Xiao Mandong turned her head and glanced at Cui Lijuan, who was kneeling on the floor.
“Get up. What are you trying to accomplish by kneeling before your own child? Xiaoli has already made the terms clear to you. If you think they’re acceptable, go home and get the money. If not, then just pretend you never came here.”
Cui Lijuan raised her eyes and glared at Xiao Mandong.
“You were the one who put her up to this, weren’t you? Otherwise, how could some country girl know so much? Just because Tang Jing offended you once, you’re taking revenge on our entire family. Aren’t you afraid of retribution?”
It had never occurred to her that Xiaoli could be so bold—or that she could possibly stand up to Tang Guanshan. There had to be someone behind her, giving her advice.
Xiao Mandong looked at her, the corners of her lips lifting slightly. She said nothing. It was unclear whether she was smiling or simply showing her disdain.
The moment Xiaoli heard Cui Lijuan turn her anger on Xiao Mandong, her eyes reddened.
“Cui Lijuan, shut up! What right do you have to talk about retribution? The wicked things you did in your past life have already come back to haunt me and my brother. The wicked things you’ve done in this life will come back to haunt the child in your belly.”
“If you don’t agree to my terms, I swear I won’t let that bastard Tang Guanshan off!”
Xiaoli screamed the words. No one was allowed to speak against her Sister Mandong. Sister Mandong was like a second set of parents to her and her brother—the person she was willing to repay with her life.
“Shi Xiaoli, I’m your mother! How can you take the side of an outsider?” Tears streamed down Cui Lijuan’s face. “I ruined my health giving birth to you back then, which made it difficult for me to conceive. And now you’re cursing your own little brother?”
Shi Xiaoli impatiently waved her hand.
“Enough. Stop pretending to be pitiful. I’m not lowering my demands. You had your fun, got pregnant, and now you want to blame me for it? When Tang Jing told you to get an abortion, weren’t you still completely devoted to her?”
Seeing Xiaoli’s expression, Cui Lijuan knew that nothing she said would make a difference. Finally, she ground her teeth and said, “Fine. I agree. Just wait…”
Pointing at Xiaoli in fury, Cui Lijuan stood there for a long while before finally slamming the door and leaving.
When she returned home, Cui Lijuan searched Tang Guanshan’s study thoroughly. At last, she found his bankbook. What she never expected was that it contained more than ten thousand yuan.
Staring at the balance, Cui Lijuan stood stunned for a long time. They had been together for nearly twenty years, yet she had never known that Tang Guanshan had so much money.
She felt somewhat relieved. At least she no longer had to worry about coming up with those five hundred yuan. With all this money, wouldn’t their family be able to live comfortably even if she didn’t work?
Her mood seemed to brighten all at once. Without hesitating any longer, she immediately went to the bank and withdrew five hundred yuan. Then she went with Xiaoli to complete the transfer of her job.
On the day their severance from one another was published in the newspaper, Cui Lijuan felt lighter than she had in years. The thing she had feared most all this time was that someone would discover Xiaoli and Bowen’s sudden appearance. Now that they had officially severed ties, those two would never trouble her again.
Xiaoli also signed the letter of forgiveness.
Tang Guanshan was detained at the police station for five days before he was finally released. When he returned home, he learned that Tang Jing had been arrested. His veins throbbed with rage, and he prepared to use money to find someone who could get Tang Jing out.
But the moment he entered his study, he discovered that his bankbook had been tampered with.
Tang Guanshan exploded. He stormed out of the study and slapped Cui Lijuan across the face.
“Bitch! Who gave you permission to touch my money?”
Cui Lijuan covered her swollen, reddened cheek as tears fell from her eyes. Her heart was full of grievance.
“If I didn’t take the money, how was I supposed to save you? You beat someone up—did you think they’d just take it lying down? They demanded compensation. For your sake, I even gave up my job and publicly severed ties with my own children. Tang Guanshan, I’ve been with you for twenty years. Is Tang Jing the only person in your heart? When have you ever cared about me? You had so much money, yet during all those difficult years, you never took out a single penny. What do you think I am? Your servant?”
