Many neighbors who saw the Red Armband Security Team gathered at the entrance of the Shen household. Watching crate after crate of items being carried out, they began whispering among themselves.
“What did the Shen family do? How did the Red Armbands even know about the secret room in their house?”
“Anyone whose home gets searched by the Red Armbands is sent down for reeducation. Looks like our neighborhood is about to lose another family.”
“Shen Shujiao has really had terrible luck this year. Her parents only passed away not long ago, and now something has happened to her uncle’s family too. She’s such a delicate little girl—how could she possibly endure being sent down?”
The crowd was full of sympathy for Shen Shujiao, worrying that she wouldn’t be able to bear the hardship of being sent down. No one said the same about Shen Xueman.
That was because Shen Xueman had sharp, well-defined features, a larger build, and an air of shrewdness in her eyes that made her look capable and tough.
Shen Shujiao was completely different. Her features were stunningly beautiful—soft, delicate cheeks, porcelain-white skin like fine jade, and pure, limpid eyes.
Not only did men stop in their tracks when they saw her—even women found themselves dazed.
Hearing that everyone was sympathizing with Shen Shujiao, Shen Xueman looked at that almost inhumanly beautiful face, her heart seething with jealousy.
The original novel’s author was truly biased toward Shen Shujiao, piling every beautiful adjective in the world onto her.
Standing next to Shen Shujiao, Shen Xueman was made to look like an ugly duckling by comparison.
What angered her the most was that not only did they share the same name, but even their looks were exactly alike.
In the future era, her appearance would have been considered very good—grand features, dignified and well-defined.
But in front of Shen Shujiao, a woman beautiful beyond humanity, she was as transparent as air.
No wonder the male lead, Huo Zhoubai, stayed unmarried for her his entire life.
At the thought of Huo Zhoubai, a cold, crafty glint flashed through Shen Xueman’s eyes.
“Little sister, did you suddenly report us to the Security Team because this morning we took you to an underground clinic for an abortion, and you felt we treated you badly?” she said.
Her words exploded like a thunderclap, shocking the onlookers as they stared at Shen Shujiao.
“What? Shen Shujiao is pregnant? She isn’t even married—how could she be pregnant? Who’s the child’s father?”
“This is such a disgrace to us women. The Shen elders had such good family values—how could they raise such a shameless daughter?”
“Her parents just died, no one’s watching over her anymore, so she couldn’t stand the loneliness and went looking for men.”
“…”
Listening to the malicious comments, Shen Xueman’s lips curled into a faint, cold smile.
This era was extremely conservative. Huo Zhoubai’s marriage application hadn’t even been submitted yet.
Shen Shujiao and Huo Zhoubai weren’t legally husband and wife. Once the news of premarital pregnancy spread, Shen Shujiao’s reputation would be completely destroyed.
Shen Xueman continued her performance, tears welling as she choked out, “Little sister, you were the one who said you didn’t want to give birth to a bastard fathered by some wild man, and begged us to take you for an abortion. That’s why we took you to the underground clinic. If you didn’t want the abortion, we wouldn’t have forced you. If you wanted to give birth, we would even help raise the child. How could you report us?”
Men in any era cared deeply about their pride—especially when it came to bloodlines.
By calling the child in Shen Shujiao’s womb a bastard fathered by a wild man, Shen Xueman was certain that, given the Huo family’s status, they would never allow a woman with a ruined reputation to marry in.
As long as Shen Shujiao didn’t marry Huo Zhoubai, Shen Xueman was confident she could.
After all, she had the successful experience of her previous life—experience that no one could take away.
With the wisdom of two lifetimes, Shen Xueman believed that even if she were sent down for reeducation, she could still rise above others in this era full of opportunities.
“Shen Shujiao, you got pregnant by some wild man, had an abortion, and then reported your uncle. How black-hearted can you be?”
“Your uncle and aunt treated you so well, caring for you every day. How could you be such an ungrateful wretch?”
