CHAPTER 42: CHAPTER 42: STALKED ON A RAINY NIGHT

After boarding the boat, they continued fishing.

The night was very sultry, and the sounds of insects and birds around were unusual, indicating a change in weather.

Lin Qin was muttering when she suddenly caught a two-pound blackfish.

Seeing it clearly under the kerosene lamp, Lin Qin was shocked, "So big!"

She had caught blackfish before, but the largest was just over a pound; they aren’t easy to catch.

Chen Wenjun was also a bit surprised. He put the fish in the bucket and cast his line again.

Another blackfish came up, this one over a pound as well.

The two of them fished for two hours, almost all of their catches being blackfish, big and small, which was quite strange.

At this time, a flash of lightning streaked across the sky, and Chen Wenjun hurriedly asked Lin Qin to go into the rear cabin while he used a bamboo pole to steer the boat to a familiar shore.

Once Chen Wenjun had finished, raindrops began to patter on the bamboo canopy, and soon a torrential downpour began outside.

Lin Qin, who had just lain down, got up quickly, took a wooden board, and placed it outside the cabin door to block some of the rain and prevent it from flooding inside if it got too heavy.

The rain sent the water surface boiling, and even though the five-canopy boat was large enough, it still swayed in the wind and rain.

Lying inside, listening to the pattering rain, one’s mind was filled with worries about leaks or water flooding in, or fears that the strong wind might damage things. It was hard to sleep peacefully with a restless heart.

Fang Aiguo, like Lin Qin, couldn’t sleep either.

He had packed his luggage during the day and planned to leave overnight, but he never expected the rotten weather to bring a heavy rain, disrupting all his plans.

Liu Fang thought the rain arrived just in time and advised, "Why don’t you hold off on leaving and wait for the weather to clear....."

Fang Aiguo interrupted her sharply, "What do women understand! If I delay any longer, I’m finished! Rain or not, this weather means no one will be outside; I’ll leave unnoticed. Get my rain boots, and give me the raincoat too."

Liu Fang was reluctant but couldn’t win against Fang Aiguo, so she had to prepare everything for him.

Fang Aiguo donned his raincoat and rain boots, picked up his luggage, and vanished into the darkness, quickly disappearing from the house entrance.

At this time, Zhuo Feng and Li Guang, who were watching at the intersection near Fangshan Village, finally saw Fang Aiguo leaving the village after feeding mosquitoes all day.

Li Guang suddenly got energized, "Damn! Captain was right; Fang Aiguo really intended to slip away!"

Though they couldn’t see each other’s features clearly in the night, the large luggage bag was conspicuous; except for Fang Aiguo, no one would travel far in such weather at this hour.

Zhuo Feng quickly covered his mouth, "Keep it down. Let’s quietly follow him, and if anything seems off, we’ll arrest him!"

If it weren’t for finding a breakthrough with Fang Aiguo to capture Fang Meixiang, they wouldn’t have to go through such trouble.

The two maintained a decent distance from Fang Aiguo.

The rainy night not only provided convenience for Fang Aiguo but also assisted Zhuo Feng and Li Guang, as any noise they made wouldn’t be noticed by Fang Aiguo.

Thus, they followed Fang Aiguo all the way to the city.

Zhuo Feng pondered aloud, "The direction isn’t to the station, it seems he’s going to seek refuge with someone!"

"Let’s keep following him to see!"

The two followed him to the street where the Liu family lived and watched as Fang Aiguo entered an alley. To be safe, they waited a while before casually entering the yard.

From afar, they heard voices coming from one of the houses.

Fang Meixiang seemed especially surprised by Fang Aiguo’s arrival from afar. Though suspicious, she remained unfazed while introducing Fang Aiguo to the in-laws.

Ma Cuihua saw that Fang Aiguo was dressed nicely, behaving in an extraordinary manner, and visibly not an ordinary person, her eyes lit up immediately, and she started inquiring about Fang Aiguo’s background, "I heard from Yongming before that Ah Yin went to the same school, also from here. I still don’t know what the in-laws do!"

Fang Aiguo tugged at the corner of his mouth, responding politely but distantly, "I’m just the village secretary, haven’t done much."

"Oh! A village secretary! No wonder you could raise a college student!" Ma Cuihua was thrilled, becoming even more amicable towards Fang Aiguo.

After exchanging pleasantries, Liu Yongguo asked, "In-laws, is there something important for you to come over so late?"

Fang Aiguo glanced at Fang Meixiang, then replied hesitantly, "I have to go far away, catching an early bus tomorrow, so I thought I’d come by and see Meixiang tonight, nothing big."

Ma Cuihua’s family assumed Fang Aiguo was heading out for something significant and smiled even brighter, but only Fang Meixiang sensed something was off. However, she didn’t dare ask in front of the Liu family.

Liu Yongming thoughtfully suggested, "Mom, my father-in-law has to catch a bus early tomorrow, how about Ah Li stays with you for the night, and Ah Yin can sleep in Ah Li’s room, while I share a room with my father-in-law."

Ma Cuihua nodded, "That works!"

Liu Li was unwilling, but the whole family had decided, leaving her with no say.

After Ma Cuihua and the others left.

Fang Meixiang found an excuse to send Liu Yongming away and asked worriedly, "Dad, what’s going on..."

"Bang!" The gate of the Liu family’s courtyard was kicked open.

Fang Aiguo’s expression dramatically changed, and he attempted to flee. He had just rushed into the yard when he was caught by a group of police officers.

The police shouted loudly, "Police action, no one move!"

Zhuo Feng and Li Guang stormed into the house, noticing the heavily pregnant Fang Meixiang. Their faces turned dark, "Captain! Fang Meixiang is here!"

"What... what do you want?" Fang Meixiang clutched her belly, looking terrified.

Ma Cuihua rushed out of the house, looking at the dozen or so police officers who burst in, unsure and alarmed, "We did nothing wrong. What are you doing?"

Zhuo Feng glanced at Ma Cuihua, showing no expression due to her age, and said, "Fang Meixiang posed under a false identity to attend college; we are lawfully arresting her."

The color drained from Fang Meixiang’s face, her eyes wide open, unfocused.

Ma Cuihua stubbornly argued, "We don’t have a Fang Meixiang in our family; you must have the wrong person!"

Zhuo Feng sneered, "No mistake! This woman in front of you is originally named Fang Meixiang; she impersonated Fang Yin to attend a technical college in the provincial city. The city technical college has already reported this. The police are working with the education bureau to thoroughly investigate such severe incidents. Take her away!"

Fang Meixiang panicked and screamed, "I won’t go! I won’t go! You can’t arrest me! I’m not guilty! I’m not guilty!"

Li Guang spat, "You almost ruined someone else’s life, disregarding the law, and you claim you’re not guilty? Who is guilty then? Stop talking and come with us quietly!"

Fang Meixiang suddenly lay on the ground, screaming in pain, "My stomach hurts, my stomach hurts!"

Zhuo Feng and his team exchanged glances, their expressions dark.

This woman must be faking it!

At that moment, Xu Manzhi suddenly pointed at Fang Meixiang’s skirt, "It looks like her water broke, she’s really going into labor!"

The police had no choice but to send Fang Meixiang to the hospital first.

Others escorted Fang Aiguo away.

Liu Yongming stood there, already dumbfounded.