Chapter 21: My Benefactor Is a Kind Soul  

Hearing this, the villagers gathered around began murmuring among themselves.  

“Yaqiu is just too much, she’s always stirring up trouble.”  

“This Xu Yaqiu, why does she keep blaming everything on Xiaoluo?”  

“Going back to the city really went to her head. She keeps slandering Xiaoluo, what could she possibly gain from it?”  

“Some people just become rotten when they get a bit of money.”  

“Poor Xiaoluo. Yesterday, her parents caused trouble, and today, Xu Yaqiu shows up to create a scene. Now the police are even involved.”  

These remarks drifted into the ears of the two police officers present.  

Fang Xiaoluo had already anticipated that Xu Yaqiu would try something like this. Even if Yaqiu heard her voice during the altercation, it didn’t matter, she had no evidence.  

Before Fang Xiaoluo could speak, Zhang Xinyan and Fang Shijun, her parents, were already flustered.  

“Officers, there must be some mistake. How could our Xiaoluo possibly assault someone?”  

“Yes, officers, please be thorough in your investigation!”  

Wei Yan, standing nearby, was also anxious. “Officers, this Comrade Fang saved my son from drowning just a few days ago. She’s incredibly kind, practically an angel on earth. How could she possibly hurt anyone?”  

The officers reassured everyone, “Please rest assured. We’re here to gather information and will investigate the matter thoroughly. No one will be wronged.”  

As they continued speaking, Fang Xiaoluo interrupted with a calm voice. “I trust the officers.”  

“Mom, Dad, don’t worry. If I didn’t do it, no one can pin it on me. Xu Yaqiu accusing me of false things is nothing new. If anything, her going to the police gives me the opportunity to ask why she keeps slandering me!”  

Zhang Xinyan and Fang Shijun’s hearts were in their throats.  

“We’ll go with you!”  

Fang Xiaoluo smiled. “Mom, don’t worry. I’ll be back soon.”  

Wei Yan frowned thoughtfully. “Let me drive you there and go with you. This name, Xu Yaqiu, sounds oddly familiar to me.”  

Since Wei Yan was heading back to Jiangcheng anyway, Fang Xiaoluo agreed and got into his truck.  

Honghe Village was close to Jiangcheng, and they reached the police station in no time.  

As soon as Fang Xiaoluo stepped into the station, someone lunged at her, only to be stopped by the officers.  

The person lunging was none other than Zhao Lihong.  

With tears streaming down her face and snot running down her nose, Zhao Lihong pointed at Fang Xiaoluo, accusing her loudly, “Fang Xiaoluo! How could you be so cruel? Even if you resent us, we raised you for nineteen years! How could you beat Yaqiu like this?”  

Fang Xiaoluo glanced at Xu Yaqiu, who was sitting on a chair, and her mood lifted instantly.  

She hadn’t had the chance to admire her handiwork after the fight, but now she could.  

Xu Yaqiu’s eyes were swollen and bruised, and the area around her lips was mottled with purple and blue marks. Her nose was puffy, and her face was a patchwork of bruises, like a painter’s palette.  

Turning to the officers, Fang Xiaoluo said plainly, “Officers, I haven’t even seen Xu Yaqiu in the past two days, let alone attacked her. Besides, look at our respective builds how could I, on my own, possibly beat her up this badly?”  

“Officers, Xu Yaqiu has been spreading rumors about me for quite some time. My family and the villagers can all attest to that.”  

Xu Yaqiu couldn’t hold back anymore and tried to jump up, only to trigger a wave of pain across her body. She clutched her swollen cheek, crying out, “Fang… Xiaoluo… you… you hit me… and still deny it! I… I even… heard your voice!”  

Fang Xiaoluo coldly stared at her. “Just because you move your lips doesn’t make it true. Where’s your proof?”  

Xu Yaqiu, her face throbbing with pain, couldn’t even cry properly. “Officer… I… I heard her… voice. I’m… telling the truth. You have to… believe me.”  

