Zhao Zhenhua didn’t want to go, but he couldn’t come up with a suitable excuse on the spot. If he kept making excuses, it would only raise more suspicion, so he had no choice but to follow the others.
The group arrived at the police station, and the officers accepted the report, but for the time being, they couldn’t proceed with the investigation.
The reason was that the thug had been electrocuted unconscious.
Judging by his condition, he wouldn’t be waking up anytime soon.
The police took statements from Su Mulan, Zhao Zhenhua, and a few neighbors who had helped, then told them to go home for now.
Song Yumei was frantic at the thought that someone had tried to harm her daughter. “Comrade Officer, when can we expect any results?”
The officer thought for a moment. “Come back tomorrow morning. We might have some news by then.”
“Alright, alright. Thank you for your hard work, Comrade Officer. I’ll come back tomorrow morning.”
Only after receiving this confirmation did Song Yumei return to the residential compound.
But as soon as the mother and daughter stepped through the door, Su Guoqiang’s scolding came crashing down on them.
“Su Mulan, you finally decided to come back?
A young girl like you, instead of quietly keeping such a thing to yourself, you actually dared to make a scene at the police station?
What will people think of you from now on? What will they think of our Su family?
You’ve completely humiliated me!”
Song Yumei immediately shielded her daughter behind her. “Guoqiang, what nonsense are you spouting?
Mulan was almost assaulted, and instead of comforting her, you’re blaming her? Is this how a father should act?”
“She’s so capable, what comfort does she need?
Stupid as a pig—if you couldn’t find the person, didn’t you know to come back home?” Su Guoqiang slammed the table fiercely, more aggressive than anyone. “Walking around in a dress late at night—isn’t that just asking for trouble?
Why else would that thug target you out of all the people on the street?
It’s because you have no self-respect!
It’s clearly your own fault, yet you’re trying to pin it on Zhenhua, saying he set you up.
How am I supposed to explain this to the Zhao family?”
“Su Guoqiang, how dare you talk like that!” Song Yumei was so angry she nearly jumped up to slap him. “Is that any way to speak? How can you say such things about your own daughter?”
Su Guoqiang pushed Song Yumei aside and glared at Su Mulan with disgust. “I’m telling the truth!
It’s all because you spoiled her. She’s nowhere near as good as Huihui…”
Su Mulan stared at Su Guoqiang’s twisted face. Even though this wasn’t the first time she’d endured such verbal abuse, her body still trembled uncontrollably.
In her past life, when she was rescued, her clothes were torn and barely covered her. After returning home, Su Guoqiang had berated her for lacking self-respect, accused her of wearing a dress to seduce Zhao Zhenhua, and said she’d brought it upon herself. Those words had traveled far beyond the thin red bricks of their residential building.
If even her own father spoke that way, the neighbors who had initially sympathized with her plight began to believe it was her fault. Some even used her as a cautionary tale to educate their children.
At her lowest point, Zhao Zhenhua came to propose marriage, becoming her only way out and her savior.
She gave up on retaking the college entrance exams, abandoned any pursuit of the truth, and hastily married him, clinging to him like a lifeline.
But decades of marriage taught her that no one could truly save her.
The so-called gifts of fate always come with a hidden price…
“Su Guoqiang, are you even a man?”
Su Mulan suddenly erupted, her shout drowning out her parents’ argument. Then she grabbed an enamel mug and hurled it at Su Guoqiang, striking him squarely on the forehead with a loud thud.
“Your daughter was bullied, and you, this spineless coward, don’t dare confront the thugs who directly harmed me, nor do you dare face Zhao Zhenhua who indirectly caused this. All you can do is vent your anger on me, the victim.
What’s wrong with me wearing a skirt?
The country hasn’t banned women from wearing skirts when going out, so what are you shouting about?
If you’re so capable, why don’t you go amend the constitution and forbid all women from wearing skirts!”
Su Guoqiang covered his forehead with one hand and pointed at Su Mulan with the other, so furious his tongue seemed to trip over itself: “You… you… you dare raise your hand against me? Do you even act like a proper girl anymore? All those years I worked hard to pay for your education—did it all go to waste? I should have strangled you the moment you were born. It’s not too late now—just wait till I beat you to death!”
As he spoke, he grabbed a chair.
