Chapter 122

Page Fifteen

The Captured…

After a few more exchanges, they finally stopped asking questions. Ultimately, Zhao Zhao’s presence was the best rebuttal. As long as they insisted that Xiao Lei was Zhao Zhao’s cousin, all other questions were just paper tigers.

Cold dishes were served, and gradually, the hot dishes were brought to the table.

It being a Sichuan restaurant, dishes like Maoxuewang, Sour Soup Beef, and Spicy Chicken were all red or spicy, as they contained pickled peppers.

Unable to eat spicy food, I could only use my chopsticks like a wooden figure, since very few dishes dared to be eaten without washing them with tea water first. I had only a few bites of the food but managed to drink three cups of cola.

The atmosphere of the interrogation gradually eased, and even Sister Qian took the initiative to chat with Xiao Lei, though the latter was cautious about saying too much and thus gave rather evasive answers.

Lǐn Huā clearly knew I couldn’t handle spicy food, yet she still teasingly served me dishes from across the table while kindly advising, “Kǎi-Chan, are you here just for the cola? Eat more, you need to heal your leg injury.”

Eating heavy oil and spicy food would surely cause inflammation!

“I really can’t eat spicy food. Please don’t serve me any more! And what’s the point of just serving me chili peppers?”

Lei Miāomiao burst out laughing when she saw the mountain of chili peppers in my bowl, saying, “Eat it, a big man who can’t eat spicy food? Is there no shame in that?”

She truly wasn’t afraid of spicy food; she even ate chilies, but afterwards her face would turn red, making her look particularly charming. However, drinking a couple of sips of ice-cold cola would bring it down.

Our table did not order any alcohol; we only ordered coconut milk and cola as drinks.

Originally, Lei Miāomiao intended to call for beer, but realizing that only she was drinking, she decided against it.

Sister Qian was willing to join her in drinking, but this person had an extremely poor tolerance for alcohol and terrible behavior when drunk. Lei Miāomiao didn’t dare let her drink.

As for Fēi Jiě, after the hot dishes arrived, she finally put down her tutoring book.

She didn’t drink either, even though Old Fēng both smoked and drank. Now, Fēi Jiě had quit, as if she wanted to break away from her past bad habits.

Old Fēng’s life had its highs and lows, which might have led to her re-planning her life more comprehensively.

After entering Bìyáng Girls’ School, Fēi Jiě directly enrolled in senior year, facing the college entrance exam head-on. The reborn girl was giving it her all.

Honestly, if she wanted to change, she should start by changing her reluctance to speak. Outgoing and cheerful people succeed anywhere, since society is ruled by extroverted personalities.

As the organizer of this meal, Lǐn Huā obviously wasn’t new to this restaurant. After eating for a while, she bragged to Fēi Jiě.

“Fēi Jiě, isn’t this place pretty good?”

She seemed quite satisfied, as if she were showing off.

“Not bad.”

“Compared to your cooking?”

Fēi Jiě shook her head at the half-eaten dishes on the table and replied, “Far inferior.”

If someone else said that, it would seem arrogant, but coming from Fēi Jiě, a former head chef at a five-star hotel, it was confidence.

Xiao Lei and Zhao Zhao were indeed one and the same; their demeanor at the table was similar—neither talked much and ate voraciously.

Zhao Zhao ate a lot due to his large build, but despite Xiao Lei’s slim figure, she ate just as much. Her stomach seemed like a black hole, swallowing food without showing any signs of bloating.

Is this what they call being ‘extremely hungry with a small chest’?

Halfway through the dishes, Lǐn Huā suddenly stood up, holding her cup towards me.

Oh, she was going to make a toast.

“No matter how many lies are still in your mouth, Kǎi-Chan, I am grateful to you for saving my life. Here’s to you.”

Her expression was sincere, and her heartfelt words warmed my heart. I didn’t say anything, just raised my cup to clink with hers.

Then she finished the entire glass, though it was cola.

After toasting me, she turned to Xiao Lei.

“And of course, thank the deity, this meal is your welcome feast, right?”

“It’s all thanks to the deity. Your happiness is the best repayment to him.”

Xiao Lei glanced at me while speaking, her cheeks adorned with two dimples, making her look sweet, though her mouth was covered in red chili oil, which looked somewhat unbecoming.

In the end, only I couldn’t eat spicy food. Lǐn Huā felt sorry for me and ordered me a separate portion of stir-fried noodles, but stir-fried noodles were quickly consumed, disappearing in a few slurps.

So I finished while they were still eating. I could only sip cola and gaze out the window at the pedestrian street, lost in thought.

Then I saw a group of police officers pushing a line of people out of the office building across the street.

The leading officer wasn’t wearing a uniform, just a leather jacket. He stood at the doorway with his hands on his hips, seemingly shouting something, but the restaurant had excellent soundproofing, so we couldn’t hear anything outside.

“Isn’t that Uncle Léi Là?”

When I said this, Lei Miāomiao and Sister Qian also looked out the window.

“Yes, it is.”

Lei Miāomiao continued eating after a brief glance.

