Chapter 10 - 7: An Accident

"A twenty-thousand fine is all it’ll take."

"Twenty thousand!?"

Li Youcai froze, a look of sheer disbelief on his face, as if he’d heard something earth-shattering.

’They hadn’t even spent twenty thousand to buy Wang Mei!’

"What about getting her registered...?"

Liu Cui suddenly spoke up. There was still a hint of wariness in her eyes, but it was clear that she was more afraid of the fine than of Wang Mei running away.

"When will she be back?"

"If things go quickly, she’ll be back tonight."

Xu De said. Then, before they could respond, he continued,

"Surely you’re not worried your daughter-in-law will run off!?"

He let out a laugh.

"Don’t forget, her child is here. How could she run? And where would she run to!?"

The moment he said that,

much of their prior suspicion vanished. Li Youcai and Liu Cui’s tense expressions relaxed slightly.

The villagers gathered around them also thought he had a point.

"That’s right, Youcai. The child’s staying here at home."

"She wouldn’t abandon her own child, would she!"

"She can run, but she can’t hide. I reckon it’ll be fine..."

"..."

The dozen or so people began whispering amongst themselves, showing no signs of suspicion.

Li Xiang glanced at Xu De, impressed despite himself. The corner of his eye twitched.

’The man’s tactic was simple. First, throw out any excuse to get them to calm down and think less emotionally. It didn’t matter if they believed the excuse or not; the real point was the threat at the end!’

’When people are panicking, they’re most likely to accept easy, convenient answers. And in their minds, the idea that a child could tie Wang Mei down was practically an ironclad rule!’

’So as long as they subconsciously bought it... even if they suspected the police’s true motives, their attitude would soften considerably!’

’Is... is this really a top graduate from a prestigious university?’

’Do they teach this stuff in college?’

Li Xiang found it bizarre.

’But who cares? As long as it gets her out of here, it’s a good tactic!’

Just as Li Xiang breathed a sigh of relief, with the situation de-escalating and a breakthrough in sight...

a furious roar suddenly erupted.

"Take my woman? Who dares take my woman!?"

"Let her go!"

The voice boomed in their ears like a clap of thunder.

The crowd turned to look, immediately parting to form a path.

A burly, five-foot-seven man with a fleshy face and narrow, slanted eyes strode toward them. A sinister glint flashed in his eyes.

He bore a strong resemblance to Li Youcai and was dressed in simple clothes, his feet shod in mud-caked work boots.

He was now striding toward them, closing the distance in just a few steps.

Xu De’s eyes narrowed.

’This must be Li Youcai’s son, Li Erniu!’

"Where is she!? I paid good money for her!"

Furious, Li Erniu shoved Li Xiang aside and tried to board the bus.

He was a middle-aged man who’d spent his life working the fields, and his strength far surpassed Li Xiang’s. The shove sent Li Xiang stumbling.

"Captain Li!" The officers behind him rushed forward to block the man.

Li Youcai and Liu Cui also moved to stop him.

"Er Niu, this is a misunderstanding!"

"They’re just here to get her registered, it’s about paying a fee..."

The couple and the other Li Family Village villagers held the man back, quickly pulling him aside to explain what Xu De had said.

Li Erniu’s expression shifted as he stared at Xu De and Li Xiang, deep in thought.

Finally, he spoke:

"I don’t trust this. Let me get on the bus and go with her!"

At this, Li Xiang paused, his brow furrowing. He glanced at Xu De, only to find the other man looking back at him.

After a moment’s thought, he said,

"Fine."

’I can concede this point. If he wants to come, let him.’

’After all, once we’re out of Li Family Village and back at the station, Li Erniu’s opinion won’t matter anymore!’

"Get on. We’ll aim to be back by tonight."

Li Xiang said with a humorless smile, stepping aside.

Li Erniu’s eyes glinted, but he said nothing and stepped onto the bus.

Seeing Li Erniu board, everyone inside the vehicle tensed up. The other officers’ eyes grew wary.

Li Erniu ignored them and continued down the aisle.

He stopped only when he reached the very back of the bus.

Sensing his presence before her, Wang Mei buried her face deeper, her body trembling and her breathing becoming short and ragged.

As for Wang Qiang...

Wang Qiang stared at Li Erniu, his eyes locked on him. The arm he had around Wang Mei tightened like a steel band.

Li Xiang was about to tell Zhang to drive when, a second later, a gruff voice sounded from behind him.

"Get off the bus with me!"

Li Erniu’s face was a vicious snarl, his slanted eyes filled with malice. He grabbed Wang Mei’s wrist and began to drag her toward the door.

’G-get off the bus!?’

’Didn’t he say he was coming with us?’

Everyone froze for a split second. In that instant of surprise, Wang Mei was violently yanked from Wang Qiang’s arms. Her hidden, terror-stricken face was exposed.

"Get off the bus, now! Screw the registration, you’re coming home with me!"

Like a stubborn bull, Li Erniu just kept pulling, dragging her toward the exit.

Li Xiang reacted instantly. "Stop him!" he shouted.

The officers beside him moved fast, but Wang Qiang was faster.

The instant Wang Qiang felt her torn from his grasp, he erupted in fury, lunging forward and sinking his teeth into Li Erniu’s hand.

"AHH!"

Li Erniu cried out in pain, his hand instinctively flying open.

Immediately after, the wiry Wang Qiang drove his shoulder into Li Erniu’s stomach, shoving him toward the door.

It all happened in a flash, over in an instant!

Even Xu De couldn’t react in time.

By the time anyone could process what had happened, both Li Erniu and Wang Qiang had tumbled out of the bus, landing in a cloud of dust.

’Dammit!’

Li Xiang’s heart sank. Without a moment’s hesitation, his hand went to his hip.

A second later, a steel object was in his hand.

It was... a gun!

"Don’t move! Nobody move!"

"Move again and I’ll shoot!"

Li Xiang roared, the dark muzzle of the gun pointed at the crowd, his face grim.