Chapter 36: The Anonymous Report Letter

Jing Xi instinctively wanted to refuse because she knew that going to the Liu family’s house would mean being forced to accept Liu Jia and his wife’s gratitude.

But she felt guilty. To put it nicely, she had gone to Nanzhen to help, but all the investigations, clues, and evidence had actually been provided by Long Siye’s people. She didn’t feel right accepting their thanks.

Jing Xi got up and opened the door. The sky was already dark. She turned on a dim light, casting a pale glow on her face, making her look unwell.

“Hey, why is your face so yellow? Are you sick?”

Jing Xi shook her head. “No, no, I probably just didn’t get enough rest. Sister Yan, I think I won’t go. There were so many people yesterday that I didn’t get a chance to say this, but honestly, I didn’t do much. It was all the Long family’s people…”

Liu Yan listened and nodded in agreement.

Jing Xi thought she had convinced her, but then Liu Yan suddenly said,

“Officer Li was right—you’re too modest. That Long gentleman himself said it was all thanks to you, so it must be your credit! My parents have already stewed pork ribs and are waiting for you. If you don’t come, my sister and I won’t get to eat them!”

Jing Xi was speechless.

Liu Yan continued, “And think about my sister. She hasn’t been eating or sleeping well these past few days. She almost got taken advantage of. Now that she’s finally home and can eat some pork ribs, if you don’t come, do you think she’ll even be able to eat them? Will she feel at ease eating them?”

Jing Xi was impressed.

Liu Yan really knew how to persuade people.

“Sister Yan, stop talking! I’ll change my clothes right now!”

Liu Yan grinned happily.

And so, the two of them headed to the Liu household for dinner.

As soon as they stepped through the door, Liu Chun came running out.

Jing Xi finally had the chance to take a good look at her. Her once round face had visibly thinned, and her jawline was sharper.

“Jing Xi! You’re here!”

Jing Xi patted Liu Chun’s shoulder. “Alright, you haven’t lost too much weight. Eat well at home and gain it back! We’re lucky to be safe and sound.”

Liu Chun nodded and pulled Jing Xi inside.

The moment they entered the house, the rich aroma of meat filled the air. Liu Jia and his wife were busy setting the table and arranging bowls and chopsticks. Jing Xi immediately stepped forward to help.

But Liu Yan pushed her down onto the heated brick bed. “You’re not doing anything!”

Alright then.

About five minutes later, Zhang Rui brought out a large bowl of braised pork ribs with potatoes and dried string beans. The fragrance was mouthwatering.

A plate of pickled vegetables was also served, and each person got two cloves of garlic. Everyone sat down around the table.

Liu Jianchang raised his glass. “I’m not good with words, but from now on, we’re family.”

“Cheers!”

“Bottoms up!”

Jing Xi enjoyed the meal thoroughly, eating until her mouth was greasy. She even had a full bowl of white rice, and her stomach felt warm and satisfied.

No one brought up Liu Chun’s ordeal over the past ten days. They let all the unhappy things be carried away by the wind, vanishing without a trace.

Midnight

Jing Xi went to Wu Dazhuang’s house again.

---

After Liu Chun returned to the village, it caused quite a stir.

But the matters that were uncovered due to her disappearance were still unresolved.

Some people were happy, while others were worried.

Those who were worried included Wu Dazhuang’s uncle, Wang Suitang, and his cousin, Wu Jun.

As his relatives, they couldn’t discipline Wu Dazhuang too much, but now that trouble had come knocking, they couldn’t just ignore it either.

Wang Suitang wanted to contact Wu Dazhuang’s parents, but he couldn’t find them anywhere. There was no way to reach them.

In the end, he had to give up.

Meanwhile, someone in the village had written an anonymous report letter—two copies, one sent to the village office and the other to the police station.

The letter accused Wu Dazhuang of theft.

Like a stone thrown into a lake, it caused huge ripples. Neither the village officials nor the police had expected Wu Dazhuang to have committed so many bad deeds.

Even Wu Jun, who had been secretly covering for Wu Dazhuang, was now shaking in fear.

He was afraid he’d be implicated.

The report letter detailed every instance of Wu Dazhuang’s theft, listing the dates, locations, and stolen items.

The stolen items included clothes, food, a flashlight, bicycle tires, and even playing cards.

But the most serious charge was that he had stolen 6,200 yuan in cash and a bankbook.

The amount was so significant that even the police broke into a cold sweat.

