Chapter 89

Chapter 89

Tang Qingqing was startled awake and opened her eyes in bed.

The window in Tang Qingqing's room was just above the side of the front door, allowing her to hear clearly what was happening downstairs.

When Su Rong heard the words of the person knocking on the door, her legs went weak, and she hurriedly opened the door:

"What, what happened? What about Zhenzhen?"

"Aunt Su, you should go to the hospital quickly; Zhenzhen has been injured!"

Su Rong felt a void in her heart and would have collapsed if not for leaning against the door.

"Injured?! How badly? Who did it?!"

Su Rong hastily turned around to get her keys, her voice trembling.

"Aunt Su, you should go see for yourself; Zhenzhen is at the hospital now."

Su Rong left in a hurry with that person, and soon the downstairs area became quiet again.

Tang Qingqing was puzzled. What had Tang Zhenzhen been doing that she hadn't returned so late and had even gotten injured?

Although the person knocking seemed anxious, Tang Qingqing felt that it couldn't be too serious.

She didn't give it much thought and rolled over to fall asleep.

The next morning, when Tang Qingqing went down for her morning exercise, she noticed that Su Rong and Tang Jianguo's rooms were open and empty.

Tang Qingqing frowned; could it be that serious?

She still went out for her morning exercise as usual. An old lady saw her and pulled her aside.

"Qingqing, what happened yesterday?"

Tang Qingqing guessed she was referring to Tang Zhenzhen's incident, "Grandma, what are you talking about?"

"Oh, you don't know?"

The old lady clapped her hands, and other elderly people gathered around.

Tang Qingqing shook her head, "I woke up today, and no one was home. I don't know what happened."

"It's your Zhenzhen who got into trouble!"

The old lady said this while observing Tang Qingqing's expression.

"Is that so? I'm not quite sure."

Tang Qingqing remained calm. Although she didn't interact with Tang Zhenzhen, she simply ignored her and never showed any emotional reaction in public.

The old lady, eager to share gossip, continued despite Tang Qingqing's indifference.

"Last night, she took several people from the factory out, saying they found the thief who stole money from our factory. They went to stake out the place. Unexpectedly, the Public Security Bureau was also staking out there. Somehow, they collided. The police were in plainclothes, and everyone thought the others were accomplices of the criminals. It got chaotic, and they started fighting. In the end, Zhenzhen was accidentally injured."

Hearing this, Tang Qingqing was astonished.

"How did she find the culprit?"

"I don't know, but apparently, both groups collided. The police were in plainclothes, and everyone thought the others were accomplices. It got messy, and they started fighting. Zhenzhen was accidentally injured. Isn't that ironic?"

"I heard someone tried to bully Zhenzhen, and that's why it escalated."

"That's not true; it was an accident."

Tang Qingqing's lips twitched. She had been helping the Public Security Bureau for years and had participated in arrests. No matter how chaotic the scene, it shouldn't reach such a level.

Even if the police were in plainclothes, they would reveal their identities early on, preventing accidental injuries.

"Did the thief escape?"

"He was caught; otherwise, it would have been a joke."

Another old lady chimed in, "Well, they meant well."

"Good intentions leading to bad results are still upsetting. With the police around, why did those kids need to get involved? That only adds to the chaos."

"Don't say that; it's just an accident. More people investigating means catching the thief sooner and recovering the money faster."

"Right, did they recover the money?"

"I don't know, but I assume they did."

The old folks began chatting, and Tang Qingqing did not join in further. She finished her morning exercise.

When she returned home, Su Rong was already busy in the kitchen. Seeing Tang Qingqing, she called out loudly:

"Qingqing, breakfast is ready on the table."

Tang Qingqing entered the kitchen and saw Su Rong chopping meat.

"What are you busy with?"

"Zhenzhen is injured. She said she feels dizzy and wants my homemade noodle sauce."

As Su Rong spoke, she observed Tang Qingqing's expression carefully, acting cautiously.

"If you're not hungry now, do you want to try some? Zhenzhen is a patient, so I made it specially for her."

"No need. I'll just have soy milk and fried dough sticks." Tang Qingqing wasn't the type to be jealous over a patient. "I need to go to the Public Security Bureau later, so I might come back late."

"If it's too late, call back, and I'll have your father or brother pick you up."

