Jiang Wanqing's words left her stunned. Qiao Xuemei couldn't believe it, and her lips trembled.
"What...what did you say? Impossible!"
They clearly had no emotional foundation, and while at the hospital, Cheng Ran was repeatedly told not to have any sexual relations for the sake of his recovery. How could they...?
"Have you made enough of a scene?!"
Cheng Ran gripped the wheelchair armrests tightly, his anger almost unbearable. He was about to stand up and teach Qiao Xuemei a lesson, but Jiang Wanqing restrained him.
His leg hasn't fully recovered yet, so it's not appropriate for people to know about it in this kind of setting, lest it give malicious people another opportunity to tamper with it.
"Battalion Commander Cheng, I didn't... she was pretending to be innocent in front of you while flirting with other men."
Qiao Xuemei was still struggling. So what if the marks on Jiang Wanqing's neck were left by Cheng Ran? There is no man in this world who doesn't care if his wife is intimate with other men.
"Wasn't Wanqing's statement clear enough? Then I'll warn you one more time: stay out of our marital affairs! If there's a next time, even your family won't be able to protect you!"
She was terrified by Cheng Ran's words. Her eyes widened in horror. She trembled and shook her head. No, this shouldn't be happening. He actually wants to ruin her for Jiang Wanqing!
At this moment, Jiang Wanqing patted the child's head again: "Good Ningning, tell your teacher, are you sure you saw me and Teacher Yuan being close?"
Children lie, but they are prone to talking nonsense, especially since they have strong divergent thinking. Jiang Wanqing doesn't need her to tell what she saw, because her eyes can deceive her brain. She just needs to guide her back to a topic that is favorable to her. After all, it's ridiculous to try to get the truth from a primary school student.
Ningning's face turned pale, perhaps frightened by the adults' argument. Her parents quickly signaled to her to pull her back and apologize to Jiang Wanqing.
"Comrade Wanqing, the child is ignorant and speaks without thinking. Please don't blame her. I will teach her properly when we get back."
“I believe the child didn’t do it on purpose, but sister-in-law, you’ve seen the situation now. I need to clear my name, and Ningning is the one who can solve this problem. I hope you can understand.”
Jiang Wanqing did not give in just because the other person was a child; she simply softened her approach slightly. Ningning buried her head in her mother's arms and finally spoke again.
"I saw it from behind the door; I saw Teacher Jiang and Teacher Yuan together from behind..."
That's enough," Jiang Wanqing said with a slight smile.
At this moment, Zhang's son stepped forward. He had previously received tutoring from Jiang Wanqing and liked her very much.
“Last time, Ningning accused me of stealing her beef jerky, but I was just picking it up for her.”
"Yes, you can't listen to everything a child says. And Dr. Qiao is the same. She questioned Comrade Wanqing because of a single sentence from the child. Her husband hasn't even said anything yet. She's really meddling in other people's business."
Some people couldn't stand Qiao Xuemei's behavior and spoke up in the crowd, saying that most people in the family compound were discerning.
"Dr. Qiao keeps saying that I have a relationship with Yuan Zhong, but he was someone you put in the school through connections. Do you need me to verify that for you?"
Jiang Wanqing escaped the trap of self-incrimination, and after the situation eased, she immediately turned her attention to Qiao Xuemei, adding more evidence before Qiao could react.
"I think everyone may not know who Yuan Zhong is, but you should remember what happened at the department store and the store that was on the news. Dr. Qiao's sister was there at the time. Dr. Qiao, who is suspected of hooliganism, brazenly put a teacher in the school. Did you consider that he would lead the students astray? Did you think that this was aiding and abetting evil? You put him in the school, but then you slander me and him. What are your true intentions?"
Jiang Wanqing delivered a well-reasoned and logical speech. She stared directly into Qiao Xuemei's eyes. Whether Qiao Xuemei refuted her or acquiesced, the defeat was already decided.
Upon hearing Jiang Wanqing's words, the parents whose children were in Yuan Zhong's class immediately became anxious, pointing at Qiao Xuemei with anger and worry on their faces.
"Dr. Qiao, what do you have to say about this? Did you do it?"
"Yes, let's make things clear. It would be a terrible mistake to let a hooligan into the school!"
"I...I didn't..."
"Oh? No? Then please ask the principal, ladies. Your families are not exactly ordinary, so I'm sure the school will give you that much face."
Jiang Wanqing's words instantly cemented Qiao Xuemei's place on the pillar of shame. She may have connections, but those present might not be without them either. If an investigation were to be launched, she wouldn't be able to escape.
Sure enough, Qiao Xuemei panicked the next second, clenching her teeth tightly, her shoulders trembling.
"What does that have to do with you seducing him?"
"Of course there's a connection. You're using baseless accusations to slander me, and all I did was tell the truth, and you got all worked up? I think everyone already knows who's lying."
Ningning's mother initially harbored some unspoken resentment towards Jiang Wanqing, but when it came to her child's education, she immediately became serious.
"If what Wanqing said is true, and that Yuan Zhong is a scoundrel who can still be a teacher, then we parents will report him tomorrow!"
"That's right, we can't let these potential criminals stay in schools!"
"Dr. Qiao really does what he shouldn't do and doesn't do what he should do. He arranged a job for a hooligan. Is it because Comrade Wanqing has a relationship with him, or is it because she herself has a relationship with him?"
"You know what..."
"I have nothing to do with him!"
Qiao Xuemei was speechless and had no idea how it had turned into her own denunciation meeting. The bigger the commotion, the more dangerous it would be for her.
Seeing that arguing was pointless, she gritted her teeth in anger, turned around, and stormed off.
Seeing that her attempt to sow discord had failed, Sister Liu tried to repeat her old trick of pretending nothing had happened. Unfortunately, she had barely taken a step when Jiang Wanqing called her back by name.
"Sister Liu, don't rush off. Weren't you the angriest just now, saying I disgraced military families? Now, who's really disgraced, huh?"
"I... what are you talking to me about? I don't know what's going on."
After she finished speaking, she lowered her head guiltily, but Jiang Wanqing's face turned cold, and she took two steps closer.
"I don't know why she dares to spout such nonsense. Sister Liu is quite the expert at spreading rumors and stirring up trouble!"
"Battalion Commander Cheng, can you do something about Comrade Wanqing? She's relentlessly pursuing me. I'm her sister-in-law, after all. Shouldn't I at least show her some respect?" She was actually foolish enough to ask Cheng Ran for help.
"You dare to ask for respect again and again? Hmph, Liu Chang, come in if you've had enough. Stop lurking outside. Let's deal with this. This time, a few words of reprimand won't be enough to forgive you!"
Cheng Ran called out to the outside of the yard, and Liu Chang walked out from the corner of the blind spot, his face flushed. He was so embarrassed that he couldn't lift his head. He glared at his good-for-nothing wife.
"I'm sorry, I will give Comrade Wanqing an explanation."
As he spoke, he quickly stepped forward, grabbed his wife's arm, and led her home.
Sister Liu's lips went dry with fear; this was truly the end for her...
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