A well-behaved girl was deceived while searching for her husband; she married a childless military o

The car that Qiao Lanshu saw was the one belonging to Si Zhemao and his group.

They came here to eat, but the open space in front of the restaurant was not good for parking, so the guards had to park the car on the side of the state-run restaurant.

Qiao Lanshu could roughly guess who these people were, so she took a few more curious glances.

She even wondered if her brother Zheng was in that car, since investigators were coming down and there was a high chance they would be picked up by the military.

Qin Yuanzheng's 21st Regiment is located in the city, unlike other units which are located in the suburbs, so it is possible for Qin Yuanzheng to accompany them.

However, to Qiao Lanshu's disappointment, when the car door opened, only two bodyguards and a tall, bearded man who looked like a cadre got out.

Is this person the investigator?

As soon as Si Zhemao got out of the car, he keenly looked in Qiao Lanshu's direction.

Qiao Lanshu quickly looked away and went with Wang Xue and the others to buy roasted sweet potatoes.

Si Zhemao had just noticed someone watching him. He looked in that direction but only saw a group of female workers buying roasted sweet potatoes.

He took a sniff, and sure enough, the roasted sweet potato smelled quite good.

This made him even hungrier.

Si Zhemao turned around and led his men into the state-run restaurant.

Wang Xue whispered to Qiao Lanshu, "This person is escorted by bodyguards even when he goes out for a meal. He must be someone of high status, probably a high-ranking official."

Qiao Lanshu also whispered, "I guess it's the investigators sent from above."

Previously, it was said that an inspection team from above was coming, mainly for year-end inspections, which was relatively simple.

Later, because there was a sudden explosion on the streets of Longcheng, the authorities suspected that enemy agents were lurking, so they replaced the investigators.

Several female employees who were buying roasted sweet potatoes all saw Si Zhemao.

I'm quite interested in Si Zhemao.

After all, they rarely see officials, so seeing one now makes them quite gossipy.

Some people said, "This investigator looks like someone special. I wonder how he usually catches enemy spies?"

Someone said nervously, "Oh dear, don't scare me. Our Dragon City is so small, do you really think there are enemy agents? What if we end up fighting again?"

The older ones among these people had all experienced the war years.

War is too painful; no one wants to experience it.

Peace is hard-won, and they cherish it. Upon hearing that there were enemy agents, they felt extremely disgusted.

Someone gritted their teeth and said, "I hope I find out who this enemy agent is, or I'll smash his head in."

They all bought roasted sweet potatoes, but there was only one person at the roasted sweet potato stall, so they had to wait and couldn't leave so quickly.

As Qiao Lanshu listened to their conversation, she suddenly noticed a young man lurking in the corner, suspiciously eyeing her.

It was midday, and the state-run restaurant had a high-ranking leader and bodyguards present, along with five or six female colleagues. Qiao Lanshu wasn't afraid of this person at all.

Qiao Lanshu's scarf covered half her face, and she wore a cotton hat. Her bright black eyes glared at the thug.

When Qiao Lanshu glared at him, the thug instinctively shrank back and retreated into the corner of the alley.

The thug looked quite young, probably only a teenager. Normally, someone his age would still be in school.

Otherwise, young people like this should be sent to the countryside.

The teenage thug was young, skinny as a bamboo pole, and covered in dirt. He wasn't wearing a hat or gloves, and his dusty face made him look almost like a beggar.

Qiao Lanshu immediately became alert.

What is this person up to? I hope he's not trying to steal something.

These days, the rules are strict. If he dares to steal, he'll not only be beaten half to death, but he'll also be sent to a labor camp for life, and he might never be able to come back.

The thug seemed a little afraid of her; he kept trying to hide in the alley.

However, after a while, he suddenly came out from the corner again.

He walked up to the female workers, swallowed hard at the aroma of roasted sweet potatoes, and then walked around them once more.

There are many people coming and going on this road, and many people buy roasted sweet potatoes, so at first no one paid attention to him.

Only Qiao Lanshu stared at him.

He seemed to have hesitated for a long time before finally walking up to Qiao Lanshu. He didn't dare meet her gaze, only looking at the floor as he said, "You, you, you're a military dependent, right?"

Qiao Lanshu glanced at him but ignored him.

The thug spun around twice and then said, "The things in your basket that day at the supply and marketing cooperative..."

