Su Dagui was initially still groggy, but being startled so suddenly, his mind hadn’t yet caught up. He reflexively responded, “What’s the matter?”
Only after speaking did he realize his mistake and hurriedly shook his head. “What Su Dagui, Wang Dagui? Comrade officers, you must have the wrong person. My name is Su Wanjin.”
Although he was desperately trying to cover up, the officers weren’t fools. Having interrogated countless criminals, they could tell from the micro-expressions on his face that he was lying.
Two other officers pushed open the door, grabbed him, and dragged him outside.
Deng Xinru, hearing the commotion, came out wrapped in a coat. At the sight of the police, her face immediately paled.
The middle-aged officer in charge saw her and asked a question similar to the one he had just posed: “Deng Xinru?”
Deng Xinru took a deep breath, trying to calm her emotions, and forced a smile. “Yes, Comrade officers. What brings you here today?”
The middle-aged officer nodded. “Then please come with us. There’s a case that requires your cooperation.”
Seeing the officer’s uncompromising expression, Deng Xinru dug her nails into her palm, striving to appear composed. “Alright, I’ll certainly cooperate.”
“You officers look unfamiliar, not like you’re from our Wutongshi. May I ask…?”
The middle-aged officer curled his lips, knowing she was probing their background. However, there was nothing he couldn’t disclose, so he replied with a hollow smile, “We’re from the provincial level, so naturally we look unfamiliar to you. Your uncle is Deng Hong, right? Don’t worry, he’ll also be investigated.”
With just that one sentence, Deng Xinru’s heart sank halfway.
Her fingers trembled slightly as she glanced at the cowering Su Dagui. She knew that if provincial officials had come to investigate, and even her uncle was being looked into, there was only one possibility: Su Dagui’s fake death had been exposed.
Deng Xinru opened her mouth, wanting to defend herself, but her throat felt clogged with cotton, and no words came out.
She could only pray silently, hoping her uncle had covered his tracks well and wouldn’t be caught.
As she was led out by the police, she gave Su Dagui a cold glare, realizing the most likely source of the leak was the Su family. Resentment welled up uncontrollably in her heart.
Apart from her parents and uncle, no one in Wutongshi knew Su Dagui’s true identity. For the matter to be exposed, it must have been the Su family’s failure to deal with Wang Lihua properly.
Su Dagui, caught by her icy gaze, hurriedly lowered his eyes, his mind racing to devise an escape plan.
In the current situation, he could only insist that he was Su Wanjin. After all, Deng Hong had helped him forge his identity documents. As long as Deng Hong didn’t want to go down with him, he would surely stick to this new identity.
Most importantly, he had coaxed Deng Xinru into marrying him as soon as he arrived. Now, he and the Deng family were tied together like grasshoppers on the same string.
If he could buy a few more days, send word back to have Old Mrs. Su quickly dispose of that mother and her two daughters, leaving no evidence, the trap could be broken.
Having figured all this out, Su Dagui straightened up and allowed the police to take him and Deng Xinru away.
Having orchestrated his own fake death, his mindset was naturally steadier than most. Though caught off guard at first, he had quickly recovered and even had the composure to whisper comfort to Deng Xinru, telling her not to be afraid.
How could Deng Xinru not be afraid? If her family and uncle were implicated because of her, her grandfather and aunt would definitely not let her off.
That very afternoon, the county public security bureau received orders to investigate whether steel mill worker Su Dagui was truly dead.
At the same time, a middle-aged man went to Su Dagui’s home in Hongxing Village, staying only half an hour before hurrying away.
The only ones who saw him were Su Dabao and Su Erbao, who were building a snowman in the yard.
Su Dabao took a few extra glances because the man looked particularly unfamiliar.
Su Erbao, however, found it strange—on such a cold day, why would someone come to the village and leave again in less than half an hour?
As she thought about it, her heart sank.
Meanwhile, in the Su household, Old Mrs. Su puffed on her pipe, her face darker than the bottom of a pot.
Su Dafu paced anxiously beside her, muttering over and over, “What should we do, what should we do?”
Liu Xianghua held Su Xiuxiu close, the mother and daughter glancing nervously at Old Mrs. Su and then at Su Dafu, not daring to say a word.
Su Wen sat across from them, idly picking at her fingers.
Everyone was waiting for Old Mrs. Su to make a decision and tell them what to do.
After a long while, Old Mrs. Su seemed to finally make up her mind. She lifted her eyelids, her gaze icy as she looked at Su Wen.
“You go find that scoundrel Wang Jianjun and tell him…”
As she spoke, the entire family’s attention was fixed on her.
By the end, her voice grew increasingly hoarse, like a malevolent spirit crawling up from the underworld.
“Tell him that once it’s done, he’ll get this much.”
Old Mrs. Su held up three fingers.
She didn’t specify the exact amount because she had no intention of paying him at all.
When Wang Jianjun had come looking for Su Wen earlier, the way he had stared at Su Xiuxiu had disgusted her.
She decided to take this opportunity to rid herself of those she despised, sparing herself the annoyance of seeing them again.
Hearing her plan, Su Wen nodded seriously, a flicker of resentment in her eyes. “Don’t worry, Grandma, I’ll make sure it’s done.”
None of them had expected that Wang Lihua would find out about Su Dagui’s faked death, let alone have the courage to send a letter of complaint to the provincial authorities.
Su Dagui had already promised the family that once everything was arranged on his end, he would bring Old Mrs. Su over to live in comfort, find secure jobs for Su Dafu and Su Wen, and, when Su Xiuxiu grew up, arrange a good marriage for her.
Why couldn’t Wang Lihua, a discarded woman who had been cast out, just stay quiet? Why did she have to stir up trouble and ruin their good life?
Since she showed no mercy, they couldn’t be blamed for being ruthless.
Night had fallen completely. In the past, Wang Lihua would have already taken her two daughters to bed by now, but tonight, none of the three felt like sleeping.
Su Dabao held a pig-driving stick, thrusting it forward again and again.
She was practicing how to strike someone quickly, accurately, and fiercely.
After seeing the stranger enter and leave the village that afternoon and calculating the timing, Su Erbao suspected the Su family would make their move tonight. She promptly warned her mother and sister, so the three of them were now on high alert.
Although Wang Lihua’s health had almost fully recovered, she still felt restless.
Who would come? How many would there be?
What if they couldn’t handle it?
At the same time, two figures on bicycles were speeding toward Hongxing Village.
But even faster were Wang Jianjun and his crony Li Wenzhu.
They trod on the thin layer of snow, hands tucked into the sleeves of their padded jackets, their steps swift. They carried no torches—after all, they weren’t up to any good, so how could they be brazen about it?
Wang Jianjun grinned the whole way. He had originally planned to bide his time and wait for an opportunity, but luck was on his side—someone had practically handed it to him.
He thought it through perfectly: once he succeeded, Wang Lihua, a frail and delicate woman, would have no choice but to submit to whatever he and his brother decided.
And with two young ones in the mix as well…