CHAPTER 23: CHAPTER 23: I’VE KILLED A CHICKEN BEFORE

"???

Yi Chichi pointed at herself, "Calling me?"

"Yeah."

Wen Shi nodded, and Yi Chichi made an ’oh’ sound, getting up to leave under Wang Nan and the others’ watchful eyes.

"What do you think this PLA comrade wants with Chichi?"

Seeing the two standing at the door conversing in hushed voices, Ge Sujuan asked excitedly like a weasel in a melon patch, with her eyes sparkling, using a near-whisper voice.

Wang Nan and the others twitched their mouths, how on earth would they know.

They’re not mind readers.

But—

"Doesn’t feel like anything good."

Bai Chen whispered to them in a low voice.

"Where did you see that from?"

"Look at Mr. Yi’s face, doesn’t look very good."

Hearing this, everyone looked over at Yi Chichi, only able to see her side profile.

Even so, from Yi Chichi’s side profile, they could tell she wasn’t in a good mood.

The truth was indeed as they said.

Upon learning they couldn’t go back and had to stay in Baoshan County overnight, Yi Chichi was speechless and quite agitated.

She ruffled her hair, "Mr. Wen, do you know we’re young intellectuals?"

Going to the county and not returning overnight, she could imagine how freaked out the team leader and the others would be.

If they started overthinking and thought they couldn’t endure it and ran away, it would be even worse!

Thinking about this, she sincerely said, "You’ve already got the interrogations result, whether I stay or not doesn’t matter."

"Who said that?"

Wen Shi looked at her like she was a fool, "We need to ensure your safety."

Knowing what she was worried about, Wen Shi gently reassured her before she could speak, "Don’t worry, once we catch them, we’ll send you back tomorrow, and we’ll explain to the team leader and the others."

His voice was gentle, and his attitude was firm.

Yi Chichi understood, anyway, Wen Shi and the others wouldn’t let her leave no matter what now.

Wang Nan and the others were just incidental.

So in a situation where the circumstances were stronger than people, she listened.

But—

"Need to find a way to notify the team leader, they’ll worry."

Worry about something happening to them, or worry if they escaped.

"Okay."

Wen Shi nodded, leaving a sentence that someone would arrange it for them later, and prepared to leave.

Unexpectedly, as he took a step out, his sleeve was grabbed.

His gaze shifted down, and he saw two fingers, slender and perfectly shaped, gripping the hem of his clothes.

The only flaw was the varying marks on the fingers.

These were not pampered hands.

Looking back up, he saw the not-so-full cheeks of the girl, with her eyes bright and shining.

"Mr. Wen, are you going to..."

She made a gesture of catching someone.

Wen Shi’s response was to slightly curl his lips, "Just be patient."

Clicking her tongue at how tight-lipped he was, Yi Chichi, knowing she couldn’t find out anything, released her grip and spontaneously blessed him, "All the best!"

"Thank you!"

With a smile, Wen Shi turned and left.

Yi Chichi returned indoors, and Wang Nan and the others, seeing her come back, looked over intently, "What did he say?"

"We can’t go back today."

"What?"

Bai Chen and the others jumped up in shock, "What about Grandpa Liu and the others if we don’t go back, what will the team leader think of us?"

"Calm down!"

Yi Chichi hurriedly reassured, "The public security comrades will contact the team leader."

Zhou Qiuyu turned her head to look at Wang Nan and the others, "Does the team have a phone?"

"No."

There were only two phones in the entire Baoshan Commune.

One was at the post office, and one was at the commune.

"Then how will the public security comrades notify the team leader?"

Bai Chen thought for two seconds, not very certain, "Most likely, they’ll contact the commune cadres directly, and then the commune cadres will arrange someone to notify them."

That would work too, as long as the team leader knew they weren’t running but were stranded in the county due to unforeseen circumstances.

During their casual chat, urgent footsteps were heard.

Looking outside the door, Wen Shi and his team left with stern expressions and urgency in their steps.

Most of the public security back then were transferred from the army, and many had seen blood, each of them exuding an air more rugged than the last.

"A bit scary."

Wu Yongfei shivered, looking frightened.

Yi Chichi turned to him, "You didn’t do anything bad, what are you afraid of?"

"I killed a chicken."

Wu Yongfei humorously puffed his chest proudly.

This childish act left Yi Chichi and the others speechless.

At that moment, the female public security officer who had previously brought them tea walked in.

"We’ve contacted your commune cadre, and the commune will send someone to notify the Kao Shan Village team leader."

"Thank you, really, thank you so much!"

Yi Chichi and the others quickly stood up to express their gratitude, relieved that the notification was sorted. The public security’s efficiency was beyond words.

With a heavy heart settled, Yi Chichi and the others, led by Comrade Lin, went to the cafeteria for dinner.

It was free; they offered to pay with money and tickets, but Comrade Lin refused, with a very valid reason.

He said the canteen chef prepared meals based on headcount, but since the team leader and others were out for business and couldn’t eat, it was offered to them.

To avoid waste.

With such words said, Yi Chichi and the others couldn’t refuse, thus got a free meal.

After they were full and satisfied, they were sent to the adjacent guesthouse, 9 people split into two rooms.

Yi Chichi and the other three girls shared one room, while Bai Chen and the other five men shared another.

With not enough beds, the attendant brought in blankets for them to sleep on the floor.

After seeing Comrade Lin off, Yi Chichi and the others shut the door.

Ge Sujuan sat cross-legged on the bed, squinting at Yi Chichi, "Honestly, what did you do today?"

"Can’t say."

Yi Chichi had been instructed to keep it confidential until all targets were apprehended.

With those words, Ge Sujuan’s enthusiasm for gossip was instantly dampened.

She sighed longingly, collapsing onto the bed, "Never thought I’d ever stay at a public security guesthouse."

Zhou Qiuyu was scurrying around the room, looking here and there, then running to the window to peek outside.

The window faced the street, right across was a bathhouse.

Instantly, her eyes lit up.

"There’s a bathhouse."

Hmm?

Yi Chichi and the others rushed like a whirlwind to the window and looked across, finding there truly was a bathhouse.

The full name read Baoshan County State-run First Bath.

Many people were coming and going, holding basins.

"I want a bath."

Wang Nan suddenly felt itchy all over, and Yi Chichi helplessly said, "Hold on, or ask the attendant for water to wipe yourself off in the room."

They weren’t allowed to go out; before the main team returned, they had to obediently stay at the guesthouse.

Thinking of Comrade Lin’s instructions before leaving, Wang Nan and the others sighed.

"That’s all we can do."

Next time, they must take a bath in the bathhouse.

When the first snow falls, the temperature will drop sharply. Bathing in the Youth Corps Courtyard would be a torment, with a real risk of freezing to death if not careful, honestly unbearable.

Thinking of last year’s experience of only bathing once during the entire winter, Ge Sujuan gritted her teeth, "Even if there’s a big snow this year, I’ll still stamp my feet and go to the commune for a bath."