My Mother-in-Law is Reborn [Seventies]

Chapter 157

Bai Fendou quickly ran off.

This kind of incident is most terrifying when the person can't escape. He seized the opportunity to unleash some harsh words and then hastily fled. In that split second, no one expected him to run so fast. He was like a gust of wind, dashing into a deserted public restroom. He quickly yanked off his wig, then pulled off the skirt and changed back into his own clothes.

While he was rapidly changing to dodge, the folks on the scene were left in a stunned silence due to his sudden escape. No one had anticipated that he would flee so quickly.

"What kind of person is this?"

"He ran pretty fast, huh?"

"If he hadn't run, he would have gotten beaten up. What kind of person is he..."

The onlookers started buzzing with chatter. Cheng Xiaoping, however, was seething with anger, her face flushed. When had she ever encountered such absurd situations? It was beyond ridiculous. She clenched her fists, feeling utterly humiliated and no longer wanting to lay eyes on Fan Jianguo ever again.

Taking a deep breath, she turned and walked away.

But just then, someone stopped her, saying, "Miss, don't go yet. This person spoke about deceit. Do you want to find the police station..."

Cheng Xiaoping looked up, cold as ice, and said, "What does it have to do with me?"

Everyone was taken aback.

She repeated, "I'm going back now."

She was truly heartbroken. After all, she had invested two years of her emotions, believing she had found the right person. But what kind of person was this? The mere thought made her shudder. She wasn't the type to believe everything she was told.

If a sudden strange woman came and told her nonsense, she would definitely need time to think. But this wasn't a sudden appearance—she had heard things about this person before.

Although he wasn't as hideous as the villagers claimed, he was indeed that very person.

Moreover, she had inquired about the Fan family in the village. Initially, she had been somewhat swayed, but now she just wanted to slap herself for being so gullible. How much water must have flooded her mind to be easily swayed?

No, she couldn't marry this man.

Cheng Xiaoping had seen the world. Though she knew refusing this marriage might cost her some face, it was better than jumping into a lifelong pit of misery. She couldn't imagine what her life would be like if she fell under Fan Jianguo's control.

It was terrifying.

She was just grateful to have seen his true colors before the wedding. Nothing could be more awful than that. Taking a deep breath, she said, "Thank you for your concern, everyone. I realize now that I've been swindled. But I haven't lost anything, so I intend to leave."

"Young lady, if you've been deceived, you should report it to the police."

"Exactly, don't let the bad guy get away with it."

"This kind of person needs to be punished; otherwise, he'll just keep making mistakes..."

Cheng Xiaoping took a deep breath and said, "I need to report back to my unit first before handling his matter."

In truth, she felt unsafe being in a unfamiliar place. So, she said firmly, "I..."

"Xiaoping? What's going on here? Why are there so many people?"

Fan Jianguo approached the inn from afar and noticed a crowd of onlookers. Moving closer, he realized the center of attention was none other than Cheng Xiaoping. A surge of joy filled his heart. Determined to play the hero, he quickly squeezed through the crowd.

Having been anxious about how to persuade Cheng Xiaoping immediately, this situation was a boon. No matter what happened, he was elated. After all, if he played the gentleman, how could he not win her over?

Rushing into the crowd, he said, "What are you doing! You can't bully people like this! Xiaoping, don't be afraid. I'm here."

The scene suddenly fell silent as everyone scrutinized him. He was dressed quite dapperly, and his clothes didn't come cheap. Twenty years ago, he might have been labeled a scam artist.

All slick and thickly made up.

"Ugh~" A universal murmur of disdain.

Seeing Fan Jianguo, Cheng Xiaoping felt her anger boil over. Without a word, she stepped forward and slapped him.

*SLAP!*

The forceful impact echoed against Fan Jianguo's face.

He stared at Cheng Xiaoping in disbelief, saying, "You hit me?"

Cheng Xiaoping clenched her fists, her face scarlet as she retorted, "Yes, I hit you! I hit you because you’re a hypocrite, a despicable scoundrel!"

The more she thought about her last two years, the angrier she became. A young woman has only a few beautiful years; those years had been wasted with this man who had dragged down her reputation.

Cheng Xiaoping extended her hand again, but this time, it didn't land, as Fan Jianguo scowled and firmly deflected her.

She stumbled and was steadied by a nearby elderly woman—none other than Zhao Guihua herself.

Zhao Guihua had been watching from the crowd for a while now, though she hadn't said much due to being completely shocked by Bai Fendou's crossdressing antics. Still, the show had to go on. She steadied Cheng Xiaoping and said, "Miss, are you alright?"

Then, glaring at Fan Jianguo, she added, "Sir, how dare you hit a lady?"

Effortlessly, she had laid the blame.

“You old hag, are you blind? Don’t you see? She hit my brother—he's allowed to defend himself!" A shrill voice cut through the air as a girl in a flowery blouse with a long braid forcefully squeezed through the crowd, clearly fired up. "What’s going on here? You Cheng Xiaoping! I thought you were nice, but instead, you bully my brother! I’ll kill you!"

Without hesitation, she lunged, not caring whether Cheng Xiaoping was intended to be her sister-in-law. This was Fan Jianguo’s sister, Fan Lian.

