Hongfei looked at Hongyu with an unusually serious expression and shook his head: "He's not asleep, he's dead. Do you know what will happen if others find out that someone in our family has died?"
Hongyu's heart pounded wildly: "What will happen?"
“They’ll take Mom away and shoot her,” Hongfei said.
Hongyu's face turned pale: "Like Sister Xiaoying's mother?"
Hongfei nodded vigorously: "That's right, just like Xiaoying's mother."
The Xiaoying they were talking about was the daughter of one of Gao Mingcheng's soldiers. She had finally been promoted and was able to apply for her family to accompany her to the military base. As a result, not only did her wife and daughter come, but her mother also came along. This mother was a sexist who often beat and scolded her granddaughter and didn't give her any food.
During a conflict, Xiao Ying was pushed down by the old lady and broke her head. Xiao Ying's mother felt sorry for her daughter and couldn't help but push the old lady back. Unexpectedly, the old lady hit her head on the corner of the table and died instantly.
The police came and took him away in custody.
Later, when Hongfei and Hongyu were playing outside, they overheard some gossiping aunts and grandmothers talking and learned that Xiaoying's mother had been shot for killing someone, leaving a huge hole in her head.
At that time, Hongyu was only 3 or 4 years old. He was frightened when he came back, had nightmares, and even had a fever. Xing Zhaozhao kept him there for many days until the rumors outside died down before letting him go out to play.
Hongyu still remembered what happened back then, and grabbed her brother's hand in fear: "No, I don't want Mom to be like Xiaoying's mom."
"Hmm, no." Hongfei patted Hongyu's head reassuringly. "Then you must be a good boy and listen to your brother. There are police officers outside, the ones who took Xiaoying's mother away. When they come to ask us questions later, answer whatever your brother answers. If your brother doesn't answer something, just say you don't know. Got it?"
Hongyu nodded seriously: "I've got it."
Footsteps sounded outside, and Hongfei and Hongyu thought someone was coming, so they both tensed up.
Unexpectedly, they suddenly turned a corner and went to the neighbor's house.
Hongyu: "..."
Hongfei: "..."
It was a waste of my feelings.
"It's been so long since I've seen my two godchildren." Old Mrs. Qin took the lead, unaware that the three little ones had been temporarily moved to the next room. She assumed they were still in their original room and went straight there.
Police Officer Zhang also wanted to see the little boy from before, so he followed him.
Chen Hao naturally followed closely behind Zhang Gong'an.
Fu Lan was left out last.
"Huh? Where is everyone?" Old Mrs. Qin entered the house only to find it empty. She turned to look for Fu Lan, "Xiao Lan?"
Fu Lan followed Officer Zhang and the others back to the "crime scene," her heart pounding, fearing they might discover something. She only snapped out of her daze when she heard Old Mrs. Qin calling her, and replied, "What is it, Old Mrs. Qin?"
"Where are the three little ones?" Grandma Qin asked.
Zhang Gong'an and Chen Hao also looked at Fu Lan.
Fu Lan's tightly clenched hands were damp with a thin layer of sweat: "They're next door."
Grandma Qin was puzzled. As she turned to leave, she asked, "Didn't you always stay in this room before? Why did you suddenly move to the next room?"
Fu Lan forced a smile and casually made up an excuse: "Oh, when I was changing Xiao Hongling's diaper just now, she suddenly pooped, and it all got on the sheets and smelled bad, so I moved her to the next room for the time being. Hongyu and Hongfei also went to keep their little sister company, so this room is empty and can air out."
"I see." Grandma Qin, without suspecting anything, went directly next door to see her godchildren.
Zhang Gong'an and Chen Hao stayed behind and wandered around the house.
Zhang Gong'an sniffed and said, "But why don't I smell any stench?"
"I just checked the air, it should have dissipated by now," Fu Lan said. Seeing them wandering around the room, she moved to the side and stood in the corner by the kang (a heated brick bed). Her leg accidentally brushed against the winnowing basket on the edge of the kang, which had been kicked over when Chen Dachuan was struggling. She had just cleaned it up and casually put it on the edge of the kang.
She didn't pay much attention and glanced down casually, but her pupils contracted when she saw the pair of scissors lying quietly inside.
It was the same pair of scissors she had used to stab Chen Dachuan in the heart. She had just wiped them clean casually while tidying up and put them in the dustpan, only to discover now that there was still a little blood on them that hadn't been wiped off.
Fu Lan glanced nervously at Officer Zhang.
If it were him, he would definitely notice if he saw it, right?
Suddenly, Zhang Gong'an frowned, sniffed, and said, "That's not right. Although I don't smell any stench, I think I smell a faint scent of blood."
Fu Lanxin jumped, glanced down at the scissors, and decided to go all in. She picked them up, turned her back to cover them, and quickly slashed her palm.
Noticing Fu Lan's subtle movements, Officer Zhang immediately asked warily, "What are you doing?"
Fu Lan was startled, her hand holding the scissors trembled, and she accidentally cut too much.
Fu Lan: "..." Waaaaah, it hurts so much.
She gritted her teeth, forced back the tears welling in her eyes, then took a half-finished handkerchief from the winnowing basket and quickly wrapped it around the wound on her hand. Then, she boldly took the bloodstained scissors and turned to look at Officer Zhang.
Seeing that Fu Lan remained silent, Zhang Gong'an became suspicious and happened to walk over.
Fu Lan held the scissors directly in front of Zhang Gong'an's eyes.
Officer Zhang was startled when he saw the blood still on the tip of the scissors: "What...what are you doing?"
“Didn’t you say you smelled blood? Here it is.” Fu Lan waved the scissors in front of Zhang Gong’an and said.
Seeing the danger, Officer Zhang quickly snatched the scissors away, carefully examined the fresh bloodstains still on them, narrowed his eyes slightly, and asked, "What happened here?"
Fu Lan raised her injured hand: "I accidentally cut myself while doing needlework, what else could it be?"
Officer Zhang frowned as he looked at the blood still seeping from the handkerchief wrapped around her hand and said, "It looks like she's seriously injured."
"It's alright, sewing is a common thing." Fu Lan said nonchalantly, glancing at them with displeasure. "If you hadn't suddenly come over, I would already be on my way to the clinic."
Zhang Gong'an and Chen Hao, who had just walked over, exchanged a glance: "..." So, it was their fault after all?
Fu Lan glared at them: "..." That's right, it's all your fault.
"Have you finished watching? Can you leave now?" Fu Lan urged.
Zhang Gong'an glanced at Chen Hao questioningly.
Chen Hao shook his head, indicating that he had not found anything.
Zhang Gong'an then looked at Fu Lan and said, "You've finished looking, you can leave now."
Fu Lan immediately turned around and walked out.
Zhang Gong'an took one last look at the scissors in his hand, his gaze lingering on a spot of congealed blood on them, before casually placing them on the table and leaving with Chen Hao and Fu Lan.
"Have you found anything?" Officer Zhang whispered to Chen Hao while Fu Lan wasn't looking.
“We didn’t find anything,” Chen Hao said, glancing at Fu Lan who was walking ahead. “However, I have a feeling that she’s trying to hide something from us.”
“I had the same feeling,” Officer Zhang said in a low voice, then couldn’t help but glance again at the scissors he had just placed on the table. His heart sank. “When she opened the door just now, did you notice the injury on her hand?”
Chen Hao thought about it carefully and shook his head: "I haven't paid special attention to this. If I remember correctly, it seems there shouldn't be one."
“I also remember that there wasn’t one…” Zhang Gong’an said, and he and Chen Hao looked up at Fu Lan, their eyes narrowing.
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