novelraw Chapter 235 - 231: Evidence
Chapter 235 - 231: Evidence
Xie Tian’s face turned green with rage as she watched them ignore her, laughing and talking amongst themselves. She stomped her foot and roared, "Yang Dingbang, Yang Xiaoman, you just wait!" With that, she spun around and stalked off in the direction of the police station.
Li Xiangyang looked at Yang Dingbang. "From the looks of it, she’s not going to let this go. This can’t go on like this."
Yang Dingbang said in a low voice, "I have proof of her fooling around with that other man. I never brought it out before because I was thinking of our past marriage—there was no need to make things so ugly. The main reason, though, was I didn’t want Dandan to find out what a disgraceful mother he has."
Li Xiangyang patted his shoulder. "I understand how you feel. I think you should show her the proof of her affair, or mail it to her parents. Let them deal with her."
Yang Dingbang rubbed the bridge of his nose. "I’ll think about it." ’He really didn’t want to deal with Xie Tian anymore. As long as she thought she was right, she never cared about anyone else’s feelings. He almost had to admire Xie Tian’s parents; it took a special kind of skill to spoil a child into having a personality like this.’
Yang Xiaoman swung her leg over the bicycle and settled onto the seat. Yang Dingbang, leaning on his crutch, got onto the back rack. He waved to Li Xiangyang and Lin Lan. "We’re going to take this stuff home first. Let’s get together again in a couple of days."
"Okay!" Li Xiangyang and Lin Lan watched the two of them get on the bike and ride away before they left as well.
When Yang Dingbang and Yang Xiaoman entered the main gate, they saw the old lady in the living room, squinting as she did some needlework. "Grandma, why don’t you go out for a walk?"
The old lady looked at them with a cheerful smile. "I just took a stroll around the courtyard. Did you get everything you needed?"
Yang Xiaoman smiled. "We’re taking our time. No rush."
Yang Dingbang came out after putting the things away and said to the old lady, "Grandma, Little Man and I are going to my workplace for a bit. I’ll pick Dandan up when he gets out of school."
The old lady looked at him and frowned. "Did Xie Tian come looking for you again?"
Yang Dingbang said, trying to sound casual, "We just ran into her on the street and had a bit of an argument. Don’t worry, it’s nothing."
"Sigh!" The old lady sighed and looked at Yang Xiaoman. "This must be hard on you."
Yang Xiaoman smiled reassuringly. "Grandma, I’m fine. Please don’t worry."
Mrs. Yao looked at her lovingly, patted her hand, and said softly, "Go on, then. Ride carefully."
"Okay!" Yang Xiaoman and Yang Dingbang left the house and rode the bicycle to the hospital.
Yang Dingbang had his leg examined. The doctor said it was healing very well and advised him not to put too much force on the injured leg when walking.
After the two left the hospital, Yang Dingbang looked at Yang Xiaoman. "You go on to work. I’m going to stop by the bureau."
"Okay. If Xie Tian really went to the bureau, explain things clearly to Chief Zhong," Yang Xiaoman said.
Yang Dingbang smiled and shook his head. "No need for explanations. Chief Zhong knows better than anyone that what happened back then was a misunderstanding."
Yang Xiaoman nodded and walked toward the police station.
When Yang Dingbang got back to the Public Security Bureau, he didn’t see Xie Tian. His colleagues all asked when he was coming back to work, and he replied with a smile that his leg was almost healed and he’d be back as soon as it was.
He walked around, but no one mentioned that Xie Tian had been there looking for him.
Yang Dingbang thought for a moment, then simply headed toward the residential building. He went upstairs, unlocked his apartment, and entered the study. From a cabinet, he retrieved a key, used it to unlock a desk drawer, and took out a file folder.
He pulled out several photos and a few documents and put them in an envelope. He then wrote a letter, added it to the envelope, and sealed it shut before heading out to the post office.
He had no desire to reason with Xie Tian. He’d just have to let her parents deal with her.
Lin Lan and Li Xiangyang parted ways at the mouth of the alley by the vehicle factory, each cycling back home.
When Lin Lan got home, Qiaohui had already ground the soybean flour and even sifted it once.