Tang Qingqing agreed, noticing Su Rong's haggard face with dark circles under her eyes, clearly indicating she hadn't slept well last night.

Yet, she was still busy chopping meat and pulling noodles, which made Tang Qingqing frown slightly.

After taking a few steps out, she couldn't help but say, "You didn't sleep last night. Please take care and rest today."

Su Rong was taken aback, and by the time she reacted, Tang Qingqing had already gone upstairs.

Tang Qingqing arrived at the Public Security Bureau with the documents. Shi Pengfei came out with an unkempt beard, clearly showing he had pulled an all-nighter.

"Have you had breakfast?"

"I've already eaten."

Hearing this, Shi Pengfei didn't press further and immediately started discussing work.

"We caught the suspect in the Machinery Plant theft case yesterday, but something unexpected happened."

Tang Qingqing: "I wanted to ask you about that. What exactly happened? I heard someone got hurt?"

"Ah, we sent people to stake out the suspect, but a group from your Machinery Plant was also there. These young guys wanted to show off in front of the girls, so they insisted on capturing the suspect before us."

"As a result, they pushed our people aside and almost let the suspect escape. The one who got hurt was unlucky; the suspect's mother somehow found her and knew she had led us there, so she rushed over and beat her up."

The scene was chaotic, and the place was small.

Everyone focused on the suspect, and no one noticed an old lady sneaking out of the house. By the time they realized, she had already hit Tang Zhenzhen on the head with a rolling pin.

If not for the timely intervention, Tang Zhenzhen's face would have been injured, as the old lady aimed another blow at her face.

Tang Qingqing was at a loss for words. Tang Zhenzhen was indeed very unlucky.

However, such is the nature of arrest scenes; even the most meticulous plans can have flaws.

After all, the environment is complex, and unexpected situations can arise at any moment.

Whenever such moments occurred, Tang Qingqing kept a safe distance, knowing her combat skills were lacking and didn't want to add to the chaos.

While hiding, she also paid attention to her surroundings to avoid any accidents.

This was a long-standing experience. Once her reputation grew, everyone recognized her as the one who solved cases.

Those criminals particularly hated her and often targeted her. Sometimes, their family members sought to punish her for harming their relatives.

Initially, she narrowly escaped being beaten, thanks to Zhai Hongyi and Wang Heizi protecting her.

If she were alone, she would be more cautious and protect herself.

Unfortunately, Tang Zhenzhen was targeted and harmed, causing both laughter and tears.

"How did they know that person was the suspect?"

"The injured girl said she deduced the suspect was suspicious, so she led people to watch him and see if they could uncover anything. One of the men, who had a short temper, saw the suspect and immediately tried to grab and beat him to get information."

Tang Qingqing was even more surprised. After the case occurred, the Public Security Bureau hadn't released any results publicly. How did Tang Zhenzhen know who the thief was?

Tang Zhenzhen had to attend the Art Troupe and had no time to investigate.

"She said she saw this person acting suspiciously one day and had a gut feeling he was problematic, so she decided to watch him."

Shi Pengfei had investigated Tang Zhenzhen and confirmed she had no connection to the case. Although he was puzzled, he didn't pursue it further.

Given the scale of the case, as the daughter of the factory director, Tang Zhenzhen wanting to help her father was a reasonable explanation.

As for the sixth sense, though mysterious, it sometimes existed.

Since Tang Zhenzhen wasn't a suspect, there was no need for a deeper investigation.

However, Tang Qingqing didn't believe in a sixth sense. She found Tang Zhenzhen's behavior peculiar.

Thinking about the book she had read, could others also see it?

Tang Qingqing felt she was getting closer to the truth. Tang Zhenzhen wanted to use her skills to solve the case first but unexpectedly encountered trouble.

Shi Pengfei waved his hand in front of her.

Tang Qingqing snapped back to reality and handed over the documents:

"The footprint in the photo indicates the owner is male, 176 cm tall, medium build, around 23 years old, and has a slight outward-turned stance."

Shi Pengfei stroked his chin: "The characteristics you described match the previous suspect perfectly. No wonder the old man mistook him; their silhouettes are identical."

"Let me study it further to see if I can find anything else."

"Why don't I take you to see that person later?"

Tang Qingqing looked at him, and Shi Pengfei continued: "For some reason, I feel he isn't as innocent as he seems."

