Her biological mother and stepfather were stunned.
Something was wrong. The dead girl was thin-skinned and would blush at the sight of any stranger.
How could she speak so openly about such a thing?
More importantly, she could now weave a story, seven parts truth and three parts falsehood, the most believable kind.
For a moment, everyone was enraged, “Parents doing such a thing to their daughter is simply inhumonane! Arrest them immediately, they deserve to be beaten to death!”
Her biological mother cowered like a quail, “It’s a false accusation! It wasn’t us who beat him, it was Jiang Yan who hit him with a stool!”
No one believed the truth, and they were even mocked, “Do you think everyone is as brainless as you? Who would hit the person who came to save her?”
Her stepfather was better at grasping the key points, “Don’t be fooled by Jiang Yan. What evidence does she have that this man was acting out of righteousness? You can investigate. Jiang Yan’s adoptive parents have overseas connections and were arrested for investigation by the relevant departments last month.”
“This man is likely a spy sent to meet Jiang Yan! Otherwise, how can you explain that they don’t know each other at all, yet he suddenly appeared in such a remote place?”
Overseas connections? Arrested for investigation by the relevant departments? Spy?
These were all super sensitive words for that era.
Someone suddenly exclaimed, “Don’t worry about whether it’s true or not, quickly restrain this woman and send her and this man to the police station. It’s better to arrest the wrong person than to let them go!”
Someone shouted, “Wait, the man on the ground has woken up. Let’s ask him first. We can’t just listen to one person’s side of the story.”
Jiang Yan quickly looked over.
On the ground, Huo Ying was shaking his head. Someone squatted down and leaned in front of him, pointing at Jiang Yan and asking, “Do you know this girl?”
The moment he saw her, Huo Ying’s eyes instantly focused, and his magnetic voice, like a cello playing, blurted out, “Yes.”
Jiang Yan’s eyes widened in surprise.
In her past life, they hadn’t met at this point in time!
The crowd was already in an uproar, “What’s going on? Didn’t the young lady say she had never met him before?”
“Did you all hear that? These two are contradicting themselves,” the stepfather seized on this point again and shouted, “This shows they are both lying! This man is not acting out of righteousness at all, he’s a spy sent to meet Jiang Yan!”
He jumped up and down, waving his hands to incite the crowd, “Everyone quickly restrain these two spies! Please have the public security comrades come and handcuff them!”
Seeing some people who didn’t understand the truth rolling up their sleeves, Jiang Yan forgot about everything else and spread her arms to block Huo Ying, “He’s not a spy, don’t touch him!”
In this situation, who would listen to her?
How could a small body withstand the surging crowd?
A familiar large hand reached out, strong and powerful yet carefully gentle, encircling her waist and pulling her behind him.
Her body was pulled along, and Jiang Yan quickly leaned against the wall, with the man in front of her like a mountain blocking the way. She was in a place of absolute safety, and only then did the large hand release her.
The man’s voice was deep, “We are not spies, and we are not leaving. We will wait for you to invite the public security comrades. They can determine whether we are spies or not. Until the public security arrives, anyone who dares to touch her a single finger, don’t blame me for being merciless!”
That absolute deterrent power caused the room to fall silent. Shouts could be heard from outside, “The police station and neighborhood committee comrades are here!”
The crowd automatically parted to make way, and several people walked into the room.
The man at the head, wearing a public security uniform of a white shirt and blue pants, was tall and imposing. On his weathered face, a pair of eagle-like eyes were sharp and spirited.
“Director Zhao!” Section Chief Zhu ran forward with his hands clasped in a handshake gesture to build rapport, “I’m from your brother unit…”
Director Zhao, holding his belt, interrupted with a stern expression, “We were patrolling nearby and received a report from the masses about someone engaging in illicit relations here. Who is engaging in illicit relations? And what is this about spies?”
Section Chief Zhu’s hands were awkwardly suspended in mid-air. He changed direction and pointed at Huo Ying, “He, they…”
If it were another man, he would have immediately said he was a spy and they were engaging in illicit relations.
But this man in front of him exuded an upright aura, how could he dare to say it?
Following his finger, Director Zhao’s eyes lit up, “So you’re here? I’ve been looking for you.”
The stepfather’s eyes also lit up. He felt he had grasped the key point again and eagerly stepped forward, “Public security comrades, you are also looking for him? Yes, he is not only a hooligan, but he is also a spy…”
“Shut up!” Director Zhao roared, “Who are you to slander a combat hero?”
The stepfather’s neck shrank, and he became half an inch shorter.
Ah? The crowd was in an uproar again.
Huo Ying was not only not a spy, but a combat hero!
Then what Jiang Yan said was true. Her stepfather and others had not only persecuted her but also injured a combat hero!
Such villains must be arrested and dealt with severely!
The crowd attacked the stepfather and others, who trembled in fear. Director Zhao, unaware of all this, quickly went to support Huo Ying and asked with concern, “How did you injure your head? Quickly, I’ll take you to the hospital.”
The female cadre from the neighborhood committee who followed also said busily, “Director Zhao, you go quickly. I’ll handle the aftermath.”
Someone pointed at Jiang Yan, “Director Zhao, she is this combat hero’s… girlfriend. Let her go to the hospital with you to take care of him.”
Anyone with eyes could see the mutual protection between Jiang Yan and Huo Ying.
In this era, having such a relationship meant they were either husband and wife or a couple. Even if they weren’t a couple yet, they were close.
As for Jiang Yan saying she didn’t know Huo Ying, it was probably just a small disagreement between young lovers, and the girl was having a tantrum. They should quickly create an opportunity for them to reconcile.
“You have a girlfriend?” Director Zhao looked at Huo Ying in surprise.
Old Huo was a bachelor. Not long ago, his wife had tried to introduce him to the most beautiful woman in the Jiangcheng Cultural Troupe, and he had said he didn’t want to consider it.
Huo Ying did not answer, turned to look at Jiang Yan, his voice gentle but not questioning, rather a command, “Come with me.”
Just like in her past life, domineering.
Director Zhao understood everything. He immediately laughed and made a gesture to Jiang Yan, “Girlfriend comrade, please come with us.”
Jiang Yan took two steps back.
In her past life, chased by her stepfather, she had run into Huo Ying in a panic and clung to his arm, begging him to save her.
Her stepfather had also distorted the truth like today, calling her a monster and advising Huo Ying not to meddle, saying he would regret it if it affected him later.
Besides, he was Jiang Yan’s father. Why should a passerby like Huo Ying take Jiang Yan away? If he dared to take her, he would be accused of kidnapping.
Jiang Yan clearly remembered every word Huo Ying had said at that time: “Who says I don’t know her? She’s my girlfriend!”
Then he looked at her, also with that commanding tone like today, “Come with me.”
She looked up at him, as if looking up at a god.
But she dragged the god into an abyss of eternal damnation!
In this life, she was reborn, and such a thing could happen. What was impossible about Huo Ying appearing early?
But she could no longer cling to him like a dodder, turning him from a spirited young man into a subservient, down-and-out person.
Her greatest repayment to him was to completely free him from her burden, so he could achieve the great ambitions that belonged to him!
Jiang Yan replied calmly, “He is not my boyfriend.”