[{"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-955":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},2315005,4526,"Chapter 955: One Glance, Ten Thousand Years","the-siheyuan-food-love-and-family-in-1960s-beiji-chapter-955",955,"\u003Cp>What can I do for him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Xiaoyan looked up at Li Xuewu, her tear-filled eyes bewildered: “He must hate me, doesn’t he?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm, I don’t know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu shook his head slightly, pressed his lips together, paused, then said: “He’s insecure—ever since I met him, he’s been like that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s my fault. My fault.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Xiaoyan sniffled, letting tears fall, her gaze fixed on the door: “What I have now is what I deserve.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Maybe. But he still remembers you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu’s tone was casual, not pressuring her to confess—as if two strangers were just chatting idly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The others in the room stayed silent, watching Li Xuewu and Du Xiaoyan exchange words, one after the other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s easygoing, has no bad habits, doesn’t know how to flatter anyone—just keeps his head down and works.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Xiaoyan wiped her nose with a tissue, speaking in broken fragments: “When he comes home, he only tidies tools or fiddles with seasonings—rarely talks to me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My father said he’s an honest man; marrying him won’t leave me at a loss, won’t bring me grief—no in-laws above me, I live my own life.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But I was young, didn’t understand what ‘living’ meant—I thought fun and joy were all that mattered. His patience I mistook for weakness.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wuwu~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Xiaoyan covered her face with her hands and sobbed: “Since leaving him, I’ve never met anyone I could trust again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What about Zhao Ziliang?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu lit himself a cigarette, smoking as he asked: “What’s he like? The husband you chose.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I chose him. But as you’ve seen—have I ever picked the right answer in my life?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Xiaoyan wiped her tears: “I chose him because he was the only one willing to marry me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How did it come to that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu flicked ash and asked: “You’re one of the Eight Officials—finding a spouse shouldn’t be hard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re a cadre too—would you just randomly pick a spouse?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Xiaoyan looked at Li Xuewu: “Since leaving home to make my way, the only thing left I care about is this face—nearly ruined already.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I understand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu gave a slight nod, understanding, not bothered by her tone—he felt it himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this era, divorce was bad for both men and women—it signaled immaturity in marriage, or irresponsibility toward oneself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Later generations grew more indifferent to this, due to economic development—but big families still cared deeply about upbringing and refinement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially for children from single-parent homes, people tended to be cautious—such children might be extreme, emotionally flawed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Xiaoyan’s case was even more peculiar—her marriage to Wei Wei ended in a particularly disgraceful way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She became the household name Pan Jinlian—everyone avoided her, even her own parents and siblings disowned her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why her vanity ran so high—the more she lacked, the more she clung to it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially from the slander around her, she felt compelled to prove herself through action.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To win back her parents’ and siblings’ forgiveness, she ruined herself—for pleasure, and for this face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why she just said she got what she deserved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What she owed Wei Wei, and the grain station cadre, must be repaid—and from the moment she sinned, she’d already walked the path of no return.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Human hearts lean toward goodness—forgiveness isn’t just for others, but for oneself too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Wei had long since lost his hatred for her—so even living humbly, she never took her own life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But her and the grain station cadre? That’s uncertain—they may already be in their final countdown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You didn’t love him, yet followed social norms, rushing to marry someone else.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu exhaled smoke and asked: “Do you think Zhao Ziliang ruined you—or is the problem within you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Xiaoyan fell silent for a long while, then said: “I don’t blame him. He’s a playboy—just like me, obsessed with face, fond of petty cleverness.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm. He embezzled some funds from his unit—you knew about that, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu nodded: “Did you use it? Or did he?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“At first I didn’t know. Later, he never brought money home.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Xiaoyan thought a moment: “I paid for everything at home—he rarely came back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So your relationship fell apart?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu took a drag, squinting: “Did you kill him? Or who pulled the trigger?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this question, Du Xiaoyan lowered her head into silence. Zheng Fuhua stood up, went out, brought back a glass of water—she still said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Speak. Say it out loud—you’ll feel better, and we’ll feel lighter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fuhua sighed: “Later, you’ll likely be transferred to our unit—I guarantee you won’t suffer, won’t be mistreated.