Chapter 110: Abducting a Minor

“Hmph! Wanli Wu, stop standing there stiff-necked, shouting at me! A female classmate of Ya Wu? Then tell me, what is her relationship with your family? Are they relatives, or long-time family friends? Just ordinary classmates, and there’s a difference between men and women. It’s the middle of the night and she still hasn’t left—what’s going on? Have you locked that girl up, forcing her not to leave?”

Old Mrs. Zhang snorted coldly, her face suddenly darkening.

Her tone shifted from mocking questions to full righteous indignation.

She was a community security officer, after all.

Even if she couldn’t prove coercion, exposing poor family conduct was a piece of cake.

Young people can be impulsive, no doubt.

But the two of them are no spring chickens!

Yet they dare to let their son keep a female student overnight at home?

This isn’t just mischief—it’s outright misconduct!

Hmph.

Let’s see what explanation you can give me today.

Give a good enough explanation, and I’ll let you off with a bad reputation.

Fail to explain?

Sorry to say, I’ll make sure your son spends a couple of nights behind bars!

And in the end, your family’s name will be ruined!

Who told you your family recently struck it rich?

I just can’t stand it!

“You... shameless!”

The gentle Wanli Wu was no match for a shrew like old Mrs. Zhang.

Moreover, accusing neighbors with heavy slanders was her specialty.

Before they had even exchanged a single round of words, he was so furious that he was rendered speechless.

He simply gave up.

The atmosphere in the room suddenly froze.

Ya Wu’s parents glared fiercely at old Mrs. Zhang, their faces flushed but they had no words.

Ya Wu tried to speak.

“No!”

But Liu Qian, frightened, held him firmly back.

She knew he was already angry, so she had to restrain him.

If things escalated, these old women would definitely make a big fuss.

At that point, his parents might find out that she was actually staying at the Wu household!

Not only would that bring trouble to the Wu family, but it would also worsen her own parents’ dislike of Ya Wu.

So maybe if they just endured a little longer, it would all blow over.

Seeing everyone silent,

“Ahem, ahem...”

Aunt Shen Baichu cleared her throat.

“Hehe, Old Wu, Old Zhang, don’t take it personally. It’s the middle of the night, and Ya Wu brought a girl home. Is she really a classmate? If she is, why didn’t she go home? Do her parents know she’s staying at your house? If they do, do they agree? These are all important questions! If this isn’t clarified, it’s not just our negligence—you’ll be implicated too, right?”

She turned to say words that sent chills through Ya Wu’s parents.

Indeed.

This matter was far from simple as the couple had thought.

Liu Qian was a grown young woman.

Staying out late at night naturally drew attention.

And old Mrs. Zhang, as a community security officer, was right to investigate.

Could it be...

They had no ulterior motives?

Perhaps it was their own nervousness making them overly sensitive?

Honest people, when confronted with problems, always first wonder if the fault lies with themselves.

They examine themselves first.

That leads them to apologize while trying to prove others wrong.

Hence, they often end up at a disadvantage.

“Caixia, this isn’t a trivial matter! If it’s not clarified, it won’t just affect your family’s reputation — it’s irresponsible toward the girl as well, isn’t it?”

“Exactly, Caixia! Ultimately, Sister Zhang is just trying to help your family! She doesn’t want you to be burdened with a bad reputation.”

“I’m telling you, Caixia, you should listen to Sister Zhang and explain why this girl is staying here! That way, everyone can understand.”

“That’s right! Caixia, if you can’t explain clearly who this girl is, if this gets out, it might even be called forcing someone to stay! That’s a crime!”

Immediately, members of the neighborhood watch chimed in, ostensibly offering advice but really piling on pressure.

“Hehehe...”

Old Mrs. Zhang smiled coldly.

That’s a crime, huh?

With such a heavy accusation hanging over you, do you think you won’t confess?

Once you explain who this girl really is:

If your story holds, tomorrow it’ll just be a scandal.

If...

There’s really something shameful hidden?

Well, then sorry to say, your Wu family is finished!

Who told your useless son to be so reckless?

Letting such a chance for a good life slip by, yet still daring to flirt with a fine young lady.

Fine, you flirted, but you even brought her home!

Bringing her home is one thing—but you ran into Baichu!

Tell me, aren’t you just cursed?

Hehe.

Finally, I have a chance to vent my pent-up frustrations!

Sure enough,

With a few people chiming in, the faces of Ya Wu’s parents grew increasingly unpleasant.

“Sister Zhang, this girl really is my son Ya Wu’s classmate! Her name’s Liu Qian, and she’s staying with us with her parents’ permission!”

Under mounting pressure, Zhang Caixia finally decided to tell the truth.

After all, their family had done nothing wrong, so there was no reason to fear.

At first, she was reluctant to say much, just to avoid gossip.

But now, she had to speak.

If she didn’t, they might even be accused of wrongdoing!

Once things escalated, it would be bad for everyone.

“That’s right! And it was Liu Qian’s parents themselves who called my son to ask him to take care of her while she stayed with us for a few days!”

Wanli Wu, seeing his wife speak, immediately puffed up his chest and spoke with a firm tone.

His proud expression was plainly visible!

Such a beautiful girl, and the parents actually proactively called my son.

They even asked him to look after her for a few days!

Surprised?

Of course!

That means her parents liked my son!

It also shows my son is outstanding!

