Chapter 229

“I’ve thought it through. Go and help me complete the discharge procedures now. To avoid any further complications, I’m going to report everything to the authorities immediately.”

Only after Mu’s mother had calmed down did she realize just how serious the matter was.

Song Nianchu and Mu Shi’an had not been exaggerating at all.

Mu Jingmei was beyond saving. She could not allow her family to be dragged into the fire along with her.

Song Nianchu stared intently at Mu’s mother. After a long while, she finally spoke.

“This isn’t something you can treat as a joke. Once you go, there will be no turning back.”

“I won’t regret it!” Mu’s mother replied firmly, each word deliberate.

In the end, Song Nianchu still did not complete the discharge procedures for Mu’s mother. It wasn’t that she didn’t believe her; Mu’s mother’s health simply had not yet recovered enough for her to leave the hospital. She only managed to obtain a half-day leave for her.

Song Nianchu and Mu Shi’an personally accompanied Mu’s mother to the government office.

As soon as the receptionist heard what they had come to report, they immediately went upstairs to notify the relevant leaders.

While they waited in the conference room, Mu’s mother remained extremely nervous.

She had been well protected by Mu Deyi her entire life and had rarely needed to face any major matters on her own.

What was more, the people she was about to meet were the leaders of the authorities. Her heart was pounding like a drum.

Still, she clenched her fists tightly, refusing to let the slightest trace of fear show on her face.

“Hello…” Just as Mu’s mother was trying her best to calm herself, a deep voice suddenly came from outside the door.

Mu’s mother immediately rose from her chair. When she turned around, she saw several leaders in crisp, formal attire standing at the entrance.

“Hello, leaders!” Mu’s mother greeted them loudly.

Her booming voice startled the group, but they quickly recovered.

“There’s no need to be nervous. Just tell us everything you know, truthfully and in detail.”

“Yes!”

“…”

For the next hour, Mu’s mother was the one communicating with the leaders.

She answered every question without hesitation, even describing the expression on Mu Jingmei’s face at the time in perfect detail.

“I’m fully aware of everything you’ve reported. We’ll assign personnel to investigate the matter. If we find anything, we’ll contact you immediately.” The leader was highly satisfied with Mu’s mother’s honesty.

“All right.” Mu’s mother nodded repeatedly. Then she glanced at Mu Shi’an beside her and asked cautiously, “I’ve truthfully reported everything to the authorities. Will my daughter’s actions affect my son?”

The leader looked at Mu Shi’an, a faint smile appearing on his face.

“You can rest assured. You chose not to conceal anything and reported it at the first opportunity, which shows an excellent attitude. Besides, your daughter is married and has already become part of another family. Regardless of whether we find her, it won’t have much impact on you.”

“That’s a relief.” Mu’s mother finally let out a sigh of relief. She stood up and repeatedly bowed to them. “Thank you so much.”

“Please, get up. This is what we’re supposed to do.”

“…”

Once they stepped out of the government office, Mu’s mother could finally release the breath she had been holding in. Her legs even gave way beneath her a few times.

Fortunately, Mu Shi’an reacted quickly and caught her.

“Shi’an…” Mu’s mother’s eyes were filled with guilt.

“All right. I’ll take you back to the hospital first.” Mu Shi’an sighed inwardly.

Mu’s mother had answered almost every question fluently, without stumbling once throughout the entire process.

To be honest, he had been a little surprised. He had thought she might lose her resolve and soften as she had in the past, but he hadn’t expected her to actually hold firm.

Mu’s mother nodded, but she could no longer endure the strain and fainted.

The moment Mu Shi’an saw what had happened, he immediately carried her onto his back and hurried back to the hospital.

The doctor examined Mu’s mother.

“Don’t worry. She’s only exhausted. There’s nothing seriously wrong with her. She’ll recover after resting for a while.”

“That’s good.” Mu Shi’an finally relaxed.

After the doctor left, Mu Shi’an stayed by Mu’s mother’s bedside.

“All right. The doctor said she’s fine, so you don’t need to worry too much.” Song Nianchu comforted him.

“Mm.” Mu Shi’an nodded, then remembered something else. “By the way, go back and tell my father that Mu Jingmei is still alive. We need to keep her from going after him.”

“All right. I’ll head back now.” Song Nianchu nodded repeatedly.

Mu Jingmei had failed to get anything from Mu’s mother. There was a good chance she would actually return to Mu Deyi.

“Be careful on the way,” Mu Shi’an reminded her.

“Don’t worry. I’ve taken this road countless times.” Song Nianchu waved at Mu Shi’an and hurried away.

By the time she returned to the village, everyone had just finished work and was heading home.

Song Nianchu didn’t stop and went straight to find Mu Deyi.

The door to his house was still closed. Thinking that he might not have returned yet, Song Nianchu was about to head to the village office.

But after taking only a few steps, she saw Mu Deyi. Mu Yongnian and Mu Haoxuan were with him.

“Big sister.” The moment Mu Haoxuan saw Song Nianchu, he immediately let go of Mu Deyi and ran toward her.

“Good boy.” Song Nianchu rubbed his head.

“Sister-in-law.” Mu Yongnian stared closely at her as well.

“Let’s go inside and talk,” Song Nianchu said.

Mu Deyi quickly opened the courtyard gate.

“Sister, is Mom all right?” As soon as they entered the house, Mu Haoxuan couldn’t hold back any longer.

“Your mother is fine. The doctor said she’ll be discharged in a few days.” Song Nianchu spoke gently.

“That’s good.” A smile bloomed across Mu Haoxuan’s face again.

“Yongnian, take your little brother to the room first.” Song Nianchu gave Mu Yongnian a meaningful look.

Mu Yongnian immediately understood that Song Nianchu had something to discuss with his father. He nodded at once and pulled Mu Haoxuan away.

“What happened? Is there something wrong at the hospital?” Seeing that Song Nianchu had even sent the children away, Mu Deyi’s heart instantly tightened.

“Nothing’s wrong at the hospital,” Song Nianchu said.

“Then what is it?” When he heard that nothing had happened to Mu’s mother, Mu Deyi immediately relaxed.

“It’s… Mu Jingmei.”

“You found her?” Mu Deyi froze.

“It wasn’t us who found her. She found us.” Song Nianchu’s gaze darkened slightly.

“What do you mean?” Mu Deyi failed to understand at first.

“She went to the hospital today…” Song Nianchu explained the situation to Mu Deyi.

After hearing everything, Mu Deyi’s entire body began to tremble slightly.

“So… she was never hurt at all?!”

“That’s right.” Song Nianchu nodded.

“She went to Mom to ask for money. Shi’an was worried that, if she couldn’t get any money from Mom, she would come back to you, so he asked me to come and warn you.”

“She’d better not! If she dares come back, I’ll break her legs!” Mu Deyi gritted his teeth in fury.

He had never imagined that Mu Jingmei would have the nerve to run away.

If he had known this would happen, he should have broken her legs from the very beginning!