[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-siheyuan-food-love-and-family-in-1960s-beiji":3,"chapter-the-siheyuan-food-love-and-family-in-1960s-beiji-the-siheyuan-food-love-and-family-in-1960s-beiji-chapter-948":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Siheyuan: Food, Love, and Family in 1960s Beijing",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2314998,4526,"Chapter 948: Shared Suffering, Shared Joy","the-siheyuan-food-love-and-family-in-1960s-beiji-chapter-948",948,"\u003Cp>“He’s right here with us—thankfully, we never let go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Coming out of the meeting room, Lai Shanchuan said with relief, “Thank goodness we didn’t let go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu shook the cigarette off his hand, pulled out one and stuck it between his lips, then gestured toward Lai Shanchuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh! Premium stuff!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lai Shanchuan laughed as he took the cigarette Li Xuewu offered, muttered something under his breath, and lit it up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After drawing in a puff, he sighed, “You guys really have it better~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s just a pack of cigarettes—why make such a big deal?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu exhaled a plume of smoke and sidestepped at the corner to let the detective coming down the stairs pass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With today’s meeting over, they’d still split into several teams; Li Xuewu wouldn’t go out on field duty—he’d only support interrogations and analysis.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lai Shanchuan invited him to re-interrogate Yu Lanfang, while the head of the Criminal Unit would lead the team to investigate Zhao Ziliang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Ziliang’s joint venture factory, his home, the train station, the Zhili Guesthouse—all needed to be reviewed again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the very least, they needed to confirm whether Zhao Ziliang was dead or alive: if dead, the killer might still be free, or he might have committed suicide out of guilt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If alive, his disappearance was the biggest red flag—both the fraud and murder cases would center on him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Either way, this case was finally showing light—once a suspect was identified, it wasn’t a dead end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So both the Criminal and Public Order heads were rushing out—they were the ones on the front lines doing the hard work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they came down the stairs, several team leaders greeted Li Xuewu and Lai Shanchuan as they passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lai Shanchuan watched them leave with hopeful eyes, hoping this time they’d bring back new leads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he knew in his heart that the case had reached its final stage—it was nearly over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t that all evidence confirmed Zhao Ziliang as the killer; it was that he had no hope of finding Zhao Ziliang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they couldn’t break through with Yu Lanfang—or if they confirmed Yu Lanfang had nothing to do with this—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then the only conclusion left would be that Zhao Ziliang and Zhang Shuqin conspired in fraud, then killed each other over a dispute over the loot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two months of investigation had drained not just manpower and resources from the bureau, but also the detectives’ mental stamina.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They couldn’t keep pouring energy into this case forever—fifty thousand yuan wasn’t worth it, and two people—one dead, one vanished—weren’t worth it either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right after the meeting, he’d already spoken privately with Director Zheng: if this round yielded no results, they’d temporarily close the case by issuing a warrant for Zhao Ziliang’s arrest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If anything changed later, they’d still have room to act—and it would free up current investigative resources.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu, sitting close, had heard their discussion but stayed silent—his opinion wasn’t needed now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The afternoon interrogation would still be led by Li Xuewu; though new issues had emerged, they had past interrogation records, and Lai Shanchuan wanted to observe Yu Lanfang from the side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Lanfang looked exactly as he had two days ago when Li Xuewu last saw him—except his eyes now held more despair and gloom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu didn’t care about that—if judging truthfulness relied solely on facial expressions, how stupid would that be?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ve got a new development.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After sitting down, Li Xuewu moved his teacup aside and looked at Yu Lanfang: “You hit your wife on the night of the 28th, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Lanfang froze at the question, then turned pale: “You suspect me…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thump. Thump.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lai Shanchuan tapped the table and warned him: “Calm down—we’re asking you questions.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Lanfang glanced at him, clenched his fists, and fell silent, lips pressed tight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu studied him, then asked: “First there was an argument, then you hit her—correct?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tell us: what was your relationship with Zhang Shuqin? What you’ve told us and how you’ve acted doesn’t match what our investigators found.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I didn’t…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Lanfang bowed his head, slumped in his seat, and after a long silence, whispered: “I didn’t kill her… I didn’t…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whether you say it or I say it doesn’t matter—right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu paused, then said: “There was clearly tension between you two—you know whether you laid hands on her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced at Lai Shanchuan, then back at Yu Lanfang: “If you don’t want to talk, fine—but we now have grounds to suspect you had motive to kill.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Especially your hesitation right now!