Chapter 62: Examination

When Lu Yan saw that the whole family was there, he pulled out a chair and sat down. He glanced at Qian Guihua and her husband, “How’s the packing going? If you’re not planning to leave in the next couple of days, then wait for Chen Haixia and go back together with her.”

“What?” Lu Tiesheng didn’t understand what his son meant. “Chen Haixia is going back too?”

Qian Guihua’s expression also changed. “Yan, we made our conditions clear to your leaders. As long as we’re not forced to return to the village and they keep giving us eighty yuan a month, we’ll go to the newspaper office and clear your name.”

Lu Fan nodded in agreement, and Lu Caiqing stood at the back, not daring to look at Lu Yan at all.

Lu Yan smiled, “No need to clear anything. I’ve already instructed my workplace to apply for an investigation into Chen Haixia. I intend to bring legal action against her for inciting you to deliberately slander my reputation.”

“What?” The words struck Lu Tiesheng like thunder. He was a farmer, clever as he might be, but when it came to lawsuits and investigations, he understood nothing—just that it sounded very serious. He panicked at once. If things really went this way, wouldn’t the Chen family tear their own family apart when they got back to the village?

“No! No! She has nothing to do with it.” Lu Tiesheng hurriedly denied.

Lu Yan nodded, “It doesn’t matter if you deny it. We’ve already collected evidence. I’ve said what needed to be said. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going.”

As soon as Lu Yan left, Qian Guihua grew anxious and turned to her husband, “What should we do? That ungrateful wretch is so determined to send us back to the countryside, he doesn’t even care about his own reputation anymore.”

Lu Tiesheng was at a loss too. “How am I supposed to know what to do? Let’s hurry and talk to Haixia.”

The couple hastily changed their clothes and rushed to Chen Haixia’s quarters.

Several staff members, who had been hiding behind the house, exchanged glances with complex expressions. “You were right after all. Let’s follow them and catch them in the act.”

Lu Yan nodded, “Thank you. I’ll head back first.”

In their haste, Lu Tiesheng and his wife walked so quickly they never realized they were being followed. When they reached Chen Haixia’s dormitory, they pounded on her door with loud, urgent knocks.

Chen Haixia had just finished her meal and was sitting before her mirror fixing her hair. The sudden, frantic knocking made her frown. “Who is it?”

“Haixia, it’s your Aunt Qian.”

Chen Haixia quickly opened the door, glanced around, and pulled them inside.

Her room was in a row of single dormitory units—cramped and close together. Still, Chen Haixia considered herself above the others and rarely mingled with her neighbors, so no one would pay attention to any commotion on her side.

“What’s so urgent? Did something happen?” A sense of dread crept into Chen Haixia’s heart.

Qian Guihua, unable to explain, nudged her husband, “You tell her!”

Lu Tiesheng repeated Lu Yan’s words. Chen Haixia was stunned. “Did he really say that?”

Qian Guihua nodded.

Chen Haixia’s heart skipped a beat; she almost lost her balance. After a long pause, she collected herself and asked, “Did you admit to him directly that it was my idea?”

Qian Guihua shook her head vigorously. “How could we be that stupid?”

Chen Haixia breathed a sigh of relief. “Good. He has no evidence. As long as we don’t admit it, he can’t do anything to me.”

“But he doesn’t care about his reputation at all—he’s dead set on sending us back to the countryside! What are we supposed to do?” Qian Guihua protested.

Chen Haixia’s eyes darkened at the thought of Lu Yan actually planning to sue her. “Then we’ll stir up more trouble…”

She was still speaking when the door was suddenly flung open. Several staff members wearing armbands burst in. “Comrade Chen Haixia, you incited Lu Tiesheng and his wife to damage Comrade Lu Yan’s reputation. We can serve as witnesses on the spot. Come with us to the research institute for investigation.”

Chen Haixia felt her legs give way; she nearly collapsed. The Guihua couple stood frozen in shock.

It wasn’t until they were being led away by the staff that Lu Tiesheng finally came to his senses, trembling with rage. That wolf cub! To think he’d tricked them so thoroughly.

“We’re not employees of your institute! You have no right to question us,” Lu Tiesheng protested, struggling.

The staff exchanged glances and let them go. “Then you may return.”

Chen Haixia felt as if her mind had gone completely blank. How could things have ended up like this?

It wasn’t until she was brought to the interrogation room that she finally spoke. “I want to see Lu Yan.”

A staff member looked at her sternly. “You’ve seriously harmed Comrade Lu Yan’s interests. Please cooperate with the record. He’ll be at work tomorrow, and we’ll pass on your request.”

“I have nothing to say.”

One staff member pressed her into a chair, while another sat across from her, ready to question her. “If you won’t speak, I’ll just write down what we heard and saw. This will be handed over as evidence to the Public Security Bureau.”

He lowered his head and began to write.

Chen Haixia bit her lip, trembling. It must have been Lu Yan. She should never have tried to fight him. She’d overestimated her place in his heart.

…

Shen Qingyi glanced at her watch several times, but heard no sound at the door. She could no longer sit still. She put down her pen and went into the living room to sit beside Anan.

She repeatedly turned to look at the door.

At last, unable to hold back, she said to Anan, “Mom’s going out for some fresh air.”

Anan twisted the Rubik’s cube in his hands and said softly, “Maybe Dad’s working overtime.”

Shen Qingyi’s thoughts had been seen right through. She glared at her son, insisting, “Who said I’m going to look for Dad? I’m just going out for a walk.”

Anan flashed his little tiger teeth in a grin. “Dad’s very clever. You don’t need to worry.”

“You little rascal!” Sometimes Shen Qingyi felt her son was just too sharp—so young, yet so clear about everything.

She ignored her son, got up, and as soon as she stepped outside, she saw Lu Yan walking back at a measured pace, just in time to meet his gaze.

“Have you eaten?” she asked, seeing his empty hands.

Lu Yan approached her. “No, something held me up today.”

“Then let’s go out for noodles.” She made the decision, then called into the house, “Anan, Dad’s back. Let’s go have some noodles.”

Anan slid quickly off the sofa and ran to the door, grabbing Lu Yan’s hand. “See? I told you—Dad’s so smart, he was just delayed by something.”

Hearing this, Lu Yan immediately understood why his wife had been waiting at the door. It was as if a string in his heart had been plucked; he couldn’t help but smile. Seeing his wife glare at their son, he explained to Anan, “Mom doesn’t distrust Dad. She just wanted to go for a walk.”

Shen Qingyi: !!!

Noticing her embarrassment, Lu Yan added, “I had someone look into the informant today.”

“Did you find out who it was?”

Lu Yan nodded. “I did.”

“Who was it?”

“Chen Haixia,” Lu Yan answered truthfully.

Shen Qingyi looked at him in surprise. He was so calm, as if speaking of someone ordinary. After a moment’s hesitation, she asked, “So how do you plan to handle it?”