Chapter 136 Good News: Everyone's in the same courtyard...
Everyone in the same compound knows that Sun Xuewen was allocated a two-bedroom apartment last year. He and Fang Yan don't have children, so there must be enough space in the two-bedroom apartment for Aunt Li to move in.
The group looked at each other in bewilderment.
Mingming could have taken Aunt Li in, which would have allowed her to take better care of her and saved her the trouble of running back and forth every day, but Fang Yan insisted on doing so.
They couldn't quite understand Fang Yan's filial piety.
Aunt He hit the nail on the head: "It's because Fang Yan isn't truly filial; she's just putting on an act for us."
Aunt Ma tugged at Aunt He's sleeve, giving her a look to stop talking nonsense.
Even if Fang Yan really is that kind of person, it's still inappropriate for them to say such things.
Aunt He wasn't stupid; receiving Aunt Ma's hint, she promptly shut up. Everyone also changed the subject at the opportune moment. However, they began to mutter to themselves, "This Fang Yan is really good at acting. If Mingxi hadn't said it today, they would have really thought Fang Yan was the best daughter-in-law in our neighborhood."
They're just too naive!
Fang Yan, who was inside the house, was unaware that her pretense had been torn off by Ming Xi's words and was still trying to please Aunt Li.
She placed the lunchbox in front of Aunt Li: "Mom, these are wontons that I specially bought from the state-run restaurant this morning. Try a couple of bites and see if they're good."
As she spoke, she reached out to feed Aunt Li, but Aunt Li pursed her lips, awkwardly dodging Fang Yan's hand, and said, "No need, no need, I can eat by myself."
Fang Yan didn't feel embarrassed at all, and said with a smile, "Okay, Mom, then you can eat it yourself."
She placed the lunchbox beside the bed and said, "You eat first, and then put the lunchbox aside. I'll wash it when I come over at noon. Oh, by the way, Mom, what do you want to eat for lunch? I'll bring it over for you."
Aunt Li waved her hand: "Don't bother delivering lunch. You're still at work, it's too much trouble for you to come back and bring me food."
"It's not hard work at all," Fang Yan said with a smile. "It's just running back to deliver food. What's so hard about it? Anyway, my workplace isn't far from here."
She sat down next to Aunt Li and said with a smile, "Mom, I came here today not only to bring you food, but also to say a few words for Xuewen. I talked to Xuewen about it when I got home yesterday. He doesn't object to you and Teacher Hou's relationship, he's just not mentally prepared yet."
“Xuewen is almost thirty this year. Your sudden divorce from Dad has left him feeling uneasy. He even thought you two would get back together someday. But then Teacher Hou suddenly appeared, and he felt awkward, which is why he said some inappropriate things. But as you know, Xuewen is soft-hearted. He wasn't feeling good about himself when he said those things. Give him some more time to think it over. He'll definitely be able to accept you being with Teacher Hou…”
Fang Yan kept praising Sun Xuewen, but after talking for a long time, she didn't hear any reaction from Aunt Li. The more she talked, the more uneasy she became, and she secretly glanced at Aunt Li with one eyelid.
Aunt Li remained expressionless and silent. Fang Yan, unsure of her mother-in-law's thoughts, dared not say anything more and could only smile and shut her mouth.
Mingxi, who lived in the courtyard, had no idea that Fang Yan had been humiliated by Aunt Li. She listened intently to everyone gossiping for a while, but as the conversation drifted off-topic, she shook off her towel, picked up her washbasin, and went home.
Back home, Zhao Sulan had already prepared breakfast. Mingxi quickly ate breakfast and then rode her bicycle to work.
On his first day of cycling to work, Xiao Wu, who was on duty at the entrance of his workplace, saw him and joked, "Hey, Mingxi bought a bike! What's up, struck it rich?"
Mingxi often runs into Xiao Wu on her way to and from get off work, and they are quite familiar with each other. At this moment, she said with a grin, "Where are you going to make your fortune? I finally saved up enough money to buy this."
Xiao Wu naturally didn't believe it.
Everyone at work knows that Mingxi is quite wealthy.
