Chapter 6: All the Money Is Gone

More troubled than Qiao Muting was Qian Jiangang and Qin Hongxiang.

In this era, news didn’t spread as quickly as it does now. Nevertheless, when the police arrived at the scrap yard to investigate stolen goods, Fat Old Wang and Qin Hongxiang were in bed together, caught red-handed.

Fat Old Wang was arrested for aiding in the sale of stolen goods, while Qin Hongxiang was detained for “corrupting social morals.”

The news spread like wildfire and by early morning had swept through the entire residential compound.

Upon hearing what had happened, Qian Jiangang quickly called for Qian Dong and hurried to the police station.

“If she’s cooperative, confesses everything, and her family pays the fine, the charge of corrupting public morals will only get her up to fifteen days’ detention,” the young officer explained sternly, going over the regulations point by point. “But if she’s uncooperative, or if we find evidence that she took part in selling stolen goods—well, she won’t be going home anytime soon.”

“How can it be so serious? Officer, my mother’s been widowed for years, and Old Wang is single too. Isn’t this just a case of mutual affection—maybe their romance got a bit out of hand?”

Though it was embarrassing, Qian Dong had no choice but to ask on his mother’s behalf.

“Mutual affection? Wang Dahai has a wife back in his hometown and two kids at home!” The young officer slammed the regulation manual onto the desk. “Listen here, what they’ve been up to hasn’t just gone on a day or two. If things turn ugly, she could be charged with hooliganism—and that carries the death penalty.

My advice? Don’t argue. Convince her to come clean and hope for leniency. That’s your best shot.”

Every word was like a dagger to Qian Jiangang’s ears.

The sister-in-law he’d always tried to protect had apparently been having an affair for some time.

As they passed the cell where Fat Old Wang was being held, Qian Dong glanced in and locked eyes with him.

That one look shattered Qian Dong completely.

What could he say? Fat Old Wang’s genes were strong. At last, he knew where Qian Xiaozhen got her broad, flat face and garlic-shaped nose.

He quickly moved to block Qian Jiangang’s view, secretly watching his uncle. Seeing his expression remain unchanged, Qian Dong finally relaxed.

Soon, they arrived at the cell holding Qin Hongxiang.

“Mom, are you alright?”

Qin Hongxiang’s hair was a tangled mess, and she was still dressed in the sleeveless undershirt and baggy shorts she’d worn to bed.

Qian Dong couldn’t bear to look. Knowing his mother had been dragged from bed with Fat Old Wang, he wished he could simply disappear.

“What were you thinking? How are your children supposed to hold their heads up after this?” Qian Dong cried out in anguish.

Qin Hongxiang, too ashamed to face her son, caught sight of Qian Jiangang and immediately vented all her anger at him.

“So, you’ve come to mock me, have you? Why’d you bring the kids? Think I haven’t suffered enough?

It’s all your fault. If your brother hadn’t died saving you, none of this would have happened. If he were alive, why would I have turned to Fat Old Wang? What did I want from him—his good looks? His cologne?

Well, now your precious daughters must be thrilled. With me out of the way, everything in the Qian family will belong to you. But I’m telling you, never! I’ll be out of here soon enough.

None of you will get to gloat at my expense…”

Qian Jiangang let her rant endlessly, only shaking his head in silent misery.

If it had been Qian Lai and her mother, he’d have slapped them already.

But this was his sister-in-law—the woman he respected, indulged, never dared contradict.

“Mom, please stop. Just think if there’s anything else you need to confess—try to get leniency,” Qian Dong said, burying his head in his hands and squatting down in despair. His mother had completely shamed him.

The woman’s arrogance finally ebbed away. Realizing she’d have to rely on her brother-in-law to get out soon, her tone softened. “Jiangang, you can’t just abandon me. I only wanted someone to depend on… I never thought… Oh, my life is so bitter!”

“Sister-in-law, all these years I’ve tried my best to support you and your children, just so you’d have a secure life. Why did it have to come to this…” For the first time, Qian Jiangang voiced a note of reproach.

Just then, a shrill cry echoed from the corridor, growing louder: “Mom, something’s wrong! Everything’s gone—everything’s missing…”

Qian Xiaozhen couldn’t wait for the officers to escort her; she rushed in, wild-eyed, not even glancing at Qian Jiangang or Qian Dong before throwing herself at Qin Hongxiang. “Mom, the cellar… everything in the cellar is gone. There’s only an empty box.”

