Dahua Luo and her husband came by to see Peiying Yang and talked about the follow-up to the incident.
"I found it strange too," Mr. Lu said. "How did oil end up on the staircase? I crouched down and smelled it, it was the scent of peanut oil, which is good oil. We usually just eat soybean oil and pork. Who would afford to buy that? I asked around to see if anybody bought oil today or if anyone had seen someone buying oil, but everybody said no."
"Isn’t it Kong Ya and the Cui family living downstairs? They only went out during the wedding; other than that, they were always home. You know, both families love to watch others. They might even know better than the person themselves who was going from the staircase. I asked them too, and they both said they saw no one bringing oil upstairs."
Then Lu Daqi added, "Nobody brought oil upstairs, which means someone was up to no good. There are only a few households on that floor, and it’s clear as day. The most difficult thing to spot was that everyone was at the wedding, not paying much attention. It’s either someone from our building or someone from another building who brought it up."
Yixiang Shen quickly voiced her suspicions, "The more I think about it, the more I suspect her. She has the motive, and she’s someone who could afford to use peanut oil."
Dahua Luo and Lu Daqi exchanged glances, both very surprised.
They then asked Yixiang Shen to expand on her conflicts with Juanjuan Du, and afterward, they also fell into contemplation.
They thought Yixiang Shen’s suspicions made sense, but without evidence, they couldn’t recklessly support her.
PeiMin Yang noticed their thoughts and suggested, "Since we suspect foul play, why don’t we hand this over to the organization? Don’t we have scouts in our unit? Could they not solve this in minutes? What do you think, Brother Lu?"
Lu Daqi smiled and nodded, "Sister-in-law is thoughtful." He had been thinking the same way, and it was indeed the best solution.
PeiMin Yang shook her head, "What I came up with wasn’t so thoughtful otherwise wouldn’t be ."
Dahua Luo comforted her, "Who can say for sure with these things? Some people might just not like you, no matter how uninvolved you are with them, maybe because you dress better or eat better than they do. Don’t think too much about it. You should make it up to Yingzi when she gets out; she’s really helped a lot this time."
PeiMin Yang nodded in agreement.
They stayed until Yingzi was discharged. She had six stitches on the back of her head, a minor concussion, injured shoulders, and bruised soft tissues in the waist area. She needed to be hospitalized for observation and treatment.
Since she was still under anesthesia and had not woken up yet, they could bring her some food, preferably liquid ones. When she woke up, she could be fed a little at a time.
Lu Daqi was running around helping with bringing items and handling procedures.
Dahua Luo, still worried, reminded Yixiang Shen, "Yingzi is in a condition that needs someone to take care of her. It’ll be hard on you for a while. My sister-in-law is pregnant, and she was a bit shaken earlier; try not to let her overexert herself. Looking after two people is tiring indeed, so please bear with it. I’ll also rush over when I find the time and bring over some soups and such," implying that it might be hard for PeiMin Yang, as a sister-in-law, to say these things herself, so she was helping her with them.
Yixiang Shen agreed, "Sister-in-law, don’t say that. It’s what I should do. To speak of it, Yingzi and sister-in-law were hurt because of me. This is my chance for redemption. You have little kids at home, no need to come over if you’re busy, I can manage here."
Dahua Luo smiled and patted her hand.
After enduring a stressful afternoon and learning that Peiying Yang’s condition had stabilized, the huge boulder hanging over PeiMin Yang’s heart finally dropped. Sitting by her bed, she started to feel drowsy as well.
In a daze, she heard the word "sister" by her ear and instantly woke up. It was indeed Yang Peiying who had awakened and was now slightly turning her head to look at her.
"Yingzi, don’t move around, you’ve injured your head. If you need anything, just move your lips," Yang Peimin said hurriedly.
Yang Peiying asked, "Sister, are you alright?"
Yang Peimin shook her head, "Silly girl, you turned yourself into a human cushion, how could I be hurt? I’m all good, thanks to you, Yingzi."
Yang Peiying also smiled, "That’s a relief, otherwise mom would break my legs."
"How could she bear to?"
Shen Yixiang and Luo Dahua entered from outside and were also glad to see Yang Peiying awake.
They leaned in to whisper to her. Shen Yixiang quickly brought out a thermos, poured some porridge, gave Yang Peiying some water, and fed her some porridge, with Yang Peiying’s face showing discomfort.
Luo Dahua said to Yang Peimin, "Since Yingzi is awake, I’ll head back first. I left the two little ones at the Red Army wife’s place. They’re such a handful, who knows what they’re up to now. You should rest more too, Brother Lu has already relayed the situation, and there should be some outcome in a couple of days."
Yang Peimin thanked them and saw them to the door.
As Luo Dahua and Lu Daqi walked out of the hospital, they talked. Luo Dahua asked her husband, "What do you think about sister-in-law Shao’s situation?"
Lu Daqi sighed, "It’s most likely sister-in-law Shao. She went to the Political Commissar’s place this morning around nine, and I asked there; she returned around 10:30. That was when everyone was gathering at the hall. Did you see sister-in-law Shao at the hall, or did she attend the event?"
Luo Dahua shook her head, "No, she doesn’t usually participate in these things. We don’t really see eye to eye, and since she was beaten up today, she wouldn’t dare to go out. She must have rushed back to the dorm from the Political Commissar’s while everyone was at the hall."
Lu Daqi then nodded, "Although the likelihood is strong, we should keep it quiet until the truth comes out. Shao Camp and Shen Camp are brothers, and a misunderstanding could affect their relationship."
Luo Dahua playfully glared at him, "Am I such a blabbermouth?"
"Better safe than sorry. Brother Yiguang is on a mission, and our families get along well. Whatever sister-in-law needs, let’s lend a hand where we can."
The couple, being affectionate and talkative, continued chatting all the way back to the complex. As they reached the stairwell, the Cui family’s Xiao Bao and Dabao were running around and bumped into Luo Dahua.
The kids were not very strong, so it wasn’t painful, but Luo Dahua, fearing they might fall, reached out to steady him. The child looked up at Luo Dahua without saying a word, then looked down again, stuffing a biscuit into his mouth – a shiny, oily one. Only then did Luo Dahua realize her rarely worn blue polyester trousers now sported an oil stain.
She suddenly exclaimed, "Oh no, my pants."