Chapter 82 Lifeblood

She blamed herself.

I blame myself for not explaining everything to my daughter last night.

She had assumed that Lu Guizhen believed her.

After years of living together, the daughter should know that her mother isn't that kind of person.

But she didn't expect that when something serious happens, people panic and lose their rationality.

If anyone is truly responsible, it should be her, the mother, who should bear the burden!

How could she possibly stand by and watch her daughter jump into a fire pit?

But right now, Lu Guizhen couldn't think of anything else.

Her only thought was that she absolutely could not let anything happen to her mother!

Lu Guizhen had been harboring doubts and worries for some time.

But now that the police have come to the door, that suspicion seems to have been confirmed.

So when everyone turned their anger towards Shen Cuifen, she rushed out almost instinctively.

She couldn't let her mother go to jail, she couldn't let her mother bear the crime of murder!

"Comrade, I didn't kill anyone, and neither did my daughter!"

Shen Cuifen's voice suddenly rose, carrying a hint of anxiety and anger.

"If you don't believe me, I can fully cooperate with the investigation!"

"That pig was bought by Guizhen and me at the town's supply and marketing cooperative yesterday! I even got the meat ration coupons! If you don't believe me, you can ask the sales clerk!"

Her gaze swept over the neighbors who were staring at her and her daughter, her voice trembling but each word clear.

"Don't listen to my daughter's nonsense! She's just saying things because she's afraid I might do something rash! How could I kill someone? Am I crazy?"

Shen Cuifen's voice suddenly lowered, carrying a sense of sorrow.

"I still have two daughters to raise, and I want to see them get married and have children. How could I ruin my life for that scoundrel?"

After Mulan finished speaking, she looked at Lu Guizhen and her voice softened.

“Guizhen, everything I say is true. You have to believe me. In my life, I have never done anything wrong, nor have I ever harmed an innocent person. You are my own daughter, you should know what kind of person I am.”

"Don't say things you can never take back in your haste. Mom doesn't need you to take the blame for me. Mom isn't afraid of an investigation; the innocent will clear themselves!"

Lu Guizhen was already sobbing uncontrollably, her mind a complete mess.

She didn't know whether Shen Cuifen had actually done that kind of thing.

But if it were true, she would be willing to go to jail and take a bullet for her mother.

Therefore, Lu Guizhen didn't say a word.

He just kept his head down, his shoulders trembling.

Shen Cuifen's eyes reddened as she looked at her daughter, feeling both heartbroken and warm.

My daughter has been sensible since she was little and has never caused her any worry.

Now, however, I am enduring this torment for her sake.

She desperately wanted to rush up and hug her daughter, to tell her, "Don't be afraid, Mom is okay."

But she couldn't.

If she moves around, it will only make the police more suspicious.

Shen Cuifen took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down.

The innocent will remain innocent, and the truth will come to light sooner or later.

She believes the law will not wrong an innocent person.

Yang Zhi glanced at Shen Cuifen a few times.

She looked ordinary, with a calm expression and bright eyes.

He certainly doesn't seem like a ruthless person who would kill.

But one cannot judge a book by its cover, and Yang Zhi knew this very well.

He then turned to Lu Guizhen.

The girl looked innocent and clearly wanted to take the blame for her mother and shoulder the responsibility herself.

Yang Zhi sighed inwardly.

He had seen too many mothers and daughters with such deep affection.

But emotions can't save people; only facts can.

"We are police officers, and we speak based on evidence!"

His tone was stern, his voice loud, and his gaze swept over everyone present.

"Now is not the time to talk about feelings, but to find out the truth."

Yang Zhi added in a deep voice, his gaze finally settling on Li Fangfang.

"Where is that piece of meat you mentioned? Take us to see it."

Li Fangfang rushed in and snapped on the wall light.

The dim, yellow light suddenly filled the room.

The room, which had been pitch black, could finally be seen clearly.

The walls were mottled, and spider webs covered the corners.

The floor was piled with clutter, and the bed was in a mess.

The entire room felt like a corner forgotten by time, filled with an atmosphere of oppression and decay.

Lu Qiming, lying on the bed, squinted at the sudden light and raised his hand to shield his eyes.

He was half asleep when he was awakened by the noise outside and didn't dare to make a sound.

Once his eyes adjusted to the light, he immediately put his hand down and looked around, trying to find where Shen Cuifen was.

His first reaction was to check on her safety, fearing that she had already been taken away.

His gaze swept over the crowd, finally settling on Shen Cuifen.

Seeing that she was standing there safely, Lu Qiming breathed a slight sigh of relief.

He could hear everything clearly from outside the door, even though he was lying inside.

He knew what Li Fangfang meant by "doxxing," and he knew who she was referring to.

To be honest, he didn't believe for a second that Shen Cuifen would kill someone.

Lu Qiming felt there must be some misunderstanding, or...

Someone is deliberately framing him.

For more than a decade, she has taken meticulous care of herself.

Moreover, she was able to endure Lu Jianguo's bad temper.

Lu Qiming would never believe she would be so ruthless.

He watched Shen Cuifen manage the household, braving wind and rain.

They scrimped and saved to send their children to school, and couldn't even bear to buy themselves a new piece of clothing.

How could someone like that do such a heinous thing?

No one else cared about him.

All eyes were on Li Fangfang, waiting to see what surprising things she would say next.

Li Fangfang staggered to the corner of the wall.

Suddenly, she knelt down, raised her trembling hand, pointed to a pile of whitish things on the ground, and burst into tears.

Don't listen to her nonsense!

Despite his physical weakness, Lu Qiming struggled to sit up in bed.

Lu Qiming's temper flared up immediately.

He suddenly raised his hand and, with all his might, slapped her backhand!

"You old bastard, if you dare to talk nonsense again, I'll strangle you even if I'm paralyzed in bed!"

He gritted his teeth and roared, word by word.

“I may be unable to move, but I know everything! I can see clearly who is good and who is bad in this house! Shen Cuifen has taken care of me for more than ten years, and what have you done? You've been busy doing petty theft! And now you're trying to frame Mulan? What are you up to?”

Lu Qiming's slap caused blood to immediately flow from Li Fangfang's mouth and nose.

Her eyes widened, her face filled with disbelief, as if she had never seen Lu Qiming like this before.

Li Fangfang was so angry that she trembled all over. She suddenly shook off the policeman's hand and was about to pounce on Lu Qiming to tear him apart.

"You ungrateful wretch! Just you wait, I'm not finished with you!"

The scene immediately descended into chaos.

A policeman rushed up and subdued Li Fangfang.

"Calm down! This is a law enforcement scene! If you cause any more trouble, we'll take you back!"

The police issued a stern warning.

"Stop messing around! Do you still want to investigate your son's affairs?"

Yang Zhi also suddenly turned his head and looked at Li Fangfang.

Upon hearing this, Li Fangfang reluctantly stopped.