Shi Pengfei had dealt with the suspect before. This guy was clearly not honest and must have something to hide, yet nothing concrete could be found.

"Sure, I'd like to see him too."

Shi Pengfei acted promptly and took her to see the suspect.

Due to the suddenness of the situation, the bureau's cars were all occupied, so Shi Pengfei and Tang Qingqing rode bicycles there.

The two of them rode separately for about twenty minutes before arriving at the suspect's residence.

Shi Pengfei didn't rush to find the person with Tang Qingqing. Instead, he led her to a group of old men chatting and playing chess under a tree.

"You mean that kid? He's made it big recently. He's been eating out every day and even bought a TV for his family."

Shi Pengfei slightly narrowed his eyes. "Where did he make his fortune?"

"We don't know. That kid wanders around all day, and no one knows what he's up to."

Only then did Shi Pengfei lead Tang Qingqing away and knock on someone's door.

There was no response from inside for a long time. Shi Pengfei knocked several more times before someone finally opened the door.

"What's all this knocking! Being chased by ghosts... Captain Shi, why are you here?"

Shi Pengfei pushed the door open and immediately smelled a strong scent of alcohol.

"Living well, I see. Where have you been making your fortune lately?"

Zhang Dafa smiled awkwardly. "Just some cheap wine, not worth much."

"Is that so?" Shi Pengfei's smile was insincere.

Zhang Dafa tried to flatter him. "Captain Shi, I'm a law-abiding citizen. What do you need from me? The previous case is closed, right? I wasn't home that day. Even though I may be a bit of a troublemaker, I wouldn't do something like that."

"We're just conducting routine investigations. No need to be nervous."

Shi Pengfei kept Zhang Dafa talking while occasionally walking around the small room. Zhang Dafa followed him closely.

Tang Qingqing kept staring at Zhang Dafa's feet. Zhang Dafa had already sensed Tang Qingqing's presence but couldn't approach her due to Shi Pengfei's powerful aura.

After observing for a while, Tang Qingqing looked away and pretended to casually wander around the room, kicking other shoes lying on the ground to expose their soles.

Zhang Dafa was busy answering Shi Pengfei's tricky questions and didn't pay much attention to the young and pretty girl.

When Tang Qingqing nodded at Shi Pengfei, he stopped pulling Zhang Dafa into idle chatter.

After they left, Shi Pengfei asked Tang Qingqing, "How was it?"

"The owner of the footprint isn't him."

Shi Pengfei wasn't disappointed; he had expected as much.

"Perhaps we overlooked something. We need to conduct a thorough investigation."

Tang Qingqing shook her head. "The focus should still be on Zhang Dafa."

"What do you mean?"

"That person looks very similar to Zhang Dafa, in terms of gait and physique."

"So what does that imply?"

"Does Zhang Dafa have any brothers?"

Shi Pengfei shook his head. "He only has an older sister who married a local when she was assigned here."

Tang Qingqing frowned. "That's strange. I saw other shoes scattered around their house. One pair wasn't Zhang Dafa's. Although the size was the same, the wear marks on the soles showed different walking patterns, indicating different wearers."

Shi Pengfei fell into deep thought.

"This person looks very similar to Zhang Dafa, but there are subtle differences. I think this person is not just Zhang Dafa's brother, but his twin brother."

Shi Pengfei immediately decided, "Zhang Dafa was born elsewhere. I'll call over there and ask about the situation."

Shi Pengfei, being a man of action, took Tang Qingqing back to the Public Security Bureau to call the bureau there and ask them to investigate Zhang Dafa's birth records.

While Shi Pengfei was busy with other matters, Tang Qingqing started reviewing the case files of the massacre.

As soon as she saw the first photo, she couldn't help but frown.

The first thing she saw was a blood-red scene with a person lying in a pool of blood, the death extremely gruesome.

Even with mental preparation, Tang Qingqing couldn't help but gasp.

Especially seeing the photos of the three children's bodies, it was unbearable.

The male victim suffered the worst fate, having his throat slit and then stabbed multiple times, with some wounds causing his intestines to spill out.

The female victim, after being awakened, tried to escape but was caught by the perpetrator, stabbed four times in the back and then repeatedly in the front, leading to a horrific death.

The youngest daughter was suffocated in her sleep and then stabbed once, showing no signs of struggle. Her tiny body lying there evoked deep sympathy.

