So, Granny wanted him to go to the post office in person to check whether their parents had really been sending money. She had even given him the household registration booklet.
Qin Tian’s emotions were complicated. If Sister Gu’s guess was correct… then what about Uncle De?
His small hands unconsciously clenched into fists.
He still had memories of his parents. Over these eight years, aside from missing them, he couldn’t deny that he had also resented them—especially when Granny fell ill, or when the three of them struggled just to survive. At those times, he had truly blamed his parents.
Why did they bring him and his sister into this world only to abandon them?
Why could they leave behind even Granny, who was already so old?
Back then, his parents had held him—just two years old at the time—and promised they would return.
But eight years had passed, and they still hadn’t come back. Not even a single message.
Sometimes, Qin Tian was afraid… afraid he might never see his parents again in his lifetime.
But now, things seemed different.
If… *if* his parents had really been sending money, then they hadn’t truly abandoned them.
But was that possible?
And what about Uncle De? He had always been good to them. Could he really have kept their parents’ money for himself?
Qin Tian stared blankly out the window, his mind in turmoil.
Half an hour later, the car came to a slow stop in front of the post office.
Due to the weather, there were hardly any customers inside.
Sheng Zexi held Qin Tian’s small hand as they walked in.
The post office clerk was a young woman named Chen Fang.
When Chen Fang caught sight of Sheng Zexi’s face, her eyes flickered with admiration—but the moment she noticed his olive-green military uniform, her expression turned respectful.
She knew there was a Northwest Military District stationed nearby. This soldier was probably from there.
Chen Fang quickly stood up. “Comrade Soldier, are you here to mail a letter, or…?”
Sheng Zexi handed over Qin Tian’s household registration booklet. “Comrade, this child is the son of my friends. His parents are state employees working on confidential projects and haven’t returned home in eight years.”
“I’d like to check whether they’ve been sending money back to their family.”
Chen Fang nodded in understanding and took the booklet. “One moment, Comrade. Let me check for you.”
Soon, she had the results.
“Comrade Soldier, I’ve found records showing that Qin Zhihong and Bai Wei *have* been sending money. They’ve made monthly remittances for the past eight years.”
Qin Tian’s small face instantly paled, his eyes reddening.
Sheng Zexi’s expression darkened. Just as Ningning had guessed.
Chen Fang was puzzled by their reactions.
Sheng Zexi asked, “Can you check how much they sent each month and the total sum over the years?”
Chen Fang hesitated but agreed. Her instincts told her something was wrong.
“The records show that Qin Zhihong and his wife began sending money eight years ago. Initially, it was 70 yuan per month for the first three years—a total of 2,520 yuan. Starting from the fourth year, the amount increased to 95 yuan per month, totaling 5,700 yuan over five years. Combined, the eight years add up to **8,220 yuan**.”
8,220 yuan.
In this era, while not an astronomical sum, it was still an enormous amount of money.
Some rural families might only manage to save a little over a hundred yuan in an entire year.
Sheng Zexi inwardly sneered. *8,220 yuan, huh? Yet, as the children and mother of Qin Zhihong and his wife, they haven’t received a single cent in these eight years.*
Chen Fang’s eyes widened in shock. “How is that possible? The records show the money was withdrawn every month by a relative—with signatures!”
Sheng Zexi’s voice was icy. “The fact is, Qin Zhihong’s two children and his mother never received a penny. They didn’t even know the money existed.”
“And they certainly didn’t authorize any relatives to collect it.”
“So, where did this so-called ‘relative’ come from?”
“Do you have any idea how Qin Zhihong’s children and elderly mother have lived these past eight years? They nearly starved to death. They nearly died from illness.”
“Qin Zhihong and his wife sacrificed their family to serve the nation. Tell me—how heartbroken do you think they’ll be when they return and learn that the money they sent to their children and mother was stolen, while their loved ones suffered?”
“Can you even bear that responsibility?”
“Waaah—” Qin Tian could no longer hold back his grief and burst into tears.
Chen Fang was rattled by the child’s sobs and Sheng Zexi’s accusations.
“Th-this wasn’t processed by me! I—I’ll get my supervisor!”
She hurried off and soon returned with a middle-aged man.
Taking in Sheng Zexi’s military uniform and the weeping child, the supervisor’s expression turned grave.
“What’s going on? Explain. Now.”
Chen Fang quickly recounted the situation, showing him the records.
By the time she finished, the supervisor’s face had darkened completely.
“Who authorized the withdrawals before?”
“It was always Lu Ping.”
“Where is Lu Ping now?”
“It’s his day off. He’s not here.”
The supervisor gritted his teeth. *That bastard Lu Ping is going to be the death of me.*
Even without further investigation, he could guess what had happened.
Lu Ping must have conspired with someone to embezzle the Qin family’s money.
*Damn that Lu Ping!* If Qin Zhihong and his wife were truly engaged in confidential state work—absent for eight whole years—their mission must be of utmost importance.
Didn’t they fear Qin Zhihong’s eventual return and retribution?
How *dare* they!
And now they’d even drawn the attention of a military officer. Judging by the man’s uniform—if he wasn’t mistaken—this was a *battalion commander*.
So young, yet already at such a rank. His future prospects were limitless. Worse, everyone knew how fiercely the military protected their own.
No, this had to be handled strictly.
The supervisor hastily explained the situation to Sheng Zexi, then asked, “Comrade Soldier, this was indeed our employee’s misconduct. How would you like this resolved?”
Sheng Zexi’s voice was calm but firm. “Naturally, we report it to the police.”
The supervisor swallowed hard. “…Understood. We’ll file a report.”
*Over eight thousand yuan.* There was no avoiding police involvement. He knew that not only would Lu Ping be arrested, but as the supervisor, he’d also face repercussions for failing to oversee properly.
But at this moment, he *hated* Lu Ping and whoever had conspired with him.
And so, the supervisor, Sheng Zexi, and Qin Tian headed straight to the police station.
The officers took one look at the group and, upon hearing the case—involving embezzlement from a state confidential worker’s family, with a staggering sum of 8,000 yuan—immediately recognized it as a major crime.
Without delay, the police mobilized their forces…
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