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lai Shanchuan’s face hardened as he pointed at him: “Every second you waste increases your suspicion. Think carefully—cooperate fully.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You don’t have to speak—we can guess.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Lai Shanchuan playing the stern one, Li Xuewu took the softer role: “No one’s found, no money’s found—how you end up handling this, you know best.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even if the money’s truly gone, leaving behind a lingering suspicion means you’ll never walk free.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s not even the worst of it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu looked at him: “Do you want your wife to rest in peace? Are you willing to take the blame for the real killer?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It… it… it was her…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Lanfang’s body collapsed inward, shoulders hunched, voice muffled: “She… Shuqin… had someone outside.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How did you find out?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lai Shanchuan and Li Xuewu exchanged a glance, then Lai Shanchuan snapped: “Why didn’t you say this during earlier questioning?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Lanfang spread his trembling hands on the table and slowly explained: “I don’t know who. It’s been going on a long time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I… I knew, but… sigh~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sighed deeply, speaking in fragments: “On the 29th, I thought she’d leave—she’d run off with him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“With whom?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lai Shanchuan frowned: “You don’t know?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t. I really don’t.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Lanfang slowly lifted his head, eyes filled with tears: “On the 30th, when the Supply and Marketing Cooperative came to say she was missing, I had a feeling.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Because you hit her? Right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow: “What really happened between you two? Why did you feel she’d leave? Tell us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I… I injured myself… from practicing…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Lanfang’s face flushed with shame: “I… I’m impotent. She said she’d go find someone else—I… I let her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When did this start?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu tapped the table: “How long after your injury? How many years ago?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Five or six years—five or six years ago.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Lanfang took a deep breath: “For the first two years, she was good—she cared for my feelings. But later, resentment built up—small fights daily, big fights constantly—sigh~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s all my fault—I ruined her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Lanfang’s face twisted with grief: “I should’ve let her go long ago—I shouldn’t have cared about face, shouldn’t have held her back—it’s all my fault~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This reason surprised Li Xuewu—but the situation itself was exactly what he’d expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew opera performers trained hard—he just didn’t know how training could destroy one’s sexual ability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is there a “Kuihua Manual” in opera?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Lanfang had been orphaned as a child, picked up by a troupe, and by chance became a disciple, learning the craft.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even after marriage, the couple had been harmonious and deeply affectionate—until this sudden disaster struck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, he’d been generous—he urged his wife to divorce and remarry a good man, not to stay with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But back then, they were enduring hardship together; Zhang Shuqin told him: “Better to marry a woman who’s mended her ways than one who’s strayed. If I leave now, where would I go but suffer?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A marriage begun young, no matter how hard, was deeper than one formed mid-life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Shuqin refused to leave—afraid both would regret it and suffer. So they carried on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Love, without nourishment, slowly fades.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, their shared hardship outweighed the emptiness—but over time, hearts changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before two years passed, Zhang Shuqin couldn’t bear it anymore. Once her job stabilized, she demanded a separation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that point, Yu Lanfang refused—he’d mustered courage to let her go, but her resistance had shaken him; now he lacked the strength to face life alone amid gossip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One wanted to leave, the other wouldn’t let go—how could such a life be bearable?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Small fights, big fights—until Zhang Shuqin threatened divorce. Yu Lanfang went straight to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back then, work units were different—they controlled everything: marriage, divorce, even your private life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If a worker abandoned her husband, everyone in the unit would feel ashamed—the leadership would be humiliated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So the organization took turns persuading Zhang Shuqin, offering support, and applying pressure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Faced with this, what could Zhang Shuqin do? The organization’s message was clear—if she pushed for divorce, she’d be driven out of the unit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had no choice but to swallow her pride and endure this hollow, miserable marriage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But at some point, Yu Lanfang noticed Zhang Shuqin’s temper had softened considerably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, he thought his persistence had paid off—she was finally accepting and understanding him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But later, he sensed something was wrong—from neighbors’ whispers and his own observations—he realized she had a lover.