“Oops!”
When Qiao Hongye heard that name, he almost couldn’t control his expression.
But he knew that if he couldn’t control himself, he was finished. So he fiercely pinched his hand under the table.
After a few seconds, he forced himself to calm down and shook his head.
“I don’t know him. I may have heard of him though… the two production brigades are close.”
He pretended to think carefully before giving his answer, making it sound like a normal reaction.
But no matter how he acted, he could not escape Sikong Huai’s eyes.
Sikong Huai had interrogated countless stubborn criminals—people even more tight-lipped than this, including spies. Extracting information from Qiao Hongye was effortless for him.
With just a few words, he shattered Qiao Hongye’s psychological defense.
“You don’t know him? You’re nervous.”
“When you heard the name Liu Mazi, your eyes glanced upward twice, you took a deep breath, and your hands clenched under the table.”
Sikong Huai even lifted his left hand from under the table, revealing a small mirror.
He had already prepared in advance—using the mirror’s reflection to observe Qiao Hongye’s hidden reactions.
Qiao Hongye’s face changed dramatically. His hands instinctively clenched again, then quickly relaxed after remembering what Sikong Huai said.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about…”
“Liu Mazi said he gave you 20 yuan. Over the past five years, he called you and sent you letters. I have evidence. If you don’t know him, why would he contact you?”
“Liu Mazi has already confessed. I advise you to cooperate and stop testing my patience.”
Sikong Huai curled his lips coldly, arms crossed, looking down at Qiao Hongye like he was already a prisoner.
“I don’t know him! I really don’t know him! He must have mistaken me. I never received any letters!”
Qiao Hongye still refused to admit it.
But there was a written agreement between him and Liu Mazi, with his red fingerprint on it.
Sikong Huai directly threw the document in front of him.
“This is fake! Impossible! That’s not my fingerprint!”
Qiao Hongye became agitated.
But he had indeed signed and stamped it back then. Afraid of leaving evidence, he had later stolen and destroyed the document.
So how could it appear again?
It must be fake!
“The fingerprint matches yours exactly. There is no doubt.”
“Denial is useless in the face of facts.”
Sikong Huai said coldly as he reached to put the document away again.
Qiao Hongye panicked further. His mind was in chaos.
Did Liu Mazi discover his intentions and deliberately switch the document? No… that’s impossible. How could a man like that be so cunning?
Unless…
Qiao Hongye suddenly blurted out:
“Let me see it again! I used my index finger! I demand a re-examination!”
“I clearly already tore it—”
He suddenly stopped mid-sentence.
His face turned pale.
He realized he had slipped again.
Sikong Huai smirked.
“Tore what?”
At this point, there was nothing more to interrogate.
Sikong Huai stood up directly.
“Where are you going?! Are you sentencing me already?!”
“I didn’t admit anything! I just slipped up!”
But Sikong Huai no longer needed to listen.
Meanwhile, outside.
Xia Mingyu had already calmed down and stored the money away.
Although she still hadn’t decided whether to return it to Sikong Huai, leaving so much money with Tuantuan was too dangerous.
After everything settled, she still reminded the children:
“Don’t let him know that Mom already knows you talked with him.”
“You just treat him like before—as an uncle.”
“Okay, Mom! We promise not to say anything!”
The twins immediately covered their mouths obediently.
But promises are one thing—keeping them is another.
Xia Mingyu had no idea. She nodded in satisfaction, gently touching their soft cheeks, thinking proudly that her children were very obedient.
Then she began worrying again about the interrogation.
She hoped Sikong Huai could convict Qiao Hongye.
She would never accept it if such a person escaped punishment.
Her lips tightened, hatred flashing in her eyes.
Fortunately, Sikong Huai soon brought good news.
“Don’t worry. Qiao Hongye has already confessed.”
“He attempted marriage fraud, colluded with Liu Mazi to try to commit assault against you, and even tried to sell Tuantuan to his superior.”
“Every single crime will stick. His mother, Li Zhaodi, is also an accomplice.”
His voice was deep and steady, and when announcing punishment, it sounded even more satisfying.
Xia Mingyu’s eyes lit up. She couldn’t help looking at him, her lips curving into a bright smile.
“Thank you!”
“So what will happen to him? How long will he be sentenced? And Li Zhaodi?”
“Can I divorce him now?”
Sikong Huai softened slightly seeing her happiness.
“That’s not my authority, but I will push for the harshest sentence.”
“He will at least be imprisoned for five years, and stripped of his military status.”
“And you don’t need to worry about divorce. He never filed a marriage registration report. He only held a wedding ceremony here.”
“You are not legally married. You can separate directly.”
Hearing this, Xia Mingyu felt an unexpected sense of relief.
No anger. No sadness.
Only freedom.
She was finally just herself again.
A mother to Tuantuan and Yuanyuan.
She could live well on her own.
Her heart bloomed like fireworks.
Overjoyed, she blurted out:
“Let’s go to the state-run restaurant tonight to celebrate!”
It was meant as gratitude and celebration—but immediately after saying it, she regretted it.
Not only because of money—but also because eating with Sikong Huai felt awkward.
“I…”
Before she could finish, Sikong Huai immediately answered:
“Alright.”
“I’ll accompany you tonight.”