Fan Lian wouldn’t dare act this way with the Fan family’s elder brother or sister-in-law (they wouldn't stand for it). But facing Fan Jianguo’s fiancée brought out her bravado. Back in the day, she had bullied He Lan relentlessly.

He Lan, having grown up in a privileged household and with no experience in fighting, never stood up against her.

This only emboldened Fan Lian's audacity more. She was certain that Fan Jianguo's wives would hail from the upper class—unschooled in arguing or fighting. Isn't this precisely her element?

She launched herself at Cheng Xiaoping with claws extended for scratching.

Cheng Xiaoping wasn’t letting her push her around. Swiftly seizing Fan Lian’s arm, she slapped her across the face and commanded, "Get lost!"

Fan Lian cupped her face, shrieking, "You dare hit me! You wretched woman, do you not want to marry my brother? I'll kill you! I'll kill you..."

With a howl, she charged forward, knocking Cheng Xiaoping off balance.

Amazingly, Fan Jianguo stood motionless.

This only confirmed for Cheng Xiaoping what kind of people the Fan family were. Fan Lian kept slashing at her, and Cheng Xiaoping, now fuming, struck out with another slap. Fan Lian shrieked in response.

Zhao Guihua wasn't about to sit idly by anymore, raising her voice: "You siblings are despicable! A pair of frauds trying to stir up trouble here? Do we look dead to you? If you dare touch this girl again, this old lady won't be lenient!"

"Correct, if you act up again, we won't hold back. Me, a male, don't beat women—but I'll pulp your brother."

"I’m not a man, if you dare show your claws one more time, I won’t be lenient. That’s my first time seeing such shamelessness."

"Exactly! You won't bully us!"

"Such youthful poison."

"Miss, don't fear—you've got us!"

Cheng Xiaoping was overwhelmed with gratitude to find such support in an unfamiliar place, her eyes glossing with tears. There were good people everywhere.

But evil-doers were still... amongst them.

Cheng Xiaoping looked at Fan Lian with loathing. Her short time at the Fan household had shown her not just generosity, but constant passive aggressive comments and manipulations.

Take Fan Lian—she endlessly showered Chen Xiaoping about her appearances and qualities.

A while ago, she commented on how nice Cheng Xiaoping's hairclip was and that she wanted one too. Then she said she had never worn little leather shoes before and really wanted some.

Fan Lian's intentions were clear to Cheng Xiaoping.

In fact, Cheng Xiaoping was willing to give these things to Fan Lian, this young girl, but because she didn't do it right away, she overheard her muttering quietly: "The richer they are, the more stingy they are. They should all be overthrown." This remark made Cheng Xiaoping quite displeased, and so she ignored the girl from then on.

At the time, Cheng Xiaoping thought this little sister-in-law would eventually get married and leave, so she didn't take her to heart. Now it seems this whole family has no sense of shame. They have no sense of priority. She forcefully pushed Fan Lian away and mockingly said to Fan Jianguo, "What? Is this all the skill you have? Just sending your sister, this shrew, to charge at me?"

Fan Jianguo also didn't know why Cheng Xiaoping had changed her mind again. But he felt particularly displeased. He had thought he had already appeased her, but hadn't expected this woman to change her mind so quickly. What he hated most was her inability to be controlled, yet he didn't want to completely fall out with her either.

What he was after, he was very clear about.

He suppressed his temper and spoke gently, "Xiaoping, what are you doing? You're making a spectacle of yourself. You've received an education, why act like a shrew?"

He spoke with a touch of heartfelt anguish, then quickly added, "Let's talk about this at home."

"Home? Where? Your village? I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to leave once I go there. Fan Jianguo, you're the kind of man who makes me sick. I'm telling you, I know about your schemes now. I won't be fooled again!"

She took a deep breath and said, "Let's end this."

"What are you talking about? Come home with me first!"

Fan Jianguo came forward to grab Cheng Xiaoping, but she shouted, "Stay away from me!"

Fan Lian howled, "Take her back, beat her to death!"

"Get lost, Fan Jianguo. Don't you dare touch me..."

Zhao Guihua slapped Fan Jianguo's hand that was grabbing Cheng Xiaoping, saying, "Let go, let go! How dare you abduct a young lady in broad daylight?"

Fan Jianguo: "Let go of her, we're engaged, we need to talk..."

Cheng Xiaoping: "I won't talk. I'm telling you, I will never live with you again, you liar... Let go!"

"Let go of her. You're not even a man. I've tolerated you for too long."

By this point, Zhao Guihua wasn't the only one stepping in. Another person quickly joined in, pulling Fan Jianguo and landing a punch. Fan Jianguo shouted, "This is my family matter..."

Zhao Guihua, afraid others might misunderstand, loudly proclaimed, "It's not a family matter. You have no relationship at all. Don't think we don't know anything. You're just a man trying to trick her into marriage. We've been watching for a while now. Don't think you can just drag her away like this. And I can see through you, even at my age, I've seen it all. Your scheme is nothing new—you just plan to take her home, force her into a situation, and then, due to the pressure on her reputation, she'll have no choice but to marry you, right?"

Fan Jianguo's face changed, his eyes flickering.

