Chapter 13

The young police officer sighed helplessly. “We’re not making baseless accusations. We’re just trying to talk to your family about the situation. It’s out of concern—we just want you to be more vigilant.”

Chi Yiyi seized the opportunity and stood up. “Dad, I lost 500 yuan last time, and the value of my missing clothes, bedding, and wardrobe adds up to quite a lot. I’m leaving for the countryside today, and if the police recover any of it, make sure you send the money to me.”

“You’re going to the countryside?!”

Chi Daqiang’s jaw practically dropped.

When Lin Ru and Chi Bilian heard that Chi Yiyi was voluntarily going to suffer in the countryside, they were overjoyed, smiles nearly curling up to their ears.

Chi Yiyi nodded firmly.

Chi Daqiang was speechless at his daughter’s decision, but he had no intention of stopping her. In his household, there was no place for the useless.

Since Chi Yiyi was being stubborn and refused to forgive Zhou Zixiao, her leaving would allow him to marry his younger daughter into the Zhou family instead. She was obedient and smart, a far better match.

Lin Ru was over the moon. She suddenly became unusually enthusiastic. “Yiyi, as your family, we respect your decision. If you’re really set on going, then hurry before you miss the train arranged by the educated youth office.”

Suddenly, Chi Daqiang seemed to remember something and rushed out of the house.

Back inside, Chi Junshu finally reacted and asked hesitantly, “Sis, are you really leaving?”

A sarcastic smile tugged at Chi Yiyi’s lips. “Yes, I’m going to the countryside. You stay here and live well with Dad and Lin Auntie.”

Over the years, Chi Yiyi had foolishly sacrificed a lot for this younger brother—fighting for food under Lin Ru’s exploitation and doing everything she could to provide resources for him. In the end, he wasn’t even her biological brother, and worse yet, he was an ungrateful little ingrate.

Disgusting.

This time around, Chi Yiyi only wanted to live for herself. After two years in the countryside, she would take the college entrance exam and head to Beicheng University. She was going to live a better life—no matter what.

Suddenly, Chi Junshu seemed to remember something crucial. “Sis, does Brother Zixiao know you’re leaving for the countryside?”

Chi Yiyi’s head throbbed—she just wanted to go to the countryside and live a peaceful life.

Hearing this, Lin Ru looked like she had seen a ghost. She slammed her hand on the table and yelled, “Chi Junshu, you little brat! Look at our family’s situation—if you run out now and bring the Zhou family over, your dad will break your legs!”

Chi Junshu, still only wearing a pair of boxer shorts, suddenly mustered the courage to bolt out the door.

Whether it was for his sister’s happiness or his own future, he had to take the risk.

Chi Yiyi felt completely speechless. She knew she had to escape quickly.

“Thank you for your help, officers. If you manage to solve the case and catch the thief, please let me know. I lost hundreds of yuan too.”

After saying that, Chi Yiyi ran off.

Chi Bilian stared after her suspiciously. She noticed that Chi Yiyi didn’t seem to be acting—she was genuinely trying to avoid Zhou Zixiao.

“Chi Yiyi, come back here right now!” Lin Ru was like an ant on a hot pan. She was terrified that Chi Yiyi would meet Zhou Zixiao alone—if she stayed at home, at least she and her daughter could play the role of spoilers.

Chi Bilian grabbed Lin Ru’s arm. “Mom, don’t worry.”

Lin Ru panicked. “How can I not? The two of them grew up together—what if Chi Yiyi said she was going to the countryside just to provoke Zixiao?”

Chi Bilian sneered. “If big sister really is playing games like that, then not only will we look down on her, so will the Zhou family. Brother Zixiao will just find her even easier to manipulate.”

On the other hand, if Chi Yiyi really was stupid enough to go to the countryside, then it would be a godsend. Chi Bilian knew that Zhou Zixiao, as a pampered rich boy, would never suffer just to chase a woman.

Lin Ru suddenly saw the logic. She grinned. “You’re right!”

She had always found Chi Yiyi slippery and hard to manipulate. Who would’ve thought that one heartbreak could make her so dumb?

The two police officers looked at the two scheming women with sharp, knowing eyes. The young officer’s expression had already turned to open disdain.

“Comrade Lin Ru, please cooperate with our investigation. We still need to ask you about your youngest son, Chi Junjie.”

“You’re seriously suspecting our Junjie?” Lin Ru gasped.

Just as Chi Daqiang came back from the neighborhood committee office, he heard this. After a moment of hesitation, he decided to sign his troublesome youngest son up for the countryside too.

Chi Yiyi was desperate to leave now. She wanted nothing more to do with the annoying Zhou Zixiao.

But the train arranged by the educated youth office wouldn’t depart until that evening.

She had enough food and her luggage stored inside her space, but she knew that when she got to the countryside, she couldn’t let others see her pull supplies out of nowhere. So she decided to buy a woven tote bag that could hold items transferred from her space without arousing suspicion.

When Chi Yiyi arrived at the state-run store, she happened to stumble upon a batch of cotton quilts. Knowing how harsh the winters were up north, she figured a quilt would be perfect—not only practical, but it would also help puff up her bag to make it look full.

She didn’t have a cotton coupon, but she had connections—she could just pay a bit extra.

However, Xiao Hong said, “Yiyi, I really can’t help you today. These quilts aren’t for us regular folks. They’re military supplies. I heard that down south there’s going to be another war, and these quilts were requisitioned from our warehouse by the higher-ups.”

Chi Yiyi suddenly remembered—yes, things had been unstable down south the past couple of years, and war was indeed brewing. She wouldn’t compete with soldiers for supplies meant for the front lines.

With no choice, she picked up other items in the store to stuff into her bag.

But of course—just as she walked out of the store, she ran right into Zhou Zixiao.

Chi Junshu had already put on clothes—Zhou Zixiao’s clothes—and he was thrilled about it.

“Sis, I talked to Brother Zixiao. Something as big as going to the countryside—you didn’t even consult him? That’s not right.”

Chi Junshu had obviously accepted benefits from Zhou Zixiao—his loyalty was now squarely with him.

Chi Yiyi was thoroughly disgusted. She remembered how, in her past life, Chi Junshu always stood on Zhou Zixiao’s side, telling her what she should and shouldn’t do. Thinking back, it still made her heart ache.

That little traitor.

Even though they weren’t biologically related, Chi Yiyi had always treated him like her real brother in her past life.

In the end, she was the only one bleeding from the wounds—because she cared about family, while they only saw her as a walking ATM.