Chapter 34: May I Interview You?

The familiar cover caused a stir among the crowd.

The lead hoodlum froze, wanting to pull back his foot, but it was already too late.

"Thud!"

With a dull impact, Lin Junsheng was kicked to the ground, but the copy of "Quotations from Chairman Mao" tumbled down along with him.

"This... this..."

The lead hoodlum’s face turned deathly pale in an instant, his legs beginning to tremble. It wasn't Lin Junsheng he was afraid of—it was that book! This was far more serious than kicking his own uncle!

At that very moment, a coincidence occurred. A reporter from the county seat, who had come to the countryside to gather material, happened to be passing by. With quick reflexes, he pressed the shutter, freezing the scene on film.

Though Lin Junsheng was in pain from the kick, he couldn't help but let the corners of his mouth lift into a smug smile. That smile radiated a joy so intense it could hardly be contained.

"Yo, do you have a major issue with the Chairman? And your uncle is the town mayor—does he have a major issue with the Chairman too? Do you fancy yourself a running dog of the bourgeoisie?"

Liu Siyao, realizing by now that Lin Junsheng had done this on purpose, immediately played along and shouted.

"Running dog of the bourgeoisie!"

As soon as Liu Siyao's voice fell, the onlookers, always eager for excitement, raised their hands and joined in the chant.

"Running dog of the bourgeoisie!"

The voices rose and fell, forming an irresistible wave of sound. The lead hoodlum and his henchmen were already pale as ghosts, shaking with fear. They knew this matter had spiraled out of control.

The leader’s complexion shifted abruptly, as if a bucket of cold water had been dumped over his head. His fleshy face twitched, and he forced an unnatural smile.

"Me? How could that be? You’re making wild accusations and framing me!" He waved his arms as he spoke, trying to regain his momentum.

Lin Junsheng did not rush to refute him. Instead, he slowly stood his ground, his gaze burning like a torch, his words resonant and firm: "Kicking an innocent disabled person and assaulting the Chairman's teachings—these are things seen with our own eyes; the evidence is ironclad."

His voice was not loud, but it pierced through the crowd, ensuring everyone present felt the heavy weight of his sense of justice.

"You... you’re lying! You’re trying to frame me on purpose!" The lead hoodlum grew desperate, veins bulging on his forehead, his eyes wide enough to pop out of their sockets. "I’m warning you, stop with the groundless accusations, or else—"

"Groundless accusations?" Lin Junsheng sneered, cutting off his threat. "Look around you. These are our fellow villagers, and they see things clearly. Ask them: whose eyes are blind, and whose heart is black?"

As he spoke, he swept his gaze over the crowd. Those who had been bullied by the hoodlum either looked down in silence or nodded secretly, their eyes flashing with a mix of anger and expectation.

Seeing this, the hoodlum’s heart sank. His face turned from green to white, and his calves began to buckle. He looked around and realized the "friends" who had been trailing him had already retreated far away, as if he were a plague, fearful of being implicated. Isolated and helpless, he could only wave his arms fruitlessly, his voice trembling: "You, you, you’re talking nonsense! This is a setup, a conspiracy!"

Lin Junsheng pressed forward, his voice growing more impassioned: "How many years has it been since the haze of the old society dissipated? Are you so impatient to invite back those 'Three Mountains' of oppression? Do you intend to restore capitalism and destroy the new life we’ve worked so hard to build?"

Every word hit like a heavy hammer, striking the hoodlum’s heart and the heart of everyone present. The leader finally collapsed, his face paper-white, taking small, retreating steps until he nearly fell to the ground.

Lin Junsheng’s words were like sharp blades piercing the hoodlum’s chest.

"Today you dared to lay a hand on the Chairman's work; tomorrow, will you be plotting a counter-revolution? Who gave you such audacity? Was it your uncle, the town mayor?"

Lin Junsheng placed one "big label" after another precisely onto his target, leaving the man speechless and dumbfounded, unable to refute a single word.

"Tell us, which commune are you from? You must be brought to justice today; we cannot let such foul winds spread on our turf!"

Lin Junsheng’s voice was decisive, and the emotions of the crowd were ignited. They surged forward, forming a formidable force. Seeing this, the hoodlum knew that resistance was futile and tried to slip away amidst the chaos.

He turned to run, but heard Lin Junsheng shout: "Catch him! Don't let him get away! He is an enemy of socialism; he cannot be allowed to escape the law!"

However, the hoodlum had only taken a few steps before he was pushed back by the hands of the villagers. Working together, they surrounded him firmly, like an impenetrable wall, leaving him nowhere to run.

At that moment, the town police noticed the commotion. They approached in their iconic 1978-style white police uniforms, dignified and orderly. It was 1982, and those uniforms had not yet been phased out.

The police quickly and systematically took control of the scene, locking onto their target. After a brief inquiry, they prepared to haul the hoodlum away like a stray chicken.

Lin Junsheng stood to the side, his gaze deep as he watched the hoodlum being led away. He felt no joy. He knew that even though the man was captured, he had backing; it was likely he would slip through the net of the law like an eel before long.

But at least for now, he had made the guy taste bitterness and vented some of his anger.

"Hmph, consider yourself lucky this time, kid."

There were some things he couldn't control, but he believed that the next time they met, the man would think twice before provoking him again.

The surrounding crowd gradually dispersed, whispering among themselves. After all, such scenes were rare in this small town. As one of the protagonists of the commotion, Lin Junsheng was not taken away for questioning. The police, wanting to avoid a larger incident, preferred to resolve the matter quietly.

Liu Jingjing stood beside Lin Junsheng, watching the police leave, feeling a lingering sense of unease.

"They were taken by the police, so they won't come back to bother us, right?" she asked softly, a hint of anxiety in her tone.

Lin Junsheng shook his head slightly. "They weren't really 'arrested.' The police just didn't want the crowd to beat him to death; they’ll likely release him after a cup of tea. It’s best we stay far away from him in the future."

His words left Liu Jingjing and Liu Siyao stunned for a moment, but they understood immediately.

Just then, a young man walked over with a smile. He wore a white shirt paired with gray trousers, looking both capable and stylish. By his attire, it was clear he was from the city. He held a camera and walked toward them.

"Hello, I am Wang Yuanwen, a reporter from the county newspaper." He reached out enthusiastically, shaking hands with Lin Junsheng and the others one by one. "I witnessed the whole process and think you were very brave and that this is quite significant. May I interview you?"