Chapter 267
“Really? Then it would be alright to take this piece of braised pork for a test, right?” Su Hongchen asked with a cold smile.
The two of them instantly froze like fish out of water, forgetting even to breathe. Jiang Guoli and Jiang Guohua, who weren’t fools, quickly deduced what had happened. They couldn’t believe their relatives had been so stupid—not only had they drugged the food, but they’d also kept it a secret.
However, as members of the Jiang family, their fates were intertwined. Jiang Guoli could only force a smile and say, “That’s not necessary. If you don’t like braised pork, we’ll just take it away.”
As he stood up to take the bowl from Su Hongchen, the latter looked him dead in the eye. “Do you know the crime for drugging a soldier?”
Jiang Guoli’s legs immediately went weak.
Jiang Guohua, seeing no other option, had to muster the courage to step forward. “This was the fault of my brother and sister-in-law. But Xiaoxiao and Yexun have such a good relationship, they are bound to get married. Their child will also bear the Jiang surname and be part of our family. Won’t that child’s future in the army or government be affected? I’ve heard there are political reviews.”
“Our child can take the surname Su,” Jiang Yexun said calmly.
Once his parents divorced, he and his sister would both take their mother’s surname, Guo. Regardless, he would sever ties with the Jiang family.
Su Xiaoxiao turned to Jiang Yexun, her eyes wide. Jiang Yexun, thinking she was doubtful, softened his tone, “I’m serious. Our child can take your surname.”
Knowing Jiang Yexun was a man of his word, Jiang Guoli fumed, forgetting about the drugged pork. “Guo Hongxiang, are you just going to let your son do this? What kind of man lets his child take his wife’s surname? Doesn’t he care about continuing the family line?”
Aunt Guo frowned deeply at being yelled at. “Whether the child bears his surname or mine, they’ll still be their parents’ responsibility. As for the family line… what does it matter to me? He may carry the surname Jiang now, but not the surname Guo. If he wants to continue it, that’s up to him. If he doesn’t, it’s none of my business.”
“It’s ridiculous! All of you are mad!” Jiang Guoli cursed, pointing at them in anger.
Su Hongchen paid him no mind, turning to Jiang Yexun. “Go call the police. Let the authorities handle this.”
Jiang Yexun hesitated. He feared that if Jiang Guosheng and his wife were arrested, it might affect their child’s future.
Su Xiaoxiao kicked his chair subtly, urging him. “Don’t listen to his nonsense. Even if Jiang Quankun did something wrong, it wouldn’t affect us. Besides, Jiang Guosheng is just your dad’s cousin. Political reviews only consider direct relatives within three generations; they have nothing to do with us.”
Jiang Yexun was taken aback, not expecting this answer. Given their history, he thought political reviews would be stricter.
“I’ll make the call right away.” He stood up, ready to leave.
Jiang Guoli, desperate, yelled, “Jiang Yexun, you bastard! If you call the police, I’ll divorce your mother and cut all ties with you!”
Su Xiaoxiao watched his impotent rage with amusement.
Seeing he couldn’t stop Jiang Yexun, Jiang Guoli turned to Su Xiaoxiao. “If Aunt Guo divorces me, her background will affect Jiang Yexun and you. Aren’t you worried at all?” he threatened.
Su Hongchen’s arm twitched as if he was about to slam the table, but Su Xiaoxiao nudged him, stopping him from speaking.
She sat up straight and looked at Jiang Guoli seriously. “No problem. If something happens to us, you won’t escape either. We were eating at your house and found drugs in the food. Now you’re threatening a soldier to stop him from calling the police. That’s an accomplice’s crime. You’d be sent to prison three to five years, maybe more.”
Jiang Guoli’s mouth snapped shut, his face darkening like coal.
Su Xiaoxiao then turned to Jiang Guohua and Auntie Tian. “Do you have anything to say? Want to plead for your brother?”
Though their faces were grim, neither dared speak. They were already grandparents and couldn’t risk their family’s future over a relative’s mistake. They realized Jiang Guosheng’s audacity was pure folly.