Indeed, he had considered this possibility. If Cheng Xiaoping continued to refuse to cooperate, he would, as a last resort, have to resort to such measures. After all, they had already obtained the marriage introduction letter. Even if Cheng Xiaoping wanted to report him to the police for coercion, there would be no evidence. Could she simply rely on hearsay?

They had the marriage introduction letter, and he could always say she was just acting out due to a bad temper. If everyone treated this as a family matter, Cheng Xiaoping would have no choice but to marry him. Then, with her father being pressured to ensure his daughter's reputation remained intact, wouldn't he have no choice but to support her career advancement?

These thoughts flashed through Fan Jianguo's mind, but in that brief moment, his hesitation was keenly observed by Cheng Xiaoping, who had been intently watching him. It became clear to Cheng Xiaoping that the aunt had hit the nail on the head. Her heart sank as if she had just plunged into an icy abyss in the dead of winter.

What kind of terrifying monster had she encountered?

How could he be so adept at hiding his true nature?

"Ahhh!" Cheng Xiaoping screamed, "Get out, get out! I want to go home, I want to go home..."

At this moment, she only wanted to go to the safest place.

Fan Jianguo, now furious, shouted, "You're here to marry me, we even have the introduction letter, yet you keep acting out. When is this going to end? How much longer are you going to act spoiled?"

Cheng Xiaoping: "Go to hell, go to hell~"

She lunged forward and started hitting Fan Jianguo. He grabbed Cheng Xiaoping but didn't strike back, though his grip was fierce, leaving bruises on her arm. Cheng Xiaoping struggled violently, and when Fan Lian saw this, she howled and rushed forward: "How dare you hit my brother?"

"How dare you hit her?"

"You scoundrel, don't even think about taking her away..."

"This isn't a family matter!"

"Exactly, this is a predatory marriage!"

"She hasn't even married into your family yet."

...

Under Zhao Guihua's leadership, everyone quickly aligned and stood against the siblings, firmly preventing them from taking Cheng Xiaoping away.

"Turn them over to the police station."

"Right, don't let these two off easy."

"In broad daylight, they're crazy, they're actually abducting someone..."

Fan Jianguo, looking at the crowd's uproar, turned red with anger. He hadn't expected so many people to meddle in his business. The crowd's momentum was overwhelming.

Zhuang Zhixi and Ming Mei were watching the commotion from across the road, while Guan Guiling had been following them, standing not far away. She quietly stared at Ming Mei, plotting how to make her an easy target. It wasn't that Guan Guiling was in a hurry, but her child couldn't wait.

Her pregnancy had been extremely difficult, with a high risk of miscarriage at any moment.

So she was anxious. Ming Mei, while at work, never got close to her, and she had been cautious around her. She had to take the initiative, but it wasn't easy since Ming Mei always hurried home quickly, and she couldn't keep up.

Today, the couple hadn't gone home, but instead had come out, so this was a rare opportunity. She stood not far away, not really watching the commotion but instead thinking about how to shift the blame onto Ming Mei.

She was desperate for money.

She closely watched Ming Mei and her husband. The couple had stopped to watch the commotion, which wasn't unusual—the whole street had gathered to watch.

It was just a matter of how close or far people had gotten to the action.

Guan Guiling observed the scene, looking from one person to another, then suddenly heard Ming Mei and her husband say, "Zhixi, isn't that our mom in the crowd? Let's go over."

Zhuang Zhixi: "I'm afraid they might accidentally bump into you with all this chaos; I don't feel safe. I'll go over and check, you stay here."

Ming Mei looked at Zhuang Zhixi, suddenly bursting into laughter and saying, "Have you forgotten? My baby has already been born. What do I have to worry about? Who would dare touch me? I would dare to punch anyone. Are you still treating me like a delicate little radish?"

Upon hearing this, Zhuang Zhixi paused, then said, "Right, you're right. Look at me, always thinking about when you were pregnant. Now it doesn't matter."

Ming Mei pouted, "Big dummy."

Zhuang Zhixi quickly locked the bike to a lamppost by the roadside and said, "Let's go."

He added, "When you were pregnant, I always picked you up, and every time I did, I had the feeling I needed to be extra careful."

Ming Mei waved her fist, saying, "Don't worry, if anyone dares touch me, I'll punch them so hard they'll fly."

Zhuang Zhixi: "Alright, alright, alright."

The two quickly dashed over, and at this moment, Guan Guiling's eyes lit up upon hearing their conversation. This was the perfect opportunity. With all the chaos over there, she could easily approach Ming Mei and shift the blame onto her, thereby extorting her.

Even if things didn't go perfectly, blaming someone else would still be better than losing the baby herself.

No matter what, she could swindle some money.

She didn't even bother locking her bike and quickly followed after them.

When she arrived, Zhuang Zhixi and Ming Mei were squeezing through the crowd, with Zhuang Zhixi shouting, "Make way, everyone, please make way!"

But no one paid him any heed. Who are you to tell us to make way?

This is not the time to be squeezing in for a lively scene (look at the commotion). It's outrageous.

Ming Mei: "Excuse me, please…"

As a young woman squeezing in, she had an easier time.

