Lin Anning recounted what had happened last night in front of everyone.
Of course, she omitted the matter from the small building.
She only said she woke up with heart pain, found the door locked, jumped down from the second floor, and was taken to the hospital by a kind comrade.
Everyone was now holding their bowls and gathered around to listen to the commotion.
Zhao Hua looked at Lin Anning, the corners of her mouth twitching slightly, her smile almost failing to hold.
She took two steps forward, gripped Lin Anning's wrist forcefully.
"Anning, you're not well, sometimes you can't tell the difference between dreams and reality,"
"Come on, go inside and take your medicine."
She failed to tarnish my reputation, now she wants to label me as mentally ill?
Lin Anning shook off Zhao Hua's hand in one swift move, crying out in pain.
"Mom, you hurt me. You don't believe me? I have evidence."
As she spoke, two police officers came in, dragging in a tightly bound Ma San.
Ma San spotted Zhao Hua the moment he entered, raised his hands, and began to shout.
"It's her, it's her, it's definitely her. Officer, she told me her family has a very beautiful girl who isn't seeing anyone, asked me to come have a look, and gave me this key."
Watching Ma San pull out a key from his pocket, Zhao Hua's face turned instantly pale.
Her eyes wide open, large tears started to roll down.
"Anning, do you not trust your mom? You trust a delinquent?"
Zhao Hua pulled over auntie Nie from the side and started crying loudly in a heartbroken manner.
"Auntie, others might not know, but you are well aware. Ever since Anning came back, her mother hasn't had a good night's sleep. I always think and do everything for her sake."
"I don't know what's gotten into me as a mother. Even if there were great grievances, I shouldn't be splashed with such dirty water!"
Auntie Nie naturally didn't believe Lin Anning's words, and had the police not been present, she would have liked to reprimand this unaware daughter on Zhao Hua's behalf.
Su Jiaojiao had been eating a steamed bun, but seeing this situation unfold, she became dumbfounded.
A trace of compassion showed on her innocent face.
"Sister, were you watching a movie with this comrade last night?"
"Did he take advantage of you? Are you saying this because you're afraid it can't be explained?"
That's right, this was what Su Jiaojiao was like in my past life.
Always appearing to explain things for me, but the more she said, the darker it became, and in the end, I was left completely defenseless.
This time, Lin Anning didn't respond, but Ma San did, quickly starting to fuss.
"What movie? I entered your house yesterday, did nothing, and even got my head smashed, bleeding!"
Lin Anning stepped forward and looked steadily at Su Jiaojiao.
"The milk I drank before going to sleep was given to me by you. Well then, let's all go to the police station together."
Seeing Lin Anning approaching Su Jiaojiao, Zhao Hua stopped crying and quickly stepped forward to push her away.
"Don't make things difficult for Jiaojiao. If there is anything, talk to me about it."
Lin Anning couldn't dodge in time and bumped into the door.
A dull pain on her forehead, she didn't need to look to know it was definitely swollen.
"Mom, she's your daughter too. I just asked a few more questions, why did you strike me?"
Lin Anning's eyes reddened, tears on the verge of falling.
Her appearance made everyone around feel sympathetic.
"Don't put on an act in front of me. You're not..."
Zhao Hua, infuriated, also tore off her usual gentle facade.
"Mom!"
Su Jiaojiao immediately grabbed her, biting her lip.
Her large eyes blinked and she squeezed out a couple of tears.
"Sister, it's my fault. I was worried about you not sleeping well and your body not holding up. So, I put some of mom's sleeping pills in your milk, never imagining that my good intentions could cause such a mess."
Then, she supported Zhao Hua walking up to Ma San and said with a sobbing voice.
"Comrade, could you say once more what you just told us? But please tell the truth, don't slander my mom!"
Something strange happened; Ma San, who had been yelling and shouting a moment ago, now looked at Su Jiaojiao and a suspicious flush appeared on his face.
She raised her hand to wipe her hair, stuttering as she spoke.
"She, she was standing at the door of my house and said she dropped the keys on the ground, so I picked them up..."
At this point, Su Jiaojiao looked as if she was vindicating a deep-seated grievance, looking towards Lin Anning with a wronged expression.
"Sister, did you hear all that?"
Ma San's attitude changed too quickly, which made Lin Anning frown, feeling that something was not right.
In her previous life, it was the same whenever Su Jiaojiao appeared.
With a smile and a little charm, what was white could be turned black.
Could it be, did Su Jiaojiao also have a "Golden Finger"?
Fortunately, the police officers were very responsible. Although Ma San had changed his statement,
they still firmly detained Zhao Hua, dragging him away.
After giving Lin Anning a glance, Su Jiaojiao quickly followed.
"Mom, don't be afraid, I'll go with you."
At this moment, Lin Jianguo, who had been silent inside the house, came out.
He frowned and spoke meaningfully and earnestly.
"Anning, I know you're upset with your mom, you think she is biased towards your sister.
But no matter how angry you are, you cannot pin this false charge on her.
Having not been to the hospital for over half a year, was it merely a coincidence that you went yesterday?
You didn't come home last night, went out to have fun with someone, and no one said anything.
Go, explain things clearly to the police."
The early summer sun was blazing, yet she was shivering all over.
Look, these are her "good parents."
All the blame is on her, while they remain spotlessly clean.
"I disappeared for an entire night, and you still have the mind to go shopping at the department store with Su Jiaojiao?
Drugging, locking up, a thug who suddenly barged in.
If it had been Su Jiaojiao last night, would you still dismiss it so lightly?
If you can't give me justice, the police will."
Overcome with emotion, Lin Anning's vision darkened, and she fainted.
The people around were startled by the sight, not even caring about their meals.
They hurriedly stepped up to lend a hand, helping Lin Jianguo take her to the hospital.
The duty nurse frowned as soon as she saw Lin Anning.
"What's wrong with the family? Didn't we say when she was discharged today that Comrade Lin is weak and needs to recuperate?"
"It's only been a few hours, and she's been brought back to the hospital!"
Lin Jianguo blushed with embarrassment from the scolding, while the neighbors who followed got an earful.
Oh, so Lin Anning really did go to the hospital yesterday.
Everything she said was true!
———
By the time Lin Anning was discharged from the hospital again, it was already the morning of the third day.
She hadn't touched the medicine from the pharmacy.
Her physical weakness was congenital, inherent since birth, and needed proper care.
She didn't apply any ointment to the injuries on her face and body.
She let everyone see them, only in this way could she tear off the Lin Family's mask.
She touched her flat stomach and sighed.
Now that she had fallen out with the Lin Family, life would only get harder.
She had to think of a way to go back to Hongqigou, that's truly her home.
Looking up, she saw a faded slogan on the opposite wall.
"Boundless lands temper one's devoted heart; the resolve to root in the countryside never wavers."
That's right, she would go to the countryside.