At the Hongqi Commune team office,
a 100-watt light bulb illuminated every corner of the room.
Although it was late at night, the place was packed.
When people heard that Shu Ning’s fall into the water earlier that day was not a suicide for love, but that Chen Daming had deliberately pushed her—and that the mastermind was her best friend Zhu Qiulan—everyone who had been asleep got up.
This was unbelievable…
Zhu Qiulan and Shu Ning were inseparable, widely recognized as close sisters.
Shu Ning was frail and couldn’t handle much farm work. The tasks assigned to her were usually done by Zhu Qiulan.
Whenever Shu Ning felt unwell, it was Zhu Qiulan who fetched medicine and took care of her.
Now hearing that Zhu Qiulan had tried to kill Shu Ning—no one could believe it.
It was beyond comprehension.
Zhu Qiulan, in pain, forced her swollen eyes open. Amid the murmurs and accusations around her, she finally understood what had happened.
Her plan to have Chen Daming push Shu Ning into the river had been exposed!
That afternoon, she had clearly told Chen Daming that even if someone saw him push Shu Ning, he should just say it was an accident.
So why had he confessed everything?
Across from her, Chen Daming was still kneeling, constantly kowtowing.
“It really wasn’t me who wanted to push you! It was Comrade Zhu who told me to do it!”
Zhu Qiulan’s head throbbed.
How had she chosen such a useless, spineless man to do her bidding?
But she absolutely could not admit it.
She tried to stand, but her legs were too weak—she could only remain kneeling.
“Chen Daming, what nonsense are you talking about? Shu Ning is my best friend—how could I possibly harm her?” Zhu Qiulan pointed at him with trembling hands, her face swollen from the beating.
Shu Ning let out a cold laugh.
She knew Zhu Qiulan wouldn’t admit it.
“Shu Ning, you have to believe me! Chen Daming is framing me. We’re like sisters—you share your food with me, lend me your clothes. You’ve been so good to me. How could I ever harm you?”
Shu Ning’s gaze turned icy.
“That’s exactly why I don’t understand. I treated you so well—why would you do this?”
“Shu Ning, don’t you feel anything about how I’ve treated you? Would you rather believe a peasant than trust me?” Zhu Qiulan asked in grief.
“It’s because I feel it too clearly that I’m shocked,” Shu Ning said sharply. “If you truly think of me as your sister, then admit it honestly. Go to the police station. If you deserve prison, then go to prison!”
Zhu Qiulan stared at her in shock.
Shu Ning was ruthless.
After beating her like this, she still wanted to hand her over to the police?
“I didn’t do it! I didn’t!” Zhu Qiulan insisted stubbornly. “You say I bribed Chen Daming—do you have proof?”
Shu Ning’s delicate face was cold as frost.
“The money in Chen Daming’s hands is the proof.”
“So just because he has money, you blame me? If anyone has extra money, does that mean I bribed them?”
“The money itself isn’t the issue. The issue is that you like writing your name on one corner of your bills. One five-yuan note having your name might be coincidence—but all three? What does that mean?” Shu Ning demanded coldly.
Zhu Qiulan had a habit of marking her name on larger bills.
It was her little trick.
She often had a lot of money and tended to leave things lying around. She claimed she marked her money to avoid confusion.
But in reality, she would sometimes take money from Shu Ning, mark it, and keep it.
Now, those markings had become solid evidence of her crime.
Zhu Qiulan’s face turned pale instantly.
“This… this is just a coincidence…”
“If it’s a coincidence, then explain it at the police station,” Shu Ning said coldly.
Bringing them to the team office was just to show everyone Zhu Qiulan’s true nature.
To truly resolve this, they had to go to the police station.
One had hired someone to kill.
The other had attempted murder.
Both were serious crimes.
“Waaah… why am I so unlucky? I was sleeping peacefully, and now I’m suffering like this! I’m innocent!” Zhu Qiulan cried pitifully. “I really don’t know anything…”
Zhu Qiulan usually appeared gentle and kind, always smiling.
Seeing her cry like this, many people began to doubt again.
“Innocent or not, you can say it at the police station,” Shu Ning said, unwilling to waste another word.
“Shu Ning, I think you’ve misunderstood. You two are close—don’t make things so ugly. And it’s so late—it’s inconvenient to go to the police station,” said Sun Guofei, a male educated youth who admired Zhu Qiulan.
He was the type who blindly devoted himself to her.
“Sun Guofei, why don’t you walk to the county, get on a train to Sichuan and Chongqing, go to Leshan, and ask the Leshan Giant Buddha to stand up so you can sit down?”
The evidence was clear, and someone had tried to kill her—
and he still wanted her not to make things ugly?
Should she wait until she was dead before making a fuss?
“…” Sun Guofei glanced at Zhu Qiulan and said with concern, “Why not let Qiulan go to the clinic first to treat her injuries? Why do you have to go this far?”
Then he comforted Zhu Qiulan, “Don’t worry, I believe you.”
“No!” Shu Ning’s expression turned cold. “Just because I’m fine now, does that mean it doesn’t matter? She had someone push me today—what about tomorrow? Everyone in the commune has seen this. Should something like attempted murder just be delayed?”
This matter would not be brushed aside!
“But it’s pitch dark—are we really going to the police station now?” Sun Guofei asked.
“Then let the police take them away.”
A deep, familiar voice suddenly sounded from outside the office.
Gu Zhao walked in, followed by two officers in uniform.
The moment Zhu Qiulan saw the police, her scalp went numb, her whole body trembling.
With the police present, things became much simpler.
Once reported, the case had to be handled.
If it couldn’t be resolved here, then it would be taken to the station.
“Comrades, this way,” Gu Zhao said, leading the officers out.
Those involved—Shu Ning, Chen Daming, Gu Zhao, Ergouzi, Zhu Qiulan, along with Team Leader Lei Zhenxing and several commune officials—left the office together.
As soon as they stepped outside, they saw a tractor parked at the entrance.
Everyone turned to look at Gu Zhao.
He could drive a tractor?
And where did he even get it?