The two boys, aged twelve and eight, were sleeping in the same bed. The older brother's death was particularly brutal, with over twenty stab wounds, several on his arms, indicating he had tried to protect his younger brother.

The older brother's injuries were severe, suggesting the perpetrator intentionally avoided vital areas, inflicting pain. He died from excessive bleeding after enduring immense agony.

The younger brother had fewer wounds, with a fatal cut to the throat.

The perpetrator was calm, cleaning the floor, leaving visible mop marks without any fingerprints.

The victims lived in a self-built three-story house. The couple resided on the third floor, while the children were on the second.

Though the photos pained Tang Qingqing, she endured the discomfort to focus on the crime scene details, determined to bring justice to the family.

From the traces in the photograph, it can be seen that the murderer first went to the third floor and killed the male and female owners, then descended to the second floor to kill the children, sparing none.

There were no signs of forced entry on the front door, but a metal bar in the kitchen had been twisted open. It is highly likely that the murderer climbed in through here.

However, there were no signs of the murderer climbing in at the scene, nor were there any shoe prints on the windowsill.

The perpetrator was very cautious, leaving no trace behind.

Tang Qingqing felt that looking at the photographs alone would not reveal much. She packed up the materials and went to look for Shi Pengfei.

It turned out that Shi Pengfei had already been dispatched to another case that required his presence at the scene.

"When will he be back?"

The female police officer shook her head. "That's hard to say. There was a brawl, and we don't know the current situation."

"Who else at the bureau is handling the massacre case?"

The female police officer replied, "It's all handled by Team One, and they've all been dispatched."

"Is there anyone who can go with me to the scene?"

The female police officer looked apologetic. "We really can't spare anyone right now. Those who worked overnight yesterday haven't had a chance to rest and have also been sent out."

Tang Qingqing had no choice but to leave with the materials, hoping to find some clues.

She dared not go to the crime scene alone, and it wouldn't be proper without someone accompanying her.

When Tang Qingqing returned home, she found letters from Zhai Hongyi and Wang Heizi in the mailbox, which made her smile.

Upon entering the house, she saw that Tang Zhenzhen had already come home.

Tang Zhenzhen was sitting on the sofa with bandages on her head, looking quite pale. Seeing Tang Qingqing only made her expression worse.

Tang Zhenzhen was furious, never expecting such an embarrassing situation.

She had brought so many people along, yet she ended up getting injured!

What a bunch of incompetents!

The only thing she could be thankful for was that her face wasn't hurt; otherwise, she would be completely ruined.

Now, with a mild concussion, she couldn't engage in strenuous activities for a while, and she didn't know if she could keep her lead dancer position.

If she missed this opportunity, her initial encounter with the male lead would be ruined!

Even with Su Rong present, Tang Zhenzhen couldn't manage a pleasant expression.

If it weren't for this woman returning, she wouldn't be in this predicament.

It was supposed to be a simple matter, but it left her in constant fear.

Now, she was trying to attract attention with her detective skills, forcing Tang Zhenzhen to use this opportunity to prove she was the best.

But the result!

Tang Zhenzhen grew angrier the more she thought about it, and the back of her head throbbed even more.

"Ouch—"

Tang Zhenzhen couldn't help crying out. Su Rong, busy in the kitchen, rushed out immediately.

"My darling, are you hurting again?"

Tang Qingqing's eyebrows twitched. This endearment was familiar; she had heard her mother use it in her dreams.

Since coming here, she hadn't heard Su Rong call either Tang Zhenzhen or herself like that.

Tang Zhenzhen pouted as if about to cry. "Mom, I'm in so much pain."

"Poor darling, let Mom blow on it for you?"

Tang Zhenzhen leaned into Su Rong's arms, shooting a challenging glance at Tang Qingqing.

Tang Qingqing pretended not to notice and turned to go upstairs.

Only then did Su Rong realize that Tang Qingqing had returned and hadn't greeted her. She felt a pang of guilt.

Tang Zhenzhen clung to her, making it difficult for Su Rong to attend to both.

"Your father and your brother are really something. With such a big incident at home, they still haven't come back! Especially Third Brother, always busy with something. He didn't even come home last night!"

Su Rong was angry. If the men were around, she wouldn't be so anxious.

Last night, when she heard that Tang Zhenzhen was injured, she nearly panicked.

For a girl to get into trouble late at night, Su Rong feared the worst.

