Just as Su Qingyue’s eyes were bloodshot with rage, almost ready to throw herself at Ruan An’an and tear that hypocritical face apart—
Ruan An’an suddenly seemed to take a massive blow. Her body wavered, staggering toward the box.
She knelt on one knee, her slender fingers trembling as they traced over the grotesque skull painted on the lid, her voice so soft it was like a whisper of wind: “Grandfather… Father… you both fell on the battlefield while fighting this organization…”
A single scorching tear slid silently down, “plop,” hitting the dust.
She did not wail or sob, but that silent grief struck everyone like a hammer to the chest.
Ruan An’an pressed her hand to her heart, where sharp, bone-deep pangs radiated—pangs not entirely her own.
They were the remnants of the original owner’s deep, burning hatred for the enemy spies.
Last time in the basement, it had been too dark to notice.
Now, the crimson skull acted like a key, instantly unlocking the floodgates of vengeance.
The neighbors looked at Ruan An’an’s trembling, fragile back. Thinking of the Ruan family, all loyal martyrs, many of them had tears in their eyes.
Even Liu Pozi couldn’t help wiping away her own tears.
***’s voice was hoarse, heavy with sorrow: “Comrade Xu Yancheng… was also gravely injured while pursuing the remnants of this organization…”
Ruan An’an lifted her head, biting her lower lip hard, forcing back her tears stubbornly.
She slowly rose, step by step, walking toward Xu Yanli, who was being held down on the ground, her voice cold as Siberian wind: “You… don’t deserve the surname Xu.”
“Nor do you deserve to be Xu Yancheng’s brother! Nor to be Uncle Xu’s son!”
Xu Yanli trembled all over, frozen by the murderous hatred in her gaze.
Is this… still the same Ruan An’an who had been devoted to him?
He wanted to argue, but with a foul rag stuffed in his mouth, all he could make were helpless “ugh ugh” sounds.
“Two elder sisters-in-law,” *** saw Ruan An’an pale and on the verge of collapse, giving a subtle look to the guards.
The guards immediately handed over prepared ration coupons to Liu Pozi and Luo Guifen.
“Oh, how can we…”
Liu Pozi tried to protest verbally, but quickly stuffed the coupons into her pocket.
*** suppressed his anger: “Comrade Ruan was just traumatized. I’ll trouble you both to escort her home so she can rest. The police and militia will continue the investigation and evidence collection…”
Liu Pozi immediately patted her chest, promising: “Commissar, don’t worry! If there’s anything to ask, we’ll speak the truth!”
“Good.” *** walked to Ruan An’an, seeing her still fixated on Xu Yanli, his tone softening: “Comrade An’an, this is serious. We must take him back for questioning.”
Ruan An’an seemed to have all her strength drained. Her shoulders slumped, her voice faint and floating: “…Understood.”
“This place is too dangerous. Go to the unit and meet Yancheng for your wedding. I’ll have the passes and documentation sent over as soon as possible.”
Ruan An’an nodded blankly, like a puppet with its strings cut.
She walked to Liu Pozi and Luo Guifen, silently handing over the portions of pork.
When the piece reached Luo Guifen, she subtly flicked it, a trace of colorless, tasteless powder silently blending into the glossy meat.
“Thank you, aunties.”
She completed the task expressionlessly, retrieved the gold necklace from Luo Guifen, bowed deeply to the two, and then turned, stepping slowly toward the solitary old Western-style house.
The sunset stretched her shadow long and thin, fragile like the last leaf in autumn, as if a gust of wind could blow her away.
Liu Pozi sighed, looking at her retreating figure: “Poor child… An’an treated the Xu family like kin, but who would’ve thought she brought wolves into the house? They colluded with the enemy!”
Luo Guifen glared at the Xu mother and son being escorted, echoing: “A family of black-hearted beasts! They should all be executed!”
Hearing the curses of the two women, ***’s gaze became as sharp as a knife.
No one noticed Su Qingyue, forgotten in the corner.
With everyone’s attention on the Xu family and the military vehicles, she quietly slipped away…
The militia had seen her, but they didn’t consider her a threat.
Why?
The items had been dug up from under the Xu family kang bed.
Catching thieves with stolen goods was righteous—if anyone had to be arrested, it was the Xu mother and son.
Who cared about Su Qingyue?
At most, she was Xu Yanli’s mistress without even a proper title.
Besides, she was a country girl from northern Anhui, rumored to have dropped out before even finishing middle school.
The college entrance exams were currently suspended, but in Haishi, whose children weren’t proper high school graduates?
Even Wang Laowu at the alley, whose pigs were mauled, had a high school diploma.
Su Qingyue’s level? Hah, if you gave her a gun, she probably wouldn’t even know which way to pull the safety!
Not to mention she was carrying some illegitimate child, with a swollen belly, bringing bad luck!
Arrest her? That’d only make more trouble—militia didn’t even bother to glance at her.
Liu Pozi saw Su Qingyue’s shrinking, turtle-like posture and spat disdainfully.
“Bah! That shameless wretch still clinging to the Ruan family? She should check herself in the mirror!”
Nearby, Luo Guifen, enjoying her half a glistening pork knuckle, sneered cruelly: “Old sister, if she had any shame, would she be messing with a married man and carrying his bastard child? Go home and stew that pork knuckle for nourishment! My good eldest son has important things to do!”
She deliberately emphasized “good eldest son,” as if Su Qingyue could hear.
The two women’s spiteful, venom-laced chatter pierced Su Qingyue’s heart like poisoned needles.
She clenched her jaw, fists tight, nails digging into her palms.
Ruan An’an!
It was all that damn Ruan An’an!
She—had dragged Su Qingyue from cloud nine into a quagmire, destroying the good life that should have been hers!
This shouldn’t have happened!
She was a chosen one. In this era where family and status mattered, how could she possibly lose to a spoiled rich girl smelling of capitalist copper?
Why should the military district’s Commissar support Ruan An’an?
What else did that woman have besides a face that seduced men?
Suddenly, a light went off in Su Qingyue’s mind—
Exactly, Ruan An’an must have crawled into the Commissar’s bed, using her lowly body to manipulate him.
That was why she had such powerful protection!
Her mother had taught her before leaving: to capture a man’s heart, first capture the waistband of his pants.
An’an had been missing from home for three days—she must have gone to seduce ***.
Just wait! Once she exposes Ruan An’an and ***’s affair, she can prove An’an is shameless. The “collusion with the organization” blame could naturally fall back on her!
Then, Alì and the old lady would have to step aside!
Having figured out the “joints” of the plan, a gleam of madness and triumph flashed in Su Qingyue’s eyes.
She crouched low, like a thieving mouse, tiptoeing back to the low, secluded annex.
She had to write a denunciation to ***!
She would publicly accuse *** of having an affair with Ruan An’an!
Corruption and depravity!