Chapter 524
When Peng Huijing heard Grandpa Zhang’s words, her already pale face drained of the last bit of color. She opened her mouth, wanting to say she would go alone. However, before she could speak, she was met with a sharp look from Grandpa Zhang. The words she was about to say immediately died on her lips.
Though her heart was racing with fear, she could only keep her mouth shut and follow the group out.
As they reached the yard, they encountered Zhang Xiyue, who had just returned home. She was startled to see so many people suddenly in the house.
“Grandpa, Mom, what’s going on?” she asked, wide-eyed.
“The police are here to have your mother cooperate with an investigation. I’m going to go with them,” Grandpa Zhang said, his tone commanding.
Zhang Xiyue froze for a moment, her breathing momentarily stopping. She then forced a smile, even more awkward than crying, and said, “Then I’ll just stay home and wait for you to come back.”
Hearing this, Grandpa Zhang’s disappointment deepened. His grandchildren were truly useless.
He couldn’t help but wonder how Peng Huijing would react when she saw her own daughter trying to hide away at a time like this. But when he looked at his daughter-in-law’s lack of concern for her child’s actions, it only confirmed his thoughts.
“Like father, like son,” Grandpa Zhang sneered inwardly, not wanting to waste any more time with them. He turned and walked ahead, hands behind his back.
Peng Huijing had no choice but to follow.
When they arrived at the Public Security Bureau, they immediately escorted Peng Huijing to the interrogation room. Due to Grandpa Zhang’s status, they didn’t stop him from following. However, when he saw who was conducting the interrogation, a look of surprise flashed in his eyes, followed quickly by anger directed at Peng Huijing.
Peng Huijing, upon seeing the people conducting the interrogation, felt her pupils contract in shock. Although she tried her best to maintain a calm expression, her subtle change in demeanor didn’t escape the notice of the National Security Office personnel.
Without hiding anything, they directly revealed their identities.
“We are from the National Security Office, and we need Comrade Peng Huijing to cooperate with an investigation.”
Only then did Peng Huijing’s face show signs of nervousness. Her voice rose a few octaves. “Why are National Security Office personnel interrogating me?”
“Who interrogates you doesn’t matter. Just answer the questions honestly,” Grandpa Zhang snapped, not wanting to hear any more of her excuses.
He had known from the beginning that Peng Huijing was trouble for the Zhang family. It was only a matter of time before something went wrong. They’d put up with her for over twenty years; this was the breaking point.
Peng Huijing’s lips trembled, but she didn’t dare speak further.
The National Security Office officer waited for them to finish and then continued, “Comrade Peng Huijing, can you explain why you falsely accused Comrades Su Xiaoxiao and Jiang Yexun?”
Grandpa Zhang was stunned for a moment before his expression turned from disbelief to anger as he looked at his daughter-in-law. How dare she?!
Peng Huijing also noticed the look in Grandpa Zhang’s eyes and quickly protested, “I didn’t falsely accuse them! I went to the guesthouse this morning and really found foreign books under their pillows.”
She quickly turned her head to look at Grandpa Zhang.
“Dad, I know Su Xiaoxiao is your lifesaver, but we can’t cover up illegal activities like this.”
Her words were sincere, but Grandpa Zhang, who had been in power for so long, immediately saw through her intentions. She was clearly trying to drag him down with her to protect herself.
However, the issue involved foreign books, so he had to handle it with caution. If the Zhang family got entangled in this, Xiaoxiao and Yexun, the two kids, might really be ruined by this ruthless daughter-in-law of his.
“Who said I want to cover for them? I’m just shocked that you went to see Xiaoxiao and Yexun secretly. You’ve always looked down on them since the first day you met them. Even though Xiaoxiao became my lifesaver and submitted the prescription that saved thousands of lives in China, you still harbor resentment toward her and her husband.”
Grandpa Zhang made it clear to the National Security Office personnel that his daughter-in-law had never gotten along with his lifesavers, no matter what good they had done.
“However, the Disciplinary Office personnel say they didn’t find the foreign books you reported. Can you explain why that is, Comrade Peng Huijing?” the National Security Office officer pressed, catching the underlying meaning of both Grandpa Zhang’s and Peng Huijing’s words, but he was unmoved and continued with the interrogation.
The National Security Office would continue investigating this matter, regardless of the kindness General Zhang owed or his daughter-in-law’s personal animosity.
“What do you want me to explain? I saw it and reported it. Just because they didn’t find it doesn’t mean I’m wrong,” Peng Huijing responded coolly, now composed enough to retort. “It’s ridiculous! The books aren’t made of gold. Why would someone still try to steal them?”
“We’ve already confirmed with the Disciplinary Office that they searched in front of the guesthouse’s staff and other guests, but they didn’t find the book you reported. Why are you making false accusations? What’s your purpose?” the National Security Office officer asked again.
“Impossible! I saw it with my own eyes! They must not have searched carefully enough!” Peng Huijing remained adamant.
The Disciplinary Office personnel had been stationed there ever since her report. As soon as Su Xiaoxiao and Jiang Yexun entered the room, they would rush in and catch them red-handed. There was no way for them to hide.
“They turned the entire room upside down, tore apart everything, and pulled out the cotton from the bedding and pillows. If it wasn’t there, it wasn’t there! Comrade Peng Huijing, please confess honestly. Don’t keep resisting. You should know the rules: if you confess, you’ll be lenient, but if you resist, you’ll face harsher consequences.”
The tone of the National Security Office personnel grew even more serious.
“I don’t know! I just saw it!” Peng Huijing shook her head, her voice filled with certainty.
The National Security Office officers glared at her coldly.
Though Peng Huijing felt like her heart was in her throat, she still refused to back down.
Seeing that she wasn’t going to yield, the National Security Office personnel stood up, apologized to Grandpa Zhang with a nod, and said, “Sorry, General Zhang. Given the seriousness of the matter, we need to temporarily detain Comrade Peng Huijing. We’ll continue investigating who was secretly entering Su Xiaoxiao and Jiang Yexun’s room. Once it’s confirmed that Comrade Peng wasn’t involved in this frame-up, she will be released.”
When Peng Huijing heard that they were going to detain her and restrict her freedom, continuing the deeper investigation, she immediately panicked.