Chapter 473: Chapter 462: Fierce Ghost
Facing Chu Cheng’s interrogative gaze, Song Jin remained indifferent, instead asking expressionlessly, "Officer, these injuries could only be considered minor, right? It’s inevitable for adults to get angry when children are disobedient. Isn’t it only right to discipline them?"
The two police officers’ expressions grew colder after hearing Song Jin’s words: "But the child also said that you often leave him at home alone without food."
Song Jin continued without a hint of concern: "Can the words of a disobedient child be trusted?"
"You..." The policewoman was almost unable to control the fury in her heart, and the male officer beside her held her back.
"We will investigate who is telling the truth, but until then, the child cannot be handed over to you."
"Whatever, but if the kid ends up starving or sick, you’ll have to take that responsibility. Is the statement finished? We have other matters to attend to. This unresolved issue wouldn’t require detention, would it? Or should I call my lawyer right now?"
"No need, as of last night the statement is complete and you two can leave now."
"I want to see the child." Seeing Song Jin about to pull him away, Chu Cheng finally spoke up.
"This way." The policewoman led him to the conference room, where, apart from Xiao Ran, Ling Xiao was also present. On seeing him, Chu Cheng’s pupils suddenly constricted.
"Is it you who won’t let me take Xiao Ran away?" Chu Cheng asked accusatorily.
"It was you who abused him first, Chu Cheng, do you have no heart at all? How long has Ye Qiu been gone? How old is Xiao Ran?" Ling Xiao asked seriously, grabbing Chu Cheng by the collar.
"Let go." Chu Cheng’s face turned red as he said, "This is a police station, as a police officer, do you really intend to break the law?"
"Chu Cheng, I truly misjudged you, and so did Ye Qiu." Ling Xiao released him, then stood in front of him to prevent him from getting close to Xiao Ran.
"Misjudged me? As if the two of you have nothing going on. Calling each other brother and sister so affectionately, where do you place me in all this?" Chu Cheng asked, his voice choked.
Ling Xiao clenched his fists tightly, staring at him, never having imagined Chu Cheng would be so thoughtless: "You bastard, we are siblings, how can you twist our relationship into something so sordid?"
"Siblings? Do you have a blood relation? Pah, who knows how many times you’ve been emotionally unfaithful behind my back." Chu Cheng said, his eyes red.
"Bastard!" Ling Xiao swung his fist, and then, under Chu Cheng’s sneering gaze, he smashed it into the wall beside him.
"Keep the kid if you want to, who knows whose seed he is, but before long, you’ll still have to send him my way, after all, I’m his father on the household register. By then, there’s nothing you can do about it." Chu Cheng left a harsh word and departed without even a glance at Xiao Ran, never looking back.
Xiao Ran looked at him, crying out "Dad" once, Chu Cheng’s figure paused momentarily, still without turning back.
"Asshole!" Ling Xiao hit the wall again, his fist already showing faint streaks of blood.
"Don’t cry, Uncle is here!" Ling Xiao held Xiao Ran, and even though it’s said that a man doesn’t easily shed tears, he let one drop fall just then.
Chu Cheng returned to the car, where Song Jin was already waiting for him. A few minutes later, somewhat calmed, he frowned and asked Song Jin, "What happened with Xiao Ran’s injuries? Did you do it? What has a kid ever done to provoke you?"
"Chu Cheng, here you go questioning me again. Yes, I caused Xiao Ran’s injuries, so what? Even Ye Qiu came to take her revenge. Could I avoid retaliation if I didn’t use Xiao Ran to threaten her?" Song Jin countered, "Don’t you forget, I’m still carrying our child. If anything happens, it could be one body and two lives lost. He’s just a little hurt, it’s not the end of the world, what are you making a fuss about?"
"Keep your voice down, this is a police station." Chu Cheng glanced nervously around, and only after seeing no one did he breathe a sigh of relief.
Seeing him like that, Song Jin looked over disdainfully and snorted, "What, I can’t even respond when you question me?"
"Alright, alright, I was just asking. Let’s discuss it at home." Chu Cheng started the car to head back.
"I’m not going back, who knows if Ye Qiu is still there," Song Jin frowned and said.
"Don’t we have an amulet?" Chu Cheng also hesitated.
"Can an amulet protect someone for a lifetime? No, I have to find someone to exorcise her," Song Jin’s eyes were sinister, with a hint of viciousness flickering within.
"Master Hui Guang refuses to intervene, where can we find someone else?"
"Back to my childhood home, I know who can do it."
Song Jin’s childhood home was in a backward little mountain village in the Southern Province. After her grandfather and granduncle made their fortunes, they never went back, and her own recollections were quite hazy. But now, for her safety, she had no choice but to return once more.
After driving for more than ten hours, Chu Cheng frowned at the dilapidated little mountain village before him: "Is this the place?"
"It should be." Following the route from her memory, Song Jin walked in and soon saw a familiar courtyard with a large pagoda tree. Her grandfather had said it was a tree that the Divine Woman used to nourish ghosts. With this thought, the tree seemed ever more ominous to her.
In the past, she didn’t understand, but now thinking about it, doesn’t the character "槐" in "pagoda tree" already include the character "鬼" for "ghost"? Having a ghost within the wood, it really was used for nurturing ghosts.
"You go knock on the door," Song Jin pushed Chu Cheng forward.
"Who is it?" The voice from inside the house answered, but it was extremely hoarse, as if it came from a chronically ill patient.
"My name is Song Jin, I used to live here. Granny Liu, you’ve caught ghosts for my granduncle’s family before, do you remember?" Song Jin spoke up.
"Oh, it’s the Song Family," Divine Woman Liu opened the courtyard door, "Come in."
However, Song Jin couldn’t bring herself to recognize the person before her. Was this blind and lame person really the Divine Woman Liu from before? How did she end up like this?
Chu Cheng also showed a doubtful expression. Could this disabled old woman really catch ghosts?
"Tell me, what do you want with this old woman?" Listening to her hoarse voice, Chu Cheng frowned again. He had seen plenty of ordinary old people, but none like the one before him. This voice seemed like it came from Hell, and for some reason, that was the comparison that came to his mind.
"I won’t hide it from Granny Liu, we’ve encountered a ghost," Song Jin said earnestly, "Can Granny Liu help us exorcise it? Compensation is not an issue."
"Hehe..." Granny Liu’s laugh sounded like it came from a bellows, and with her one good eye, she stared at them both and laughed eerily, "You’ve done something guilt-inducing, and now it has come knocking on your door."
"Granny Liu, what do you mean by this? Are you not interested in this business?" Song Jin’s face soured.
"Interested, but this compensation..."
"Fifty thousand once the job is done," she offered.
"Fifty thousand to buy a life?" Divine Woman Liu smirked sarcastically, "The Song Family is still so stingy."
"One hundred thousand."
"Two hundred thousand, take it or leave it."
"Fine, two hundred thousand it is," Chu Cheng said through gritted teeth.
"Then this old woman will accompany you on your trip."