The crowing of roosters and barking of dogs kept the compound in commotion for half the night, and the military wives in the apartment buildings lined up to join in the fun.

There were also elderly people who couldn't sleep well and who were full of excitement following behind.

The compound hasn't been this lively in many years.

After several hours of door-to-door checks and facility inspections...

Believe it or not, one exciting event after another...

There were soldiers who stayed up late at night to run to their sister-in-law's house to fix water pipes.

Some fathers-in-law, fearing their daughters-in-law will have nightmares and feel lonely and cold, will keep watch over their daughters-in-law's room at night!

A stepfather who watches his stepdaughter do her homework in the middle of the night, and a mother-in-law who can't sleep and sits on a small stool watching her daughter-in-law wash clothes with cold water!

In short... the guards' surprise inspection caught everyone off guard.

Because they knocked to enter, those secrets of the night were veiled in secrecy, such as the man who went to his sister-in-law's house in the middle of the night to fix the water pipes.

Only a fool would admit to something like this unless he was pinned down in bed with her.

Don't ask, the answer is that I need to fix the water pipes and I'm worried about my daughter-in-law sleepwalking.

The more humiliated these people were, the more they hated the Ruan family; they wished they could tear them apart, eat their flesh, and skin them alive.

Finally, the guards found a dog hole in a corner of the wall and determined from nearby traces that someone had been going in and out through the dog hole during the day.

Tian Tian knew nothing about it when asked.

The case is solved, but not completely!

In short, apart from the Ruan family members who were injured, everyone else suffered for no reason.

As dawn broke, groups of three or five women, including older sisters-in-law and young wives, were full of energy after a sleepless night.

"Have you heard? So-and-so's family is really dedicated; they're even helping their stepdaughter with her homework late at night!"

"How come I haven't heard? That man has been married to his second wife for three years without children. I heard his wife injured her body and couldn't get pregnant back then."

"Shouldn't all this energy be spent on my stepdaughter? If she has a grandchild in the future, I'll raise her as my own."

These women have incredibly sharp tongues.

As they were talking, soldiers knocked on several doors, taking away all the people who had been fixing water pipes for their wives in the middle of the night and tutoring their stepdaughters with their homework for questioning.

...

At this moment, Ruan Kangri was unaware that he had stirred up a hornet's nest. After dismissing the guard who came to inform him of the result, he sat opposite Tian Tian on the sofa with a gloomy expression.

"I'll give you some money, take your mother to live in the countryside, and never come back."

Tian Tian's face was whiter than snow, caused by fever from external injuries, and her lips were unusually red, making her look like a female ghost who ate children.

She relaxed her back and leaned back on the sofa, mimicking Ruan Xianxian's half-smile when she was roasting people.

"That won't do. Beijing is so much better; how can the countryside compare? I want to stay here and find a job. Grandpa, do you think that's a good idea?"

Ruan Kangri: What do you think?

He showed no extraneous emotions; he was neither making a boastful statement in a fit of rage, nor did he suddenly feel remorse.

It was this calm, stagnant expression that made Tian Tian feel uneasy.

She sat up straight and covered her head. "Grandpa, don't force me. I forgot something important yesterday because I was injured, but now I seem to be remembering. Should I talk to the guard?"

Ruan Kangri laughed, a laugh that was both vicious and sinister. Unable to see what he was doing, Tian Tian felt a sharp pain in her neck, followed by difficulty breathing.

Ruan Kangri grabbed Tian Tian by the neck and lifted her off the sofa, his fierce eyes no longer concealing his hatred.

"You think you have a choice? Tonight's train tickets—I'll have someone watch over you and your mother, all the way to Heilongjiang Province. You want to talk to the guards? You'll have to be able to get out of this door first!"

With each word Ruan Kangri spoke, the shackles around his neck tightened, and through her blurred vision, Tian Tian caught a glimpse of murderous intent flashing in her grandfather's eyes.

People are especially clear-headed when they are on the verge of death. She recalled that Ruan Xianxian was able to act arrogantly on Ruan Kangri's old face because of her calf-like strength.

She had the ability to protect herself under Ruan's anti-Japanese rule, but she didn't want things to escalate, so the Ruan family had to be cautious about her.

If it were someone as powerless as himself, Ruan Kangri could have dealt with him effortlessly.

She believed that if she hadn't caused that scene and drawn all attention to the Ruan family, Ruan Kangri would have really gotten rid of her silently.

Tian Tian was terrified, tears and snot streaming down her face, as she desperately tried to pry open Ruan Kangri's large hands that were holding her in place.

Just as his face turned purple and he could no longer breathe, his eyes bulged slightly, and he thought he was about to die there, a cold snort suddenly came from above his head.

Her body was thrown out by Ruan Kangri like a rag doll.

He slammed heavily onto the sofa, his old face, veins bulging, suddenly leaned closer, "I've already arranged for someone to pick up your mother from the hospital and take her to the station."

I don't want her to be accidentally injured or killed by a thug on the train. Do you know what to say when we get out?

Tian Tian tried to back away; the near-death experience made her pupils dilate further and further. Without daring to hesitate for a moment, she cried out, "I...I understand!"

He arrested her mother and his own daughter, using them to blackmail her into helping him salvage his reputation in the compound.

This isn't family; this is a monster!

Seeing that she was obedient, Ruan Kangri reached out his old hand and patted his granddaughter's face, "Be good, and I'll let you see your mother when I get promoted."

Before that, you should have stayed in the countryside and worked diligently to build a new rural area.

"If even one word that is detrimental to the Ruan family is circulated during this time, Ruan Qing's death will be your fault. Do you understand?"

Tian Tian's pupils contracted. He not only controlled his mother, but also used her as a hostage to blackmail him.

What Ruan Baozhu, Ruan Xianxian? She had never hated anyone as much as she did at this moment. Her mind was in turmoil. What should she do?

My palms were bleeding from the pain, which forced me to calm down. I obediently nodded and said, "I understand."

Just then, there was a knock at the door. Ruan Kangri guessed who it was, straightened his clothes, and went to open the door.

With such a commotion last night, the leaders would definitely call him in for questioning, and Ruan Kangri was prepared.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!