Silent Witness - Chapter 8

Around 5:20 PM, Li Hewei exited the highway, paying 9.8 yuan via ETC. She glanced at her phone—8.3 kilometers remaining, yet the navigation showed 25 minutes.

“Turn right at the next intersection, then left after 200 meters. The road will get a bit narrow,” Tao Ling said softly, offering directions.

“Got it,” Li Hewei replied, zooming in on the navigation to check the route. It turned out they were on a winding rural road. After the left turn, she slowed down, driving cautiously.

Tao Ling always felt carsick when riding with relatives or in shared rides back to her hometown. The drivers sped through curves without slowing down. But with Li Hewei behind the wheel—carefully braking, accelerating, and even signaling other drivers to fold in their side mirrors—she felt an overwhelming sense of security. She tilted her head, gazing at Li Hewei’s elegant profile, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “Sister Wei, your driving skills are much better than I imagined.”

What kind of compliment is that? Li Hewei thought wryly, though a smile had already curved her lips. Her tone remained neutral as she asked, “What did you imagine?”

Tao Ling lowered her voice, stating the facts: “Last year, you rear-ended another car due to following too closely, resulting in a fractured left arm.”

No wonder she’d noticed a faint surgical scar on her left arm while showering. The nerve recovery had been slow, causing occasional dull aches.

With ten years of driving experience, Li Hewei commuted daily and enjoyed off-road trips with friends during holidays, never once having an accident. Yet she now had to explain the actions of the original owner of her body. Speechless for a moment, she finally said, “Experience is the best teacher.”

“That’s a good way to put it,” Tao Ling said, guiding her. “Sister Wei, turn left at the intersection and go uphill. It’s about fifty meters ahead.”

Li Hewei signaled her turn and made the left. In the distance, she spotted two self-built houses fifty meters away, with five large round tables set up on a spacious concrete patio outside, every seat occupied. As they approached, a woman in a water-red short-sleeved shirt and dark pants, dressed simply, stood at the entrance waving them over.

“That’s my mom. She’ll show you where to park,” Tao Ling warned her. “They’ll probably mention my brother tonight, so don’t take it personally.”

Li Hewei, already mentally prepared, nodded understandingly. She lowered the car window and followed Liu Yun’s directions forward.

“Come on, come on, just a little further.”

“Xiao Wei, stop right here. There’s enough room for other cars to pass.”

Li Hewei observed the wide parking spaces on both sides, grabbed her handbag, and followed Tao Ling out of the car.

Liu Yun beamed at Li Hewei and urged Tao Ling, “Xiao Ling, take your sister-in-law’s bag. She rarely visits.”

“It’s fine, the bag is light,” Li Hewei replied, reluctant to interact further with Father Tao. Finding Liu Yun’s demeanor more approachable, she reluctantly addressed her as “Mom” and pressed the prepared red envelope into her hands.

“Oh, you shouldn’t have! Your presence is enough,” Liu Yun protested with a smile.

“Please accept it. It’s just a small token of my appreciation.”

After a prolonged exchange of pleasantries, Liu Yun finally accepted the red envelope and led the two women toward the concrete dam outside the building, drawing curious glances from the crowd.

“Look, Xiao Ling’s back! She’s grown even more beautiful.”

“Hello, Third Aunt.”

“Our Xiao Ling’s got a government job now—the first in the Tao Family!”

Tao Luhai forced a smile. “What’s the point of a government job? Money talks. She still earns less than Tao Zong working odd jobs.”

“Stability matters, especially for a girl. A stable job means a good marriage later.”

Li Hewei, who had always loathed relatives and friends reducing women to their marital prospects, frowned deeply. She sidled closer to Tao Ling, looped her arm through hers, and whispered, “Where’s the restroom? Take me there.”

Her voice was low, her slightly warm breath brushing against Tao Ling’s ear. Tao Ling froze for a moment, a fleeting tickle of unease flickering through her heart. Realizing belatedly that Li Hewei was helping her escape the situation, she accepted the gesture and seized the opportunity. “Dad, I’ll take my sister-in-law inside.”

