The crowd's murmurs were instantly cut off by Old Lady Wang's shrieking. Hearing Old Lady Wang's words, Xiao Mandong narrowed her eyes: "Xiao Manxue isn't here. Where do you think she should be?"
Xiao Mandong had never suspected that Old Lady Wang was involved in this matter, but Old Lady Wang's words just now made her recall that last night, Old Lady Wang hadn't argued or made a fuss, and her attitude had been noticeably better, almost as if she was afraid Xiao Mandong would leave. And when Xiao Mandong left with the letter, Old Lady Wang hadn't tried to stop her. If this matter was related to Old Lady Wang, then did their biological mother Wang Meixia know about it?
Old Lady Wang's eyes darted around as she changed the subject: "You two sisters really are a pair of ungrateful wolves. Your mother has been in the hospital for so many days, and Xiao Manxue hasn't come to visit even once. Your mother misses you both so much she cries, so I sent Wang Yuanyuan back to the village to find Xiao Manxue, just to get her to come take one look. But after my granddaughter went back to the village, she didn't come back all night. Xiao Manxue, you little wretch, your mother is right there in the hospital next door. How can you not even set foot through the door? Tell me, what did you do with our Wang Yuanyuan?"
Xiao Manxue's eyes were also filled with hatred at this moment. Although she didn't carry the Wang surname, she was still Old Lady Wang's own granddaughter. Old Lady Wang's words clearly indicated that she knew Wang Yuanyuan had gone to find her yesterday. How could her own grandmother be so cold-blooded as to conspire with others to have her own granddaughter kidnapped?
Xiao Mandong sneered: "She didn't come back? Isn't she back in the village? After all, she's a sent-down youth there. It's just that yesterday I saw her with a man, and they looked rather intimate."
"Xiao Mandong, how dare you ruin my granddaughter's reputation! Do you think everyone is like you — a divorced, unwanted pair of worn-out shoes?"
Hearing Old Lady Wang's insults, Pei Jiaojiao happily chimed in: "That's right! Divorced women are worn-out shoes!"
The moment those words left her mouth, Shen Linzhou's hands instinctively clenched into fists, and an icy glare fixed straight on Pei Jiaojiao.
Meeting Shen Linzhou's gaze, Pei Jiaojiao instinctively shrank her shoulders and took two steps back. She had never seen Shen Linzhou with such an expression before — one of contempt and warning. Pei Jiaojiao's nose tingled, tears falling before she could stop them, and she turned and ran off. She was going to tell her father that Shen Linzhou had bullied her.
Xiao Mandong's words nearly broke Old Lady Wang. Their Wang family had only one girl in this generation, and she had been counting on this granddaughter to marry well and bring greater benefits to the family.
Wang Meixia was too old to be of any use now. This granddaughter was the Wang family's only hope, but she hadn't come home all night — how could Old Lady Wang not be anxious?
Just as Old Lady Wang was about to curse some more, two public security officers walked over: "Who are Wang Yuanyuan's family members?"
"I'm her grandmother." Old Lady Wang's heart was in her throat. What had happened to her granddaughter? Why would the police be looking for her?
"Come with us." Old Lady Wang forgot about quarreling with Xiao Mandong and hurriedly followed the officers.
With the noise finally dying down and the crowd dispersing, Xiao Mandong looked up at Shen Linzhou, a faint smile at the corners of her mouth: "Thank you for helping me out these two times. Once your injuries heal, I'll treat you to a meal."
Shen Linzhou looked at Xiao Mandong, her smile serene and gentle. Behind his back, he pinched his fingers hard: "Alright. My injuries will heal quickly."
The moment he said it, Shen Linzhou wished he could bite off his own tongue. He hastily said goodbye to Xiao Mandong and made a quick exit.
Xiao Mandong was very worried about the whereabouts of Lin Wenhui's child. Perhaps because in her past life the child had been swapped and had died so tragically, she could understand how Lin Wenhui felt right now.
So she took Xiao Manxue to Lin Wenhui's ward to see how the interrogation had gone. Lin Wenya and Old Mrs. Lin were both there, and Lin Wenhui's spirits were noticeably better today than before. As the three were chatting, Lin Wenhui spotted the Xiao sisters entering the ward and immediately sat up straight, gripping the edge of the bed. Before Xiao Mandong could ask about the baby again, Lin Wenhui threw off the covers and scrambled to get down from the bed. Lin Wenya quickly steadied her and helped her walk over to Xiao Mandong and Xiao Manxue.
"Comrade Xiao," she said, her voice hoarse from crying yet each word clear, "the child hasn't been brought back yet, but I must thank you. Yesterday, Sister Manxue, in such a situation, still came to warn our family. I have no way to repay you. From now on, you are my benefactors." She made to kneel, but Xiao Mandong was quick — she caught her by the arm: "What are you doing? Get up."
"You don't understand," Lin Wenhui's tears welled up again, streaming down her cheeks, "I thought I would never find my child. My mind was full of images of the baby being gone. It was you who kept helping me, kept finding clues, kept giving me hope. Without you, I would have spent the rest of my life muddled in regret. No matter what today's outcome is, I will remember your kindness forever."
Xiao Mandong took Lin Wenhui's hand:
"The child will be brought back safely. You can't keep crying. If you keep this up during your confinement, you'll really make yourself ill."
Xiao Mandong helped Lin Wenhui back onto the hospital bed, but Lin Wenhui still clung tightly to her hand. Lin Wenya spoke up about the interrogation results from today: "It really was that old woman who swapped out my nephew. Her reason was simple — her daughter had given birth to two girls, and the in-laws were very dissatisfied. When she saw a plump, healthy baby boy, she couldn't resist. She thought that swapping the children would make life easier for her daughter, and since our family was well off, her real granddaughter could also live a comfortable life in our home."
Lin Wenya got angrier the more she spoke. She had truly never seen such a shameless family. Their own poverty and inability to have a son, so they swapped someone else's flesh and blood.
"Apparently the child is now at her daughter's in-laws' place. My father has already taken people and driven over to pick him up. All we can do is wait here for good news."
Hearing this answer, Xiao Mandong felt her mood lighten. She silently prayed that the child would be brought back safe and sound.
As the Lin family was talking, the ward door opened, and Director Lin walked in carrying a swaddled bundle. Lin Wenhui nearly fell off the bed in her haste. Old Mrs. Lin quickly caught her daughter. When she saw the baby wrapped in the swaddling cloth, Lin Wenhui's tears could no longer be held back — they burst forth.
Everyone in the room was crying together. The baby had been crying nonstop. Seeing this, Xiao Mandong spoke up: "The child should be examined by a doctor. That way you can all rest easy."
Old Mrs. Lin took the baby: "Comrade Xiao is right. We should have him checked before we can feel at ease, since he's been raised in someone else's home all this time."
But the examination results sent Lin Wenhui into another breakdown. The baby's bottom was covered in needle marks of all sizes. Lin Wenhui charged straight for the door — she would kill that vicious woman.
