Chapter 6: The Money’s Gone  

Even more distressed than Qiao Muting were Qian Jiangang and Qin Hongxiang.  

In this era, news didn’t spread as quickly. However, when the police arrived at the scrapyard to investigate stolen goods, Pang Lao Wang and Qin Hongxiang were caught red-handed—jumping around on the bed together.  

Pang Lao Wang was arrested for aiding in the disposal of stolen goods, while Qin Hongxiang was detained for the “crime of corrupting social morals.”  

The news spread like wildfire, reaching every corner of the Family Compound by early morning.  

Upon hearing the news, Qian Jiangang swiftly called Qian Dong and rushed to the police station.  

“If she cooperates, confesses clearly, and the family pays the fine, then the crime of corrupting social morals will only result in up to 15 days of detention,” the young officer explained sternly, going through the regulations one by one for Qian Jiangang and his son. “But if she refuses to cooperate, or if it’s discovered that she was also involved in disposing of stolen goods, then she won’t be coming home anytime soon.”  

“What? How could it be this serious? Officer, my mother has been a widow for years, and Lao Wang is single too. They were just… mutually attracted. Isn’t this just an overly passionate romance?”  

Though embarrassed to bring it up, Qian Dong had no choice but to speak up for his mother.  

“Mutually attracted? Wang Dahai has a wife back in his hometown—and two kids!” The officer slammed the rulebook onto the table. “Let me tell you, their sneaking around has been going on for a long time. If we’re not careful, she could be charged with hooliganism—and that’s punishable by execution.”  

“My advice? Stop making excuses. Go talk to them, get them to confess honestly, and seek leniency. That’s the best strategy.”  

Every word pierced Qian Jiangang’s ears like a knife.  

The sister-in-law he had always defended actually had a secret lover—and not just for a day or two.  

As they passed the cell holding Pang Lao Wang, Qian Dong glanced inside and locked eyes with the man.  

That single glance shattered him.  

It had to be said—Pang Lao Wang’s genes were strong.  

Qian Xiaozhen’s round face and bulbous nose finally had an explanation.  

Qian Dong quickly blocked Qian Jiangang’s line of sight, discreetly observing his uncle’s reaction. Seeing no change in his expression, he finally relaxed.  

Soon, they reached Qin Hongxiang’s cell.  

“Mom, are you okay?!”  

Qin Hongxiang’s hair was a tangled mess, and she was only wearing the sleeveless undershirt and shorts she had slept in.  

Qian Dong couldn’t bear to look. The thought of his mother being dragged out of bed with Pang Lao Wang made him wish he could vanish into the ground.  

“What have you done? How are your son and daughter supposed to hold their heads up after this?” Qian Dong cried out in anguish.  

Qin Hongxiang, too ashamed to face her son, turned her anger on Qian Jiangang the moment she saw him.  

“Brother-in-law, here to laugh at me, are you? Why bring the kid along? Haven’t I suffered enough?”  

“It’s all your fault! If it weren’t for saving you, his father wouldn’t have died!”  

“If he hadn’t died, why would I have gone to Pang Lao Wang? What did I see in him? His looks? His charm?”  

“Now those two worthless girls of yours must be thrilled, huh?”  

“Watching me fall, thinking everything in the Qian family will be yours now, right?”  

“Well, I’ve got news for you—not a chance! I’ll be out soon!”  

“None of you will get to laugh at me!”  

Qian Jiangang endured her endless curses, shaking his head with a pained expression.  

If it had been Qian Lai and her daughter, he would’ve slapped them without hesitation.  

But this was his sister-in-law. The woman he respected, indulged, and never dared to offend.

“Mom, stop scolding. Think about what else you can confess to get leniency!”  

Qian Dong clutched his head in frustration and crouched down. His mother had completely humiliated him.  

The woman could no longer act high and mighty. Realizing that she might need to rely on this brother-in-law to get out early, her tone softened: “Jiangang, you can’t just leave me to die. I just wanted… wanted someone to rely on… I never thought… *sob*… my life is so miserable!”  

“Sister-in-law, all these years, I’ve tried my best to make up for what you and the kids lacked, to ensure you had food, clothes, and security. But this… why go this far?”  

Qian Jiangang had never once gone against Qin Hongxiang’s wishes before. This was the first time he dared to voice a complaint.  

Just then, Qian Xiaozhen’s shrill voice suddenly rang out from outside, growing louder as she approached: “Mom, it’s bad! The stuff is gone. All of it!”  

She didn’t even wait for the police to escort her to the detention cell, barging in like a headless fly.  

She didn’t even glance at Qian Jiangang or Qian Dong, rushing straight to Qin Hongxiang: “Mom, the cellar… everything in the cellar is gone. Only an empty box is left.”  

