Xu Cigang was truly fierce. In an instant, he burst forward and knocked over three police officers with his head.
So what if he was wearing handcuffs? His legs, trained from chasing fugitives, were as fast as lightning.
He even used a feint—starting toward the main gate, then suddenly turning sharply toward the latrine.
That was the place he knew best. He knew exactly how to escape from there.
Only then did Xiao Li understand why Chen Mianmian had kept reminding him again and again.
Luckily, Xu Cigang hadn’t managed to steal the handcuff key. Luckily, the pit latrine was open, and he fell into it.
Otherwise, in a case involving a confidential military unit, the suspect might have escaped right under his nose.
They were supposed to be friends—yet Xu Cigang had set him up like this?
Grabbing the dung ladle from Wu Jingjing, Xiao Li saw Xu Cigang trying to climb out and shoved him back down with a scoop.
Every time Xu Cigang tried to climb up, Xiao Li pushed him back—like a game of whack-a-mole—until Xu Cigang swallowed a bellyful of filth.
Only then did Xiao Li shout, “The watch! Damn it—give me the watch!”
…
At first, Zhao Hui had been unhappy about her nephew marrying a local woman, especially one who was illiterate.
Zhao Lingcheng had lived abroad until he was fifteen and was highly educated. Pairing him with a rural girl felt like a waste.
Sure enough, everything she heard about their marriage afterward was chaos.
Later, when the woman initiated the divorce, Zhao Hui felt relieved, glad her nephew had been freed.
When she received the telegram yesterday, her first reaction was disbelief—she thought the woman was trying to extort money.
But the moment she saw Chen Mianmian’s prominent pregnant belly, her heart skipped a beat.
After hearing her clear and logical explanation of the drowning incident, Zhao Hui realized she had been completely wrong.
Thinking about Zhao Lingcheng’s stubborn personality, she guessed he must have caused Chen Mianmian a lot of suffering, which made her feel even more guilty.
Most importantly, seeing the child gave her reassurance and lifted her spirits.
She was full of remorse and just wanted to quickly finish Xu Cigang’s case so she could talk about the child.
The Zhao family had waited far too long for a child.
But when she came back, Zhao Hui found a new problem—the crowd was too large and enthusiastic. She couldn’t squeeze in.
…
Chen Mianmian was currently being showered with care and food from the crowd.
A woman held a piece of cake in a handkerchief and brought it to her mouth. “Eat this—it’ll help your body recover.”
The elderly woman unwrapped an oil-paper package. “This cheese is sour, but it’s great for the appetite and good for the baby.”
Chen Mianmian wanted to refuse, but the elderly woman had already stuffed the cheese into her mouth. “Eat.”
She had no choice but to chew—and immediately found it extremely sour, almost painfully so.
She wanted to spit it out, but the elderly woman was watching eagerly, so she forced herself to keep chewing.
After enduring the sourness, she realized the flavor actually became richer the more she chewed—it was delicious.
The woman holding the cake asked, “Girl, are you still planning to go find your ex-husband at the army?”
The elderly woman said, “Husbands are always best when they’re the original. Go back to him.”
Looking at her belly, she added, “For the child, if he hits or scolds you, just endure it.”
But the other woman objected. “Auntie, she’s only in her early twenties. Her life is just beginning. If she spends decades being beaten for the sake of a child, what kind of life is that?”
She patted her chest. “I work at the Quancheng Steel Factory. We have many former military officers there. They have good tempers, high standards, and I guarantee none of them beat their wives.”
Quancheng had a lot of military industry, but it was hard for ordinary people to get into. Among regular workplaces, the steel factory had the best benefits.
And unlike military facilities deep in the desert, the steel factory was in the city—a stable “iron rice bowl.”
The elderly woman sighed. “There are plenty of good men in the world, but this girl happened to pick the worst one.”
The woman laughed. “She’s divorced now—she can just find another.”
As the crowd grew more excited, they surrounded Chen Mianmian, and Zhao Hui still couldn’t get through.
It wasn’t until Xiao Li shouted, “Police business! Move aside!” that the crowd parted.
He looked at Chen Mianmian. “The suspect is under control, but we didn’t find the watch. We’re considering retrieving it from the pit.”
But then he saw Zhao Hui holding it up and shouted, “No need—it’s here!”
The other officers, who had been holding their noses and preparing to jump into the pit, collapsed in relief.
They no longer had to dive into that foul latrine.
Xiao Li praised Zhao Hui. “Ma’am, you’re incredibly fast.”
She had accurately predicted the suspect’s escape route and secured the evidence—truly impressive.
But there was still a question. It was just a Seagull watch, something many officers also had. How could it prove Xu Cigang followed the officer and pushed someone into the water?
Zhao Hui looked at Chen Mianmian and said gently, “Your turn. Explain your reasoning.”
The original female lead had never met Zhao Hui.
People from confidential military units rarely had photos, so she didn’t recognize her.
But when Zhao Hui rushed out to chase Xu Cigang, Chen Mianmian had already guessed her identity.
She was surprised Zhao Hui had arrived so quickly.
She also sensed that Zhao Hui didn’t want to reveal her identity, so she pretended not to know.
Earlier, her repeated hesitation had been both a reminder to the police and a way to buy time for Wu Jingjing to prepare.
Now she spoke plainly. “This is actually a Longines watch.”
