A flicker of surprise crossed the leader’s eyes, but it vanished almost instantly.
“Leader, search away. We have nothing to hide!”
Qiao Yuewei stepped forward first, dumping the contents of her bag and turning out her pants pockets as well.
“You all go search the rooms.”
Since both sides had filed real-name reports, the search had to be official and thorough. Some officers went to the first-floor rooms, others to the upstairs.
Uncle Ren hesitated, but Qiao Yuewei gave him a reassuring wink.
“Comrade, you should search him too!” she reminded.
“Alright, I’ll do it,” the lead officer said, signaling the police to pull He Runsong to his feet.
Once he was standing, the officer first felt through his shirt pockets, shook his head, then checked his coat pockets.
Suddenly, his expression changed—he held a gleaming “little yellow fish” in his hand.
“What’s this?”
He Runsong’s eyes nearly popped out. Where did it come from?
He shook his head frantically. “Comrade, it’s not mine! Not mine!”
The lead officer ignored him and continued the search.
When the other search officers returned, Uncle Ren finally exhaled.
“Captain, nothing was found.”
He Runsong muttered, “Impossible… she must have hidden it, she definitely hid it!”
“Shut up! You rotten-hearted fool!” Uncle Ren jumped up and slapped him.
Qiao Yuewei’s lips twitched. Her head must hurt from that slap—surely it’s painful.
“Leader, I’m sorry, I’m just too angry. This man is unworthy of being a human, let alone a father! Look at my niece’s neck—that’s him! First he tried to kill her, and now he’s falsely accusing us…” Uncle Ren turned his face away, feigning righteous fury.
He truly was angry.
The lead officer waved his hand and asked a nearby policeman, “What’s going on?”
The officer glared at He Runsong. “This man committed assault in front of us!”
The lead officer nodded—malicious behavior indeed!
He gave a subtle signal, and the group took He Runsong away.
He Runsong’s legs went weak; he let them carry him off.
Qiao Yuewei waved at his retreating back, only to feel her neck sting.
“Ugh…”
“Yuewei, quick, quick! I’ll take you to the hospital—He Runsong, that bastard!”
“Comrade, after the hospital, remember to come to the station to file a report,” the officer said, giving the address of the same station Qiao Yuewei had visited before.
Uncle Ren fetched a bicycle, while Qiao Yuewei pulled a silk scarf from her space to tie around her neck.
At the hospital, the doctor frowned.
“Comrade, such severe injuries—have you reported this?”
Clearly, this was a deliberate attack, done with lethal intent. This was attempted murder!
“Thank you, doctor. We already reported it.”
The doctor nodded, dressing her wounds while scolding Uncle Ren: “What kind of guardian are you? The child was injured so badly—but luckily, there won’t be scars.”
Uncle Ren nodded guiltily.
Leaving the hospital, he said remorsefully, “Yuewei, does it hurt? It’s all Uncle Ren’s fault!”
“Don’t worry, Uncle Ren. It just looks frightening. And I should apologize—I won’t act recklessly like this again. Today was a last resort, but luckily, the outcome was good.”
After Qiao Yuewei’s reassurance, Uncle Ren finally smiled again. They hurried to the station to file their report.
The police told them that He Runsong wouldn’t escape jail; he would be punished for both crimes.
After thanking the police, the two left the station and ran into a flustered He Chuchu.
Seeing Qiao Yuewei, He Chuchu’s heart burned with anger.
Being kicked out of the house early in the morning—this was all Qiao Yuewei’s doing! Why had she donated their house, leaving them with nowhere to live? The guesthouse was small, dirty, and no comparison to their Qiao family room.
Even worse, she was on her way to eat with He Ximing when she heard that someone had caught a capitalist hiding a “little yellow fish.” And who was it? Her father-in-law from the Qiao family!
Panicked, she rushed over. If her father got in trouble, what would happen to her job? Without it, she would be sent to the countryside—a smelly, dirty, and harsh life she refused to endure.
“Qiao Yuewei! Give me your job, or I’ll report you! You’re a capitalist descendant!”
Qiao Yuewei looked at her mockingly. “Go ahead.”
Then she turned her gaze forward and walked on. He Chuchu’s good days were about to end—no need to waste time on her.
“Stop!” Normally delicate, He Chuchu somehow managed to grab Qiao Yuewei’s wrist tightly.
Qiao Yuewei frowned. “Let go.”
Uncle Ren panicked. If he hadn’t restrained himself from hitting a woman, he would have broken He Chuchu’s wrist. He tried to pry her hand off, but couldn’t. “He Chuchu, let go!”
He Chuchu’s pretty face twisted with malice. “Never! Qiao Yuewei ruined my family, and you think you can just walk away? Nothing in this world is that easy! Unless you give me your job—and your engagement to Qin Xingye!”
She’d heard her father say Qin Xingye was a regiment commander. Once she got Qiao Yuewei’s job and sent her to the countryside, she could go to the military and marry him.
Qiao Yuewei laughed. “Haha, He Chuchu, go see a doctor if you’re sick.”
She wouldn’t steal Qiao Yuewei’s job or fiancé!
“He Chuchu, I told you—give me your job, or I’ll report you and you’ll end up in the cattle shed! But if you give it willingly, you might get a mud-brick house and a slightly easier life.”
Qiao Yuewei, done with patience, grabbed He Chuchu’s wrist and twisted it backward. He Chuchu’s eyes filled with tears from the pain.
Qiao Yuewei knew exactly how hard she had twisted—excruciating.
“Murder! Waaa! Officer, help! Qiao Yuewei is killing me!”
Qiao Yuewei immediately released her and stepped back, letting He Chuchu thrash on the ground.
The noise drew two police officers over.
“What’s going on?”
He Chuchu, thinking she had leverage, pointed at Qiao Yuewei. “Officer, I want to report her! She’s trying to kill me!”
In just a few days, Qiao Yuewei had come here three times—enough to be recognized.
The officers ignored He Chuchu and looked at Qiao Yuewei. “Comrade Qiao, your side?”
Qiao Yuewei held up her reddened wrist. “Officer, He Chuchu refused to go to the countryside and forced me to give her my job. When I refused, she tried to slander me. Her father is He Runsong.”
Qiao Yuewei made sure to clarify that last point.
The officers’ gaze hardened as they looked at He Chuchu.
They instructed Qiao Yuewei to proceed with her duties, while He Chuchu and the others were taken into custody.
They were sent to the youth cadre office and discovered He Chuchu’s transfer to the countryside was scheduled for tomorrow morning. She was then brought back to the station and sent on a train to the eastern province the next day.
No amount of crying or screaming could change it.