Fortunately, it was just a blow to the head and a mild concussion, which would heal with time.

Su Rong had wanted Tang Zhenzhen to stay in the hospital for observation, but Tang Zhenzhen couldn't bear it and came home early.

"Third Brother must have been under some kind of stress; he's been acting even more recklessly than before," Tang Zhenzhen complained softly.

This volume was enough for Su Rong to hear. Thinking of Wang Heizi, she sighed inwardly and changed the subject.

"Zhenzhen, you mustn't act recklessly anymore. Catching bad guys is the job of the police. Don't meddle. You were lucky this time; otherwise, who knows what might have happened."

"Mom, I just wanted to help," Tang Zhenzhen said, feeling wronged. "I didn't expect that I'd be worse than my sister and just cause trouble."

"You're talking nonsense. You're both very excellent children; there's no one better than the other."

Tang Zhenzhen looked dejected.

Su Rong: "Don't overthink it. Mom was just criticizing you for being too reckless. Our Zhenzhen is very capable; she managed to identify the culprit so quickly."

"Mom, I didn't want to take the spotlight either. I was genuinely worried that person might escape, so I hurriedly gathered some help. I acted on instinct and didn't know how to explain it to the police, which is why I didn't call them in time."

"I know you're a good child, but I'm just concerned about your safety."

"Sister is fine too, and I'm not as good as her."

"Don't talk nonsense. Zhenzhen, you're smart and beautiful. Both you and Qingqing are my daughters; don't belittle yourself."

Tang Zhenzhen blushed. "Mom, do you think I'm being childish? I didn't mean to compete with Sister; I just wanted to be as excellent as her so that you would continue to love me."

Su Rong gently pinched her nose. "Mom doesn't love you because you're excellent."

Tang Zhenzhen finally smiled brightly, her gaze turning towards the stairs, her lips curling slightly.

Tang Qingqing went upstairs and quickly opened Wang Heizi's letter, scanning it rapidly until she found the part about Old Liu.

The letter mentioned that Old Liu was doing well and had recently helped solve a case at the commune.

"The old man said he still has to rely on your reputation, telling others that he's your master to gain their respect. Although he says this with a stern face, I can tell he's very proud and happy. People still remember our uncle, which makes the old man even prouder."

"He also told me to reassure you not to worry about him. He's doing well in the village, and your Uncle and Aunt often visit and take care of him. They regularly air out and clean his bedding. Whenever there's something delicious, they make sure he gets a share."

Wang Heizi added at the end, "The old man isn't as reclusive as before. He now interacts more with the villagers and is in good health. He's much more cheerful than before."

Reading this, Tang Qingqing felt relieved. She then glanced briefly at the rest of the content and proceeded to open Zhai Hongyi's letter.

Zhai Hongyi first explained why it took so long to write back, "I recently went to the south. The development there is very rapid, and I believe it holds great potential for the future. After graduation, I plan to develop my career there."

Upon reading the letter, Tang Qingqing knew that Zhai Hongyi wouldn't follow the path everyone expected.

After university, he wouldn't accept an assigned job but instead intended to create his own business.

Zhai Hongyi was now much more ambitious than when he was in the mountain village, filled with hope for the future.

However, his family didn't approve, thinking he was wasting his time.

Zhai Hongyi also rarely mentioned his father.

"My father says I'm taking the capitalist road and fears I'll become like my uncle's family, part of the bourgeoisie. He's like an old antique, not realizing what era we live in."

"I don't care what he thinks. Even if policies change, I won't regret my choice. It's not out of spite or defiance. In the past, I did have such thoughts, wanting to do what they didn't want me to do."

"Now, I see economic development as crucial and find joy in it. Why not pursue it?"

"It's a pity that few understand me, thinking I'm choosing a thorny path when I could have an easy one."

Regarding Tang Qingqing's previous mention of making those people pay,

Zhai Hongyi bluntly stated, "Having such thoughts is normal. Otherwise, being young and indifferent would be too boring."

"If you currently lack the ability and means to punish them, focus on developing yourself. Only by becoming stronger can you hold the reins."

"I believe you have the capability. Don't put too much pressure on yourself or give them too much attention."

"Making those people get what they deserve is necessary, but don't let it affect your life. They're not worth it."

