"Where did the money I put in my pillow go? It couldn't have grown wings and flown away. Only you two visited my room today. And you brought so many people to search my yard, this is simply going too far."
"Oh, you're truly framing us unfairly. How could we possibly know where you put your money? We only came to help you pack. What if you yourself put it somewhere and forgot? Are you going to blame us for that too?" Aunt Jin San said, feigning composure.
"I put it in my pillow. How could I possibly put so much money just anywhere? It's even less likely I'd carry it around with me everywhere. My pillow was handled by both of you aunts. I don't care, if this money is lost, your two families must compensate. Who told you to bring people to my house to search?"
"Moyu, why aren't you managing your sister? Talking to elders like that. We came to help and ended up doing the wrong thing."
"Ali, you've misunderstood us. Your aunts genuinely meant well."
"Do you need to bring so many people to help? What were you here for? We all heard it clearly outside. Jin family, if you don't return Xiao Li's money immediately, we'll call the police."
The speaker was Li Dazhuang from next door, a close friend of the original owner's father. After speaking, he instructed his son to report to the police station.
Aunt Jin San knew that even if the police arrived, they were in the wrong, as the things in the house had indeed been rummaged through by them. They had no way to explain themselves.
Moreover, with how decisively that little girl Jin Moli spoke, could it be that Second Sister-in-law secretly pocketed the money when she wasn't paying attention?
Thinking this, she cast a suspicious glance at Aunt Jin Er, and at the same time, Aunt Jin Er sized her up with a suspicious gaze.
As the two women glared at each other, the men busy searching outside didn't notice as a young man slipped away.
They both confided their suspicions to their husbands, and thus the two families immediately turned on each other in the yard, even coming to blows. Jin Moyu rushed to intervene, took a couple of hits, and wisely retreated.
"What are you doing, what are you doing, gathering to fight? Stop it, all of you."
Upon seeing the police, they all became as docile as quail. "Officer, why did we have to trouble you? This is just a family matter. It's all cleared up now, it's fine, it's fine."
"Yes, yes, it's our own family matter. We won't bother you gentlemen."
At this moment, Jun Jiuli pushed through the crowd and explained what had just happened in a few brief words, insisting that they had stolen her two hundred and sixty-five yuan.
"You little brat, you've learned to frame your elders. We never saw any money."
"Then why were you searching my house? The place where I hid my money was searched by you, and the money is gone. If you didn't take it, who did? Uncle Dazhuang and I heard it clearly."
When the police heard there were witnesses, they quickly called those people over to question them. Naturally, they sided with Jun Jiuli, detailing how these two families usually behaved and saying they had personally seen them rummaging through Jun Jiuli's room.
Normally people are a little scared when they see police. At this point, the usually sharp-tongued individuals didn't know how to defend themselves.
Aunt Jin San, being quick-witted, quickly signaled Jin Moyu to take the blame.
No matter how foolish Jin Moyu was, she knew the consequences of having a reputation for theft, so she looked at the sky, the ground, but not Aunt Jin San.
Seeing no other option, Aunt Jin San had to speak, "Moyu, you took the money, didn't you? You asked us to come to your house to help you pack, just to frame us. Did you secretly take the money when Aunt Jin Er and I weren't paying attention?"
Jin Moyu's tears flowed before she even cried, making those around her feel a bit sympathetic. She bit her lip, shook her head, looking as if she was being forced.
"Third Aunt, how could I have taken the money? I already handed over my share to you. What I value most is our kinship. Money is just an external possession. Third Aunt, please hurry and return Xiao Li's money."
"You're talking nonsense, you took it upon yourself to lead us to Xiao Li's room. And you still dare to say you didn't take the money."
Aunt Jin San was a bit angry. It turned out that this usually weak and bullied niece was also sharp-tongued.
Jin Moyu's body swayed and she took a few steps back, looking like she couldn't bear the blow, crying beautifully.
"You brought so many people to my house today, I was too scared, so I had no choice but to take you to Xiao Li's room to look for the money. Officers, I really didn't take the money. You can search me if you don't believe me."
After saying this, she looked as if she was ready to face death, which made the officers believe her a little more.
Especially when they learned that half of the family's condolences had been taken by these two troublesome relatives, they felt even more pity for these two orphaned girls.
Shui Wa: "This female lead has so much drama."
"Watching the show."
A female officer felt very sympathetic to her situation. She took her back to the house and searched her, and indeed, no money was found. However, the other two branches of the Jin family didn't even have a chance to hide it.
Yesterday, a windfall descended from the sky, and both families were very excited. They counted and recounted, touched and touched again all night. They were still carrying the money on them.
As expected, two male officers found money in the inner pockets of Uncle Jin Er and Uncle Jin San's coats. When added up, it was exactly two hundred and sixty-five yuan.
What are the odds? An entire family carrying the exact same amount of money when going out. It must be that they had just found the money and divided it before the police arrived.
With so many witnesses and the stolen money found, it matched exactly what the victim had said. Therefore, the police handed the money over to Jun Jiuli, who of course thanked them profusely.
The maternal families of the two aunts quickly jumped out to say that this matter had nothing to do with them, and they had also been misled into looking for the money. Thinking the money belonged to their sister's family, they had temporarily lost their minds and asked the police to let them off the hook. This indirectly sealed the fate of the two families.
The two Jin families were like a哑巴吃黄连, having bitterness to speak of. They also deeply regretted not keeping the money at home; the cooked duck had flown away like this.
They took everyone directly to the police station to make statements. Considering they all shared the surname Jin, Jun Jiuli decided not to pursue the matter further, lest she gain a reputation for being unkind. However, they still had a record.
On the way home, Jin Moyu cried mournfully and pitifully, truly a representation of tragic beauty. She had been waiting for her sister to comfort her and give her a way out, but unfortunately, the sister who would protect her was already gone.
Shui Wa: "Host, how did the female lead cry for so long without her tears smudging, her nose not turning red, and no snot running?"
"She's the female lead, it's normal for her to be special."
The next day, Jun Jiuli took the household coupons and went to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy a new four-piece bedding set, two changes of clothes, and two pairs of rubber shoes. When she returned, she found the female lead staring at her, with an expression of disappointment.
"A'Li, it's fine to live a hard life. How can you go to the black market just for the enjoyment of life? It's so dangerous."
"Who told you I went to the black market? I bought these at the supply and marketing cooperative."
"Where did you get the coupons?"
"Dad left them behind, but it's only enough for me alone. My sister is so kind, she wouldn't fight me for it, right?"
Jin Moyu felt a bit displeased, but still nodded. "You're right, yielding to my sister is what I, as the elder sister, should do."
"Sister, don't linger around me. Hurry back and pack your things. We're heading to the countryside tomorrow."
"Okay. I'll wake you up tomorrow."
"No need, sister. Just take care of yourself. Remember to pack food, the train ride will take three days and two nights."
"Yes, I know. Do you want me to cook some sweet potatoes for you too?"
"No need, I have money."
Jin Moyu began to shake her head and sigh again. "One must not only seek pleasure, but also be diligent and endure hardship, and also..."
Jun Jiuli slammed the door shut with a "bang." She was truly fed up with this nagging female lead.
Under the dark and windy night, Jun Jiuli quietly crept into the homes of Uncle Jin Er and Uncle Jin San, prying open a total of four hundred and eight yuan, happily.