At the Chen family home—
“Knock, knock.”
Just as Chen Pansheng was about to fall asleep, the sudden knocking startled him awake.
His tone was irritated. “Who is it?”
The knocking grew louder.
“Knock, knock, knock!”
Just as Chen Pansheng was about to start cursing, a voice came from outside, “This is Chen Jinsheng’s house, right?”
Hearing that they were looking for his father, he forcibly swallowed the insults that had reached his lips and replied impatiently,
“Stop knocking. Chen Jinsheng isn’t here—he’s at work. If you’re looking for him, come back in the evening after he gets off.”
The voice outside came again, “If Chen Jinsheng isn’t here, then open the door.”
The anger Chen Pansheng had just suppressed flared up again. He shouted loudly, “I’m not opening it! I already said he’s not here!”
The moment his shout ended—
The door was suddenly slammed.
Bang! Bang!
Chen Pansheng jumped to his feet. He wanted to see which bastard it was!
“You—!”
He rushed to the door in a few quick strides, cursing as he yanked it open.
The moment the door opened, his eyes met those of two police officers outside.
Seeing that they were police, all the anger on his face vanished instantly. He broke into a wide grin and greeted them ingratiatingly, “Officers!”
The two officers looked at him coldly—they had heard everything from outside.
Chen Pansheng kept smiling. “So it’s the officers. What brings you here looking for my father?”
The taller officer stared at him. “Your name is Chen Pansheng?”
“Yes, yes.”
“Chen Jinsheng is your father?”
“Yes.”
Having confirmed they had the right place, the two officers stepped inside.
Chen Pansheng instinctively reached out to stop them, but then realized they were police. He didn’t dare block them and could only step back, stammering, “Hey, hey, hey!”
Once inside, the officers began searching immediately.
Seeing this, a bad feeling rose in Chen Pansheng’s heart. He shouted, “What are you doing?! What are you doing?! Even if you’re police, you can’t just—”
Before he could finish—
The tall officer suddenly turned around, his sharp eyes locking onto him as he barked, “Chen Pansheng, you are suspected of theft. You are to come with us for investigation.”
“Take him away!”
Before Chen Pansheng could react, the other officer had already grabbed him and restrained him.
As he was dragged out, panic filled his heart. He shouted, “Theft? No! Who committed theft?! Officer—!”
He kept protesting his innocence, but the tall officer grew impatient. He pulled out a rag from somewhere and stuffed it into Chen Pansheng’s mouth.
“Mmm! Mmm!”
With his mouth stuffed, all his protests turned into muffled sounds.
People in the residential compound heard the commotion and came out curiously.
What they saw was Chen Pansheng being escorted away by two officers.
Their hearts tightened, and they began whispering among themselves—what crime had Chen Pansheng committed to be arrested?
…
Meanwhile, Chen Jing was called in by the workshop director.
She arrived and said, “Director, you wanted to see me?”
Looking at her, the director recalled what Leader He had told him earlier. His expression toward her became complicated.
He responded and gestured toward the chair across from him, indicating she should sit.
Chen Jing sat down.
The director took a deep breath before slowly speaking, “Chen Jing, you and Song Xiongguan…”
Hearing Song Xiongguan’s name, Chen Jing’s first reaction was that the matter of him being reported as having a capitalist background had reached the factory.
She assumed the factory was going to punish or dismiss him—and now wanted to question her.
Maybe they wanted to ask about her relationship with him… and if she got implicated, she might be fired too.
Panic rose in her heart. Before the director could finish, she immediately distanced herself.
“Director, Song Xiongguan and I are already divorced. We have no relationship at all.”
“I don’t know anything about his family’s situation—nothing at all.”
The director looked at her anxious expression, his feelings complicated, but he said nothing.
Thinking he didn’t believe her, Chen Jing hurriedly added, “Director, I truly have nothing to do with him anymore.”
The director sighed inwardly and asked, “I’ve heard a bit about Song Xiongguan’s situation. It’s said your younger sister reported him?”
Chen Jing answered quickly, “Director, that wasn’t a report—that’s the truth. My sister just told things as they are. That’s exactly how it is. Song Xiongguan’s sister is that kind of—”
The director frowned and interrupted, “Chen Jing, you’ve been married to Song Xiongguan for two or three years. Don’t you understand his family situation?”
Chen Jing replied, “Director, don’t be fooled by how long we were married. I’ve never even met his parents, let alone gone to his home. I don’t know anything about his family at all.”
The director could barely stand listening anymore. Anger surged within him.
To keep it from showing, he restrained himself and asked, “If you didn’t know, then how did your sister know his family was capitalist?”
Chen Jing was stunned into silence.
Under the director’s gaze, she grew flustered and avoided eye contact, her eyes darting. “Director, didn’t his sister come over? The way she dressed was different from us, and she looked at people sideways, never properly. If she’s not a rich young lady, then what is she?”
Her reaction and answer made everything clear.
There was nothing more to ask.
The director waved his hand. “Alright, I understand. You can go back.”
Chen Jing opened her mouth as if to say more, but seeing his expression, she swallowed her words.
She stood up quietly and walked out, opening the door.
Just as the door was about to close, it was suddenly pushed open again.
The director looked up—Chen Jing had returned.
Standing at the doorway, she asked, “Director, Song Xiongguan’s matter won’t implicate me, right?”
The director replied coldly, “No.”
Chen Jing didn’t notice that his attitude had changed.
She beamed with joy. “Thank you, Director, thank you!”
The office door closed.
The director’s expression darkened.
…
After a long day of work—
After seeing Charles off to the guesthouse—
Song Jinyue, Secretary Wei, and Zhong Guoliang stood by the roadside.
Secretary Wei glanced sideways at Zhong Guoliang.
Receiving the signal, Zhong Guoliang immediately turned to Song Jinyue. “Comrade Jinyue, Captain Han should have already told you about Li Huguo’s situation.”