I became the Counterpart of the Winner in a Period Novel

Chapter 363: Chapter 315: This Is a Tragedy (Part 3)

After Shen Fang returned to the homestead, the family of four worked together to cut branches and build a temporary shelter. They placed their belongings inside it, creating a temporary home, and also dug an earth stove as a provisional kitchen.

Taking advantage of the daylight, they went to dig up thorns for transplanting, following the lime line measured out by Captain Liu. They dug a trench, planted them, and watered them. They estimated that in a few days, they would have an enclosed courtyard wall. Once the thorn wall was complete, they would call in people to build the house.

Jiang Mingyue had to go to work that day, and there was only Xiao Ran at home.

"Latch the door and don’t open it for anyone. If someone tries to force their way in, go next door to find Uncle Mute."

Xiao Ran was reluctant to stay home alone. "Sister, can I go to work with you?"

"Of course not, it’s not a school." Sensing his unease, Jiang Mingyue knelt down to comfort him, "Don’t worry, Lightning will be at home with you. If anything happens, you can rely on it to give you courage."

Xiao Ran felt that his sister was just trying to placate him. Lightning couldn’t understand human speech, how could it help him be brave? But he couldn’t hinder his sister’s work. Yun Di had told him that without working, there would be no money or food to support him.

Alas! He felt like he was just a burden.

"Alright, you go ahead. I’ll listen to everything you said."

Jiang Mingyue wasn’t very comfortable leaving Xiao Ran alone at home either. After all, this wasn’t Qingshan Village, but with Lightning there, she felt more at ease.

With her green satchel slung over her shoulder, Jiang Mingyue wheeled out her bicycle, and An Jian was waiting at the door.

"Let’s go!"

"Ming Yue, where’s your cousin? Has he gone back?"

"Yeah, his rural home just split off, so he went back to build a shelter from the wind and rain."

"That kid, with his physique, it’s a shame if he doesn’t join the army. It’s tough to join now, but if there’s some connections, it might be possible. Why don’t you ask him if he wants to?"

"What, do you have connections?"

"Hehe, just a bit."

"Alright, I’ll ask him later."

The two of them cycled together and arrived at the Southern Institute just in time.

"By the way, let me tell you about this case at the food factory..."

To Jiang Mingyue’s surprise, it was the same food factory where Brother Xie worked. She hadn’t met the person involved in the incident but knew about them as they were introduced by Jiang Zhenzhu from Jing County Farm, Lin Houmao, the cousin of Lin Zhi from Jing County Security Office.

As for Lin Houmao, he was slick and shrewd. He entered through the connections of Jiang Zhenzhu and their godfamily ties with Yang Fang, but he did practical work and managed to offend no one. He got along well with people and was quite successful.

However, ever since Jiang Zhenzhu was fired from the factory, and the godfamily relationship was unilaterally severed by Yang Fang, Lin’s days in the factory became harder.

Lin Houmao set his sights on the daughter of the director of Workshop Five. They had an eight-year age difference, so Director Li naturally disapproved, and even warned him. But somehow Lin Houmao managed to win over Li Jiajia’s affection, and they started dating privately.

By the time Director Li noticed his daughter’s unusual behavior, it was too late. Li Jiajia was already over a month pregnant, which infuriated Director Li and his wife.

Mrs. Li had difficulty bearing children and only had Li Jiajia after over a decade of marriage, so they treasured her like a jewel in their eyes. They couldn’t accept their precious daughter being treated like this.

Lin Houmao seemed to be a deceitful person, and there was no way the couple would agree to their daughter marrying someone like him.

Discreetly, the couple sought someone to have the child in their daughter’s womb removed.

The news was overheard by Li Jiajia, and that night, she sneaked out. But the next day, the couple received news of their daughter’s death.

"The issue now is both sides accuse each other. Director Li and his wife believe Lin Houmao killed Li Jiajia. Meanwhile, Lin Houmao accuses them of causing her death."

"Are there no eyewitnesses?"

"The street lights in South City have long been broken. It’s pitch dark at night, so it’s unlikely."