As he spoke, he glanced at Qiao Lanshu and said, "I put it there."

Qiao Lanshu: "???"

Qiao Lanshu looked around, trying to find a stick or a stone to beat the man up first.

Wang Xue stood close to Qiao Lanshu, but the thug's voice was low, and she didn't hear it clearly.

But she noticed that a thug was harassing Qiao Lanshu.

She immediately stopped chatting, turned around, glared at the thug, and yelled, "You scoundrel! Harassing an innocent woman in broad daylight! Do you want to go to a labor camp? Huh?"

The man was clearly panicked. He quickly took several steps back and said in a flustered voice, "No, I don't want to go to the labor camp."

They only helped Liu Zhengxing with this project for money.

In fact, they had no idea what the items were before they put them in the basket.

All they care about is getting paid.

As a result, the next day he was chased all over the city by those people from the Revolutionary Committee.

Now all his brothers have been arrested, and he's the only one still hiding.

He didn't want to go to a labor camp. His family was poor, and his father was old and needed someone to take care of him.

He had been saving money, trying to use his connections to buy a job and stay in the city.

Now look what's happened: he hasn't saved enough money, he has no job, and he's about to be arrested.

Wang Xue, with a loud voice, stood with her hands on her hips, glaring at the thug and yelling, "You don't have anything? If you don't have anything, why are you circling around us women? If you don't have anything, why are you flirting with this girl? Who do you think you are? Take a few steps and don't get in our way."

The thug: "..."

The thug had mustered up his courage, wanting to say something to Qiao Lanshu.

As a result, Wang Xue gave him a thorough dressing-down.

He shrank back, shrinking his neck, and retreated like a turtle hiding its head.

Qiao Lanshu felt that the boy seemed to have something to say.

At least he needed something from her.

Otherwise, he had been hiding for so many days, and everyone else had been caught by Guan Wenjun, but he hadn't.

He could have continued to hide, so why did he go to her and turn himself in?

Qiao Lanshu thought of the aroma of roasted sweet potatoes on Liu Zhengxing. Could it be that Liu Zhengxing had come to see this thug before?

Qiao Lanshu's heart skipped a beat. She said to Wang Xue, "Sister, I need to ask him something. Wait for me here."

Upon hearing this, Wang Xue immediately objected, saying, "No way, Xiao Qiao. You may be naive, but don't assume everyone else is. None of these street people are good. You should stay away from him."

Qiao Lanshu said in a low voice, "It's okay, I'll just stand far away, ask him one question, and I'll be back in a bit."

Wang Xue still refused.

She now treats Qiao Lanshu like her own younger sister, and because she thinks she's too young, she can't help but want to keep an eye on her.

Besides, Qiao Lanshu is a military officer's wife and is pregnant. If something happens to her, she won't be able to withstand Qin Yuanzheng's wrath.

Wang Xue hesitated for a few seconds, then said, "Okay, I'll go with you."

As she spoke, Wang Xue took Qiao Lanshu's arm, greeted the women at the roasted sweet potato stall, and the two walked toward the hoodlum.

The thug had just been scolded by Wang Xue, and the courage he had finally mustered was about to dissipate.

He was about to leave.

But after walking a few meters, he slowed down again.

Because he knew that even if he left now, he would have nowhere to go.

There are so many people in the Revolutionary Committee, they're arresting him everywhere.

Where else could he run to?

He hasn't dared to go home for several days.

I wonder how my father is doing.

The Revolutionary Committee must have already gone to his home. I wonder if they made things difficult for his father.

And, did his father die of anger when he found out he had committed a crime?

Thinking this, the hoodlum suddenly felt like crying.

He just wanted to earn some money, buy a job, and stay in the city. How did he suddenly commit a crime?

Just then, someone called out to him from behind: "Hey, wait a minute."

The thug turned his head and saw Wang Xue and Qiao Lanshu walking towards him again.

The thugs were a little afraid of Wang Xue. She was really formidable; when she started cursing, she was quite intimidating.

Wang Xue looked him up and down, then suddenly said, "Why are you crying? Did I scold you and you cried? Are you that fragile?"

The thug: "..."

The thug turned away, embarrassed and angry.

Wang Xue: "..."

Well, she really did make me cry.

It seems these thugs aren't so bad after all; they even know to be ashamed after a few words, so they seem somewhat salvageable.