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d asked her before—but each time, she either denied it outright, stayed silent, or flew into a rage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the fights got bad, she’d hurl every insult imaginable—he endured it all, afraid of the scandal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t perform those duties, and they weren’t even in the same unit—he couldn’t watch her, couldn’t guard her. Her heart wasn’t with him—what good was watching her body?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Filled with guilt and regret, he stopped caring about it, pouring all his energy into his performance career.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wonder if heaven was playing a joke on him—his marriage fell apart, yet his career took off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gradually became a pillar of the troupe and gained some fame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, even if he wanted to cause trouble, he dared not. The couple lived separate lives, and for a while, things settled down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as his fame grew and his progress accelerated, when he heard his wife bring another man home, all his suppressed concern erupted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He demanded to know why she treated him so cruelly, why she left him not even a shred of dignity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Shuqin was also seething with anger—she endured in silence, while Yulanfang rose to success and became even more illustrious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What should have been her husband’s triumph became a burden she could not escape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More and more people learned she was Yulanfang’s wife; the reputation she had once ignored now turned against her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outsiders looked at her with contempt and disdain, believing she had betrayed Yulanfang, and all criticism fell upon her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could Zhang Shuqin endure this humiliation? Like a broken pot she no longer cared about, she began deliberately bringing men home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What neighbors saw was mostly what Zhang Shuqin wanted them to see—intentionally so Yulanfang would know.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to Yulanfang, he proposed divorce at the end of last year, granting Zhang Shuqin her freedom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Zhang Shuqin refused—partly because his salary had risen, partly out of revenge and unwillingness to let go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulanfang now understood his wife’s meaning: it was hatred for him, hatred born of love—how deeply he had once loved her, now she hated him just as deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He admitted he had struck Zhang Shuqin more than once; the last time was on the 28th, when he found a man’s clothes in the house.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But I swear, I did not kill her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulanfang looked at Li Xuewu and said seriously: “Ever since she threatened to expose my situation and kept bringing men home to punish me, I knew I had to let go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What about the threats?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu glanced at him and asked: “Don’t you think her threats carried weight? Didn’t they affect your career?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hehe~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulanfang gave a bitter laugh, took a deep breath, and said: “Even if she hadn’t spoken, how could anyone truly hide it? It’s all about face.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he looked at Li Xuewu and said: “Actors are bottom-tier; it was the new era that gave us status, let us live like human beings.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But in our line, how many have truly broken free, truly escaped the chains within?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This half-dead body”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked down at himself and said: “Compared to others, I’m nothing—yet at least I’m still a man.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu had never understood this mindset; he turned to look at Lai Shanchuan, who nodded slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed this circle was truly chaotic—not just in recent times, but from its very roots.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In my situation, my illness isn’t shameful—it can even earn sympathy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulanfang spoke frankly: “If I divorce Zhang Shuqin, I won’t lose anything. If she causes trouble, in the end, she’s the one who suffers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu agreed—Zhang Shuqin had ruined her own reputation; if she kept causing scenes with Yulanfang, she was only digging her own grave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“On the night of the 28th, she suddenly broke her silence and said we should find a convenient time to divorce.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulanfang closed his eyes slightly and said: “She said she was at peace, that she no longer wanted to live with me. I understood what she meant.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He opened his eyes again and looked at Li Xuewu: “People like us are now rats crossing the street—her resentment naturally vanished.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So you didn’t want to divorce anymore?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu listened to his story like watching a Korean drama—was marriage really this complicated?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neither spouse was generous; after their hearts drifted apart, neither wished the other well, and so they ended up like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulanfang paused, then said: “I was willing. I agreed. I was tired. Divorce would be better for both.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And then?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lai Shanchuan narrowed his eyes and asked: “Did Zhang Shuqin plan to run away? Or did she intend to take that money and disappear?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let me remind you”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu tapped the table and said to Yulanfang: “If you’re certain you’re innocent, then someone must have appeared between you and your wife.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Think carefully—did Zhang Shuqin plan to leave you, leave Jingcheng? Did that person threaten or urge her to flee?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulanfang frowned in pain, straining to recall that final night with her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There must have been signs.