“Duoduo, does your head still hurt?”
Only now did Liu Chuanjia realize his behavior earlier might have been a little too excessive.
Future little sister-in-law relationships also needed careful nurturing.
“Mhm. It’s much better now. As long as I rest more, I should be fine.”
“Yesterday your grandmother caused a huge scene at the police station, so Xiao Yu locked her up. Just now he even locked your grandfather up too.
“And before that, Eryou and Sanyou were already inside. In just three days, four people from your family have entered the station.
“So… what are you planning? You can tell me.”
One night had been more than enough for Liu Chuanjia to investigate the entire situation thoroughly.
For things to escalate this far, Xu Duoduo definitely had plans of her own. Otherwise she never would’ve reported it to the police.
And for Xu Bu’s sake, he needed to earn goodwill from the future little sister-in-law too. That meant putting in more effort.
“What kind of sentence could they actually get?”
So Dead Fish Eyes’ surname was Yu.
Xu Duoduo felt delighted.
Having someone backing you up really did make things easier.
“Although your injuries were severe, you didn’t die. Especially since the one who physically attacked you was Xu Eryou, and he’s only fifteen—not legally an adult yet.
“Even if you insist on pressing charges, at most Xu Sanyou would get sent to a labor reform farm for one month. Xu Eryou would probably only stay locked up three to five days before release.
“As for your grandmother, after last night’s tantrum she’ll probably just receive a day of education and be released today too.
“The only uncertain case is your grandfather. Xiao Yu officially charged him with sneaking into the police station under suspicion of theft or espionage.
“But if Xiao Yu really pins those crimes on your grandfather…”
Liu Chuanjia paused.
“Even if your family cuts ties with him, it’ll still affect Uncle Ergen and your family’s future lives.
“It may feel satisfying emotionally, but it’d bring no practical benefit. More harm than good.”
Liu Chuanjia hadn’t become deputy captain by being softhearted.
Especially after hearing Old Xu had struck Xu Bu.
He wanted to use this chance to make the old man suffer too.
But if such charges truly stuck, Xu Ergen’s family would gain nothing except temporary satisfaction—and might even become implicated themselves.
So he could only lay out the facts honestly and advise Xu Duoduo to give up on that route.
Xu Duoduo lowered her head in thought.
With those charges hanging over him, Old Xu would never have a good ending.
It would definitely vent their anger.
But having a father suspected of theft or espionage really could drag Xu Ergen’s family down too.
A slow knife cutting flesh was better.
Her brain spun rapidly, searching for the most beneficial solution.
Cutting ties?
Just now Liu Chuanjia had mentioned severing family relations.
“Brother Liu, earlier you mentioned cutting ties. Is that really possible?”
“It can be arranged.”
If it couldn’t be arranged naturally, then he’d simply use Dead Fish Eyes to create the conditions himself.
“Then Brother Liu… what would benefit our family the most?”
Whether he became future brother-in-law or not could wait.
For now, she’d absolutely make use of him.
“Your grandfather’s situation can be made large or small. Large means theft or espionage. Small means simply not understanding regulations. One word from me and the team can release him.
“But if you want to use this opportunity to sever ties, I’ll tell your grandfather that because of his suspicious behavior, he’s now under suspicion of theft or espionage.
“Your family can choose to guarantee his release this time.
“But what if he really is an enemy agent hiding deeply? Therefore, under police supervision, your family must completely draw a line between yourselves and him.
“In other words, Uncle Ergen must formally sever ties with his biological father.
“Your grandfather then only has two choices before him:
“If your family refuses to guarantee him, he gets executed.
“If your family guarantees him, he must sever family ties with you all.
“To save his life, he won’t have another option.”
Liu Chuanjia then continued:
“As for Eryou and Sanyou, my suggestion is not to continue pressing charges. Better to settle privately.
“A private settlement forcing your eldest aunt to pay compensation is far more practical.
“And although Eryou and Sanyou may escape labor reform, I won’t truly let them off either.
“I’ll permanently record this intentional injury case in their files. Once they have a criminal record, finding jobs later will become very difficult.”
“Big Sister, what do you think?”
Xu Duoduo looked toward Xu Bu.
Liu Chuanjia was working this hard entirely to build goodwill with them, so she might as well return the favor and let Xu Bu have input.
“Huh? Our family can really sever ties with Grandpa? Would Dad agree?”
Xu Bu didn’t even dare imagine such a thing.
“He will. Definitely. Absolutely.”
The moment his beloved spoke, even mountains of knives and seas of fire had to be crossed.
“If Uncle Ergen refuses, I’ll get Xiao Yu to persuade him.”