Qiao Lanshu walked up to the thug and said, "What did you want to talk to me about?"

The thug looked at Qiao Lanshu and said hesitantly, "I have something to tell you."

But he glanced at Wang Xue and added, "However, I'm only telling you; no one else can know."

Wang Xue pointed at him and said, "Take it or leave it, you're really giving me the nerve!"

The thug: "..."

Just then, Wang Xue was about to drag Qiao Lanshu away.

The thug seemed to hear the voices of the Revolutionary Committee members again, and, terrified, quickly chased after them, saying, "I'll talk, I'll talk, okay?"

He glanced around furtively, then retreated to a corner, using a wall to shield himself.

Wang Xue whispered to Qiao Lanshu, "Qiao, this person doesn't seem right. Could he be one of the criminals the police are trying to arrest?"

Qiao Lanshu nodded: "Indeed."

Indeed, he probably couldn't escape it, and he was afraid of dying.

So I came to her to negotiate terms.

Why specifically target her? Perhaps they think her family members are military officers and have more power?

The thug said in a low voice, "I... I want to atone for my crime. I was wrong to put things in your basket before, I..."

Upon hearing this, Wang Xue was about to lash out, but fortunately Qiao Lanshu stopped her.

Qiao Lanshu said in a low voice, "Let's hear what he has to say first."

The thug said nervously, "I didn't know that stuff was opium. I only found out yesterday."

After all, all his brothers had been arrested, leaving him the only one left.

Arrest warrants have been issued, and everyone on the streets is talking about the Revolutionary Committee arresting people.

Wang Xue sneered: "Just because you don't know something doesn't mean you can just put things in a girl's basket like that?"

The thug didn't know how to explain it either.

After all, they were indeed in the wrong in this matter.

He added, "I know now. I heard that smuggling opium is punishable by death. I... I don't want to die."

What will happen to the old man if he dies?

He felt he could still be saved.

He said to Qiao Lanshu, "I can atone for my crimes. I'll tell you some news, and see if you can let me go."

The petty thug knew the Revolutionary Committee's formidable reputation; he feared that if he were arrested, he would be beaten to death.

That's why I came to find Qiao Lanshu.

But in reality, Qiao Lanshu couldn't make the decision for him either. If he wanted to atone for his crime, he should go to the police.

Qiao Lanshu and Wang Xue exchanged a glance, neither of them revealing the truth.

Qiao Lanshu said, "Tell me what the news is. I can consider it."

The thug couldn't resist looking around again. Finding no one nearby, he walked up to Qiao Lanshu and whispered, "That Liu Zhengxing, before he was arrested, buried all his belongings around here. I took a look from afar, and there were a lot of yellow croakers."

Qiao Lanshu: "???"

Wang Xue: "!!!"

Wang Xue's mouth dropped open. She muttered to herself, "My goodness, did he bury a treasure chest here to prevent the Revolutionary Committee from raiding his house?"

Wang Xue was somewhat agitated, though she didn't know why she was so excited. After all, even if there was a treasure chest, it wouldn't concern her. She could only sigh and say:

"Everyone says that Section Chief Liu is quite cunning and scheming. Now it seems he really is quite shrewd. He was afraid that if he got arrested, his wife and children would be unable to work and make a living, so he hid the money for them."

Qiao Lanshu was also somewhat surprised. Liu Zhengxing had come up with a foolish plan to save his son, hiring a few thugs to slander several cadres' family members.

As a result, the plan failed. After he discovered that he had been exposed, he quickly packed up and buried all the valuables in his house.

Qiao Lanshu was somewhat incredulous: "How could someone as cautious as him have happened to be seen by you?"

Qiao Lanshu stared at the thug in front of her: "You're not lying to me, are you?"

The thug exclaimed, "No, I'm telling the truth! That night, after I saw him, I saw him carrying two boxes buried nearby. One of the boxes contained yellow croaker. If you don't believe me, I'll dig it up right now and show you. But you have to promise me that as long as I dig it up and hand it over, then I'll have redeemed myself, okay?"

As he spoke, he walked up to a wall.

This wall belongs to a state-run restaurant; it's very long, about twenty meters, which is half the length of this alley.

On the left side of the alley were some vendors or residential areas, while on the right side were state-run restaurants.

Just a wall away, there were private rooms in the state-run restaurant, which were usually used to entertain leaders.