The Liu Family and Xue Xingjun each argued their case, but in the end, the police brought them all to the station.

He Lang, as the party involved, was also summoned.

The Liu Family had assumed that once He Lang arrived, the matter would be cleared up. They never expected that when he walked in, he would feign total confusion and, the moment the money was mentioned, flatly deny everything.

"I don’t know anything about this. I did withdraw this money this morning—the bills are all sequentially numbered, so the bank should have a record. It was meant to be a payment for the food factory today. I had my brother-in-law go home to get it."

He Yun and Liu Jian Country were dumbfounded, completely baffled as to why He Lang would say such a thing.

But Mr. Liu understood instantly. He realized this was a trap He Lang had set for them.

He spoke to He Lang in a harsh voice, "He Yun’s brother, our families are in-laws, after all. Your sister is my daughter-in-law. Aren’t you going a bit too far by doing this?"

He Lang looked at him coldly. "In-laws? My family has no in-laws like you. I was kind enough to let you stay in my home, and you have the audacity to do this? If it were fifty yuan, or even five hundred, I might have let it slide. But fifty thousand? How dare you? Did you think I was a pushover?"

"He Lang, how can you say that? This money was clearly—" Mrs. Liu was so furious she almost blurted out that they had sold Daya.

"Clearly what? Clearly extortion? Or was it that you clearly wanted to sell your granddaughter, but I refused to give in? Do I look like I need to *buy* a child from you?" He Lang handed a piece of paper to the police.

It was a document the Liu Family had previously signed and fingerprinted, stamped by the local residential committee. It stated that due to Daya’s illness, the Liu Family had voluntarily relinquished custody of Daya to He Lang and his wife. It also specified they could no longer interfere in Daya’s life in any way, nor could they demand that Daya support them in their old age.

It was all there in black and white, irrefutable.

He Lang said to the police, "This is the document they signed previously. So it’s even less likely that I would now give them this much money to ’buy’ a child. Besides, Daya is an adult now. She’s married, and her husband is a soldier. How could she be ’bought’? I know the law. I know human trafficking is a crime."

He Lang’s statement was logical and well-founded, and all the current evidence corroborated his story.

Mr. Liu said desperately to the police, "He really did give us that money! It’s true! You have to believe me."

The officer asked him, "Then why would he give you that much money?"

Mr. Liu: "He gave it to us so we would sever ties with our granddaughter."

The officer shook the document in his hand. "This proves you already gave your granddaughter to He Lang and his wife. Why would he do something so redundant now?"

Mr. Liu’s eyes darted nervously, but he kept insisting, "...Anyway, we didn’t steal the money. He really gave it to us. My family can all vouch for me."

The officer glanced at the rest of the Liu Family and shook his head. "You’re all one family. Relatives can’t act as witnesses for one another. Besides, you’re all suspects, and the money was, in fact, found on you."

Thinking she was being clever, Mrs. Liu added, "That money is ours. It has nothing to do with the He Family."

The officer shot her a sidelong glance and said coolly, "Ma’am, all we have to do is check with the bank to find out about the money. Let me remind you, this is a police station. Please answer the questions seriously."

Seeing how things were going, Mrs. Liu began to panic. Then she saw He Lang looking at her with a smug expression. A sudden rage overcame her, and she lunged at him, trying to strike him.

"You liar! It was you! You’re the one who framed us! You’ll die a miserable death!"

The police in the room weren’t just for show. Before she could succeed, they slammed her down onto the table, pinning her arms behind her back.

"Settle down! You want to do this the hard way?"

Mrs. Liu groaned in pain.

He Lang observed Mrs. Liu’s bulky figure and suddenly said, "Officer, I now suspect she took more than just my money. Can I request a search?"

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Liu’s pupils contracted. Her lips trembled, and she went still, lying silently on the table.

The officers were professionals; a single glance was all it took to see something was off with Mrs. Liu.

"Alright. I’ll go get the authorization."

Mr. Liu turned to look at his wife, his eyes filled with warning.

Mrs. Liu just trembled frantically.

A moment later, the officer returned and said it was approved.

They had even brought in a female officer for the search.

As the female officer reached for her clothing, Mrs. Liu started shouting, "Don’t touch me! Don’t touch me! I’m calling the police!"

The officer chuckled. "Ma’am, this *is* the police station. We *are* the police. If you have something to say, say it."

The female officer simply tugged on the sash around Mrs. Liu’s waist, and a shower of items came clattering out from inside her clothes.

He Lang frowned as he looked at the pile.

He Lang had already had Xue Yue put away all their valuables at home.

Most of what Mrs. Liu had stolen was worthless kitchen junk. But among the items, there was also some clothing, which He Lang instantly recognized as belonging to his wife, Xue Yue.

"This is all from my house... And my wife’s clothes too? What did you steal this stuff for? It’s not like you could fit into her clothes."

Mrs. Liu opened her mouth, wanting to claim the items were hers, but who would believe that now?

Even Liu Jian Country and He Yun were stunned; they had no idea when Mrs. Liu had stuffed all those things on her person.

He Lang turned to the police. "You’ve all seen it. I’m at my wit’s end. Please, just handle them according to the law."

"He Lang."

"Third Brother."

Liu Jian Country and his wife, He Yun, spoke at the same time.

He Lang looked at them and said slowly, "I’ve said it before: if it’s meant to be, it will be; if not, don’t force it. People shouldn’t be too greedy." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

With a pained expression, He Yun pleaded with He Lang, "Third Brother, I know you hate us, but Jinbao is innocent! Please, get him out of this. He can’t go to jail, he’s still so young."

Jinbao just stood there, his head bowed in silence.

He Lang let out a small laugh. "He Yun, he’s your son. He should share in your fortunes and your misfortunes. Think of how terribly you mistreated your two daughters, and how much of it was for his sake. This is his burden to bear. And another thing... you’re wrong. I’ve never hated you, because you’re not worth the effort. Dad said that as of tonight, you are no longer part of the He family."

With that, He Lang turned and walked away.

He Yun stood frozen in place, reeling from the blow, unable to accept this outcome.

"He Lang, you scoundrel, you tricked us—"

"He Lang, may you die a miserable death—"

As He Lang walked out, he could still hear the sound of Mrs. Liu’s curses.

"Brother-in-law."

Xue Xingjun looked at He Lang, hesitating.

He Lang glanced at him. "Spit it out."

Xue Xingjun lowered his voice. "Wasn’t that a bit too harsh? You don’t think Daya will be upset?" ’They are her blood relatives, after all.’

After a few seconds of silence, He Lang looked into the distance. "It’s fate."

Not long after, He Lang received a call from Wang Hai.

"They took the bait."

He Lang nodded. "Good."