Chapter 110 Execution of Xia Qianqian

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Xia Qianqian's mind went blank for a moment, her throat tightened, and her mind raced: How did Number 8 know about the gold bars?

"Still not admitting it?" Number 8 sneered and waved his hand.

No sooner had she finished speaking than Xia Wenwen trotted out in her little leather shoes, a cat-and-mouse smile on her lips: "Sister, you really have a bad memory. Didn't you steal the gold bars from home? When you took that box of small yellow croakers, didn't you ever think this day would come?"

She looked at Xia Qianqian with a malicious glee in her eyes: "Sister, you'd better hand over the gold bars quickly."

Xia Qianqian froze, her nails digging into her palms to keep herself from trembling. She never imagined the Xia family would find gold bars at this crucial moment!

The donation to the Revolutionary Committee must not be mentioned; if it is, the 8th will definitely not let them off the hook.

She took a deep breath, her hands gripping the hem of her clothes were sweating, and her nails dug into her palms as she managed to keep her voice steady: "The gold bars... I spent them."

"Spent it?" Xia Wenwen said as if she had heard the biggest joke in the world, pointing her finger at Xia Qianqian's nose. "Where did you get the ability to spend a whole box of gold bars, sister?"

"When I got married to Lu Zheng, we renovated the roof of the old house, hired a bricklayer, bought timber, bought new cloth for Lu Zheng to make clothes, and also bought two new quilts..." Xia Qianqian spoke quickly, but dared not look at No. 8.

"The village held a banquet and invited twenty tables of villagers. They bought wine and meat, and even gave red envelopes to the children... Those gold bars have long been spent in small amounts."

A hint of smugness flashed in Xia Wenwen's eyes. Just as she had predicted!

She walked over to Number 8 and pulled a stack of yellowed newspapers from her bag: "You've spent it all? I bet you gave it to the enemy?"

"Look at this, Commander!" Xia Wenwen's smugness almost overflowed from her eyebrows. "The housekeeper found this in Xia Qianqian's room this morning! That little bitch dared to lie to you!"

She shoved the newspaper onto table number 8 like a prized possession, her eyes gleaming with the satisfaction of revenge.

First, she threw out the pretext of the missing gold bars, and then presented the "ironclad evidence" of "aiding the enemy." This was a series of interconnected plans that she and her father had spent half the night in the study, designed to ensure that Xia Qianqian would never be able to recover her fortunes!

Number 8's gaze fell on the report on the front page of the newspaper.

He jabbed his fingertip into the newspaper: "No wonder those people in the Revolutionary Committee are always going against me! It turns out someone is secretly giving me money!"

He suddenly looked up, his hawk-like gaze shooting at Xia Qianqian, whose hands and feet felt as cold as if she were holding a block of ice.

She looked at the barely concealed sneer on Xia Wenwen's lips and the burning rage in Number 8's eyes, and her heart pounded wildly.

What should we do? It's true that she offered gold bars. Even if she doesn't admit it, many people in Nancheng know about it, and they can find out with a little inquiry.

She bit her lip and remained silent.

Looking at her deathly pale face, Xia Wenwen finally couldn't help but chuckle, "Sister, say something! Are you feeling guilty?"

Number 8's face grew increasingly grim: "You won't talk, huh? Fine, lock her up. I want to see just how stubborn you really are!"

Bang--!

Gunshots rang out suddenly, and a bullet grazed Lu Zheng's shoulder, carving a charred crater in the cement wall.

Everyone was stunned. Lu Zheng, whose arm had been held down just moments before, had somehow broken free of his restraints!

Like a cheetah poised to pounce, he suddenly ducked and shoved aside the guard on his left. With his right hand, he grabbed a pair of pliers from the corner of the wall and slammed them down on the wrist of the man on his right. The man screamed and released his grip. Lu Zheng had already darted to the door and disappeared into the alleyway outside the command post in the blink of an eye.

"Chase him! Chase him!" Number 8 roared, trembling with rage, pointing at the door. His badge quivered. "If you don't catch him, you're all going to go dig coal!"

The guards then seemed to wake from a dream and rushed out.

Only Xia Wenwen's shrill laughter remained in the factory: "Oh dear, sister, is this the good man you've been longing for? As soon as things turned sour, he turned around and abandoned you!"

She deliberately provoked him, saying, "It seems that in his heart, you're nothing more than a burden that he can discard at any time!"

She thought Xia Qianqian would break down in tears and hysterically question her, but Xia Qianqian just stood there without even lifting her eyelids.

"He won't abandon me."

"Oh?" Xia Wenwen's laughter stopped abruptly. "They all ran for their lives, and they're still being stubborn?"

Xia Qianqian raised her eyes: "If I could, I would prefer that he leave me alone... and run as far away as possible."

"Unrepentant!" Xia Wenwen suddenly stopped laughing, turned around and came to Number 8. "Chief, did you see that? That pair of adulterers are in cahoots! Lu Zheng ran away, which confirms his crime of 'fleeing from justice'! Didn't we agree to hold a big meeting the day after tomorrow?"

She deliberately raised her voice so that Xia Qianqian could hear: "Drag Xia Qianqian onto the stage as a negative example, execute her in public, and deter the Revolutionary Committee and those with ulterior motives!"

Number 8's face was gloomy, and his fingertips were rubbing against the holster at his waist.

He stared at Xia Qianqian's fearless face and uttered, "Okay."

He slammed the newspaper on the table: "Do it your way."

Xia Wenwen's eyes lit up instantly, and she almost burst out laughing—Xia Qianqian, your time to die has come!

Xia Qianqian's eyelashes trembled slightly when she heard the word "execution." Her gaze passed over Xia Wenwen and looked towards the alleyway outside the command post where Lu Zheng had disappeared. Instead of fear, her eyes showed an unusual calmness.

Anyway... she has her own paradise.

With a mere thought, I can instantly return to my paradise. At worst, I can hide inside and come out once the storm has passed.

But what about Lu Zheng?

Xia Qianqian regretted it. If she had known this day would come, she should have told Lu Zheng the secret of Peach Blossom Spring sooner!

At least let him know that he has a way out and doesn't have to risk his life for her!

At this moment, Lu Zheng had already dashed into the most secluded alley in the southern part of the city. The shouts of the guards behind him grew fainter and fainter, but he dared not relax for a moment and ran straight to the telegraph station.

"Send a telegram!" His voice was hoarse from running so fast.

After sending the telegram, Lu Zheng grabbed a straw hat from the corner of the wall, put it on his head, smeared some ash on his face, and turned to rush into the twilight.

He didn't return to the command post, nor did he seek refuge. Instead, he ran wildly towards the outskirts of the city—he had to get back to Xiangyang Village!

He needs to find people from the Revolutionary Committee; he must unite them now in order to save Qianqian!

The night wind brushed against his cheeks, carrying the chill of late autumn. Lu Zheng gazed towards the south of the city; he knew that as long as he wasn't caught, Qianqian was safe for the time being.

"Qianqian, don't be afraid..." he murmured to himself, running even faster. "Wait for me to come back. Wait for me to rescue you, and then I'll apologize to you..."

As night deepened, his figure quickly disappeared on the dirt road leading to Xiangyang Village, leaving only a trail of footprints of varying depths.