Xue Yue also felt it was unfair. Call it riding on someone else’s coattails or whatever you want, she just felt they couldn’t let the matter drop. The other party had abused their power to bully them and made an exorbitant demand. Judging by the situation, this clearly wasn’t their first time.

Perhaps their last victims weren’t as lucky and had to swallow the loss in silence.

"The common folk fear the officials," as the saying goes, but on second thought, that’s not a good thing.

This kind of fear only emboldens villains, making them even more audacious.

Xue Xingzhou asked, "Do you have much contact with this Commander Qin?"

"Not really. Commander Qin is Ruanruan’s classmate’s grandfather. I’ve only met him once. Qin Haize, however, comes over often, and Ruanruan has been to the Qin Family’s home with them a couple of times."

Xue Yue recalled that her last meeting with Qin Haize’s grandfather had been a bit unpleasant. Thinking about it now made her feel a little sheepish.

"Oh, right. The kid who always has a guard with him. The handsome one." Xue Xingzhou had seen him twice on previous visits to Xue Yue.

"Yes, that’s him. I never expected they would help us with this matter."

Xue Xingzhou instructed Xue Yue, "Since they helped you, you must go and thank them in person. It would be best to maintain this connection. You know what I mean. I won’t say any more."

Xue Yue nodded. "He Lang and I were thinking the same. We’ll go once this is all over. By the way, Big Brother, I got the hospital report. Do you need it?"

"I do. Keep it for now. I’ll swing by to pick it up after work."

"Okay."

After hanging up, Xue Yue finally let out a sigh of relief.

"We’re in their debt now, and it’s a big one."

He Lang smiled. "Didn’t your brother just say it on the phone? This is an opportunity."

Xue Yue nodded. It was true. They were doing business in Beijing City, and incidents like this were bound to happen again. If they didn’t have anyone influential backing them, they’d face a lot of trouble. Even if they could solve problems with money, they’d still end up offending many people.

That afternoon, the family from the hospital actually showed up at their home.

Xue Yue was still wondering how they found their address when she remembered their relative was a police station chief. Getting their address wouldn’t have been difficult at all.

The moment the family saw Xue Yue and He Lang, their attitude did a complete one-eighty from that morning. They were bowing and apologizing profusely.

The old lady could suddenly stand up just fine, and her headache had miraculously vanished.

"It was all a big misunderstanding. That boy isn’t even an adult yet. We’ve thought it over and decided to drop it. Let’s both take a step back. We don’t want your money anymore, and you can ask the higher-ups not to hold the police station responsible. Life isn’t easy for them, you know. This is better for everyone."

Xue Yue found it laughable. "Ma’am, we weren’t the ones who made an issue of this in the first place. But now, it’s out of our hands. We’ve already filed an appeal. We’ll just wait for the official judgment."

The old lady’s family was stunned. They probably hadn’t expected Xue Yue and her family to actually press the issue.

The old lady’s son had lost all of his morning’s arrogance. His face was a mask of obsequiousness.

He looked at He Lang and said, "Brother, you run such a big enterprise. Don’t sweat the small stuff with us. Besides, you do business here in Beijing City. We’re bound to run into each other. Let’s not make things ugly. We’ll even patronize your business in the future. Like my ma said, let’s both just take a step back."

He Lang raised an eyebrow. "My business doesn’t need your patronage. It’s better for all of us that way."

The man’s expression grew awkward. "So, about the appeal...?"

He Lang shook his head. "Just wait for the official notice."

The man was growing flustered and angry. He pointed at He Lang, then glanced at Xue Yue.

"Don’t refuse to do this the easy way, only to be forced to do it the hard way. Can you guarantee you won’t fall into our hands someday?"

He Lang’s expression turned cold. "I’m not interested in doing this the easy way or the hard way. Who knows what the future holds? But as for today’s matter, we really can’t just let it drop."

The man finally lost his patience and glared at He Lang. "Fine. Just you wait."

He grabbed the old lady and turned to leave.

The old lady hesitated, whispering to her son, "Did you forget what your aunt said? She told us to beg for their forgiveness so they wouldn’t go after your uncle. If we fail, your aunt said she’ll cut ties with us!"

The man froze for a few seconds but still couldn’t bring himself to lose face.

"You can beg if you want to. I’m leaving."

He then stormed off, leaving the old lady staring at Xue Yue with a frozen expression.

"Young man, this is all my fault. Blame me, an old woman. It has nothing to do with the others. What if I get on my knees for you, would that work?"

Hearing this, Xue Yue didn’t say a word and pulled He Lang back inside their home.

’Now she’s trying to emotionally blackmail us. Go ahead and kneel all you want, as long as we don’t have to see it. Who does she think she’s scaring?’

Staring at the closed door, the old lady stomped her foot in anger.

「Three days later.」

Xue Xingjun went with Xue Xingzhou.

When Xue Xingjun came back that evening, he excitedly told Xue Yue, "Sis, you should have seen it today! In the courtroom, that family was so scared they didn’t dare make a peep. They even apologized to me. They should have gone to jail for extortion, but because the old lady is so old, they just got a lecture. It’s a bit of a shame, but it was still so satisfying."

"They were the ones who stole something and then tried to play dirty. If everyone were like them, we’d go broke paying people off."

Xue Yue poked Xue Xingjun. "Alright, I know you weren’t in the wrong, but if you run into something like this again, don’t you dare get physical."

"I know." He had only barely touched the old lady, but she had instantly collapsed and refused to get up. ’It scared me so much I actually looked at my hands, wondering if I’d suddenly developed internal energy.’

Xue Yue asked Xue Xingzhou, "Big Brother, what about the police station chief? Is he not being held responsible?"

Xue Xingzhou said, "He’s already under investigation. His career as chief is most likely over."

Xue Yue was finally satisfied. "It serves him right. They’re supposed to solve problems for the people. Instead, he let his own relatives bully others and acted as their protector."

Disappointment flickered in Xue Xingzhou’s eyes as well.

"The fact that he’s being investigated so quickly probably has something to do with Commander Qin."

Xue Yue nodded. "I’ll have Ruanruan ask Qin Haize when his grandfather has some free time so we can go pay them a visit."

「The next day.」

Ruanruan came home from school and announced, "Haoze already talked to Grandpa Qin. And Grandpa Qin said he wants to invite our whole family over to his house!"

"Did he say when?"

"Haoze said Sunday. Mom, are we going?"

Xue Yue stroked Ruanruan’s head. "Yes, we are."

"Then I’ll tell Haoze tomorrow."

「Saturday.」

Xue Yue was up at the crack of dawn.

She woke the children.

Mrs. He knew they were going to the Qin Family’s house, so she had also woken up early to make breakfast.

After the meal, Xue Yue got the two children cleaned and dressed. She and He Lang changed their clothes as well, and then they set off for the Qin Family’s home with gifts in hand.