As a parent, naturally, I’m proud.

But...

“Hmph! Wanli Wu, Zhang Caixia! You two really are a perfect match. Your talent for lying is identical! Did you two rehearse this?”

No sooner had they spoken than old Mrs. Zhang launched a scathing insult.

“Old Mrs. Zhang, what do you mean? When we don’t speak, you nag; when we tell the truth, you twist things! I can see it now—you came here to pick a fight!”

Wanli Wu was furious.

They had spoken only the truth.

Yet this old woman not only refused to believe them but even accused them of lying!

Does she really think she’s that discerning?

At this moment, Wanli Wu understood.

No matter what they said, they’d be accused of fabricating!

So, he thought, might as well show my true colors—let them say what they want!

“Sister Zhang, my husband is right! We’re telling the truth. Why do you accuse us of lying? Does that mean no matter what we say, we’re lying?”

Zhang Caixia was upset too.

They were naturally kind, but that didn’t mean they’d tolerate bullying.

This old Mrs. Zhang was not only arrogant but acted like a detective.

Did she think she could just come to their house and investigate?

If push came to shove, they’d just throw her out!

I don’t believe she can do anything to our family.

At worst, tomorrow there’ll be a pile of gossip.

If you’re innocent, why fear rumors?

They’d eventually fade away!

But clearly, they had still underestimated the situation.

“Hehe, why do I accuse you? Caixia, Wanli Wu, because your story doesn’t hold water! Let me ask you: if you had a daughter as beautiful as a flower, would you just casually let her stay at someone else’s house? Aren’t you afraid she’d get hurt?”

Old Mrs. Zhang sneered, her expression triumphant as if the case was cracked.

The girl’s family supposedly agreed to her staying here for a few days.

They said they even instructed their son to take care of her?

What nonsense!

Who would just let such a beautiful young lady stay at a stranger’s house for no reason?

Isn’t that like sending sheep into a tiger’s den?

So, the couple clearly weren’t telling the truth!

Moreover, she could tell there was something unspeakable behind this girl’s story!

Perhaps a secret!

Otherwise, why wouldn’t they be honest?

Could it be...

That shabby tailor shop was just a front to make money!

And their sudden wealth was connected to this mysterious girl?

And today’s incident wasn’t the first!

It just happened to be the one they accidentally uncovered!

Old Mrs. Zhang’s thoughts had already traveled far beyond, practically branding Ya Wu’s parents as human traffickers.

“This...”

Startled by Mrs. Zhang’s tirade, Ya Wu’s parents were truly at a loss.

Their original thoughts were simple.

They were innocent and told the truth.

But they hadn’t considered how flawed truths would sound to others.

A young lady and a young man, just like that—

No reason, no explanation—

Delivered right to their doorstep?

Impossible!

“What do we do, old man?”

Zhang Caixia realized she had spoken carelessly.

But now that the words were out, she couldn’t just add excuses.

Besides,

Saying Liu Qian had a fight with her parents so they let her stay here made even less sense!

If she ran away in anger, she could do all sorts of reckless things.

Her parents were strangers—how could they trust the Wus?

And they hadn’t even met each other!

Wasn’t it dangerous to leave her alone with their son?

Impossible!

Of course, the “not met” part was just Zhang Caixia’s assumption.

But precisely because she thought of that, she felt this matter might be impossible to explain.

So she had completely lost her composure.

“I also... sigh!”

Husband and wife are one in spirit.

Zhang Caixia thought this, and Wanli Wu obviously felt the same.

For a moment, they looked at each other.

In their eyes, a flicker of panic was evident.

If this couldn’t be explained clearly, the trouble today would be huge!

None of the people here were easy to deal with!

Especially old Mrs. Zhang.

She was usually a troublemaker, and now she had caught a real case!

“Liu Qian, don’t worry. I’m here. Just trust me!”

Seeing their parents’ embarrassment, Ya Wu gently patted Liu Qian’s shoulder.

Once again, he said the words that calmed her nerves: “I’ll handle everything.”

“Mrs. Zhang, so you mean that if I can’t explain why my classmate is staying at my house, you won’t let this go and might even report us to the authorities? Is that right?”

Ya Wu’s tone was mocking.

Looking her straight in the eye, he even showed clear sarcasm.

This utterly enraged old Mrs. Zhang!

That little punk had just chased her off twice.

Now he dared to put on such an insolent expression!

Absolutely outrageous!

Even if I wanted to let you off before, I can’t anymore!

Your arrogance just lost you that chance.

Therefore...

“Hmph! You’re right! If you don’t give me a reasonable explanation today, I will exercise my rights as a community security officer to report you and your family to the authorities! Let them impose the necessary sanctions! From what I see, that girl is probably under eighteen! Kidnapping a minor—that’s a serious crime!”

Kidnapping a minor!

A chill ran from the heels of Ya Wu’s parents straight up to the back of their heads!

Their faces instantly turned pale!

In the 1990s legal system, eighteen was the age of adulthood.

Anyone under eighteen was considered a minor!

The law was harsh with minors!

So, even though old Mrs. Zhang was trying to intimidate them, her words struck a nerve!

These two kids, though graduated from high school, were still a few days shy of eighteen!

What to do now?

If they couldn’t explain it clearly, today would be truly unlucky!

Thinking this,

“Ya’er...”

Zhang Caixia could no longer hold back.