“What?! That’s impossible! I put it there myself just yesterday. Who on earth could have stolen it?!” Qin Hongxiang broke down, sobbing.

A police officer who’d followed Qian Xiaozhen picked up on the issue instantly. “What’s missing? If you’re hiding stolen goods or illicit cash, that’s a much more serious crime!”

“No, no! That was just the savings I scraped together over twenty years! How could it be gone?… Oh, God, I can’t go on! Are you sure you looked everywhere?”

Of course, Qian Xiaozhen had searched thoroughly—short of tearing the cellar apart.

Long ago, Qin Hongxiang had instructed her: if anything happened to her, or if money was urgently needed, go to Uncle Wang’s scrap yard. In the cellar there, she’d hidden her secret savings.

So, as soon as she heard her mother and Fat Old Wang had been arrested, she’d raced to the scrap yard’s cellar.

When she saw the wooden box still sitting in the vat, she’d breathed a sigh of relief—until she opened it and found it empty. She’d searched frantically, but nothing of value turned up.

“Officer, I want to file a report! My family’s money has been stolen!” Qin Hongxiang pleaded, gripping the iron bars.

“What money? How much? Where was it kept? Who can prove it was your savings and not proceeds from Wang Dahai’s crimes? Who can prove you put it there?…” A barrage of questions left Qin Hongxiang speechless.

She couldn’t explain anything. That money was lost forever.

Watching her beat her chest in despair, Qian Jiangang tried to comfort her. “Enough, sister-in-law. Just focus on getting out as soon as possible. Money is just money—as long as you’re safe, you can earn more.”

“Easy for you to say, Jiangang. That wasn’t your money. Over a thousand yuan! And…” She stopped abruptly, wiping her tears. “Unless—you could compensate me…”

“Where would I get that kind of money?” Qian Jiangang was incredulous.

“You have it. Lai has it… the wedding and dowry money—she’s got over thirteen hundred yuan!”

“Sister-in-law!”

This time, his anger was real.

Qin Hongxiang was practically forcing him to butt heads with steel.

She knew perfectly well—he’d handed the money over to Qian Lai in front of everyone; how could he take it back now?

In that moment, he felt as if no one in the world truly cared for him. To them, he was just a pawn in their family drama.

Hmph!

He turned and left the police station, his face dark.

Qian Dong chased after his uncle all the way back to the residential compound. Along the way, acquaintances greeted them.

“Old Qian, did you hear? Last night, the police caught a fugitive in the abandoned workshop out back. I heard they’d been hiding there for ages.”

“Yeah! Those outlaws are bold—no decent folk would ever go near that place.”

“And I heard they seized a lot of valuable stuff!”

The more Qian Jiangang listened, the more uneasy he became. This was bad!

He slapped his thigh and raced toward the derelict workshop like a shot.

Meanwhile, Liu Huiru finished her shift and headed merrily to the hospital.

“Lai, Lai, guess what…” She relished telling the whole story about Qin Hongxiang and Fat Old Wang, feeling as if years of pent-up resentment had finally found release.

“Just goes to show—evil gets its due. The timing couldn’t be better! Now, let’s see if your foolish father still favors the main branch. Who knows, maybe all the money he scrimped from us over the years has ended up in Fat Old Wang’s pockets.”

With that, her face clouded over again.

Qian Lai, however, was secretly delighted. Today, she’d taken stock of all she’d gained the day before:

A priceless gem.

Over thirteen hundred yuan in cash from Qin Hongxiang’s box, plus ten jin of grain coupons, five jin of oil coupons, a Shanghai-brand wristwatch, and an emerald necklace—probably a gift from Fat Old Wang.

There was also the pair of silver bracelets Liu Huiru had searched for in vain a few years back; it turned out Qin Hongxiang had stolen them.

And the two parcels Qian Jiangang had hidden were even more impressive.

Thirty-five hundred yuan in cash, ten gold bars, an old British pocket watch, and various gold and silver jewelry.

All of it ill-gotten gains Qian Jiangang had seized from the old factory manager’s home during his time as the committee chairman.

The old couple, devastated by the reforms, fell ill and died soon after moving to the countryside. Their only son had long since gone abroad and disappeared without a trace.

“Mom, in a few days, there will be even better news,” Qian Lai said, her eyes crinkling with mirth as she squeezed Liu Huiru’s hand.

“Really? What is it?”

But before she could answer, there was a rapid knocking at the door.