“Go ahead, go ahead,” Tao Luhai said, his mood lifted after Liu Yun had slipped Li Hewei’s red envelope into his pocket.

Tao Ling’s eldest uncle suddenly chimed in, “Well, well, isn’t this Xiao Yang’s wife? Driving all the way back from Puchen just for this? Lu Hai, you’re a lucky man.”

Li Hewei ignored him, following Tao Ling up the stairs to the second floor. As the door closed behind them, Li Hewei turned, her gaze lifting to meet Tao Ling’s. The usually calm depths of her eyes now shimmered with a faint light. “Thank you,” she said sincerely.

Despite the genuine tone, Li Hewei felt a strange mix of embarrassment and annoyance. This was the first time anyone had looked her directly in the eyes while speaking. Is this how straight women always act? she wondered, feeling unnerved. She averted her gaze, focusing instead on the room’s furnishings.

The glossy ceramic tiles, though of questionable quality, were considered extravagant for a rural town. The room featured a king-sized bed, a floor-to-ceiling wardrobe, and even a vanity.

“This was originally supposed to be your and my brother’s wedding room,” Tao Ling explained.

The words caught Li Hewei off guard, leaving her speechless and rooted to the spot, unsure whether to advance or retreat.

“Mom wants you to stay at the old home tonight and leave after lunch tomorrow.”

Li Hewei whipped around, her expression stunned.

“I refused for you, saying you were busy with work.”

Why do you always leave things half-said? Li Hewei felt a flicker of relief and immediately shifted from defense to offense. “Tao Ling, if you don’t want to chat with them, just find a place to hide. Out of sight, out of mind.”

“They’ll think I’m being rude.” Tao Ling swallowed hard. “That’s why it’s good you’re here.”

This was blatant emotional blackmail, a form of self-gaslighting. Li Hewei wanted to argue, but hesitated—was she overstepping? Moreover, their vastly different personal experiences and family backgrounds meant their perspectives were fundamentally divergent. There was no simple right or wrong.

For example, though Li Hewei’s mother had passed away early, her stepmother was kind and cheerful. Her father, a mid-level manager at the gas company, earned a comfortable salary, so she had never known hardship or toil.

Tao Ling’s life, on the other hand, had been starkly different. Cheng Yingqiu had mentioned that Tao Ling grew up in the countryside. When she was seven, her parents moved to the city for work, while her older brother, Tao Yang, attended middle school. Tao Ling stayed behind, walking three kilometers each way to the small elementary school in the town center every day. After graduating, she was admitted to the county’s top middle school. While studying, she also had to cook for her family of four and even help deliver goods.

“Xiao Ling, come down and eat with your sister-in-law.”

“Okay, I’m coming.”

Li Hewei’s thoughts were pulled back to reality by Tao Ling’s voice. She followed Tao Ling to the bathroom to wash her hands before heading downstairs.

They sat at the main table in the first-floor living room, one of two round tables reserved for close relatives from the Tao and Liu families. Li Hewei forced herself to respond politely to the others’ formalities, but the meal felt utterly bland. After three rounds of drinks and five courses, Tao Ling’s eldest uncle, who had been snubbed earlier, began to chatter: “Aiya, Xiao Yang has been missing for two years, and we haven’t had a chance to celebrate his wedding. What about Xiao Ling? Does she have a boyfriend? She should settle down soon!”

Tao Luhai replied, “She hasn’t mentioned anyone.”

Liu Yun chimed in, “That’s right. Xiao Ling has been focused on her studies. She just graduated.”

The uncle, emboldened by alcohol, declared bluntly, “Isn’t she turning twenty-five in November? She’s not getting any younger! When her mother was twenty-five, she already had two kids!”