She continued, “At the time, I fought with my ex-husband for a long time. Later, he realized his watch was missing. He deduced there must have been someone else on the riverbank, so he reported it to the Quancheng Public Security Bureau and noted the missing watch.”
Officer Xiao Liu said, “There is indeed a registered case of a missing Longines watch.”
He took off his own watch and compared them under the sunlight. “The crown is made of a different metal.”
Seagull was a domestic brand, while Longines was an imported luxury watch.
But some Seagull models were made to imitate Longines, with compatible parts.
Although the colors were similar, the metal on the Longines was visibly superior.
Xiao Li unscrewed the crown and examined it. “This really is a Longines—just disguised in a Seagull casing.”
Someone in the crowd said, “Xu Cigang is quite cunning—hiding a luxury watch in an ordinary shell.”
Another praised Chen Mianmian. “Your eyesight is amazing to notice that.”
In truth, it wasn’t magic—Chen Mianmian simply understood Xu Cigang’s vanity and love for luxury brands.
Seeing how often he showed off his watch, she had guessed it must be valuable.
Xiao Li summarized, “Xu Cigang was indeed at the scene—otherwise he couldn’t have stolen Officer Zhao’s watch.”
He began writing the report. “Pushing someone into the water, framing a military officer—transfer to the city bureau and handle as attempted murder.”
Zhao Hui added, “Following a military officer is espionage. You must notify the military to supervise the case.”
Officer Xiao Liu nodded. “Understood. We’ll send the notice when we return.”
Xu Cigang was now tightly bound, lying on the ground like a filthy, lifeless pig.
Strangely, Xu Xiaomei had disappeared at some point.
Xiao Li needed her for the report but couldn’t find her, so he had Chen Mianmian sign instead. The case moved into the trial stage.
Meanwhile, the woman from the steel factory had been present the entire time.
She persistently kept feeding Chen Mianmian cake.
As soon as Chen Mianmian finished signing, the woman introduced herself. “I’m the women’s director at the steel factory. You can call me Sister Qiu.”
Chen Mianmian shook her hand. “Director Qiu, nice to meet you.”
Wu Jingjing said, “The steel factory is a great workplace. Too bad we can’t get in.”
Director Qiu patted her. “Don’t rush into dating. I’ll arrange a matchmaking event later.”
Then she raised her voice. “Comrades, this woman has been driven out by her ex-husband. On behalf of the steel factory, I will take her in.”
The police escorted Xu Cigang away, but no one paid attention. Everyone applauded Director Qiu. “Good!”
A homeless woman being taken in by the steel factory—everyone thought it was a good thing.
Director Qiu added, “We have many former soldiers in their thirties and forties. Some can’t have children due to injuries.”
The elderly woman immediately understood. “Isn’t there already a child right here?”
Someone else asked, “Former soldiers earn decent salaries, right?”
Director Qiu was about to respond when Chen Mianmian quickly asked, “Director, is the factory hiring workers?”
She realized that Director Qiu was trying to arrange a marriage for her.
For a pregnant woman, the match would likely be a man who couldn’t have children—getting both wife and child at once.
But plans couldn’t keep changing. Right now, everything she did was for the sake of her unborn child.
Although Zhao Hui had come, she hadn’t revealed her identity, which meant she still had doubts about the child.
There was still no news from Zhao Lingcheng, but the baby couldn’t wait. If she could secure a job now, it would give her a chance to survive.
So she decided—work came first.
Director Qiu smiled. “Are you literate? What skills do you have?”
She felt Chen Mianmian’s hands. “If you’re willing to find a partner at the factory, I can arrange a job easily.”
But Chen Mianmian wanted a job, not a partner.
She couldn’t handle technical work, and for ordinary positions, priority went to employees’ family members. She had no advantage.
After thinking, she decided to take a gamble. Leaning close, she whispered, “I know a foreign language—English.”
Then quickly added, “But my family has been poor for three generations. We’re from a ‘red’ background.”
Director Qiu’s expression immediately darkened—because at the time, knowing English was often associated with questionable political standing.
Just as Chen Mianmian thought she had lost her chance, Director Qiu picked up her bedding. “Let’s talk when we get back.”
Chen Mianmian had gambled—and won. She had a job.
Just as she was about to leave, someone grabbed her wrist. “You can’t go.”
Director Qiu turned around, thinking it was another matchmaker trying to compete, and got angry. “She’s already mine—you’re too late!”
The one holding her was Zhao Hui. She had gone to find her driver and give instructions.
When she returned and saw her nephew’s wife being taken away, how could she not panic?
She pulled Chen Mianmian again. “She belongs to my family.”
“Oh? Quite forceful,” Director Qiu said, hands on her hips. “Just because you say so? Why?”
Then she looked at Chen Mianmian. “Do you know her? She looks fierce—doesn’t seem like a good person.”
Everyone had seen the bruises on Chen Mianmian’s body. As women, they all sympathized with her.
They glared at Zhao Hui, some even rolling up their sleeves.
Wu Jingjing raised her fist. “Touch Mianmian and I’ll fight you!”
Zhao Hui had so much she wanted to say, but what came out was, “Lingcheng is the only surviving descendant. He needs this child.”
Seeing her cry, Director Qiu softened. “Let’s talk properly. Why are you crying?”
Zhao Hui couldn’t stop her tears. “Our family… has been waiting for this child for so long!”