People, embarrassed by the gender differences, didn't want to be seen as getting into a situation that might lead to gossip, so they made way for her. Zhuang Zhixi, however, didn't manage to follow her; he was still stuck at the very edge of the crowd, surrounded by layers of onlookers, and could barely see what was happening inside.

Ming Mei squeezed in alone and reached Zhao Guihua's side, asking, "Mom, are you okay?"

Zhao Guihua: "I'm fine, of course. But we need to protect this girl. We absolutely can't let anyone take her away. If they do, it's over."

Ming Mei: "Got it."

The crowd was glaring, and Ming Mei added, "Let's not waste time with pointless arguments. There's no need to stand here in a stalemate. When in trouble, we turn to the police. We'll call the police officers. They'll surely help us resolve this properly."

"Exactly, we'll take her to the police station. That way, we can feel more at ease. Otherwise, once we leave, their siblings might come back for her," Zhao Guihua chimed in.

"Don't worry, young lady, we're here for you," someone reassured.

The crowd chimed in, and Cheng Xiaoping truly felt the warmth of their support.

Moved, she said, "Thank you."

Seeing her like this, Fan Lian became even angrier. Without caring anymore, she lunged forward, shouting, "I'll scratch you to death, you bitch! If you want to marry into our Fan family, you'll have to follow our rules. Who do you think you are?"

Cheng Xiaoping wasn't afraid of her. The two women quickly started fighting.

Fan Jianguo also tried to step in but was blocked by a few strong men at the front. The situation became chaotic again, with people pulling and pushing.

Ming Mei, however, didn't join the fight directly. But when Fan Jianguo was struggling with the men, she took the opportunity to sneak in a powerful kick… "Ah!"

Fan Jianguo yelped in pain, and the men stopped, none knowing who had attacked.

Seeing the fight pause, Zhao Guihua quickly stepped in to pull Fan Lian away, saying, "Don't bully her, young lady…"

This pull was deliberately biased, and Fan Lian ended up getting a few hits. Enraged, she howled, "You meddling old hag…"

With a forceful push, Zhao Guihua, who could have easily dodged, instead stumbled sideways, knocking into a young man, who then fell onto Fan Jianguo, pinning him down. The scene grew even more chaotic. Ming Mei took the chance to stomp on Fan Jianguo a few more times.

"Stop fighting, everyone, stop!"

"Why should we stop?"

Fan Jianguo, now fully riled up, felt incredibly unlucky. He got up and started throwing punches at the people around him, yelling, "You bastards!"

"Ah, you dare hit people?"

"You scoundrel."

Fan Jianguo, with his military background, was no match for the ordinary folk. He quickly started trading blows with them. Ming Mei, the "righteous fighter," kept circling around, but she managed to land a few more hits on him without much difficulty.

She knew exactly where to strike to make Fan Jianguo lose his ability to resist immediately, but if she did that, the police would certainly figure out it was her. Ming Mei and Zhao Guihua had further plans, so that wasn't an option.

With the chaos in the crowd, no one noticed Ming Mei's subtle moves, thinking she was just trying to protect Zhao Guihua, who, though supposedly trying to mediate, had a very erratic positioning. But in the midst of the brawl, no one paid much attention to that detail.

The inner circle was a mess of fighting, while the outer circle, with more timid onlookers, had begun to step back.

It was because some people backed off out of fear that Guan Guiling finally managed to squeeze in. She saw Ming Mei pulling her mother-in-law to the side, trying to avoid the fray, and quickly moved closer. Just as she was about to approach Ming Mei, Zhao Guihua suddenly took a step to the side, and Ming Mei immediately said, "Come on, Mom, don't get involved. Let's get out of here."

Using Zhao Guihua to block Guan Guiling's view, Ming Mei swiftly raised her leg and delivered a heavy kick to Fan Jianguo. Then, turning around, she and Zhao Guihua grabbed hold of Fan Lian. Yes, they were pulling biased strings.

Fan Jianguo cried out and fell to one knee with a thud. He quickly turned back and saw a woman standing behind him.

Guan Guiling hadn't noticed him; her focus was entirely on Ming Mei, following her movements. That's how she ended up there!

Her obsession with Ming Mei was twofold: one, driven by the terrible jealousy of Ming Mei's good life; and two, she knew Ming Mei was well-off and wanted money, a lot of money.

Fan Jianguo: "What are you doing, kicking me?"

Taken aback by the accusation, Guan Guiling snapped, "Are you a mad dog? Biting anyone you see? If you're getting beaten, maybe reflect on how morally bankrupt you are."

Although a few people had surrounded Fan Jianguo, the hits hadn't been too severe, as most were ordinary folks who didn't know how to fight. Fan Jianguo, being ex-military, had some skills and wasn't too disadvantaged.

But while fighting, he had been sneakily attacked several times, and he hadn't seen who it was.

Finally, he had caught the culprit: it was this woman.

Furious, he couldn't believe he'd been taken down by a woman. The disdainful look she gave him only fueled his rage. With a roar, he got up and grabbed Guan Guiling, giving her a forceful kick…

Guan Guiling hadn't expected this sudden outburst. Her attention hadn't been on him; she was busy plotting how to use Ming Mei to her advantage. When he grabbed her, she turned to see his red, murderous eyes and instantly panicked: "You… Ah!!!"