Knock, knock, knock…
Just then, a series of urgent knocks came from outside.
Tang Guanshan pointed at Cui Lijuan, signaling her to keep quiet.
He took a deep breath, straightened his collar, and walked over to open the door.
He had barely opened it a crack when someone shoved it violently inward. A group of people in military uniforms surged inside.
“Tang Guanshan?”
The leader’s voice was not loud, but every word carried unquestionable authority.
The color drained from Tang Guanshan’s face.
“You… What are you doing? I’ve already been released. The case has already been…”
The soldier pulled a sheet of paper from his pocket and unfolded it before him.
“Tang Guanshan, you are suspected of embezzlement, accepting bribes, and abusing your authority. With approval from our superiors, we are placing you under arrest.”
Tang Guanshan’s legs went weak, and he nearly collapsed. Two soldiers stepped forward and held him up.
At that moment, several men in Sun Yat-sen suits and red armbands entered as well. They walked over to Cui Lijuan.
“Comrade Cui Lijuan, Tang Guanshan is suspected of embezzlement and accepting bribes. We are now conducting a lawful search of his residence. Please cooperate.”
Cui Lijuan was so terrified that she collapsed onto the floor, unable to say a word. She watched as they searched the house. They found the bankbook and cash—and, hidden beneath the study’s floor, gold bars and account books.
As she watched Tang Guanshan being restrained, she suddenly laughed. The laughter soon turned into sobs. Then she felt a sharp pain in her abdomen and sensed something flowing out of her body.
The neighbors who had gathered to watch realized that something was wrong. They quickly called for help and sent Cui Lijuan to the hospital once again.
Tang Guanshan was also taken away by the military for investigation. Inside the house, Cui’s mother was unable to get down from the kang and was crying so hard she could barely catch her breath.
At that moment, Xiaoli was busy tidying up her new home. The hospital had learned of Shi Xiaoli’s difficulties, and as luck would have it, there was an empty apartment on the top floor of the family compound. They had temporarily assigned it to Xiaoli.
Looking around at her new home, she felt a sense of security she had never experienced before.
Zou Yan came over and told her what had happened to the Tang family. Only then did Xiaoli understand why Sister Mandong had insisted that she sever ties with Cui Lijuan: she had wanted to keep Xiaoli from being dragged down by Tang Guanshan.
Xiao Mandong returned to the village to pick up Bowen. When she arrived at the village brigade chief’s home, she learned that the brigade chief had sent Bowen to Shunzi’s maternal uncle’s family.
“Girl, tell me honestly—have you offended someone?” The brigade chief’s face was filled with concern. “A few days ago, some people came to the village asking about Bowen’s whereabouts. Nothing has happened these past two days, but if you’re in trouble, tell me. I know a couple of people at the commune and the police station.”
“It’s all right now, Uncle Captain. Those people wanted to kidnap Bowen and use him to threaten his sister. I know his sister, so I just wanted to hide him and help them out.” Xiao Mandong briefly explained the situation.
It was already completely dark, so Xiao Mandong had no choice but to stay the night and pick up Bowen the next day.
Xiao Mandong returned to her little courtyard and let Diandian out. She had not lived in the house for a long time, and it was cold and icy inside.
She had just carried some firewood into the house when someone knocked on the door.
Jian Qiuyue stood outside, holding a small dog in her arms.
“I heard some movement over here, so I guessed you must be back. Why don’t you come stay at my place? Then you won’t have to spend the night here burning a fire just to warm the house.”
“No need. It’ll only take ten or fifteen minutes to warm up the room, so there’s no need to trouble you and Fang Yuan.” Xiao Mandong had no intention of going. Even if she didn’t heat the kang, she had her space. Besides, she had something important to do today—she needed to dispose of Chi the Third’s body in the middle of the night.
