Chapter 34: Preparing to Seek Refuge

Du Huacheng was startled by the people brought by Zhong Xiao. Seeing the crowd gathered layer upon layer outside the Zhong family courtyard, he realized escape was impossible. His face had already been seen by everyone present, and now he couldn’t even leave Yuecheng. If he tried to run, they’d find him soon enough. Then it would be theft, arrest, and fleeing with a criminal record… Du Huacheng didn’t dare imagine the consequences.

With these thoughts, he hurried forward, waving his hand. “Xiaoxiao, Xiaoxiao… It’s your father. I just came home to fetch something!”

Zhong Xiao stiffened her neck and replied, “Father? I was born without a father. My public declaration of severing ties is known throughout the city. Stop trying to claim kinship with me!”

“You’re here to take things? Taking without asking is theft! Ladies, am I right?”

The women gathered didn’t know exactly what had happened, but Du Huacheng’s reputation was far from good. The Zhong family courtyard was near the chemical plant’s workers’ housing, and over the decades, Du Huacheng had looked down on these working-class folks, causing no shortage of conflicts. Now, no one would help him; at best, they wouldn’t kick him while he was down.

One woman spoke up: “Didn’t you already leave the Zhong family? What are you coming back for? What in the Zhong family belongs to you?”

“The only thing he brought to the Zhong family was bad luck,” Zhong Xiao added with a cold laugh.

Du Huacheng was left speechless.

Soon, a group from the Public Security Bureau arrived at the Zhong family gate, accompanied by the woman Zhong Xiao had seen that morning at the chemical plant. Zhong Xiao had specifically emphasized when reporting to the authorities that the item Du Huacheng stole was donated by her to the plant.

The officers who arrived were the same two who had come previously with Qin Dezhen. As soon as they saw Du Huacheng, their brows furrowed.

“You again? Your wife and daughter have already been arrested. Are you so eager to join them behind bars?”

Du Huacheng was stunned. He had no idea his daughter Du Ying’er had been caught. Wife and daughter both arrested? He hadn’t even processed this when the woman spoke up.

“Comrades, this Buddha statue was donated to our plant by Comrade Zhong Xiao. I’ve already reported it to the factory. Now, this statue is considered factory property. This man sneaking in at night to steal it—shouldn’t he be taken away for some education?”

Before the police could speak, Du Huacheng blustered, “What factory property? It’s well known across the city that I paid for the construction of this Buddha statue! I spent the money, hired the master to consecrate it—how could it belong to you?”

“Even Zhong Xiao has no right to dispose of the Buddha statue as she pleases! I paid for it!”

Zhong Xiao gave a nonchalant “oh.”

“Where did the money for the statue’s construction come from?”

Du Huacheng pressed his lips tightly.

She continued, “When you married my mother, you had nothing—not even a proper bride price, not a penny to your name. All these years you never worked, never held a job, living off the Zhong family, enjoying their wealth and privilege. Every cent spent was the Zhong family’s.”

“Now you want to take away something bought with their money? Have you no shame?”

Those nearby glanced at each other. A daughter cursing her father so harshly and fiercely—this was a first for them.

Zhong Xiao was done wasting words with Du Huacheng. She turned to the officers and the factory woman. “Take him away. Breaking and entering, at the very least, deserves a sentence for labor reform. Du Huacheng has been living off the Zhong family for years, contributing nothing to society. He desperately needs reeducation in the most impoverished places to strengthen his character.”

Du Huacheng: “?”

Zhong Xiao: “Sister, since you’re here, take the Buddha statue with you. There are plenty of people around.”

The woman nodded, directed her team to move the statue, and as soon as they circled to the back, she let out a startled cry.

Du Huacheng didn’t have time to stop her before he heard her incredulous shout, “My god! There’s gold inside!”

The crowd was stunned.

The officers’ faces darkened; they shoved the flustered Du Huacheng aside and looked behind the statue. Inside, where a small hole had been gouged, lay shimmering gold.

The officers instantly understood why Du Huacheng had risked everything to steal the Buddha statue—not for religious devotion, but because it was hiding his illicit gold.

The crime of hoarding gold was far more serious than ordinary theft.

Seeing his scheme exposed, Du Huacheng immediately tried to distance himself. “This isn’t mine! It’s something from the Zhong family courtyard. I have nothing to do with the Zhong family anymore—it’s not my concern!”

Zhong Xiao spoke slowly, “Who just now insisted the Buddha statue was built by you, with your own money? The officers and everyone heard you loud and clear.”

The crowd nodded.

Du Huacheng: “……”

The woman from the factory looked conflicted.

Originally, the Buddha statue had been donated by Zhong Xiao, but now there was gold inside—perhaps she wouldn’t want to donate it anymore.

But Zhong Xiao smiled, and speaking before the entire neighborhood and the two officers, she said, “From childhood, my grandfather taught me that everything the Zhong family has exists thanks to the support of the people. He taught me generosity, taught me to share. Nothing in the Zhong family belongs solely to me; it belongs to everyone.”

“So, since I’ve decided to donate this Buddha statue, my word is my bond.”

“No matter what is inside—even if there were diamonds—I will donate it all. This gold, ill-gotten and scavenged by Du Huacheng, is something the Zhong family could never keep.”

“Today, I ask you all to witness: I will donate all this gold of unknown origin to the chemical plant, to honor the Zhong family’s years of benevolence and virtue!”

Her words won admiration from everyone present. Even the woman who had reluctantly accepted the statue that morning was moved to tears.

She said to Zhong Xiao, “Girl, I underestimated you. I always thought you donated things to win a good reputation and secure yourself a future… I was narrow-minded, my thinking too shallow. I need to learn from you!”

Zhong Xiao smiled gently. Across the crowd, she gave Du Huacheng a triumphant look.

Du Huacheng felt a chill rising from his feet. He realized that this daughter, whom he had deceived for twenty years, seemed to have outmaneuvered him all along.

But there was no time for him to reflect; he was already bound and taken away by the police.

After everyone had left, one of the women in the crowd asked, “Girl, are you still selling those tickets?”

Zhong Xiao laughed, “Of course I am. Sorry for making a spectacle of myself!”

She led people into the Zhong family home to exchange tickets, and as she glanced back, Du Huacheng’s figure had vanished completely into the night.

At last, Zhong Xiao’s heart was at ease.

All the rotten people had been dealt with.

Now, she could finally begin preparing to join the army and seek out her so-called “fiancé,” whom she had never met!