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu prompted him: “According to our investigation, Zhang Shuqin’s documents, clothes, and belongings hadn’t been moved. She showed no intention to leave to anyone at her workplace.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Leave? Impossible.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulanfang thought and said: “I have no parents, but she does. Her two younger brothers are useless—she supports them entirely.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm, go on.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lai Shanchuan felt he had grasped the key point—there was more to dig up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Her documents… were all there. On the 29th, she showed no unusual behavior.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulanfang recalled: “The slap you mentioned—I didn’t really hit her. How could I truly strike her?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The clothes”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu reminded him: “You said you saw a man’s clothes—where are they now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulanfang shook his head: “They disappeared the next day. She must have hidden them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They weren’t.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lai Shanchuan said: “We searched your home. All items were registered and confirmed by you. Every single one.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I truly don’t know where she put them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulanfang said: “If she threw them in the stove, I wouldn’t have known.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was possible. Lai Shanchuan glanced at him but dropped the line of questioning, gesturing for him to continue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The divorce was agreed upon, but not so urgently. Afterward, she’d need to find a new place—she wouldn’t leave Jingcheng.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulanfang hesitated: “She wouldn’t give up her job at the supply and marketing cooperative, and she’d never abandon her parents.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As for the fraud, the money, whether someone forced her…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulanfang thought and said: “My salary has always been with her. Our household never lacked money.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even if we divorced, she wouldn’t worry about finances. So I simply don’t believe she committed fraud.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said earnestly: “And coercion? Impossible. She’s the strongest-willed person I know—she’d never yield.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The only possibility is deception.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulanfang thought and said: “We were both simple-minded. Neither of us had cunning or scheming thoughts—that’s why we ended up like this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you say she was deceived, I can’t rule it out…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Any suspects?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lai Shanchuan asked: “Relatives? Friends? Even that person you heard about?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hehe, nearly two months now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulanfang sighed helplessly: “Here, I’ve told you everyone I know, everyone I can think of.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Except, of course, this matter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He nodded, admitting: “I find it hard to speak of this—and I have nothing to hide.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I hope so.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lai Shanchuan glanced at Li Xuewu, stood up, and said: “Don’t try to deceive us. If you do, you won’t just be wasting your own time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That~!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the two rose to leave, Yulanfang raised his hand: “What about Shuqin’s funeral…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lai Shanchuan watched Li Xuewu leave first, then turned back to Yulanfang: “The forensic team is still searching for clues. We’ll decide once we have something.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without caring about Yulanfang’s expression, he followed Li Xuewu out of the interrogation room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the lobby lounge, Li Xuewu sat smoking. Lai Shanchuan glanced at him, then sat in the row ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s the likelihood it was Yulanfang?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lai Shanchuan lit his own cigarette, turned, leaned back, and looked at Li Xuewu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu exhaled smoke and said: “I can’t think of any motive for him to strike.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Betrayal? Threats? Or something else?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lai Shanchuan drew on his cigarette: “He might be too good at pretending. Is he hiding something from us?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Like what?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu’s gaze shifted to Lai Shanchuan’s face: “Is he concealing this fact—or does he know who came to his house?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hard to say.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lai Shanchuan narrowed his eyes, thinking: “Especially that piece of clothing—it might not have been hidden by Zhang Shuqin.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If he’s hiding that, does it cut off the link to Zhao Ziliang’s murder?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu tapped his chin: “The train station might not yield anything—not even in Zhili.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Indeed~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lai Shanchuan sighed deeply: “Too much time has passed. Zhao Ziliang was planning to flee to the countryside—if he was killed in some remote valley, we’d never find him in eight lifetimes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s good, then?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu smiled at Lai Shanchuan: “If Yulanfang’s cleared, you can close the case.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lai Shanchuan eyed Li Xuewu without speaking—he felt there was more behind his words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, he understood Li Xuewu’s personality, and knew full well that Li had overheard his discussion with Director Zheng about closing the case.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn’t matter—there was no way he’d let one man’s pride drag the whole team down with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If problems arose later, whatever blame fell on him, he’d bear it; whatever punishment came, he’d take it. Over the years, how many problematic cases had there been?