“Where’s the money? Where’s the money? My money?!”
Xie Qingsong went completely mad and rushed inside, running in circles around the room like an 800-meter dash. After one full lap, he completely gave up!
It was all gone. Everything was gone.
“What do we do, Qingsong? Without that money, we can’t even pay the ferry fee. What are we going to do?! Silin’s bracelet still isn’t ready, and we…”
Wu Fengrao suddenly stopped talking.
Xie Silin…
The two of them exchanged a glance and, like lunatics, dashed toward Xie Silin’s room!
An hour earlier, Xie Li had sneaked into the basement in the dark.
She had an extraordinary ability photographic memory. Whether people or objects, if she glanced at them once, she could remember everything.
Last time, she had memorized the basement lock’s code. This time, she easily got inside.
Without hesitation, she moved quickly, transporting all the items into her space with a single motion.
Then she went to find the half-asleep Xie Silin.
In the bedroom:
“Mom and Dad said they’ll kill you tonight. They had me bring you this bowl of soup it’s poisoned.”
Xie Li set down the chicken soup, staring at Xie Silin’s face full of distrust, and continued:
“I have no reason to lie to you. If you trust me, leave immediately. You have the bracelet left by Grandpa, and your life afterward won’t be difficult.”
Xie Silin couldn’t bring herself to trust Xie Li, but she had long since begun doubting Xie Qingsong and Wu Fengrao. Those two were ruthless enough to do something like this she believed they would!
“Why are you saving me? Aren’t you supposed to hate me?!”
Xie Silin spoke the doubt deep in her heart.
Xie Li pressed her forehead and smiled wryly:
“I’m not saving you I’m saving myself. They were going to make me serve you the soup, and if anything happened, I’d take the blame. Whether you leave or not is your choice. I’m leaving tonight.”
Xie Li stood up and walked toward the door. At the threshold, she stopped and turned to look at the already hesitant Xie Silin, her face filled with sincerity as she told a lie:
“Even though you took the jade bracelet, I thank you for the gold bracelet you gave me. I exchanged it for quite a bit of money, which gave me the confidence to leave the Xie family.”
After saying this, she left without another word.
Xie Silin panicked completely.
She was certain that Xie Qingsong and Wu Fengrao could do such a thing. Every day they asked her if the bracelet was ready. Every time she shook her head, she could clearly see the distrust and resentment in their eyes.
And now, at this critical moment after the Pei family was raided and the Xie family was about to be next they were counting on her bracelet to save them!
Xie Silin steeled herself. She grabbed a small suitcase from her wardrobe, packed a few things quickly, and tiptoed out. Passing Xie Qingsong’s door, she heard some movement inside.
Xie Qingsong and Wu Fengrao weren’t asleep yet; the door was slightly ajar.
She pressed her ear to the crack and peeked inside, hearing them talk about selling Xie Li and then killing her. When talking about the bracelet, Wu Fengrao made a throat-slitting gesture!
Xie Li really hadn’t lied!
They really planned to sell her and then kill Xie Silin!
Those two pig-dog old bastards! Xie Silin didn’t hesitate any longer she grabbed her suitcase and ran.
Xie Li, hiding at the door, saw Xie Silin flee with her suitcase. She curled her lips into a small, triumphant smile.
“Silin!”
Wu Fengrao called Xie Silin’s name as she ran upstairs, with Xie Qingsong close behind.
Rattle!
The door, slightly ajar, swung open. The wardrobe inside was open, and all the clothes were gone.
They searched the entire bedroom, but couldn’t find Xie Silin.
She had escaped?!
Xie Qingsong and Wu Fengrao felt their hearts sink to the bottom of a valley!
“Mom! Dad!”
Suddenly, their hearts leapt they turned happily!
It was Xie Li.
Their hearts sank again.
The ups and downs made Wu Fengrao faint from shock.
“Mom! Dad, what’s wrong with her?”
Xie Li, feigning concern, asked anxiously.
Xie Qingsong sighed, flopped down beside Wu Fengrao, and all his earlier tension vanished.
He looked calm but was out of options.
The bracelet had been taken by Xie Silin. It contained the Xie family’s generational wealth and it was in the hands of an outsider! Even the basement money, Xie Silin refused to leave behind.
They were being forced into a dead end!
“Ahhh! Aooooooohhh!”
Xie Qingsong howled to the sky in agony like a rabid old dog. The child he had raised for over twenty years had stabbed him in the back!
After telling Xie Li this, he was in tears, unable to speak.
Xie Li patted his back to comfort him:
“It’s okay, Dad. I still have some money left from selling the bracelets. Silin has run off, and the Revolutionary Committee will hear news soon. You should leave under cover of night. If people come tomorrow, you won’t be able to escape!”
As she spoke, she handed some money into Xie Qingsong’s hands:
“Dad! Go now!”
Xie Qingsong, inspired by her urgency, stuffed the money into his pocket, lifted Wu Fengrao, and ran out, saying as he ran:
“Child, you…”
He stomped and sighed:
“Next life, I’ll repay you!”
Xie Li sneered internally: Thanks a lot, you old bastard!
Xie Qingsong needed to reach the dock quickly. If the Revolutionary Committee caught him, they wouldn’t believe Xie Silin took the wealth with the bracelet they’d think he was moving it himself!
Luckily, Xie Li had given him the money.
This life, he owed the child. Next life, he’d repay her.
Watching their departing figures, Xie Li sneered audibly.
Next life is too far away better to settle it now.
She immediately called the Revolutionary Committee:
“Secretary Wang, the matter you asked me to monitor has progressed. The Xie family has fled with the money. They left just recently.”
After hanging up, she quickly moved all remaining items in the house into her space even pots and pans were not left behind.
By the time the Committee arrived, the Xie family’s home was completely empty.
Wang Dechang looked at the empty house, nearly jumping in anger!
Unbelievable! These damn capitalists! Was his method not ruthless enough? And they still dared to flee? Dared to move their wealth?
“Xiao Zhang, take people to the dock immediately! Intercept the Xie family at all costs!”
Xie Li stepped forward to add:
“Secretary Wang, Xie Qingsong and Wu Fengrao chartered a boat. I found out it’s docked at…”
Xie Li rattled off the details, selling out the Xie family completely.
Wang Dechang was moved. He patted Xie Li on the shoulder:
“Comrade Xie, your ideological consciousness is remarkable. Born in the mud yet able to keep your heart untainted!”
Xie Li waved humbly:
“I’m just doing my duty, of course, of course!”
Xie Qingsong and Wu Fengrao were caught just as the boat set off. Xie Silin was apprehended before she even reached the dock.
None of the three Xie family members escaped.
Receiving the news, Xie Li hummed a tune while packing her small suitcase.
She was leaving.
Going to join the army.