The moment she stepped out the door, the ease on Zhang Yunqing’s face faded instantly, replaced by a thoughtful look in her eyes.
It seemed the Zhang family drama wasn’t going to be entertaining at all. Just because she had shut Zhang Hongwei up this morning and denied him the chance to speak didn’t mean the matter was over.
Since the two of them had set their sights on her job, they definitely had more tricks up their sleeves.
It wasn’t thieves stealing that people feared most—it was thieves constantly thinking about stealing.
She needed to find a way to get farther away from the Zhang family.
As she was thinking this, her eyes suddenly sharpened.
The road from the Zhang house to the printing factory was only separated from the supply cooperative by a single street, and it was always crowded.
Apparently something good was being sold again today, because many people were hurrying in the direction of the cooperative.
Among the crowd, Zhang Yunqing spotted an elderly woman with graying hair quietly slipping her hand into another woman’s pocket under the cover of the crowd.
Her steps paused briefly.
After thinking for two seconds, she changed direction and also headed toward the supply cooperative.
Just as she was wondering how to warn the woman to watch her belongings—
The old lady’s wrist was suddenly seized by a long, well-defined hand.
In her previous life, Zhang Yunqing had always struggled most with drawing hands, which had made her especially attentive to details of people’s hands.
For a moment, her attention was completely drawn to that hand.
Following it upward, Zhang Yunqing was startled.
The owner of the hand was, without question, the most handsome man she had seen since transmigrating into this world.
Unlike the era’s traditional preference for men with thick eyebrows, big eyes, and square faces—
He had an exceptionally fair and refined face. His lips curved slightly upward with a rounded fullness, and his phoenix-shaped eyes tilted upward elegantly.
Because he stood over six feet tall, looking down at others gave him an intimidating, unapproachable air.
“Take it out,” the man said coldly, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Liu Lanying was startled when her wrist was suddenly grabbed.
But after realizing it was only a young man, her eyes shifted craftily, and she immediately began pretending ignorance.
“What thing? Young man, you must’ve seen wrong. I’m an old woman—I can’t handle being tossed around like this.”
As she spoke, she struggled to shake off his grip.
“Take it out, or I’ll call the police.”
The man remained unmoved, still firmly holding her wrist.
Seeing his attitude, Liu Lanying knew things were going badly today. She immediately dropped to the ground and turned the tables.
“Oh heavens! Robbery! You city people are bullying a poor old country woman!”
Her shameless ability to change expressions instantly left Zhang Yunqing dumbfounded.
The moment Liu Lanying shouted, the surrounding crowd immediately focused on them.
The woman whose belongings had been stolen was named Dai Yuzhen. Since she was standing closest to the two of them, after seeing the situation, she instantly sided with Liu Lanying.
“What’s wrong with you, young man? She’s an old lady already—why are you bullying her?”
Someone in the crowd seemed to recognize the man and whispered, “Isn’t that Zhou Beichuan, the troublemaker from the machinery factory?”
Another chimed in, “The one who even beats his own parents? Then bullying an old woman isn’t surprising.”
“Shh, keep your voice down. Careful he beats you after he’s done with her.”
Although they lowered their voices, Zhang Yunqing still heard every word clearly.
Zhou Beichuan.
Liu Suqin had only mentioned him yesterday, and she hadn’t expected to meet him so soon.
Clearly, Zhou Beichuan had also heard the crowd gossiping about him. His sharp gaze swept across the people around him, and the murmuring instantly died away.
He withdrew his gaze and looked back at Liu Lanying.
“Take out what’s hidden in your sleeve.”
Seeing that Zhou Beichuan still refused to let go, Liu Lanying secretly spat in annoyance and cursed him for meddling.
But on the surface, she wore the expression of someone deeply wronged. The wrinkles etched deeply into her skin made her look like nothing more than an ordinary peasant woman.
Lowering her head timidly, she said, “Young man, I really don’t have any money. Please let me go.”
Dai Yuzhen had naturally heard the crowd’s comments about Zhou Beichuan. Seeing Liu Lanying acting so pitiful, the balance in her heart tipped completely toward the old woman.
She reached out and tried to pull Zhou Beichuan’s arm away.
“I don’t care who you are! You can’t bully people right in front of me.”
Zhou Beichuan clicked his tongue impatiently and sidestepped her grasp.
Too lazy to explain, he tightened his grip on Liu Lanying’s wrist.
He was preparing to pull out the evidence directly and slap it in the face of this “blind” woman—
When a crisp female voice interrupted the confrontation.
“Auntie, was the thing wrapping your money and coupons a dark blue handkerchief with white ruffled trim?”
Dai Yuzhen froze for a moment before realizing Zhang Yunqing was speaking to her.
Confused, she asked, “How did you know?”
The ruffled trim had been leftover fabric from clothes her daughter-in-law made for her granddaughter. Dai Yuzhen had liked it, so she asked her daughter-in-law to sew it onto her handkerchief.
Suddenly, realization struck her.
Instinctively, she reached for the pocket of her jacket.
She grabbed nothing but air.
Cold sweat instantly broke out across her forehead.
Today, she had heard the supply cooperative was selling defective fabric that didn’t require coupons, and she had come intending to buy some to make a wedding quilt for her daughter’s dowry.
She had deliberately brought a lot of money.
If she lost it, how could she explain it to her family?
Seeing that she finally understood, Zhang Yunqing calmly explained, “Just now I noticed a corner of your handkerchief sticking out and was about to remind you. Then that old lady kindly ‘put it away’ for you.”
As she spoke, she pointed toward Liu Lanying’s sleeve.
Everyone’s eyes followed the direction she indicated.
Sure enough, after struggling with Zhou Beichuan, the cuff of Liu Lanying’s sleeve had shifted enough to reveal a blue handkerchief bundle trimmed with lace.
“Well now! So you really are a thief, you old hag!”
Dai Yuzhen exploded with anger.
The joy of recovering her belongings was quickly replaced by fury at being deceived.
She lunged forward, trying to snatch back her things.
With her hand restrained by Zhou Beichuan, Liu Lanying couldn’t dodge. Dai Yuzhen yanked out a huge handful of her hair, making her shriek in pain.
No longer bothering to pretend to be weak and pitiful, Liu Lanying lifted her neck defiantly and shouted, “What proof do you have that it’s yours? I say you’re working together with these two little bastards to rob me!”
After all, the item was in her possession. Who could prove it belonged to Dai Yuzhen?
As long as she stubbornly refused to admit it, even if they went to the police station, there would be nothing they could do.
Dai Yuzhen trembled with rage at her shameless words, her finger shaking violently as she pointed at her.
“Does this even need proof?!”
Zhang Yunqing stepped forward, her eyes bright and clear.
“Since you say it’s yours, then how much money is inside?”
Liu Lanying was instantly stumped.
She had only just stolen it and hadn’t had time to look. How was she supposed to know how much money was inside?
Her eyes darted around as she stammered, “I…I forgot. Around twenty-something yuan, probably.”
“I remember!” Dai Yuzhen immediately interrupted. “There’s 33 yuan and 7 mao 5 fen inside, plus eight feet of fabric coupons and three grain coupons worth two liang each.”
“In that case,” Zhang Yunqing said with a sly smile, “why don’t we count everything properly in front of the police and see who’s telling the truth?”
Zhou Beichuan looked at her, his eyes flickering slightly.