Before she could react, she was kicked out.

She landed heavily on the ground, feeling dizzy and a searing pain in her abdomen.

She had been weak for days, and the blood immediately started flowing from her legs…

"You scoundrel, hitting a woman!"

Someone else's punch came flying in.

Just as they were about to get entangled again, someone shrieked in terror, "Blood, she's bleeding a lot…"

"Ah?"

The brawl suddenly stopped, and everyone looked at Guan Guiling. She hadn't expected this madman to attack her; she stood frozen for a moment, then looked down to see blood everywhere. Her vision started to blur.

Finally snapping back to reality, she realized she had to hold onto this man!

Everyone had seen him hit her; she had suffered a miscarriage because of him…

Even if she couldn't pin it on Ming Mei, this man couldn't escape.

Suddenly, she let out a heart-wrenching wail: "My child, my child, my child… Who can save my child, save me…"

Her agonized cries rang out.

"Oh my God!"

"She's had a miscarriage."

"We need to get her to the hospital quickly."

"We can't let this man escape. He's inhuman…"

"Call the police, and also get this woman to the hospital…"

The crowd was now fiercely worked up.

If the earlier conflict with the woman was a matter of morals, this was now about causing harm. This woman had been beaten to the point of miscarriage. Several older women, including Zhao Guihua, quickly stepped forward, saying, "Hurry, take her to the hospital."

She ordered Fan Jianguo, "Carry her to the hospital right now…"

"Make way, the police are here…"

"Quick, get her to the hospital…"

With someone taking charge, the situation changed. Guan Guiling was quickly rushed to the hospital, and the Fan siblings were detained.

Many onlookers followed her to the hospital, while the rest marched to the police station, unaware that neither Zhuang Zhixi nor Ming Mei was among them. Zhuang Zhixi, of course, wouldn't go. He had met Fan Jianguo in Yang Family Village, and although it had been some time, he couldn't risk Fan Jianguo recognizing him. From the beginning to the end, he stayed at the very edge of the crowd.

Similarly, Ming Mei didn't go either.

Ming Mei had made a name for herself by capturing thieves multiple times, so many public security officers were familiar with her. She knew that if she couldn't suppress Fan Jianguo and take control of the situation, she would have to explain herself, which she wanted to avoid. So, Ming Mei left the scene directly. After all, she wasn't the only one leaving.

Some people were eager to watch the excitement, while others needed to go home to prepare dinner.

Not everyone had the luxury of free time.

Of course, Ming Mei would address the matter later, but for now, she left with Zhuang Zhixi.

Zhao Guihua, however, did not leave. Many people had gone to the police station, and Zhao Guihua followed suit. Even so, Zhao Guihua lacked the presence of those chivalrous men who had intervened bravely.

She was questioned briefly since she hadn't taken any significant action.

Almost the entire police station in this area was mobilized. Several people had already been sent to the hospital, and even the policewoman in charge of household registration had arrived to question the less significant onlookers.

Zhao Guihua said, "I wasn't there from the beginning. When I arrived, I saw a woman entangled with that comrade, the young lady."

Zhao Guihua pointed at Cheng Xiaoping and continued, "That woman also mentioned that the girl's father is an official, and that the man who attacked her was pursuing her because of that... blah blah blah."

Zhao Guihua provided a detailed account, though some others were even more elaborate, adding their own speculations. Zhao Guihua's version was relatively restrained.

She explained, "Then the man brought his sister and tried to forcibly take the girl away. As a woman, I knew what could happen if a young lady was taken away by force, so I quickly intervened. Other people also stopped them, and a fight broke out. But they were all acting bravely to protect others, good people."

The policewoman nodded, "I understand."

She agreed with Zhao Guihua's concerns. A young woman taken away under such circumstances could face terrible consequences.

"What about the woman who was beaten and miscarried?"

Though the hospital hadn't confirmed it, everyone present knew the likelihood of saving the fetus was slim.

Zhao Guihua replied, "That woman was just watching the commotion. She commented on the man, and he went berserk, grabbing her and kicking her out..."

The policewoman exclaimed, "So violent?"

Zhao Guihua affirmed, "Exactly that violent!"

The policewoman asked a few more questions before moving on to others, who provided similar accounts.

Some speculated that the man's sudden attack was due to being provoked or tripped, but amidst the chaos, no one could be sure. Nevertheless, one shouldn't assault a woman like that.

While statements were being taken, someone returned from the hospital.

"How is it?"

Everyone immediately quieted down to listen to the update.

The police officer glanced at Fan Jianguo, who was handcuffed, and frowned deeply. "The woman miscarried."

Everyone sighed, having expected it.

The officer continued, "The doctor said this has severely affected her; she likely won't be able to conceive again."

"My goodness."

"What a tragedy."

“Who would have thought, just watching the bustling scene would lead to such a disaster...”

...

As people continued to murmur, the officer added, "The doctor said her body is severely damaged and will require long-term rest."

"Oh, this is..."

"What was she thinking, a pregnant woman getting involved, too scary."

Zhao Guihua quickly asked, "How is her health? How long will she need to recover?"

The officer replied, "From what I gathered, she'll need at least a couple of months in the hospital."

"That serious!"

The officer confirmed, "Yes, quite serious."

