Xu Mengyao immediately informed Huang's father of Zhang Xiaomei's decision. After a moment's hesitation, Huang's father said, "This matter is of grave importance, and we must proceed with caution. I will personally go to Deputy Mine Manager Sun and explain the situation. The fewer people who know about it, the better."

After listening to Huang's father's story, Deputy Mine Manager Sun angrily punched the table, making the teacup on the table rattle.

"I was wondering why the supplies at the mine hadn't been right lately. The amounts of wires and steel didn't match up. It turns out someone stole something! There must be something bigger going on. One person couldn't have done it. How could the guards have let him out with so much stuff? If the security department really didn't know, they're also jointly responsible. I'm going to the police station to report this. We can't let these scoundrels get away with it!"

Tomorrow was the first day of school, and Zhang Xiaomei decided to go back to class. However, because arresting someone requires solid evidence and red-handed evidence, her father hadn't made any moves in the past two days, so he hadn't been apprehended. This made everyone's heart hang in their throats.

Facing everyone's concerns, Zhang Xiaomei showed a rare smile: "Don't worry, he will be brought to justice sooner or later. I can't stop going to school just because I'm afraid of him."

However, fate was not kind to her. Shortly after getting off the bus, she was spotted by her stepmother. Immediately, Zhang Xiaomei's father rushed to the school like an enraged lion and, recklessly, dragged her out of the classroom. Although filled with indignation, the teachers and classmates, hampered by his rudeness and unreasonableness, dared not intervene.

Zhang Xiaomei's hair was dragged along by her father, her face streaked with tears, but she stubbornly refused to beg for mercy. Passing neighbors happened to see this scene, and they cast glances of sympathy and anger at her.

"Stop! What are you doing!?"

Grandma Huang was the only one at home. She was shaking with anger and tried to intervene, but was roughly pushed away by Zhang Xiaomei's father. Fortunately, Shaozi was quick to step forward and help, thus avoiding more serious consequences.

The door of the Zhang family was slammed shut with a deafening noise. Immediately afterwards, a burst of vicious curses cut through the quiet night sky like a sharp blade, accompanied by the heavy sound of flesh being ruthlessly whipped, which made people shudder.

"You're just like your shameless cousin's mother. I told you to run away, I told you to run away!"

Zhang's father's roar was like the roar of a wild beast. Zhang Xiaomei huddled in a corner, tears and sweat mixing together, blurring her vision, but she gritted her teeth, trying not to utter a single plea for mercy.

Grandma Huang was extremely anxious. She blew the whistle to invite the highest-ranking leader in the hospital, and asked the parrot to quickly close their snack bar and notify Huang Wenjuan.

"You're still smiling at me? I'm telling you to laugh! I wonder if you can still smile even if your legs are broken!"

At this time, Zhang's father roared even more angrily from the Zhang family. Zhang Xiaomei tried hard to restrain herself and not let the painful groan escape from her lips, but after the last heavy blow, a shrill scream still came out involuntarily, making everyone present feel nervous.

Soon, District Chief Zhu, the highest-ranking mine official in the family compound, hurried to the Zhang family's house, accompanied by a whistle. By then, the house was completely silent, with only the heavy breathing of Zhang's father. Grandma Huang pounded on the door, her voice filled with undeniable determination:

"You heartless idiot, open the door! District Chief Zhu is here! We can't have people like you living in our family compound, and the mine can't have workers like you!"

The door was finally opened roughly. Father Zhang's face was distorted with anger. He stared fiercely at Grandma Huang and the neighbors gathered outside, as if he wanted to vent all his dissatisfaction on them.

"Why are you meddling in other people's business? I don't need to give you an explanation for educating my own children. All of you who are just watching the fun, get out of here!"

District Chief Zhu frowned and looked inside the house.

"How is the child? If someone dies, it won't be me who comes to your door." District Chief Zhu's voice was low and powerful, revealing unquestionable majesty.

Zhang's father disdainfully stepped aside, clearing the way for District Chief Zhu to see Zhang Xiaomei's plight. Sitting on the ground, Zhang Xiaomei's face was as pale as paper, her body soaking wet. Her calves were visibly swollen, and her clothes were stained with blood, but her eyes gleamed with an unyielding light.

"You see, that little beast is still very strong and won't die. Don't bother with it." Father Zhang's tone was full of provocation and disdain.

Seeing this, Grandma Huang wanted to rush in to check on Zhang Xiaomei's injuries, but Zhang's father pushed her away and slammed the door shut. Outside, everyone looked at each other, their hearts filled with anger and helplessness.

After receiving the news, Xu Mengyao quickly took leave and rushed back to the family compound in a panic, praying that God would bless Zhang Xiaomei.

After venting his anger, the heartless father Zhang seemed to have found some kind of twisted satisfaction. He hummed a little tune, took a few more sips of wine with a flushed face, and staggered out of the family compound.

"We must rescue her tonight. No more waiting. For Xiaomei, time is life."

After understanding the situation, Xu Mengyao's eyes were determined. She asked Huang's mother to ask people in the family compound to invite Zhang Xiaomei's stepmother to play mahjong. After sending Zhang Xiaomei's stepmother away, she brought a ladder for Shaozi to climb up to Zhang's balcony from her own yard.

As he opened the bedroom door, a bloody and dull air rushed towards him, and what came into view was the unconscious figure of Zhang Xiaomei.

"You fucking old beast, you really broke Zhang Xiaomei's leg!"

When Shaozi saw the messy leg, he whispered angrily and then ran to the balcony to report the situation to Xu Mengyao.

Xu Mengyao's heart tightened when she heard this, and she decisively ordered:

"Open the door, we'll go up and take her to the hospital now."

She rushed into the house and saw Zhang Xiaomei's wet hair clinging to her cheeks. Her face was as pale as paper, and her forehead was burning hot, clearly suffering from a high fever. Xu Mengyao's heart ached as if being pricked by needles. She immediately directed Parrot and Whistle, and the three of them worked together to lift Zhang Xiaomei and the bed sheet from under her, carefully avoiding touching her injured leg, and rushed to the mining hospital.

Meanwhile, fate seemed to be responding to Zhang Xiaomei's fate. Zhang's father's elation didn't last long. While conducting an illegal transaction, he was caught red-handed by people arranged in advance by Deputy Mine Manager Sun. He was caught red-handed and eventually taken to the police station.

In the hospital, after a night of emergency treatment, Zhang Xiaomei finally opened her eyes the next morning. Seeing Xu Mengyao standing by her side with red eyes, she forced a smile:

"I'm fine. Just like he said, I'm tough. Why are you here?"

Xu Mengyao held her hand tightly, tears welling up in her eyes:

"We did it. Not only did we rescue you last night, but he was also arrested. That woman was also taken away because she knew about the crime but didn't report it and was involved in the stolen money.

Xiaomei, you are free!"

Upon hearing the news, Zhang Xiaomei's tears finally burst out and she cried loudly, as if she wanted to pour out all the grievances and pain she had experienced over the years.