Lin Yuezhen took the pumpkin cakes out of the oven and placed them in a basket, then started roasting the pumpkin seeds.
Lin Lan measured out and mixed together the soybean flour, MSG, pepper, thirteen-spice powder, cumin powder, Sichuan peppercorn powder, chili powder, salt-and-pepper mix, salt, ground coriander seed, and fragrant toasted sesame seeds. She then divided the mixture evenly into three portions and packed them up.
She put two of the portions into enamel mugs and said to Qiaohui, "I’m making a trip to the police station. When the Zhilin brothers get here, just have Sister Yuezhen give them their order."
Qiaohui nodded. "Cousin, should I load the pastries into the pushcart?"
"Good idea. I’ll head out to set up the stall as soon as I get back." As Lin Lan spoke, she hung the net bag containing the enamel mugs on her bicycle’s handlebars and pushed the bike out of the courtyard gate.
Lin Lan arrived at the police station and went to Yao Xiuyun’s office. She saw her sitting at her desk, head down, writing furiously. Lin Lan knocked on the door. "Comrade Xiuyun, still busy?"
Yao Xiuyun looked up, a smile breaking out when she saw her. "What brings you here today? I’m surprised you have the time."
Lin Lan grinned and held up the net bag. "I brought you something good to eat!"
"What delicious thing did you make this time?" Yao Xiuyun asked with a smile, ushering her in.
Lin Lan smiled and placed the enamel mugs on the desk. "Xiangyang built a barbecue table, and he custom-made one for your family and for Ding Bang’s too. We’re planning to have a barbecue tonight, so I made some barbecue spice mix and brought a portion for you. I also wanted to invite you all over to my place for barbecue tonight!"
"Thank you!" Yao Xiuyun smiled and gave Lin Lan a hug. "I have to work overtime tonight, so I’ll have to take a rain check."
Lin Lan glanced at the thick stack of files on her desk and nodded with a smile. "Okay, you’re busy. I’ll head back and set up my stall."
"I’m sorry I don’t have time to chat now that you’re here!" Yao Xiuyun said apologetically, pointing to the pile of files on her desk. "A lot of policies have changed this year. Once I get all this sorted out, I’ll come find you for a proper talk."
Lin Lan smiled. "Okay, I’ll be waiting."
Yao Xiuyun nodded with a smile. "Definitely!"
Lin Lan told her not to see her out. After leaving the police station, she cycled home. The Wang Zhilin brothers had already picked up the pastries for the evening market.
A little while later, Yang Zhigang arrived at Lin Lan’s house carrying a set of small intestines. "Sister Lin, Brother Xiangyang was called away by Uncle Da. He sent me to take you to the stall. He said he won’t be back until tomorrow morning and told me to let you know that he’ll have barbecue with you all when he gets back."
Lin Lan nodded, handed the small intestines to Qiaohui, and said to Zhigang, "It’s fine, I can manage by myself."
"My brother was worried, so he told me to come early." As he spoke, Zhigang tied the pushcart to the back of his bike seat and started pulling it away.
Lin Lan told Qiaohui and Lin Yuezhen to wash the small intestines, slice and marinate the pork belly and mutton, and cut some chives... After getting the ingredients for the evening’s barbecue ready, she quickly slung a small bag over her shoulder, got on her bike, and followed him.
Since the weather was cold, everyone arrived a bit earlier, and the Eucalyptus Forest was becoming more and more lively. Lin Lan thought to herself that if she had the capital in the future, buying this land and building a proper market would be a pretty good project.
Zhigang set up the pushcart, turned to say a quick goodbye to Lin Lan, and then hurried off toward the pork butcher’s stall.
Lin Lan had just arrived when Zhou Xiaohong came over with a broad smile. "Little Lin, when I went home after setting up my stall, my Old Chen told me someone was asking if your family’s shop is for rent."
Lin Lan smiled and shook her head, then asked Zhou Xiaohong, "Sister Zhou, what do you plan to do with your family’s shop?"
A trace of hesitation crossed Zhou Xiaohong’s face. "I was originally planning to rent out two of the rooms and keep one for myself to sell... well, something or other."