“I’ve already agreed to marry off to the island. How could I possibly have the spare time to report my sister? It must be Zhang Yu—after being arrested and taken to the station, he got scared and confessed everything.”
With a single sentence, Qiao Yu washed her hands of the matter.
Liu Shuhong really began to suspect Zhang Yu. She always knew that boy was unreliable, but Qiao Xiang was just so fond of him. What a shame!
When the neighborhood committee director saw those letters, even at her age, she couldn’t help but blush.
She looked at Qiao Xiang, shook her head, and sighed. Young people these days really have no sense of shame.
“Comrade Qiao Xiang, come with us.”
Qiao Xiang cried and shouted, “Dad! Mom! You have to save me!”
Qiao Zhenhua was still heartbroken over the things in the foreign-style house. How could he spare a thought for Qiao Xiang? How could it be that just after he stepped out for a while, the house was completely emptied?
Could it really have been Zhang Yu?
Qiao Zhenhua stopped the police officer who was about to leave. “Officer, did Zhang Yu confess that he was the one who stole our things?”
“We’re still in the interrogation phase. There are suspected accomplices. We’ll notify you once we have the results.”
Qiao Zhenhua felt as if the sky had fallen. He had only asked Zhang Yu to come and discuss the matter of breaking off the engagement with Qiao Yu, and to persuade her to return the twenty thousand yuan.
He knew Qiao Yu still liked Zhang Yu, so having Zhang Yu persuade her would surely work.
Who could have imagined that after Zhang Yu came to their house, he would empty it completely!
Qiao Zhenhua’s face flushed red with anger. “He looks so refined and is even a teacher. How could he do such a thing!”
Neighbors from next door, hearing the commotion, rushed out to watch the drama unfold.
“I heard Zhang Yu and some outsiders emptied the Qiao family’s house! They even sneaked in through the backyard. How bold!”
“Isn’t Zhang Yu Xiao Yu’s fiancé? Oh my, Qiao Xiang looks so proper on the surface, but behind the scenes, she’s messing around with her sister’s fiancé! How shameless.”
“Exactly! If the police hadn’t come to arrest her themselves, we wouldn’t have known about this. Poor Xiao Yu.”
Listening to the neighbors’ gossip, Qiao Zhenhua felt utterly humiliated!
He had always prided himself on maintaining dignity and face.
With such a scandal in the family, he wished he could leave for Hong Kong immediately and get as far away from here as possible.
Liu Shuhong couldn’t bear it. Xiangxiang was her own daughter, and a girl’s reputation was the most important. How could she be talked about like this?
“Everyone! My Xiangxiang and Zhang Yu were already planning to get married. It’s not some improper relationship. Stop spreading rumors!”
A neighbor curled her lip. “Just a while ago, I saw Zhang Yu escorting Xiao Yu home. We’re not blind. After being neighbors for so long, who doesn’t know Zhang Yu is Xiao Yu’s fiancé!”
The news of the Qiao family’s older sister stealing her younger sister’s fiancé spread throughout the neighborhood in no time.
Liu Shuhong couldn’t help but beg Qiao Yu. “Xiao Yu, why don’t you go clarify with the police officers? Tell them you and your sister have swapped marriages. Then they might let Xiangxiang go.”
Qiao Yu smiled. Now they knew to beg her? Where was this concern earlier?
“Aunt Liu, I’ve already signed a severance agreement with Dad. From now on, your family’s affairs have nothing to do with me.”
Liu Shuhong didn’t know they had already signed the severance agreement. How were they supposed to get the money back from Qiao Yu now?
Had Qiao Zhenhua lost his mind?
“Zhenhua, why didn’t you discuss this with me?”
Qiao Zhenhua said with a dark expression, “I have my own plans!”
He had a headache from their bickering and didn’t want to stay there being pointed at by the neighbors, so he turned and left, intending to find some peace alone.
Qiao Yu watched Liu Shuhong chasing after Qiao Zhenhua, weeping and wailing, before heading toward the neighborhood office.