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Xiaoyan lifted her head, her face pale and ashen: “I want to live... isn’t that allowed?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I need to make this clear to you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu took over, tapped her lightly: “The things I told you aren’t lies. Think for yourself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you can expose Lai Shanchuan—or someone even bigger—your chance to earn merit and save your life is very real.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Especially now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu flicked ash, leaned close with narrowed eyes, whispering: “Your case may never go to trial—those on the other side are overwhelmed already.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Xiaoyan’s eyes widened in disbelief, then turned to Zheng Fuhua—she still trusted the old comrade more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But seeing Zheng Fuhua press his lips and lower his head to drink, her heart came alive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu’s words might be true—if she didn’t have to face trial, her chance to survive could indeed rise sharply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I didn’t kill him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Xiaoyan shook her head slightly at Li Xuewu: “Truly—I never wanted to kill him. It was Lai Yide who did it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu found the name oddly familiar: “Lai Shanchuan’s son?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Xiaoyan nodded: “It was him—he killed Zhao Ziliang. I only found out later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What about Zhang Shuqin?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu dropped his cigarette, frowning: “Was it also Lai Yide?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No... I’m not sure.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Xiaoyan lowered her head, voice trembling: “They didn’t say. I didn’t dare ask.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who’s ‘they’?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu zeroed in, tapped the small table before her with his cigarette: “Could Lai Yide and Zhao Ziliang have planned this together?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Xiaoyan answered with a brief silence—then, before Li Xuewu could ask again, she said: “Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tell me everything.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu gave Zheng Fuhua a glance—he stood and walked out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I... I met Lai Yide in August this year.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Xiaoyan hesitated, then explained: “He came to our commune—our director’s son was his classmate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What was your relationship with him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu pinpointed the key point again, highlighting it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t a major clue—but it was the hammer that shattered Du Xiaoyan’s inner defenses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You slept together, didn’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Xiaoyan fell silent, then nodded: “I never thought it would turn out like this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu didn’t care for her excuse—he’d heard that line too often from modern “bad girls.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Keep going. How did Lai Yide get involved? Did he plan this himself?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let me remind you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu tapped the table: “The sentencing for mastermind and accomplice differs. You understand, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It... it was him and Zhao Ziliang who planned it...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Xiaoyan looked up at Li Xuewu: “After we got together, he kept talking about stealing money from the credit union. I was scared of him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And Zhao Ziliang—how did he meet him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu asked: “Through you? Or did you introduce them?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It... it was by accident.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Xiaoyan lowered her head: “He heard me describe Zhao’s position—and instead of getting angry, he pulled Lai Yide close, started building ties.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They ran a few projects together, seemed to make money—Lai Yide got the ideas from his university activities.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Xiaoyan didn’t know the details—she didn’t participate, just accompanied Lai Yide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then, for some reason, Lai Yide disappeared for a few days. When he came back, he said he needed money—at least a hundred thousand. Where could we get that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So he turned to Zhao Ziliang?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu frowned and said, “That doesn’t make sense—Zhao Ziliang and Zhang Shuqin weren’t lovers, were they?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, they weren’t.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Xiaoyan gave a bitter smile. “I can’t say for sure, but they never had that kind of relationship.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhang Shuqin wanted a divorce—she was trying to humiliate her husband.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She explained, “I met her first. Over time we became friends. Plus, Zhao Ziliang was her hometown friend, and their families were close.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She told me herself—her marriage was unhappy, she wanted a divorce, but her husband refused. So she wanted to find someone to play along.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As soon as I heard it, I knew who she meant. Zhao Ziliang was right there, and he agreed on the spot.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Xiaoyan shook her head slightly. “I could tell Zhao Ziliang had feelings for her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So what exactly do you mean by that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu frowned. “Our investigation found Zhao Ziliang left clothes behind at her house, sparking a violent argument between Yu Lanfang and Zhang Shuqin.