Song Yumei quickly clung to Su Guoqiang, trying to mediate: “Mulan, don’t argue with your father anymore. Let’s talk about this tomorrow. Guoqiang, calm down too. The child nearly had an accident and is upset. Be a little more understanding.”
Su Mulan sneered, her words steady and cutting: “Su Guoqiang, all your money went to Su Huilan. I was raised by my mother—what does it have to do with you?”
Hearing this, Su Guoqiang looked smug: “Exactly. That’s why I supported Huilan to become a college student. Unlike you—shameless and disgraceful.”
“A college student…” Su Mulan deliberately sighed. “I wonder if her status as a college student can withstand scrutiny.”
Su Guoqiang’s eyes flickered, his bluster fading slightly: “Wh-what nonsense are you talking? You must have gone mad from jealousy over your sister getting into college. Tomorrow I’ll send you to the Ninth Hospital—save everyone the trouble!”
“Su Guoqiang, shut up!” Song Yumei shouted, cutting off her husband. She turned to her daughter: “Mulan, what do you mean by that? What’s wrong with Huilan being a college student?”
“Mom…” Su Mulan looked at Song Yumei’s confused expression, the words on the tip of her tongue stuck there.
Without evidence to prove Su Huilan’s true identity, her mother was still Su Huilan’s mother too.
Even if her mother learned that Su Huilan had taken her college spot, she would be torn between her eldest daughter on one side and her husband and younger daughter on the other.
Both were her flesh and blood—would her mother ask her to endure it to protect Su Huilan?
Which way the scales would tip, she couldn’t guess, and didn’t dare to.
She didn’t want to suspect her mother so harshly, but the betrayal she suffered in her past life was etched into her bones. She no longer dared to trust easily.
That’s why she couldn’t even bring herself to mention her rebirth.
Besides, why make her mother suffer between her two daughters?
Once she found the evidence, her mother and Su Guoqiang would become enemies, and Su Huilan wouldn’t escape either.
Then she could tell her mother about her past life as if it were a dream—her mother would surely stand by her then!
Su Mulan turned to Su Guoqiang, a cold smile curling her lips: “Su Guoqiang, don’t you know what I mean? Think about it carefully, take your time. We’ll talk once you’ve figured it out.”
These words exploded like a bomb, leaving Su Guoqiang pale. He pointed at Su Mulan, trembling too much to speak, finally managing after a long pause: “You’re insane, truly insane. I can’t be bothered with you!”
He stormed out, slamming the door so hard the walls seemed to shake.
The room fell into dead silence.
Song Yumei wearily rubbed her temples and turned to Su Mulan, habitually playing the peacemaker: “Mulan, your dad… he does care about you in his heart, he just doesn’t know how to express it. Don’t be angry with him. I’ll definitely talk to him properly tomorrow. But I also have to scold you—no matter how angry you are in the future, you’re not allowed to call your dad by his name. You can’t talk back like that, understand?”
Su Mulan looked at her mother, who was struggling to maintain family harmony, and felt a deep ache in her heart. For now, she couldn’t reveal the truth and could only say softly, “Mom, I really do know some things. Please let me look into it first. Once I find evidence, I’ll definitely tell you.” With that, she fled back to her room…
Su Guoqiang didn’t come home all night. When she woke up in the morning, only her mother was at home. “Mulan, I have to go to the factory today. Wait at home. I’ll hand over my tasks and then take leave to go to the police station with you.” Song Yumei was a production supervisor at a garment factory, and there was a batch of goods to be delivered today, so she had to be there.
Su Mulan said, “Mom, it’s fine. I can go alone.” After breakfast, she stepped out under her mother’s worried gaze. As soon as she left, she noticed many people giving her strange looks. From the scattered fragments of conversation she overheard, it was easy to guess they were discussing what had happened the night before. She didn’t explain. The real show was yet to come.
When she arrived at the police station, Officer Fang Chengzhi, who received her, greeted her with a smile: “Comrade Su, you’ve come at just the right time. That person has woken up and confessed.”
Seeing Fang Chengzhi, Su Mulan felt a surge of energy. Fang Chengzhi was famously stubborn and impartial in handling cases. Perhaps because of this, he remained an ordinary police officer until retirement, but he was also the most trusted policeman among the common people. With this case in Fang Chengzhi’s hands, Su Mulan immediately felt reassured.
She quickly asked, “Did the thug say who ordered him? Was it Zhao Zhenhua?”