Returning to the county opera troupe in 77

"I'll kick you to death, you bastard!"

Upon learning that Lin Gouwa had fallen into a den of thieves and was now tied up in a cowshed, Lin Datou sobered up completely. His face turned ashen, and he kicked Hua Bolang, who was bound hand and foot to the wall, repeatedly, until the latter curled up in a ball, gasping for breath.

"You can't fight like that, what if you kill someone!"

Zhu Zhengkuo reacted quickly, grabbing Lin Datou from behind and embracing him around the waist.

Niu Laohei quickly grabbed Lin Datou's arm: "Alright, alright, your idiot nephew is still alive! A few kicks to vent your anger is enough. If you really kill him, how will you explain yourself when the police arrive!"

Lin Datou's eyes were red with emotion, and his voice trembled slightly at the end: "No, Gouwa is still in the cowshed, I have to go save him! If anything happens to him... how can I face my brother's family..."

"Master Lin!" Chen Xiangdong advised, "Didn't Li Mancang just say that Lin Gouwa is alright? There's no use in worrying now. Once we've caught all the other thieves, we'll go rescue Lin Gouwa right away."

Li Mancang, who was standing to the side, saw Chen Xiangdong wink at him and immediately understood. He quickly stepped forward and nodded in agreement: "Yes, yes, Lin Gouwa is still fine."

After Zhu Zhengguo released Lin Datou, he instructed Niu Laohei, "Team Leader Niu, keep an eye on these two. I'm going to meet up with the militia company commander, and we'll prepare to close in and catch the thieves!"

"Don't worry, Secretary Zhu, I've got it covered." Old Niu patted his chest, indicating that there was no problem.

Zhu Zhengkuo and Chen Xiangdong left the classroom one after the other and went directly to the back of the audience seats. The militia company commander, who had been waiting in the corner for a long time, saw Zhu Zhengkuo wink at him and immediately knew that the time had come.

Seeing this, he took two quick steps into the crowd and appeared under the lights. The other dozen or so militiamen who had already received orders all looked at the militia company commander and quietly gripped their rifle butts.

The militia company commander's gaze swept across the entire area, and suddenly he raised his right hand and swung it down sharply!

The movements were as swift as cutting an invisible rope; this was the signal to take action!

The militiamen scattered throughout the crowd moved at the same time.

Er Mao, who was quietly reaching into the pocket of the person in front of him, was suddenly patted on the shoulder, which startled him and made him tremble violently.

Just as he turned his head, a large hand covered his mouth tightly. Before he could even cry out, he was kicked in the stomach, which made him gasp for breath without uttering a sound.

Immediately afterwards, he was dragged out of the crowd by two tall, burly men, one on each side of his neck.

Almost at the same moment, the man at the back of the crowd, who was looking down for the fat sheep's genitals, was hit on the back of the head with a "bang" before he could even make a move. His vision went black immediately, and he went limp like a noodle.

Scarface wasn't spared either. He had been watched by two militiamen for a while. Just as he noticed something unusual beside him, before he could turn around, his elbow was suddenly grabbed from behind, and then he was kicked in the back of the knee, and he fell to his knees with a "thud".

With his mouth covered, he only managed two terrified "mmm" sounds before being dragged to a dark, shadowy corner. The mmm sounds were completely drowned out by the cheers erupting from the audience, and no one even knew what had just happened on the playground.

Seeing this scene, Chen Xiangdong couldn't help but clench his fists in excitement.

Many of today's militia members possess genuine martial arts skills. Just like those who made the move earlier, their swift and decisive grappling techniques clearly demonstrate that they are veterans who have retired from the military.

In no time at all, the remaining three thieves were caught!

The performance was still going on when Lu Meiyin's loud and clear singing on stage immediately drew a wave of enthusiastic applause from the audience.

In the classroom that served as a temporary detention room, the four boys with frosty eyes were tied up like dumplings, their mouths stuffed with tattered rags, staring in terror at the militiamen who had surrounded them.

They've already been caught, so they can only accept their fate and know they'll be handed over to the police station next.

Right now, what they fear most is not being locked up in the police station, but being utterly terrified of Lin Datou, who is kicking them relentlessly like a madman.

"Secretary Zhu, the police officers from the local police station have arrived at the school gate. In order not to cause panic among the crowd, they plan to wait until the performance is over and most people have left before taking these thieves away."

As the commune secretary spoke, he took Zhu Zheng's hand firmly and said, "We really have to thank your troupe this time. Not only did you bring a wonderful performance to the villagers, but you also helped us get rid of this den of rats. Otherwise, who knows how many villagers these people would have harmed."

Zhu Zhengkuo laughed heartily: "That's only right. I myself am a retired soldier. How could I stand idly by when something like this happens? This is what it means to stay true to one's military spirit even after retirement."

The troupe leaders and commune leaders exchanged polite words, but Lin Datou was extremely anxious. Lin Gouwa hadn't been rescued yet, and he couldn't wait any longer: "Secretary Zhu, Secretary Zhu! Hurry, saving the child is the most important thing!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Xiangdong and Zhu Zhengkuo exchanged a smile. Chen Xiangdong stepped forward and explained to Lin Datou, "Don't worry, Master Lin, how could we forget about rescuing people? When the commune militia went to report the crime, Li Mancang went along to lead the way. I estimate that Lin Gouwa and the others should have been rescued by now."

"what?"

Lin Datou suddenly realized why everyone else wasn't in a hurry; he was the only one who had been kept in the dark.

The performance of "Ode to Qin Chuan" lasted until 10 p.m. After the curtain fell, the villagers left one after another.

The actors in the troupe were busy removing their makeup backstage, while the students in the training class were already preparing to go back to rest.

As the group of trainees approached the classroom door, they were surprised to find a militiaman standing guard at both the front and back doors, who was holding a gun. The trainees looked at each other in bewilderment.

Lou Jingru whispered to Song Linfeng and Guan Linlin, "What's going on?"

Song Linfeng was equally bewildered: "I have no idea either. When did the militia raid our house?"

Liu Benyi, standing nearby, seemed to be a cat that had suddenly smelled fish; his eyes lit up: "Oh, could something serious have happened?"

Liu Guoqi pulled him aside, glanced at the rifles the militiamen were holding, and lowered his voice: "Don't talk nonsense! Don't always stir up trouble, or the militia will arrest you first."

Liu Benyi's face stiffened at his words, and he shrank back, not daring to say another word. He awkwardly shrank into the crowd.

The trainees were whispering among themselves when several figures hurried towards them from the direction of the training ground. The trainees all turned to look, and some with sharp eyes spotted the white uniforms and exclaimed in surprise, "Hey! The police are here too?"

Liu Benyi's small eyes lit up, and his gossipy nature began to ignite again. He stood on tiptoe and craned his neck to look outside.

"Uncle! Uncle!"

A voice, trembling with sobs, came from the playground.

Hearing the wailing, Lin Datou in the classroom jerked his head up, took two quick steps to the door, and saw Lin Gouwa, covered in dust and staggering towards him. Before he could even speak, tears streamed down his face, and he choked out, "You little idiot, you scared me to death! If you dare run around like that again, I'll break your legs!"