After going downstairs, Zhou Ningyan was nowhere to be seen, but Su Meifang, who was in a fit of rage, was pacing impatiently by the roadside.

"Meifang~"

"Brother~"

When Su Meifang saw Su Chang'an come out, she rushed over anxiously.

"Brother, Mom's in trouble! Mom's in trouble!"

Su Chang'an's heart skipped a beat, and his whole body tensed up.

**

Su Qingci, accompanied by Song Jingzhou and carrying a bunch of bananas bought from the Friendship Store, registered at the guardhouse at the entrance of the compound and then walked inside.

Song Jingzhou said to Su Qingci in a low voice, "You didn't come here often before, did you?"

"This young soldier on duty doesn't even recognize you!"

As Su Qingci walked, she said, "Usually it's my grandma who comes. We rarely come. Even when we do come, she accompanies us. She doesn't feel comfortable letting us come alone."

A look of understanding flashed in Song Jingzhou's eyes. "Grandma is quite wary."

Along the way, Su Qingci met several aunties, who greeted her warmly. After learning that Qin Xiangxiang was Li Yueniang's granddaughter, several aunties subtly inquired about her.

Some of the family members in the compound worked at the military hospital and had heard some rumors.

Su Qingci seems to have no idea about the principle of "not airing one's dirty laundry in public".

She would start sobbing and wiping away tears whenever someone asked her.

"Yes, my grandma almost didn't make it through. I was originally far away in southern Hunan, thinking of contributing my own strength to the construction of the motherland. I was so scared when I heard the news that I cried."

"I immediately took leave and rushed back. My grandma, my grandma, boohoo, she really suffered a lot."

"At such an advanced age, if it weren't for thinking about the younger generation, I probably wouldn't have made it this far."

"Even so, Aunt Qin still wouldn't let my grandma off the hook, repeatedly using her position to harm her..."

After Su Qingci's tearful account, the entire compound soon learned that Qin Xiangxiang had been arrested and imprisoned for attempted murder.

Everyone was secretly talking and cursing Qin Xiangxiang for being heartless, driving the old lady to her death, and dragging innocent people down with her.

The public's outspokenness and righteous indignation inevitably implicated Su Yi and his sister Su Chang'an.

Through conversations with several older women, Su Qingci also obtained an important piece of information.

Su Chang'an and Su Meifang, a brother and sister, returned to the compound today.

"Aunties, you all go ahead with your work."

Su Qingci pointed to the large bunch of bananas in Song Jingzhou's hand, "My grandma always taught us that no matter what, we must be filial to our elders. So, as soon as we returned to the capital, we came to see my grandpa."

"When I had some free time, I chatted with a few of the aunties."

Without having time to say much to the aunties in the family compound, Su Qingci grabbed Song Jingzhou and strode towards the building where Su Yi lived.

The group of aunties behind her sighed as they watched Su Qingci's retreating figure. "She's a good child, and she's also filial and polite."

"That's right, can the students taught by Qin Xiangxiang be the same as those taught by Sister Li?"

"Look at those two behind her, they're just like her mother, always acting all high and mighty, never even looking at themselves."

"That's right, it's a pity that such a good child didn't meet a good elder."

Su Qingci led Song Jingzhou quickly toward Su Yi's room.

Since Su Meifang and Su Chang'an, both serving in the military, took leave and came back together, they must know about their mother's situation and have come back to bother Su Yi.

Su Qingci was right; at this moment, the atmosphere in the Su family was somber.

Su Meifang held Su Yi's hand, wiping away tears with a wronged expression, while Su Chang'an sat silently to the side with a cold face.

"Dad, after all these years, don't you know what kind of person Mom is?"

"From childhood to adulthood, in my memory, my mother was the gentlest and kindest person. She would never kill anyone, and she would never even raise her voice to a patient!"

"She has been recognized as an outstanding employee for several years, how could she possibly harm Aunt Li?"

"Aunt Li said she attempted murder, so you're just going to watch her be wrongly accused?"

"Even if Mom isn't that kind of person, and even if she really did something wrong, she's still your wife. Instead of protecting her, you just stand by and watch her get locked up in a place like that?"

"Dad, in your heart, is it true that all of us, including Mom, are not worth as much as Aunt Li's words?"

"For so many years, Mom has endured so much for you, always swallowing her pride and making concessions..."

"Don't say I don't believe Mom could do such a thing. Even if Mom just misunderstood something for a moment, even if she did it, Aunt Li is fine now, isn't she?"

"She's been in there for so long, she's learned her lesson, hasn't she?"

Seeing that Su Yi remained unmoved, Su Meifang gave Su Chang'an a wink.

Su Chang'an quickly took over the conversation and pleaded for leniency.

"Dad, no one can stay in there. Mom has never suffered like that in all these years."

"Even if you don't care about Mom, you have to think about Meifang and me. If people find out we have a mother who's in a detention center, what will they think of us?"

"How are we supposed to face our comrades and the organization in the army? You're not just punishing Mom, you're ruining us!"

Su Yi sighed, "Meifang, Chang'an, please stop talking. I understand what you're saying all too well."

"It's because she was worried about you and your brother that your mother was placed in political detention. Otherwise, for attempted murder, she wouldn't just face criminal detention, but with a heavy sentence, she could even be executed!"

"Don't think I'm favoring your Aunt Li. Many people in the hospital witnessed your mother committing the crime!"

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