Chapter 75: Confrontation

Xu Jin became furious and immediately stood up. “Who are you calling a stupid bird?! You’re such a young girl, yet you have no manners when you speak!”

Jing Xi smirked. “You’re already so old, yet I haven’t seen you speak any better. Are you regressing as you age? Could it be true what they say—keeping a turtle in a jar, the longer you raise it, the more it shrinks?”

“You just called me a turtle!”

“I didn’t say that. I was just making a comparison.”

Xu Jin was so enraged that she turned directly to Long Yuezhi, her voice becoming sharp without her realizing it. “Long Yuezhi, look at this! What have you raised here? I swear, you’re doing this on purpose just to anger me!”

Her voice carried a slight sob as she stomped her foot twice in frustration, the sharp clack of her high heels echoing through the room. Then, she spun around and stormed toward the door.

When had she ever been humiliated like this?

Just as she reached the doorway, she turned back for one last glare at Jing Xi. “Don’t ever let me see you again!”

Jing Xi caught the fierce look Xu Jin shot her before leaving and knew she had just made an enemy.

But who told this woman to run her mouth like that? She needed some discipline—her words were just too harsh.

These high-society ladies weren’t exactly skilled in insults.

Jing Xi, on the other hand, had grown up in a village where she had heard all sorts of things. She could make someone cry without even using the worst words.

And this woman? She was nothing but pretentious and melodramatic.

Just looking at her was irritating.

Retracting her gaze from Xu Jin’s departing figure, Jing Xi turned back to find Long Yuezhi watching her with an amused smile in his eyes.

Oh? So he found this entertaining?

“Sorry about that, Fourth Master Long. I upset your esteemed guest. But I can’t help it—I speak my mind. If someone offends me, I have to strike back. You don’t mind, do you?”

Long Yuezhi nodded, then shook his head. “I don’t mind. But she does. You better be careful.”

Jing Xi remained unconcerned. “At worst, I just won’t come back here.”

If she really wanted to disappear, no one would be able to find her.

Besides, Xu Jin was just a spoiled, pretentious young lady.

It was just a verbal exchange.

It shouldn’t be a big deal, right?

Long Yuezhi glanced at Yu Er. “Arrange for her to go back. I’m tired. I’ll rest first.”

Jing Xi didn’t say anything else and followed Yu Er out of the courtyard.

As soon as they reached the entrance, she could hear Yu Er chuckling to himself.

She looked up at him, puzzled.

Yu Er grinned. “Today was really an eye-opener. This is the first time I’ve ever seen Miss Xu suffer a loss!”

Jing Xi raised an eyebrow. “Is it really that funny?”

“Absolutely! All these years, we’ve only seen her bullying others. This is the first time she’s been put in her place. You probably don’t understand how satisfying this is.”

Jing Xi: “……”

Alright, so Xu Jin’s family must have some influence.

That would explain why she was always lording over others.

Jing Xi suddenly felt she had been a little too reckless earlier.

What if Xu Jin was the vengeful type and decided to cause trouble for her all the way in Ji Province?

She should probably hurry home!

As always, Yu Er was highly efficient. He immediately arranged for her to board a train back to Ji Province.

Ah Jun accompanied her on the journey.

Yu Er even bought her plenty of snacks for the trip.

She had no luggage, but she had a whole bag of food.

They were assigned a sleeper cabin with a private compartment.

As soon as she got on the train, Jing Xi started eating.

Once she was full, she lay down and slept.

This was way more comfortable than the journey here!

After over thirty hours of travel, the train finally arrived in Ji Province.

As soon as she stepped off the train, she saw Xiao Jie waving at her from a distance.

Next to him was Liang Chen—

And even Liu Chun?!

Why was Liu Chun here?!

The moment she spotted him, Liu Chun also caught sight of her.

He rushed over and scrutinized her from head to toe.

“Comrade Xiao Jing, where the hell have you been? You disappeared for so many days! My parents, my sister, and I were all worried sick!”

Jing Xi patted her on the shoulder. “I’m really sorry, Liu Chun! How are Uncle and Auntie? I had my own difficulties and didn’t know how to tell you, but don’t worry, I’m perfectly fine. That fire didn’t so much as singe a single hair on me.”

Liu Chun replied, “My parents are doing okay, but they keep talking about you. When the police came to the village, they said you were still alive. Now, my parents are waiting for you at home! My mom said you should stay with my sister and me for now, and once your house is rebuilt, you can move back in.”

Jing Xi said, “Let’s talk when we get back. There are too many people here.”

Liu Chun nodded and pulled her into the car.

Jing Xi said goodbye to Liang Chen and Xiao Jie, and then they all headed toward Fucha Village in Beizhen.

By the time they arrived, it was already noon, and Jing Xi could smell the delicious aroma of home-cooked meals wafting from every household.

As the car drove into the Liu family’s alley, she saw Zhang Rui and Liu Jianchang waiting anxiously at the entrance.

Their faces were full of worry.

The moment they saw Jing Xi step out of the car, they finally relaxed.

“As long as you’re safe!”

“Auntie! Sorry to have made you worry!”

Thanks to Jing Xi’s presence, Xiao Jie and Liang Chen were also invited to stay for lunch.

It wasn’t their first time eating at the Liu family’s house, so they even helped out with some chores.

During the meal, no one asked Jing Xi the questions she had been dreading, which allowed her to enjoy a peaceful meal.

After lunch, Zhang Rui pulled her aside into the courtyard, away from everyone else.

As soon as they sat down, Zhang Rui lowered her voice and asked, “Xiao Jing, tell me the truth—why did you go to the Taihang Mountains?”

Jing Xi didn’t want to lie to Zhang Rui, but she had no choice. After thinking for a moment, she said, “Auntie, I think I was sleepwalking.”

“Sleepwalking?”

“Yeah! When I woke up, I was already on the mountain. I had no idea what had happened. Later, I found a local villager who helped me, and when I heard the news on the radio, I finally realized what was going on. Then, when I heard people talking about the murderer, I curiously glanced at the newspaper and realized I had seen him when I was coming down the mountain. That’s when I quickly contacted Xiao Jie and made a call.”

Zhang Rui didn’t fully understand but was willing to believe her. “I always said your house has bad feng shui, always causing trouble. Sleepwalking—this sounds like an illness. Do you need to go to the hospital for a check-up?”

Jing Xi shook her head. “It was my first time. It was probably just because I was shaken up by what happened with Zhou Wenwu. It shouldn’t be a big deal. I’ll just be more careful in the future.”

“Oh, Auntie, how’s the Zhou family doing?”

Zhang Rui sighed. “After your house caught fire, the police arrested Zhou Wenwu first. The next day, there was another murder. The victim was a young man who used to hang out with Zhou Shu. So, the police arrested Zhou Shu and the others. Then, that Meng guy ran away, and both the police and the military started searching the whole mountain for him but couldn’t find him. And then, you called and said you saw the murderer in the Taihang Mountains!”

Jing Xi had guessed as much.

“So that’s what happened. I still don’t understand why Meng Fanxin would set my house on fire. I had no grudge against him.”

Zhang Rui said bitterly, “It was Zhou Shu’s doing. Even if he refuses to admit it, who wouldn’t guess the truth? Meng Fanxin has already been caught! Hundreds of soldiers searched the mountains and found him in just one night! Now, it’s up to the police to interrogate him. There’s no way the Zhou family isn’t involved in this!”