Jiang Wanqing heard someone outside calling her name and couldn't help but look up. It seemed that Qiao Xuemei knew...
Cheng Ran and she exchanged a glance: "I'll let her go."
"Don't worry, I'll go take a look."
She clipped the bookmark in place, put the book on the shelf, and went to open the door.
Qiao Xuemei pounded on the door, and when it suddenly opened, she stumbled forward due to inertia. Jiang Wanqing dodged to the side, and she fell to the ground.
"you……"
"Dr. Qiao, didn't you have something to do?"
She was about to get angry, but thinking of her younger sister who was still being held in the police station, Qiao Xuemei suppressed her anger and scrambled to her feet, not even having time to brush off the dust.
"Yes...you're coming with me to the police station."
Without saying a word, Qiao Xuemei reached out to pull Jiang Wanqing away, but Cheng Ran brushed her off as soon as she touched her sleeve.
"Get to the point, don't touch her!"
"Battalion Commander Cheng, I... I really have an urgent matter that requires Comrade Wanqing's help. Please let her come with me."
She was on the verge of tears, but she couldn't tell Jiang Wanqing, who was also at the store at the time, that her sister had been arrested for alleged hooliganism and needed to provide evidence to clarify the situation.
Cheng Ran's gaze was devoid of warmth.
"Whether Wanqing goes with you or not is her own decision. You should ask her instead of me. You're being unreasonable by dragging her along without explaining why!"
Jiang Wanqing smiled slightly, silently agreeing with Cheng Ran's words. She took a step back and calmly raised her eyes.
"Yes, Dr. Qiao, why should I go to the police station with you if you don't tell me what kind of help you need? After all, our relationship... isn't that good."
The commotion attracted other neighbors, who all abandoned their dinners to come and see what was happening. Aunt Liu hid behind the crowd, craning her neck to look inside.
Qiao Xuemei's expression changed, her hands clenched tightly, and she bit her lip, unable to speak for a long time. This was not something to be proud of. If word got out, her sister would never be able to hold her head up in the family compound again.
Her eyes darted around a few times, and as if she had thought of something, she looked at Jiang Wanqing with feigned difficulty.
"Well, I'll be honest then. You're saying you're helping me, but you're actually helping yourself."
"oh?"
Jiang Wanqing waited patiently for what shameless things she would say next.
"Your sister has been arrested for suspected hooliganism, and you need to go there to clarify things. You can't just abandon your own sister, can you?"
"Is she my sister or your sister? You'd better be clear. My mother only gave birth to one daughter, me. Where would I get a sister?"
"It's...it's your cousin. She and a male educated youth were caught having an improper relationship at the store...someone reported it...anyway, you'd better come with me to the police station right away."
"release!"
Qiao Xuemei was forced to touch the outstretched hand, and immediately shook it off.
“It’s unbelievable that Dr. Qiao knows more about my cousin than I do. Since the police have arrested her, they certainly won’t wrong her. What would I do there?”
"You can go now."
Cheng Ran saw through Jiang Wanqing's attitude and pretended to close the door, but Qiao Xuemei blocked the door and wouldn't let her. One plan failed, so she came up with another. In short, she couldn't let her sister get into trouble.
"Battalion Commander Cheng, Comrade Wanqing, please help me! My sister Hongmei was just passing through the store when she was arrested along with everyone else. But she's innocent! She didn't do anything..."
"Didn't do anything? You mean the police just happened to see her and just happened to arrest her? Ask everyone if they believe that."
The onlookers began to whisper among themselves, and everyone shook their heads. The scene became very awkward, and Qiao Xuemei bit her lip until it bled.
"Jiang Wanqing! Are you really so heartless as to watch three people's reputations be ruined because of you?!"
"It wasn't my fault. Adults should pay the price for their actions. Goodbye, Dr. Qiao."
From the moment she applied the itching powder to the moment she got someone to call the police, she never intended to leave those people a way out; otherwise, why would she have gone to all that trouble?
Just before closing the door, she seemed to remember something and suddenly pointed at Sister Liu.
"I heard that Sister Liu also went out with your sister today. She seems fine. Why don't you ask her?"
The woman, Liu, who was pointed at, looked away and tried to run home, but was immediately pulled back by someone.
"Yes, Sister Liu, you two went out together today. If you can testify, go and clarify things for Hongmei."
"I...I don't know anything. Don't ask me. There's still water boiling in my pot. I have to go back..."
She can't even outrun Qiao Xuemei, so why would she stay and act as a witness? If they find out she was involved, she'll lose all face, and Liu Chang will kill her!
"Sister Liu..."
Qiao Xuemei was disappointed by both sides and felt indignant. Seeing this, the others also dispersed, and they were still talking about it as they left.
“That girl Hongmei is really bold, causing this kind of trouble while still in school.”
"That's right. They say it happened, but who knows what really happened? Do you think the police would just arrest people randomly?"
"That's right, I need to keep my child away from her in the future. It's no good to associate with someone like that who has no morals!"
The Cheng family's door had long been closed. As dusk approached, Qiao Xuemei gritted her teeth in resentment. She had originally intended to swallow her pride and have Jiang Wanqing testify, thus smoothing things over. However, she hadn't expected that woman to be so hard-hearted. Now, she had no choice but to have her family intervene...
The door closed, and Cheng Ran grabbed Jiang Wanqing's wrist. She was standing, while he was sitting in a wheelchair, his movements restricted.
"Hmm? What's wrong?"
"Are they trying to harm you?" Cheng Ran narrowed his eyes. "I can talk to the police officers and they will be severely punished."
“This isn’t good for you.” She half-squatted down and patted the back of his hand: “Just focus on healing your injuries. They’re too inexperienced to harm me.”
"I'll go out with you from now on."
"Don't worry, I'm fine."
Meeting his concerned and worried gaze, Jiang Wanqing, as if possessed, pinched his cheek; his facial muscles were indeed hard.
He froze, his fingers tightening slightly, the lingering touch of her fingers on his face, and his Adam's apple bobbed unconsciously.
Thinking he was still worried, she laughed and said, "At worst, I'll take you with me when the weather is nice, is that alright?"
"Ahem... Okay, that's what you said."
"Yes, I said it."
The Qiao sisters haven't caused trouble in the family compound for several days, so it's been much quieter. Aunt Liu has also stayed indoors, and people who don't know the situation might think she's reformed. Since then, she avoids Jiang Wanqing whenever she sees her, and she's lost all her previous arrogance.
When the weather was sunny and breezy, Cheng Ran and Jiang Wanqing set off back to Xiyang Village. As soon as they got out of the car, Xue He and Jiang Jianguo were waiting at the village entrance and hurriedly went to greet them.
"Wanqing, you're finally back."
"Dad, I miss you so much!" Jiang Wanqing went over and hugged her parents.
"Good, good, it's good that you're back. Where's Battalion Commander Cheng?"
"He was still in the car, so I got him out."
Cheng Ran needs a wheelchair; he can't get out of the car on his own. Jiang Wanqing was so happy to see her parents that she made him wait a while.
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