Everyone at Mingxi's workplace knows about her family situation. Although she's from a single-parent family, her father died in a factory accident, and the factory provided compensation. Mingxi's mother has a job in the cafeteria, and Mingxi is their only child.
Mingxi is capable on her own. She was personally recruited into the unit by Director Shen and is the fastest new employee to be promoted in the unit in a long time.
Not to mention that Mingxi also has a side job: introducing potential partners to others, which earns her a matchmaking fee.
So even if Mingxi didn't say it, everyone knew that Mingxi was not short of money.
Believe it or not, because of this, quite a few male comrades in their security department have their eyes on Mingxi.
However, after witnessing Mingxi's martial prowess, everyone quietly abandoned their plans.
Mingxi is quite beautiful and has good qualities, but her fighting skills are too high.
If they were to get married and the couple were to accidentally have a fight, and Mingxi were to slap them hard, wouldn't that cripple them?
No, no, they dare not mess with such a tigress.
Xiao Wu had overheard his colleagues in the security department gossiping about this quite often. He usually avoided the topic, knowing full well that his own circumstances were average and Mingxi probably wouldn't be interested in him. He also felt that some of his colleagues were completely oblivious; they weren't even sure if Mingxi would be interested in them, yet they were already thinking about what would happen after marriage.
Thinking of those people, Xiao Wu felt speechless.
Xiao Wu shook his head, looked up at Ming Xi, and whispered a reminder: "You should go in quickly, Director Shen from your office has already arrived."
Mingxi immediately stopped smiling, thanked Xiao Wu, quickly parked her bicycle, and then hurried towards the office.
Mingxi rushed to the office, sat down, and looked up to see that there were still five minutes before work started. She was considered early today.
Remembering Xiao Wu's reminder, Mingxi craned her neck to look into the office. Director Shen's office door was closed, and she couldn't see if anyone was there.
"Mingxi, what are you looking at?"
Hearing the voice, Mingxi turned her head and found it was Sister Wang.
She shook her head at Sister Wang, pointed to Director Shen's office, and said, "Xiao Wu downstairs told me that Director Shen arrived a long time ago. I'm looking for Director Shen."
"Oh!" Sister Wang said, "It's Monday today, Director Shen should be in a meeting."
Mingxi slapped her forehead. Oh right, she had forgotten that today was Monday.
Sister Wang smiled, put down her bag, and leaned closer to Mingxi, saying, "I have good news for you: Jiang Xu and Ning Feng have been arrested by the police!"
"Huh? Huh!" Mingxi's eyes widened in shock: "What happened?"
Ms. Wang: "I don't know the details, I just heard it from my neighbor when I got home from get off work yesterday. I only heard that the descendants of the family whose house was raided came back to collect the items that were taken from their home, but they found that they could only get back one-tenth of what was taken from their house. They were also given a perfunctory answer by the Cultural Palace, who said that it was normal for things to be lost in the chaos of the raid, and told him to behave himself and not cause trouble, or they would raid his house again. The person who collected the items didn't say anything, but he kept looking for evidence behind the scenes. In the end, he found evidence that an employee of the Cultural Palace was selling cultural relics. I heard that he had some connections and went directly to the city's direct leader in charge of this matter. The entire Cultural Palace, from top to bottom, was arrested and interrogated by the police."
Mingxi blinked and whispered, "Sister Wang, do you think this has anything to do with the Zhong family?"
Sister Wang: "I can't say for sure."
That being said, Sister Wang guessed that this might have been done by the descendants of the Zhong family.
Although she didn't hear a definite answer from Sister Wang, Mingxi was pretty much convinced.
She couldn't help but click her tongue.
When Tong Wanjun treated everyone to dinner last time, Guan Lixin mentioned that the Zhong family's cultural relics had been sold off by Jiang Xu, and the Zhong family was inquiring about the situation. Mingxi secretly played a trick at the time, asking Guan Lixin to find someone to leak information about Jiang Xu to the Zhong family's descendants. Later, there was no further news about it, and Mingxi didn't care anymore.
I never expected that the descendants of the Zhong family had such a big plan.
