"Yeah, Jiandang, you could have just come by yourself, why bring the police over?" Li Family, disapprovingly looked at Ruan Jiandang, thinking he was there to get Liao Zhaoji to go back with him.
But Ruan Jiandang did not look their way, his gaze aimlessly pointed ahead, as if he had never intended to argue with them.
"Haven’t done anything wrong?" The tall, thin police officer sneered, pointing to Ruan Jiandang on the side, "This gentleman accuses you of stealing money and meat from his home, and since the amount is substantial, please come with us to the station."
"Steal what money?" On the other side, Li Family glared and rushed forward, grabbing Liao Zhaoji’s ear and scolding, "You damn girl, didn’t you say you didn’t get anything yesterday? So now you’re keeping secrets from your own mother, huh? Speak, where’s the money? The meat? Hand it over, quickly!"
Li Family thought the police were referring to yesterday’s incident when Liao Zhaoji went to the Ruan Family’s house to steal meat.
She knew it, this ungrateful wretch, even stealing money and not bringing it out!
"Mom!" Liao Zhaoji cried out in pain, being dragged back several steps by Li Family, nearly falling over, hurriedly explaining, "I didn’t, I really didn’t get anything when I went there yesterday, ran into Chizi and didn’t manage to take a thing, really, I’m not lying to you!"
"Really?" Li Family still did not believe her, glaring.
Liao Zhaoji nodded vigorously, tears welling up in her eyes from the pain.
"Enough, why are you assaulting her, and if you want to make a scene, at least consider the timing, didn’t you notice the police officer is still here?" Liao Xinmin chastised from the side and, after speaking, smirked apologetically at the police officer, pulling Ruan Jiandang toward a corner, but Ruan Jiandang did not move, leaving him no choice but to speak in a hushed tone.
"Jiandang, you could have just discussed whatever issues you have behind closed doors, why involve the police? Quickly, let the officer leave." He tugged on Ruan Jiandang’s arm, with a tone of faux concern, "For matters between husband and wife, getting the police involved, what will the neighbors think if they see this? It’s not a good look."
Ruan Jiandang looked at him, finally spoke, "This isn’t just a matter between husband and wife; she and I are about to get divorced. She has to return all the money she took from your Liao Family. As for the past, I can let it go; consider it a gift to you parents, but the recent money she took to buy a car for Liao Laifu, she must return to me, otherwise, I’ll sue your Liao Family!"
"Are you out of your mind?!" Liao Zhaoji, on hearing this, stared at him incredulously, "Ruan Jiandang, are you even human, actually calling the police to arrest me over such a paltry sum? You must be crazy!"
Li Family also twisted her face, wearing an expression of unreasonable dominance, "That’s my daughter’s money, once given to us, it’s ours, why the hell would we give it back?! No, we won’t!"
As she spoke, she grew even more indignant and rolled her eyes, "Besides, you said the previous money was a token of filial respect for us, what’s wrong with showing a little extra respect now?"
"That’s not just a small amount of money." The tall, thin police officer looked at the whole Liao Family with a smirk that bordered on seriousness, "According to Mr. Ruan’s statement, you took forty jin (about 20 kilograms) of meat to the Liao Family last month, worth four to fifty yuan per jin on the market, plus the money for your brother’s car, that’s worth another hundred or two. Altogether, the combined amount amounts to over two hundred, which constitutes a criminal case. If you don’t return the money, we can arrest you according to the law."