Tao Ling’s third aunt joined the conversation: “Why don’t you ask Tao Zong to introduce her to someone? There are plenty of single young men at his factory.” Tao Luhai was the second oldest, and his house was built right next to his eldest brother’s, so the two families often helped each other out.

Tao Luhai grinned, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “Exactly, Eldest Brother! Have Tao Zong introduce her to someone young and promising. Our Tao Ling is no slouch either.”

Tao Ling’s chest tightened. Beneath the round table, her fists clenched. She forced out the words, “Dad, I’m not ready to date yet.”

Tao Luhai hadn’t expected such defiance. His expression darkened instantly. “What did you say?”

Tao Ling’s lips trembled. “I’m still young…”

“Xiao Ling, we’re only doing this for your own good.”

Li Hewei had initially intended to stay out of it, but she couldn’t bear to listen any longer. Her voice turned icy as she cut in, “What do you mean ‘for her own good’? If marriage were so wonderful, would you need to push her? If money were lying on the ground, would Tao Ling need to be told to pick it up?”

“What does marriage even bring? Gossip? Don’t think I’m deaf. I heard what you were saying about me cursing Tao Yang before dinner.” Knowing she’d never associate with the Tao Family again, Li Hewei threw caution to the wind. “Are you all out of your minds?”

Tao Ling’s Eldest Uncle, aware that Li Hewei worked at the Puchen Public Security Bureau, was Tao Ling’s superior, and that her parents were well-known figures in the local culinary scene with at least ten million yuan in liquid assets, lowered his head and fell silent.

“I’m busy at work. I’ll head back first,” Li Hewei said, putting down her chopsticks and sliding off the high stool. She glanced at Tao Ling, who was still stunned in place, and added in an authoritative tone, “Tao Ling, come back with me to work overtime.”

“Okay,” Tao Ling replied, her heart pounding. She glanced back at Liu Yun, who waved her on.

The night was deep, cicadas and frogs chirped along the rural road, but the car cabin remained silent. Li Hewei was still simmering with anger, while Tao Ling stared out the window at the receding scenery, trying to calm her racing heart.

The woman beside her, with her vibrant personality, deeply shook Tao Ling.

An indescribable madness.

“Are you okay?” Li Hewei asked, her anger subsiding as she began to worry about the aftermath. She could easily walk away, but Tao Ling would still have to face these awful relatives.

Tao Ling turned to look at her, her eyes involuntarily curving into crescent moons, though her voice carried a hint of bitterness. “What could happen to me? Maybe Old Tao will scold me a bit. As for the blind dates, I probably won’t be able to avoid them.”

Li Hewei’s brow furrowed. “Will you go?”

“I don’t want to.”

The lack of a firm “I won’t go” left a faint trace of disappointment in Li Hewei’s heart.

Tao Ling convinced herself that, given her current circumstances, she could only take things one step at a time. She replied casually, “If you don’t want to go, then don’t.”

Tao Ling took a deep breath. “Okay.”

Li Hewei couldn’t quite grasp her intentions. “Hmm?”

“I might move out first and apply for dormitory housing,” Tao Ling said, her voice growing firmer. “I originally planned to save up to buy a place, but now I just want to escape.”

“At least the dorms have air conditioning.”

She flashed a rare, wide smile, but Li Hewei found it strangely jarring, a bitter ache rising in her chest.

“Doesn’t your house have air conditioning?”

Tao Ling remained silent, her gaze drifting back to the window.

Lu Hai, now that the kids have gotten into the Public Security Bureau and are sending us 2,000 yuan a month, why not buy an air conditioner for her room? It would make her more comfortable.

The recent heat has been killing the fish faster, costing us a lot of money. Besides, she has air conditioning at work. What’s the point of wasting electricity for just a few hours when she’s home?

Then take the air conditioner from Xiao Yang’s room and put it in hers.

Too much trouble, and it’ll cost 50 yuan to have it removed.

Recalling her parents’ conversation, Tao Ling sniffled, tears glistening in her eyes. “The dorm air conditioning works better anyway.”