“Brother Liu, my dad should be at the neighborhood office getting travel permits right now. He’s waiting for my sister and me so he can take us to stay at a guesthouse.
“Can you send someone to bring my dad here?
“Today we’ll sever ties right here at the police station.”
“Done. I’ll send someone immediately. You and your sister wait here awhile first.”
He needed to arrange the entire severing process before future father-in-law arrived.
This wave of goodwill points absolutely had to be maximized.
…
“I’m telling you, Xu Duoduo, why didn’t you just say that old man really was stealing or spying? There goes my chance at earning merit.”
Dead Fish Eyes returned to the room, no longer calling her “little sister.”
“Officer, that’s my grandfather. If he really gets branded a thief or spy, what happens to my family?
“How are we supposed to survive as descendants of criminals or traitors?”
This guy really wasn’t satisfied with just taking the eggs—he wanted the basket too.
A full wipeout.
“My head’s a little dizzy now. Maybe I remembered the details wrong about catching those three hooligans earlier.
“Should we go over the statement again?”
Keep pushing me and I’ll change my testimony.
Then none of the arrests count as your achievement anymore.
Dreaming about merit would be faster.
“Little sister, you’re absolutely right. Grandpa didn’t do anything at all. Just a misunderstanding! Hahaha.”
Dead Fish Eyes still had at least some brains.
The deputy captain had already clarified outside that it was a misunderstanding—that the old man simply snuck in to lecture his granddaughter, and the granddaughter herself could testify to that.
If he stubbornly forced charges onto Old Xu while the deputy captain stood there and the girls changed their statements, there’d be no way to force it through.
Better to turn it into a favor instead.
Besides, Xu Duoduo really did seem lucky for him.
These past few days lots of people at the station had already started flattering him, saying he solved cases quickly and was probably getting promoted soon.
“Oh right! The deputy captain also mentioned helping your family sever ties with that old man.
“Big Brother’s going now to scare your grandfather and grandmother properly.
“I guarantee the ties will be cut completely clean. I’ll even personally act as witness so they can never regret it later.”
“Then thank you, Officer. Sorry for the trouble. I’ll wait here for your good news.”
Xu Duoduo acted as though their earlier conflict had never happened, smiling cheerfully at him.
…
Xu Ergen had been anxiously waiting outside the neighborhood office for Xu Bu and Xu Duoduo when a police officer suddenly summoned him to the station.
Still confused, he was led inside by Dead Fish Eyes waiting at the entrance.
“Uncle, let me tell you—your old man’s no good. He even hit people inside the station. Look at what he did to this girl’s face.
“We’re helping you here. Use this chance to sever ties completely. Don’t get confused and softhearted.”
Earlier, Dead Fish Eyes had already swiftly sentenced the three hooligans to five years of labor reform and sent them away.
He was in an extremely good mood now.
As long as Xu Duoduo’s family severed ties happily and didn’t change their testimony later, his merit wouldn’t run away.
“You father and daughter talk first. I’m going to bring that old man and old woman out now so we can hurry and process the severing papers.”
For the sake of his promotion, Dead Fish Eyes was truly giving it his all.
“What happened? Xiaobu, what happened to your face?”
Xu Ergen was still completely bewildered.
“Dad, come sit down. I’ll explain.”
Xu Duoduo then recounted everything:
Why they came to the station…
How they encountered Old Xu outside…
How Old Xu snuck into the office while police were busy interrogating hooligans…
How he threatened Xu Duoduo into withdrawing charges…
And how, after failing, he became furious and tried to hit Xu Duoduo, only for Xu Bu to block the slap instead.
Of course, she omitted certain details.
No need to mention the green-uniformed man or herself smashing a hooligan’s head with a rock.
As far as the official story went, the police had simply caught three hooligans.
“Dad, Grandpa may escape trouble this time, but if something serious happens involving him in the future, even splitting the family won’t protect us.
“Even hiding in the countryside won’t let us live peacefully. He’s still your father. You’d still be forced to deal with him.
“Only by severing ties can our family truly live in peace.”
Xu Duoduo patiently persuaded him.
“Because Grandpa secretly entered the police station earlier, the officer who brought you in charged him under suspicion of theft or espionage.
“But Brother Liu helped mediate. Our family can guarantee Grandpa’s release—and use this incident as the reason to sever ties.”
“Duoduo… despite being injured so badly, you’re still worrying about adult matters at such a young age.”
Truthfully, ever since the day of the family split, Xu Ergen’s heart had already gone cold toward Old Xu and Old Madam Xu.
“We’ll sever ties.
“The day the family split, I already wanted to do it.
“From now on, Dad will work hard to earn money and simply live peacefully with your mother and you three girls.”