“What!? Impossible! I put it there myself yesterday! Who the hell stole it!?” Qin Hongxiang broke down in tears.  

The officer who had chased after Qian Xiaozhen caught the crucial detail: “What’s missing? If you’re deliberately hiding stolen goods or ill-gotten gains, that’s an additional crime!”  

“No, no! It’s the savings I worked hard for twenty years to save! How could it be gone?… Oh god, I can’t go on! Did you really look properly?”  

Of course, Qian Xiaozhen had searched thoroughly—she had practically torn the cellar apart.  

Qiang Hongxiang had told her long ago that if anything ever happened to her or if they urgently needed money, she should go to Old Wang at the scrap yard. In his cellar, she had stashed away her life’s savings.  

So, the moment she heard Qin Hongxiang and Pang Lao Wang had both been arrested, she rushed straight to the scrap yard’s cellar.  

When she saw the wooden box still intact inside the vat, she had sighed in relief. But upon opening it, she found nothing inside. She frantically searched every corner but found nothing of value.  

“Officer, I want to report a theft! My money is missing!” Qin Hongxiang’s mind was in chaos as she desperately called out to the police through the bars.  

“What money? How much? Where was it kept? Who can prove it was your savings and not Wang Dahai’s laundered money? Who can confirm you put it there?”  

Under the barrage of questions, Qin Hongxiang was dumbstruck.  

There was no way to explain it clearly. That money was probably gone for good.  

Qian Jiangang watched Qin Hongxiang beating her chest in despair and tried to console her: “Alright, sister-in-law. Focus on how to get out first. Money is just worldly possessions. As long as you’re safe, you can earn it back.”  

“Bah! Qian Jiangang, it’s not your money, so of course you’d say that. Over a thousand yuan! And…” She suddenly stopped, wiping her tears. “Unless… you find a way to compensate me…”  

“How could I have that much money?” Qian Jiangang couldn’t believe his ears.  

“You do. Laidi has it… the betrothal gifts and dowry money—she has over thirteen hundred yuan!”  

“Sister-in-law!”  

This time, he was truly angry.

Qin Hongxiang was really pushing herself to kick an iron plate!

She knew full well that once she’d given all the money to Qian Lai in front of the leaders and the public, how could she possibly get it back?

In that instant, she felt like not a single person in this world truly cared for her—everyone just saw her as a “pawn” in their domestic power struggles.

Hmph!

She turned and stormed out of the police station with a dark expression.

Qian Dong chased after his uncle all the way back to the Family Compound, greeting familiar faces along the way.

“Old Qian, did you hear? Last night, some escaped convicts were caught by the police in the abandoned workshop behind us. Rumor has it they’d been living there for quite a while.”

“Yeah! Talk about reckless desperadoes. What decent person would dare go near that place?”

“I heard they seized quite a few treasures on the spot!”

The more Qian Jiangang heard, the more uneasy he became. Oh no!

He slapped his thigh and bolted toward the abandoned workshop like a rocket.

Meanwhile, Liu Huiru headed straight to the hospital after work, beaming with joy.

“Lai Lai, Lai Lai, guess what…” In one breath, she recounted everything she’d heard that day about Qin Hongxiang and Pang Lao Wang. It felt like years of pent-up resentment had finally been released.

“Truly, evil begets evil. The timing couldn’t have been better. Now let’s see if that foolish father of yours still favors the main family. Who knows? Maybe all the money he’s been squeezing from our household these years ended up lining Pang Lao Wang’s pockets through Qin Hongxiang.”

At this thought, a shadow of worry crossed her face again.

Qian Lai, however, was secretly delighted. Today, she’d taken stock of yesterday’s entire haul.

One priceless gemstone.

Over 1,300 yuan in cash from Qin Hongxiang’s box, plus ten jin of grain coupons, five jin of oil coupons, a Shanghai-brand wristwatch, and an emerald necklace—likely gifts from Pang Lao Wang.

And those silver bracelets Liu Huiru had turned the house upside down searching for two years ago? Turns out they’d been stolen by Qin Hongxiang.

As for the two packages Qian Jiangang had hidden away, the contents were even more impressive.

3,500 yuan in cash, ten small gold bars, an old English pocket watch, and various gold and silver jewelry.

These were ill-gotten gains Qian Jiangang had seized from the Old Factory Director’s family during his tenure as chairman of the reform committee.

The Old Factory Director and his wife, battered by the sweeping reforms, had been sent to the countryside while ill and passed away soon after.

Their only son had long since gone abroad, and his whereabouts remained unknown to this day.

“Mom, something even better is coming in a few days,” Qian Lai said with a smile, squeezing Liu Huiru’s hand.

“Really? What is it?”

“Knock knock knock…” Before she could answer, urgent knocking sounded at the door.