The same three police officers arrived again.
Seeing that it was Tian Jing who called the police again, the officer in charge inquired about the reason once more.
Tian Jing led them to the small Western-style building and found Chen Guangfu.
"Comrade Chen, I've already called the police. Where are the Xiao family members? You and your group have been accusing me of being involved in your son's disappearance, yet you haven't called the police. This is very suspicious."
"I've already called the police for you. Now, you can tell the police officers about your suspicions. I will cooperate with the investigation."
Tian Jing's actions made Chen Guangfu doubt himself. Could it not be Tian Jing?
However, his son indeed never returned after saying he was going to find Tian Jing.
Chen Guangfu's hesitation also made the police officers suspicious. "How long has your son been missing?"
"Four years and eleven months."
"Did you report it to the police?"
"No."
"Why didn't you report it?"
Chen Guangfu remained silent.
The police officer turned to Tian Jing. "Comrade Tian, since he hasn't reported it for so long, he won't report it this time either. Will you be the one to report this missing person case?"
"No!"
Before Tian Jing could refuse, Chen Guangfu objected. "I will make a call to report it right now, but not to the county police station."
The police officer agreed. "Then go ahead and make the call. We'll need to coordinate with the other party."
What was Chen Guangfu up to?
While Tian Jing was still confused, Chen Guangfu had already applied to Li Zhengguo to use the village committee's telephone.
He actually dialed the phone number of a high-ranking official in the province and reported the private treasury instructions passed down through the Chen family's ancestors.
He also mentioned that Chen Yaoshi's disappearance occurred during the time they were searching for the private treasury in the Kushan mountain range, and that he had met a villager named Tian Jing in the mountains.
Damn it!
This old man actually reported the private treasury?
Li Zhengguo glanced at his shocked wife and then cleared his throat. "Comrade Chen Guangfu, you need to have evidence for what you say. If you're unsure about the conditions for defamation, you can consult with the three police officers."
Chen Guangfu grinned. "I am merely stating the facts. I haven't definitively stated that Tian Jing is a suspect or has a motive. What are you so nervous about?"
"Why am I nervous?"
Li Zhengguo retorted, "The construction in the Kushan mountains is at a critical stage, and you're idle enough to come here and cause trouble."
"What were you doing before? I suspect you're doing this intentionally, intentionally disrupting our village's development."
"You must understand that Comrade Tian Jing is a key member of the seedling cultivation team. She doesn't have time to play games with you."
"Officers, I also need to make a phone call to find someone. Without proper assistance, the development of our village will be forced to halt."
"Spring plowing is coming soon. Any delay will cost us a season, or even a year."
"Our village's annual income is two to three million. We can't afford such delays."
The police officer, who was now reluctantly overseeing Tian Jing, nodded. "Go ahead and make your call. Do it in front of us."
"Thank you."
Li Zhengguo, of course, called County Magistrate Ji.
He reported the relationship between the Chen and Xiao families and Tian Jing, as well as the various conflicts involved, truthfully and objectively.
Finally, he mentioned that Chen Guangfu had reported the Chen family's private treasury to the province, and that Tian Jing was temporarily under guard.
Chen Guangfu's identity as a gang leader was kept a secret by Li Zhengguo and Tian Jing; even County Magistrate Ji was unaware of it.
"Don't worry, I'll report this immediately. No one will be allowed to obstruct the construction and development of our villages."
"I've been reporting your achievements from the past few years to higher authorities. They attach great importance to it and are waiting for your final push."
Li Zhengguo handed the phone to the police officer.
The police officer was bewildered, finding himself caught in the middle.
County Magistrate Ji naturally instructed the police officers not to detain Tian Jing too strictly.
Tian Jing had a significant responsibility and was an indispensable person in the development of Kshan mountains.
The police officer nodded in agreement.
Chen Guangfu frowned. He had played his last card, but he hadn't managed to get Tian Jing into trouble or stop the development of Kshan mountains.
He planned to call the provincial capital again, but Li Zhengguo kindly reminded him.
"It's useless. Do you think your Chen family's private treasury is valuable? Actually, the economic development of our Kshan mountains is far more valuable."
"Why was I able to secure a two-million-yuan interest-free loan? It's because my plan is a bold innovation in rural reform, a model that the county and province urgently need to establish."
"The Chen family's private treasury sounds ancient, so its contents must also be ancient. Therefore, they cannot be used to enrich the farmers, nor can they be promoted throughout the county and province."
"If the items are too valuable, the province will have to report them. This means that besides reputation, the province will gain nothing."
"On the other hand, the development of Kshan mountains has visible future potential. Who would risk their political career to disrupt the development of Kshan mountains?"
"Those in Kyoto who need to know about the development of Kshan mountains in the past few years already know."
"For whom are you acting as a pawn?"
Li Zhengguo's words made Chen Guangfu pause his hand hovering over the telephone.
"Alright, you have a point. Let's not fight amongst ourselves; let's fight for justice."
"My son said he came here to find the private treasury and to get something from Tian Jing, and then he disappeared."
"Tian Jing is the biggest suspect. Before, you said my not reporting it was suspicious because we wanted to keep the private treasury to ourselves."
"Now, there's no need for that. We'll wait for the provincial police to arrive. I want justice."
"Then let's wait."
Tian Jing agreed. "Don't be too subjective in your accusations. I also have reason to suspect that you and the Xiao family are framing me."
"I don't believe that Tian family members' arrival has nothing to do with the Xiao family. I also don't believe that your and Chen Yaoming's arrival has nothing to do with the Xiao family."
"I am also waiting for justice. You and Chen Yaoming repeatedly claim that I am your grandniece and daughter.
"The Xiao family also claims that I am their niece and grandniece. I just want to know what your purpose is in colluding to target me?"
"I suspect that I am not your relative, but an enemy who has dug up the graves of your ancestors."
"If this is how relatives treat each other, I would rather be an orphan."
Xiao Wei, who had been sitting quietly, looked displeased. "Jingjing, Chen Yaoming and I are still alive. It's impossible for you to become an orphan."
Tian Jing finally looked at Xiao Wei, who had been pretending to be deaf and mute. "You need evidence for what you say. If you can provide evidence that I am your daughter, then I will admit it. I don't believe in mere words."
"If I were just a weak and unremarkable ordinary village woman, would anyone come running to claim me?"
Tian Jing's words angered Xiao Wei. "As my own child, how could I possibly mistake you?"
"Heh." Tian Jing chuckled twice. "Excuse me, how old was I when you abandoned me? And how old was I when you returned from overseas?"
"Does a person's appearance remain unchanged from infancy to adulthood? So, in your memory, what did I look like?"
"According to your story, you left me with a peasant family named Tian when I was just a month old, and I lived through heavy farm work until I was eighteen."
"With such a upbringing, what right do you have to claim to be my biological parents?"
"Let alone the purpose behind your desire to acknowledge me, even if you just wanted me to interact with you as a normal relative, I would still be unwilling."
"Believe it or not, ask the police officers if you and Chen Yaoming still have the right to dictate my life."