He got everyone at the Cultural Palace taken to the police station, which caused quite a stir.
Believe it or not, this cultural work issue has really caused quite a stir. Other colleagues in the office heard Mingxi and Sister Wang discussing it and came over to join in.
"Hey, are you talking about the Cultural Palace incident? I've heard about it too."
"What do you mean by 'heard'? There's a man in our building who works at the Cultural Palace. Yesterday, the police came to our building to find his wife and tell her that her husband had been arrested."
Everyone turned to look at Sister Zhang, who had spoken. Sister Zhang took a sip of water and said, "You all don't know, that man usually seemed honest and unassuming, a well-known honest man in our building. He was even an intellectual. Who would have thought he'd be arrested by the police one day? I heard it was for stealing public property, the cultural relics confiscated during the raids. It's outrageous! Back then, they were talking about destroying the Four Olds, saying these old things couldn't be kept and had to be handed over. But who would have thought that some people would steal these things to sell for money?"
Sister Zhang shook her head: "I didn't expect this thing could be sold for money."
When this comes up, everyone in the office has something to say.
"That's right. My family had a few old items back then. My dad said they were from the official kiln of the late Ming Dynasty. We were afraid people would use them to gossip, so we secretly smashed them in the middle of the night. If we had known they could be sold for money, we would have kept them carefully."
"Then you really lost out big time. I heard that those old things are worth a lot of money now. Last week I saw one on the overpass. It was just a white porcelain plate with blue flowers. It didn't look like anything special. But that plate sold for eight hundred yuan."
"My goodness, eight hundred yuan? Just for a plate?"
"No, why would a plate cost 800 yuan? Who would be willing to use an 800-yuan plate to serve food?"
Mingxi couldn't help but burst out laughing: "Sister Zhang, what are you saying? Even if someone is rich, they wouldn't be willing to use such plates to serve food. They buy these things to collect; they're antiques."
"Antique?" Sister Zhang shook her head: "No matter how antique it is, I think it's just a plate."
Everyone was chatting and laughing, and most of them didn't take it seriously. Only Liu Wenhong's eyes lit up when she heard about antiques.
The topic veered slightly off course for a moment, but quickly returned to the main point, talking about the staff member from the Cultural Palace who had been arrested.
Someone said, "Old Wang, is what you're saying true? Everyone at the Cultural Palace has been arrested? That can't be true, can it?"
Ms. Wang: "I don't know, I just heard that they were all taken away by the police."
Mingxi: "Then maybe they went there to cooperate with the investigation."
"Cooperate with the investigation?"
Everyone turned their puzzled gazes toward Mingxi.
These days, legal knowledge is not widespread. Many people don't know the difference between cooperating with an investigation and being a suspect. They just think that being taken away by the police is a crime and means going to jail.
Mingxi had to explain to everyone that those going to the police station weren't just criminal suspects; there could also be witnesses there to testify. Furthermore, even criminal suspects weren't necessarily guilty and therefore didn't have to be arrested. They might just be suspected and going to the police station to assist with the investigation. Once the investigation was completed and no problems were found, they would be released.
Sister Zhang: "Then...so does that mean that the guy in our building doesn't necessarily have to go to jail?"
Mingxi nodded: "Generally, people who are called in by the police to assist in an investigation will be released within 24 hours. If they haven't been released after 24 hours, then they may..."
"Oh, I see!" Sister Zhang said, "Then I'll go back today and see if the one in our building has been released yet."
If this is released, then she'll be the one who wronged the person, and she'll have to go and apologize to them in person.
Mingxi figured that there was a high chance the other people from the Cultural Palace would be released.
The theft of antiques is a messy affair.
Back then, management was lax and records were not detailed, so no one could say for sure how much was stolen or how much was lost due to mismanagement.
Moreover, when the property was confiscated, no one expected that these people would be exonerated or come back to ask for their belongings back. Many people, both inside and outside the Cultural Palace, secretly took things away.
If you really go into the details, there are way too many people involved.
Several city leaders are unable to escape this fate.
Mingxi felt that this matter would not be investigated thoroughly, and the investigation would only stop at the Zhong family's belongings.
