Xie Sui visited the police station twice in one day. The young officer He Wen was already numb. "Xie Sui, do you think the police station is a restaurant? Coming here twice a day to report?"
Xie Sui's face was full of anger. "It makes me so mad! I've never seen such a shameless, wicked, and conscience-less thing. Xiao He, listen to me, and you'll be mad too."
He Wen, expressionless, said, "Go on."
Ten minutes later, He Wen's roar echoed through the entire room. "Xie Sui, well fought! I support you this time!"
"Xiao He, what are you doing?" Director Gao walked out. Had this kid forgotten his identity? Did fighting solve problems?
"Comrade Xie, it's good you're here. The bonus from above has been approved, five hundred yuan. I'll have the accountant issue it to you later."
"Thank you, Director Gao. Actually, I'm not here to collect the reward..."
"Then wait until the finance department approves it. For a month..."
"No, I can take it now. I have to go home after a month, I can't stay this long. Thank you, Director Gao, you are a good public servant, a good leader, and a good person!"
Director Gao waved his hand. He knew this flattery must have a purpose. "What's the matter this time?"
Xie Sui said sternly, "Can Xu Donglai be bailed out? I want to find a lawyer. Can you recommend one?"
He Wen explained on Xie Sui's behalf. Director Gao glared at him. Family matters were the hardest to handle. They needed solid evidence of Aunt Xu's involvement in human trafficking. No matter how much they talked, what use was it without evidence?
"Xiao He, this case is assigned to you. Investigate, find evidence. Handling matters isn't done with just words. As for bail, you don't need to find a lawyer. I'll handle it for you. Come to the detention center to pick up the person tomorrow."
"Really? Thank you so much, Director Gao..."
Xie Sui was overjoyed. Leaders at this time truly got things done, unlike the bureaucracy that slowly emerged in his previous life, pushing responsibility away. Who wanted trouble?
"Bail is at least a thousand yuan. This cannot be waived. Prepare the money."
Xie Sui nodded. Things that could be solved with money were not big problems.
He Wen pulled Xie Sui to his desk. Since they were investigating Aunt Xu, a case needed to be filed. Officially, investigations couldn't be made without a report. Xie Sui reported the case, He Wen wrote the file, and then they left together to investigate Aunt Xu.
Xie Sui was worried about the women and children at home. He bought braised meat, side dishes, and freshly steamed large buns, and returned to the staff dormitory. He was a celebrity in the courtyard now, known for being related to the Xu family, rich and fierce, daring to wield a knife.
Lin Wanwan waited for him to return, feeling more at ease. Being in an unfamiliar place, she was also worried.
"It went smoothly. I met someone helpful, and we can pick up the person tomorrow."
"Really?"
Xu Yingying cried. Only when her older brother returned did they have a backbone. This time, she cried tears of joy.
The night passed without incident. Xie Sui was woken up early by Xu Yingying. She also wanted to go pick up her older brother.
Xie Sui was speechless. "The detention center also has working hours. It won't open until nine. We can only pick up the person after Director Gao makes the arrangements. Going now would just be waiting."
"I'm willing to wait, even until dark, as long as my brother can come back."
Xie Sui rubbed the little girl's head. This girl, who had died of illness in his past life, was alive and well in this one, a beautiful, lively girl. A tenderness welled up in his heart.
"If you have nothing to do, go buy a couple of strings of firecrackers. When your brother is back, we'll light them and jump over the brazier to ward off bad luck."
"Okay, Xie Gege, give me money."
Xu Yingying didn't stand on ceremony and held out her hand for money. In just two days, Xie Sui had saved them twice, and she already treated him like a real brother.
"Alright, here's the money." He directly gave her ten yuan. "Buy whatever you want to eat. Go ahead."
After sending the girl off, Xie Sui got up. Lin Wanwan was already preparing breakfast. Waking up and seeing such a virtuous wife was a blissful life. If it were even better in bed, and if they could have some morning exercise before getting up, wouldn't that be heavenly?
Lin Wanwan saw him smiling mischievously. "Your saliva is dripping. What good dream are you having!"
Xie Sui wiped his chin. There was nothing there. His wife was tricking him.
"Dreaming of you. Is that not a good dream?"
"Stop joking. Go wash up, it's time for breakfast."
...
Taking Xu Yingying and Xu Dongfang, the siblings, to pick up the person, they simply rented a tricycle. After completing the procedures and paying the money, the person was released a little past ten o'clock.
Xu Donglai walked out of the detention center and squinted at the dazzling sunlight, feeling as if he had been reborn.
"Big brother, you're finally out."
The siblings rushed to him, crying profusely. Xu Donglai embraced them and cried, the 1.82-meter tall man shedding more tears than Xu Dongfang.
Lin Wanwan's eyes also reddened. Women were soft-hearted and couldn't stand seeing such scenes.
"Stop crying, this is a happy occasion. Let's go, we're going home."
Xu Donglai looked at him gratefully. Xie Sui punched his shoulder. "Call me Xie Ge."
"Xie Ge, great kindness needs no thanks."
Although Xu Donglai was two years older than him, Xie Sui wanted to be the older brother, so he let him be.
The neighbors in the staff dormitory saw that Xu Donglai had really returned, and so quickly, they awkwardly greeted and congratulated him. Xu Donglai responded with a cold, perfunctory remark, his good impression of these neighbors gone.
Firecrackers were lit, and they jumped over the brazier. Xu Donglai went to the main hall to kowtow and offer incense to his parents, cried again, wiped his tears, took a deep breath, and vowed to start anew from this day forward.
"Xie Ge, why are you in the city?"
Xie Sui said, "I almost forgot the main business. We want to find a garment factory to process some clothes to sell when we go back. We haven't found any leads yet. You're familiar with the city, do you know anyone at a garment factory?"
Xu Donglai said sheepishly, "My girlfriend's father is a workshop director at a garment factory."
"Ah, you have a girlfriend?"
Xu Donglai was displeased. "What do you mean? Can't I have a girlfriend? Her name is Yu Lili, she's very beautiful."
Xie Sui recalled that in his previous life, he had drunkenly called out "Lili, Lili," and it seemed that Lili was also gone. His expression changed drastically. "You went in. Will your girlfriend still wait for you?"
Xu Donglai's expression also changed. Since he went in, it had been over a month, and there had been no news from Yu Lili, not a letter, not a word.
"Don't overthink it. We'll know once we go and see! Let's go now, no time to delay!"
Xu Donglai hesitated, reluctant to go. True love is tested in adversity. If Yu Lili had truly abandoned their relationship, what was the point of meeting her? It would only cause him more pain.
Xie Sui patted his shoulder. "Donglai, some things are best said clearly face to face. Don't leave yourself with regrets."
Xu Donglai gritted his teeth. "Okay, I'll go find her."
"I'll go with you." Xie Sui was worried. Xu Donglai was too impulsive, even more so than him. If something happened, he could at least offer some advice.
"Let's eat first, it's already noon."
Lin Wanwan had cooked. Xie Sui said, "We'll eat when we get back. You and the children eat first. Brother Donglai probably has no appetite for delicacies right now."