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this line of work, no one gets to avoid disciplinary action. Frontline teams, especially his position, weren’t jobs for good people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Don’t be fooled by Li Xuewu sitting there making sarcastic remarks—if he were in that chair, he’d be just as desperate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back then, Li Xuewu was Deputy Director of Public Security—why didn’t he ever show up for work?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Do you think he really withheld work from Li Xuewu? This wasn’t some plum assignment—he was the top man; the benefits always went to him anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu is cunning. When he couldn’t get anything out of Yu Lanfang, did you see him even listen when you talked about handling Zhang Shuqin’s funeral?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lai Shanchuan knew clearly: the fact that Li Xuewu gave no answer to his question was itself the answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Lanfang had no motive to commit the crime.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Don’t talk about betrayal or threats—this whole affair between them had been common knowledge since the moment he tacitly accepted it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they truly cared, they’d have settled it long ago—why wait until Zhao Ziliang was about to travel?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to Zhao Ziliang’s sudden disappearance, Yu Lanfang’s suspicion had dropped dramatically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lai Shanchuan’s silence in reply to Li Xuewu was the answer—he’d already made up his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu saw it too: his support had amounted to nothing, but the outcome was still acceptable—at least they now had a reason to close the case.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sat in the lobby waiting, hoping to see Lai Shanchuan’s stance—if there was nothing more, he’d head home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A botched operation?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not at all. From the start, this case had been twisted like a rope—everyone involved was exhausted and wanted it closed as soon as possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was this case difficult?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu didn’t think his support had helped them much; his only role was to give them a reason to close the case.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Lai Shanchuan alone had come up with this reason, he’d struggle to explain it to superiors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if they brought in an expert from above, that person might not be willing to back them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He, as a rising star in his department, had a bit of reputation, and Lai Shanchuan was considerate—he’d been actively promoting him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why the investigators rushed out that afternoon—they all wanted to run the evidence through a sieve, then sign off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even without finding the money, the murder weapon, or the primary crime scene, the combined evidence was enough to justify a conclusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because the perpetrator had fled and kept misleading them, the designated killer had sufficient motive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Ziliang had an affair with Zhang Shuqin, learned the credit union’s procedures through his wife Du Xiaoyan, frequently traveled, and had ample experience away from base…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With all these facts laid out, the credit union would be satisfied, the supply and marketing cooperative would be satisfied, and superiors would be satisfied too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Yu Lanfang, he’d already saved his life and ended an unhappy marriage—what more could he want?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Xiaoyan herself was at fault; with her husband missing, what grounds did she have to protest?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone tacitly accepted it and was satisfied—wasn’t that a perfect case closure?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu sat with the silent Lai Shanchuan, smoked the last puff of his cigarette, crushed the butt, and stood to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he took two steps, Lai Shanchuan’s voice came from behind: “I’m not a good police officer, am I?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could Li Xuewu answer that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Should he say Lai was a good leader?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu couldn’t say something untrue—after all, that knife Lai had once plunged into him wasn’t the act of a good leader.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for sarcastic remarks, that wasn’t necessary—he wasn’t that petty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He kept walking, turned his head slightly, waved his hand, and gave a faint smile—his farewell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Good and bad were never terms meant to describe people—at least in his heart, there were no good or bad people in this world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Doing good deeds didn’t make someone good; doing wrong didn’t make someone bad—but someone who did wrong and refused to repent? That person was certainly no good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Thursday, when he left the branch, Li Xuewu never again involved himself in the case.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t need to sign anything, nor did he need to give any speech to superiors to endorse it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The branch would certainly include his name on the case closure report.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he was no longer part of that system—not directly, at least. As a temporary support officer, he bore no responsibility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though some doubts still lingered in his mind, the case was no longer his concern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Early Sunday morning, Li Xuewu woke on the guesthouse bed, stretched wide, then yawned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Songying nearly passed out from his elbow swing and kicked him hard under the covers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re doing that on purpose, aren’t you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ow~ Be gentle!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu winced and complained: “I wasn’t even wearing pants!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did I hurt you?