At the end, Zhai Hongyi wrote, "I've been busy this year, so I couldn't visit you when I went south. I apologize. When things calm down, I will definitely visit you."

When Tang Qingqing read this, she couldn't hide her smile.

Although she didn't know when this would happen, it was enough to make her happy.

Otherwise, she thought they might only meet again when she got into university.

Tang Qingqing couldn't help but wonder what Zhai Hongyi looked like after years apart. Had he grown taller?

If he grew taller, she would still need to look up at him.

But he must be more mature now. Even Wang Heizi doesn't seem like a teenager anymore, let alone Zhai Hongyi.

Tang Qingqing recalled the first time she met Zhai Hongyi, mistaking him for an uncle due to his tall stature, and chuckled.

After finishing Zhai Hongyi's letter, she read Wang Heizi's again, then picked up a pen to write back.

So many things had happened recently, giving her a strong desire to share.

Especially about Tang Zhenzhen's situation, which felt mysterious and made her want to talk about it.

Her master would have been the best person to confide in, but he couldn't read, so someone would need to read the letter to him.

While Wang Heizi was reliable, he sometimes couldn't keep his mouth shut, and such strange matters could easily slip out.

Tang Qingqing didn't want too many people to know, so she decided to write to Zhai Hongyi instead.

When Tang Qingqing came downstairs again, everyone else had returned and was surrounding Tang Zhenzhen, as if she were already half-disabled.

Tang Zhenzhen saw Tang Qingqing coming down the stairs and said to Tang Jianguo:

"Dad, all the money is gone. If Zhang Yaoguang stole it, he wouldn't have spent it so quickly."

"We've checked, and he hasn't left the house recently or hidden any money anywhere. His uncle is our factory's accountant. It must have been his uncle who instructed him. There must be issues with our factory's accounts!"

Tang Jianguo frowned slightly. "You can't say things like that recklessly."

"Dad, I'm not making it up! Didn't you go to check the accounts yesterday? Did you find something?"

Tang Jianguo's eyes darkened as he said, "There's nothing to it. Don't overthink it, child. He might have hidden the money somewhere; the police will find it soon."

"Dad! Ah—" Tang Zhenzhen suddenly became agitated and ended up pulling at her wound.

"Rest well for now; don't think too much."

Tang Jianguo directly left Tang Zhenzhen's side. She still wanted to say something but was stopped by Tang Jidong.

"Your task right now is to recover well; don't worry about anything else."

Tang Zhenzhen immediately became angry. "Brother, why are you like this too! Don't you believe me either!"

"Enough, enough, stop talking or your head will hurt again. The National Day performance is coming up. If your injury doesn't heal, all your previous efforts will be in vain."

Tang Zhenzhen was furious, feeling that her opinions were not being taken seriously.

What was the point of enduring such pain!

"In any case, this matter isn't that simple. You'll regret not believing me!"

Tang Zhenzhen stormed upstairs angrily.

Su Rong poked her head out from the kitchen. "Zhenzhen, lunch is almost ready. Don't rush upstairs."

"My head hurts; I don't want to eat."

Su Rong was puzzled. "What happened? Who upset her?"

Tang Jixue quickly distanced himself. "It has nothing to do with me; it was Second Brother and Dad."

Su Rong looked suspiciously at Tang Jianguo and Tang Jidong. These two usually spoiled Tang Zhenzhen, always agreeing with whatever she said. What was going on today?

"Mom, it's nothing. Zhenzhen is just uncomfortable, so she's throwing a tantrum. She'll be fine soon."

"She's injured right now; you should be more understanding."

Tang Jixue rolled his eyes. "We've been more than accommodating already. I just agreed to so many of her conditions; it's like I'm the one who injured her."

Su Rong was displeased. "She's your sister! Why are you so petty? I haven't even said anything about you. You're always busy with something; you didn't even come home yesterday!"

Tang Jixue hurried away to find Tang Qingqing for some peace. Su Rong saw Tang Qingqing downstairs and didn't dare to mention Tang Zhenzhen again. She called her to wash her hands and get ready for lunch.

"Qingqing, I heard you were involved in that mass murder case?" Tang Jixue looked excitedly at Tang Qingqing.

Tang Qingqing nodded. "You sure are well-informed."

"Of course, Mom told me to stay close to you these days."

"That's unnecessary; you should focus on your own work."

