Yang Qingheng took a step back and looked at Tang Bainian: "Officer Tang, have you taken the photos?"

Tang Bainian nodded and handed the camera to the old man who had followed behind him: "Sir, could you please help us develop the photos?"

"No trouble at all, it's nothing." The old man ran up with his tools, and in no time, several photos were developed.

Yang Qingheng took the photos herself and sent them to the group. The others also gathered around and stared wide-eyed at the scene inside.

Yang Qingheng turned to them and explained, "You all saw it just now. I only got close to Sister-in-law Sun, and the camera took such a picture. Officer Tang and I are completely innocent, and that photo is fake."

Sister-in-law Sun was the first to speak: "I knew that photo was fake the moment I saw it. What young girl would have such wide eyes when kissing a man?"

Everyone instantly switched sides.

"Sister-in-law Sun has the best eyes."

"I don't believe it either. A few days ago, I heard Sister Yao say that Yang Qingheng bought her a can of milk powder, which is a rare commodity. She said that even Yang Qingheng herself is reluctant to drink it. If she really wanted to be with another man, would she treat her mother-in-law so well?"

"No daughter-in-law in the whole village treats her mother-in-law as kindly as her own mother."

...

Yao Ying felt several envious glances and couldn't help but raise her chin proudly.

Yang Qingheng pressed on: "Officer Tang is very dedicated. You can all go to the police station and ask him how much effort he has put into maintaining social order. If this incident causes him to lose his job, wouldn't that be disheartening for a police officer? So I hope everyone can cooperate and help us catch this bad guy with ulterior motives." As she spoke, she gave Huo Xiuxiu a meaningful look.

Sister-in-law Sun covered her mouth in shock: "Framed the police, instigated the people against the state police, isn't that treason?"

The word "traitor" was like a drop of water suddenly splashed into hot oil, instantly causing the scene to boil.

"We just caught a traitor in Songshan Town a while ago, and now we have one here too? This is outrageous! What are they trying to do?!"

"Our country has only just begun to recover, and those bastards are already bullying us again. It's outrageous! Traitors must be severely punished..."

Everyone was furious, their faces flushed red. Their gazes towards Huo Xiuxiu grew increasingly angry and strange: "Huo Xiuxiu, are you a female spy?"

Huo Xiuxiu had never seen anything like this before, and she was terrified by the word "traitor." She shook her head frantically and backed away in fear, saying, "How could I be a traitor? I... I didn't do anything..."

Yang Qingheng stared intently into her eyes, pressing her aggressively: "You say you're not a traitor, then why did you deliberately take that photo!"

The captain turned to Huo Xiuxiu with a stern expression: "Take her back and interrogate her properly. If she's a traitor, she should be executed and handed over to the higher authorities."

Two policemen stepped forward and, without saying a word, were about to handcuff Huo Xiuxiu.

When Huo Xiuxiu heard that she was to be executed, tears welled up in her eyes.

Yang Qingheng narrowed her eyes: "Huo Xiuxiu, you should think this through. If you continue to hide it, you'll be executed. I think you can tell whether your life is more important or something else."

Huo Xiuxiu, her face streaked with tears, broke down and cried out, "It wasn't me! Gu Yi made me get the photos developed!"

"Where is Gu Yi?" Tang Bainian asked coldly, looking at the group of male educated youth beside him.

The male educated youth who had relayed Yang Qingheng's message last time stepped forward: "Gu Yi took leave a few days ago to go home to visit his family."

The village chief nodded quickly: "Yes, he said his parents were sick and he needed to go back to see them, so I approved it for him."

Yang Qingheng frowned, a sudden unease creeping into her heart.

Gu Yi probably didn't go home; he ran away.

The group walked outside.

"Don't worry about this. He doesn't have a letter of introduction, so he can't have gone far. The matter will be cleared up soon." Tang Bainian patted her shoulder before leaving, offering a word of comfort.

Yang Qingheng nodded, but she couldn't put her mind at ease.

Gu Yi, being alone and without any power or influence, couldn't possibly run away. What she feared was that he would go to his fiancée again, just like before.

That woman's family has some power; if she deliberately hides Gu Yi, they might not be able to find him even if they searched the whole town.

As the captain watched Yang Qingheng walk away, a hint of admiration appeared in his eyes: "That woman is really clever."

They have a whole repertoire of ways to coax people.

Tang Bai chuckled and said, "She is quite clever."