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Songying froze—she hadn’t really used any force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She knew this rascal liked to tease her, but still worried—she pulled back the covers and crawled in, asking: “Here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sssss~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu suddenly widened his eyes, unable to suppress a smirk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Down~ Up~ Right there! Yes~ Yes~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Songying’s muffled voice came from under the covers, tinged with doubt: “Could I even kick here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, exactly!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu grinned wickedly: “See? Swollen yet?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Songying knew this man was no good—he’d tricked her again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she was kind-hearted; even if it wasn’t her fault, could she ignore someone in pain?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After washing up, Zhang Songying went to apply makeup—same routine, but after her trip to Yangcheng, she’d added a few new essentials.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who won last night?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Songying glanced at Li Xuewu in the mirror and asked: “Why does Deputy Shi look so upset? Lose too badly?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Really? I didn’t notice~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu adjusted his leather jacket, glanced at himself sideways in the mirror, and said casually: “I only won less than twenty—didn’t you take it all back?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Director Li won more—probably close to fifty.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He picked up the wooden comb on the table, combed his hair, and restored his lightning-strike hairstyle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Songying looked up at Li Xuewu, pouting: “You had no money in your pocket—how did you win twenty?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu didn’t blush in the least, speaking seriously: “Don’t you know I’m famous for winning without stakes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now I know~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Songying smiled and asked: “If you won, everyone was happy—but what if you lost?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Play with them? I’d lose?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow, dismissive: “Last night was clearly a charity game—anyone who lost was a fool!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph~~~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Songying sneered: “They gave the leader a chance to win—you stole it. Aren’t you afraid he’ll resent you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If I didn’t steal it, he’d be the one angry!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu tossed the comb aside and explained to Zhang Songying: “Deputy Shi’s never played with Director Li—he doesn’t know Director Li’s temperament.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, he grabbed his bag from the cabinet and slipped on his leather shoes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Director Li is all show—but he hates pretense at the table. Last night, I saved Deputy Shi’s life.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just nonsense~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Songying stood, picked up the money on the bedside table, and called out to Li Xuewu as he headed for the door: “You haven’t taken your money yet~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You took it—it’s yours now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu turned back with a grin: “Wish me luck—I’ll win more next time, so you can steal even more.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So this is illegal income then~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Songying smiled: “Perfect—I’ve got a date with Qin Huaiju for a haircut. We’ll eat well outside, then go shopping for fabric to make clothes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So you’re going to spend it all, huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu nodded: “Fine, do as you please—you’re a spendthrift.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who are you calling that?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Songying chased after him, but Li Xuewu was already out the door—and had locked her inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She pouted angrily, tucked the money away, and went back to drawing her eyebrows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Last night, Director Li hosted several cadres from branch factories for a meeting and invited Li Xuewu to join.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They drank plenty, then went upstairs after the party to play cards and chat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Songying, busy preparing for the opening of the Six Nations Hotel, no longer took shifts here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But knowing Li Xuewu wouldn’t be home, she stayed over—this had become routine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Huaiju was on duty last night but didn’t come upstairs—partly because it was inconvenient and she didn’t like the crowd, partly because she didn’t want to be a nuisance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu is no longer the little brother he used to be; unlike Zhang Songying, he doesn’t have the luxury to play around anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Li Xuewu descend the stairs, Qin Huaiju stepped out of her office and invited him to the canteen for breakfast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu glanced at his watch, waved his hand, and said he was in a hurry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Huaiju didn’t know what Li Xuewu was busy with all day—he couldn’t even spare time for breakfast on a weekend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he was rushing home, wasn’t it already too late at this hour?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu wasn’t going home; he’d called his family last night, and Han Jiankun hadn’t returned either, so Qin Jingru was staying overnight at the Maritime Warehouse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Last week Yu Li had complained to him, calling him a hands-off shopkeeper, growing more and more like a capitalist who now needed to be visited for work reports.