The wound didn’t pain Liu Fen, but mentioning Tian Xiaoyan’s name sent chills down her spine.
“Xiaolan, why… why does she hate me so much?”
Refusing to be Tian Xiaoyan’s stepmother warranted a life debt?
Thank goodness she had refused.
Even if Liu Fen remained unmarried for life, she would never allow Xia Xiaolan to have such a terrifying stepsister.
Tang Hongen placed his hand over her uninjured one:
“Neither you nor Xiaolan did anything wrong. If anyone’s at fault, it’s my poor handling of the situation.”
He had ordered Tian Sanzi’s arrest.
Tang Hongen hadn’t given much thought to this minor matter. After all, Tian Sanzi was a known petty thief who drove his wife back to her parent’s home and beat his children while drunk. A few years of reform through labor might even save him.
His indifference led him to overlook the consequences.
They shouldn’t have dismissed a rural girl skilled at emotional manipulation just because of her youth.
The people of Qijing Village couldn’t control Tian Xiaoyan.
Her personality was shaped by her family environment. Had he not ignored it, early intervention might have changed her course.
But why should he have intervened then?
Tian Xiaoyan had no connection to him. With his busy schedule, Tang Hongen wasn’t a saint – he naturally preferred avoiding unnecessary troubles.
Yet had he forcefully intervened, Liu Fen might not have been injured today.
Tang Hongen summarized it thus:
“Xiaolan, remember this lesson in your future endeavors. Don’t consider handling details a waste of time. This incident with Tian Xiaoyan stemmed from my earlier negligence. Even today, I had opportunities to prevent this but was careless.”
For many days, Tian Xiaoyan hadn’t appeared.
With no trace of her, Tang Hongen and Xia Xiaolan shared similar thoughts – assuming she’d met with misfortune or left Pengcheng.
Who knew she never left, hiding in civilian housing opposite the Municipal Government compound?
Living furtively like a rat.
Secretly observing Liu Fen’s daily routines until today’s opportunity arose.
A classic case of overlooking what’s right under one’s nose.
Even Xia Xiaolan hadn’t guessed Tian Xiaoyan would hide there.
“Uncle Tang, who was the person helping Tian Xiaoyan attack?”
Was it an accomplice sent by Xia Ziyu, fearing Tian Xiaoyan couldn’t succeed alone?
Before Tang Hongen could answer, the Luo family arrived at the hospital.
They came even later than Xia Xiaolan.
Tang Hongen and Xia Xiaolan immediately ceased their conversation. All three family members expressed sincere gratitude to the Luo father and son.
Old Man Luo was a village tyrant, as was Luo Degui.
This undeniable label stuck to them, but humans are multifaceted beings. Besides being village tyrants, they were Luo Yaozong’s family, and despite their flaws, their love for him was genuine.
Xia Xiaolan’s family of three had to thank Luo Yaozong for protecting Liu Fen.
With Luo Yaozong still in surgery, they naturally explained the situation to his family and expressed their concern.
Here, there were no real estate company bosses or mayors – just grateful relatives of someone who received help!
Luo Degui was dazed:
“I thought Yaozong was joking about skipping work to guard the Municipal Government compound.”
Since it was just injury without mortal danger, and he’d saved the Mayor’s wife, what could Yaozong possibly worry about for the rest of his life?
Concerned about being overshadowed, Luo Degui and Old Man Luo could only feel joy.
The Luos were just that kind of people – not good people, fond of scheming – but straightforward in their wickedness.
Bah, surely she was viewing the Luos through rose-colored glasses just because Luo Yaozong happened to save Comrade Ah Fen.
Xia Xiaolan silently cursed herself for a few seconds.
Her mind was clear, but her body was more honest – she couldn’t stop thanking the Luo family.
Thanking them for raising Luo Yaozong!
Damn, she really couldn’t continue the praise.
As Xia Xiaolan wanted some fresh air, Tang Hongen’s secretary arrived.
“Secretary Lai, do you have news?”
Secretary Lai glanced at the Luo family. Tang Hongen nodded slightly, and Secretary Lai immediately pulled Xia Xiaolan to the stairwell to talk.
“The police station has obtained confessions. The young one, Tian Xiaoyan, is quite cunning, refusing to admit intent to harm. The older one is a well-known local fool, nearly 20 years old, mentally deficient, with the intellect of a five or six-year-old. They’ve pieced together bits – he called Sister Liu a bad mother who abandoned her child… Tian Xiaoyan likely manipulated him. The fool was abandoned by his mother due to his condition.”
A physically strong adult male.
With a five or six-year-old’s intellect.
Abandoned by his mother since childhood… Who knew what tales Tian Xiaoyan spun to brainwash him, probably claiming Liu Fen abandoned her too, inciting him to attack?
“Secretary Lai, we can’t leave this fool unchecked, right? And Tian Xiaoyan – if the police investigation is accurate, she’s more dangerous than him.”
Secretary Lai certainly knew.
How old was Tian Xiaoyan now, yet already so formidable? The thought made him break into cold sweat.
This was premeditated manipulation – inciting a mentally disabled person to murder.
Even if the target wasn’t Liu Fen, weren’t other citizens’ lives precious too?
“She’ll go to juvenile detention.”
Xia Xiaolan nodded, “Everything is according to law and regulation.”
Even if juvenile detention couldn’t hold Tian Xiaoyan for long, she wouldn’t underestimate this vengeful rural girl again. She took Tang Hongen’s ‘self-reflection’ to heart. She wouldn’t give Tian Xiaoyan another chance at redemption. Even after release, she would keep her under surveillance… Perhaps unfair to Tian Xiaoyan, as bleeding hearts love to say everyone deserves a fresh start.
Sorry, Xia Xiaolan didn’t accept that rhetoric.
Manslaughter and premeditated murder were different matters.
Tian Xiaoyan fell into the latter category.
Liu Fen’s luck in sustaining only minor injuries didn’t negate Tian Xiaoyan’s murderous intent!
Lurking in shadows to observe, choosing the right moment, finding suitable accomplices – all Tian Xiaoyan’s doing. No wonder Comrade Ah Fen still shuddered at the thought.
Xia Xiaolan examined her conscience and found no room for compromise in this matter, so why pretend?
“Keep questioning Tian Xiaoyan. Don’t underestimate her due to her youth – she’s cunning. Her hatred for us is real, but external factors must have prompted her to attack my mother. No matter how long it takes, we must uncover this ‘external cause.'”
Secretary Lai nodded firmly.
He would surely unearth the ‘external cause.’
Surely a group of adults working together could handle a half-grown girl? Otherwise, they’d have wasted all those years of experience!
“Also, this news probably hasn’t spread widely yet. Can we suppress the news about my mother’s minor injury, and keep her from appearing in Pengcheng for now… Let outsiders assume she’s seriously injured or something, would that work?”