Wang Huifang was admiring a top-quality mutton-fat jade bangle when she suddenly saw men charging in with guns, cold expressions, and red armbands. She was so frightened that the bangle slipped from her hands, fell to the floor, and shattered into several pieces.
“Ah Chang, what’s going on? Why are there so many people with red armbands rushing in?” Wang Huifang clutched Shen Shengchang’s arm, asking in terror.
“Stealing others’ property, colluding with overseas forces. The evidence is conclusive. Take these people away.”
Red Armband Squad Leader Li Changzhu looked coldly at the group before him, excitement for promotion flickering in his eyes.
The Shen family was once a prominent family in Shanghai. After the major movement began, people had long had their eyes on the Shens.
However, after Shen Shenglong and his wife passed away, only the orphan Shen Shujiao was left behind. Shen Shengchang was poor at doing business and hadn’t committed any obvious crimes, so they really couldn’t find a reason to take down the Shen family.
Now, Shen Shujiao had taken the initiative to report that Shen Shengchang had colluded with overseas forces and stolen her family assets to transfer them abroad. They had personally heard Shen Shengchang mention the name “Smith.”
Taking down the Shen family was now a done deal.
Likewise, Li Changzhu’s promotion was practically guaranteed.
Several armed men moved in and surrounded Shen Shengchang and the others.
“Comrade, this is all a misunderstanding. This is my second brother’s house. I didn’t steal anything from him. After my second brother and sister-in-law passed away, I helped manage Shulong Trading Company. Recently the company ran into some trouble, so I came in to take a few things to exchange for cash and make up the shortfall. Shulong Trading is the life’s work of my brother and sister-in-law—I don’t want to let their spirits down.” Shen Shengchang forced himself to stay calm as he spoke.
“So many of us personally heard you say you were going to transfer the assets to Hong Kong. Stop denying it and arguing. Take them away!”
Facing the gun barrels aimed at him, Shen Shengchang was afraid he’d be riddled with bullets. He dared not say another word and obediently followed them out of the secret room.
When Shen Shengchang and the others were brought to the living room downstairs and saw Shen Shujiao sitting leisurely on the sofa drinking tea, Shen Xueman finally lost her composure.
“Shen Shujiao—it was you, wasn’t it? You were the one who reported us!”
Looking at Shen Xueman’s weak, deathly pale face, Shen Shujiao curled her lips into a faint, cold smile. “You plotted again and again to murder me just for the property my parents left me. If I didn’t report you, who should I report?”
When Wang Huifang heard that it was Shen Shujiao who had reported them, she flew into a rage and began cursing viciously.
“Shen Shujiao, you little bitch! We fed you and raised you, and you actually repaid kindness with betrayal by reporting us! If we’d known you were so heartless, after your short-lived parents died we wouldn’t have taken care of you—we would’ve let those wolves who coveted you rape you to death!”
The moment Wang Huifang finished speaking, Li Changzhu slapped her hard several times.
“Daring to insult a good comrade who loves the country and the people right in front of us—do you think we’re dead?”
Anyone who could become a red armband squad leader had some real skill.
After Li Changzhu’s slaps, Wang Huifang’s face was battered, blood flowing from the corner of her mouth, her whole face swelling up like a steamed bun.
The pain was so intense she nearly wished she would pass out.
Having lived a pampered life since childhood, Wang Huifang had never suffered such humiliation. In a stress reaction, she raised her hand and slapped Li Changzhu back.
“You lowly peasant dare hit me? You crude, despicable thing—what right do you have to hit me?!”
“The leaders have said farmers are the greatest. Since you dare call me crude, I’ll show you what real crudeness is.”
With a vicious look in his eyes, Li Changzhu lifted his foot and kicked Wang Huifang hard in the stomach.
“Ah—!”
Wang Huifang screamed and fell to the ground, her face twisted in agony, unable even to cry out.
Shen Shengchang hurriedly shielded her, forcing a smile. “Comrade, I’m sorry. My wife has no manners. Please don’t lower yourself to her level.”
“Arrogance invites disaster. Watch how you speak!” Li Changzhu barked coldly.
“Yes, yes, we’ll remember.” Shen Shengchang replied hurriedly with a placating smile.
“Jiaojiao, we treated you so well—how could you repay kindness with betrayal and report us?” Shen Jinlong glared at Shen Shujiao with bloodshot eyes. If not for the guns pointed at him, he would’ve rushed over to beat her senseless.
“Whether you treated me well or not—you know that perfectly well yourselves. Stop acting in front of Captain Li and the others,” Shen Shujiao said calmly.
“Jiaojiao, we’re your only family in Shanghai. Have you thought about this? If we’re arrested, no one will protect you. You’re a lone orphan—you’ll die even faster. Hurry and explain to the captain that you were just joking, that we never did anything to harm you.” Shen Shengchang suppressed the murderous intent in his heart and tried to persuade her gently.
“Stop working so hard to put on an act. Reporting something this serious—how would I dare do it without evidence? You people who covet my family property and want to take my life can just wait to face the law’s judgment. As for my personal safety, I’ve already decided to donate the house and assets my parents left me to the state. The country will protect me.”
As she spoke, Shen Shujiao smiled brightly at Li Changzhu. “Captain Li, am I right?”
“Of course. With such high awareness, the state is very pleased. You’re a college student—the country needs talents like you. The state will take care of your housing and employment and will never let you suffer any grievance or harm,” Li Changzhu replied promptly.
Hearing Shen Shujiao say she would hand all the family assets over to the state, Shen Shengchang felt as if the sky had collapsed.
If he’d known Shen Shujiao was even more ruthless than they were, they should’ve just killed her outright.
Shen Xueman looked at Shen Shujiao with a dark, thoughtful gaze.
Now she was sure her guess was right.
In her previous life, after she killed Shen Shujiao, Shen Shujiao became a ghost and hovered beside her, watching everything she did.
So in this life, after being reborn, Shen Shujiao imitated what she herself had done in the previous life—taking part of the assets, then handing them over to the state in exchange for protection and the good reputation of a “red capitalist.”
Soon, the red armbands carried all the treasures out of the secret room.
“We’re heading to Shen Garden to collect evidence. You’d better cooperate honestly, or don’t blame us for making things hard for you,” Li Changzhu said coldly to Shen Shengchang and the others.
Shen Shengchang quickly forced a smile. “Captain, we really are law-abiding, patriotic citizens. We truly haven’t done anything to betray the motherland. Please let us go.”
“Whether you’ve betrayed the country or not—we’ll know after searching Shen Garden.”
Under the red armbands’ watch, the group got into vehicles and headed toward Shen Garden.
Twenty minutes later, the cars stopped at the entrance to Shen Garden.
Compared to the remote Shen family old residence, Shen Garden was built in a bustling, wealthy district of Shanghai.
As soon as the group of red armbands got out of the cars, they immediately drew the attention of the neighbors.
Once inside Shen Garden, the red armbands headed straight for the Shen family’s secret room, carrying out one large box after another filled with valuables.
“Search for evidence!” Li Changzhu ordered. At his command, everyone began opening the boxes and rummaging through the items one by one.
This chapter ends here. (Please click the next chapter to continue reading!)