Chapter 24

The police, following the lead provided by Qin Yan, brought Liu Jinyun to the station for questioning. Ordinary people usually felt frightened in a police station, especially when the topic was human trafficking. Liu Jinyun was both shocked and angry.

“Who’s spreading rumors and giving false information? Even if I’m not Jiang Ruan’s biological mother, I wouldn’t go as far as getting human traffickers to abduct her. I’m not that heartless, Officer. Ordinary people like us are already trying to avoid human traffickers; where would we even find them? Isn’t that right?”

However, there were indeed some suspicious points about her. The criminal investigator questioning her said, “Huang Grandma from your courtyard mentioned that yesterday you prepared a rare birthday celebration for Jiang Ruan, but she didn’t eat anything and even said that you were trying to harm her. What’s that about?”

Nearby, Jiang Jianchun was filled with regret. Jiang Ruan was considered a jinx, and being kind to a jinx could bring misfortune upon oneself.

She quickly explained, “Officer, this is a misunderstanding. My younger sister has had mental issues since childhood, and she even hijacked a driver at the bus station. I’ve always suspected she has a mental illness, so we can’t judge her actions by the standards of normal people.”

Liu Jinyun chimed in, trying to distance herself from the situation. “Yes, I’ve heard that mental illnesses can have a latent phase, and something must have triggered her, causing her to suddenly act out and take a hostage. Once she’s found, we plan to send her to a psychiatric hospital.”

Jiang Jianchun suddenly had a revelation. Why bother sending Jiang Ruan away when they could simply commit her to a psychiatric institution?

With Liao Chunxing’s connections and the hostage situation at the bus station, they would surely be able to get Jiang Ruan admitted.

“Yes, Officer, I can vouch for it. My sister does have a mental illness.”

In those days, an ordinary person being questioned at a police station was considered a serious matter. Jiang Ruan’s father, older brother, and sister-in-law all rushed over. After Liu Jinyun and Jiang Jianchun finished their questioning, they came out to vent their grievances to the family.

“Jiang Ruan lost her mind and hijacked a driver at the bus station, and she’s still missing. Old Jiang, once we find her, we absolutely have to send her to a psychiatric hospital.”

Jiang Baomin was taken aback. “Ruan Ruan has a mental illness? That… that’s impossible!”

Although she might be a bit slow-witted, that didn’t make her mentally ill.

Jiang Jianchun said, “Mental illnesses can have latent phases, Dad. She’s having an episode now. This time, we must send her for treatment. There’s no other choice.”

The sister-in-law, who was doubtful, thought that Ruan Ruan didn’t seem like someone with a mental illness. Last night, she had overheard Jianchun and her mother’s conversation in the kitchen, with Jianchun saying something that made it sound like she anticipated Ruan Ruan’s disappearance. Then, six human traffickers were caught outside the house. Good heavens, the news had frightened her so much she clung to her son in fear.

Now, they were claiming Ruan Ruan had a mental illness. What was really going on?

The sister-in-law’s troubled expression did not escape the detective’s notice. He asked, “Do you have any information to share?”

“N-no,” she stammered, then changed her mind. “But I don’t think Ruan Ruan has a mental illness. Dad, don’t you agree?”

Jiang Baomin spoke up to the police, “My daughter might be a bit slow, but to say she suddenly had an episode and hurt someone… I don’t believe it. Officer, let’s wait until Ruan Ruan is back and have her undergo an evaluation.”

“What evaluation? If she’s not mentally ill, then why would she hijack a driver? How could a normal person do that?”

At that moment, the city bureau received a call saying the hijacked driver had returned and was heading to the station to provide an account of the situation.

…

Old Du, the “hijacked” driver, had taken the bus full of injured passengers to the nearest county hospital and then rushed back to Beijing.

When he heard that kind-hearted Jiang Ruan was being accused of having a mental illness by her own family, he was so furious that his eyes turned red, and he nearly shed tears.

“What kind of family is this? Without understanding the facts, they accuse their own daughter of being mentally ill and a criminal. I’m starting to wonder if she’s actually your enemy’s child, swapped into your family to be tormented!”

“Stop spreading lies! She hijacked you, didn’t she? Then why are you defending her?” Jiang Jianchun felt more uneasy and couldn’t understand.

Old Du scoffed repeatedly, “She’s wise beyond her years. In that emergency situation, explaining would have wasted precious time for rescuing people. If she lost track of the traffickers, how could she have saved anyone? Let me tell you, because of her quick thinking, we followed the traffickers and she saved fifteen people. I won’t allow you to call her mentally ill.”

The remaining fifteen passengers on the bus were also heading back to Beijing, and two with minor injuries had come with the driver to report the situation. Hearing this, they were equally outraged.

They described how Jiang Ruan had risked her life, climbing up the rope and carrying passengers one by one to safety. If not for her strength, speed, and agility, the people in the bus wouldn’t have had enough time to climb out, especially the seriously injured who couldn’t climb on their own.

“To think that her own mother and sister could be so prejudiced, to the point of assuming she’s mentally ill. What kind of malice and resentment could lead them to such a conclusion?”

“How could such a good girl end up with a mother and sister like that?”

One person even sarcastically addressed Jiang Baomin, “Maybe your wife is up to something behind your back. Human traffickers are heartless, and your family has a young grandson. Six traffickers, you know. Aren’t you worried that when they tried to kidnap Jiang Ruan, they might have taken your grandson too? Don’t think there won’t be consequences.”

