Chapter 251 Han Yuyan's Cautious Approach
Ye Mama knew the severity of public opinion in this era; one wrong move could lead to arrest. Gong Suo'er, that little girl, was aiming for a kill.
"Let's go find my sisters-in-law. This matter isn't over. You go inform Zi Yisheng and tell him we're going to make a big deal out of this. Don't blame us for not respecting the team leader anymore."
Aunt Zhen nodded and turned to find the others, as she was also ready to join the fray.
Under the spread of gossip from the "gossip squad," the village's attention was quickly diverted from the murder case.
Zi Yisheng, upon hearing from Aunt Zhen, didn't pay much mind. Women's matters should be settled by women. As for offending the team leader, if he was a muddled fool, they could just replace him.
"Tell Aunt Bai to do as she pleases. Just make sure she doesn't get too upset."
Ji Meihuan, the eldest daughter-in-law of the team leader's family, had barely made a full round of the village before she ran home, her face flushed and her voice hoarse. However, she still had enough sense not to rush straight to her mother-in-law.
Ji Meihuan barged into her own room and grabbed Gong Mingde, not caring if he was asleep.
"Still sleeping? Why don't you just sleep forever!"
Gong Mingde was quite fond of his wife. He didn't get angry when she yanked his ear and pulled him up, instead putting on a fawning expression.
"What's wrong, wife? Just tell me who made you angry, and I'll take care of them."
Ji Meihuan gave her disreputable husband a disdainful look. He was such a coward.
"Sure, go beat up your shameless sister then."
Gong Mingde frowned. He doted on his wife, but he wouldn't tolerate someone cursing his sister without reason.
"How did Suo'er upset you? You're speaking too harshly."
Ji Meihuan's face immediately changed. She had already lost so much face because of this sister-in-law, and she still wasn't allowed to speak her mind? She unleashed a barrage of criticism, venting all that she had learned that day and her inner displeasure.
After she finished, the room fell silent. Gong Mingde's expression also turned grim, and he felt a pang of guilt towards his wife. He understood that his wife was angry because she couldn't vent her frustrations on her mother-in-law or sister-in-law.
"Alright, don't be angry. When my father comes back, I'll talk to him. Gong Suo'er has truly been spoiled by her mother."
"Hmph, so you finally admit she's spoiled? She's practically walking on air, not even considering her own standing and shamelessly embarrassing herself. I'm telling you, Gong Mingde, you have daughters yourself. I absolutely will not tolerate your sister ruining the family's reputation."
Ye Mama rushed back to the Bai family's home and pulled several sisters-in-law together for a meeting. Ye Shenge also emerged from her grandmother's room. She had initially wanted to eavesdrop on some gossip, but unexpectedly, it turned out to be about her.
Ye Shenge stroked her chin with a wicked grin. How come she felt like she could join in?
Meanwhile, the excitement in the village was a stark contrast to the tense atmosphere at the Public Security Bureau. Especially for Han Yuyan, the investigators were not following his lead at all.
"A button needs to be investigated, but we can't ignore the victim themselves."
Since arriving at the Public Security Bureau, Han Yuyan had handled two cases: a murder case and the incident where Zhi Zhi was injured. Both were related to the Bai Rong Brigade. However, things were not unfolding as he had envisioned.
That night, lying in the single dormitory, Han Yuyan thought of Ye Shenge again. When he left Qi City before, he had considered giving up this unrequited love. But seeing Ye Shenge again, he knew clearly that he couldn't let go, nor was he willing to.
He rolled over, got up, and walked out under the cover of night. He hid in the darkness and approached a courtyard. After looking around outside, he unlocked the door and went in.
What Han Yuyan didn't know was that the moment he entered and closed the door, someone with a scar on their face that was even more terrifying in the moonlight appeared.
Gong Wentao lightly leaped into the courtyard, landing without a sound. He hugged the wall and crouched under the lit window.
"Drip, drip, drip."
The beeping sound continued incessantly. Gong Wentao was patient and only waited until an hour later when Han Yuyan left.
After Han Yuyan left, Gong Wentao, without using a light, fumbled his way to pry open the room's lock. Just as he pulled a flashlight from his waist, he heard voices outside the door.
He quickly went out and locked the door, then flipped over the side courtyard wall and escaped, lying in wait near the main gate.
It seemed this Han Yuyan was more cautious than he had imagined, making a surprise return.
Han Yuyan circled the yard with his flashlight, and upon seeing no abnormalities, he relaxed.
This Han Yuyan was nothing like the person Ye Mu'en remembered. In the past, Han Yuyan was carefree and completely lacked such caution. If Ye Mu'en saw this scene today, she would surely feel that she had never truly understood him.
The undercurrents in the county town were not as lively as those in the village. Not only was the team leader's family in an uproar, but the educated youth point was also in chaos.
This was because when the team leader went to the Educated Youth Office to explain the situation, he was questioned about leaving Zhi Zhi in the hospital without anyone to care for her.
After Leader He contacted Wang Zhenli's family, they heard about the exorbitant sum of over three hundred yuan and immediately declared they had severed ties with Wang Zhenli. They wanted no money, only her.
This infuriated Leader He, and the team leader had just run into trouble.
The team leader first went to Wang Zhenli and, through threats and reprimands, took away the dozens of yuan she had borrowed.
He then went to the educated youth dormitory, vented his anger, and threw the money down before leaving. He passed the problem onto the new captain, Zhang Aiguo, making Zhang Aiguo feel for the second time that being a captain was not easy.
That day, when Wang Zhenli's incident revealed Zhao Ling's unsavory behavior, everyone kept quiet about it when they returned, wanting to conceal it lest Zhi Zhi's reputation be tarnished.
However, the atmosphere in the educated youth dormitory continued to deteriorate. It was already a tinderbox, and now they had to face the issue of caring for someone.
"Let me state clearly, I will not go to take care of Wang Zhenli."
Zhao Zhenzhen was the first to draw a line. She had already gotten her money back, and she had no intention of getting involved in more trouble. Wang Zhenli was simply a major problem.
If Zhao Zhenzhen disagreed, then Gao Jiaojiao certainly wouldn't agree either. She didn't lack money and certainly wouldn't take care of anyone.
Liu Dandan and Shang Wenqi also refused. Although they weren't as wealthy as Gao Jiaojiao, they weren't short of money either, and there was no need for them to eagerly serve someone.
This left only Zhao Ling. Zhang Aiguo also found Zhao Ling disgusting, but now he had no choice but to speak.
"Comrade Zhao Ling, would you be willing to take care of Comrade Wang Zhenli? The fee is fifty cents per day, and her food and drink will be provided by Wang Zhenli."
In truth, Zhao Ling was also unwilling. She had reached this point because she lacked money and was lazy. She would rather seek out Ji Mingliang, that scoundrel, and be taken advantage of for some benefit than to suffer the hardship of caring for someone.
"I'm not feeling well. I'm afraid I won't be able to take care of people properly, so I won't go."
"Heh, you're not feeling well? Could it be you're tired from all your 'wild' activities outside?"
Liu Dandan never missed an opportunity to attack Zhao Ling. Besides, wasn't she telling the truth?
Zhang Aiguo's scalp tingled whenever he heard Liu Dandan speak. This person's tongue was too sharp; the moment she opened her mouth, she could escalate matters.