He hadn't expected it to be this bad, though the woman's poor health also contributed. But that detail wasn't necessary to mention.

He looked at Fan Jianguo with disgust and said, "You've gone too far."

Fan Jianguo, now calmer, was scared. He hadn't expected such serious consequences.

"I didn't mean it, I swear..."

Cheng Xiaoping interjected, "You did mean it, you had malicious intent." She glared at him, finding him utterly despicable. "I will report all this to the army."

Though not in the same unit, they were in the same regiment.

She firmly stated, "I will expose your true nature."

Fan Jianguo's eyes reddened as he retorted, "Cheng Xiaoping, will you be this cold-hearted? Don't you know my feelings for you? How can you treat me this way? What have I not done for you? If you hadn't caused trouble, this wouldn't have happened, and someone wouldn't have been harmed. It's all your fault."

He blamed Cheng Xiaoping not just to shift responsibility but to evoke her sense of duty and get her to help him.

"We were about to get married! How can you break off the engagement? How can you face me? Think about how good I've been to you all these years. We could have been happy together, but now it's all ruined."

Cheng Xiaoping scrutinized his performance and said, "You pursued me, treated me well, wanted to marry me because my father is a high-ranking officer in the regiment. If not for that, I would mean nothing to you. Don't pretend to be good; I'm glad I discovered the truth. Stop acting; I know what kind of person you are. You didn't expect it, but your paramour, the widow, came to me. I won't be fooled again."

"Widow? ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????What widow?"

This wasn't the first time the term had come up.

Fan Jianguo admitted he had some affairs outside, but he truly hadn't been involved with any widow to the extent she'd create trouble.

"I don't have any affairs with widows!"

He insisted categorically, though the police officer had noticed his evasive behavior, indicating guilt, not innocence.

"I really don't have any relationships with widows!" He still maintained his stance.

The police officer said, "At this point, you're just stubbornly denying it?"

"I truly don't. Officers, I'm innocent. I think someone is framing me."

Fan Jianguo thought it must be a set-up.

Since that ugly widow appeared in the village, someone had been plotting against him! He had overheard others mention that Cheng Xiaoping's uproar was due to a woman visiting her, likely that widow.

But who was she?

He remembered today; he had planned to visit Cheng Xiaoping early but was approached in the village by someone claiming to be a friend of Cheng Xiaoping's father, delivering a message.

They said Cheng Xiaoping met an acquaintance and wanted to gather, asking Fan Jianguo to come after work and bring Fan Lian, as they might arrange a position suitable only for women, referencing their supposed good relationship.

They also advised them to dress nicely.

Fan Jianguo had been overjoyed, not doubting it. Looking back, this was full of inconsistencies.

Cheng Xiaoping wasn't originally from the Four Nine City and was here for the first time for the wedding. How could she have acquaintances here, let alone arrange a job? And even if there were a position, why would it go to Fan Lian?

She mentioned having a good relationship with Fan Lian, which was impossible!

His own sister, Fan Lian, was known for her willfulness and poor relationships with sisters-in-law and village girls, making this scenario unlikely.

He felt trapped in a carefully laid trap.

Someone was scheming against him!

Who could it be?

He thought hard but couldn't figure it out.

Many faces flashed through his mind, including He Lan's, but it quickly passed. He Lan was timid and unlikely to be involved. Of course, it wasn't just because He Lan was timid; she simply didn't have the capability. The entire He family had been sent down to the countryside.

What could she possibly do?

Their family, having risen to prominence in recent years, had become quite self-assured, making enemies in the village. But who could it be?

The more he thought about it, the more infuriated he became. He immediately shouted, "Someone is trying to frame me! Someone is plotting against me!"

The police officer gave him a cold stare and said, "Alright, then. Tell us, why would someone want to frame you?"

"I don't know! I just know someone is out to get me!"

The police comrades rolled their eyes. They were human too, and they really couldn't stand people like him.

The investigation was still underway, and statements were being recorded. Zhao Guihua had already been questioned and, seeing that the sky was about to darken, she asked proactively, "Can I leave now? It's getting late, and my family must be worried."

"You're free to go."

Those who had been questioned were actually allowed to leave earlier, but most people stayed just to watch the drama unfold. Zhao Guihua, however, had no intention of sticking around. She got up and left.

As she exited the police station, the hour was indeed late. The moon had risen, and the sky was gradually darkening.

As she exited the police station, she saw Zhuang Zhixi sitting on a bicycle, leaning against the wall. Upon spotting her, he snapped his fingers. Zhao Guihua turned her head and quickly walked over. "What are you doing here?" she asked.

Zhuang Zhixi: "I came to pick you up."

He pedaled them back home, asking, "How did it go?"

Zhao Guihua: "They're still figuring things out, but he has no way to clear himself."

Zhuang Zhixi laughed, "Their family is so good at scheming and getting others into trouble. Now they're experiencing what it feels like to be stuck with Guan Guiling."

Zhao Guihua: "Do you think Guan Guiling is more formidable than the Fan family?"

To this, Zhuang Zhixi was firm, "Guan Guiling, definitely. Guan Guiling will surely strip the Fan family of a layer."

