Chapter 524: Caihua’s Downfall (Part 4)

The more Qin Shanshan spoke, the more composed she became, her tone growing increasingly self-righteous.

"Back when Tang Mo was only five, she tried to sell him once, but it failed. Then she claimed she’d rescued him. Everyone in our village knows about it. You’ll find out if you just go and ask."

Qin Shanshan spilled everything about what happened back then.

The one interrogating her was one of Leader Chen’s men, and he had already become familiar with Su Li and the others over the past few days.

He didn’t say much. He just watched Qin Shanshan put on her act and offer flimsy excuses, curious to see just how elaborate her lies would get.

Qin Shanshan still had no idea that being brought in handcuffed was already a statement in itself.

Beard had confessed everything, crystal clear. As far as they were concerned, Qin Shanshan’s fate was sealed.

It was best if she confessed to her crimes herself, but it wouldn’t matter if she didn’t. After all, the evidence was conclusive.

Unaware of his thoughts, Qin Shanshan saw his silence as belief. A flicker of hope ignited, and she pressed on.

"I’m not Tang Mo’s stepmom. He has nothing to do with me. How could I possibly sell him? You’ve all been deceived! I’ve been framed."

’She absolutely could not, and would not, admit to this.’

’Human traffickers are the most despised people on earth. She knew what she’d done was monstrous, so she could never, ever admit it. If she confessed, her life would be over.’

"Really, everything I’m saying is true! I would never sell Tang Mo for no reason. It must have been Su Li who sold him!"

She gritted her teeth. "You probably don’t know what kind of person Su Li is. She’s a real piece of work. Even though she was married, she wasn’t faithful. Back in our hometown, she was always hooking up with this guy and that guy. She wouldn’t even leave the village idiot alone."

"Later, she hooked up with someone more powerful and immediately divorced her husband."

"The man she took up with was powerful, alright, but he was *too* powerful, and he knew her ex-husband, so none of their acquaintances could accept it."

Her eyes grew brighter the more she spoke. She lowered her voice and said,

"I’d heard rumors before, saying that Su Li wasn’t good enough for that powerful man."

"Su Li wants to get married, she wants to marry that man, so she has to erase her past, right? A burden like Tang Mo, she must have felt he was holding her back, so she had to sell him!"

"That’s it, that’s exactly it! People said she wasn’t good enough for him, and she was afraid of being abandoned, so that’s why she sold Tang Mo!"

Qin Shanshan spoke rapidly, her eyes full of fervent hope.

"I’ve been framed! I’m the scapegoat! You have to clear my name!"

The interrogator looked at Qin Shanshan and slowly let out a breath.

"You... really can spin some nonsense."

Qin Shanshan was stunned. "What?"

’What does he mean, I’m spinning nonsense? My reasoning is perfectly sound, and he dares to say I’m making it all up!’

"You don’t believe me? Everything I said is true! If I’ve told a single lie, may I be struck by lightning and die a horrible death!"

The oath rolled off Qin Shanshan’s tongue so easily the man opposite her felt the corner of his lip twitch.

"We’re all about evidence-based investigation here. I’m busy. You’d better just confess."

Qin Shanshan was so angry she could have spat blood. "I’m telling the truth! Did Su Li pull some strings? Did she tell you to pin the crime on me? I’m telling you, I’d rather die than submit! If you dare to frame me, I’ll kill myself right in front of you!"

"Even Dou E wasn’t as wronged as I am!"

’No matter what, I have to get through this first.’

"Don’t get any funny ideas. If you kill yourself, it won’t be because you were framed. It’ll be suicide out of guilt."

’How ridiculous. Did she really think she could threaten them so easily? Did she think this was just a screaming match on the street?’

Qin Shanshan looked at the impervious man opposite her, frustrated to death.

"Why are you being like this? I already told you, Su Li framed me! Every word I said is true! You’ll know if you just go and ask around."

By now, the interrogator’s patience had completely run out.

"Listen, stop going on about being framed. Have you not been outside for a few days? Did you get stupid? You’re not up to date, are you?"

He scoffed. "Do you think you’ll be fine if you just don’t admit it? The person you were working with has already been caught. That whole ring of human traffickers has been taken down. You were brought in because you were reported. And you still think you can deny it? In your dreams!"

’If everyone could get away with their crimes just by denying them and making excuses, wouldn’t the world descend into chaos?’

Qin Shanshan had been too nervous before, and then too busy trying to clear her name, so she was genuinely unaware that the entire trafficking ring had been busted.

"What?"

When Qin Shanshan heard this, she was truly shocked. Her whole body began to tremble.

’So I wasn’t arrested because of what happened to Su Li and Tang Mo, but because the whole trafficking ring was taken down?’

’That man... he was caught too?’

’Oh god, how is that possible? How could it be!’

’That man seemed so formidable! How could he possibly have been caught? How?!’

"Leniency for those who confess, severity for those who resist. If you want a lighter sentence, or a chance to earn merit, you’ll confess everything you’ve done."

"Where is Miao Zhi, the one who was mistakenly captured, now? Confess quickly. You’re acquainted with Miao Zhi, too. Save her, and you might just save yourself."

Qin Shanshan’s mind went completely blank. She felt the world spin around her.

"How is that possible... How is that possible..."

’Miao Zhi? Why is she involved? Weren’t Su Li and Tang Mo the ones who got taken? Why isn’t he asking about them? Why bring up Miao Zhi?’

’Mistakenly captured... How could they make a mistake like that...? That dangerous man was actually caught. I thought he was untouchable...’

’No, this isn’t the time to be thinking about that!’

’What... what am I going to do? How can I clear myself of suspicion?’

As Qin Shanshan was thinking, she was suddenly startled by a sharp shout.

"Don’t get any funny ideas! Confess honestly! Where was Miao Zhi taken?!"

"I don’t know! I don’t know! I don’t know what you’re talking about!"

’Miao Zhi this, Miao Zhi that. It’s ridiculous. How am I supposed to know where that annoying girl is?’

"If you won’t confess, then get ready to spend the rest of your life in prison. You can rot in there."

Qin Shanshan was shocked, but she really didn’t know where Miao Zhi was!

"I don’t know! I’ve been framed! Su Li’s the one who sold him! Go look for her!"

Qin Shanshan started a fresh round of desperate denials, insisting once again that Su Li was the culprit.

The officer’s patience was tested again and again. Qin Shanshan was clearly on the verge of collapse, but she just wouldn’t admit it. After more than an hour had been wasted, the officer had no other choice but to come out.

There was still no news about Miao Zhi.

It seemed Qin Shanshan really didn’t know where Miao Zhi was.

Su Li and Little Tang Mo had been waiting for the results instead of going home, and they were incredibly frustrated by the news.

When Qin Shanshan, who was being led out of the interrogation room, saw Su Li and Little Tang Mo, she was more than just frustrated.

Her eyes looked like they were about to shoot fire.

"You... you...!"

’They were perfectly fine. Again!’

’And I’m the one who got arrested! How can this world be so unfair!’

’If Su Li and Tang Mo had been ruined, I could have accepted being arrested. But they’re both perfectly fine! So why should I be the one who gets arrested?!’

"ARGH!" Qin Shanshan tried to charge at Su Li and Little Tang Mo but was restrained. All she could do was let out a heart-rending shriek.

Her voice was filled with nothing but bitter indignation.