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◎Day 15 of the control group◎

The girl's composure and skill exceeded her expectations.

"Are you confident you can get your mother and the others to speak up?" Liu Hongying asked.

“Yes.” Jiang Wanzhou nodded. “They are more afraid of being implicated. As long as we make them believe that honestly confessing and making amends is the only way out, they have no other choice.”

How do you need my cooperation?

"I can do it."

"It's good that you think that way," Liu Hongying said slowly, her tone full of approval.

"You've considered the bigger picture while also helping your family. If the exchange meeting concludes smoothly, you'll make up for your mistakes, and I'll treat this as an internal issue of ideological education and unity within the women's group. I won't report it yet. But we must find out who's behind this."

Jiang Wanzhou shook her head gratefully: "Thank you for your trust, Sister Hongying."

“Okay.” Liu Hongying nodded, then added, “Also, don’t alert Comrade Mei yet. Once we get your mother’s and the evidence, we’ll invite her over for a proper talk.”

Jiang Wanzhou agreed and left in a hurry.

She first found Shen Xinglian and informed her of Liu Hongying's attitude and arrangements, especially mentioning Mei Zixian.

Shen Xinglian's eyes turned cold: "It was her. However, Sister Hongying is right, the evidence is not complete yet. You go and deal with those two at home first, I'll go and sound out Mei Zixian's opinion."

The two split up.

When Jiang Wanzhou stepped back into the guesthouse room, she had several blank sheets of paper and an inkpad in her hand.

When Liu Cuihua and Jiang Tiezhu saw what she was holding, their faces turned even paler.

“Mother, Second Brother, time is running out.” Jiang Wanzhou cut to the chase, her tone calm but undeniable. “I just went to see Director Hongying again. She said this matter could be a big deal or a small deal. On the one hand, it could be considered disrupting important foreign affairs activities and damaging the country’s image, which could lead to imprisonment. On the other hand, if it can be proven that they were deceived, confess voluntarily, hand over the stolen goods, and are willing to identify the mastermind, then they can be considered as ordinary people who were used, given criticism and education, and have the stolen money and goods returned, and that will be the end of it.”

She placed the paper and inkpad on the table: "The choice is yours. This is your last chance. Write clearly who contacted you, what they said, what they gave you, what you were asked to steal, and where the item is now. Put your fingerprints on it. Then, hand the item to me. I'll take you to see the director."

Liu Cuihua's lips trembled. She looked at her expressionless daughter, then at the stack of white papers, and finally broke down in tears: "I'll write! I'll write! It's all that woman surnamed Mei's fault! She said she's influential in your husband's family and won't acknowledge you, but will give you a large sum of money to get a divorce. Your second brother and I were thinking that if we got the money, we could help the family. Tiezhu, hurry up, get the papers out!"

Jiang Tiezhu was already terrified out of his wits. Trembling, he pulled out the roll of money and remittance certificates that hadn't even warmed up yet, and placed them on the table.

Jiang Wanzhou looked at the roll of money and felt a chill run down her spine.

Mei Zixian really spared no expense to deal with them, and she really figured out the weaknesses of Liu Cuihua and her son, who were greedy and foolish.

She guided Liu Cuihua and Jiang Tiezhu to write their testimonies intermittently and press their fingerprints.

Looking at her mother's crooked handwriting and bright red handprint, Jiang Wanzhou felt a mix of emotions.

“Mother, this place is not suitable for you to live. The countryside is simple and honest, and all you seek are small advantages; some people are willing to suffer losses. Staying here would be a mistake and would implicate everyone.”

Liu Cuihua pulled Jiang Wanzhou along, saying, "Then come back with me."

Jiang Wanzhou turned her head and wiped away her tears: "Mother, please put my mind at ease, okay? I will fulfill your wishes."

Liu Cuihua squatted down, heartbroken: "Mother really knows she was wrong. I shouldn't have hurt you because of your second brother."

"Mother, can you please take good care of my second brother? I'll come to get you once he's married, has children, and settled down," Jiang Wanzhou said, enunciating each word clearly.

Liu Cuihua nodded vigorously.

Jiang Wanzhou helped her wipe away her tears.

Holding the testimonies and the stolen goods, Jiang Wanzhou led the two to Liu Hongying's office.

Liu Hongying will handle the subsequent criticism, education, and lenient treatment process herself.

At the same time, Shen Xinglian ran into Mei Zixian, who was leisurely washing vegetables by the water room.

"Comrade Mei, washing vegetables?" Shen Xinglian asked casually, as if chatting. "Are you going to the exchange meeting this afternoon too?"

Mei Zixian paused slightly while washing the vegetables, raised her eyes, and wore her usual reserved smile: "Yes. But I heard that something happened at the exchange meeting."

"Really? We deliberately leaked that beforehand. The most exciting part was Wanzhou personally showcasing her talents."

"Comrade Wanzhou is indeed very talented. However, in this kind of situation, it's best to be more composed and not try to imitate someone else and end up looking ridiculous."

"How could that be? Director Hongying has already given her approval, saying it's an innovative demonstration." Shen Xinglian smiled, her words carrying a hidden meaning. "Besides, we've done nothing wrong, so what's there to be afraid of being laughed at? Those who are secretly plotting and looking forward to seeing us make a fool of ourselves are the ones who should be worried about becoming the laughingstock themselves, don't you think, Comrade Mei?"

"Of course."

Mei Zixian's smile faded slightly. She lowered her eyes and continued washing the vegetables without saying anything more. However, the way she vigorously rubbed the vegetable leaves betrayed a hint of unease.

