Chapter 360
As an excellent soldier, Su Hongchen recognized the gun’s origin at a glance, and his expression immediately darkened.
“I’ve already called in comrades from the National Security Office; they should be here soon. We’ve captured a living one this time, and they’ll definitely be able to extract some genuinely useful information,” he said.
“Will they inform us right away? Or will we have to wait in the dark because of their investigation?” Su Xiaoxiao asked anxiously.
Such matters were often classified, and they might not share everything.
If that were the case, they wouldn’t know how long they would be left in the dark.
“I’ll discuss it with the comrades from the National Security Office. Even if we need to set a trap to lure them out, I’ll ensure some information is disclosed in advance,” Su Hongchen replied solemnly, looking at the still-unconscious man.
Jiang Yexun frowned at this, clearly displeased with the possibility of a trap being set.
“Now they’re already trying to kill Xiaoxiao. It’s only because she’s vigilant that nothing has happened yet, but who can guarantee that will be the case next time?”
“Don’t worry. Whether it’s the National Security Office or the army, their primary concern is to ensure the safety of ordinary people. They absolutely won’t take risks without a solid guarantee,” Su Hongchen reassured Jiang Yexun earnestly.
However, seeing Jiang Yexun’s lingering unease, Su Hongchen continued, “Involving my parents and sister in this matter means I would never joke about their safety.”
“Okay.” Although Jiang Yexun was skeptical about absolute safety, he had to agree for now. After all, such people could only be investigated by the state; ordinary people were no match for spies.
“Wuwuwu!” Gui Zhenzhen, listening to their conversation from the side, was so anxious that she desperately made noise.
Her eyes were now filled with genuine terror.
Ordinary harm could only lead to being sent to a re-education farm at worst. But if it had alarmed the National Security Office, that definitely meant it was a spy. Ordinary people involved in such matters could end up with a death sentence if the charges were substantiated.
“Are you finally ready to say something?” Su Xiaoxiao shifted her gaze from Jiang Yexun and coldly huffed.
Gui Zhenzhen hurriedly nodded, afraid that if she waited any longer, she wouldn’t even have a chance to speak.
Only then did Su Xiaoxiao feel satisfied enough to approach and remove the cloth from her mouth, but Jiang Yexun stepped in first.
“I’ll do it; be careful with someone like her. A cornered dog can be dangerous,” he warned with concern.
Gui Zhenzhen looked at Jiang Yexun, feeling a surge of humiliation wash over her.
Although Jiang Yexun looked better than the city men and his skin was not as rough and dark as those from the countryside, that did not change the fact that he was still a country bumpkin.
Yet, it was this type of person she would normally never glance at who was now calling her a dog.
Jiang Yexun noticed the malice in her eyes and scoffed derisively.
He swiftly pulled out the rag stuffed in her mouth.
“Stop wasting time; we don’t have any to spare on you,” Jiang Yexun warned.
This made Gui Zhenzhen choke on the plea for mercy she had been about to blurt out.
No matter how reluctant she felt, she could only honestly confess, “Three days ago, I went to buy groceries, and this man dropped a wad of cash and tickets. I hurriedly picked it up at that time. But I was foolish and didn’t chase after him to return it. As a result, I was blocked before I even got home. He said if I helped him with something, the money would be a gift to me, and afterward, he would give me a small building in the center of Shanghai, plus a job at the supply and marketing cooperative. But if I refused, he would claim I stole his money and send me to the police station. I really had no choice but to agree to him. Xiaoxiao, considering we’ve been classmates since childhood, please spare me this once.”
“You schemed to frame me and wanted to exchange my family’s lives for something. Why should I show you any compassion? Do I look particularly easy to deceive?” Su Xiaoxiao frowned, looking at Gui Zhenzhen with confusion.
She genuinely couldn’t understand how someone who had done something so malicious could still have the face to plead for mercy.
But Gui Zhenzhen never expected that after she honestly confessed, she still wouldn’t get the reprieve she desired. She panicked immediately.
“Don’t you have everything under control now? Plus, you’ve caught a spy! This is also a great achievement for your brother. I just want you to let me go once; why are you forcing me to the brink?”
“Of course, that’s because you deserve to die,” Su Xiaoxiao replied, her tone lightening, sounding a bit playful.
But her words were harsh enough to leave Gui Zhenzhen in disbelief.
Su Xiaoxiao had been spoiled and naive all her life; she couldn’t even realize when she was being taken advantage of at school.
Whenever others sought her help, as long as they acted a bit pitiful, she would do everything she could to assist.
But now, it was as if she had turned into a different person.
Gui Zhenzhen couldn’t understand at all where the problem lay.
What she found even more perplexing was another matter.
“Did you already know I was going to take action against you?” Gui Zhenzhen asked through gritted teeth.
Su Xiaoxiao’s heart sank, and she secretly glanced at Su Hongchen and Jiang Yexun.
Sure enough, the faces of the two men darkened, gazing at her with a dangerous look.
Su Xiaoxiao awkwardly smiled, eager to deny it, but having been raised by Su Hongchen, it was clear there was nothing she could hide from him.
“Alright, what’s done is done; let’s not talk about you anymore.” Su Hongchen sighed in resignation and indulgence.
Su Xiaoxiao immediately breathed a sigh of relief and then glared at Gui Zhenzhen, “I just find you a bit strange. Clearly, our relationship isn’t that great, so why did you invite me out as soon as you saw me? And why was it so pointedly to go to the recycling station?”
“Did I want to go to the recycling station? It’s you who, apart from going home, only goes to the recycling station or to the supply and marketing cooperative and friendship stores. I can’t afford to go to the latter two, so I could only ask you to go to the recycling station. Who would have thought the book I prepared for you would suddenly not interest you anymore? But I really want to know, I clearly placed a pound of gold in your shoulder bag at the state-owned restaurant later; why did the Disciplinary Office and the police comrades not find it?”
“Are you sure you put it there? The current buyback price for a gram of gold at the bank is around twenty-eight to thirty yuan? That means a pound is worth about fourteen thousand yuan. A two-story small building costs around three thousand, and a job at the supply and marketing cooperative tops out at about fifteen hundred. Why would you be willing to risk two times the value in gold to harm me for some cash and a house?”
Su Xiaoxiao widened her round eyes, looking particularly innocent as she locked eyes with Gui Zhenzhen.
But Gui Zhenzhen knew better than anyone that this was absolutely impossible.
She was greedy but not foolish. That piece of gold wasn’t something one could simply snatch without consequence.
Crossing that kind of person would mean she wouldn’t even know how she died.