Chapter 22: Intelligence Regarding the Sister-in-Law!

Jiang Tao splurged a little at lunch today. He ordered a serving of chicken stewed with mushrooms and a serving of pork stewed with glass noodles, paired with two bowls of rice. The standard of his meal was several times higher than usual. It cost him fifty-eight yuan, and he felt so full his stomach was practically round. After eating and drinking his fill, he picked his teeth with a toothpick while using his phone to transfer thirty thousand yuan to Xu Li. The extra ten thousand was a reward for her constant flattery and praise for how handsome he was earlier. Xu Li rarely bought cosmetics or shopped online, and even when he gave her money, she was too frugal to spend it, preferring to save it all.

Since he’d had a drink at lunch, Jiang Tao didn’t bother looking for odd jobs. After finishing his meal, he went straight home for a nap and didn’t wake up until past three in the afternoon. Once awake, he went downstairs to Yu Dongdong’s supermarket to buy some milk, bread, and other convenient snacks. After picking up his items and transferring between a few buses, he arrived at Jishuitan Hospital.

Visiting hours at the hospital were between 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM. People like Jiang Tao, who weren't immediate family, could only visit during this window. When Wang Lianming and He Fang saw Jiang Tao, they felt a deep sense of warmth and affection, and were very grateful to him. If it hadn't been for Jiang Tao's warning, He Fang wouldn't have discovered her illness so early. Their relationship had always been good, but after this incident, it grew even closer. Jiang Tao stayed at the hospital until visiting hours ended at 6:00 PM before leaving.

Back home, he spent over an hour on a video call with his wife, Xu Li, and their daughter. Today, Xu Li had taken Jiang Tao’s mother, her own mother, and her younger sister, Xu Sha, to the county hospital for a full physical examination. It cost fifteen hundred yuan per person, totaling six thousand yuan, and Xu Li was still feeling the sting of the expense. It was the largest amount of money she had spent all year.

By the time the video call ended, it was only around 9:00 PM. Living the solitary life of a "North Drifter" in Beijing, Jiang Tao had no companion by his side, and being older now, he was too lazy to go out and carouse. After washing up, he crawled into bed to listen to novels to pass the time. Immersed in the world of the story, time flew by. It felt as if he had only listened to a few chapters when the clock struck midnight. Jiang Tao shut off his phone and eagerly opened the Daily Intelligence System to check today’s report.

[Today’s Intelligence]: While chatting with Xu Li yesterday, you mentioned your sister-in-law, Xu Sha, and obtained the following intelligence—
Xu Sha is currently singing at the Pure Song Party KTV in Ping County with several classmates. Two male classmates are plotting to get her drunk and take her to a hotel room.
…
"Damn it!"
Seeing the newly refreshed intelligence, a surge of anger rushed to Jiang Tao’s head, and he couldn't help but curse out loud!

Without a second to waste, Jiang Tao hurriedly found Xu Sha’s number on his phone and dialed it.
*Beep... beep... beep...*
The call rang for a long while without being answered. Jiang Tao’s knuckles turned white as he gripped his phone, wishing he could grab a weapon and rush to the KTV where Xu Sha was. Just as he was about to hang up and call the police, the line finally connected.

"Xu Sha, where are you! Why aren't you home in the middle of the night!"
The moment the call connected, Jiang Tao couldn't hold back his fury and unleashed it on her. Although this sister-in-law usually treated him, her poor brother-in-law, with indifference, he couldn't just stand by when she was in real trouble. She was, after all, Xu Li’s own sister. If not for the intelligence system’s warning, he would never have known about this. What might have happened to her tonight? She was only twenty-one, just a junior in college, with a long life ahead of her. If...

"Huh? What are you talking about, Mr. Jiang? I... I'm at home. I'm already in bed."
On the other end of the line, Xu Sha’s voice stuttered; even a deaf person could tell she was lying!

