Volume One, Chapter 12: An Unexpected Event

This was Sun Yaqin’s first time going hunting in the mountains with her father. Before, she had always snuck out with her father’s hunting rifle, never imagining that hunting could lead to such terrifying events.

Winter made life harsh for the animals in the forest, and occasional territorial disputes were common, but this was the first time she had witnessed such a large-scale battle among wild boars fighting over territory.

Fortunately, after more than ten minutes, the two groups of wild boars ended their fight. Sun Junde and Old Chen each raised their rifles and shot at the two solitary boars.

After ensuring there were no other beasts nearby for over ten minutes, the men finally climbed down from the trees.

“Liancheng, you take Yaqin back and call two strong young men. The New Year is near; we’ll distribute one boar’s meat to the villagers, and let Yaqin take the other one to the city to sell,” Sun Junde said, a plan he and Old Chen had agreed upon early that morning.

They drew their knives and immediately slit the boars’ chests to bleed them out.

By evening, the village was bustling with excitement as people lined up outside Sun Junde’s home to receive their share of the pork.

Just then, the village loudspeaker crackled to life.

“Sun Yaqin, there is a call for you. Please come to the village office to answer.”

Sun Yaqin hurried to the office.

“Hello, is this Comrade Sun Yaqin?”

“Yes, who is this?”

“Hello, I’m from the North Bin City North Police Station. There has been a case recently in North Bin City that requires you to come to the station.”

“All right, I will come by tomorrow afternoon.”

“Good!”

After hanging up, a sense of unease settled in Sun Yaqin’s heart. She stayed up all night cutting the pork into large pieces, preparing to transport it directly.

Sun Liancheng, worried about his sister going alone, accompanied her into the city the next day.

Upon arrival in North Bin City, after Sun Yaqin and her brother had delivered the village goods home, she went straight to the police station.

A police officer recognized her. “So it’s you. I was the one who called you yesterday.”

“Officer, has there been any progress on the previous case?”

The officer nodded. “Come with me.”

Sun Yaqin followed the officer into the office, while Sun Liancheng was stopped outside.

“Your case has been cleared. Those two hooligans confessed without hesitation; they had ill intentions toward you. We will detain and punish them.”

This outcome was expected by Sun Yaqin. She did not care much about how the two troublemakers were dealt with.

What troubled her was Yang Zhigang. “I want to ask, what will be the judgment regarding Yang Zhigang conspiring with that hooligan to harm my second sister?”

The officer furrowed his brow. “Comrade Sun Yaqin, those two hooligans recanted their confessions, and the mastermind is already dead. Currently, there is no strong evidence proving that Yang Zhigang conspired with the deceased Xiang Jinlong to harm Comrade Sun Yalin, especially since the injured party was Yang Huifang.

Moreover, our investigation shows that Yang Huifang often helps the couple Yang Zhigang and his wife with various tasks. With the current evidence, it can only be regarded as an accident.”

Sun Yaqin felt as if a huge stone was pressing against her chest. “Then what will happen to Yang Zhigang?”

“It’s hard to say at this point. However, seeing a father desperate after his biological daughter was harmed, if he killed in a moment of desperation, there may still be room for leniency.”

Sun Yaqin stood up. “Thank you, officer.”

She seemed dazed as she walked toward the door.

“Yaqin, what’s wrong?” Sun Liancheng asked anxiously.

Snapping back to reality, Sun Yaqin shook her head. “Big brother, I’m fine.”

But in her heart, she thought: Having lived this life again and changed her second sister’s fate, could the villains still escape justice? Absolutely impossible.

Lost in thought once more, she accidentally bumped into a crowd of people. Looking up, she found it was Qin Xiangdong.

Noticing the girl’s troubled expression, Qin Xiangdong couldn’t help but ask, “What’s the matter?”

Sun Yaqin looked at Qin Xiangdong, her eyes holding a mixture of grievance and stubbornness, though no tears fell. “Captain Qin, only you can help me.”

“Don’t worry. Tell me exactly what happened.”

Sun Yaqin recounted the officer’s words. Qin Xiangdong had come to sign off on the case’s closure.

As he listened, his face darkened.

Before Qin Xiangdong could react, Sun Liancheng, furious, was about to storm inside but was held back by Qin Xiangdong.

“Don’t be impulsive. You and Comrade Yaqin wait here. I will handle this matter.”

Though Sun Liancheng said nothing, he calmed down and paced back and forth in the hall, waiting for Qin Xiangdong’s return.

“Yaqin, why did those two hooligans suddenly retract their confessions? I had already asked around; Shen Lianxia admitted everything about them and even signed the statement! It’s infuriating!” Sun Liancheng vented his frustration.

Sun Yaqin had lost her earlier grief and began to think calmly.

Her brother was right: why would those two hooligans suddenly retract their statements? Either they were paid off by Yang Zhigang, or they were threatened.

Also, there was suspicion regarding the interrogation records taken from Shen Lianxia—if all three retracted their statements together, the police would naturally reject them.

At that moment, a commotion echoed down the nearby corridor—voices shouting and a table being slammed.

It soon quieted down.

After a while, Qin Xiangdong emerged, his face ashen. “Let’s talk as we walk.”

It turned out that Shen Lianxia’s statement from that night was stolen. When the police tried to re-record her testimony, she flatly denied her previous account. Combined with the sudden retractions by the two hooligans, the station was unable to directly charge the couple.

Sun Yaqin squinted slightly, whispering, “Stolen?”

She recalled from her previous life that Yang Mingli seemed to have a good relationship with a policeman named Chen Zhe at the North Station.

This made it highly likely that Yang Mingli was behind the theft.

“Captain Qin, can you help me investigate something?”

“Go ahead.”

“I suspect this matter involves Yang Mingli. He was the one who recently cursed me and my second sister at our doorstep.

He has a good relationship with Chen Zhe at the police station. Such testimonies wouldn’t be lost for no reason. If Chen Zhe was on duty the day before the statement disappeared, then this matter must be connected to Yang Mingli.”

Sun Yaqin had only recently met Qin Xiangdong, so she could not place all her hopes on him alone; she would have to find a breakthrough herself.

Qin Xiangdong nodded thoughtfully. “This is very important information. I will report it to Chief Lin immediately. I’ll notify you once I have news.”

“Thank you very much, Captain Qin.”

Qin Xiangdong gave a somewhat awkward smile to Sun Yaqin and Sun Liancheng before leaving.

On the way back, Sun Liancheng kept staring at Sun Yaqin.

“Big brother, have you had enough?”

Hearing her impatience, Sun Liancheng let out a soft “hiss.”

“Sun Yaqin, I feel like Captain Qin’s attitude toward you is a bit off.”

“Off? How so?”

Sun Liancheng pursed his lips. “I think he likes you. I warn you, you’re still young—don’t get any weird ideas, or I won’t be so polite to you.

Once this matter is settled, stay away from him.”

Sun Yaqin was annoyed. “Big brother, why do you only use people when it suits you? He helped me and even saved your life.”

“That’s different. I’m telling you to stay away from him, but I remember the favor he owes us. If he ever needs help, I’ll be there.

But if he tries to take my sister away, that I’ll never allow!”

Her brother’s fierce expression made Sun Yaqin laugh, instantly lifting her gloomy mood.

Early the next morning, Qin Xiangdong brought Sun Yaqin some news.