Zhao Guihua gave him a sidelong glance, "The Fan family is known for their abrasiveness. Guan Guiling, on the other hand, is a delicate woman."

Zhuang Zhixi: "The Fan family's abrasiveness only works against those who play by the rules, like He Lan. But Guan Guiling isn't someone who follows the rules. She has no moral limits. Though she appears weak, physical weakness doesn't equate to a weak will. She's really strapped for cash right now, which is why she's been relentlessly targeting Ming Mei. Now that she's been injured by Fan Jianguo and hospitalized, she'll hold onto this lifeline tightly. She's counting on this incident to pay for her husband's medical and nutritional expenses. Plus, there were many witnesses to her being injured, so she definitely won't let Fan Jianguo off the hook."

At this point, Zhuang Zhixi chuckled and added, "If she finds out Fan Jianguo has money, she'll only be more determined to milk him for all he's worth."

"That much is certain," Zhao Guihua agreed.

She continued, "This time, Fan Jianguo has gotten himself into trouble, and he'll definitely be kicked out of the army."

"That's for sure," Zhuang Zhixi agreed. "Even if he hadn't gotten into trouble, do you think Cheng Xiaoping would let it go? She's still unfamiliar with the place, but once she returns, there's no way she'll forgive Fan Jianguo. After being so manipulatively treated by him, how could she just let it go?"

Mother and son didn't need to elaborate further on the Fan family's fate.

If Fan Jianguo were kicked out of the army, he'd have no choice but to return to the fields. With both him and his sister entangled in this mess, the compensation would likely wipe them out financially. They'd become pariahs, poor and disgraced.

Of course, the Fan family could refuse to pay, but that would leave Fan Jianguo and his sister in a tight spot, turning the family into bitter enemies.

Fan Jianguo and his parents and siblings would end up at each other's throats. So, no matter how you look at it, the Fan family won't have it good.

"Guan Guiling stands to benefit," Zhao Guihua said. "She's not a good person either. If she really latches onto your wife, it's not going to be a small issue. I heard from the police that her injury is severe, and she can't have children anymore."

Zhuang Zhixi: "This can't be looked at simplistically. Even if Guan Guiling were to get a hefty compensation, it might not be a good thing. Do you think she'll continue to listen to Jiang Baohong once she has money? Definitely not. Besides, I've already set some small things in motion. They'll surely end up at odds. Jiang Baohong is dumb as a rock, and if she's betrayed by Guan Guiling, she'll become resentful. She's petty, and if she tries to scheme against Guan Guiling, Guan Guiling won't show her any mercy. Even though Guan Guiling got duped by her husband, she's sharp when it comes to dealing with outsiders. If Guan Guiling and Jiang Baohong end up clashing, Jiang Baohong will surely be outmatched. If Jiang Baohong suffers, I'll be delighted, and I'll think it's worth it for Guan Guiling to get that money. After all, it's not coming out of my pocket."

Zhao Guihua: "What small things did you do?"

Zhuang Zhixi just grinned.

Zhao Guihua: "You definitely didn't do anything good."

Zhuang Zhixi feigned innocence, raising an eyebrow, "I went back earlier and took Guan Guiling's bicycle."

He paused, then added, "Well, to be precise, it's the bicycle Jiang Baohong lent to Guan Guiling."

Zhao Guihua gasped, "You're too bold!"

Zhuang Zhixi: "I didn't go as myself, I disguised myself."

He had everything planned out. Ever since he found out Jiang Baohong lent the bicycle to Guan Guiling, he had been anticipating this. He said, "Even if they investigate, all they'll remember is a tall woman with big, wavy hair pushing the bike away. They won't know it was me." He shrugged.

Zhao Guihua: "Where did you get the wig?"

Zhuang Zhixi sighed sincerely, "I have a magical grandpa."

Zhao Guihua: "..."

True, Lan Sihai always manages to get hold of all sorts of strange things.

"But the bike has a steel stamp and serial number..."

Zhuang Zhixi: "I'm not selling it, who cares about the stamp and serial number? I threw it in the lake."

Zhao Guihua: "..."

Zhuang Zhixi: "You know, even though Jiang Baohong lent Guan Guiling the bicycle, if the bike really goes missing, Guan Guiling definitely won't compensate her. Even if she gets compensation from Fan Jianguo, she won't give it to Jiang Baohong. Guess how Jiang Baohong will feel then?"

Zhao Guihua: "Are you so sure she won't compensate?"

"Positive," replied Zhuang Zhixi. "Guan Guiling is so desperate for money. There's no way she's giving it to someone else. Besides, Jiang Baohong lent the bike to Guan Guiling in secret, trying to stealthily tail Ming Mei. She has no proof she lent the bike to Guan Guiling. No one else knows that. So, Guan Guiling will definitely hold onto that. A bicycle, not even including the ticket, is over two hundred bucks. Would Guan Guiling really cough up that money? And she doesn't even have the ticket to buy another. A new ticket costs at least a few dozen. There's no way she'd compensate. Guan Guiling is so selfish at her core."

Mother and son gossiped on and on.

Zhao Guihua thought about it and had to admit her son was right. Even she felt Guan Guiling wouldn't compensate, but she didn't think there was anything wrong with that—Jiang Baohong brought it upon herself.