After all, it's the Zhong family who are coming to ask for the things back, and the things that were stolen and resold are also from the Zhong family.
Mingxi's guess was correct.
A descendant of the Zhong family nearly caused a major uproar with a letter of complaint from the city's cultural relics management leaders. The descendant knew many people, including acquaintances at the city's newspapers. They made it clear that if he didn't receive a satisfactory explanation, he would insist the newspapers report the matter.
If this gets reported, it won't just be a matter of a major reshuffle at the Cultural Palace; it will be a major reshuffle of the leadership in the entire cultural relics management sector in Beicheng.
The city leaders were naturally unwilling. They held a meeting overnight, first ordering the Public Security Bureau to arrest everyone at the Cultural Palace to appease the Zhong family descendants. As for the subsequent handling, they had already agreed: recover the Zhong family's belongings, compensate those that couldn't be recovered with cash, send Jiang Xuningfeng, who stole and resold the Zhong family's items, to jail, and deal with the rest as they saw fit. After all, no one else was coming to claim their belongings, right?
The loss of two henchmen, Jiang Xu and Ning Feng, satisfied the Zhong family. The rest of the group was safe, the Cultural Palace didn't need a major reshuffle, and the leadership looked good—a win-win situation.
The leaders had discussed it privately and had already exchanged letters.
Although everyone from the Cultural Palace has been arrested, in reality, only Jiang Xu and Ning Feng will ultimately be sentenced to labor reform.
The leaders have even arranged the sentences for these two men: life imprisonment, the maximum penalty for stealing public property, meaning they'll never get out for the rest of their lives.
Mingxi doesn't know about this yet; if she did, she would definitely be happy.
In her opinion, Jiang Xu and Ning Feng deserved it!
After getting off work in the evening, Mingxi pushed her bicycle out of the office. As soon as she arrived at the entrance, she saw Weining waiting there with his bicycle.
"Mingxi!"
Wei Ning waved to Ming Xi.
The security staff on duty stared wide-eyed.
Wait a minute, did they mishear?
Who is that kid at the door calling for?
Is it Mingxi?
Good heavens! Even that tigress Mingxi has suitors?
Xiao Wu, with her sharp eyes, recognized Wei Ning: "Hey, isn't that Wei Ning who was temporarily transferred to the Women's Federation a few days ago?"
"What, what? Wei Ning?"
"Hey, it really is that kid! I didn't expect that!"
"No, how did he end up with Mingxi? I heard that quite a few women at the steel mill liked him, but he didn't like any of them. I never expected him to fall for Mingxi, that tigress. The two of them don't seem like a good match. One is fierce, and the other looks like a pretty boy."
Xiao Wu pursed his lips: "What are you saying? Comrade Wei and Comrade Ming are a perfect match, a match made in heaven. Who has the right to say whether they are suitable or not?"
"Hey……"
The person who was rebuked by Xiao Wu was unconvinced, but seeing Ming Xi walking over, he didn't dare to say anything more.
He was afraid that Mingxi would hear him and beat him up.
Mingxi didn't notice the reactions of the security personnel. When she saw Wei Ning waving, she decisively pushed her cart toward him.
"Why are you here?" Mingxi asked.
Wei Ning: "I've come to pick you up. By the way, are you free to go to the movies with me tomorrow?"
As he spoke, he magically pulled two movie tickets out of his pocket.
Mingxi: ...
He actually bought movie tickets.
Mingxi: "Alright, alright, I promise you."
She took a movie ticket; this time, Wei Ning wasn't selling a feature film, but a proper romance movie.
The famous film "Romance on Lushan Mountain".
Mingxi looked up at Wei Ning. Wei Ning's face was expressionless, but his rapidly trembling eyelashes revealed a hint of his inner turmoil.
Mingxi grunted twice but didn't say anything.
Seeing that Mingxi showed no sign of displeasure, Wei Ning was instantly overjoyed; his tail practically wagging in the air.
Mingxi put the movie ticket in her pocket, got on her bicycle, and said, "I have to go see Tong Wanjun now."
