Chapter 218 Step by Step
Then, she took out her most formal dark blue coat from the closet. This coat was only worn on important occasions. The cuffs were already a bit worn, but she still put it on carefully and fastened each button.
Then, she silently went out, her steps heavy yet firm. The cold morning wind blew in her face, and she wrapped her coat tighter, walking towards the gray sky.
The streets were almost deserted in the morning, with only a few sporadic barks of dogs and the rustling of brooms across the ground in the distance; the whole city was still asleep.
She walked quickly forward, her shoes tapping crisply and rapidly on the bluestone pavement, heading straight for the police station on the outskirts of the city, as if she would miss some important opportunity if she were to be a step slower.
As she approached the entrance, she saw a military green jeep parked there, its body still covered in mud, clearly having just come from a long journey.
The driver, dressed in a neat military uniform with his epaulets gleaming coldly, was speaking in hushed tones with the gatekeeper, his tone respectful yet brooking no refusal.
Song Yazhi stopped in her tracks, her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly hid behind the corner to peek out, holding her breath and fixing her gaze on the iron gate.
A short while later, Fang Xiaoju was brought out by two uniformed police officers. She was unsteady on her feet, swaying and almost fell over.
Her hair was disheveled and draped over her shoulders, her cheeks were thin, her eyes were so swollen that she could barely open them, and there were dark circles around her eyes. She looked nothing like the leading actress of the performing arts troupe.
"Comrade Fang, the deputy commander sent me to pick you up."
Upon seeing this, the driver immediately stepped forward, speaking as he respectfully opened the car door, his demeanor humble and showing no sign of disrespect.
Fang Xiaoju didn't get on the bus immediately. Instead, she looked around, her eyes filled with anxiety and helplessness, as if she were looking for someone or waiting for someone to appear.
Song Yazhi hesitated for a moment, her fingertips trembling slightly, but in the end she gritted her teeth and walked out from the wall, her steps slow but firm.
"Xiaoju!"
She called out softly, her voice not loud, but it sounded exceptionally clear in the quiet morning.
Upon hearing the voice, Fang Xiaoju turned around abruptly, and the moment she saw Song Yazhi, tears welled up in her eyes. "Aunt Song! It really is you!"
She stumbled and threw herself into Song Yazhi's arms, her body trembling as if she had found her only support. She choked out, "You've finally come... I thought... I thought I would never see you again..."
The driver assessed the situation, wisely stepped back a few paces, and said in a low voice, "Comrade Fang, I'll wait for you in the car first. Please take your time and tell me."
Once he was out of sight, Fang Xiaoju immediately grabbed Song Yazhi's hand tightly, their fingers intertwined, their fingertips icy cold. Her voice was low, filled with fear and resentment: "Auntie, it was Qiao Wanyin! She's the one who ruined me! She set up a trap, step by step, just to destroy me!"
Song Yazhi's heart sank, her brows furrowed, and she quickly supported her shoulders, asking anxiously, "Don't rush, tell me slowly, what exactly happened? You went to the black market with her? Why did she frame you?"
Fang Xiaoju sobbed as she said, "I followed her to the black market as planned, wanting to see for myself whether she was really involved in illegal transactions... But I didn't expect that she had already figured it out and deliberately took me to a secluded place where there was no one around, not even a witness."
She gritted her teeth, her eyes blazing with anger, her voice trembling slightly: "While I was distracted talking, she suddenly pulled out a packet of brown sugar and shoved it into my hand, like a magician, and then immediately shouted 'Caught red-handed,' attracting the police! It was a complete setup! I was tricked by her!"
Song Yazhi gasped, her brows furrowed, and her voice trembled slightly, "Could she really do that? How could something like this happen to an ordinary person?"
"Absolutely true!"
Fang Xiaoju nodded vigorously, her eyes filled with certainty and unease. She added rapidly, "Auntie, I'm not lying to you, she's not a normal person at all! She clearly knows everything, she's perfectly aware of everything, but she pretends to be innocent and ignorant, smiling so gently. But the more she does that, the more creepy it is, it's terrifying!"
Song Yazhi's face turned deathly pale instantly, and her fingertips became slightly cold.
The scene from last night uncontrollably flashed through her mind—Qiao Wanyin sat calmly on the sofa in the living room, her posture composed and her tone even. She remained unperturbed when questioned, as if everything was under her control.
Recalling that calm and composed demeanor now made her feel a tightness in her chest, as if a stone was pressing down on her, making it hard to breathe.
She had always thought that her daughter-in-law was just an unsophisticated, rustic country girl who was honest and easy to manipulate.
After all, when her son brought her home, she was dressed simply, spoke reservedly, and didn't even know the etiquette at the dinner table.
Who would have thought that this seemingly weak woman harbored so many schemes, plotting step by step and quietly turning her home upside down.
"Does Adong know who she is?"
Song Yazhi finally spoke, her voice low and hoarse, almost squeezed out of her throat, each word filled with suppressed fear and anxiety.
Fang Xiaoju shook her head slightly, a hint of disappointment and coldness flashing in her eyes. Her tone turned serious: "Brother Maidong is so infatuated with her that he can't see the truth anymore. He only has eyes for her now. He won't believe anything you say. Instead, he'll think we're trying to sow discord between him and his wife. Auntie, we can't wait any longer. We have to find a way to make her show her true colors, otherwise we'll really have no say in this family anymore."
Song Yazhi remained silent for a few seconds, her fingers unconsciously picking at the hem of her clothes, her gaze falling on a fallen leaf on the ground.
Suddenly, as if she remembered something, she abruptly raised her head, lowered her voice, and asked cautiously, "You just said... she has spatial abilities? Is it one of those legendary superpowers that allows you to hide things inside your body?"
"right!"
Fang Xiaoju's eyes lit up immediately, and her tone became even more certain, "I saw it with my own eyes! I bumped into her at the kitchen door that day. Her hands were empty, but the next second she pulled out a packet of powder from her sleeve, cleanly, without a trace. That's not something that can be done by ordinary means! Auntie, if we can find evidence, take a video, or leave traces of her taking the item... she won't be able to keep up the act anymore."
The two exchanged a glance, understanding each other without saying a word.
With a single glance, they understood each other's thoughts—they had to keep a close eye on Qiao Wanyin, look for weaknesses, and seize any leverage over her.
"Let's go back and talk about it first."
Song Yazhi gently patted the back of her hand, her movements gentle yet restrained. "Xiaoju, I'm sorry you've suffered so much this time. Go back and rest well, and don't go out and wander around. We need to stay calm and take it slow; we can't afford to make a single mistake."
She stood there, watching Fang Xiaoju turn and leave.
The girl walked with her head down and her steps slightly heavy towards the car parked by the roadside.
The click of the car door closing was exceptionally clear.
The engine started, and the car slowly drove out of the alley and gradually disappeared at the end of the street.
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