The very same day they received the report letter, the public security bureau obtained a search warrant and sent officers to raid Wu Dazhuang’s home.

Outside his rundown house, half the village gathered to watch.

Two police cars were parked nearby, and the villagers whispered among themselves. Jing Xi stood to the side with Liu Yan and Liu Chun, observing the scene.

Of the three, Liu Chun was the angriest.

After all, it was Wu Dazhuang who had ties to the Great World Nightclub and who, after seeing her trapped there, had pretended not to know her and ignored her cries for help.

Now, watching the police search his house felt incredibly satisfying.

Jing Xi glanced at her, noting her puffed-up, angry little face. “Wu Dazhuang is done for this time. With multiple charges stacked against him, and during a strict crackdown period, who knows how many years he’ll be sentenced to?”

Liu Yan thought for a moment, recalling a news story. “Last year, a guy who stole 500 kilograms of iron from a factory was sentenced to 20 years. For Wu Dazhuang? I’d say at least 50 years.”

He had committed crimes during a nationwide crackdown. He was bound to be used as an example—a cautionary tale.

Even if he wasn’t executed, he’d be rotting in prison for the rest of his life.

Sure enough, during the search, the police found both the cash and the bankbook at Wu Dazhuang’s house. However, the amount of money wasn’t quite 6,200 yuan—it was 500 yuan short.

After interrogating Wu Jun and gathering statements, they concluded that Wu Dazhuang had previously embezzled 500 yuan of village public funds for gambling and later stole money to replace it.

The cash and passbook balances all matched.

Aside from the stolen rice, flour, and meat, almost everything that had been taken from the Zhang family had been accounted for.

The police also visited the homes of other burglary victims to verify the stolen miscellaneous items mentioned in the anonymous report. Every single one was confirmed.

It was undoubtedly Wu Dazhuang’s doing.

Some villagers who disliked Wu Dazhuang even exaggerated details, eager to add fuel to the fire and kick him while he was down.

Meanwhile, the Zhang family, who had been keeping a low profile for a long time, found themselves both surprised and relieved.

The amount of cash Wu Dazhuang had stolen matched exactly with the money they had lost.

Moreover, Wu Dazhuang not only had the motive but also the opportunity to commit the crime—everything lined up perfectly.

In the end, the Zhang family only suffered a loss of 500 yuan and some food. The rest of their money was recovered.

It was an unfortunate situation, but still a blessing in disguise.

However, during police interrogation, Wu Dazhuang stubbornly refused to admit that he had taken the money.

Instead, he kept accusing Jing Xi, insisting that it was Jing Xi who had proposed working together to steal from the Zhang family.

But he had no proof.

No witnesses.

The investigating officers, skeptical of his claims, conducted further inquiries and found that Jing Xi and Wu Dazhuang were like fire and water—completely incompatible.

In the end, Jing Xi was cleared of all suspicion.

Wu Dazhuang remained at the police station, awaiting trial.

---

That winter, several major events shook Fucha Village.

As the Lunar New Year approached, all the chaos finally came to an end, and every household focused on preparing for the festivities to rid themselves of bad luck.

Jing Xi sat at home, speechless as the chief of the Beizhen Substation personally came to visit.

Not only did he present her with a banner issued by the Director of Beizhen Public Security Bureau himself, but she was also officially recognized as a model citizen of the city.

The inscription on the banner read: “A Heroine Among Women—Bravery Knows No Gender!”

The village loudspeakers even broadcast an announcement encouraging everyone to learn from Comrade Jing Xi.

Most importantly, she received a 300-yuan reward!

Three hundred yuan!

Holding the money and the banner, Jing Xi was at a loss for words.

All she could do was repeatedly say, “Thank you. It was my duty. I serve the people…”

Since no one was willing to hear her explanations, she had no choice but to accept it all.

Meanwhile—

Nearly a thousand kilometers away, in the Long family residence.

Long Yuezhi looked at the photo Xiao Jie had taken for him, revealing a dazzling smile.

In the photo, the girl held the banner, smiling brightly, yet with a hint of reluctance.

She looked happy, but deep down, doubts remained.

“How’s the investigation going?” he asked.

Yu Er hesitated for a moment. “Fourth Master, she’s so clean it’s unbelievable. She has no connection to the Xu family whatsoever.”

“Oh?”

Why did he feel like there was something fishy about this?

“Keep digging. Even if you have to search three feet underground, find out the truth.”