“Fang Xiaoluo, you ungrateful wretch!” came another voice from behind. “How dare you beat Yaqiu like this? I—”  

The voice belonged to Xu Zhigang, whose arrival suddenly made Wei Yan snap to attention. No wonder the name Xu Yaqiu sounded so familiar, it was on the wedding invitation Xu Zhigang had sent him. So this was the daughter Xu Zhigang had recently reunited with.  

Wei Yan rubbed his chin, beginning to feel sympathetic toward Fang Xiaoluo.  

So, this was the infamous “ungrateful adopted daughter” the rumors spoke of. It seemed the truth was far from what people were saying. If Fang Xiaoluo hadn’t saved his son, he might never have realized how pitiable her situation was.  

“Old Xu?” Wei Yan interrupted Xu Zhigang mid-sentence.  

Xu Zhigang, about to continue berating Fang Xiaoluo, immediately froze when he saw Wei Yan. His expression shifted to a bright smile.  

“Well, if it isn’t Factory Director Wei!” Xu Zhigang reached out for a handshake, grinning ear to ear. “What brings you here, Director Wei?”  

Wei Yan replied, “My son fell into the Ziyang River a few days ago and nearly lost his life. Have you heard about it, Old Xu?”  

Xu Zhigang, of course, had heard about the incident. But he couldn’t admit it, he hadn’t even taken the time to visit Wei Yan’s son. Considering Wei Yan was a major client of his woodworking factory, acknowledging this now would only make him look worse.  

“Oh? Really?” Xu Zhigang feigned surprise. “How’s the boy doing now?”  

Wei Yan didn’t care whether Xu Zhigang had visited or not and simply replied, “The boy’s fine, thanks to the person who saved him.”  

“That’s great, that’s great,” Xu Zhigang said hastily, nodding. “I’ll have to visit the boy soon. I’m sure it was a terrifying experience for him.”  

Wei Yan continued, “Well, as it happens, the person who saved him is now facing a ridiculous accusation. Someone is falsely claiming she beat them up. How could that be? My benefactor is a truly kind person! She worked tirelessly to save my son, never once complaining. How could someone like her hurt anyone?”  

Xu Zhigang nodded repeatedly. “Exactly, exactly. Director Wei, you must stand up for her. If she has a workplace, they should give her a banner of commendation or write a letter of gratitude!”  

Wei Yan patted Xu Zhigang on the shoulder. “You’re absolutely right, Old Xu. I nearly forgot about that. Thanks for the reminder!”  

Looking around, Xu Zhigang asked, “So, where is your benefactor?”  

Wei Yan pointed at Fang Xiaoluo. “Right here. Isn’t she beautiful? As the saying goes, beauty reflects inner goodness. Just look at her, how could someone like her be a violent person?”  

Xu Zhigang was dumbfounded. “You… you’re saying Fang Xiaoluo is your benefactor?”  

Wei Yan nodded. “Of course. Oh, by the way…”  

He gestured toward Xu Yaqiu. “That girl over there is the one accusing my benefactor. I was so upset that I came here immediately.”  

Xu Zhigang stammered, “This… this…”  

Fang Xiaoluo found Wei Yan’s reaction amusing and added fuel to the fire. “Director Wei, you might not know this, but the person accusing me is actually Factory Director Xu’s biological daughter.”  

Wei Yan widened his eyes in mock shock. “Old Xu, is this true?”  

Xu Zhigang wiped the sweat from his forehead. “It… it is. But this must be a misunderstanding!”  

Wei Yan said, “I think so too. But Old Xu, you need to sort this out. Oh, and about that batch of goods we discussed last week, I noticed other woodworking factories offer similar products, and their prices are quite negotiable.”  

Alarm bells went off in Xu Zhigang’s mind. “Director Wei, I assure you, today’s incident is just a misunderstanding. I’ll go look into it right away!”