CHAPTER 24: CHAPTER 24: WELL DONE

When Yi Chichi and the others were discussing the bathhouse at the hostel, Wen Shi and his team arrived at their destination in two separate groups.

Meanwhile, the people arranged by the commune rode bicycles to Kao Shan Village.

At this time, the team leader had already noticed Yi Chichi and the others hadn’t returned, and was preparing to leave for the commune to find them.

Halfway there, they encountered a junior staff member from the commune.

After a greeting, both parties got straight to the point.

"Mr. Zhou, you must be busy; we’ll go ahead!"

"Mr. Liu, those young scholars from your team are at the county right now; they won’t be back today."

Both voices sounded simultaneously, the former being Liu Chengqi, the Kao Shan Village Team leader, and the latter, Zhou Qiang, the junior staff member from the commune.

"Got it, we’re..."

Halfway through speaking, the team leader, realizing something was amiss, exchanged puzzled glances before staring straight at Zhou Qiang, "Mr. Zhou, did you say our team’s young scholars are in the county?"

"Yes!"

"What are they doing in the county?"

The odd thing was why was a commune staff member informing them?

Those young scholars...

"Did they cause trouble?"

The team leader turned pale, fearing they might be in trouble.

"No."

Zhou Qiang knew he had misunderstood, and quickly explained, "I’m not clear on the details, but one thing is certain—they’ve likely done something good."

He glanced around to ensure there was no one else nearby, then whispered, "The news comes from the county police; I saw the secretary was very pleased."

The team leader and his companions were dumbfounded, good deeds?

The secretary is actually pleased?

What on earth did those kids do in the county?

If they wanted to ask, they reckoned Mr. Zhou might also be unaware.

If they didn’t ask, they’d feel uneasy.

After a bit of internal struggle, Secretary Liu Xiangqian handed over a Front Gate brand cigarette, "Mr. Zhou, can you tell us specifically what’s going on?"

Zhou Qiang chuckled, "I would like to say, but I really don’t know what’s happened."

He waved away Liu Xiangqian’s offered cigarette and reassured him, "Don’t worry; if nothing unexpected happens, they’ll be back tomorrow."

"What if something unexpected happens?"

Scorekeeper Liu Dageng blurted out.

Liu Chengqi and the others were speechless; couldn’t he hope for the best?

Zhou Qiang was also at a loss, "You should pray nothing goes wrong or you’ll have to head to the county."

All nine young scholars—if anything goes wrong, not only would the team leader and secretary of Kao Shan Village Team be responsible, the commune officials wouldn’t be exempt either.

One incident could be suppressed, but nine young scholars encountering trouble all at once? No way to suppress that.

"I..."

Liu Dageng opened his mouth intending to speak, but Liu Xiangqian quickly covered it, "Shut your mouth."

What a jinx.

Finding Liu Xiangqian staring at him as if he wanted to eat him alive, Liu Dageng blinked and complied by shutting his mouth.

Say less, make fewer mistakes—isn’t that just being mute?

No problem, he’s good at that!

Knowing Liu Dageng’s nature, Liu Xiangqian released his hand, and then together with Zhou Qiang and Liu Chengqi tried to glean more information by prying.

Unfortunately, Zhou Qiang knew little more than they did.

Thus, the prying came to nothing.

Seeing they couldn’t extract any details, Liu Chengqi and the others had no choice but to let Zhou Qiang leave.

On the way back, Liu Xiangqian frowned and said, "Old Liu, when they return, we need to talk to them about their thoughts."

They’re too good at causing trouble—going to the county is one thing, but how did they end up involved with the police?

Is it really that easy to enter a government office?

Liu Chengqi replied affirmatively, indeed, they should tighten their reins; otherwise, their fragile bodies might not withstand another incident.

However—

"Mr. Zhou said it was about doing good deeds—I’m pondering whether they acted heroically?"

Liu Dageng sneered at this, "Come on, with their little bodies that can’t lift a shoulder or carry a hand, is heroism even a consideration? Do they not know how to spell ’death’?"

This remark was irrefutable, since the young scholars of their team were truly inept.

They’re not even as efficient as the little kids in the team.

It’s really a sad sight.

"Tonight will be restless sleep."

Liu Chengqi scratched his head, his expression pained.

Liu Xiangqian and the others sighed; indeed, it was restless.

What could they do but bear it?

"Tomorrow, while paying the grain levy, let’s meet them at the station."

They must be taken back as soon as spotted, can’t let them continue causing trouble outside.

Their team also needs to maintain its reputation.

Liu Chengqi thought the plan was feasible.

"Set off early."

"Alright."

That night, Liu Chengqi and the others tossed and turned unable to sleep.

Only when they finally drifted off did a dream of Yi Chichi getting into trouble jolt them awake, the anxiety was indescribable.

Conversely, Yi Chichi and the others staying at the police hostel had a leisurely chat after washing up, and then slept soundly through the night.

At exactly six o’clock, Yi Chichi’s biological clock got her out of bed, escaping Zhou Gong’s embrace.

Next to her, Wang Nan and the others were deeply asleep, lying in bizarre positions, snoring loudly.

The blanket had also fallen to the floor.

Yi Chichi picked up the blanket and covered them, then filled water and washed up.

Thanks to Zhang Lanxiang and Yi Yong’s tendency to hoard supplies, the Yi family had a surplus of unused toothpaste, toothbrushes, pink toilet paper, and the like.

She cleared them out and sent them all over.

Once tidying herself up, she tiptoed outside and downstairs, where the lady at the service desk was reading a newspaper and looked up upon hearing the noise.

"Why not sleep a bit longer?"

"Just got used to waking up early."

The original owner hadn’t slept in for over ten years.

Every day, promptly getting up at six, washing the family’s clothes, and hanging them, only when Zhang Lanxiang woke up did she head to the kitchen to make breakfast, supervised by Zhang Lanxiang.

Doing well was expected, doing poorly meant beatings, scoldings, and an empty stomach.

What a misery.

Over ten years of biological routine—changing it isn’t a matter achievable overnight.

Yi Chichi was rather helpless herself.

"Sister, I’m going to find Comrade Lin, if my companions come down, could you let them know where I’ve gone?"

"Sure."

"Thank you, sister."

After saying goodbye to the lady, she headed straight for the police office.

Just as she arrived at the entrance, Wen Shi and the others returned, pressing a prisoner.

One of them was the man who linked with Zhang Yin.

His face bruised and swollen, looking particularly pathetic, his left arm twisted, with pain etched between his brows, while he whimpered incessantly.

Plainly, he had endured much hardship.

Witnessing this scene, Yi Chichi hesitated, unsure whether to approach, yet the man glanced at her before averting his gaze.

Yi Chichi raised an eyebrow, hadn’t he recognized her?

The thought had only crossed her mind when the man quickly turned his head to look again; when their eyes met, Yi Chichi saw a flash of realization in his gaze.

Great, now he recognizes.

"It’s you, it’s you who tipped them off, isn’t it?"

The man’s eyes burned with rage, his body squirmed like a worm as he struggled to break free from the hold Wen Shi and the others had on him, trying to confront Yi Chichi.

"Idiot!"

Wen Shi pressed down on his hand; though the action seemed casually soft, a crisp cracking sound ensued.

The man screamed in agony.

Yi Chichi shivered, Oh dear, the handsome guy’s hand was really ruthless—joints dislocated just like that.

But—

Nicely done!