The sister-in-law broke into a cold sweat. That’s right—why were there six burly men targeting her sister-in-law? Maybe her elder sister-in-law really had done something shady.

She had a child and was fearful of retribution.

She immediately spoke up, “Officer, I have some information.”

The criminal investigator’s eyes lit up. “Go ahead.”

The sister-in-law, Yang Xinyi, reported, “After my sister-in-law left last night, I went into the kitchen to help and overheard my elder sister-in-law saying, ‘Mom, I really regret celebrating her birthday. If she suddenly disappears later, won’t the police suspect our strange behavior?’ I remember every word clearly.”

Jiang Jianchun, feeling guilty, questioned her angrily, “Sister-in-law, why are you telling the police everything I said? What’s your motive?”

Liu Jinyun immediately slapped her eldest daughter-in-law. “How could you harm Jianchun like this?”

Yang Xinyi felt aggrieved. “Mom, there were six human traffickers outside last night. You have a grandson, and I have a son. If you’re not afraid, I am!”

“Even if there were traffickers, it was Jiang Ruan, the jinx, who brought them here.”

“Enough! This is the police station. Stop arguing here!”

Jiang Baomin wasn’t a fool. Piecing together his wife’s attitude, Jianchun’s unusual behavior, and the human traffickers outside the previous night, he realized that if the traffickers hadn’t been accidentally caught by the police, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

He slapped Jiang Jianchun across the face. “I don’t care what you and your mother are up to, but if you bring trouble to this family, I will divorce your mother and cut all ties with you!”

…

Yang Xinyi’s statement couldn’t directly prove that Jiang Jianchun was connected to the traffickers, but Qin Yan knew there was indeed a connection.

Qin Yan had spent the entire morning waiting for news outside the police station. When he saw Jiang Ruan’s parents being brought in, he went inside to find out more. He was furious to learn that her mother and sister were trying to label her as mentally ill.

Jiang Jianchun had been at the bus station the previous day and had coincidentally run into Jiang Ruan. There might have been staff at the bus station who saw her, but Qin Yan didn’t disclose this lead to the police.

Firstly, Jiang Ruan hadn’t been found yet, so there wasn’t a direct witness. Secondly, Qin Yan didn’t want Jiang Jianchun to be arrested just yet; that would be letting her off too easily.

He wanted her to suffer, to regret with the deepest pain.

Qin Yan turned to his father and said, “Dad, take me to the antique shop.”

His father, Qin Zhengqing, suspected that this wasn’t just about business. Qin Yan and their young nanny had been keeping secrets from the family. With Jiang Ruan missing, he was extremely worried. “Qin Yan, if you have any leads, tell the police. Don’t handle this your own way.”

“Dad!” Qin Yan’s voice rose. “I’m an adult now. I know what I’m doing.”

Qin Zhengqing had no choice but to take his son to the antique shop.

The shop was co-owned by Qin Yan and his childhood friend, Liang Yong. Qin Yan told Liang Yong about the situation at the nanny’s home, saying, “Her sister and mother want her to disappear. I suspect she’s not actually their biological daughter, which is why Jiang Jianchun feels no need to treat her with any kindness.”

Hearing some of the details, Liang Yong was already furious and assured Qin Yan, “Don’t worry, Yan. I’ll handle this matter flawlessly.”

…

After returning home, Jiang Jianchun’s mother-in-law and husband were concerned about her family’s situation. They asked, “What’s happening with your little sister? Did the police say anything? When will she be found?”

Jiang Jianchun didn’t want to discuss it. “I don’t know. Stop digging around. The police will let us know when they have answers.”

In her heart, she thought it would be better if her sister was never found. As long as the police couldn’t solve the case, they wouldn’t be able to trace it back to Liao Chunxing. If he were caught, who knew if he would reveal their illicit affair or spill the truth about the nanny’s identity?

Her husband added, “By the way, Director Liao from your office called me and said he urgently needs to speak with you. He asked you to go to his house. Why can’t he wait until tomorrow at work? Why does it have to be at his house?”

Jiang Jianchun guessed that Liao Chunxing wanted to discuss the case. She replied, “His wife and children are at home, so what could possibly happen? If there was something really serious, he wouldn’t ask me to come to his house. If you’re so worried, how about I just quit my job?”

Her husband quickly responded, “I was just asking. Go ahead. Will you be home for dinner tonight?”

“No, I still need to stop by my parents’ place.”

Not long after Jiang Jianchun left, someone used a slingshot to break one of their windows. Her husband cursed and ran downstairs to chase the culprit, but couldn’t catch them. When he came back, his mother was holding a rock and a piece of paper. She said, “Look, there’s writing on the paper that was wrapped around this rock. Maybe it’s a clue about Jianchun’s sister.”

He didn’t waste any time. He grabbed the paper and, upon reading it, his face turned purple with rage. His hands trembled as he crumpled the paper and stormed out of the house, furiously pedaling his bicycle toward Liao Chunxing’s home.

The note accused his wife of having an affair with her boss for a long time and suggested that even the child she was carrying wasn’t his. It questioned why she had falsified the dates of her pregnancy and suggested that if he didn’t believe it, he should either switch hospitals for a proper examination or head over right now and catch them in the act.