Chapter 30: Too Gentle

It would be impossible to get from the Guotai State to the supply and marketing cooperative in two or three minutes, even if the fastest runner in the world tried. Even pedaling a bicycle at top speed wouldn't do it, and as for driving a car, that was simply out of the question. After all, not just anyone could drive or even ride in a car—Xu Lin certainly didn't have that privilege.

Lin Qiang thought carefully, then asked, "Are you sure you've never met Qin Zongwu?"

Xu Lin smiled faintly and replied, "I'm certain. After I learned the Qin family was my biological family, I only met the old master and madam of the Qin family twice, and the biological parents only once. Other than that, I never saw anyone else from the Qin family. Oh, and when I met my biological parents, I signed a document severing all ties. There shouldn't be any reason for us to meet again in the future."

"A document to sever ties? You really cut them off?" Lin Qiang was astonished. He glanced at Si Nan, both of them wearing looks of disbelief. They had never imagined such a thing could happen—with one's own flesh and blood, no less.

Lin Qiang couldn't help but press on, "Why did you sever ties with them?"

"Because I demanded they send the fake, the one who was maliciously switched, back to his real parents, meaning to the Xu family. The Qin family refused." Xu Lin shrugged. "Since they consider the one raised by their side to be closer, I won't force myself on them. So I ended things cleanly and have nothing more to do with them."

At this, Xu Lin turned to look at Old Lady Xu, her tone calm. "I've cut ties with the Xu family as well. I am now a person without kin, without attachments of any sort."

Seeing Xu Lin's attempt at bravado, Lin Qiang's heart inexplicably ached for her. Her biological family didn't want her, her adoptive family was unkind, and she had suffered abuse since childhood. Truly pitiful.

Si Nan, who had barely spoken, suddenly asked, "Do you intend to sue them for maliciously swapping children?"

The question made Old Lady Xu tremble, and she immediately blurted, "What malicious swapping? It was a mistake, just a mistake! We never intentionally switched the babies. Really, officers, you must believe us. We're innocent. Besides, we raised her into adulthood, and we even paid compensation. Isn't that right?" She looked pleadingly at Xu Lin.

Xu Lin smiled faintly. She had no intention of suing. Xu Father, the spy, would soon be arrested anyway, so what difference would it make? In any case, those who deserved punishment would get it—no one would escape justice. Old Lady Xu wasn't wrong about one thing: Xu Lin had accepted compensation.

"Comrade Si, Comrade Lin, it's been so many years, and I'm grown now, long past the age of needing parents. Besides, they've already made amends. Let's just let the matter rest." With that, Xu Lin let out a deep sigh, looking utterly resigned.

The two law enforcers felt a pang of sympathy at her bleak demeanor. What a mess this all was—abandoned by the biological family, raised by enemies. Did the Qin family have a screw loose?

Yes, evidently they did. Remembering Qin Zongwu's slander against Xu Lin, Lin Qiang and Si Nan shook their heads again. To slander someone you've never even met—if they had lived under the same roof, who knows how badly Xu Lin would have been bullied. Perhaps it was just as well that the family ties had been severed.

After leaving the Xu family, Lin Qiang and Si Nan went to the supply and marketing cooperative to investigate further, confirming that everything Xu Lin said was true. That meant Qin Zongwu had lied. The two returned to the law enforcement bureau, only to hear that Qin Zongwu had gone to the hospital, so they hurried there.

Lin Qiang and Si Nan felt it necessary to have a good talk with Qin Zongwu. The relationship was already cut off—why continue to make trouble for her? Did he really mean to bully the poor girl to death? There was a line that should not be crossed.

Soon, however, they realized that some people not only crossed the line, but leapt over it entirely. From the doctor, they learned that Qin Zongwu had not a single injury on his body—not even a scratch or a bruise. This was blatant false reporting.

Without another word, the two officers gave Qin Zongwu a stern lecture right there in front of the doctor. They warned him emphatically: Xu Lin had nothing more to do with the Qin family, would not fight for their inheritance, nor for their affection. So couldn't he, as the bigger person, let the girl go? She had already been driven away to the countryside—was that not enough? Surely they didn't intend to drive her to her death? Even if they could not be family, could they not at least be strangers, and let her live in peace?

Qin Zongwu, shamed and speechless by Lin Qiang and Si Nan's rebukes, wished he could disappear into the floor. He never imagined that, after all his pain and drama, the hospital would find not one mark on him. It was like seeing a ghost.

When he heard that Lin Qiang and Si Nan intended to report the matter to his workplace, Qin Zongwu immediately backed down and apologized, promising repeatedly that he would never trouble Xu Lin again, and begging them to keep the matter quiet and not pursue it further.

Lin Qiang and Si Nan both knew the Qin family was no ordinary family—they had powerful connections. As mere law enforcement officers, there was little more they could do besides admonish him, especially since Xu Lin herself did not press charges for the false report. They had no choice but to let the matter drop.

After seeing Lin Qiang and Si Nan off, Xu Lin's face darkened as she felt she had been too lenient. The next time she encountered Qin Zongwu, that scoundrel, she would be sure to teach him a lesson he wouldn't forget—he ought to be in pain for a month at least.

With nowhere to vent her anger, Xu Lin decided to have a word with Old Lady Xu, but the old woman, sensing trouble, had made herself scarce. With her frustration left to fester, Xu Lin returned to her room to pack. She had bought cotton and fabric, and with nothing better to do, decided to start making a quilt.

That afternoon, Xu Lin left the house again, this time with a cheerful smile. She didn't go to the black market, but went instead to Brother Hu's warehouse to take a look. Unfortunately, the dilapidated courtyard was deserted. Disappointed, Xu Lin was about to leave when she caught sight of a familiar figure.

Wasn't that the sharp-faced, monkey-like fellow who had once tailed her? Without a word, she decided to follow him and see what he was up to.

The sharp-faced man muttered curses as he walked. His luck had been dreadful: first, he was knocked out and robbed of what little money he had left. Then Brother Hu's secret room and all the goods inside had been cleaned out. After that, Brother Hu led them into a brawl with some other people. They had been chased and beaten so badly they’d nearly lost their lives.

Thinking of Brother Hu's injuries, the man quickened his steps. He had to hurry and bring the old doctor over—Brother Hu was waiting for him to save his life.

He had no idea who those people were, but their weapons were far too formidable. Compared to them, he and his gang weren't even worthy of being called underlings—they were simply crushed.

Unaware that someone was trailing him, the sharp-faced man found the old doctor and hurried off to their new hideout.