"No matter how busy I am, I need to make time to protect you. I remember Wang Heizi saying that I must stay by your side when you're working on cases. You always seem to attract trouble."

Tang Qingqing couldn't help but laugh. "Don't listen to his nonsense."

"Was it true that you almost got hit by an axe before?"

Tang Qingqing sighed. "Those are rare occurrences."

"But they did happen, and the murderer in the mass murder case is even more ruthless. I need to stay closer to you!"

Tang Qingqing glanced at him. "Don't you have work to do? Don't slack off."

"Don't worry. Wang Heizi and Zhai Hongyi manage their work and protection duties simultaneously; I can do the same."

"Their situations are different. They started small and earn a living through their work, so it doesn't hinder them."

"I've learned from their spirit. Your big brother is now very grounded."

Tang Jixue looked around. Seeing Tang Jianguo reading the newspaper on the sofa, Tang Jidong upstairs, and Su Rong busy in the kitchen, he whispered to Tang Qingqing:

"I brought in a batch of goods and had someone sell them."

Tang Qingqing frowned. "Had someone sell them? How big is your business that you need help?"

"Well, I wholesale them to others and take a commission. It's not that I'm afraid of losing face; these are girls' trinkets, and it's inappropriate for a man to sell them. Girls would probably avoid me if they saw me selling them."

Tang Jixue wasn't being overly ambitious. After hearing Wang Heizi's experiences, he realized his previous thoughts were wrong. Every little bit counts, and he could learn a lot from the process.

So, Tang Jixue spent a month researching and then decided on a business plan. Although he didn't have much money, his reputation as the third son of the Machinery Plant director helped him secure a batch of hair accessories without collateral. He found returning female educated youths to sell them at factory gates and school entrances.

Over the years, Tang Jixue had made many connections, especially among the returning educated youths, many of whom were girls. While being an individual entrepreneur was considered shameful, some girls came from poor backgrounds and had no place in their homes after returning. Their families weren't welcoming, and they lived in cramped conditions. In households that favored boys over girls, they faced constant pressure and hunger.

Despite running to the educated youth office multiple times, they still hadn't received any job offers.

At this point, they didn't care about their dignity anymore. As soon as Tang Jixue approached them, they immediately agreed.

"I'm now just waiting for the results. I have interest in other businesses too, but I didn't dare to start too big at first."

Tang Qingqing was surprised. "You actually used Dad's name?"

Previously, Tang Jixue had strongly disliked doing that, feeling it made him seem incapable.

Tang Jixue scratched his head awkwardly. "I really have no money left. I've spent all the previous funds. Besides, now that you're here, I feel even more..."

"Wait, what does that have to do with me?"

Tang Jixue looked up and laughed nervously. "Nothing... nothing..."

Tang Qingqing's gaze sharpened. "Confess honestly, or face harsher consequences."

"R-really, there's nothing!"

Tang Qingqing didn't believe him; his behavior clearly indicated something was amiss.

Tang Jixue rubbed his nose. "Can you not ask?"

"I can choose not to ask, but you need to ask yourself if what you did was right."

"In fact, I was trying to avenge you."

"What do you mean?"

Tang Jixue refused to say anything further. Tang Qingqing knew he was hiding something, likely related to money. A vague suspicion arose in her mind.

"Did you embezzle the money sent back home?"

Tang Jixue nearly choked on his own saliva. "What are you talking about?!"

Seeing his reaction, Tang Qingqing knew she was right. She didn't know how to respond.

Tang Qingqing indeed didn't want that money sent back, but principles were principles. What Tang Jixue did was wrong.

"I hope you can confess to Mom and Dad yourself."

Tang Jixue pouted sadly. "Sis, my dear sis, you can't do this to your brother."

"If you don't have the courage to face your mistakes, how can you take on greater responsibilities?"

"Can you give me some time? I've kept records. Once I earn enough, I'll confess."

Tang Qingqing didn't push further. "Just remember your words. You need to be more careful with money in the future, don't exceed your means."

"Not all of it was spent on me. I know you look down on my friends. Some of them aren't great, but others are genuinely good people. They were in dire straits, so I helped out."

"This business deal wouldn't have been possible without their help."

"Just think more carefully in the future. You're an adult now. People like Wang Heizi and Yi Ge would never respect you if you keep acting like this."

Tang Jixue repeatedly swore and promised. Only then did Tang Qingqing let him off for the moment.