On the way, she bought over a dozen fragrant meat buns and sesame cakes. She ate two of the buns and stored the rest in her Spatial Dimension, planning to save them for the train ride.
She had another important matter to attend to at the neighborhood office.
She intended to donate the Qiao family’s small Western-style house. This house was originally left to her by her deceased birth mother, and the deed was still registered under Qiao Yu’s name.
Qiao Zhenhua didn’t want to live in the old family home, so he had moved them all into the small Western-style house left to Qiao Yu by his former wife.
They had lived there for over a decade.
Qiao Yu thought to herself that since she was going to the island, she certainly couldn’t leave the house for Qiao Zhenhua and the others to continue living in.
Property sales weren’t common at the time, so Qiao Yu considered donating the house to the state. Not only would this earn her a good reputation, but her deceased birth mother would likely understand her decision.
Inside the neighborhood office.
Director Zhang had already gone to deal with the matter involving Qiao Xiang and Zhang Yu, leaving only Deputy Director Liang Zhiqiang.
Liang Zhiqiang knew Qiao Yu—the youngest daughter of the Qiao family in Shanghai. Who wouldn’t want to curry favor with her?
When he heard Qiao Yu wanted to donate the Western-style house, he was momentarily stunned.
“What? You want to donate that house?”
Qiao Yu nodded. “Yes.”
Deputy Director Liang looked utterly shocked. “Such a fine house—why would you suddenly want to donate it? Does your father agree?”
Anyone who knew Qiao Zhenhua was aware that he was hot-tempered and stingy. How could he possibly agree to Qiao Yu donating the house?
Qiao Yu took out the deed and household register and placed them on the table.
“The deed is in my name. Since I’m getting married and moving to the island, I might as well donate the house to the state. It’s a way to respond to the call and contribute to the country.”
Hearing this, the staff at the neighborhood office couldn’t help but praise her. “Comrade Qiao Yu’s ideological awareness is truly high!”
They had already caught wind of the commotion outside—about how Qiao Xiang, the eldest daughter of the Qiao family, had stolen her younger sister’s fiancé. Their gazes toward Qiao Yu were tinged with sympathy.
No wonder Qiao Yu planned to donate the house rather than leave it to Qiao Zhenhua. Everyone understood instantly.
Qiao Yu was such a sweet and pretty girl, yet she was being sent to suffer on the island. Deputy Director Liang couldn’t help but feel a pang of pity.
“Child, was it your Aunt Liu who forced you to swap marriages with your sister? Her heart is truly too cruel.”
Qiao Yu wiped the corner of her eye, looking pitiful. “What can I do? My birth mother died early. A child without a mother is like a blade of grass. Once I marry and go to the island, I probably won’t return.”
Deputy Director Liang sighed deeply. “Alright then, Uncle will go get a form for you. You just need to sign it and press your fingerprint.”
Qiao Yu quickly replied, “Thank you, Uncle Liang.”
After carefully filling out the form, signing it, and pressing her fingerprint, she finally let out a sigh of relief.
Qiao Zhenhua and Liu Shuhong had occupied the house her mother left her for so many years. Now, with their possessions cleared out and the house gone, it was finally settled.
Having taken care of the house matter, Qiao Yu was about to leave the neighborhood office when Deputy Director Liang called out to her.
“Xiao Yu, wait!”
Qiao Yu turned back, puzzled. “What is it?”
Deputy Director Liang smiled and took out an honorary certificate to present to Qiao Yu, not forgetting to instruct the other staff members.
“Hurry up, get the camera and take a photo for our comrade Qiao Yu. Make sure to include the certificate of honor in the shot!”
Under the guidance of the staff, Qiao Yu, looking utterly bewildered, held the certificate in her hand as the photo was taken.
“Uncle Liang, can I take this certificate with me?”
Deputy Director Liang replied, “Of course, this is your honor!”
Having done a good deed for the country, Qiao Yu felt a sense of satisfaction. She rode her bicycle, humming a cheerful tune, heading in the direction of the train station.