"Jiang Baohong really is nuts," she said.

Zhuang Zhixi: "Her husband used to be a leader, and as a leader's wife, she's developed some really weird thoughts. If anyone doesn't cater to her, she feels they're in the wrong and wants to exact some kind of petty revenge. This is nothing, really."

The two rode their bikes back home. As soon as they entered the courtyard, they saw Bai Fendou sitting at the door, as if waiting for them.

As soon as he saw Zhuang Zhixi, his eyes sparkled with delight, and he said, "You're back? I've been waiting for you guys."

He quickly asked, "How did it go?"

Zhao Guihua: "Not sure yet, but Fan Jianguo is in a tough spot. If he wants to get out of it, it's probably going to cost him everything."

After Bai Fendou pretended to escape as a woman, he didn't dare to go back, so he returned home and waited for news. All he knew was that Ming Mei went to the police station, and since it was an awkward situation with just them (he didn't dare to pursue Ming Mei for more details—mostly because he feared her temper), he was like a hot potant on an ant on a hot spring, restless while waiting. He was shocked. "He's going to lose everything? Isn't he just messing with Cheng Xiaoping? Just that got him arrested?"

He didn't know anything else.

Zhuang Zhixi shared what he could: "Fan Jianguo suddenly attacked and hit her, causing Guan Guiling to miscarry."

Bai Fendou exclaimed, "What?!"

He was shocked: "How could this happen? Is Guan Guiling even involved here?"

Zhuang Zhixi looked at Bai Fendou and lowered his voice, saying, "Guan Guiling was just there to watch the drama. Her pregnancy was already problematic, as she's been scheming at work to extort money by framing others. Her visits to this compound were likely an attempt to trap you into a similar scheme. But before she could act, she ran into Fan Jianguo, leading to this unintended coincidence."

Whether it was truly a coincidence or not didn't matter. Bai Fendou would believe it either way.

Bai Fendou's eyes widened, and he lowered his voice to match Zhuang Zhixi's, asking, "Her child..."

Zhuang Zhixi replied, "It's her ex-husband's, of course."

Bai Fendou shook his head, "I wasn't asking about that. I know it's her ex-husband's. I mean, her child is so pitiful. Some people try so hard but can't have a child. And she...she's really..."

He struggled to find the right words.

After a long pause, he said, "I never thought she'd try to scheme against me."

Zhuang Zhixi smiled, "It wasn't necessarily aimed at you. She just needed money. It could have been anyone—you, if you fell for it, or even Ming Mei, or someone else at her workplace. Her goal was to use her pregnancy to extort money, not the specific person. It just happened to be Fan Jianguo this time."

He chuckled, "But you should be happy. You got dual good news: you took care of Fan Jianguo and got rid of Guan Guiling's threat."

Bai Fendou thought about it, then slapped his thigh, exclaiming, "That's right! That's exactly how it is!"

He immediately brightened up, saying, "I should definitely keep an eye on this. Hehehe."

Bai Fendou was overjoyed: "Serves him right!"

Zhuang Zhixi agreed, "Karma catches up eventually."

"Exactly!" Bai Fendou firmly concurred.

He earnestly told Zhuang Zhixi, "Xiao Zhuang, all the help you've given our family—thank you so much. If you ever need anything, just let me know. I'll be there at the front lines. You're a true friend, and I won't let you down. As long as it's legal, I'll do anything you ask."

Zhuang Zhixi smiled, "All right."

He added, "By the way, don't go poking around about Fan Jianguo and Guan Guiling's situation. Avoid getting dragged into it. After all, He Lan's background..." He hinted, "Anyway, my wife works with Guan Guiling, so I'll keep you updated."

Zhao Guihua chimed in, "I can also poke around. I was there to watch the drama, after all."

Bai Fendou was thrilled, "Thank you so much. I really appreciate it."

"Alright, go home now and tell your wife all about this," Zhuang Zhixi suggested.

Bai Fendou agreed, "Got it."

Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly remembered something and turned back, asking, "Can I ask something? Why was Fan Lian invited? I’ve been wondering about that."

He was clearly curious.

And by understanding, he could explain it to his wife, hehe.

Zhuang Zhixi explained, "With someone like Fan Jianguo, who’s done a lot of bad deeds and isn’t an impulsive young man but rather quite calculating, he might not act rashly. But with Fan Lian around, it's different. She's a spoiled, petty girl who sees her sister-in-law Cheng Xiaoping as just a servant of the Fan family. With her there, she's bound to cause a scene, and they’ll definitely quarrel. That way, it would break them apart."

Bai Fendou nodded, "Makes sense."

He happily added, "That's great."

Grinning with satisfaction, he said, "I can't wait to see how their family ends up."

There was nothing more they needed to do; the Fan family was already doomed. The thought filled Bai Fendou with glee. He skipped home, swaying his hips and taking three steps at a time, imitating a dance step, hehehe.

Zhuang Zhixi: "..."

Zhao Guihua commented, "What's with the prissy steps?"

Zhuang Zhixi shrugged, "Guess he's just too happy."

It was a bit...hard on the eyes.

Their compound really lacked a manly man.

Only Zhuang Zhixi could fill that role.

Really, he carried too much responsibility.