Chapter 19: The Police Come to Investigate

Chapter 19: Police Investigation

Lu Xiang steamed the eggplants and sun-dried them for long-term preservation. Whenever she craved them, she simply mixed them with fermented bean curd sauce.

Just as she placed the steamed eggplants on the drying rack, she heard a knock at the door. Xiao Cailian emerged from the house, asking, "What's going on?"

A neighboring aunt chimed in, "The village is swarming with police."

Police had never visited their village before, save for a few days prior when the Fu family reported the substitute marriage incident. The village elders had never seen a police officer in their lives.

Xiao Cailian declared, "Let's go take a look."

The arrival of so many police officers had stirred the entire village. Even those working in the fields had returned, bewildered by the unfolding events.

Soon, the village threshing ground was packed with people.

The village chief and several other cadres stood conversing with a young officer in uniform.

After confirming the details with the village chief, the officers proceeded directly to Lin Mu's residence at the edge of the village, catching him red-handed at home, where he was recuperating.

Lin Mu's house was littered with liquor bottles, peanuts, milk powder cans, and half-eaten sausages. Despite not working or receiving grain rations, his meals were noticeably better than anyone else's in the village.

"Don't move," the police commanded.

Lin Mu was so terrified he nearly wet himself.

Believing it was about harassing Lu Xiang, he stammered repeatedly, "I won't do it again..." His tongue felt numb as he spoke.

Ignoring his pleas, the police swiftly handcuffed him. "Take him away." Two officers escorted him out without another word.

The remaining two officers stayed behind to investigate, their first task being to search every nook and cranny of his house.

The villagers, confused and frightened, buzzed with nervous chatter nearby.

The village chief, observing their behavior, admonished, "Why are you all crowding around? Disperse! No more gathering!"

The crowd, however, refused to budge, demanding of the village chief, "What exactly is going on?"

Seeing that they wouldn't leave until they got answers, the village chief reluctantly informed them, "The police comrades said that a grain transport truck was robbed yesterday. They suspect he was involved."

Everyone present was stunned. Robbing a grain transport truck? Had he a death wish? Highway robbery was utterly lawless!

The village chief was mortified. The robbery had occurred less than five kilometers from their village. Such a major incident would inevitably lead to an investigation, and as the village chief, he would face severe repercussions. After speaking, he approached the police again, hoping to explain and smooth things over.

"No way!" the villagers murmured, their opinions clashing, creating a chaotic din.

"He wouldn't dare, even if you gave him the guts."

Everyone's impression of Lin Mu was still limited to petty thefts like eggs or buns.

Lu Zhaodi watched Lu Xiang standing with Xiao Cailian, and it made her blood boil. She had never wanted Lu Xiang to marry Fu Qinhui and had subtly encouraged Lin Mu to tarnish her reputation. Who knew Lin Mu would turn out to be such a coward and never succeed?

Instead, Fu Qinhui and Lu Xiang had grown close.

She was a reborn individual, aware that she would eventually live in the city, but the villagers were oblivious to this.

The villagers still mocked them for letting a good son-in-law slip away, which infuriated her.

Seeing her mother's ineffectiveness, she angrily confronted Lu Xiang, "Is this because you falsely accused him? Even if my cousin isn't perfect, you can't try to ruin him completely."

Xiao Cailian retorted, "What does this have to do with Lu Xiang? If he doesn't follow the right path, how can he blame others?"

Lu Zhaodi, unable to disrespect her elders, turned to her mother with a pained expression.

Lu Zhaodi's mother, fiercely protective of her own, bristled at Xiao Cailian's words. "Zhaodi didn't say anything wrong. It's just the truth. Can't we even speak our minds anymore?"

Lu Zhaodi's mother had never gotten the better of Lu Xiang in their previous clashes and had long harbored resentment. Yesterday, she thought her mother-in-law would surely secure the three hundred yuan, but even the mother-in-law couldn't manage it. Lu Xiang had truly grown bold.