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That came later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Xiaoyan explained, “They played along for months. Over time, feelings grew—I think Zhang Shuqin developed feelings for Zhao Ziliang too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But because of me, and because she hadn’t divorced yet, and because her husband was still around, their feelings were conflicted.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I suspect that’s why Zhao Ziliang never mentioned her to me—not even after what happened.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu studied Du Xiaoyan, judging her truthfulness. “So was it you two conspiring to swindle her, or did she swindle you, then play the role of the bird behind the hunter?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Neither. She was innocent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Xiaoyan laughed bitterly. “She never knew any of this—even at the moment of her death, she didn’t know her bag didn’t contain five thousand, but fifty thousand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tell me more.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu turned his head toward the door—Zheng Fuhua had just walked in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two exchanged a glance; in that moment, their unspoken understanding confirmed everything was under control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A duty officer followed Zheng Fuhua in and stepped up to Li Xuewu, whispering something in his ear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Li Huai’s call back—he was in a bad mood, demanding Li Xuewu finish this case quickly and stop wasting time on trivial matters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I understand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu dismissed the officer quietly, then turned back to Du Xiaoyan. “Continue.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“On the 26th night, Zhao Ziliang came over with Lai Yide. After dinner, they brought up the plan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They asked me to bring back the supply and marketing cooperative’s financial seal and signature forms from work so someone could forge them—and to confirm the last time Zhang Shuqin withdrew money from the cooperative.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“At first I refused, but Lai Yide threatened me—he said if I didn’t comply, he’d send me to prison, and that he had proof of all my crimes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhao Ziliang stepped in and persuaded me—he said once the money was secured, we’d split it evenly, and I could balance the books.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here, Du Xiaoyan’s gaze turned bitter. “Lai Yide couldn’t possibly have had proof of my crimes—it was Zhao Ziliang who told him, just to force me into compliance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And then?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu didn’t want to hear her complaints. “How did you carry it out?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They gave me the supply and marketing cooperative’s financial seal. I already knew when Zhang Shuqin came to withdraw money—everything else was easy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Xiaoyan, ashamed of her own financial skill, confessed: “I called her, arranged for her to come at noon—because that’s when everyone was off duty, and only I was on shift.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I told her on the phone that Zhao Ziliang was leaving on a business trip the next morning, and he’d left a bag of luggage with me. I’d be on night duty and couldn’t return home—could she pick up the money and deliver the bag for me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“After lunch, when everyone went to rest, I went ahead and took the cash box from the vault, placing it right by my feet.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Once Han Luyao entered the office, I slipped fifty thousand yuan in cash into a pre-prepared bag, hiding it well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“At noon, Zhang Shuqin arrived on time—I was startled at first because she came with a coworker, that girl from the supply and marketing cooperative.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But the other woman didn’t come inside, so I relaxed. I chatted with her about the girl while using the counter to conceal the switch of her withdrawal slip.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“After finishing the paperwork, I handed her the five thousand yuan she requested. She didn’t even look at the signature log—she just signed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It was blank—so I could later fill it in to balance the books.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When everything was done, I handed her the bag containing forty-five thousand yuan, saying Zhao was in a hurry—otherwise he wouldn’t have bothered her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I could see her hesitation—she was probably worried about carrying so much cash, afraid something might happen. But I asked her so rarely, and she was going to see Zhao Ziliang, so…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Xiaoyan spoke in a low voice. “I watched her walk to her death. Lai Yide and Zhao Ziliang never said what they’d do to her—but I could guess.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What happened at the Goldfish Pond?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu frowned. “Did you arrange for her to meet Zhao Ziliang at the Goldfish Pond?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, not at all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Xiaoyan explained, “Zhao Ziliang often danced at the club near the Goldfish Pond—it was their usual gathering spot.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So you didn’t know what happened that night? You didn’t even know how Zhang Shuqin was dealt with?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu frowned. “Then how did you come up with the idea to frame Zhao Ziliang? Why deliberately mislead our investigation?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, it wasn’t me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Xiaoyan said anxiously, “After the incident, the supply and marketing cooperative came to investigate. I knew something had gone wrong, so I followed the plan and steered everything toward a fraud case.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So your original plan was to make it look like a fraud, pin it on Zhang Shuqin—once she vanished, the case would become unsolvable, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu thought for a moment. “In that plan, the step of using Zhang Shuqin’s identity to mail three letters to mislead the investigation—was that Zhao Ziliang’s job?