Chapter 387 Then You Should Compensate Us

Chapter 387: Then You’re the One Who Owes Us

Jiang Yu still needed to find Wang Meili, so she told He Qianqian not to come along.

When she arrived at the Jiang family’s home, before even stepping inside, she heard shouts and curses.

Quickening her pace, she entered and saw a group of strangers wrecking the Jiang family’s home, smashing everything in sight.

Jiang Yonghua had been beaten, his lips swollen, as he and Wang Meili were slumped on the ground together.

"Jiang Hao has already been arrested! What more do you want? Even the cops haven’t charged my son—what right do you have to bully us like this?"

Only then did Jiang Yu realize these people must be the family of the deceased.

Jiang Yonghua caught sight of Jiang Yu out of the corner of his eye and went pale, frantically motioning for her to leave.

"Go back first. Come another day if you have business."

However, one of the intruders recognized Jiang Yu.

"That’s Jiang Hao’s older sister! She works in the city—she’s gotta have cash!"

Unfazed, Jiang Yu stepped inside.

As she passed Ershuan, who was watching the commotion at the door, she said, "Go call the village head. Tell him there are troublemakers in Nanhe Village. I’ll give you twenty cents for sweets later."

At the mention of money, Ershuan took off running.

Jiang Yonghua struggled to his feet, unable to hide his anxiety. "I told you to leave! Why did you come in?"

Jiang Yu replied, "This isn’t the old society anymore. We live by the law now—nobody’s above it. Every single thing they’ve smashed here today will have to be paid for."

The man who had recognized her earlier laughed. "Do you even know who we are? If there’s compensation, it’s you who should pay us!"

Jiang Yu turned to look at him, as if sizing him up.

Wang Meili whispered a reminder, "That’s Chen Ming, Chen Xiuying’s older brother."

Jiang Yu nodded in realization. "So it’s you."

Chen Ming leered at her shamelessly, his gaze lingering on her face as if unwilling to look away.

If there hadn’t been witnesses, he might have been even more audacious.

"Whether Jiang Hao killed anyone or not is for the police to decide—not you. Even if you trash this place, it won’t prove Jiang Hao guilty. No matter how much you try to pin this on him, it won’t work."

Chen Ming let out a loud, mocking laugh. "They say you and Jiang Hao are on bad terms, that you’ve washed your hands of your family. Now I see it’s all bullshit."

Jiang Yu found a chair that was still in one piece and sat down. She wasn’t helping her family or Jiang Hao—she was here for what’s right.

If it’d been anyone else from Nanhe Village who came to her for help, she might have done the same.

But all of this hinged on one thing: Jiang Hao’s innocence.

"No matter what my relationship with my family is, that doesn’t give you the right to strut around Nanhe Village like you own the place."

A woman behind Chen Ming screamed, beside herself. "My son is dead—killed by your brother! Breaking all this won’t bring my boy back! If you can return my son’s life, you can tear my whole house apart—I won’t say a word!"

Jiang Yu’s expression flickered. "Auntie, I know you’re hurting. But the truth doesn’t change: if the cops haven’t pinned this on Jiang Hao, you can’t either."

"Chen Ming saw it himself—how could it be false?"

Jiang Yu glanced at Chen Ming, "You take Chen Ming’s word that it was Jiang Hao, yet dismiss Jiang Hao’s plea of innocence. Neither side can prove it, so why trust Chen Ming's claim?"

Those behind Chen Ming fell silent.

"Bullshit!" Chen Ming, red-faced, shot back, "Are you saying I'm lying?"

Jiang Yu eyed him coolly, "Don’t get your panties in a twist. I’m just stating facts. I’ll only trust what the cops decide. If they convict Jiang Hao, the Jiang family won’t shirk any compensation or responsibility."

Wang Meili relaxed at Jiang Yu’s words.

Jiang Yu wouldn’t say that unless she knew something.

This only strengthened Wang Meili’s belief that Jiang Hao was innocent.