"Send someone to visit the area where the incident happened."

"I’ve already dispatched Duke of Thunder and Wen Yu."

Jiang Mingyue understood her role.

"I’ll think about who to see first. Director Li and his wife have just lost their daughter, so they must be very grief-stricken. Why don’t we buy some condolences and pay them a visit?"

"That’s exactly what I was thinking."

"Is anyone watching Lin Houmao? I’m worried he might flee."

"Both sides are being monitored. But from your tone, you seem to have already determined it involves Lin Houmao?"

"Not necessarily. It’s just precautionary. You should have already investigated him, and you should know he was brought into the factory by Jiang Zhenzhu. From what I know of Jiang Zhenzhu, she wouldn’t bring someone in out of the goodness of her heart. There must have been some kind of benefit exchanged between the two."

In such places, where there is an exchange of interests, it implies a dark mindset of stirring up trouble. It takes only a little growth for it to become deadly.

Of course, what she couldn’t mention was: to be associated with someone like Jiang Zhenzhu, haha!

After all, birds of the same feather flock together.

An Jian immediately sent someone to prepare the gifts, and they, along with a group, headed to Director Li’s house.

Unexpectedly, Li Jiajia had been killed by her own parents acting together.

Although they cherished their only daughter deeply, they were also obsessed with maintaining face. When they found out she was dating such a person and had a child, they felt utterly disappointed with her.

The couple believed that as long as their daughter lived, their family would carry a stigma that would forever be criticized. It was better to end it all and eliminate future troubles while no one knew.

So, the couple executed what they thought was a thoroughly considered plan.

Taking their daughter to abort her child was merely bait they dangled. They intentionally let Li Jiajia overhear their plan, and then gave her milk with added ingredients to drink, watching her finish it.

After drinking the milk, Li Jiajia didn’t feel unwell because the substance wouldn’t take effect immediately.

In the middle of the night, while her parents slept, she packed her things and escaped, planning to elope with Lin Houmao.

Li Jiajia still hoped that by the next day, Lin Houmao would file a report at the company so they could quickly get a marriage certificate and live happily ever after as a couple.

However, the path Li Jiajia took was pitch dark with no street lamps, and a branch of the Lan River ran through the area. Without a flashlight and unfamiliar with the road conditions, she twisted her ankle and fell straight into the river. The water was shallow and couldn’t have carried an adult, yet Li Jiajia ended up dead there.

The river water couldn’t have been fatal, indicating she was murdered, and thus the issue unraveled.

When Jiang Mingyue nodded at An Jian, Mrs. Li was still weeping, genuinely heartbroken. "Comrade, you must seek justice for my daughter. Don’t let that wretched Lin Houmao get away with this..." She burst into tears again, crying so hard she could barely breathe, her face buried in a handkerchief. Director Li had turned completely gray overnight, and the whole family seemed to have aged ten years.

Alas! What was once a fine family had turned into such a state!

Seeing Jiang Mingyue nod, An Jian didn’t hesitate to handcuff them.

"Comrade, could you be mistaken?"

"It’s routine questioning, no need to panic."

Director Li looked down at the bracelet on his wrist, not believing what was being said, but he had no choice.

Bringing them back in, the couple felt the invisible pressure and soon confessed.

With the truth revealed, An Jian took people to inform Lin Houmao, and Jiang Mingyue took the chance to see him too.

After meeting him, Jiang Mingyue felt sorry for Li Jiajia. Lin Houmao didn’t truly like her, he was just attracted to her family background. Li Jiajia’s death, while not directly caused by him, had a lot to do with him. Without his manipulation, she might not have lost her precious life.

With the matter completely resolved, and it being lunchtime, with nothing left for her to do at the institute, Jiang Mingyue cycled home.

She worried about Xiao Ran, thinking that leaving him like this wasn’t a solution.

At the very least, there’s no one to feed the little guy lunch!

But when Jiang Mingyue entered the yard, she smelled a delicious aroma wafting from the open window of the kitchen...