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Xiaoyan explained, “That was the plan. Zhao Ziliang was leaving on a business trip on the 30th—he traveled nationwide for work, so he knew how to handle this kind of thing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When did you find out Zhao Ziliang was in trouble?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu frowned slightly. “Why didn’t Lai Yide turn on you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It was the 30th—I got home and found Zhao Ziliang’s bag still there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Xiaoyan’s face turned ashen. “He couldn’t have missed that train. The unit had strict rules—first and last trains had to be on time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It was Lai Yide. When I panicked, he came to my house, threw two ten-thousand-yuan notes at me, and said, ‘That’s your share.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I asked about Zhao Ziliang’s whereabouts—he said Zhao had taken his share and fled. He told me to forget about him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He was harsh then—he told me exactly what to do if questioned: blame everything on Zhao Ziliang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So this was his backup plan?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu said, “The first backup was Zhang Shuqin—her disappearance made the fraud case unsolvable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The second backup was Zhao Ziliang—not Yu Lanfang. Right? It was all a cover.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And you? You’re his third backup.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu pointed at Du Xiaoyan. “What guarantee did he give you? What safety measures did he arrange to make you believe he’d save you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He… he said he wouldn’t get caught.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Xiaoyan stammered, “He told me to trust him—that his father would never let him get into trouble. Even if I was investigated for financial crimes, he’d get me out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He said if I stuck to saying I’d only ever had accounting problems, even if I went to jail, I’d be released quickly—and with twenty thousand yuan, I’d never have to worry about money again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did you believe him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow. “Is your life worth only twenty thousand yuan?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I couldn’t not believe him—my life was worthless.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Xiaoyan wept. “Ever since I took that first hundred yuan, my life had no value.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu tilted his head slightly. The truth was exactly as Du Xiaoyan said—once she took that first step, even demons wouldn’t let her stop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Afterward, who prepared Zhang Shuqin’s bicycle, her bag, her body, and those three letters?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu looked at her. “You can’t seriously think Lai Yide ran to three different cities himself?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It was him—he hired someone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Xiaoyan wiped her tears. “He came to my house with a man, told me to copy Zhang Shuqin’s handwriting for the letters, and asked me to pick three people to send them to.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How did you learn to imitate someone’s handwriting?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu studied her. “Did you practice specifically for this case?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No… no.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Xiaoyan lowered her head. “The first hundred yuan I stole—I got caught because my handwriting didn’t match.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sixwa!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This woman worked hard, trained relentlessly—what a waste of such a sharp mind, never used for anything good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She kept learning from her mistakes, kept refining her skills—after that, she was never caught again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did you know that man?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu looked at her. “Or someone you knew well?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No—he was hired by Lai Yide. He said the guy was a lazy good-for-nothing who’d do anything for money.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Xiaoyan raised her head. “Lai Yide also told me he handled Zhang Shuqin’s body himself—he was very capable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To silence him, Lai Yide paid him a thousand yuan and promised to get him a job at the police station afterward.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you know any details?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow. “Or even his appearance?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I only know his name—Chai Yongshu.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Xiaoyan frowned, straining to recall. “He was thin, with shifty eyes… it seemed…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Long face, triangular eyes, pointed chin, hair always parted in the middle, ears slightly turned backward.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu described, as Du Xiaoyan stared in terror: “About one meter sixty-seven tall, slender build, spoke with a local accent but breathed short…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s him~ It’s him~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Xiaoyan looked at Li Xuewu as if he were a god, astonished. “How do you know… so much?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All eyes in the room turned to Li Xuewu—everyone’s shock matched Du Xiaoyan’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They know Li Xuewu is an expert in criminal psychology; every unit handling interrogations and investigations has ordered his book, *Criminal Psychology*.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is criminal psychology really that miraculous? Just hearing two sentences from a suspect and he can sketch out such detailed details?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course not, because Li Xuewu just happened to know another person named Chai Yongshu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu stood up, walked over to Zheng Fuhua, and whispered a report.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fuhua looked at Li Xuewu in shock and asked, “What a coincidence?