“He’s on duty, don’t interfere. Just pretend you didn’t see.”

Being a pedestrian street, there were barriers at both ends, so the police cars couldn’t enter. Thus, the prisoners had to walk out to get into the vehicles, making it feel like a parade, which was certainly not pleasant for those being pointed at by passersby.

“Hold on, isn’t that Senior Lǐ Jiànlián who is being detained?”

Lǐn Huā suddenly jumped up excitedly. Following her finger, I saw a man with mottled white and black hair. He didn’t struggle, just hanging his head in despair.

“You’re kidding? It was only this afternoon…”

Xiao Lei cut herself off mid-sentence.

“Isn’t that the guy who cooked noodles at the water park?”

Sister Qian, who had met the senior before, recognized him too. I urged Zhao Zhao to fetch the wheelchair.

I urgently said, “Quick, go ask Uncle Léi Là what’s going on. Even if we don’t know what happened, detaining him means it’s serious. If it gets reported to the school, Senior will be in big trouble.”

I figured he must have participated in some illegal part-time job. Senior had always been chasing high-income work, but I hadn’t expected it to lead to this.

“Even though I don’t know who you’re talking about, I’ll go tell Dad first. Take it easy, injured leg, come slowly.”

“I’m going too.”

I leaned back, letting Sister Qian and Lei Miāomiao squeeze out first, while Lǐn Huā waited for Zhao Zhao to bring the wheelchair before joining us.

Xiao Lei and Fēi Jiě stayed behind, as leaving entirely would make the restaurant staff think we were skipping out on the bill…

Finding Uncle Léi Là at the pedestrian street entrance, Lei Miāomiao and Sister Qian were already talking to him. Li Jiànlián had already been pushed into the police car by the officers.

Sister Qian’s emotions seemed unstable, her hand covering her mouth, almost crying.

This situation exceeded my expectations, leaving me stunned.

“Hey, kid, how’s your leg injury?”

“It’s not going to get better sitting in a wheelchair… But tell me, what crimes did these people commit? What’s Sister Qian’s situation?”

Uncle Léi Là took the business card from Sister Qian and handed it to me.

I looked at it, and wow, it was from Jin Xiong Folk Lending Company, which sounded like anything but a legitimate business.

“Lending company… High-interest loan?”

“Yes, I investigated them for half a month before finding evidence.”

“Could it be Sister Qian—” I didn’t finish my sentence, but Uncle Léi Là nodded affirmatively.

Sister Qian’s father had fled after taking out a high-interest loan, and her mother was driven mad by debt collectors, often beating her. That’s why she ran away from home to follow Old Le Tiger as a small-time thug.

Uncle Léi Là helped her get some revenge, and it was understandable that she couldn’t control her emotions.

Lei Miāomiao elbowed her father’s chest, saying, “Dad did well this time, huh?”

Uncle Léi Là scratched his head, facing Sister Qian, and said,

“Well, I planned to tell you in a more formal setting, but since we met, I’ll just say it. Although the loan sharks are caught, according to the law, interest and principal still need to be repaid. So I discussed it with Yuǎnyuè, and we plan to pay off your mother’s debt.”

“…”

Sister Qian tried to speak, but she choked up badly, her throat trembling. Her legs gave way as if she was going to kneel, but Lei Miāomiao supported her under the armpit.

Lei Miāomiao couldn’t help but scold, “Idiot, you’re my sister now, don’t be so distant.”

“How much high-interest debt does Sister Qian’s family owe?” Lǐn Huā couldn’t help but ask.

“It’s not much, actually. The principal was 300,000 yuan, but with interest compounded over a few years, it’s now 460,000 yuan.”

Uncle Léi Là answered lightly, but 460,000 yuan wasn’t a small amount!

Okay, perhaps for someone like Yuǎnyuè, who holds a group, it’s nothing…

Lei Miāomiao helped Sister Qian sit on a barrier stone nearby, and Lǐn Huā hesitated before following. The two of them patted Sister Qian’s back to comfort her.

Zhào Zhào and I then told Uncle Léi Là about Li Jiànlián’s situation. He scratched his bald chin, a habit he developed when he still had a beard.

“Releasing him directly won’t work. If he’s innocent, a statement can be made and he can be released without informing his family or school. If it’s as you say, this incident should serve as a lesson to him, showing him that not every job is suitable.”

“Oh, thank you, Uncle!”

Surprisingly, after shaving his beard, he looked younger, though not as youthful as Yuǎnyuè.

“What for? Instead of thanking me, why don’t you take care of my daughter sooner?”

Ignoring the city’s no-honking rule, the police car next to us honked a few times, as if urging Uncle Léi Là.

“I’ll be off now. Are you still eating? Go back and continue.”

A few police vans had already left, and Uncle Léi Là was in a hurry. Before I could say more, he got into the police car.

He had a loud voice, and I could still hear him boasting to his colleague.

“Did you see that blonde girl? My daughter, isn’t she beautiful? She’s supporting my foster daughter, and that bespectacled boy…”

The car drove away, and the words became inaudible.

…

What did he say about me?