Jiang Tao snapped, "Stop with the nonsense! Right now, come home immediately! Otherwise, I’ll tell your sister and see how she handles you!"
"Hey! Mr. Jiang, it’s the middle of the night, did you eat gunpowder? What did I ever do to you? What are you doing!"
On the other side, Xu Sha’s voice turned impatient.

"Just tell me if you’re coming back or not. Don't give me any excuses. If I can't convince you, I’ll let your sister do it."
"Mr. Jiang, if you dare to tattle to my sister, see if I ever talk to you again!"
Xu Sha feared neither her father nor her mother; she only feared her sister, Xu Li, losing her temper. Jiang Tao’s tactic of using his wife, Xu Li, worked like a charm.

"You’re at the Pure Song Party, right? There are two male classmates with you!"
"What? Mr. Jiang, you... how do you know! Are you stalking me?"
"..."
Jiang Tao’s face darkened. He couldn't blame Xu Sha for suspecting him; the information he had was simply too detailed and comprehensive!

Jiang Tao thought for a moment and said, "Stalking you? Do I look like I have that much free time? A friend of mine called me and said he saw you. He also said that while your two male classmates were in the restroom, they were discussing how to get you and another female classmate drunk. Those two guys are bad news—don't hang out with them again! That’s a word of advice from your brother-in-law."

*Beep, beep, beep...*
The line went dead. Jiang Tao had hung up.

"Huh? Tian Feng and them..."
After hearing Jiang Tao’s words, Xu Sha recalled how Tian Feng and Huang Hao had been trying every trick in the book to get her and her best friend to drink. It was indeed highly suspicious! After hesitating for half a minute, Xu Sha finally turned and left the KTV.

…

Inside Room 108 of the Pure Song Party KTV, two young men in short-sleeved shirts were laughing, joking, and drinking while smoking. On the sofa nearby, a chubby girl with a face full of acne was holding a microphone and singing. She looked affectionately at one of the boys, who had dyed yellow hair, and sang Tao喆’s "Just Love You" in a voice like a quacking duck.

"Just love you, loving you, never giving up, never leaving, never caring about how much wind and rain is on the path."
"Just love you, loving you, putting all the brilliant happiness in the palm of your hand~"
"Just love you, loving you, I am willing~"
"Just love you, loving you~ I want us to be together!"

"Hey? Wang Xiaohong, where’s Xu Sha? Why hasn't she come back yet?"
Tian Feng forced himself to ignore the discomfort of Wang Xiaohong’s lingering gaze and asked about Xu Sha’s whereabouts. He had mainly invited Xu Sha out to play today; Wang Xiaohong was purely an unwanted bonus.

"Oh, Feng, why do I suddenly feel a bit dizzy? It’s all your fault for making me drink..."
Wang Xiaohong, who had been singing with gusto just a moment ago, suddenly clutched her forehead and leaned directly into Tian Feng.

"Hey! Wang Xiaohong, get off me, damn it! If Xu Sha sees this, I’ll never be able to clear my name!"
Tian Feng felt a sense of revulsion as Wang Xiaohong clung to him. He had wanted to persuade Xu Sha to drink, but instead, Wang Xiaohong had volunteered to drink in her place, and now she was clinging to him!

*Ring-a-ling, ring-a-ling—*
Wang Xiaohong’s phone on the coffee table rang. Tian Feng noticed it was a call from Xu Sha and quickly swiped to answer it.

"Hey, Xu Sha..."
"What? You went home?"
Hearing Xu Sha’s voice through the receiver, Tian Feng was stunned, as if struck by lightning.

Wang Xiaohong had heard the conversation between Xu Sha and Tian Feng clearly, and a wave of secret joy surged in her heart! Shasha was indeed a good sister! She had created such an opportunity for her and her crush! Wang Xiaohong quickly pressed her advantage: "Feng, my head is so dizzy. Let’s find a quiet place to rest for a while."

"Go home to your mother! I'm leaving! What a buzzkill!"
Tian Feng shoved Wang Xiaohong away impatiently and walked out the door without looking back.