"Exactly! Jiang Yu’s saying what I’ve been thinking. My heart breaks for your lost son, but if Jiang Hao didn’t do it and you’re pinning it on him, doesn’t that hurt us too?"

Jiang Yonghua winced as he touched his stinging lip wound.

He added, "Besides, if Jiang Hao is truly innocent, wouldn’t you want to find the real killer to avenge your son?"

A gaunt, gray-haired man pushed through the crowd.

"You’re telling me my boy was killed by someone else? Do you know something?"

Jiang Yonghua paused, glancing at Jiang Yu.

Seeing no reaction from her, he didn’t dare to conclude.

"Look, I don’t have proof, but I *know* my son. Sure, he’s no saint, but murder? Never."

Moreover, Jiang Hao barely spoke ten words to the victim. There was no motive.

They’d gone to Jiang Yu not to clear Jiang Hao’s name, but because they feared he’d be wrongfully imprisoned.

Chen Ming’s jaw clenched, "Uncle Feng, let’s not pretend Jiang Ting didn’t ship Feng Huai off to mine coal in Yu’nan!"

Feng Yunde brushed this off, "Before the *Yu’nan mine flood*, Feng Huai had *chosen* to stay. He never planned to return. That’s no reason to blame Jiang Hao."

The others blamed Jiang Ting for forcing their sons into mining.

But Feng Huai had stayed willingly, and his family supported it.

So pointing fingers at Jiang Ting—or Jiang Hao—made no sense.

All they wanted was justice for their dead sons, which Chen Ming insisted Jiang Hao caused.

Chen Ming boiled with rage—what use was morality when his son was dead?

Jiang Yu’s interference had thrown Feng Yunde off—a wrinkle he hadn’t planned for.

If this fizzled now, he’d lose his shot.

As the standoff continued, He Youfu and Liu Junmei arrived.

Wang Meili lunged for them like a drowning woman grabbing a lifeline.

"Captain, another minute and they’d have murdered us! This is *bullshit*—absolute bullshit!"

Chen Xiuying looked at Chen Ming, and the two siblings exchanged glances.

She sneered, "Mrs. Wang, your son killed someone, and they only smashed up your house—that’s lenient. If it were my son, I'd demand your lives in return!"

Wang Meili spat at her, "I'll say it again—my son didn't kill anyone! You're spewing lies!"

Chen Xiuying scoffed, "My brother witnessed it himself. How could he be wrong?"

Wang Meili argued back, "Then I’m saying Chen Ming did it! Should the police arrest him too? Since when do we solve cases based on your baseless claims? Since when is evidence not needed?"

He Youfu's head throbbed from their bickering. He snapped, "Shut up, all of you!"

Feng Yunde emerged. Jiang Yu's earlier words had calmed him down.

"If it turns out later that my son's death had nothing to do with Jiang Hao, I’ll make it up to you."

Chen Ming was stunned. "Uncle Feng, you—"

Feng Yunde turned to him. "It's not that I don't believe you, but Jiang Yu is right. None of us can declare Jiang Hao guilty. Let the police finish their investigation and present the evidence before we talk about convicting him."

Chen Ming gritted his teeth. "I saw it with my own eyes—it’s the truth! We won’t leave empty-handed! They have to pay!"

Feng Yunde snorted. "If Jiang Hao really is the murderer, I’ll make them pay!"

He Youfu spoke up, "Don’t worry. If Jiang Hao did it, I’ll make sure they compensate you. I won’t take their side!"

Chen Xiuying grew anxious. Walking away now would be a waste.

"Uncle Feng, this is about Feng Huai’s life! Are you just going to let it go?"

Wang Meili sneered, "You’re awfully pushy—what’s in it for you?"

Chen Xiuying spat, "I have a sense of justice! Anyone in this situation would step up! Your son took a life—a bullet’s too good for him! You’ll pay for this!"

Jiang Yu narrowed her eyes. "Name your price."

Chen Xiuying quickly shouted, "Two thousand yuan!"