Seeing his usually supportive brothers remain silent, Jiang Guosheng panicked. “Why do you people always blow things out of proportion? Nothing happened to your brother, right? Even if something did, it would be my daughter who suffers, not you. Why can’t you let this go?”
Su Xiaoxiao ignored the fool. When the police came, she would have a lot to report. She didn’t want to waste words on Jiang Guosheng.
Auntie Zhou and her daughters began to beg. “Please, let us go this time! We just had a momentary lapse in judgment! You weren’t actually harmed. Why can’t you spare us?”
Su Xiaoxiao rubbed her ears, annoyed by the noise.
Su Hongchen noticed and gently coaxed her, “Alright, enough of their wailing. You and Aunt Guo go back across the street. I’ll join you once I’m done here.”
“No!” Su Xiaoxiao firmly refused.
Su Hongchen chuckled. “Do you think your brother is that weak? These people can’t hurt me.”
“Your strength is your business. Protecting you is mine! Who says capable people can’t be cared for and looked after by those around them?” Su Xiaoxiao straightened her back, resolute.
Su Hongchen was momentarily stunned by her words, his heart softening. He gently patted her fluffy head.
Jiang Simeng, Jiang Siwen, and the other Jiang family sons pleaded with Su Xiaoxiao and her brother. “Please forgive us this time. We had a momentary lapse. We promise never to do it again.”
No matter how pitiful they looked now, Su Xiaoxiao felt no sympathy for them. Now that their plan had been exposed, they were playing the victim. If her brother had actually ingested the drug and something happened, he would have had no choice but to compromise or go to jail. Would they have shown him mercy then?
Su Xiaoxiao snorted angrily and turned her head away. The Jiang family members, seeing her reaction, were furious but didn’t dare to show it, so they turned to Su Hongchen for help. But Su Hongchen was even colder than Su Xiaoxiao, showing no reaction at all.
After about half an hour, Jiang Yexun came running back hurriedly. “Why are you back so soon? Doesn’t it usually take half an hour?” Su Xiaoxiao asked, rushing to meet him but stopping after a few steps to avoid making a scene in front of so many people.
“I ran, worried something might happen here,” Jiang Yexun replied, smiling gently at Su Xiaoxiao.
Su Hongchen, hearing that Jiang Yexun had halved the time, turned to look at him. The young man seemed only slightly sweaty and still breathed steadily, indicating good physical condition. However, noticing Jiang Yexun’s soft demeanor toward his sister, which contrasted sharply with how he spoke to his relatives, Su Hongchen frowned slightly.
He quickly suppressed the thought that had just arisen. It was clear that Jiang Yexun had major conflicts with the Jiang family and supported his mother. Su Hongchen needed to observe how Jiang Yexun interacted with those he cared about in his family. When choosing a partner, one shouldn’t only look at how they treat you but also how they interact with their family. Cold treatment of family members for no reason could be a red flag for future behavior toward a partner.
Once Jiang Yexun and Su Xiaoxiao finished their conversation, they noticed the Jiang family members had all collapsed in despair, their faces ashen. Soon, the police arrived, driving into the brigade with considerable noise. The commotion drew the curious villagers out, who were already wondering if the Jiang family and the Su siblings would cause any trouble. They didn’t expect that within the time of a single lunch, the police would be called.
Everyone held their breath, following the police car with eager curiosity. As they reached the Jiang family’s house, they heard desperate cries from inside.
“Alright, stop crying. Just confess what you did,” the leading police officer ordered, frowning. The Jiang family, hearing this, dared not even cry anymore, looking at the Su siblings with pleading eyes.
Su Hongchen handed the bowl of braised pork to the police. “Please take this to the city hospital for testing and get a report to see if it was drugged.”
He then took out his military ID from his pocket. The officers straightened up immediately, nodding. “Don’t worry, Comrade Su. We will ensure the hospital conducts a thorough test and that no criminal goes unpunished.”
The officers were shocked; they had never encountered such a brazen case before. Nowadays, soldiers were highly revered, and instead of treating them well, these people had attempted to drug one. Such behavior was truly despicable. They would ensure these individuals received proper punishment and re-education in prison.