I Got Rich in Period Fiction-Chapter 143: Do you think the two of them are really innocent?

Xiao Hu would usually be thrilled, but today his mood was downcast. Children are actually quite sensitive and can often detect the atmosphere of their household almost instantaneously.

His mother had cried all night. While crying, she muttered to herself, bitterly mentioning Dad’s name, so he vaguely guessed that it seemed Dad had done something wrong.

Still, Xiao Hu managed to smile sneakily at He Xuerong.

Qiao Qingyu released her hand and whispered to He Xuerong beside her, "Rongrong, go play with Xiao Hu for a bit. Little aunt and your Aunt Li need to talk."

Rongrong’s ability to understand language was getting stronger by the day. As long as she stayed by Qiao Qingyu’s side, she felt especially safe. So, the little girl obediently and cleverly walked up to Xiao Hu. Xiao Hu scratched the back of his head, then took He Xuerong’s hand and ran off to play in the sand in the corner of the courtyard.

Li Zhiqiang had made a sandpit in that corner, filled with fine sand. Though sand was not unusual due to the proximity to the sandy areas, having it set up as a separate little sandpit was something children really enjoyed playing in.

Sister-in-law Li’s voice was hoarse, "Qingyu, come inside with me."

Once inside, Qiao Qingyu said directly, "I just came to check on things. I have to go to the lab in a bit."

"I don’t know either, but yesterday afternoon, someone from the security department came to tell me this. Then, they searched the house for books and materials."

"Nothing was found, right?"

Qiao Qingyu believed that Li Zhiqiang had not reached the point of making such a mistake.

Sister-in-law Li nodded, "Nothing. Everything’s fine."

After saying this, her eyes carried a hint of hatred—a chilling sentiment. Qiao Qingyu had never before seen Sister-in-law Li with such a look in her eyes. She heard Sister-in-law Li say, "Qingyu, Li Zhiqiang is a bastard. If he didn’t fancy Chen Dandan, why would she throw herself at him and not someone else? Do you think they’re really innocent?"

Qiao Qingyu dared not comment; after all, the investigation was not yet complete.

Now, Li Zhiqiang had been suspended and isolated for review, but his life was spared. Regardless, the fate of this family had changed.

It depended on whether Li Zhiqiang had done anything wrong. If he had, what awaited him was prison. But even so, Sister-in-law Li and Xiao Hu should be spared any trouble.

Qiao Qingyu whispered, "Sister-in-law Li, I’m not clear on the specifics, but I think, if there were really something between them, Chen Dandan wouldn’t resort to stealing the card this way."

"What do you mean, Qingyu?"

"Sister-in-law, what I mean is, their relationship is probably completely innocent, so Chen Dandan caught Brother Li off-guard and managed to take the card from him smoothly. If Brother Li truly had improper thoughts about her, normally speaking, no man could restrain himself with a woman throwing herself at him, especially when both have feelings for each other."

"He wouldn’t push her away. Instead, he’d hold her tight, and who knows what they might do in the office. If that were the case, it would take more time. Given Chen Dandan is a person of interest, if she stayed in Li Zhiqiang’s office for too long, it would raise suspicions. Therefore, Chen Dandan likely wouldn’t have had the chance to enter the base’s storage."

At first, Sister-in-law Li frowned, looking extremely unpleasant, with a hatred that seemed almost ferocious, as if she would kill Li Zhiqiang herself should he appear before her.

She could live without him, but as her only relative, Li Zhiqiang held a different place in her heart compared to other wives’ feelings toward their husbands.

But after hearing Qiao Qingyu’s analysis, Sister-in-law Li’s expression gradually softened. She clenched her hands tightly without saying a word.

Qiao Qingyu continued softly, "Sister-in-law Li, even if they really had something going on, you need to stay calm and restrained. Don’t do anything foolish. If he’s done something bad, the law will punish him, and you have Xiao Hu to think about. For instance, if you saw Brother Li and killed him in a rage, then you’d end up in jail or worse."

"Even if he is a criminal, you’re not the law. Killing a criminal would still land you in prison or on death row. I don’t know what happened in your hometown, but I’ve heard that even your little aunt has been brought here, so you must have cut ties with your hometown. Your maternal family can’t be relied upon. What would happen to Xiao Hu then? A child of his age without any relatives—imagine how hard it would be for him to survive?"

Sister-in-law Li suddenly looked up at Qiao Qingyu, eyes wide.

It was then that Qiao Qingyu realized that Zhou Xiaoqin was a rather extreme person.

But in general, as long as she was properly guided, she was still within control.

She continued, "Sister-in-law Li, all this is hypothetical. You wouldn’t actually do this. And you should trust Brother Li’s character. He wouldn’t betray you. At most, he’s been exploited. But be prepared mentally."

Sister-in-law Li was silent for a while, then spoke in a raspy voice, "Qingyu, I’ve taken your words to heart. You speak sensibly. I can’t have extreme thoughts. Even if he really did betray me, I will raise Xiao Hu well."

"Sister-in-law, I’m planning for the worst. Maybe the situation will improve."

Sister-in-law Li gave a bitter smile, "A life is at stake. My heart aches too."

By now, Sister-in-law Li had no idea what had happened yesterday at the commune entrance and was unaware that Chen Dandan had also taken Qiao Qingyu hostage.

She said bitterly, "How can Chen Dandan be so vicious? Why not just work honestly? Why betray her country, her conscience, and involve innocent lives?"

Qiao Qingyu patted Sister-in-law Li’s shoulder. "For spies and agents, this is their job." She then emphasized, "Sister-in-law, let’s not talk about this anymore. Pretend you don’t know anything; after all, you’re just a family member."

Sister-in-law Li nodded seriously, "I know. I won’t talk recklessly."

"Sister-in-law, I need to get to the lab. I’ve got things to take care of. Take care of yourself at home. By the way, where’s your young aunt?"

Sister-in-law Li sighed and pointed to a room inside, "She’s resting in there. Her life has been hard too. Ever since my mother-in-law passed away, that widow moved in, and they wouldn’t let her study or eat well. They didn’t make her do farm work, but kept her locked up at home doing the laundry, cooking, feeding pigs, feeding chicken—she did all the work. And on top of that, she was beaten every day..."