Chapter 36: Feint to the East, Strike to the West

"Team Leader, why did the town police take her away?"

Hou Shuangquan sat in the passenger seat, his face full of confusion and doubt.

Yang Dong glanced at Hou Shuangquan and suddenly chuckled. "Looks like... someone leaked our travel plans."

A rural woman, quiet and unassuming, was taken away by the police right before their arrival—what were the odds? Unless there was something fishy going on, such a coincidence was impossible. Someone must have tipped them off, knowing that he was coming to Dongji Village to find Yin Xiumei.

Yin Xiumei was the eldest sister of the housekeeper. The housekeeper was Yin Xiuying, who had two elder sisters: Yin Xiumei, the eldest, and Yin Xiulan, the second.

"Team Leader, you don't suspect me, do you?" Hou Shuangquan immediately squinted, gazing at Yang Dong.

Only two people knew their itinerary—himself and Yang Dong. Clearly, Yang Dong's words implied suspicion.

"How could I? I trust you. We're in the same team, aren't we?" Yang Dong replied with a cheerful laugh, shaking his head at Hou Shuangquan.

"Team Leader, what should we do then?" Hou Shuangquan pressed on, frowning.

"No need to worry about Yin Xiumei. We'll go straight to the housekeeper," Yang Dong said, a faint smile appearing on his face. He immediately turned the car around, heading in another direction toward Dongji Village.

Hou Shuangquan was taken aback. "Team Leader, do you know where the housekeeper is?"

"Yes, I do," Yang Dong replied, grinning.

"A diversion tactic?" Hou Shuangquan exclaimed, looking at Yang Dong in surprise and giving him a thumbs-up. "Brilliant, Team Leader."

Yang Dong merely smiled, saying nothing more as he focused on driving.

Ten minutes later, he parked in front of a villager's house. He opened the car door and stepped out.

"Is this Xiji Village?" Hou Shuangquan asked in amazement, looking at the village. It was less than five kilometers from Dongji Village, but it was a different village—Xiji Village.

Yang Dong ignored Hou Shuangquan and strode toward the house.

Upon opening the door, he immediately saw the housekeeper Yin Xiuying sitting on the kang with her second sister, Yin Xiulan, making dumplings.

The presence of strangers startled both women.

"Who are you?" Yin Xiulan asked, her face full of confusion as she looked at Yang Dong.

Yin Xiuying, however, exclaimed in surprise and leaped off the kang as if it had burned her.

Clearly, Yin Xiuying recognized Yang Dong. She had seen him before—he had delivered things to Yin Tiejun's home and met her more than once. Seeing him now, she knew her secret was exposed, and Yin Tiejun's people had found her.

"Aunt Yin, long time no see," Yang Dong said with a smile, standing at the doorway and greeting Yin Xiuying.

Yin Xiuying seemed to collapse, sinking back onto the kang and bursting into tears, wiping her eyes.

Yin Xiulan, seeing her sister's distress, immediately sensed trouble. She grabbed the rolling pin and glared at Yang Dong, cursing him, "Get out of my house, get out! You're not welcome here!"

Yang Dong paid no heed to Yin Xiulan. Instead, he sighed toward Yin Xiuying. "Aunt Yin, Secretary Yin has always been good to you. Why did you do such a thing? Doesn't your conscience ache?"

"Secretary Yin pays you over two thousand a month, more than I earn as a civil servant."

"Your daughter was born with a heart condition. Secretary Yin recommended the hospital and urged you to seek treatment."

"Aunt Yin, why did you do this?" Yang Dong truly couldn't understand. Did she have no conscience left? Was it the old saying—'a gift of rice breeds resentment'? Did kindness breed indifference?

Yin Xiuying cried silently, her face buried in her hands, sobbing.

"If you don't leave, I'll hit you with this rolling pin!" Yin Xiulan shouted, brandishing the pin.

Yang Dong glanced at Yin Xiulan and spoke in a deep voice, "Don't you know what your sister has done?"

Yin Xiulan immediately turned to Yin Xiuying in confusion.

"Second Sister, I... I'm sorry. Sorry to you, to our parents, and even more to Secretary Yin..." Yin Xiuying broke down in tears. She had been tormented for days, sleepless and living in fear and pain.

"Third Sister, what did you do?" Yin Xiulan frowned, puzzled.

"Your sister acted against her conscience!"

"She worked as a housekeeper for a city official. For reasons unknown, she falsely accused him of corruption, causing him to be detained by the city commission for discipline inspection."

"Your eldest sister Yin Xiumei was taken away by the town police because of this case!"

"Yin Xiuying, you've dragged your eldest sister into this. Do you want to drag your second sister down as well?"

Yang Dong scolded her sternly, refusing to offer comfort or mercy. With people like her, only sharp words and intimidation would make her realize the consequences.

As expected, upon hearing her eldest sister was implicated, Yin Xiuying panicked completely.

"What happened to my eldest sister? Why did the police take her?" she asked, full of anxiety and helplessness, looking at Yang Dong.

Yang Dong stared at her. "Did you take money? Is that why you betrayed your conscience?"

"I... yes, I took fifty thousand," Yin Xiuying admitted, her face burning with shame. But she had no choice—her daughter's heart surgery couldn't wait. The fifty thousand could save her daughter's life. She had no other options.

"Isn't the money burning in your hands?"

"Do you think it's easy to take such money?"

"Once this is over, you'll have to return it all, do you understand?"

"You went to school. Do you think there are free pies in this world?"

"Now your eldest sister is implicated. Do you want to drag your second sister and other relatives into this too?"

Yang Dong pressed on relentlessly, giving Yin Xiuying no time to respond. In just a few questions, the housekeeper was stunned, bewildered, and filled with terror.

"Yang, please, save my eldest sister, save her. I can't implicate her..." Yin Xiuying collapsed to the floor, crawling to Yang Dong and kneeling, begging.

Yang Dong did not stop her from kneeling. Instead, he said coldly, "Only by telling the truth and clearing Secretary Yin's name can you salvage everything."

"Otherwise, your eldest sister, your second sister here, and even other relatives will all be in trouble!"

Yang Dong, having reached the end of patience, first threatened and intimidated, then stated his purpose. Only now would Yin Xiuying seize the chance, unable to let go.

She had no other way out.

"I'll tell the truth, as long as you save my eldest sister. This has nothing to do with her or my second sister. Please, don't drag them in."

Yang Dong's face softened slightly, showing some helplessness as he sighed. "But I'm just a small figure. I can't save your eldest sister..."

Upon hearing this, Yin Xiuying's face turned deathly pale and she slumped to the ground.

"But... there is someone who can save her."

Seeing Yin Xiuying slumped on the floor, Yang Dong offered a new hope, instantly lifting Yin Xiumei's heart.