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He understood Yu Li’s discomfort—he wasn’t blind; Qin Jingru’s cautious glances were obvious even to Han Jiankun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When dropping Yu Li off, Han Jiankun had even initiated a few words with her, attempting to ease tensions—an unusual act of initiative for him, given his practice of the Closed-Mouth Chan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So don’t wait until Yu Li grows tired and starts nagging him again; he’s already arranged to meet Lou Yu and her husband—better to go early, before something else comes up and he can’t avoid it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The command vehicle left the guesthouse and drove out, just as it reached the gate encountering the second group of young visitors come to observe and learn at the factory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu looked at these progressive students with innocent, clueless eyes and wondered how many more batches the Foreign Affairs Office’s reception station could handle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pushing them to work so hard like this will eventually make them despised by everyone!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The heated brick bed is awful!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This house is broken—no air conditioning at all!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t want steamed buns—I want bread!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as Li Xuewu stepped out of the car, he saw Lou Yu soothing a little brat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t that he was rude—he just couldn’t ignore that the child’s hat had two rabbit ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lou Yu had already spotted his car entering the courtyard and was now waiting for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey! That hat’s really cute!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu smiled, sizing up the little rabbit, and instead of greeting Lou Yu, he teased the child first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lou Ting had also noticed the car entering the yard; now seeing a tall, fearsome-looking man step out, he immediately hid behind his grandfather.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d heard from family and seen in photo albums that men dressed like this were usually called “Big Boss.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Big Boss”—a noun, not an adjective.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His grandmother told him these Big Bosses were mostly bandits, just like the man standing before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wearing a tall hat, scars on their faces, wool overcoats, leather gloves in hand, and heavy boots on their feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since childhood, he’d known that bandits ate children.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lou Yu held his grandson, who cowered behind him, and looked at Li Xuewu with a complex expression—both grandfather and grandson bore the same trace of fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When did you arrive?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu grinned, making Lou Ting dare not look at him at all; he teased the child again: “Was the journey smooth?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It was fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lou Yu glanced down at his grandson, tugged his hand, and coached him: “Say… say ‘Uncle.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I won’t!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lou Ting wouldn’t even look at Li Xuewu—he yanked his hand free and sprinted toward the room he’d stayed in yesterday.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the port city, he’d been locked in the ship’s hold like a piglet, too scared to cry or shout.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He ate whatever was given without protest, dared not call out even when hungry—finally showing some discipline after all these years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as he disembarked, he was shoved into a car, his mouth even gagged, tears held back until he saw his grandfather.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was truly among kin—he cried five or six times, devoured three large steamed buns, and finally calmed down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No manners.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lou Yu watched his grandson run off and scolded helplessly: “He’s badly raised—spoiled rotten by his father.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kids—you teach them slowly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu raised his hand slightly and gestured: “You go ahead—I’ll eat at the canteen, then come find you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come home to eat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lou Yu gently patted Li Xuewu’s arm and sighed: “Spoiled and soft—he can’t handle coarse food. His mother made him breakfast.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s perfect.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu smiled, unbothered by formality, and followed him into the courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These days, Lou Yu had lived alone in one room here; after the port city’s upheaval, Tan Yali, uneasy, came down from the mountains to keep him company.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She’d heard of her daughter’s actions in the port city and feared for the old man’s safety—so they both waited here for Li Xuewu, sharing hardship as one unit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his small talk, Lou Yu expressed no resentment toward his wife, his daughter, or even Li Xuewu—only complained about his grandson’s lack of promise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu didn’t take the bait—he listened, murmured “uh-huh” and “yeah,” playing the straight man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as they entered their courtyard, he saw Lou’s mother waiting at the door and greeted her with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mom, you’re waiting for me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah… I just heard Lou Ting say you’d arrived. Haven’t eaten yet, right? Quick, I’ve already served it up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tan Yali froze at being called “Mom,” then glanced awkwardly at her husband, inviting Li Xuewu inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lou Yu didn’t mind the term—it was meant for him, loaded with meaning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boasting? Threatening? Or soothing?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The deed was done; what could he say now?\u003C\u002Fp>",5466,"2026-06-20T13:47:03.676Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","c6e3312b57911f81e5155d728bcafcffc3988150087d5eee1134333bc932c3e4","the-siheyuan-food-love-and-family-in-1960s-beiji-chapter-949","the-siheyuan-food-love-and-family-in-1960s-beiji-chapter-947",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-siheyuan-food-love-and-family-in-1960s-beiji-cover.jpg"]