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Chapter 252: Chapter 242 Police Investigation
In the afternoon, Shen Yunfang and Dashuan’s wife took the chance while their child was asleep to catch up on some sleep themselves. Of course, they had learned their lesson this time and made sure to lock the door before sleeping. Dashuan’s wife even tied something to the doorknob so that it would make noise inside the room if anyone touched the door. Although this resulted in a few false alarms when the nurses and doctors came in, the two women preferred the hassle over being scared and anxious.
To put it bluntly, if a child had been lost before, it would have been someone else’s child. They would have been worried and concerned, but after some time, those worries would have been replaced by a slew of other messy issues, and it would have been good enough to occasionally remember and sigh about it. But if they were to lose their own child now, it would be much more than just worry and concern. It could be said to be heart-wrenchingly painful, a chronic illness that would never heal over a lifetime, a scar that would never mend. As parents, they would live a life full of regret.
The stealing of children had just happened the day before, and although it was very likely that the child’s parents had fabricated the theft, it still terrified them. What if the people who had come to steal the child yesterday weren’t the parents? What if the two thieves from yesterday were experienced and had entered silently—whether the child might have been stolen and whether the thieves could be caught would all be unknowns. Therefore, it was understandable that the two women were a bit jumpy.
Newborns only do two things in a day, eat and sleep. As long as the child isn’t fussy, the adults can sleep peacefully. But at two in the afternoon, the small bell on the door rang.
Both Dashuan’s wife and Shen Yunfang opened their eyes at the same time.
"Don’t worry about it, just keep sleeping," said Dashuan’s wife as she looked at the sky and relaxed her tense body, yawning.
In broad daylight, if there were a thief, they’d be extremely bold, and it was very likely a nurse or doctor.
Shen Yunfang thought the same, lowering her head to look at her son. The little guy smacked his lips a few times, turned his little head to another direction, and continued to sleep.
"Who are you looking for?" After opening the ward door, Dashuan’s wife was taken aback. Indeed, there was a young nurse standing outside, but next to her stood two policemen wearing Dagaimaos.
"This is the situation, is Liu Chunya staying in this ward? We’re just here to understand the situation," said one of the older policemen in a gentle tone.
Dashuan’s wife looked towards the young nurse, unsure whether the Liu Chunya they mentioned was the little girl who had stayed in the room until yesterday, although they did indeed mention "Chunya."
"It’s the little girl who stayed in your room yesterday," the young nurse confirmed with certainty.
"Oh, officer, that child just checked in two days ago. We don’t know anything, really," Dashuan’s wife quickly explained, feeling somewhat at a loss. Staying in the same ward as a little girl had already brought her close to losing something, and now they were being questioned by the police—how could they even begin to justify this?
"Comrade, you don’t need to be nervous. We’re just following up on routine business and have no other intentions. May we come in and talk?" the elder policeman still wore a friendly expression.
"Ah, yes, yes, yes, look how nervous I’ve become, forgetting everything. Please, come in," Dashuan’s wife hastily stepped back, clearing the way at the door.
One by one, the group entered. As soon as the two policemen walked into the room, they scanned the surroundings, likely a professional habit.
"This must be the brave young sister-in-law who fought off the burglars yesterday? How are you feeling? How’s the child?" The middle-aged policeman didn’t come any closer but stood to the side, addressing Shen Yunfang. Of course, he also saw the premature child by Shen Yunfang’s side, so his tone naturally softened, careful not to startle the baby.
Shen Yunfang said with a smile, "The leaders are just joking. How could that be considered bravely fighting against the criminals? I didn’t help at all and even gave birth early because of the bump. Now, the baby is doing well, and I’m fine too." She wouldn’t dare to take this praise seriously. She was well aware of her own actions last night, always hiding in the back. If someone like her could be considered as bravely fighting against criminals, then Dashuan’s sister-in-law could be called a national hero.
"Oh, don’t all stand and talk. Please, have a seat, have a seat. I’ll pour some hot water for you." Dashuan’s wife ushered people to an empty hospital bed to sit down and began to busy herself pouring hot water for everyone.
"Oh, sister, you don’t have to trouble yourself. We are just here to ask a few questions to understand the situation," the policeman said politely.
Rural people are just simple. Hearing this, Dashuan’s wife really stopped pouring the water.
Shen Yunfang held back a laugh and said, "Please go ahead and ask, officers. We’ll definitely tell you whatever we know."
"No, no, we’re not any leaders. My name is Wang, and this is Officer Liu. You can just call us comrades," the middle-aged policeman hurriedly said. "Here’s the thing: the two people who were caught at our hospital last night claimed they weren’t there to steal anything. They simply didn’t have the money to pay for medical bills, so they thought of taking their child back home while everyone was asleep. The woman said she knows the two of you and said you could testify that she is the child’s mother."
Before Shen Yunfang could respond, Dashuan’s wife couldn’t hold back, "Pah! We won’t vouch for her, that heartless creature. Even if she and her daughter were to die in front of me, I wouldn’t give them as much as a glance."
Shen Yunfang tugged at her, signaling her to calm down.
The young policeman pushed up his glasses and said, "It seems there’s more to the story. Go ahead and tell us everything you know."
This young officer’s demeanor wasn’t as good as the older one’s; you might say he wasn’t as diplomatic.
But right now, Dashuan’s wife wasn’t really focusing on that. As soon as she was asked, she prattled on about how that mother and daughter came to the hospital, what they said, how they responded, how they cared for the little girl after the woman disappeared, how they shouted for help when they noticed the thief last night, how they fought to get their things back, and ending with Shen Yunfang’s premature birthing ordeal caused by the incident.
One officer listened intently while the other took careful notes, neither interrupting her until she finished.
"So, that means you didn’t know this mother and daughter before they came to the hospital?" Officer Zhou asked.
"Exactly, we’re from the countryside, how would we know city folks?" Dashuan’s wife rolled her eyes ungraciously, visibly annoyed by that woman, and said, "Besides, we wouldn’t want to know thieves like them." She wouldn’t care to know them even if it were offered on a silver platter.
"Can I see the bag that was nearly stolen from you last night?"
"It was almost stolen, yes. This one right here." Dashuan’s wife pulled the bag out from under the bed again. However, it no longer contained anything of significant value. "Our money and Food Coupons were all in here. If that person had managed to steal it yesterday, we wouldn’t even have a place to cry now."
