Qin Yi had already guessed part of what she wanted. He asked, “What is your wish?”
“I hope you and Comrade Lin can keep it confidential that I helped you capture the criminals. Not just temporarily, but permanently. If possible, have Ma Liu and Zhang Kui keep their mouths shut too… Don’t disclose it to anyone else.”
Qin Yi had anticipated her request. While suspects’ confessions needed to be recorded and reported, Su Tong’s involvement didn’t affect the overall progress of the case. He could help fulfill her wish.
What puzzled him was her motive.
From his perspective, if Su Tong was hiding her capabilities, he hoped she would continue doing so. Honor and exposure would only bring her endless trouble and danger.
But if she was truly concealing her abilities, why was she living so miserably? She should at least have the capability to avoid being bullied.
Unable to figure it out, Qin Yi stared intently at her. “Are you serious? You’ll be giving up many honors and benefits this way.”
Su Tong answered decisively, “I’m serious! If you can help me, I’ll only be grateful to you!”
Qin Yi didn’t ask further and replied in a deep voice, “Alright!”
Su Tong immediately felt relieved. Qin Yi possessed a convincing aura, and as the person in charge of this case, his promise meant he could definitely make it happen.
With her worry resolved, Su Tong’s expression relaxed considerably. Just as she was about to speak, a shrill female voice suddenly sounded from the hospital room door.
“Mom—come quick! Wu Tong is hiding a strange man in her hospital room!”
Su Tong’s heart jumped, only then noticing a girl had entered the room unnoticed.
With two braids and wearing loose cotton-padded jacket and pants, her face was distorted with anger. This was the original host’s malicious younger sister, Wu Dongling.
Su Tong hadn’t expected to meet her “family” so soon. Before she could decide what to say, Wu Dongling had already rushed over, reaching out to grab her hair.
But before she could get close to Su Tong, a hand like iron pliers clamped around her wrist.
Furious, Wu Dongling turned to curse, but when her eyes fell on Qin Yi’s face, she froze in place…
Heavens! She had never seen such a handsome man—even more good-looking than those in movies, though his expression was quite intimidating.
Just then, a middle-aged woman rushed through the doorway—the original host’s biological mother, Wang Guilan. The moment she entered, she began shouting curses:
“Wu Tong, you jinx! I gave you face but you don’t want it! No wonder the good marriage fell through—you’ve been secretly seeing another man! How dare you! Just wait until I strangle you!”
Qin Yi released Wu Dongling’s wrist and stood sideways in front of Su Tong’s bed, blocking the aggressive mother and daughter.
When Wu Dongling saw Wang Guilan enter, she actually stretched out her wrist and cried, “Mom, this man just touched me!”
Wang Guilan’s eyes swept over Qin Yi. Noting his exceptional clothing and demeanor, she paused momentarily. Then her expression changed, and she actually sat down on the floor, slapping her thighs while wailing loudly.
“This is outrageous! My good daughter has been taken advantage of like this! If you don’t take responsibility today, I won’t let this go!”
Su Tong felt a chill run down her spine. Memory and firsthand experience were completely different. This bizarre mother-daughter pair was truly eye-opening. Having to face such family members daily, no wonder the original host couldn’t go on living.
The door burst open as several people rushed in, led by Ma Daming, who grabbed the hysterical Wang Guilan and roared:
“Wang Guilan! Get up this instant! This is a provincial investigator! A public security officer! Not someone for you to throw a tantrum at!”
Wang Guilan knew her daughter hadn’t suffered any real harm, nor did she genuinely intend to extort responsibility for her daughter’s condition. She simply noticed the young man’s distinguished appearance and expensive attire—clearly someone with money—and thought she could squeeze some cash out of him…
Hearing he was a public security officer gave her pause. If he was with the police, her scheme likely wouldn’t work.
She glared covetously at Qin Yi’s leather jacket—it was obviously high-end! Probably cost over a hundred yuan…
Feeling unwilling but resigned, she slowly climbed to her feet, though her mouth kept running: “Oh! So it’s Comrade Officer! Even officers should mind their manners! You can’t just go around touching a young girl’s hand like that!”
Qin Yi’s face was cold as he pulled out a pair of handcuffs from his back waist. “Interfering with police work could earn you a pair of silver bracelets. Care to try?”
Seeing he meant business, Wang Guilan quickly toned down her act. “Oh, Comrade Officer, no need for that! We’re Tong Ya’s family, and she just performed a meritorious service! Shouldn’t you show us some respect?”
Ma Daming flushed with embarrassment and shot Wang Guilan a sharp look. “Wang Guilan, have you already forgotten everything Secretary Wu told you? Do you still want to cause trouble?”
Wang Guilan brushed off her clothes dismissively. “What are you talking about! I came, didn’t I? My precious daughter has a delicate fate—even a scratch on her head requires her mother to travel all this way to care for her!”
“Wang Guilan! Watch your words! Do you really think your daughter only has a scratch? Do you need to spend a few days in the police station to calm down?”
This time it was Jiang Pinglu who spoke. He never expected Wu Tong’s family to be so vulgar. Had he known, he wouldn’t have notified them.
“Director Jiang, now that’s not right! Threatening to send me to the police station—people might think you can arrest anyone at will! I’m now a hero’s mother, isn’t that the term? Secretary Wu said my girl is a hero, that she did a great service…”
Wang Guilan showed no fear, her confidence unshakable. She turned to Qin Yi with an ingratiating smile:
“You’re the provincial leader, right? I heard there’s a reward for meritorious service. My girl is too shy, so since I’m here today, I’ll accept the reward on her behalf. Where do I go to handle the formalities?”
Su Tong watched Wang Guilan coldly, surprised by the woman’s formidable combat skills—ruthless, bold, and thick-skinned, capable of both assessing situations and causing chaos. An ordinary person would be no match for her.
Li Youshuan and Wang Lao Er must not have disclosed the real reason the original host hit the pillar. Otherwise, this mother and daughter wouldn’t have shown up here so quickly.
Ma Daming and Jiang Pinglu exchanged uneasy glances. They had no idea how Secretary Wu had publicized this in the village. While recognition was certain, and past precedents suggested a substantial reward, they truly didn’t know how Su Tong’s case would be handled at higher levels.
Tong Ya was still ill, and they had hoped her family would come to care for her for a few days. They never expected Wang Guilan to show no remorse whatsoever and immediately focus on the reward money.
She even flaunted her status as the hero’s mother. Although everyone knew she had forced Tong Ya to smash her head against the pillar, her identity was undeniable. Since Tong Ya remained unmarried, any potential reward money would likely end up in the hands of her heartless mother.
Just as Ma Daming was inwardly regretting having notified Tong Ya’s family so early, Su Tong spoke up.
Though she had absolutely no desire to engage with these two women, they were ultimately “Wu Tong’s” family. No matter how much she wanted to ignore them, she couldn’t let the police officers be troubled by her personal affairs. Seizing the moment, she said:
“Mom, now that I’m awake, there’s no need for you to trouble yourself with these matters! You should go back. I don’t need anyone to take care of me here.”