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exactly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu smirked and said, “A while back, I happened to see him showing off his wealth—clearly he got some benefit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then arrest him—he won’t get away.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fuhua stood up and went out to make arrangements; he never expected this case to twist so many times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I thought uncovering Lai Yide was surprising enough, but now a minor thug named Chai Yongshu has surfaced too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just after Li Xuewu finished speaking, Zheng Fuhua wasn’t just shocked by the coincidence—he was stunned that this guy would take on any job.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He dares to make money from murder and hiding corpses—doesn’t he fear the money will burn his hands?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tell me about Lai Yide.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu turned back, sat down facing Du Xiaoyan across the interrogation table, and asked, “When did his father, Lai Shanchuan, find out about this case?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A few days ago.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Xiaoyan said, “Right after you questioned me, he came to me and asked for the full details.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did you tell him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu frowned and said, “Do you trust him that much? Aren’t you afraid he’ll kill you to silence you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, I’m not afraid.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Xiaoyan said firmly, “Because I have evidence proving Lai Yide was involved in the entire case.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm, you’re ruthless.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu nodded and asked, “After Lai Shanchuan questioned you, what did he arrange?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No… no arrangement.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Xiaoyan explained, “At first I denied everything, so he took me to his home and made Lai Yide confront me face-to-face.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And then?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow and asked, “Didn’t he tell you how he’d protect you or how he’d handle the case?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, it was Lai Yide who told me his father would handle it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Xiaoyan shook her head and said, “After we finished talking at his house, he sent me home. Later, Lai Yide came to my place.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He told me not to worry—it would only go as far as Zhao Ziliang, so I should prepare mentally and expect to compensate the joint venture factory for some losses.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He also told me to keep a low profile, not to draw any unnecessary investigation or suspicion. Since then, I’ve never seen him again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fled?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu frowned and asked, “Did he ever say why he needed such a huge sum of money?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, he never said.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Xiaoyan wiped her eyes and said, “I don’t know how to describe our relationship—it felt like a dream that suddenly came.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He was so young. I don’t know why I got involved with him, or why I got on this boat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What about Zhang Shuqin?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu pursed his lips and said, “Isn’t she also wronged? Including Yu Lanfang—she’s still being held at the branch.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even now, she doesn’t know how her wife was killed, or that her wife was innocent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Have you ever thought about how agonizing it must have been for Zhang Shuqin when she received your call?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Afraid you’d discover her infidelity, afraid you’d go hysterical over it, and more afraid that refusing to help you would expose her cowardice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You exploited that, didn’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu stared at Du Xiaoyan, narrowed his eyes, and exhaled slowly. “You had countless chances to save yourself. It gave you endless opportunities to repent—you deliberately missed them all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even right there at the counter, you had one last chance to save your friend, to rescue someone who shouldn’t bear the guilt and injustice of your actions.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, her moral transgression was wrong and deserves condemnation—but that doesn’t justify your collusion with Zhao Ziliang and Lai Yide to commit devilish acts.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu stepped before her and looked at Du Xiaoyan, who was weeping with her face covered. “I can’t imagine the expression on Yu Lanfang’s face when she walked out of detention and heard her wife was innocent—hadn’t even fully betrayed him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But I hope you can face what’s happened bravely, confess your crimes to everyone, and sincerely apologize to those you’ve harmed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu pointed to the door. “Walking out of here, your confession and apology may not affect your outcome—but at least they’ll see your attitude, and others can finally let go of their last lingering ties.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After speaking, he waved to the confidentiality department staff, signaling they could proceed with her signature and confession documentation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He shook his head slightly as he watched Du Xiaoyan crying, then stepped out of the interrogation room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because this case was so massive, all the interrogation rooms on the first floor were requisitioned—not just Li Xuewu, but other disciplinary and inspection personnel were also working.