As soon as Song Miaomiao whispered those words, Liu Cuihua became even more convinced that Song Wanning was feeling guilty and was deliberately trying to stop them from entering.
Without another thought, she immediately agreed.
“Fine, fine! I agree! Happy now? Move aside!”
Liu Cuihua strode forward and shoved Song Wanning aside.
Song Wanning staggered backward and nearly fell, but fortunately Li Lan quickly reached out to steady her.
“Are you alright?”
Song Wanning shook her head.
“I’m fine. Thank you.”
Seeing Liu Cuihua and Zhou Fang take the lead into the house, Li Lan remained where she was.
The villagers who had gathered to watch also crowded forward, trying to squeeze inside.
Neither Song Wanning nor Li Lan entered.
Instead, they waited outside by the door.
“Girl, you’re really just letting them search your house?”
Song Wanning nodded.
“If I don’t let them in, they’ll only keep suspecting me and continue causing trouble.”
“I’d rather let them search thoroughly and see for themselves.”
Li Lan didn’t believe Song Wanning had stolen anything either.
So the two of them stood outside chatting while, inside, Liu Cuihua, Zhou Fang, Song Miaomiao, and Song Bao searched every room from top to bottom.
After searching everywhere, they found that apart from a little rice and flour in the kitchen, there was nothing else.
“That’s strange.”
“We clearly heard chickens clucking just now.”
“Why aren’t there any chickens?”
While Liu Cuihua was still puzzled, they heard another round of clucking.
This time they listened carefully.
Only then did they realize the sound was coming from the neighboring house—not from Song Wanning’s home at all.
Having found nothing, they had no choice but to carry the remaining rice and flour out of the kitchen.
“Song Wanning!”
“You still dare say you didn’t steal anything?”
“If you didn’t steal, where did all this rice and flour come from?”
Song Wanning hadn’t expected them to be so shameless.
Those supplies had all been given to her by Li Lan.
“Liu Cuihua.”
“Other than this rice and flour, what else did you find?”
When Li Lan saw them carrying out the grain, her face darkened.
She truly couldn’t understand it.
Song Wanning was Liu Cuihua’s daughter too.
Why did she treat her so terribly?
“Village Chief’s wife, we didn’t find anything else.”
“But finding this grain proves our family’s belongings were stolen by her.”
“She must have hidden everything else because she was afraid we’d find it.”
“Yesterday she split from the family without taking a single thing.”
“So where else could she have gotten all this grain?”
Song Wanning almost laughed out loud.
Liu Cuihua had practically walked right into a trap.
Li Lan let out a cold snort.
“I was the one who gave this grain to Song Wanning.”
“So what?”
“Are you planning to take away the food I gave her too?”
“When your family split up, she didn’t take a single thing.”
“I felt sorry for her, so I gave her a little grain.”
“You searched the entire house and found nothing except the food I gave her.”
“And you’re still insisting she stole it?”
The moment Liu Cuihua and Zhou Fang heard that, both of their hearts sank.
They had been delighted when they found the grain, believing it to be stolen property.
Never had they imagined that Li Lan herself had given it to Song Wanning.
Why was Li Lan treating her so well?
“You all heard that.”
“Li Lan gave me this grain.”
“Since you found nothing else, that proves I never stole anything from either of you.”
“Now then.”
“I believe I’m owed an apology.”
“If not, I’ll report you to the Public Security Bureau for trespassing into my home and attempting to rob me.”
Neither Liu Cuihua nor Zhou Fang wanted to apologize.
But when they heard she intended to report them to the authorities, they had little choice.
This wretched girl had become so strange lately.
She just might actually do it.
Thinking quickly, Liu Cuihua shoved Song Miaomiao forward.
“You.”
“Apologize to your sister.”
“This is all your fault!”
“You’re the one who insisted your sister stole our things.”
“I only believed your nonsense!”
The moment Liu Cuihua said that, the crowd looked at Song Miaomiao differently.
With everyone staring at her, she had no choice.
She slowly walked forward and muttered in an almost inaudible voice,
“…Sister… I’m sorry.”
Song Wanning knew it would be nearly impossible to make Liu Cuihua apologize personally.
Being able to crush their arrogance a little was already satisfying.
“Hm?”
“What did you say?”
“Louder. I didn’t hear you.”
Song Miaomiao clenched both fists tightly.
Suppressing the rage in her heart, she shouted,
“Sister, I’m sorry!”
Song Wanning casually dug a finger into her ear before saying with a look of annoyance,
“Why are you shouting?”
“My ears aren’t deaf.”
Song Miaomiao was so furious she felt ready to explode.
Too embarrassed to remain any longer, she burst into tears and ran away without looking back.
Seeing there was nothing to be gained here, Liu Cuihua and Zhou Fang also wanted to leave as quickly as possible.
They still had to figure out breakfast.
Otherwise, they’d be working in the fields on empty stomachs all day.
Just as they turned to leave, Song Wanning stepped forward and blocked their path.
“Wait.”
“You two haven’t apologized to me yet.”
Liu Cuihua’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“You little brat!”
“Didn’t Miaomiao already apologize to you?”
“You actually expect me—your own mother—to apologize too?”
Song Wanning smiled faintly.
“I’m sorry, Aunt Liu.”
“We’re no longer related.”
“We’ve already split the family.”
“I’m no longer your daughter.”
“And before you entered my house, I made it very clear.”
“You were free to search.”
“But if you found nothing, you had to apologize.”
“Otherwise, I’d report you to the Public Security Bureau and have all of you arrested.”
Liu Cuihua and Zhou Fang were merely village women with little education.
The mere mention of the Public Security Bureau frightened them.
Especially because they had guilty consciences.
After all, they had schemed against Song Wanning before.
If that matter ever came to light, they could very well be taken away for investigation.
Liu Cuihua thought of that as well.
Fear welled up inside her.
But asking her to apologize to Song Wanning was something she found difficult to accept.
Still…
What choice did she have?
She couldn’t really let Song Wanning report her to the authorities.
The old Song Wanning never would have done such a thing.
But this new Song Wanning seemed almost possessed.
“…I’m sorry.”
Liu Cuihua walked up to Song Wanning, muttered the apology so quietly it was barely audible, grabbed Song Bao, and hurried away without looking back.
Seeing that even Liu Cuihua had apologized, Zhou Fang had no choice.
She stepped forward as well.
“I’m sorry.”
The moment she finished speaking, she hurried off in embarrassment.
The villagers, seeing that the excitement was over, began to disperse.
But Song Wanning’s gaze settled on Li Guihua and Chen Ailian.
Those two had spoken the most viciously earlier.
“Li Guihua.”
“Chen Ailian.”
“Don’t leave just yet.”
“You were the ones loudly insisting that I had stolen your belongings.”
“Now, I expect an apology from both of you as well.”