After everyone had left, Song Wei climbed into Ma Qian’s room through the back window.
The window was a bit high, making it almost impossible for an ordinary person to climb through without making noise. Moreover, Ma Qian’s window was latched from the inside, but that didn’t stop Song Wei—she simply dismantled it.
The wooden window was relatively easy to put back in place after being removed.
Once inside, without disturbing any other items, Song Wei searched the bedside cabinet and found belongings that clearly belonged to Bai Yunjiao: a bellyband and two handkerchiefs.
“Disgusting man,” she muttered under her breath.
The reason she hadn’t immediately come to search earlier was to avoid alerting the suspect. To ensure there was irrefutable evidence, she had set up the situation carefully. The stolen ten-yuan note was her bait, her proof.
After securely packing Bai Yunjiao’s belongings, she also found her missing ten-yuan note in another cabinet. Confirming that Ma Qian was the thief, she didn’t take the money out but left everything in place before climbing out of the window.
Before leaving, Song Wei meticulously erased any traces of her presence, restoring the window to its original condition.
Once back, the first thing Song Wei did was burn Bai Yunjiao’s stolen items. This had been prearranged between them since Bai Yunjiao refused to keep anything that had been tainted by Ma Qian. Destroying these items also eliminated any chance for Ma Qian to use them to slander her later.
“Sister Song,” Heidan’s voice came from outside. Lin Zhen had arrived too.
“Come in,” Song Wei said.
The moment Lin Zhen stepped in, his expression shifted.
“Did someone enter your room?”
Song Wei was surprised. “How do you know?”
Lin Zhen pointed to a half footprint on the ground. “That’s a man’s footprint.”
“And whatever you were burning—it doesn’t smell right.”
Song Wei couldn’t help but admire his sharp observation skills.
“A thief came in? Did you lose anything?” Lin Zhen asked, his tone serious.
Song Wei replied, “A ten-yuan note. I plan to report it to the Public Security Bureau.”
Lin Zhen nodded. “Good. I’ll help take care of the smell before the authorities arrive.”
He didn’t ask what Song Wei had been burning. Instead, he simply trusted her judgment, knowing she wouldn’t do anything unjust.
Song Wei wasted no time. She knocked on the other dormitory doors, announcing, “My room has been broken into. The lock was tampered with. Check if your locks have been disturbed too.”
“What? A thief?!” Gao Le shouted.
“A thief in our dorms?” other shocked voices echoed.
Song Wei showed them her lock and the scratch marks left by tampering. “See these marks? Someone tried to force the lock. I’ve lost a ten-yuan note. Check your rooms for anything missing.”
Everyone quickly inspected their rooms.
Gao Le and Zhao Su soon returned, both visibly upset.
“My lock has similar marks,” Gao Le said.
“So does mine,” Zhao Su added.
“Check if you’ve lost anything,” Song Wei urged.
After some rummaging, Gao Le announced, “I’m missing a ten-yuan note, two pieces of sausage, and a few chocolates!” His tone was furious.
Zhao Su added, “I’m missing two ten-yuan notes, a few ration tickets, and some grain.”
Song Wei asked calmly, “Do your money or tickets have any identifying marks?”
Regardless, she concluded, “Let’s report this to the Public Security Bureau. The combined losses here are substantial.”
The suggestion to report the theft prompted mixed reactions. Xu Laidi, who hadn’t lost anything, seemed particularly gleeful.
“Hah, serves you all right for showing off. Now you’ve been targeted.”
Song Wei shot her a sharp glance. “Right, because you’re so poor even thieves don’t bother with you.”
Xu Laidi: …
The matter was quickly escalated to the brigade leader. The seriousness of the theft shocked him, and he immediately sent his eldest son to report it to the Public Security Bureau.
While waiting for the authorities to arrive, Lin Zhen suggested, “Everyone should gather in the common room. No one enters their own rooms until the authorities investigate.”
“What? Why should I?” Xu Laidi and Luo Yicheng both objected, particularly Luo Yicheng, who glared at Lin Zhen with open hostility.
“And who are you to order us around?” Luo Yicheng snapped.
Lin Zhen remained calm. “We don’t know who the thief is yet, so everyone is a suspect. The stolen items could be hidden in a room or on someone. Staying in the common area ensures no one can tamper with evidence or hide anything. It also simplifies the investigation for the authorities.”
Song Wei added, her tone icy, “I found a footprint in my room. It’s best to wait for the authorities to handle this. The sooner we cooperate, the sooner everyone’s name can be cleared. Or… do you have something to hide?”
Her words silenced Luo Yicheng and Xu Laidi.
Gao Le and Zhao Su immediately supported the idea. “Makes sense. Let’s just wait it out.”
The Public Security officers arrived promptly. After a quick briefing, they inspected Song Wei’s room.
They noticed the footprint and asked why Song Wei had spread ashes on the floor.
Song Wei admitted openly, “I suspected my lock was tampered with and began spreading ashes every morning before leaving. The marks help identify anyone entering my room.”
The officers were impressed by her foresight.
Not only near the bedside, but she had also sprinkled some ash near where she kept the food, which left footprints there as well.
“These footprints seem to have been left by a man. Could the male educated youths please come forward for a comparison?”
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