To please others? It's better to please yourself.

Xu Jing'an: "Director Qiao, can we take the things on the table with us?"

Qiao Fengchun: "These are evidence items, and it's not convenient to take them away before the case is fully investigated."

Xu Jing'an: "I won't take anything else, but a kitchen knife should be fine, right? I've never used one before!"

Qiao Fengchun nodded, watched Xu Jing'an and Shen He leave, and then turned back to his office.

Looking at the blackened dagger, one can't help but admire the woman's caution.

……

When Shen He brought Xu Jing'an home, the elderly and children were already asleep.

Xu Jing'an developed a fever that night. Although Shen He was exhausted from not getting enough rest for several days, he still didn't dare to sleep soundly through the night.

He immediately realized something was wrong as soon as his wife's temperature rose. He poured her a glass of water and picked up the fever reducer from the bedside table.

"Wife—time for your medicine! Wife—time for your medicine!"

When Xu Jing'an woke up, she knew she had a fever. She saw the medicine that had been brought to her and was about to open her mouth to take it.

"Wait a minute, give me the medicine, I'll take it myself. Go get me some candy, it's too bitter."

Shen He looked at his wife, who was acting childish and affectionate towards him, and went out to get some candy with a smile.

As soon as Shen He left, Xu Jing'an examined the medicine in her hand carefully. It was the medicine she had taken out and placed on her bedside table before going to sleep, and the markings engraved on it had not changed.

Only then did he open his mouth and eat it.

It's the middle of the night, and they're calling for her medicine. Even though she understands what's going on, she's still scared.

The next day, Xu Jing'an's fever subsided, and she was full of energy again. She went to get off work and came home as usual, and life returned to normal.

"Dad, are you home?" The children saw Shen He making breakfast as soon as they woke up.

"Yes, Dad is resting these two days."

Mao Mao: "Dad, what are we having for lunch?"

DouDou: "As long as it's not dried noodles, it's fine."

Shen He smiled and replied, "How about braised pork?"

"Oh~, meat, meat!" the children exclaimed happily.

During his few days off, Shen He stayed home to cook and take the kids to and from school. The family enjoyed a lively meal of shredded potatoes, dumplings with scallion and meat filling, hand-pulled noodles with tomato and egg... they ate everything that was too much trouble to make with a knife!

Now, Mao Mao is the only child left sleeping with the couple.

For three days straight, Shen comforted his wife with his actions. When he went to work, he clearly felt his legs were a little weak.

……

会议 室

Qiao Fengchun: "Has everything been investigated thoroughly?"

Ren Jiahua: "Everything is clear. The on-site investigation, the autopsy, the time, place, tools, motive, and methods of the crime, as well as the physical evidence found at their residences, all completely match their confessions."

"The evidence is conclusive, and they have all confessed. We've also taken them to the crime scene and the location where the body was disposed of. We can close the case now."

Qiao Fengchun smiled happily: "Then everyone should get some rest now. I'll give you three days off, go ahead."

"Zhou Liu'er, you stay." Qiao Fengchun called out to the criminal investigation captain who was getting up to leave.

"Chief, what are your orders?"

"Tomorrow, take two people on the train to visit Shen and his lover's hometown."

"We still need you to conduct the investigation and interviews, no matter how small the matter is. Also, please keep an eye on her family. Show me the report when you get back."

Saturday: "Yes, Director."

Qiao Fengchun: "Don't cause any unnecessary trouble before he comes back."

"clear!"

Qiao Fengchun stared at the black dagger in silence.

Two people were booked on Saturday, and they left by car the next day.

After getting off the bus, Zhou Liuer took the letter of introduction and the address that Xu Jing'an had filled out and went directly to the local police station.

When he arrived at the local police station with his men, they knew there was no need for further questioning; they had found the cause. It was family genetics—it all came down to their roots!

……

After getting married in 1965, Xu Jingping continued to work in the workshop of the No. 3 State-owned Cotton Mill.

Yang's mother said she would retire once she had a grandson, but the key is that she doesn't have one yet. Xu Jingping was also unwilling to let Yang's mother easily find fault with her.

I worked in the workshop for half a year.

Xu Jingping wasn't good at academics, but when it came to scheming, no one could beat her. There were many women working there, and they would often gather together to gossip and chatter. Anything that happened in the factory would spread like wildfire.

People might just be saying it casually. Xu Jingping was determined to write down everything she heard, whether true or false, in her notebook. After six months, she had recorded the names of all the leaders and workers.

After summarizing, Xu Jingping found a breakthrough in her work—the director of the factory's women's federation.

Their family has only had one son for three generations. Their grandson is 8 years old this year and loves to swim and play in the river every summer.

Even adults sometimes fail to notice danger, let alone children.

Those who drown are all good swimmers! She just needs to keep a close eye on things. She observed for two years, and Xu Jingping also practiced swimming diligently for two years.

During this time, Xu Jingping gave birth to a daughter. When Yang's mother saw that it was a granddaughter, she didn't say another word about her earlier promise to retire and take care of the child.

Xu Jingping didn't mention the baby to her mother-in-law even after her postpartum confinement period ended. Only when facing her husband, Yang Hongbing, did she look at him with red eyes and ask, "Hongbing, the conditions where I live are terrible. What will we do with such a small baby?"

Looking at his helpless wife, tears streamed down Yang Hongbing's face.

He immediately patted his chest and decided to let his mother see it.

"Mom is getting old, and taking care of the children is very tiring. Is her health up to it?" Xu Jingping asked with concern.

"She's in good health. Besides, her job is easy, and the environment is nice. If she, as a grandmother, doesn't take care of her, who will?"

"That's not easy either, having to work and take care of the child at the same time."

"If she finds it too difficult, why doesn't she just step down and only look after the children?" Yang Hongbing thought this was an excellent idea.

He immediately took the child and handed him to Yang's mother. He didn't return for half an hour, and his expression was not good.

"What's wrong? Is Mom having some kind of trouble?"

"What difficulties? It's just that they have a preference for sons over daughters; their thinking is flawed!"

"Mom is getting old, and we children should be understanding. No, wait until you get your paycheck this month and buy her a new dress to comfort her."

"Wife, you have such a kind heart."

Yang Hongbing was the kind of person who would eat his fill of braised pork and still not think to ask his mother a single question. So when he got paid, he gave Xu Jingping every penny of his salary.

Yang's mother was so angry that she was panting heavily.

In this match between Xu Jingping and Yang's mother, Xu Jingping wins!

For the past two summers, she'd crossed the river carrying her green satchel. Finally, her chance arrived when she saw the Women's Federation director's grandson splashing around in the river. What was she waiting for?

As soon as Xu Jingping arrived, she saw the Women's Federation director leading a group of people running towards her. Her legs immediately went weak, and she staggered to the ground.

The family surrounded their grandson, wailing and crying. Xu Jingping felt that was enough, so she got up and took out a shirt from her bag and put it on.

In summer, thin clothes cling to the body as soon as you get wet. If you don't wear an extra layer, people will start gossiping.

The director of the Women's Federation held Xu Jingping's hand and thanked her repeatedly.

Three days later, Xu Jingping was transferred to the Women's Federation and became a clerk.