: We Received Another Anonymous Letter...

A gentle breeze stirred at that moment, and Wen Zhuqing could feel it brushing across his face.

The wind would surely carry something away, sending a distant call...

Wen Zhuqing lowered his eyes, enduring the pain, the corners of his mouth curving into a bloodthirsty smile.

All the humiliation he had suffered—one day, he would return it all, double.

He lifted his head, trying to look past the crowd to where the people were searching.

There should be results by now.

Just as he thought this, a voice rang out.

“Nothing was found.”

“There’s nothing illegal here.”

Wen Zhuqing was stunned.

This time, he could no longer hide his emotions. His eyes widened in disbelief.

How could they not find it? He’d clearly put it in Old Man Gu’s bedside cabinet...

Could it be these people were covering for the Gu family?

Ignoring the pain in his backside, Wen Zhuqing forced his way through the crowd.

When he saw Old Man Gu’s bedside cabinet opened, and inside there was nothing but clothes, Wen Zhuqing was in utter disbelief.

“How is that possible? I clearly—”

“Comrade Wen, you clearly what?” A voice sounded beside him, making Wen Zhuqing jump.

He turned to see Gu Yunzhou.

Meeting Gu Yunzhou’s clear, penetrating gaze, Wen Zhuqing panicked. “N-nothing.”

Gu Yunzhou gave a soft laugh. “They didn’t find anything illegal. Looks like you’re a bit disappointed, Comrade Wen.”

Wen Zhuqing forced a smile. “How could that be? You must be joking.”

Gu Yunzhou stared at him steadily, saying nothing more.

At this point, the leader of the search party stepped forward to apologize to Old Man Gu, saying it must have been someone slandering him with an anonymous letter.

“...If I ever find out who did it, I won’t let them off.”

As he spoke, he secretly felt relieved that he’d held back and not searched too roughly just now.

If they’d turned the place upside down and still found nothing, it would have been a huge embarrassment—and they’d have made an enemy of the Gu family.

A village chief, they weren’t afraid of. But the Gu family’s son-in-law was a cadre at the regimental level—they had to be careful.

“As long as nothing was found, that’s good.”

“I knew the village chief was a decent man.”

“I’d like to know who wrote that anonymous letter. If I find out, I’ll beat them up.”

“It must be someone here, but who knows who it is.”

The villagers all started discussing, their eyes scanning everyone around.

Whoever wrote the anonymous letter was like a poisonous snake, lurking in the shadows, waiting for a chance to strike.

Today it was the village chief’s family—who knew if someone else might be targeted next?

Not everyone would be as lucky as the village chief’s family.

After all, it was a banned book.

If it had really been found, they’d be finished.

More and more suspicious looks fell on the educated youths.

After all, only the educated ones had the literacy to write such a letter. Those without education couldn’t have done it.

Most of the people in Huaihua Village shared the same ancestors, with some blood ties.

Even those who moved in later had grown close over the years.

There might be squabbles, but nothing so serious as to frame someone like this.

But those educated youths—who knew about them?

The educated youths, feeling the villagers’ suspicion, were both aggrieved and helpless.

Just as everyone thought the searchers would leave after finding nothing at the Gu house, they suddenly heard someone call out loudly, “Who is Wen Zhuqing? Where is Bao Shanyan’s house?”

Everyone was startled, then the crowd automatically parted to make a path.

Wen Zhuqing and Bao Shanyan were revealed.

Wen Zhuqing was bewildered. What was going on?

Bao Shanyan was just as confused.

They soon got their answer.

“We received another anonymous letter, saying that Wen Zhuqing and his wife are also hiding banned books.”

No way—another one?!

Before Wen Zhuqing and Bao Shanyan could react, the searchers, already knowing where the Bao family lived, immediately left the Gu house and headed for the Bao house.

Naturally, the villagers didn’t leave either, and followed along.

Wen Zhuqing and Bao Shanyan gritted their teeth and followed too.

Wen Zhuqing’s mind was in chaos.

He didn’t understand—how could nothing be found at the Gu house, when he’d been sure the banned book was there?

And he’d only written one letter, reporting the Gu family—how could there be another letter reporting him and Bao Shanyan?

Wen Zhuqing felt things were spiraling out of his control. Watching the searchers head for the Bao house, he had a growing sense of dread.

His gaze unconsciously fell on the Gu family.

Soon, he met Gu Yunzhou’s eyes. The latter’s expression was calm, almost blank, but as Wen Zhuqing looked over, Gu Yunzhou’s lips curled into a meaningful smile.

Wen Zhuqing’s eyes widened, his heart skipping a beat. It was as if his mind had been struck by a hammer—he suddenly understood.

Wen Zhuqing was no fool.

And now, he realized the truth.

The Gu family knew!

They’d figured out his plan.

Everything that had just happened was an act put on by the Gu family.

They’d known what he was up to, so nothing was found in their house.

And after learning of his plan, they’d turned the tables on him.

Wen Zhuqing was certain now—the other anonymous letter, the one reporting him and Bao Shanyan, must have been written by the Gu family.

If nothing was found at the Gu house, then that meant...

He was finished!

At this moment, Wen Zhuqing truly panicked, his hands trembling.

He was one hundred percent sure—the banned book was now at the Bao house, in his and Bao Shanyan’s room.

If it was found...

Thinking of the consequences, Wen Zhuqing felt a chill run through his whole body.

He hurried over to Bao Shanyan and whispered, “Yan, you have to stop them—you mustn’t let them search!”

Bao Shanyan frowned at Wen Zhuqing.

At first, she was confused, but as she thought it over, she realized that if they could avoid the search, it would be best.

But if she couldn’t talk them out of it, there was nothing she could do. After all, even the village chief’s house had been searched.

And she had no connections.

Still, Bao Shanyan believed she was innocent—she hadn’t hidden anything illegal—so even if they searched, she wasn’t afraid.

But seeing Wen Zhuqing’s panic now, she wasn’t so sure.

Bao Shanyan wasn’t stupid.

Seeing Wen Zhuqing’s reaction, she realized something was wrong.

Could it be... could they really find something in her house?

If that was the case...

The thought made the usually fearless Bao Shanyan suddenly panic.

“What’s going on? Tell me the truth!” Bao Shanyan demanded through gritted teeth."