"He also said he has very important news he wants to tell you in person."
Jiang Si's reaction to this was utterly indifferent, her disdain visibly evident in her eyes.
Who did he think he was? Using a hunger strike to threaten her—as if he were some prized dish.
"Deputy Director Li, could you pass a message to him for me?"
From her tone, it was clear she had no intention of meeting him. Deputy Director Li didn’t press further. "Go ahead."
Jiang Si cleared her throat. "Just tell him that people like him are a waste of the working class’s food."
"If he wants to starve himself, he should keep at it for a few more days—otherwise, I’d look down on him!"
"Oh, and if he dies, make sure to notify Shen Qingqing and Shen Qingyue to come collect his body."
"The siblings are currently working in the countryside in Xishi City, Yun Province. The address can be found at the Educated Youth Office."
"..."
Deputy Director Li was momentarily stunned. Though the man undoubtedly deserved it, wasn’t this a bit too blunt?
"Don’t worry, Deputy Director Li. If Shen Xiuwen wanted to die, he’d have done it long ago—he wouldn’t wait until now."
Jiang Si had already guessed that if she went with Deputy Director Li today, the moment she stepped into the detention center, Shen Xiuwen would drop to his knees before her.
Next, he’d weep and beg for forgiveness.
Even though they’d severed ties, in most people’s eyes, no matter how flawed a father was, he was still a father!
Since when did a father kneel to his child?
And with that one kneel, the pressure would shift onto her.
If she were to think even more cynically, Shen Xiuwen might even pin everything on Lin Yueru.
After all, Lin Yueru had already been exiled to a labor camp in the northwest. Who could dispute his version of events now?
Jiang Si wasn’t stupid.
Shen Xiuwen’s little act was just a ploy to make her spare him out of past sentiment.
But had he forgotten? Whatever father-daughter bond they once had vanished the moment he tricked her into going to the countryside.
As for the "very important news" Shen Xiuwen mentioned, Jiang Si had a rough idea.
The only card he had left was that batch of antiques smuggled to Yancheng.
In other words, Shen Xiuwen had a backup plan.
If the pity play failed, he’d trade that information for his freedom in his later years.
Too bad for him—he didn’t know.
Those items had long been claimed by Jiang Si, and the blame had been conveniently shifted overseas.
Such good news deserved to be shared.
"Deputy Director Li, for someone who’s repeatedly tried to ruin me, there’s nothing left to say."
"But I do have something I’d like you to pass along."
With that, Jiang Si returned to her room and retrieved a newspaper.
She’d bought it months ago in Yancheng, originally just to confirm whether those involved had been caught. Who knew it’d come in handy now?
Though puzzled, Deputy Director Li didn’t ask questions when she handed him the paper.
Back at the station, he went straight to see Shen Xiuwen.
After over four months in custody under the Red Committee, Shen Xiuwen was a shadow of his former self—sunken cheeks, hollow eyes, and weakened from two days of hunger strike.
"Officer, where is she?"
Seeing only Deputy Director Li and two officers, panic flashed across Shen Xiuwen’s face.
Deputy Director Li relayed Jiang Si’s words verbatim, adding, "She said she doesn’t want to see you and has nothing to say to you."
"No, that’s impossible!"
Shen Xiuwen refused to believe it. "Officer, did you not explain properly? I really have critical news for her. If she misses this, she’ll regret it for life!"
"I’ve told her everything."
Deputy Director Li repeated firmly, "Comrade Jiang said she doesn’t want to see you."
Those words crushed Shen Xiuwen’s last hope.
"How dare she refuse to see me? I’m her father!"
"I raised her for over twenty years! How could she treat me like this?"
"That ungrateful wretch! What does she gain from driving her own father to death?"
"You should be asking yourself that."
Normally, Deputy Director Li wouldn’t interfere in family matters. But as the officer handling these cases, he couldn’t hold back.
"Shen Xiuwen, when you shifted all the blame onto her, did you ever think she was your own daughter?"
"Did you consider what would happen to her if the Red Committee took her away?"
"You didn’t! You only cared about saving yourself!"
"A father like you has no right to criticize his child."
With that, Deputy Director Li pulled the newspaper from his bag and flung it at Shen Xiuwen’s face.
"Comrade Jiang asked me to give this to you. Think carefully about your choices."
At the mention of Jiang Si, Shen Xiuwen ignored the reprimand and scrambled to pick up the newspaper.
He knew Jiang Si had a tough exterior but a soft heart. She wouldn’t send this without reason.
There had to be something important in it.
He wasn’t wrong—the paper did contain crucial news. But for him, it was nothing short of poison.
The headline, printed in bold black letters, struck him the moment he unfolded it.
"Counter-revolutionaries..."
"Smuggling stolen goods..."
"Double-cross..."
"Deceased: Liu Dajiang, Liu Dahe..."
The words hit like a thunderbolt. Shen Xiuwen’s mind went blank. Staggering back, he collapsed to the ground—
[Apologies, dear readers—bowing in penance here! Relatives visited today, and I’ve been playing tour guide, rushing through three attractions like a commando. After tens of thousands of steps, my legs have officially mutinied. Taking a day off—normal updates resume tomorrow.]
