Transmigration: Flirted with My Childhood Sweetheart
Chapter 391 - 390: The Art of Interrogation

Chapter 391: Chapter 390: The Art of Interrogation

Lin Nianhe was still having a late-night discussion with Principal Wu, the elder and the younger speaking in low voices as they hatched their daring and reckless plan, both of their eyes exceptionally bright.

The flickering candlelight cast little flame-like specks of gold on the frost-covered window.

"Sister Lin, Brother Cheng is back, and the person has been captured."

Feng Wei’s subdued voice sounded from outside the room.

The room had poor soundproofing; Principal Wu heard his words as well.

Lin Nianhe was momentarily startled, hastily set down her pen in response, and while putting on her clothes, she said to Principal Wu, "Principal, you rest. I’ll go take a look and come back to tell you."

"I’ll come with you," Principal Wu also got off the kang, "I won’t have peace of mind if I don’t see for myself."

"It’s cold outside..." Lin Nianhe tried to stop her.

Principal Wu tucked a hot water bottle into her bosom and said to her, "It’s okay, let’s go."

Lin Nianhe knew she couldn’t persuade her, so she took a flashlight and went out with her.

"Wait, Xiao Su just came back, and there’s probably not much to eat at the storeroom. Aunt Feng saved some food for him; go and get it."

"Alright."

Lin Nianhe went to the kitchen and indeed found some still-warm cornmeal flatbreads and a bowl of stewed sauerkraut. She put the lunch box into a cotton cover, usually used by Aunt Feng for delivering meals, and tucked it inside her coat before following Principal Wu out the door.

It was snowing again. The two of them trudged through the snow to the storeroom, not entering yet, but already smelling an off-putting scent.

Lin Nianhe wrinkled her nose, supporting Principal Wu’s arm as they sidestepped a patch of ice at the doorway.

The interrogation in the storeroom hadn’t started yet, and everyone including Li Xiaoshan had left. No one knew where Feng Wei had been sent to. Only Su Yuncheng sat alone on a small stool, expressionlessly poking at the stove.

He was silent, and Mr. Qian grew even more nervous, scratching around on the ground like he had lice and sweat covered his face.

Lin Nianhe pushed the door open, and upon seeing this scene, she didn’t enter but instead called from the door, "Brother Yuncheng."

Su Yuncheng looked up at her and stood up, giving Mr. Qian a glance, not even bothering to warn him not to move, and walked straight towards Lin Nianhe.

With his back turned, Su Yuncheng’s expression softened. He approached Lin Nianhe and asked softly, "Why haven’t you gone to bed?"

"Aunt Feng saved some food for you; I brought it over." Lin Nianhe handed him the insulated lunch box, stuffed two white rabbit milk candies into his pocket, and then asked, "Is everything settled?"

"Yep, on the way back, I ran into Wu Genmao and the others. They’re walking slowly, so it might be a while before they return," Su Yuncheng replied, taking the lunch box and briefly updated Lin Nianhe about the situation at Victory Team in an extremely low voice.

"Okay." Lin Nianhe nodded, hugging Principal Wu’s arm, attempting to shield her from some of the cold wind, "Then I won’t stay any longer. Tonight, Principal Wu and Niuwa are sleeping with Aunt Feng; I, I was afraid they would be scared, so I’m going to sleep in your room."

"Sure, go to sleep," Su Yuncheng’s lips lifted slightly, "No need to wait for me."

He was always fond of cleanliness, his room tidy and in order, not worried about Lin Nianhe seeing anything.

"Okay." Lin Nianhe nodded, holding Principal Wu’s arm she said, "Principal, let’s go back."

"Yes, yes," Principal Wu finally spoke, "As long as there are no injuries, that’s good."

She insisted on coming because she was worried Su Yuncheng might get hurt; she didn’t want to be kept in the dark. Even if she couldn’t help much, at least she could wipe away Lin Nianhe’s tears when she felt like crying.

The two of them went back, and Su Yuncheng, holding the lunch box, returned to the stove and placed the box on it to warm the food.

Meanwhile, Mr. Qian had remained motionless, scared that any slight movement of his might make Su Yuncheng think he was attempting to flee.

The warehouse was eerily quiet, with the aroma of sauerkraut gradually wafting through the air.

Lin Nianhe and Principal Wu had just returned to their room when they heard noise outside. Lin Nianhe listened carefully and hurriedly said to Principal Wu, "Principal, it’s Wu Genmao and his companion. They’re back. I’ll go call them over."

"They might not have had dinner. I’ll go with you to the elementary school and get them something to eat."

"Okay."

The Wu Cao duo had intended to visit the Educated Youth Corps to find Lin Nianhe, and it was fortunate that they were preoccupied with discussing how to transfer their grain relations to the Ten Miles Team; otherwise, they would have missed them.

In the elementary school’s kitchen, Lin Nianhe cooked two bowls of noodles for them. After they had filled their stomachs, Principal Wu said, "You two can rough it out here tonight, and tomorrow, when things have settled down, I’ll talk to the Village Chief to arrange a place for you to stay."

"Alright!"

Wu Genmao and Cao Shijian responded cheerfully.

"Lock the door well, and wait for the kang to warm up before you sleep. There’s hot water in the thermos. Be careful with everything..." Principal Wu instructed them like they were her own children, her face filled with gentle smiles.

She and Lin Nianhe returned to the small courtyard, sat on the kang, and both felt somewhat weary as they looked through the many pages of manuscript they had written.

Lin Nianhe tidied up the manuscript, moved the kang table aside, and then laid side by side with Principal Wu, arranging the bedding.

Tucked in the quilt, Lin Nianhe tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.

She felt inexplicably uneasy, as if something bad was about to happen.

Principal Wu fell asleep quickly, but she also did not sleep well, coughing occasionally.

Back in the warehouse, after enduring a silence so profound it felt like death, Mr. Qian couldn’t take it any longer and, with a mournful face, said to Su Yuncheng, "Comrade from the Public Security, if you, you, you have any questions, just ask, okay?"

Nothing was more torturous than silence. Mr. Qian even started recalling the time when he was three years old and stole an egg from his brother, just waiting for Su Yuncheng to question him.

But Su Yuncheng merely glanced at him faintly and remained silent.

"Ask me! I’ll tell you anything you want to know, isn’t that enough?"

"You, you... it was Cao Manfu who made me set the warehouse on fire. I’ve told you, I’ve confessed! Can’t you just say something?"

"..."

He was just a person emboldened to act rashly after a few drinks, and his psychological defenses were like the thin ice on a water tank on an early winter morning – there was no need for a heavy blow to shatter it, just a light touch would cause it to crumble.

The next day, the snow stopped by dawn.

Li Dahe gathered the men of the village early and led them into the mountains. Their stated purpose was to set traps for rabbits, but what they were really hoping for was that the villagers could find some acorns scattered in the adjacent areas.

Feng Wei escorted Mr. Qian to the police station, and when he returned, he brought back about a dozen Public Security officers, planning to go to the Victory Team to arrest people.

Last night, Mr. Qian had confessed everything from beginning to end, even divulging which households in the village had pressured the Educated Youth into marriage.

This time, with irrefutable evidence, no one involved in these cases could escape.

Su Yuncheng had breakfast, rested for a moment, and then went to the Victory Team with his colleagues.

As soon as they stepped onto the Victory Team’s land, their expressions changed.

The village, which should have been filled with cooking smoke, was quiet like a graveyard. Several households had their doors wide open, with various items scattered in the snow – from shovels and sickles to branches and vegetable knives. Along the road, there were a few clearly evident mounds of snow.

It was as if the village had been raided by bandits.