Mr. He avoided Xia Lan’s gaze and said to the police officer, "Officer, our family really doesn’t have any money; please have her sister pay the fine!"
He spoke with an air of righteous indignation.
Mrs. He suddenly caught on and said, "Yes, yes, yes, have Xia Chuyi pay!"
After the couple shamelessly finished speaking, the room fell so silent you could hear a pin drop.
The air stilled for a moment before Mrs. He hummed, "Anyway, we don’t have money at home!"
This meant that even if Xia Chuyi didn’t pay the fine, they wouldn’t either.
Mr. He, with a sycophantic smile, said, "Officer, you see, we really don’t have any money..."
"Cough, cough!" Shocked by the absurdity of this family, Chang Luhui came back to his senses and said, "If you don’t pay, there will be a fifteen-day detention."
Mr. He eagerly nodded in agreement, saying, "Mm-hmm, it’s only right to be detained for breaking the law. Let her stay inside for fifteen days, thoroughly recognize her mistakes, and then come back after she has reformed."
"You!" Xia Lan’s eyes reddened when she heard this.
"Mm, since this is the choice of her family, we will respect it," Chang Luhui stated calmly and gave the order.
In the end, Mr. and Mrs. He stubbornly refused to give even ten cents and just walked away.
Xia Lan’s detention had become a certainty.
"Take her in," Chang Luhui commanded.
"Wait!" Xia Lan shouted, "Chuyi, bail me out!"
"If you bail me out, I’ll tell you a secret, a huge secret!"
Xia Chuyi raised an eyebrow; it seemed Xia Lan was desperately grasping at straws.
She remembered her own death from her previous life.
"What secret?" she asked Xia Lan.
"If you pay the fine for me, I’ll tell you!" Xia Lan declared with conviction.
Xia Chuyi narrowed her eyes at Xia Lan, "How do I know if your secret is true?"
Xia Lan said, "It’s about why Second Aunt doesn’t like you!"
Xia Chuyi was speechless.
Honestly, she didn’t care about that matter.
Seeing Xia Lan looking so smug, Xia Chuyi said, "I won’t pay the fine for you. Your father-in-law is right; it’s only proper to be detained for breaking the law."
"You!" Xia Lan looked incredulous, "You don’t want to know?"
Xia Chuyi merely shrugged her shoulders, indifferent.
"Director Chang, I’ll be going now," she said straightforwardly to Chang Luhui, "As for her, handle it according to the law. A good reflection for fifteen days will surely lead to a successful reform."
"I’ll walk you out!" Chang Luhui quickly offered.
Xia Chuyi nodded, not refusing.
Outside, Chang Luhui asked, "Comrade Chuyi, aren’t you curious about what Xia Lan wants to say?"
Xia Chuyi smiled, "Curious, but I don’t accept threats."
Chang Luhui was speechless... Her style sure resembled that of Commander Huo.
"By the way, Director Chang, within reasonable limits, could you introduce me to some people... some with special status, to keep an eye on Xia Lan after she’s released?" Xia Chuyi maintained a serious demeanor as she spoke to Chang Luhui.
Chang Luhui nearly stumbled in surprise.
"What do you want to do?" he asked.
Seeing his expression, Xia Chuyi couldn’t help but smile, "Don’t worry, it’s nothing illegal."
Chang Luhui thought for a moment and said, "The public security force is definitely out of the question, but I can introduce you to a few informants who specialize in this kind of work."
"Thank you!" Xia Chuyi sincerely thanked him, "If possible, help me find a few more informants. I’ll contact them directly and pay them personally for their services."
Chang Luhui was silent... Comrade Chuyi certainly had a strategic mindset, even more like Commander Huo.
"Cough, cough, agreed then," Chang Luhui reluctantly nodded in agreement.
After the conversation, Xia Chuyi said, "Alright, Director Chang, no need to see me out further; I’m heading back to ’Youwei.’"
She then took her leave.