Chapter Nine: A Knock at the Door

Huo Qingqing’s large eyes welled up with tears. She looked up at Ruan Tang, her tone aggrieved: "The eldest uncle snatched the diamond watch!"

Upon hearing this, Ruan Tang’s expression froze instantly.

So it really wasn’t Wang Binghuan!

Then she—

Thinking of everything she had done to Wang Binghuan not long ago, her scalp tingled with regret and sheepishness.

Buying some things to make amends should suffice, she thought.

After comforting herself, she focused on the "eldest uncle" Huo Qingqing had mentioned.

Huo Shancheng?

Ruan Tang furrowed her brows. In the original plot, only a few members of the Huo family were mentioned, and their stories were never fully fleshed out; most of what was known came from Ruan Li’s perspective.

However, now that she knew who had harmed Huo Qingqing, Ruan Tang could finally vent her anger.

Her face darkened for a moment before she looked back at Huo Qingqing, her expression softening. She said gently, "You stay here and be a good girl. Auntie is going to go settle the score for you right now!"

Huo Qingqing hesitated, but a glint of hope shone in her eyes. Perhaps, in this very moment, she didn’t find Ruan Tang so detestable after all.

Ruan Tang patted Huo Qingqing on the head, then stood up. Her face turned cold as she walked out of the room and headed downstairs. After asking the nurse at the station to look after the patient in 4001, she scanned the area and found Wang Binghuan, who was in a corner with his wounds already bandaged.

Ruan Tang walked straight over, her face calm: "I’m sorry. Qingqing said it wasn't you."

Wang Binghuan looked up, surprised to hear Ruan Tang’s voice. He smiled upon hearing her words: "It’s fine. As long as the child is awake, that’s what matters."

Even he had felt physically uncomfortable just watching Huo Qingqing’s state earlier.

"How much were the medical expenses?" Ruan Tang asked.

Wang Binghuan looked flattered: "It wasn't much. You don't need to compensate me for anything."

He certainly wanted compensation, but he couldn't bring himself to ask for it—he felt quite sheepish.

Ruan Tang frowned: "Just tell me, or I’ll go ask the doctor."

Why was this man so indecisive?

Wang Binghuan hesitated for a moment before saying: "It cost thirteen yuan."

That was nearly a month's salary for him. In his current state, he would have to rest for several days, which meant he would inevitably lose even more income. He sighed inwardly.

Hearing this, Ruan Tang pulled out a fifty-yuan note without changing her expression: "Is this enough?"

Wang Binghuan: "..."

Is this reasonable?

Wang Binghuan watched with wide eyes as he tremblingly reached out to take the fifty yuan, asking uncertainly: "Actually... you really didn't need to give me this much—"

Ruan Tang clicked her tongue and knitted her brows: "Use the rest to buy some supplements. Consider it compensation and damages for your emotional distress."

Emotional distress?

It was the first time Wang Binghuan had heard this term, but since Ruan Tang had said so, he accepted it with a clear conscience. He even began to fantasize that if Ruan Tang married him, all the money in her hands would eventually be his. He didn't believe Huo Yanshu could earn that much. Driven by jealousy, he subconsciously assumed this money must be Ruan Tang's own, which was, in fact, the truth.

Seeing him accept the money, Ruan Tang’s expression eased. "I plan to go back to the village. You come with me to be a witness and testify that you saw the thief was Huo Shancheng. Do you understand?"

Wang Binghuan was shocked to the core.

Huo Shancheng?

Wasn't that Huo Yanshu’s elder brother?

To go so far against his own niece?!

He felt a chill run down his spine and developed a negative impression of Huo Shancheng. Before the New Year, he had seen him acting as a doting husband and father and had praised him for being mature, steady, and family-oriented. Now, it seemed—he couldn't help but sigh.

Faced with Ruan Tang’s request, he agreed instantly. "Alright."

Seeing that Wang Binghuan had agreed, Ruan Tang felt a weight lift. She led him, flashlight in hand, back to the village.

Just as they reached the entrance of their home, they heard Wang Binghuan’s mother sitting under a tree at the entrance, chatting and gossiping with someone. Since there was no one else around and the area was secluded, they didn't lower their voices.

"...I heard that the Huo family’s eldest, Huo Shancheng, helped the boss with a big task and was gifted a diamond watch. It’s worth a fortune!"

"Really? Is he that lucky? When will I get to help a big boss? I’d definitely offer incense to the God of Wealth three times a day!"

"Tsk tsk, I don't think it’s that simple. Could someone like the eldest Huo really have such luck? Why him, of all people? He’s just a paper tiger; the heavens must be blind—"

Wang Binghuan’s mother was chatting animatedly with a woman. Both had their backs to Ruan Tang and her companion and didn't notice them arrive.

Wang Binghuan felt a jolt in his heart. Combining this with Ruan Tang’s request for him to testify, he immediately guessed that the watch was likely stolen from her.

A diamond watch—

How much could that be worth—

Wang Binghuan felt his heart pounding; his entire attention was captured by the mention of the diamond watch.

Ruan Tang’s expression was grim. After listening for a while, she parked her bicycle in the courtyard, turned to Wang Binghuan, and said in a deep voice: "We’re going to the Huo residence."

Wang Binghuan snapped out of his daze, hurriedly pushed his bike into the alley between his house and Ruan Tang’s courtyard, and followed her.

Walking behind Ruan Tang and seeing her expressionless face, he hesitated repeatedly before advising: "Shouldn't we go to the village chief first? The amount of money involved is quite large; going to the village chief might be fairer."

Ruan Tang stopped in her tracks, turned, and headed toward the village chief’s house.

Wang Binghuan followed closely, watching as Ruan Tang knocked forcefully on the wooden door of Village Chief Huo’s home.

Bang, bang, bang.

"Who is it!"

A voice came from inside—it was a woman, presumably the village chief’s wife.

The woman opened the door, and seeing Ruan Tang and Wang Binghuan, she looked surprised. She sized them up, noticed they looked like trouble, and frowned: "Are you looking for Xianjun?"

Village Chief Huo’s full name was Huo Xianjun.

Ruan Tang nodded, her expression calm: "Is the village chief home?"

The woman shook her head: "He left just a moment ago. He went to the old Huo family’s house."

Hearing this, Ruan Tang felt as if the heavens were helping her, bringing them all together at one table.

Learning the village chief’s whereabouts, she thanked the woman: "Thank you, Auntie Mei."

The woman’s name was Liu Chunmei, often called Auntie Mei.

She smiled, "Just ask him directly if you need anything."

Ruan Tang nodded and led Wang Binghuan toward the Huo residence.

Along the way, they encountered many villagers. Some knew Ruan Tang, others didn't, but all were intimidated by her aura. Her face was icy, her stride was long and steady, and her tense expression carried a fierce, valiant air—like a female general about to head into battle.

Curious onlookers followed them all the way to the old Huo residence.

Inside the tiled house of the old Huo family, Father and Mother Huo were grinning from ear to ear, admiring the luxurious diamond watch Huo Shancheng had brought back, their greed clearly visible in their eyes.

Huo Xianjun, the village chief who had been invited over, was laughing heartily. He patted Huo Shancheng on the shoulder and praised: "You’re a lucky lad. I always felt you were destined for good fortune, and look, my guess was right."

Huo Shancheng responded with false humility, "Oh, not at all, just a stroke of luck."

In reality, he was feeling smug; the watch had been well worth the risk. The only concern was whether the person he had encountered during the day had seen his face. If they had, then he—

Thinking of this, Huo Shancheng reined in his excitement, his heart tightening involuntarily.