How could I possibly be confined in a cage?

Chapter 180 The Zheng Family's Hidden Worries

The next morning, Guo Zixing hurriedly escorted the person away. There was too much time, and he didn't even have time to say goodbye to Qingru.

After a good night's sleep, when Qingru returned home in the morning, she was told that Lü Peijun had left.

"My dad's gone? Why? Where did he go?"

“A letter came from Laiwu. I don’t know what it said, but the master packed his bags and left in a hurry, asking me to tell you.”

Qingru was momentarily speechless upon hearing Lao Hei's words. According to Lü's father, the Lü family of Laiwu, Shandong, was their clan ancestor. Why was the clan head sending a letter this time?

Yanru was still at school and hadn't returned yet. Qingru suddenly found herself with nothing to do and didn't know what to do.

"If there's nothing else, I'll be going now."

"Okay, no, wait, come with me to the hospital. Song Fu is injured and is still in the hospital."

Upon hearing that his "nephew" was injured, Lao Hei didn't react much. He simply nodded and followed behind Qingru.

Neither of them could drive, so Qingru called two rickshaws.

"Have you heard? The Zheng family was framed."

"Who said that? Wasn't he just arrested yesterday?"

"Oh dear, you don't know yet? This morning the Marshal's Mansion issued an official document saying that those goods were brought in by the Japanese, and they've harmed quite a few people."

"Really? So all these bad things were done by those Japanese?"

"No."

"I knew they were up to no good, tsk tsk, shifty-eyed..."

...

Listening to the discussions on the street, Qingru understood somewhat why Commander Guo had not yet punished Zheng the comprador.

Opium has already been smuggled in; aside from what has been confiscated, who knows if there's any more smuggled in secret? If public opinion is stirred up again at this point, with accusations of "our own people harming each other," some "Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere" rhetoric might resurface.

We must never allow such voices to reappear. Rumors spread like wildfire, and we must not allow such tendencies to emerge in public discourse.

While she was thinking, the car swayed and bumped its way to the hospital. After paying the bill, Qingru bought some canned food to visit Song Fu.

"Are you alright?" Qingru put down the gift and looked at Song Fu's pale face.

"It's alright." Song Fu's face was dejected, and his thigh was throbbing with pain.

"What did the doctor say?"

"You lost too much blood, you'll recover after some rest."

Qingru nodded, unsure of what to say. Actually, she wasn't very familiar with Song Fu, but the fact that he had saved her life in her time of crisis was already a great favor, and she knew she had to repay him.

"Just tell me what you want to eat. I've had some free time these days, so I can bring you food every day."

"I don't care what we eat, but... have all the cases been solved?"

"I guess it's temporarily over." Qingru was exhausted. This whole thing was just one thing leading to another, it never seemed to end. How could it be considered over?

Song Fu lowered his eyes, his raven-feather eyelashes obscuring his expression. "The eldest young lady works at the police station and is very busy. Why don't we have the second young lady deliver the food?"

If Song Fu hadn't made any demands, Qingru really wouldn't have known what to do. Now that he had specific demands, she naturally agreed.

"Okay, just tell me what you want to eat."

A smile finally appeared on Song Fu's pale face.

The hands hidden under the blanket clenched so tightly they turned blue, but the harder they squeezed, the more serene their faces became.

That damned Zheng Peilan, not only did she use his antidote, but the first thing she did after waking up was to kill him.

Ha, you think I'm lowly, huh? Then I'll make you understand what it feels like to be trampled on by someone lowly.

Zheng Peilan, who was cursed by Song Fu, was awakened by a nightmare. The maid whose heart she had personally ripped out came looking for her with a bloodied face.

“Dad, Dad…”

Upon hearing the shouts, Zheng, the comprador, rushed in.

Zheng Peilan lay on the large bed, her face ashen and filled with terror. "I dreamt of her. She wanted revenge on me, she wanted revenge on my father..."

Sobbing uncontrollably, Zheng Peilan cried out, "I'm not that kind of person! How could I have shouted for violence? How could I have done this..."

Comprador Zheng hugged Zheng Peilan tightly, comforting her repeatedly, "It's not your fault, it's not your fault, Peilan. You must remember, that was just a temporary measure. It was that maid who swallowed the house deed first. If it weren't for the house deed, you and I would be the ones who died, and we would die with a bad reputation on our shoulders. Are you willing to accept that?"

"No...we didn't do those things, Dad. Who did we offend? Why are they bullying me like this..."

Zheng, the comprador, was filled with hatred, but dared not let Zheng Peilan see it. After a few breaths, he suppressed his violent rage. "Our Zheng family is living a life of luxury. It was naturally those inferior people who harmed us. That Japanese man was always ambitious and treacherous. He probably had his eye on the Zheng family long ago. Peilan, don't be afraid. That Japanese man won't survive. We are safe now."

Zheng's comprador dared not let Zheng Peilan know her true identity in private, and could only try his best to guide Zheng Peilan in a positive direction.

The flower that blooms from this lump of mud must be pure and flawless.

"Dad, what am I going to do now? I used to be the most famous socialite in Sifang City. So many young masters and ladies used to fawn over me, but now that I'm like this, they will all look down on me."

Zheng Peilan was terrified. She had fallen from heaven to hell overnight. That circle was known for its sycophancy and bullying. How could she ever face anyone again?

"Don't worry, we've only lost some things, but who knows if there won't be something better. Those people are snobs, so let's stand higher, do better, and shut them up, right?"

Zheng Peilan nodded, seemingly realizing something. "Yes, do it even better. Dad, I've ruined my body, can I still marry Guo Zixing?"

Zheng, the comprador, frowned. "Are you still going to marry him?"

Zheng Peilan cried again, "What else can we do? Our family is already in this state. Guo Zixing is the young marshal. The only way I can shut them up is to marry him and become the young marshal's wife!"

Comprador Zheng patted Zheng Peilan on the back to calm her down. "Peilan, let's not get hung up on this. This Sifang City isn't just a place that Guo Zixing can afford. As the saying goes, even the most powerful families have a thousand-year history, and dynasties have a hundred-year history. How many warlords have fallen over the years? In the end, they're not as reliable as wealthy families. Look at the Song family. After all this trouble, they seem to have disappeared without a trace, not getting involved at all. Aren't they more practical than the Guo family?"

Zheng Peilan stopped crying and looked up. "You mean, the richest family, the Song family?"

“Of course,” Zheng, the comprador, said confidently. “The Song family was already here before General Guo arrived. No matter how many masters Sifang City has changed hands, the Song family has always stood strong.”

Zheng Peilan's eyes finally regained their sparkle, "Then, then I can still..."

“I definitely can,” Zheng the comprador said with unwavering confidence. “That night was incredibly chaotic, and few people know about your loss of virginity. Besides, the Marshal’s Mansion has now issued an official document to clear your name, and our Zheng family is now seen as the victim. Rest at home for a while, and once the new manor is built, I will definitely hold another ball to wash away this period of depression.”

Zheng Peilan's eyes lit up. "Okay, Dad, I'll definitely make them look at me in a new light!"