Chapter 655: Chapter 654: Extraordinary Situations, Extraordinary Measures

“Little brother, if you want to blame someone, blame your sister-in-law… Your nephew is still young and can’t stand the constant disturbances at home…”

“That bunch is not easy to get rid of. If they really took the child away… our Old Li Family can’t afford to lose its roots…”

Hearing his brothers’ and sisters-in-law’s words, the corners of Li Gang’s mouth turned even colder.

They sure made it sound nice.

If it weren’t for that wall hastily built overnight standing there, he might have actually believed their sincere concern.

Li Gang said nothing and turned to walk into his own yard, his own room.

Sitting on the icy kang bed, he belatedly realized the pain in his body.

The beating he endured last night, he now felt the delayed ache.

Taking off his cotton-padded jacket, he saw that it was covered with footprints.

Picking up a shard of a mirror, he saw his lips swollen like thumbs, complete with obvious dried blood scabs.

Clearly, his seemingly concerned brothers and sisters-in-law didn’t even notice he was injured.

Looking at his disheveled reflection, his mouth curled into a cold smirk.

The opportunistic brothers and sisters-in-law, Zhao Cuixia who abandoned him.

Just wait, he would definitely make a comeback!

…

“Sigh…”

“…”

“Sigh…”

“…”

“Sigh!”

“Are you not done yet?”

Aunt Feng put down her scissors and glared at Feng Wei.

Depressed, Feng Wei looked at her and muttered under his breath, “Mom, I’m just really bothered.”

“There are many criminals we can’t catch, you…”

“Aunt Feng, are you home?”

Before Aunt Feng could finish her scolding, Lin Nianhe’s voice came from outside.

“I’m home, I’m home, please come in,” Aunt Feng called out loudly.

The heavy door curtain was lifted as Lin Nianhe walked in with a large package, shaking the snow off her shoulders before stepping inside.

“Aunt Feng, Brother Yuncheng sent you some sausage, apples, and canned goods, I’ve put them here for you to sort out later,” Lin Nianhe placed the items on the table.

“That Yuncheng, we still haven’t finished the things he sent last time. Girl, tell him not to send anything next time, he’s out there on his own and should take care of himself first,” Aunt Feng said as she got off the kang, then asked Lin Nianhe, “Have you eaten? Shall I cook you some noodles?”

“I’ve already eaten, Aunt. Don’t trouble yourself, I’m full,” Lin Nianhe said with a smile, then noticed Feng Wei’s worried expression and casually asked, “What’s wrong with Brother Feng?”

“Don’t mind him, he’s just frustrated about not being able to catch the bad guy,” Aunt Feng handed Lin Nianhe a bag of pine nuts, “Good thing you came over, I just roasted these yesterday. You like snacks; take them home to nibble on when you’re bored.”

Aunt Feng always quietly prepared their favorite foods, like a warm sun on a winter’s day, warming these children who were away from home.

“Thank you, Aunt Feng,” Lin Nianhe smiled as she received it, then asked Feng Wei, “Brother Feng, did those people from the gambling den run away?”

“Sigh…”

Feng Wei sighed deeply once more, nodding, “Yeah, they ran. When we went there early this morning, the place was so empty not even a mouse was there. Seems like they’ve been gone for several days.”

“No wonder,” Lin Nianhe said, “The trouble with Li Gang has been pretty big; they probably guessed we might report it to the Public Security.”

Feng Wei wiped his face and cursed angrily, “A bunch of rats, scurrying back to their holes at the slightest noise.”

These people also knew they shouldn’t be seen, and each one was particularly careful. Generally speaking, gamblers would not report them, and might even cover up for them spontaneously.

If it weren’t for Li Gang being confused from the beating last night, and coincidentally overwhelmed with regret, he would have never divulged that location.

Lin Nianhe pondered for a while, then said, “Don’t get worked up; I might have a way. If I find anything, I’ll tell you.”

“Ah?”

“Ah!”

Aunt Feng grabbed Lin Nianhe’s hand: “It’s no good for a young girl like you to go looking for those people! What if they sold you off, then what?”

Feng Wei nodded in agreement: “Exactly, exactly, if anything happened to you, I’d be ashamed to face Brother Cheng.”

“Hahaha, don’t worry Auntie, how could I go alone? I have a friend who might be able to help me find those people.”

“Friend? What kind of friend?”

“Um, a friend from the provincial city.”

Lin Nianhe wasn’t lying; she truly didn’t plan to go by herself, and indeed that “friend” was in the provincial city.

In extraordinary circumstances, extraordinary measures are necessary.

Two days later, Bai Bo, with only Brother Laosi and a dozen people, got off the train.

Seeing Lin Nianhe, he didn’t react much, as if her involvement with his big brother’s death had nothing to do with him.

Laosi was clear-minded—now that their black market still depended on Lin Nianhe for goods, and with Bai Xiaojun with Lin Nianhe, it wasn’t worth it to hold past grudges and show her a long face.

“Fourth Brother,” Lin Nianhe said with a smile as she greeted them, “thank you for taking the trouble to come here.”

“No worries,” Laosi said with a smile at the corner of his mouth, “where’s Xiao Jun?”

“He’s in the village. Wu Genmao and Cao Shijian are keeping him company. I thought this matter might be dangerous, so I didn’t bring him here,” Lin Nianhe explained, “You can come back to the village with me later, Fourth Brother. Xiao Jun misses you a lot too.”

“He probably can hardly remember me by now.” Laosi lit a cigarette and went straight to the point, “That little gambling den, right? How far have you gotten?”

Lin Nianhe replied, “If possible, after we find their boss, keep him for fifteen minutes.”

“No problem.” Laosi casually nodded.

“Oh right, there’s also a gold bracelet. If you can find it, please help me get it back.”

“What does it look like?”

“I’m not sure of the specifics. It’s Li Gang’s wife’s.”

“Got it, I’ll go ask.”

Laosi exhaled a puff of smoke and said to Lin Nianhe: “Wait for word from me. It should be done before dinner time today.”

“Thanks, Fourth Brother.”

Some things are difficult for Public Security to handle, but for them… it’s surprisingly… unexpected.

Laosi had just finished a meal at the State-Owned Restaurant when his underlings came back to report that they had found the place.

Wiping his mouth, Laosi took his men straight to the new location of the gambling house.

Kicking the door open, Laosi entered with a cigarette in his mouth. Their “we’re here to wreck the place” stance terrified all the gamblers in the room.

“Brother, what’s this about?” The manager approached with a smile, “And you are?”

Laosi sat down like a boss, legs crossed, and said: “I’m nobody; just heard my brother owes you ten thousand yuan, and I’m here to pay off that debt.”

The manager was confused.

What? Ten thousand yuan?

They’d never lent out that much money before!

Loans have limits; their business rule is not to push people to their death, or who would they get money from?

Before extorting people, they had always carefully investigated their targets, gauging the total worth of all their family and friends, which became their goal.

Ten thousand yuan?

Who in the whole Lan County would have that much?

“Brother, I think you’ve got the wrong people. We’ve never lent that much.”

Still smiling and not daring to offend this formidable-looking man, the manager replied.

“What the fuck are you?” Laosi kicked at the manager, “Call your boss to talk to me.”

“This… who are you, brother?”

“Provincial city, Zhou Laosi.”