Wei Ning: "Because of Jiang Xu's matter?"
He had heard about Jiang Xu's arrest at work today, and when Mingxi said she was looking for Tong Wanjun, he immediately realized that Mingxi was going to inform Tong Wanjun.
Mingxi nodded, and Wei Ning asked, "Then I'll go with you?"
Mingxi waved her hand: "No need, I can go by myself. You can go back."
She got on her bicycle and said, "Tell my mom I'm going to see Tong Wanjun and will be home a little later."
Wei Ning: "Okay then... Be careful on the road!"
Mingxi waved, got on her bike, and quickly disappeared from Wei Ning's sight.
When Mingxi arrived at the Tong family home, Tong Wanjun had just gotten off work and returned home. Their factory had been particularly busy lately, with workers working in three shifts. Although she worked the day shift, her workload was still heavy.
I finally got off work and got home, and as soon as I got to the door, I saw Mingxi coming over. I was a little confused for a moment.
She blinked, realizing what was happening, and quickly greeted him with a smile: "Comrade Ming, what brings you here? Is there something you need?"
Mingxi: "I heard something. Jiang Xu and Ning Feng have been arrested for stealing public property."
Tong Wanjun's eyes widened suddenly, and after a moment of digestion, she softly said "Oh".
Since the divorce, she had severed all ties with Jiang Xu and hadn't heard from him for a long time. When she suddenly heard the news, she was surprised to learn that he had been arrested.
However, it's not surprising. Jiang Xu colluded with Ning Feng to steal public property and also colluded with foreigners to resell cultural relics. It was only a matter of time before he was caught.
Mingxi: "The entire staff of the Cultural Palace has been arrested, but I estimate that the others are not in serious condition. Only Jiang Xu and Ning Feng will definitely go to jail. I came to tell you this so that you can be mentally prepared in advance. Although you are divorced, you two were once husband and wife, and your daughter is related to Jiang Xu by blood. If this gets out, you and your child will definitely be talked about. But like I said, you are divorced after all. As long as you tell others that you two have severed ties, no one can say anything."
Tong Wanjun nodded.
She had thought about this long ago.
With Jiang Xu's affair exposed, she and her child will definitely be the subject of much discussion.
But since they're divorced, people will only gossip about it for a while, and then it will all be over soon.
It's still better than when she was still living with Jiang Xu.
Mingxi: "Okay, I have nothing else to say. I came here just to talk about this. I'll go back after I'm done."
She waved to Tong Wanjun, preparing to turn and leave, when Tong Wanjun spoke up: "Comrade Ming, thank you."
"Hey, what's the big deal?"
Mingxi tossed her head dismissively, got on her bike, and rode away.
Just as Mingxi was riding her bicycle home, Weining had already arrived at the Ming family home.
Zhao Sulan was busy in the kitchen when she heard the knock on the door. She thought it was Mingxi coming back, so she hurriedly wiped her hands on her apron and quickly walked out of the kitchen.
"Why don't you just walk in when you get back? Why knock?"
As Zhao Sulan muttered to herself, she opened the door and saw Wei Ning standing there.
She was taken aback: "It's you. I thought it was Mingxi from our family who came back."
She quickly ushered Wei Ning in: "Come in, come in and sit down."
Wei Ning: "No need, Aunt Zhao, I won't go in. I came here to tell you on Mingxi's behalf that she's going to see Tong Wanjun and will be back later. I've given you the message, I'll head back now..."
"No!" Zhao Sulan pulled Wei Ning back with one hand.
"You child, you're already here, why are you leaving! Come in, sit down and chat with your Aunt Zhao for a while."
Seeing that Wei Ning still wanted to leave, Zhao Sulan deliberately put on a stern face: "What, you don't want to?"
Wei Ning quickly shook his head: "No, no, I'm not unwilling."
"So you're willing? If you're willing, then hurry up and come inside!"
Zhao Sulan welcomed Wei Ning into the house, then turned to go to the kitchen to pour tea. Wei Ning sat alone on the sofa, unsure of what to do with his hands.
Is this considered... meeting his parents?
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