This still isn’t over, Zhang Xiaoshan immediately continued.
"Also, I’ve found the whereabouts of the money you lost, and I’ll be getting it back soon. Once I do, your crimes will be somewhat mitigated."
"But if you don’t cooperate, even if I retrieve the money, I won’t notify the government, and your crimes won’t be mitigated. You’ll just have to face the bullet."
"Imagine, you in prison, beaten half to death, starving every day, and finally facing the bullet. I’ve heard their guns are powerful, aiming right at the back of your head. One shot and your head might just explode."
"Dying a horrible death, ah, it’s terrifying to think about!"
Wu Damming stood up in fury, lashing out at Zhang Xiaoshan.
"You, you despicable little man, you, you’ll have a terrible end!"
"Prisoner Wu Damming, what are you doing? Sit down."
The guard at the door, hearing the commotion, immediately rushed in and scolded Wu Damming.
Agitated, Wu Damming meekly sat back down like a mouse seeing a cat.
Zhang Xiaoshan looked at Wu Damming’s cowardly behavior and smiled.
"Wu Damming, you still think you’re in White Dragon Village acting like the village head, lording it over everyone?"
"Here, you’d better behave."
Wu Damming’s face flushed red.
But he had no way to deal with Zhang Xiaoshan.
Seeing the right moment, Zhang Xiaoshan’s tone softened a lot.
He personally lit a cigarette for Wu Damming, smiling as he spoke.
"I know you resent me, but after all, we’re villagers from the same place. Besides, you have a grudge with me, Su Xiangmei doesn’t owe you anything. Why not help Su Xiangmei? Helping her is helping yourself."
"How about this, I can assure you that once you’re fully sentenced, I will pull some strings to protect you inside. You’ll eat well, no one will dare bully you, and once I find the money, you will get a shorter sentence."
"During festivals, I’ll have people send things to you. Moreover, after you’re released, I can find a way to help you return to the village to retire."
This piqued Wu Damming’s interest.
For someone his age, the notion of returning to one’s roots is incredibly important. He was now a criminal in White Dragon Village; even the Wu family despised him. Whether he could be buried in the Wu family’s ancestral cemetery was a huge question.
It may not matter to the young outside, but for someone like Wu Damming, it was akin to a death sentence, worse than killing him.
"Is that true, can you really make the villagers forgive me, allow me to return to White Dragon Village to retire?"
Wu Damming looked at Zhang Xiaoshan with some expectation.
Zhang Xiaoshan nodded and spoke.
"You’ve seen my influence in the village, and it’s only growing. Do you think this would be difficult for me?"
Upon hearing this, Wu Damming realized the logic in it.
He fell silent, seemingly contemplating.
Soon he looked up at Zhang Xiaoshan and said.
"Alright, I can agree to you, taking all the responsibility myself, and I will also say Su Xiangmei knew nothing, completely deceived by me, a victim. But I have one more request."
"I want to see Lanhua again."
Wu Damming said this somewhat dejectedly.
Zhang Xiaoshan’s expression turned cold.
"You nearly drove her to death, she’s just started to breathe easier, why see her now?"
"If you cared that much about her, you wouldn’t have abandoned her to make your donations and run off."
"Now she hates you to death, wanting to see her? Are you dreaming?"
Wu Damming’s face turned pale.
Clearly, he was well aware of this too.
"But no matter what, she is still my wife, we were married. I can’t believe she wouldn’t even want to see me once."
"This is my only request. If you can have Lanhua meet me, I am willing to change my testimony. Otherwise, even if someone kills me in there, I, I have nothing more to say."
Wu Damming was being stubborn.
Zhang Xiaoshan eyed Wu Damming for a while.
"Fine, I’ll go to the hospital and talk to Sister Lanhua, let her decide for herself."
"But I warn you, I will definitely convey your words, but no matter the outcome, you must do as I say, or else, just you wait and see."
With that, Zhang Xiaoshan got up and left.
He took a few steps, then remembered something.
He turned back to grab the cigarette left on the table.
Seeing this, Wu Damming quickly snatched the cigarette, clutching it tightly in his arms, as if afraid Zhang Xiaoshan would take it.
Zhang Xiaoshan smiled and left.
He then went to another room.
Su Xiangmei and Li Ya, mother and daughter, were weeping together. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝·𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖·𝕟𝕖𝕥
"Little Ya, stop crying."
Zhang Xiaoshan helped the kneeling Li Ya and her mother to their feet.
"Little Shan, you’re a good man, I thank you for looking after Little Ya."
Su Xiangmei had also improved these past few days, her black hair starting to turn white, more wrinkles appeared at the corners of her eyes.
"It’s what I should do, let’s not talk about this now."
"Aunty Xiangmei, in a few days, the Security Bureau will re-examine you and Wu Damming. Remember, you know nothing, you’ve never seen that charity money."
"You know nothing, understand nothing, always answer ’I don’t know,’ understand?"
"Okay, I’ll do whatever you say."
Zhang Xiaoshan was Su Xiangmei’s only hope, she wouldn’t refuse anything he said at this moment.
"That’s settled then. We’ve been here too long. I’ll take Little Ya and leave now. I’ll come to see you in a few days."
"Mom, you must take care of yourself while you’re in here."
"Silly child, don’t worry about me. Make sure you study hard. If you fall behind in your studies, even if I get out, I won’t be happy."
Mother and daughter tearfully said goodbye.
Zhang Xiaoshan left the detention center with Li Ya, exchanged a few words with Luo Yihua, and then departed.
It was already after eleven at night.
It was too late to return to the village.
"Brother Little Shan, how about we get a room?"
With cheeks blushing, Li Ya shyly suggested to Zhang Xiaoshan.