Chapter Ninety-Three: Who Gave This Pendant?

"Could it be? The police really came?"

"That child from the Qin family was honest and simple since he was small. How could he ever do something so heartless?"

The wail of police sirens, together with Third Aunt's shrill, duck-like voice, woke many of the neighbors in the building.

They gradually gathered in the corridor near the Jiang family's home, whispering among themselves.

"Mom, is what you said true?"

"That little beast Qin was really murdering people, and the police have issued a warrant for him?"

Third Aunt's son had been lying in bed playing on his phone. The moment he heard her clamor, he sprang up at once, rushed out the door, and asked eagerly.

A couple of days earlier, he had seen on Qiu Shuixia's phone that Luoshui, so noble and beautiful she seemed like an icy snow goddess, was actually holding that little beast the Jiang family had picked up.

Jealousy had soured his heart, and he had blurted out a few words on the spot, saying the two of them were not even remotely a match, and that the photo Qin Mu had somehow produced must have come from fraud or some trickery.

In the end, the neighboring residents had scolded him.

Now that he heard something had happened to Qin Mu, he was eager to rush out and join the excitement.

"Of course it's true. Didn't you see the police cars coming in a whole convoy?"

"I said it before—Qin Mu had shifty eyes. I never imagined he'd be ruthless enough to kill more than a dozen people."

"He really is a beast!"

Third Aunt looked like she was lamenting iron that could not be forged into steel, and even warned her son, "You must never learn from him!"

"Don't worry. I've always been upright and never do anything illegal," Li Xin, Third Aunt's son, nodded.

"Don't listen to her nonsense. My Muzi was raised before my eyes. He could never do such a thing," Jiang Haishan said, having somehow been awakened, and came out of his room to state this firmly to Third Aunt.

"Could it be that your family's upbringing is the problem..."

Li Xin grew more and more brazen as he spoke. Jiang Haishan instantly flew into a rage, fixing his eyes on him.

"Old Jiang, don't be fierce here. When the police come up later, you'd better sever all ties with that little beast surnamed Qin. Don't bring trouble upon yourself," Third Aunt said, shielding her son as she clicked her tongue and turned her head away dismissively.

Amid the crowd's suspicion, a group of police officers soon came upstairs.

"I told you not to use the siren. It's the middle of the night and you're disturbing the people, but you just wouldn't listen," Zhang Feng, the officer in front, said with a frown, looking back at Huang Qian upon seeing the full corridor.

"This was to notify Qin Mu in advance," Huang Qian replied with an awkward smile.

"Officer, did my Muzi really kill someone?" Qiu Shuixia was only concerned about Qin Mu, and asked immediately.

Hearing her question, Zhang Feng instantly understood what had happened. He turned sharply and shot Huang Qian a look.

Huang Qian scratched her head in embarrassment and shrank back.

Seeing this, Third Aunt hurried forward with a smile. "Officer, don't blame her. It's a good thing she told us."

"Otherwise, us neighbors would never have known we were living with a murderer, and we'd all have been kept in the dark."

"What murderer?" Zhang Feng frowned and turned back to ask Huang Qian. "Did you say that too?"

"Officer, I've been wronged, I absolutely never said that!" Huang Qian waved her hands repeatedly.

This blame she could not take.

"Hey, little girl, why won't you admit it? When you asked me at the stall, didn't you say that little beast Qin killed someone? And not just one—dozens!"

"He did kill someone, that's true..." Huang Qian had not finished speaking when Third Aunt hurriedly cut in and said to Qiu Shuixia, "See? I didn't make it up, did I? This is disgraceful enough to shame the ancestors! If my son had done something like that, I'd have no face to live. I'd find a place to hang myself and be done with it!"

Qiu Shuixia, hearing this, drew in breath after breath. She could barely breathe, clutched her chest, and staggered backward, nearly fainting.

"You shrew, what nonsense are you spouting here?!"

Now Huang Qian finally understood. She stepped forward at once, pushed Third Aunt aside, and went to support Qiu Shuixia.

"How dare you talk to me like that, girl? Do you even know how to respect your elders and cherish the young? I was only telling the truth!" Third Aunt said furiously after being shoved.

"Killing is killing, but what Qin Mu killed were all major fugitives that the city had been chasing for more than ten years and still could not catch."

"Do you even know the facts? And you're already squawking here?!" Zhang Feng thundered.

"No, you didn't make it clear..." Third Aunt was dumbfounded. Panic seized her, and she pointed at Huang Qian with a trembling voice.

"You're making wild guesses here, shouting without confirming the facts. How could that possibly be the fault of us police officers?" Zhang Feng gave a cold snort, and the imposing authority of a state official immediately spread forth.

"For spreading rumors, inciting public opinion, and misleading the people, take her back and question her thoroughly!"

With a wave of his hand, the officers under him rushed forward and seized Third Aunt.

He was truly angry this time.

She had publicly claimed that a general had killed people unlawfully, and even nearly scared the man's mother into unconsciousness.

Had she lost her mind?

"Officer, I know I was wrong. Don't arrest me!" Third Aunt cried miserably.

A trip to the station would practically end her reputation in their old community.

Not only her matchmaker business, but even her little stall would never again see a single customer.

"Good riddance. Third Aunt always has a loose tongue. If anything happens in someone else's family, she'd like the whole neighborhood to know."

"Exactly. And she even drove Qin's mother to this state. She got what she deserved!"

Seeing the situation made clear, the neighbors all began to denounce her.

Li Xin, Third Aunt's son, was also quick-witted. Seeing the situation, he walked straight up to Qiu Shuixia, took her hand, and put on a pitiful expression as he begged for mercy.

"Aunt Qiu, please remember the little gift I gave you before and say a few good words for my mother. She's so old now; she can't endure this kind of torment."

Yesterday, when they were celebrating the New Year, Li Xin, who usually had little to do with them, had suddenly come to the Jiang family's door and given Qiu Shuixia a white jade pendant to wear around her neck.

"Officer, please let Third Aunt off this once. She's only a little petty in character; she doesn't have any truly malicious intentions."

Qiu Shuixia had a kind heart and could not withstand such pleading, so she spoke up.

"All right then."

"Keep an eye on her. If she dares spread rumors again, I'll personally invite her back for another round!" Zhang Feng warned.

As soon as Third Aunt was released from the handcuffs, she hid in the crowd and no longer had the face to remain there.

Zhang Feng coughed twice, then respectfully took a bank card from his pocket and handed it to Qiu Shuixia.

"Auntie, this is the bounty for Qin Mu's killing of those dozen fugitives. The city has already approved it."

"How much is it?" Li Xin poked his head out the moment he heard money, asking curiously.

"In total, it's a little over eleven million."

The moment Zhang Feng said this, the entire crowd erupted in an instant.

"So much?! Officer, are you sure you didn't make a mistake?" Li Xin asked in disbelief.

Not just him, none of the surrounding neighbors could believe it.

More than ten million!

At their current standard of living, even if they worked for several lifetimes, they would never save up that much money!

"Why is it so lively in the middle of the night?" a voice came from below the stairs.

The rightful owner, Qin Mu, had finally appeared.