CHAPTER 550: 216 ALI IS WAITING FOR US

The hailstones pelted down on the rain canopy, composing a symphony in the quietness of night.

Xiang Chenyu laughed, "It’s hailing."

Liu Runxi looked up at the profound darkness of the night, where the hailstones seemed to race to hit the ground, breaking apart upon impact, occasionally sending icy shards onto his face and the back of his hand. A chilly sensation lingered.

"The weather forecast said Qingzhou is in for another bitter winter this year. The vegetable farmers are in for a tough time."

Xiang Chenyu sighed and took a big gulp of beer, letting out a contented sigh.

"Xiao Liu, you don’t mind me calling you that, do you?"

Liu Runxi shook his head, "Officer Xiang, what are you trying to say?"

"I just like dealing with smart people."

Xiang Chenyu dragged a small stool closer to Liu Runxi’s side.

Liu Runxi felt a bit uncomfortable and instinctively wanted to move away.

Xiang Chenyu didn’t allow him the chance, slinging an arm around his shoulder in a brotherly manner, rendering Liu Runxi motionless for a moment.

"Xiao Liu, do you know about the Yulong Army?"

"Boom." Hail fell amidst thunder, and a piercing lightning bolt split the murky heavens and earth.

In the glare of the lightning, Liu Runxi caught a glimpse of Xiang Chenyu’s strikingly bright and intense eyes.

"It was a military force formed by Xiao Chuo, a great general of the previous dynasty. They conquered cities and crushed enemies wherever they went."

Xiang Chenyu nodded in satisfaction, "Not bad, you know quite a bit."

"But there’s something you surely don’t know—something intentionally erased."

Liu Runxi listened intently, sensing that the next revelation would be earth-shattering.

"Wontons are here."

The shop owner placed two bowls of wontons in front of them, and his son brought over two side dishes—one with pickled cucumbers and another with refreshing spicy kimchi.

The wontons were sprinkled with scallions and cilantro, releasing an enticing aroma.

Xiang Chenyu stirred the bowl with a spoon, the dried shrimp and seaweed wrapping around the pale, slightly pink wontons, making them irresistibly appetizing.

Xiang Chenyu gobbled down a wonton, his brows and eyes narrowing in satisfaction.

On a snowy day, eating a bowl of steaming hot wontons could instantly soothe the fatigue built up over the span of a day and night.

Xiang Chenyu noticed Liu Runxi sitting quietly, staring at the wontons as if in a daze.

"What are you zoning out for? Eat, and we’ll talk while eating."

Liu Runxi picked up the disposable chopsticks, glancing at the bowl, noticing the vibrant green scallions floating atop. His brows furrowed ever so slightly, but he stayed composed and ate one wonton without a word.

Seeing this, Xiang Chenyu chuckled, "Don’t force yourself if you don’t like it."

The young boy was not yet of age, but his demeanor was mature and restrained. Mayor Liu himself hadn’t been like this in his youth.

As for Helian Yu, there was no need to elaborate—if her temper flared, she’d flip the table, exclaiming, "If I don’t like it, neither will anyone else!"

Liu Runxi said nothing, quietly eating his wontons one by one.

The Liu family imposed strict rules, and Liu Runxi disliked speaking while eating.

The young boy finished the bowl of wontons at a brisk yet graceful pace, put down the chopsticks, and pulled out a napkin to wipe his mouth.

Xiang Chenyu thought, "Helian Yu sure gave birth to a good son."

Having worked as a detective for so many years, interacting with countless criminals, she’d honed a masterful skill in people recognition—observing eyes first: if the gaze was evasive or shifty, there was inevitably something seedy about them. Conversely, eyes that shone clear and determined belonged to forthright individuals of integrity.

The boy in front of her held a deep reservoir within but did not flaunt his sharpness—a quality all the more rare.

This was precisely why she was willing to speak to him about the Yulong Army.

Only through enduring greater struggles could one soar across the Nine Provinces as an eagle gliding high.

After finishing the last sip of soup, Xiang Chenyu burped contentedly and wiped her mouth.

She took out a one-hundred-yuan bill from her wallet, pressed it under the empty bowl, and said, "Boss, I don’t know how long this hail will last; you should take your son home quickly. Children have weaker constitutions and can’t stand the cold."

Having said that, Xiang Chenyu stood up and left.

"Young lady, I haven’t given you your change yet; don’t leave...."

Xiang Chenyu walked briskly and vanished at the mouth of the alley in a blink.

The shop owner returned helplessly and sighed, "Still, there are more good people in the world...."

Once the others were far away, Xiang Chenyu led Liu Runxi out from a narrow alley, glancing back only after seeing the shop owner packing up with his son. Then, she finally turned away.

"The previous dynasty was corrupt—plundering the people’s labor and wealth to fund grand palace constructions, resulting in widespread suffering and countless cries of despair. In Jingzhou, there was a family with the surname Wang. The husband and wife were affectionate and harmonious, blessed with a beautiful daughter. Despite the unsettled times, this couple’s business acumen allowed them to manage a livelihood. They would also often do charity work and accumulate virtue for their family. One day, the wife took her daughter to the market to shop, where they caught the eye of a depraved scoundrel, who forcibly abducted them, separating mother and daughter from their husband and father."