Seeing Lu Xiang still protected by Xiao Cailian, she couldn't hold back her tongue: "Besides, it takes two to tango. Why didn't Lin Mu bother anyone else? Why only you?"

Lu Xiang retorted, "Stretch your face over here, and see if one slap can make a sound. Lin Mu already admitted in front of me and my dad that he came after me because you instigated him. I haven't even come after you yet—I've been more than generous. And you still have the nerve to argue? Do you really think I'm made of dough?"

Upon hearing this juicy gossip, everyone forgot about Lin Mu and started whispering about Lu Xiang and Lu Zhaodi.

Uncle Lu angrily rebuked Lu Zhaodi's mother, "Enough!" He was furious. They had, on their own initiative, given Lu Xiang away, leaving their own daughter single, and now they hadn't even managed to stay on good terms with Lu Xiang. Instead, they were mocking each other.

Every time Uncle Lu saw Lu Zhaodi, it made his blood boil.

He was even angrier that Lu Xiang had exposed this matter, making their family a laughingstock.

Uncle Lu was the authority in the family, and his words silenced everyone around.

But Uncle Lu wasn't finished. He openly criticized Lu Zhaodi's mother, though his words were also meant for Lu Xiang: "You have no sense of how a woman should behave. All you know how to do is spout nonsense. You deserve a beating."

Uncle Lu's words were undeniably harsh.

The villagers were shrewd and could tell he was making an example of her to warn others.

Lu Xiang wasn't like others who would swallow their pride after a veiled criticism from an elder. She didn't hold back.

She feigned ignorance and said, "Aunt, if I were you, I'd be too ashamed to show my face."

Uncle Lu choked with anger and glared at her.

Just as another argument was about to erupt, the village chief was called back to calm the situation. His temples throbbed as he said, "Why are you all still gathered here?"

Someone eager to stir trouble recounted what had just happened to the village chief.

The village chief said, "What does this have to do with Lu Xiang? He's suspected of highway robbery. Where did those canned goods and milk powder come from? Stop blaming others for everything every day."

Once the village chief spoke, no one else dared to say anything.

As Lu Zhaodi's family was about to leave, Xiao Cailian wasn't having it. Her youngest son had finally managed to marry a wife, and now that her son wasn't here, his wife was being bullied. What would people say if word got out?

Xiao Cailian was no pushover either. She said, "I'm talking to the Lu family. You gossip about everyone every day, as if the whole village's affairs aren't enough for you. After slandering others, you think it's over just like that?"

Xiao Cailian had four sons. Even if Fu Qinhui wasn't here, the other three sons stood by her side, creating an intimidating presence for others.

Uncle Lu said, "What do you mean?"

Third Sister-in-law Fu said, "Apologize to Lu Xiang."

Villagers valued face. Being forced to apologize was more humiliating than being slapped.

Uncle Lu couldn't bring himself to say such a thing.

To make matters worse, the Fu family wouldn't let them leave.

Uncle Lu shot his wife a furious glare and said, "This is all your fault."

Aunt Lu was stunned. Seeing that neither her daughter nor her husband paid her any attention, and with the villagers egging them on, her face flushed bright red. It felt as though her pride had been ground into the dirt. After a long pause, she mumbled, "I'm sorry," though her expression remained defiant.

Third Sister-in-Law Fu, annoyed by her attitude, snapped, "Speak up! We didn't hear you."

Uncle Lu warned them, "Don’t go too far!"

Lu Xiang said, "Aunt Lu started this by spreading rumors and putting Lin Mu up to harassing me. Since you claimed I was the one who called the police, I might as well bring this up with them."

Terrified of the police, Aunt Lu swallowed her pride and blurted out, "I'm sorry! I should have watched my mouth!"

Xiao Cailian remarked, "That's more like it. If you had said so earlier, we wouldn’t have wasted everyone’s time."

As soon as she finished speaking, Uncle Lu’s face turned as dark as soot.