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With insufficient interrogation rooms, offices on the second floor had even been temporarily requisitioned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People kept coming and going through the entrance, and cadres were occasionally led in, their faces tense and bewildered as they observed the bustling scene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those still waiting in the lobby for questioning were mostly witnesses with minor connections to the case, who would only be called after the main suspects had been interrogated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Wei was still waiting because his case was from some time ago; apart from the grain station employee, the people involved weren’t significant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With bigger cases demanding priority, he could only wait his turn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the entrance to the duty room, several long benches and a tea table had been set up for interrogators to rest and recover.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Normally, there would be a reception or rest room for such purposes, but today’s situation was extraordinary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just the relationships tied to Du Xiaoyan after she joined the credit cooperative amounted to over a hundred people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This doesn’t even include those connected to the fraud case, and there were even cases within cases—digging deeper into those hundred people revealed more investigations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This case seemed to be stepping on a chain of landmines—growing bigger with every step, workload piling up; Li Xuewu stared at the duty room phone, utterly exhausted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t guarantee he’d make it back in time for the banquet; even if Li Huaide was upset, there was nothing he could do—he’d stirred up a hornet’s nest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he took on this case, he’d anticipated Du Xiaoyan might have someone protecting her, but he never imagined there’d be so many.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A mere credit cooperative accountant had managed to topple over a hundred people—if pursued fully, that number might double.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this era, this case no longer needed to worry about its impact—it would undoubtedly become the case of the year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just look at the cars pulling up at the gate and the headlights flashing—how many top officials from various units have been summoned for reprimands?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu glanced out the duty room window and saw a Hongqi sedan—clearly, senior leaders had come down to oversee things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He not only saw the Hongqi, but also spotted Huang Gan, that idiot, sneaking in and glancing around nervously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Over here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu knew this bastard would cause trouble, but before the duty officer could approach him, he waved casually, pretending they’d made prior arrangements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Li Xuewu’s signal, Huang Gan glanced at the duty officer, then hurried over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you blind? Don’t you see whose car is parked outside? How dare you sneak in?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I only avoided coming in because I saw his car.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Gan nervously scanned the lobby, looking for anyone he knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu slapped his hand over Huang Gan’s face and shoved him into the corner, whispering, “Did you think I called you just to come watch the show?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I came to find you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Gan suddenly realized it, his eyes brightening: “This case is huge—my dad even heard about it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu stared at him in disbelief, then asked after several seconds, “Don’t tell me you’ve been transferred to the newspaper and came here to get firsthand info?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, no—it’s about your phone call!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Gan glanced around furtively, as if afraid someone might overhear, but Li Xuewu shoved him again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can you act like a decent human being? You’re turning nothing into a problem with this behavior.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I came to tell you I can’t go to the branch.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Gan stood straight, listening to Li Xuewu without looking around, but his eyes still darted about—he desperately wanted to see if any acquaintances were getting dragged in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But Wang Zheng is interested in coming down from headquarters for training—my dad’s already inquired.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Anything else?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu frowned. “That’s it? Did you really need to come here in person?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t worry about the rest—just focus on your case. My dad will handle it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, by the way, one more thing!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Gan looked at Li Xuewu. “Wang Xiaoqin has already alerted everyone—all possible channels are being mobilized.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“An internal coordination meeting has already been held—no overlaps. Everyone who can help is pulling their weight. How much you can salvage this time? That’s up to each of you to figure out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s all, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu glanced toward the interrogation room and saw Du Xiaoyan being led out by four confidentiality department officers; his gaze followed them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Gan noticed Li Xuewu’s odd behavior and followed his gaze—he saw a beautiful woman, tearful and delicate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who is she?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After asking, he didn’t get an answer from Li Xuewu, but noticed Li was frowning slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something was up. Recalling stories he’d heard about Li Xuewu’s past, Huang Gan winked and asked, “Could this be your ex-girlfriend?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Get the hell out!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu turned and glared at him. “What do you want? If you’ve got nothing, get out—this isn’t your place.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn, look at you~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Gan scowled. “What’s so special about this place? Aren’t they all gonna end up reporting to me eventually? I’m just checking out my new recruits early.