Shen Xinglian stopped there, turned and left, a cold smile on her face.

The afternoon exchange meeting.

After Jiang Wanzhou took the stage, as planned, she first reported on the achievements and the spirit of unity and progress, and then naturally transitioned to her experience in dealing with the minor incident.

"...Difficulties do not frighten us, but rather inspire our creativity." Her eyes were bright and her voice was pleasant. "To express my gratitude to our friends who have come from afar, I would like to draw a simple portrait of each of our distinguished guests as a memento."

Upon hearing this, the audience was slightly surprised, but then applause and curious whispers rang out.

After learning about this through a translator, the foreign guests showed little interest.

It was just a noblewoman's child who was a little curious.

Unable to resist the child's desire, the group somewhat disdainfully asked Wanzhou to draw it.

The staff quickly prepared a simple drawing board and pens.

Jiang Wanzhou composed herself and focused her gaze on the foreign guest's child.

A few minutes later, a portrait sketch that perfectly captured the likeness and spirit of the subject, and possessed a unique three-dimensional quality, was completed.

"Oh! Incredible!" The foreign guest exclaimed in surprise upon seeing the painting, his eyes widening. Through the translator, he repeatedly praised it, "So lifelike! It captures the essence! It makes the figures so three-dimensional with just lines; this is unique art!"

With such a successful start, the subsequent portrait session almost turned into a mini personal art exhibition.

Jiang Wanzhou's brushstrokes were fluid and powerful; he sketched several key foreign guests and officials, each with its own unique characteristics.

The atmosphere at the meeting reached a climax, with continuous applause. Orders and cooperation intentions became more specific and enthusiastic in the subsequent exchanges.

Looking at Jiang Wanzhou on the stage, whose brilliance was understated yet undeniable, Liu Hongying was filled with mixed emotions.

This girl is truly a rough gem; the more she is polished, the brighter she becomes.

Just like she did back then, she didn't misjudge him.

Mei Zixian sat in the audience, watching Jiang Wanzhou being surrounded and praised by the crowd, and admiring her amazing painting skills, her nails almost digging into her palms.

Before her carefully planned show could even begin, the other party completely overturned the table in such an unexpected way, winning thunderous applause!

Have those foreigners never seen a painting before?

Shen Xinglian's pointed remark made her feel even more uneasy.

Could something have gone wrong with Liu Cuihua and her son?

The exchange meeting concluded successfully.

The news of the booming orders spread, and everyone was overjoyed.

Jiang Wanzhou dared not relax, for she knew that Mei Zixian's matter was not over yet.

She told Zhou Qingyu that Mei Zixian might have been involved in orchestrating the theft.

After listening, Zhou Qingyu remained silent for a moment, his handsome face expressionless, and simply said, "I understand."

Then he patted her on the shoulder and said, "My brother and I have to go on an urgent mission, which may take a while. You and Xinglian should take care of things at home and be careful."

As Jiang Wanzhou watched his hurried departure, her anxiety tightened even more.

I've had this suspicion in my mind for a long time.

A mission? What a coincidence!

For the next two weeks, the island seemed to return to calm.

Jiang Wanzhou and Shen Xinglian were so busy they barely had time to breathe.

Liu Cuihua and Jiang Tiezhu were sent back to their hometown by Liu Hongying's people, and Jiang Wanzhou also promised to send money every month, which was considered a temporary solution.

Mei Zixian's side was unexpectedly quiet, and she didn't even appear in public places in the family compound anymore.

Until this day, Jiang Wanzhou overheard several of his sisters-in-law chatting.

"Have you heard? The guy who was just transferred here left before he even finished all the paperwork!"

"Which family? The one where the woman's surname is Mei?"

"That's it. The man works in logistics, and the woman is quite arrogant!"

"Huh? Why? Where were you transferred to?"

"I don't know, they were being very secretive. They said there was an emergency transfer, and he left overnight, without even finishing packing his things at home."

Jiang Wanzhou paused in her needlework, exchanging a glance with Shen Xinglian, who was also listening nearby.

Mei Zixian, she just left like that?

Was this the result of Zhou Qingyu and Jiang Renzhou's mission?

Or did someone behind her sense things were going badly and transfer her away?

—

At home.

The cloth in Shen Xinglian's hand fell onto the basin with a thud.

She turned her head sharply to look at Jiang Wanzhou, her eyes filled with undisguised shock.

“…Reborn?” she asked in a very low voice.

Jiang Wanzhou pursed her lips.

“I’ve always had this doubt, until Mei Zixian’s case confirmed it for me. Many things that I used to think were coincidences now seem to make sense when you put them together.”

She speaks very slowly.

"Why did my older brother so vehemently oppose my marriage to Zhou Qingyu? He even went so far as to threaten to sever ties with me. Was it simply because the Zhou family had a more complex political background? Or did he think Zhou Qingyu was unsuitable for me?"

"Given his image as a loving older brother, and considering Zhou Qingyu's family background and character, I think my brother wouldn't object to me marrying him. So why did he suddenly change his mind later? Was it after he noticed something was wrong with me, or after he noticed something was wrong with you?"

Jiang Wanzhou continued, "And then there's Zhou Qingyu. He accepted the difference between me too quickly."

“I make desserts, write foreign languages, and even paint this time. He never seems surprised, only appreciative and supportive. He helps me improve the tools, which is not like someone in their twenties who didn't go to college, even though his family has a good research atmosphere for academic qualifications.”

"As for Mei Zixian's matter this time, I only mentioned it once, and he just said he knew, and then he went on a mission with my brother."