“I told Hui Fang long ago—she should’ve married her off. She wasn’t their own child; no matter how well you treat someone like that, it’s useless.”
“…”
Hearing the neighbors’ denunciations, Wang Huifang, her face swollen like a smashed bun from the beating, cried with tears streaming down her face. “Everyone, let me give you a piece of advice—never raise someone else’s child. You’ll only raise a heartless wolf. I merely asked her why she reported us, and she had the Security Team beat me like this. She’s the one who got pregnant with a bastard. We only helped her get rid of it, and she retaliated against us like this. It’s truly against heaven’s will—boohoo…”
As soon as Wang Huifang finished speaking, the crowd grew even more indignant. Shen Shujiao felt that if someone handed them a basket of rotten vegetables and stinking eggs, they’d be throwing them at her without hesitation.
“Yes, I am pregnant,” Shen Shujiao said calmly. “But it’s not by a wild man, and the child in my belly is not a bastard.”
“If you say it’s not a wild man, then bring the child’s father out for us to see. If you can, we’ll admit your child isn’t a bastard,” Shen Jinlong said coldly.
“My child doesn’t need recognition from a traitor who sold out his country. You’re not worthy!”
“Shen Shujiao, don’t slander me! I’m a dignified citizen of Huaguo. I’ve never done anything to betray the country!” Shen Jinlong snarled, veins bulging on his forehead as he glared at her.
“Captain Li, we found it!” A Red Armband member walked up to Li Changzhu and handed him an envelope.
Li Changzhu read the contents and then turned the letter toward the crowd.
“Everyone, take a good look. This is correspondence between Shen Shengchang and a man in Hong Kong named Smith. That man specifically requested one of our XXX antiques. The evidence of colluding with overseas forces is conclusive. We, the Red Armbands, are making arrests according to the law.”
With evidence in hand, Li Changzhu’s voice was thunderous and commanding. His expression was resolute as his sharp gaze swept over everyone present.
“All of you here are respected figures in Shanghai. With Shen Shengchang as an example, I hope everyone will be a patriotic citizen. Otherwise, the net of heaven is vast and inescapable—you will eventually be exposed and face the harshest punishment of the law.”
Frightened by his icy expression, the onlookers instinctively stepped back.
“Neighbors, we truly did not collude with foreign forces! Shen Shujiao framed us! We treated her like our own daughter—we even told her where the secret room was. Never did we imagine she would sneak in, imitate my handwriting, and frame me. I’m truly wronged! I beg kind-hearted neighbors to speak to the leaders on my behalf. If my home is ransacked and I’m convicted for no reason, my today will be your tomorrow,” Shen Shengchang pleaded with a sorrowful face.
Everyone present was an elite of Shanghai—officials, businessmen, lawyers, doctors, and professionals from all walks of life.
Only by muddying the waters and pulling these people to his side could he possibly find a sliver of hope.
Seeing the crowd’s changing expressions, Shen Xueman thought Shen Shengchang wasn’t completely useless after all—he knew how to use public opinion, a tactic common in the future, to save himself.
If you simply ask others to save you, they’ll usually stay aloof.
But if you tie the pros and cons to their own interests, once they imagine themselves in your position, fearing for their own safety, people are often willing to muddy the waters together before the truth becomes clear.
“Little sister, ever since Second Uncle and Second Aunt passed away, ask your conscience—haven’t we treated you like family? How could you bear such hatred toward us just because we tried to help you by taking you to get rid of a bastard fathered by a wild man? How could you slap us with such a huge accusation of colluding with foreign forces? You’ve truly broken our hearts!”
In her previous life, as a secretary, Shen Xueman understood human nature all too well.
People often turn a blind eye to so-called evidence, yet eagerly imagine hidden scandals, using their own guesses to paint things as sinister.
By shifting the focus to Shen Shujiao’s “pregnancy by a wild man,” Shen Xueman made it reasonable for everyone to suspect that the letter had been written by Shen Shujiao herself as a frame-up.
End of this chapter (Please click the next chapter to continue reading!)