Chapter 26: The Game of Two Eights Big Stick

The night was cold and bleak. The moon hid behind the dark clouds, unwilling to witness the hellish Earth.

Wang Hong clenched her fists so tightly that her hands began to tremble lightly.

These hands had fed herself, raised three daughters, and held up umbrellas for the girls of Ten Miles Team.

"I want to slaughter him."

Every time Wang Hong thought of the miserable state of Wang Xixi, she wished she could bury that entire family of beasts alive.

Lin Nianhe stood up, brushed the dust off her body, and smiled at Wang Hong.

"Aunt Wang, if you say so, this isn't just a domestic issue; it's a serious crime of human trafficking."

Her voice was gentle, but her words sent shivers down the spine.

"Since you've already divorced him, and all three daughters bear your surname and are raised by you, their taking Daxi away directly is a crime."

"Such a big issue couldn't be managed by a single person. At the very least, the people who took Daxi weren't acting alone, right? The Old Zhang Family, they are all accomplices."

Wang Hong's pupils constricted, looking tense yet somewhat excited.

Lin Nianhe suggested something Wang Hong had never considered; could things really be handled this way?

Wen Lan shivered, tugging at Wang Shumei's sleeve and whispered, "Does that mean they'll be imprisoned indefinitely?"

A scornful smile played on Wang Shumei's lips as she said indifferently, "There are only thieves who get caught after a thousand days; you can't guard against thieves for a thousand days."

Wang Hong licked her lips, her voice slightly shaky, "But will the Public Security care about this?"

Wang Shumei echoed her fear; as her three daughters were growing up, it wasn't impossible for the Zhang Family to attempt such a thing again.

Even one successful attempt could ruin her daughter's life.

But she had never dealt with the Public Security and felt unsure.

Lin Nianhe pondered for a moment, then looked up and said, "If you want, I'll handle it."

"You?"

"Yes."

Wang Hong furrowed her brows, indecisive.

It wasn't that she was soft-hearted; she just feared that the Public Security might ignore this, resulting in a lot of noise but little action, which might lead the Zhang Family to desperate measures.

Lin Nianhe continued, "My neighbor's brother works at the town's police station, let's not report this yet. I'll ask him tomorrow. If a case can be filed, that's best. If not, we'll think of other ways."

Lin Nianhe also realized that the legal system of this era differed from what she was familiar with; there were no lawyers, she could only ask Su Yuncheng for advice.

Wang Hong's eyes brightened suddenly, her eyes teary as she looked at Lin Nianhe.

"Miss Lin, this, this..." Wang Hong fumbled around her body, trying to find something to thank Lin Nianhe, but only found a few coins.

She knew this wasn't much and her face flushed with embarrassment, she stammered, "Well, I wasn't prepared, I..."

"Aunt Wang." Lin Nianhe clasped her hand, "Your grandparents are heroes, they might even have been old acquaintances of my family. On a larger scale, we can't let heroes' children go unsupported. On a smaller scale, I might still need your care. Just asking around is no big deal, don't worry about it."

Wang Hong's eyes moistened and she pulled Lin Nianhe into a hug.

Lin Nianhe felt the warmth of Wang Hong's tears as she raised her hand and gently patted her back.

"Alright, I won't stand on ceremony with you," said Wang Hong, quickly composing herself and wiping away the tears, reverting to her efficient and straightforward manner. "Tomorrow I'll wait for your news. Let me know if you need me to do anything."

"Okay," Lin Nianhe agreed instantly, "Don't worry."

Aunt Li also came over, patted Wang Hong on the shoulder and said, "Okay, Huanhuan and Lele were both scared today. You and your girls should wash up and go to sleep. Tomorrow, let Educated Youth Lin ride my family's bike to the town. You wait at home for news and calm down; you've scared the kids."

"Don't worry, sister-in-law. I appreciate your concern," Wang Hong sniffled, "Please thank your big brother for me."

"Why talk about this." Aunt Li waved her hand indifferently, "It's all necessary."

Lin Nianhe took out anti-inflammatory and fever-reducing medications for Wang Hong, dodged her hand trying to offer money, and ran off in a flash with Wang Shumei and Wen Lan, disappearing from sight.

Watching the flashlight lights jumping in the distance, Wang Hong hugged her two little girls tightly, tears brimming in her eyes.

The next day, the sky was clear blue, cloudless.

Lin Nianhe got up early, planning to wait at the police station before Su Yuncheng started work, so as not to delay his job.

"Educated Youth Lin," Li Dahe stood in his own yard, looking at Lin Nianhe with a serious face, "How confident are you in handling this?"

Lin Nianhe chuckled playfully, "What confidence can I have? I'm just going to feel out the situation."

Li Dahe was stunned.

This wasn't quite what his wife had said.

His wife had implied last night that Educated Youth Lin was fully confident in sending everyone from the Old Zhang Family to jail.

Lin Nianhe blinked her eyes and extended her hand toward him, "Uncle Team Leader, could I borrow your bicycle? Aunt Wang is still waiting for a letter."

Li Dahe didn't move, frowning at her, "Are you really just going to ask?"

"Look at what you're saying. I'm just a little educated youth, how could I understand how the Public Security officers handle cases?"

In the morning light, Lin Nianhe wore simple black pants and a white shirt, her eyes exceptionally bright.

Li Dahe sized her up, still trusting his wife's judgment more.

This little bastard was not one to make idle talk.

Reluctant to give a definite answer now, she might be keeping something sneaky up her sleeve.

Li Dahe decided not to inquire further, pushed out the bicycle for her, and advised, "If anyone asks, just make up an excuse, don't let it slip."

"I understand." Lin Nianhe nodded, looking at the big, sturdy bicycle, her face scrunched up.

Goodness, the seat is nearly as high as her waist.

How on earth was she going to ride this?

Well, she could still ride it.

If her legs weren't long enough, she'd just tiptoe a little.

The real challenge Lin Nianhe faced was the bike's heaviness.

She originally never knew how to ride a bicycle; there was no need before the apocalypse, and no opportunity after it. She learned to ride only after being reborn, to facilitate getting around in the post-apocalyptic world.

She learned on a lightweight road racing bike, which was very easy to control.

This big, sturdy bike weighed as much as two racing bikes...

Li Dahe stood in the doorway, watching Lin Nianhe struggle within his view for five minutes, falling into deep thought.

He wondered if his bicycle could make it back in one piece.

It was said that it took forty minutes to cycle from Ten Miles Team to the town.

Lin Nianhe's effort physically proved this was a myth.

It took her a full hour.

By the time she got to town, she was so exhausted that her brain even blanked for a moment—she nearly forgot what she came for.

Walking and asking along the way, Lin Nianhe arrived at the police station by eight o'clock.

The idea of not disturbing Su Yuncheng's work could only stay at the stage of being a mere thought.

She didn't know if there was such a concept as a morning meeting. Parking the bike and stepping into the police station, she cheerfully asked the gatekeeper, "Hello sir, does Su Yuncheng work here?"