xixiacun
Since the human trafficker's hiding place incident in Xixia Village, Huang Tao has become a household name and a topic of discussion. For a time, flyers for the capture of Huang Tao were posted at the entrance of Tan's small shop by the bridge. Huang Tao's photo was prominently displayed. Furthermore, a informant provided real clues, and the Ministry of Public Security offered a reward of 30,000 yuan. Many villagers gathered at the entrance of the shop every day. When they saw the reward, they were all amazed and whispered among themselves. Some said that Huang Tao was audacious, some said that he was heartless, and some said that Huang Tao was really clever. He was able to escape in a place surrounded by water. He was a true Jiangdao native. He grew up in the river and was a good swimmer. How could he be the same as those landlubbers who were caught? Some people said that the police might have deliberately let him escape, wasting time and leaving him an opportunity.
As Jiang Shuya passed by the small shop near the bridge, she overheard some conversation. Those people there were probably acquainted with Huang Tao, and they showed no surprise at the fact that he had become a fugitive child trafficker. The shop owner, Wu Lan, scoffed, cracking sunflower seeds as she angrily launched into a tirade: "That Huang Tao still owes my shop five hundred yuan! Last time he took a carton of cigarettes from here and hasn't paid. He lied to me, saying he'd make a deal and pay me back with interest. He swore he'd bring the money back in a day. Who would have thought he'd do such a thing? He's committed a heinous crime! Even God won't let him get away with this!"
Next to Wu Lan at the counter in the convenience store was a broad-shouldered, plump woman, Cao Fang, a close cousin of the Cao family from Qiaotou. She whispered mysteriously in the shopkeeper's ear, "I heard that Huang Tao was reported by someone, and that person is from our Xixia Village."
"Ah! Who is it? How did you know?" The proprietress exclaimed in surprise.
Cao Fang gave a mischievous grin but refused to speak. Wu Lan shook her arm impatiently and stared at her, saying, "Hurry up, stop being so mysterious, tell me who it is."
Cao Fang whispered in Zhou Lan's ear, but no one outside heard her; they continued to chatter and gossip.
Upon hearing this, Wu Lan was shocked, then her eyes filled with doubt as she whispered, "How did you know it was her? Where did you find out?"
Cao Fang raised her chin high, her eyes showing disdain: "Don't forget, in Xixia Village, my brother-in-law is the captain of the police station. All the cases he handles are recorded on it, and the informants are naturally listed there as well. It's just that the case was sent to my brother-in-law the day before yesterday, and he saw Huang Tao from Xixia Village and inquired a lot about him. I happened to go to my brother-in-law's house to find my aunt, and I heard a shout outside his bedroom."
Wu Lan was still puzzled and confused: "Then why do you think she reported Huang Tao? Aren't they relatives?"
Cao Fang curled her lip, her face full of sarcasm: "Who knows? It's about putting righteousness before family. Maybe Huang Tao did something else heinous and that beauty found out. Now the Huang family is even more famous, with a big celebrity."
Wu Lan gave Cao Fang a wicked look, smiled, and sized her up before asking, "Little sister Cao, you're 27 this year, aren't you? Don't you want to find a boyfriend?"
Cao Fang pursed her lips, her face showing annoyance, but then she became arrogant: "It's not that I don't want to find someone, it's just that I don't like any of the ones they introduce to me, none of them suit my taste."
Wu Landu was worried for her, so she lowered her voice and urged, "There are rumors outside that our area will be demolished within a year at most. You have to hurry! Don't be too picky. As long as he is good to you, responsible, hardworking and family-oriented, that's enough. Do you know that having one more household registration means a large amount of compensation and a house?"
Cao Fang sighed softly, her expression troubled yet stubborn. She shook her head and said, "I don't want to settle for that. It would be too meaningless to spend my life with someone I don't like."
Wu Lan looked at her with disdain and directly exposed her: "Do you compare Huang Minghao's appearance to those people? I'm not trying to be mean, but that family is outrageous. They have two unreliable elders. If you had been with him back then, I would have thought you had something wrong with your head and were blind."
Upon hearing this, Cao Fang was filled with shame and anger: "Those are his parents, not him. I think he is the most handsome man I have ever seen. It's a pity that my parents are so against it. Otherwise, I would already have a child by now, and Jiang Shuya would not be a problem. Besides, I am my parents' only daughter. Their property will all be mine in the future. Even if I never work with him for the rest of my life, it will be enough for us to live on."
Wu Lan raised an eyebrow and snorted coldly: "Yes, he didn't choose you, Miss, but chose that beautiful woman now. It's clear that Huang Minghao is superficial, only caring about her looks. And so what now? The couple is living apart. I heard from my husband that Huang Minghao once poured out his heart to him while drinking, saying he regretted marrying Jiang Shuya, beating his chest and saying he was useless and sorry to so-and-so. Oh dear! I don't know who he was, he didn't say the name."
Cao Fang's eyes lit up upon hearing this, her long-dormant heart reawakening. Grabbing Wu Lan's hand, she asked urgently, "Really? Huang Minghao said he regrets marrying that Jiang guy. Do you think the person he's apologizing to could be me? Is that right?"
Wu Lan was caught off guard by the question and didn't know how to answer for a moment, so she vaguely said, "Maybe! I haven't heard of anyone before Jiang Shuya!"
Knowing the answer she most wanted to know, Cao Fang's round face became even fuller, and her already small eyes immediately smiled so wide that only her teeth were visible. She waved her hand and pointed to the end of a shelf: "I want all of these. I'm going to have a good meal. Sister Wu, you know, when I'm happy, I'm in a particularly good mood and I just want to eat. Pack all of these up for me, I'll eat them slowly at home."
At this moment, Mr. Tan, the shop owner who was squatting at the other end of the shelf, glanced at Cao Fang and shook his head. He had heard their conversation all along. Wu Lan obviously hadn't noticed her husband tidying up the shelves elsewhere. She was happily filling large plastic bags with snacks for Cao Fang. After she paid, she smiled and saw her off. Only when she turned around did she realize her husband was standing behind her. Zhou Lan pushed him and got angry: "You scared me to death! Standing there without saying a word."
President Tan snorted coldly and said disdainfully, "I've seen narcissists, but I've never seen such an arrogant idiot. Huang Minghao actually fell for her? I'm speechless... Haha, I find her brain-dead appearance hilarious. Look at her, she's as fat as a pig, where does she get her confidence from? Even if Huang Minghao is dissatisfied with Jiang Shuya, he still married her because of her beauty. He just feels guilty about it, but he's never mentioned Cao Fang at all."
Wu Lan looked suspicious and asked in a low voice, "Last time Huang Minghao was drinking at my house, didn't he say he regretted marrying Jiang Shuya? Who did he feel sorry for?"
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