CHAPTER 493: CHAPTER 495: WHO KILLED MY MOTHER

"What evidence do you need? Weren’t you the ones responsible? My daughter was pregnant, and you didn’t call for a midwife but delivered the baby yourselves, harming my daughter. If my daughter had been hurt giving birth to twins, then so be it. But she only gave birth to Li Juan, how could she possibly have been injured from that?"

Lin Xuebi lunged at Mrs. Liu, fighting her, and then shouted, "Maybe Feng Ying was killed by you all, right? She must have known everything about you. She got into university, but you didn’t let her go. She must have held a grudge, so you killed her, didn’t you? Otherwise why would she possibly have thrown herself into the river?"

There was an uproar among the crowd, this was a serious accusation.

Liu Haiguo and Feng Ying’s son, Liu Qing, were also in the crowd; at eleven years old, he was no longer a clueless child. Hearing Lin Xuebi’s words, he was completely shocked and turned to look at Liu Haiguo.

Liu Haiguo jumped up, "Shut your damn mouth, or I’ll knock you out for spreading lies!"

Gao Jianmin saw Liu Haiguo raised his hand and rushed over to block him, and then a fight broke out again. Mrs. Liu became furious when she saw her son being hit and threatened, "Why are you beating my son? Believe it or not, I’ll have you thrown out of the Red Star Production Team."

Mrs. Liu had been scratched across the face by Lin Xuebi. In a fight, she was no match for a frenzied Lin Xuebi.

Moreover, Mrs. Liu felt somewhat guilty. While her husband was alive, she was upright and innocent. But after her husband’s death, for the sake of her two children, she gradually went from shame to thick-skinned.

Regardless, Mrs. Liu always sided with her children. She then turned to her relatives and demanded, "You all share the surname Liu. Are you going to stand by and watch as one of your own is bullied by outsiders?"

Hong Xing said, "Is that the issue here, Aunt Liu? When the old team leader was alive, he was so noble and upright, such a respectable figure. But all of his good reputation has been destroyed by you. I wonder what he would think if he knew."

When Hong Xing mentioned Liu Jiefang, although he had been dead for many years, the mention of him still filled the members of the Red Star Production Team with a sense of loss.

Previously, due to Liu Jiefang, everyone had supported Liu Haiguo. Unfortunately, Liu Haiguo was nothing like Liu Jiefang, which had disappointed everyone.

Every incident involving Liu Haiguo had been a disappointment. Liu Jiefang had been such a good leader, yet Liu Haiguo was just the opposite.

Then there was Wang Xueyong. Initially well-regarded, but his affair with Liu Haihua and the added complication of their son Wang Zhengping — despite their denials, the people weren’t fools, and the truth was now clear.

Liu Haihua refused to say anything and, having been slapped, was in pain and unable to speak.

Wang Xueyong was furious. That night, Gao Guihua stayed with her daughter at her parental home.

Wang Xueyong’s matter simply couldn’t be concealed. After all, there were people who had failed the university entrance exam and wanted to get back to the city, but had been delayed by Wang Xueyong and Liu Haiguo, harboring resentment against them.

So as soon as day broke, the scandal involving Wang Xueyong and Liu Haihua was exposed.

At the Liu family home, Mrs. Liu and Liu Haiguo had a huge argument because of Liu Haihua’s affair. Mrs. Liu cried bitterly when she thought of Liu Jiefang.

Her relationship with Liu Jiefang had been very strong, and she knew what kind of person he was. But for the sake of her two children, she kept making mistakes. The mention of Liu Jiefang by Hong Xing had hurt Mrs. Liu deeply; she felt she had let Liu Jiefang down.

But Liu Haiguo was angry at Mrs. Liu for not keeping a closer watch on Liu Haiguo, allowing Liu Haihua to create a disaster. Now, Liu Haiguo had even considered killing Liu Haihua.

Liu Qing watched silently as Liu Haiguo stormed out, slamming the door and heading towards Wang Xueyong’s home. Liu Qing stood there, watching his weeping grandmother, and asked, "Grandma, was my mom really murdered?"

Mrs. Liu shuddered, immediately quieting down and responding, "No, don’t listen to their nonsense. Those people are envious of your dad and want to bring him down. Don’t believe them."

"Then is Zhengping my cousin’s son?" Liu Qing asked again.

Mrs. Liu shook her head repeatedly. That was something she could never acknowledge, not even to Liu Qing.

Liu Qing still felt very jealous of Wang Zhengping. As the sole heir of the Lius, he used to get the best of everything at home. But since Wang Zhengping had arrived, good food went to both of them equally. The family cared for and spoiled Wang Zhengping, making Liu Qing feel neglected; no matter how much they favored him, it would never be as much as they favored Wang Zhengping.

"Why was my cousin at the Wangs’ late at night?" Liu Qing pressed further.

"Your cousin was just foolish for a moment," replied Mrs. Liu, frustrated with Liu Haihua. But thinking of the consequences the woman had to face, she was also very afraid.

"Grandma, don’t lie to me anymore. My aunt and godfather have always been together. Every time Zhengping brings my godfather over, my aunt always gives him something tasty," observed Liu Qing.

Mrs. Liu was stunned and looked at her grandson, realizing that he was no longer a child, he understood far more now, and she could no longer keep things hidden.

And in her heart, Liu Qing was her precious grandson, more important than Wang Zhengping.

"Qing’er, don’t tell anyone," Mrs. Liu didn’t bother to explain but said just that.

"Then who killed my mom?" Liu Qing’s eyes blazed with anger, and even his heart started to fill with resentment. He could never understand why his mother would jump into the river, but tonight he heard she might have been murdered.

Ever since Feng Ying’s death, Liu Qing’s life had been affected, and the other village children would say that he had no mother and that his father would soon find him a stepmother.

And with Liu Haiguo evidently involved with someone else, Liu Qing had changed after finding out.

"Your mother took her own life because she was despondent; no one would harm her," insisted Mrs. Liu, not wanting her grandson to harbor hatred or to misunderstand further. She continued, "Don’t let those with ulterior motives sway you; they are the bad people. Only your grandma and your dad love you. You need to trust your grandma and your dad. Don’t believe anyone else’s words but ours."

Had Mrs. Liu spoken only of herself, Liu Qing might have believed her. But when she mentioned Liu Haiguo, Liu Qing hesitated.

Once the seed of doubt is planted, it slowly sprouts and takes root, not so easily extinguished.