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm, you take a look~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu squinted, smirked, and gestured toward Du Xiaoyan: “When you send her over to your place later, I hear your office’s last meal is especially delicious.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What the hell!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She can’t possibly be…?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Ganjian stared at Li Xuewu in shock, then fixed his gaze on Du Xiaoyan, murmuring: “Don’t tell me she’s really your ex-girlfriend—you’ve got a record of killing your exes…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu gave him a deadpan look, too lazy to respond to this fool.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guessing wildly is one thing, but slandering your own reputation? This bastard really isn’t human.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When did I ever specialize in killing…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When did I ever have so many ex-girlfriends? Those days are over—I never imagined it would turn out like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the hall, Du Xiaoyan’s gaze didn’t need to search—she immediately spotted Wei Wei, sitting in the corner, expression vacant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had imagined that after her release, Wei Wei would be gone—either in the interrogation room or already departed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She hadn’t failed to consider he might still be here, but the moment she saw him, her tears could no longer be held back, flooding her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was him—her former husband, the childhood marriage, the good man she herself had destroyed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked worn down, radiating an aura of loneliness; the traces of youth were gone, making him seem like an old man nearing death, yet his eyes remained clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had lived half her life; looking back, he was still the boy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Wei Wei struggle to rise with his cane, that difficult figure was a karmic debt she could never repay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Xiaoyan wept—sobbing uncontrollably, her knees buckling as if to kneel before Wei Wei, her voice choked with sobs as she tried to say she was sorry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone in the hall paused their work to stare at her, at the legendary mistress of the scandal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such heartfelt repentance seemed utterly at odds with the promiscuous image described in the case—perhaps this was what they meant by “knowing a person’s face but not their heart.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching her cry, watching her restrained by four fully armed officers, Wei Wei shifted his hidden, crippled leg beneath his chair, swaying as he leaned on his cane.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He smiled—as he had when the matchmaker first brought him to her door, the first time he saw her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was like the day they married, the wedding night, when he clumsily followed her instructions, using the balance rod to lift her red veil and saw her slightly resentful expression—his awkwardness returned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Wei clenched his lips tightly, his body trembling slightly, watching her grief-stricken, listening to her regret, smiling… then crying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After their divorce, he moved away from that courtyard with his master, who feared he’d be overwhelmed by memories and take his own life; the master took him away from that place of sorrow to make a living in the capital.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since then, he lost all news of Du Xiaoyan, and feared anyone mentioning her name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had hated her, resented her, even cursed her—his hatred carved deep into his soul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But each time he tried to end himself, his master and junior brother found him, pleading with him, until he grew numb and shut himself off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From then on, he rarely smiled, and never imagined he’d see her again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Years had passed; suddenly hearing news of her, he was stunned, lost, unsure how to face her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wanted to recall the past, to dig up a few harsh words to shout at her—but after searching his mind, he realized that, without noticing, he had already moved on, and lived his own life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her betrayal, her faults—now they were merely memories.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If two words couldn’t be aimed solely at her, wasn’t he himself also to blame for what happened back then?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were young when they married—if he had shown her more care, more affection, more understanding and communication, perhaps today they wouldn’t be so broken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the whispers in the hall, he felt more ashamed—could these people really be describing the girl he once knew?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Learning of her fate, Wei Wei felt no satisfaction, no sense of vengeance fulfilled—only sorrow, only a sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He mourned not only his own life, but also the girl who had flashed through it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sighed because life always holds sorrow—yet when you let go of sorrow, it settles on your heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps he came here with the investigators, waited so long, not to speak of hatred or the past, but simply to see her one final time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Xiaoyan was dragged away by officers, the detention vehicle already waiting at the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Wei, leaning on his cane, struggled forward a few steps, catching his final glimpse of Du Xiaoyan—just as she turned back, straining to see him one last time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After that glance, all grudges were severed—next meeting, ten thousand years.\u003C\u002Fp>",5531,"2026-06-20T13:47:03.676Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","3e3b9501b35f08851448e3af09e2f48d5547bdccb84488179f847ef9d1f93408","the-siheyuan-food-love-and-family-in-1960s-beiji-chapter-956","the-siheyuan-food-love-and-family-in-1960s-beiji-chapter-954",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-siheyuan-food-love-and-family-in-1960s-beiji-cover.jpg"]