Chapter 10: Suspected of a Crime, the Public Security Comes to Take Them Away

After speaking, Old Man Deng really was about to go pack up his things, but Jiang Tangtang quickly stopped him.

“No need to trouble yourself like that. Please don’t worry. This is your home—you and Xiao Ze don’t need to go anywhere. Just stay here and live peacefully.”

“I can guarantee, they absolutely won’t come looking for you.”

“Really?”

Old Man Deng hesitated, unwilling to take such a risky bet.

“When have I ever lied to you? Don’t worry. I can’t afford to stay here too long. You two get some rest. I’ll head off first.”

With full confidence, she reassured the grandfather and grandson before bidding them farewell and heading home.

After a busy day, the other family members had started to return one after another. Just as Jiang Tangtang reached the doorstep, she heard the voices of Lu Zhicai and Lu Yaozu inside.

At first, she felt irritated hearing them, but then she remembered what was about to happen and felt a strange sense of satisfaction. So, she entered the house as if nothing had happened.

As soon as she stepped inside, she could smell the aroma of freshly cooked food in the air. Seeing her return, Lu Zhicai immediately looked displeased.

“You should’ve stayed home. What are you doing running around outside? I’ve already told you—it’s not safe out there these days. You’re just a girl, don’t you care about yourself at all?”

Hearing this, Jiang Tangtang didn’t show the slightest bit of annoyance. Instead, she put on an obedient look and casually came up with an excuse.

“Dad, you’re right. I won’t do it again. I just stayed in bed all day and night, and my back started hurting, so I went out for a little walk.”

Seeing her behave so obediently, Lu Zhicai didn’t say anything further.

“Alright, let’s eat first. After dinner, go back upstairs and rest. Remember not to run around again.”

“Okay.”

While they were talking, Aunt Mei, the maid, had already finished setting the table and brought out all the dishes.

At the dinner table, everyone focused only on their own plates—no one cared about her at all.

This family sure could act. They clearly didn’t like her, but on the surface they pretended like everything was fine. Jiang Tangtang found it laughable.

But wasn’t she also putting on an act herself? Enduring the disgust, pretending like everything was peaceful and perfect.

Still, this kind of life wouldn’t last much longer. With a cold smile, she silently picked up her chopsticks and began eating.

Lu Zhicai liked this son of his, and had him sit next to him, even occasionally picking food for him.

This kind of treatment was something she and her twin sister had never received.

Just as they were eating, there was a loud knock at the door.

Knock knock knock.

The whole family was sitting inside. No one knew who it could be.

Hearing the knocking, Aunt Mei, who was already nearby, opened the door.

As soon as the door opened, she saw several stern-looking faces outside. She looked closely and realized she didn’t recognize any of them.

“Are you here to see someone, or did you come to the wrong place?”

The man in front didn’t answer her question. Instead, he adjusted his hat and directly asked:

“Is this the residence of Lu Zhicai and Bai Shuiniang?”

“Uh…”

Seeing their serious expressions, Aunt Mei was too nervous to answer. She looked awkwardly toward the family at the table, her hand still holding the door.

Hearing his name, Lu Zhicai didn’t know who was looking for him, but he still stood up and responded.

“I’m Lu Zhicai. What do you want?”

Once he confirmed his identity, the officers outside pushed the door open and walked past Aunt Mei into the house, standing in front of the whole family.

Seeing they were police officers, Lu Zhicai finally showed a trace of fear on his face.

He glanced at Lu Mianmian and stood up, clearly flustered.

Didn’t Mianmian say the investigation into the capitalist faction wouldn’t start for a few more days? Why were they here already?

Moreover, this wasn’t even the relevant authority for investigating capitalist ties. What on earth was going on?

Though nervous, he quickly put on a calm facade.

“Officers, what brings you here so late?”

The leading officer had no interest in small talk. He pulled out his badge and went straight to the point.

“Lu Zhicai, we’re officers from the Criminal Investigation Division of the Imperial City Public Security Bureau. Here is my badge. We are officially informing you today that you, Bai Shuiniang, and Lu Yaozu are suspected of serious criminal activity and are hereby summoned for investigation.”

“What? That’s impossible! Officer, you must be mistaken. Our family is clean—we couldn’t possibly be involved in any criminal activity!”

If there were any offenses, they were only related to political accusations like being a capitalist. But from what the officer said, this seemed like something completely different. Lu Zhicai looked confused and turned toward Lu Mianmian.

Didn’t she say they still had time to flee? Why had things suddenly gotten worse?

“That’s right! My mother hardly ever leaves the house—how could she be involved in a crime?”

Judging by the police’s tone, they were here specifically for the three of them. Lu Yaozu, being young and hot-blooded, couldn’t sit still.

“Yeah, officer, what exactly is going on?”

Lu Mianmian had never experienced anything like this in her past life either, so she was completely clueless.

“Sorry, unrelated parties—we cannot disclose anything further. Take them away.”

With that, the leading officer stepped aside, allowing the others to take out handcuffs and detain all three of them.

“Move!”

Lu Mianmian was still unwilling to give up and chased after the police.

“Officer! Are you sure you’ve got the right people?”

According to her logic, this should never have happened.

Why were her father, stepmother, and younger brother taken away, while she and her sister remained untouched?

But the officers didn’t care about their questions or pleading. Without a word, they took the three away.

Only Lu Mianmian was left standing there in the wind, bewildered.

Inside, Jiang Tangtang continued eating calmly, as if everything had gone exactly as she had expected.

When Lu Mianmian came back inside and saw Jiang Tangtang’s composed expression, it was hard not to grow suspicious.

“Mom, Dad, and my brother just got taken away, and you’re still sitting here eating?”

Finishing the last bite, Jiang Tangtang finally put on a slightly worried look.

“Sis, this has nothing to do with me. I haven’t had a full meal in a whole year. It’s been so long since I had something this delicious. You don’t blame me, do you?”

She blinked her big eyes, looking completely innocent.

Lu Mianmian looked at her and couldn’t help but think her sister was really dumb.

“Even if you had another brain, you wouldn’t be able to pull off something like this. Stop sitting there and help me think of a way! If Mom and Dad end up in prison, what are we going to do?!”

Seeing her sister panic, Jiang Tangtang quickly ran over and pretended to be frightened.

“Sis, what should we do? I’ve never been through something like this before. But the police did say they were reported by someone. Do you think someone might’ve falsely accused them to frame them?”

Seeing Jiang Tangtang’s helpless expression, all of Lu Mianmian’s suspicions faded.

Just now, a ridiculous idea had flashed through her mind:

Could Jiang Tangtang also have been reborn?

But if she really had been reborn, how could she still act like before—still this clueless? If she had really been reborn, knowing that she could end up in prison, she definitely wouldn’t have come back at all!