Chapter 484 He’s Not a Thief

Chapter 484: He Is Not a Thief

After having dinner at Old Lady Ma’s, they didn’t stick around and went straight home.

Before reaching the compound gate, they spotted Fu Xianghong standing there like a sentry.

As soon as she saw them from afar, she turned to run.

But Jiang Yu wasn’t about to let her get away and darted forward to block her path.

“Sister Xianghong, what’s the rush?”

Fu Xianghong forced a laugh, her eyes kept darting behind her.

“Jiang Yu, why are you back so early?”

Jiang Yu took her hand and gave He Tingyue a knowing look.

“It’s already late enough, isn’t it?”

He Tingyue glanced at Fu Xianghong, then strode up to their door and took out his key to unlock it.

Fu Xianghong’s heart sank—something was wrong.

The moment the door opened, a figure burst out like a shot.

With such force and speed, he would’ve bowled anyone else over.

Jiang Yu shouted, “There’s a thief!”

Her cry had everyone in the compound come running to catch the thief.

Fu Xianghong panicked. “No! He’s not a thief!”

Jiang Yu ignored her and told He Tingyue to hold onto the man and take him to the security office.

“He sneaks into our house while we’re gone? If that’s not a thief, what is?”

Xu Lihua came over with a broom and hit the man on the head a few times.

“You no-good thief! How dare you steal from honest folks like us! I’ll teach you a lesson!”

Fu Xianghong was frantic with worry and hurried to stop her.

“Aunt Xu, he’s no thief! Please, stop hitting him!”

Aunt Xu snorted. “If he’s not a thief, what was he doing sneaking around the south room? Why are you defending some thief, Xianghong?”

Lin Hongxia scowled and yanked Fu Xianghong aside.

“Have you lost your mind? Defending some thief?”

Fu Xianghong snapped. “Mom, he’s not a thief!”

If they really took him to the security office, that’d be the end of it.

Lin Hongxia frowned in confusion and looked closer—it was Liu Dagui!

“Oh my god! Dagui! What are you doing here?”

Liu Dagui was well-off now, and he had been good to Fu Xianghong—naturally, her attitude had improved a lot.

Yet the moment she shouted, she remembered what the situation was.

Lin Hongxia immediately said, "Little He, let him go! It's all a misunderstanding!"

Jiang Yu stepped on Liu Dagui’s fingers, grinding her heel into them.

"Aunt Lin, what are you talking about? We all saw him come out of my room. How is that a misunderstanding? Are you going to tell me he just happened to climb over the wall, then accidentally ran into our house to steal things?"

Liu Dagui grimaced in pain and shouted, "I didn’t steal anything!"

Jiang Yu scoffed, "We haven’t even gone through your pockets yet—how would we know you didn’t steal? Even if you didn’t, you just didn’t get the chance, not because you didn’t want to."

He Tingyue crouched down and went through Liu Dagui’s pockets.

His expression darkened as he felt something inside.

"And you call this not stealing?"

He pulled out a bankbook from Liu Dagui’s pocket, along with a cash-stuffed envelope.

Jiang Yu always kept cash at home—the bankbook alone held tens of thousands; the envelope had nearly a thousand yuan.

Realizing he was caught, Liu Dagui cowered, covering his head and begging, "I know I was wrong—let me off!"

Jiang Yu glared coldly and drove her foot into his head a few times.

"Do you know how much money is in my bankbook? That amount is enough to buy you a bullet!"

Fu Xianghong’s legs went weak. She never expected Liu Dagui to be so bold!

They had agreed only to look for things—how dare he steal Jiang Yu’s bankbook!

"Jiang Yu, he had a temporary screw loose—it wasn’t intentional! Please spare him this time!"

Xu Lihua stayed silent—Liu Dagui really crossed the line. If he dared steal from Jiang Yu’s place today, who knew when he might come for theirs next? This kind of person couldn’t be let off lightly.

Fu Xianghong should’ve kept her mouth shut—the moment she spoke, Jiang Yu couldn’t help but sneer.

"Don’t just blame him—you’re an accomplice too! How did Liu Dagui know we wouldn’t be home tonight? You stood at the door playing lookout instead of going home—think I’m blind?"

Fu Xianghong froze, panic surging inside her.

"Jiang Yu, I—"

Jiang Yu looked down at her coldly. "One steals, the other plays lookout—thick as thieves."

Fu Xianghong choked with shame, unable to defend herself.

Lin Hongxia pushed her behind her back. Though she wanted to scold her too, what else could she do? After all, it was her own child—she had no choice but to protect her.

"Jiang Yu, as a favor to me, spare Liu Dagui this time. Luckily, you caught him in time, and nothing was lost."

Jiang Yu snapped, "Aunt Lin, what standing do you think you have with me? You're overestimating yourself. Tingyue, haul him to security. With this much stolen, if the bullet doesn’t get him, a few years of labor reform will."

Liu Dagui frantically begged for mercy: "Tingyue! Tingyue! After all these years, you can't treat me like this! I really know I was wrong—spare me this once!"

He Tingyue remained silent and yanked him up off the ground.

Liu Dagui played the coward, going boneless and digging in his heels.

But he was no match for He Tingyue's strength, who hauled him out like a sack of potatoes.

Liu Dagui panicked and shouted, "I'll pay! I have money—I can compensate you! Please let me go!"

"Oh?" Jiang Yu raised an eyebrow and walked over.

"Your monthly salary is barely enough, with elders and children to support. How much can you possibly pay?"

Liu Dagui forced an ingratiating smile. "As long as you let me go, money's no object—name your price."

Jiang Yu nodded. "Make it five hundred."

"That's highway robbery!" Lin Hongxia protested angrily.

Jiang Yu laughed in amusement. "Then wouldn't I be just like your daughter and son-in-law—committing a crime? I never break the law."

Lin Hongxia turned purple with rage, then wheeled on Fu Xianghong and insisted firmly, "Don't give it to her! She wouldn’t dare send Dagui to jail. Don’t pay!"

That was over six months' wages for Liu Dagui.

Fu Xianghong’s face darkened. "Mom, do you really think Jiang Yu wouldn’t dare send Dagui to jail? You know how ruthless she can be."

When Jiang Yu was ruthless, she showed no mercy to anyone.

"Jiang Yu, we’ll pay. Please let him go."

Jiang Yu glanced at He Tingyue and reluctantly said, "Fine. Then give him two days to scrape together the money. If he doesn’t bring it within two days, the price goes up!"

He Tingyue released his grip and dumped Liu Dagui on the ground.

His cold gaze was like staring at gutter trash.

"Next time you think about stealing things, weigh the consequences first!"

Liu Dagui clambered to his feet, his limp fringe hiding the venom in his eyes.

Fu Xianghong hurried forward to support him, but he brushed her off.

If not for her misleading information, he wouldn’t have stuck his neck out tonight!

"Get lost!"

Fu Xianghong, overwhelmed with guilt, dogged his steps.

"Dagui..."

Liu Dagui seethed through clenched teeth. "Worthless woman—you can’t even handle a simple task!"

Fu Xianghong, seething with resentment, lowered her head.

"How was I to know they'd come back so early? Jiang Yu clearly said—"

"You believe whatever she says? Idiot! She had your number from the start and was just waiting for us to walk right into it!"

They came up empty-handed and got cleaned out for nothing. Liu Dagui was fit to burst.