CHAPTER 25: CHAPTER 25: COMPLETELY UNPREPARED

Wen Shi and his team whisked the person away like a gust of wind, and Yi Chichi didn’t mind, bouncing off to find Lin Wan.

This lady had worked the night shift and probably didn’t sleep well, yawning incessantly as she made tea with a thermos.

Seeing Yi Chichi, she slightly raised her chin and pointed to a chair, "Want some tea?"

"No, thank you."

Yi Chichi waved her hand in refusal, and Lin Wan, seeing this, nodded, bringing her teacup over to her, "In a hurry to get back?"

"Yes."

Yi Chichi sighed, "But I guess Captain Tan and the others will overlook us."

Indeed, they were preoccupied.

Last night, Wen Shi and his team, through Zhang Yin, uncovered a lot. After a night of fierce battles, they apprehended all the members on Zhang Yin’s reported list.

After bringing them back, the first thing they did was interrogate, focusing on someone supposedly equal to Zhang Yin, Waguan.

Through Waguan’s words, they dug out even more.

After coming out of the interrogation room, He Yunsong, with complex emotions, took out a cigarette and asked Wen Shi if they wanted one.

"Yes!"

Then, the three men squatted at the interrogation room door, puffing away.

"What do we do about this now?"

The team leader of the Security Action Group, Tan Wenbin, slowly exhaled a smoke ring, feeling particularly complicated.

This matter was big, too big for these small fry to handle.

He Yunsong bared his teeth, "What else can we do? Report it up."

Wen Shi held the cigarette in his mouth without speaking, like a mute.

He Yunsong nudged him with his elbow, "Old Wen, say something."

"What can I say, I have nothing to say."

Wen Shi’s mood was quite peculiar now. He was just taking a vacation before his transfer, visiting his parents.

But lo and behold, on the first day back home, unimaginable fortune just landed boldly in his lap.

Really, it was without a hint of warning.

"Should we report it?"

Tan Wenbin asked, and Wen Shi and He Yunsong exchanged a look.

"Report it."

They had no choice but to report it; it was too big, involving too many complex people, they couldn’t handle it, nor did they have anyone to use.

Moreover, it crossed cities and provinces.

This required coordination from above.

"If my judgment is correct, the first nationwide warrant since the founding of the nation will most likely appear."

Hearing this from Wen Shi, He Yunsong and Tan Wenbin looked at him in horror.

"Is it that serious?"

"It’s exactly that serious!"

Tan Wenbin thought for a moment and then burst into laughter.

"If it comes, it comes. Anyway, our duty is to protect the country. Now the opportunity for merit is before us, there’s no reason to retreat."

Indeed, a man’s ambition knows no bounds.

Who doesn’t have a bit of ambition to achieve glory?

If great fortune crashes into their arms, then this opportunity must be firmly seized.

However—

"What about Mr. Yi?" Mentioning Yi Chichi, He Yunsong felt a bit troubled.

Wen Shi was straightforward, "First, give her the reward for catching the human traffickers and spies, and when reporting, advocate for her merits."

Not to mention, getting her an outstanding youth nomination would greatly benefit her.

After all, the cause of the incident lies with her.

If she hadn’t understood Zhang Yin and their words and risked her life to lead Zhang Yin into the trap, the credit wouldn’t have gone to them.

Gratitude must be shown.

Hence, the result of Wen Shi and his team’s gratitude was that Yi Chichi and the others finally could return by noon.

Comrade Xiao Zhang from the county police personally drove the liberation vehicle to send them back.

Before leaving, Yi Chichi was called aside by Tan Wenbin, who handed her an envelope.

"Mr. Yi, this is your reward!"

Yi Chichi, "??? What reward?"

"The reward for catching the spy and human traffickers."

As he spoke, he pressed the envelope into her hand again, the big, burly, bearded man smiling at her like a bear.

"There’s more rewards to come, but it’s unclear when they’ll be distributed! Until then, please keep this incident confidential, tell no one."

Yi Chichi understood, realizing there’s a bigger fish still at large.

"Understood."

She reached out and took the envelope, and the touch at her fingertips made her heart thump; the thickness was off.

After hesitating for two seconds, she asked, "Can I open it and take a look?"

Tan Wenbin made an inviting gesture.

Yi Chichi decisively tore open the envelope, revealing 12 large-denomination banknotes, a stack of tickets.

The tickets were numerous, including cloth tickets, cotton tickets, meat tickets as well as match tickets and soap tickets, industrial tickets.

"Isn’t this reward incorrect?"

She felt a headache coming on, "I only caught Zhang Yin; this is too much."

"Not too much."

Tan Wenbin spoke softly, "The reward for catching spies and traffickers is inherent; even though you only personally caught Zhang Yin, there’s a string of fish behind her, all caught because of you."

Looking around, seeing no one nearby, he softly added, "Additionally, we rescued 7 local girls, three children, and two young students."

Straightening up, he raised an eyebrow, "Just take it, this is what you deserve."

Yi Chichi felt that catching spies and traffickers really was a most profitable job.

She beamed as she stashed the envelope, "Captain Tan, I wish you success in your future endeavors!"

"Thank you, we’ll do our best!"

Sending Yi Chichi onto the vehicle, he reminded Xiao Zhang in the driver’s seat, "Remember to inform Secretary Zhang and the Kao Shantun Team leaders."

"Yes, Captain."

Zhang Lin nodded to show he understood.

"Be careful on the road, make sure to safely deliver Mr. Yi and the others to the Kao Shantun Team."

"Roger that."

Waving his hand, Tan Wenbin stood in the courtyard, watching the vehicle gradually drive away.

Wen Shi and his team strolled out, seeing him standing there with a cigarette, like a forlorn lover rock, they teased, "You can’t bear to part or what?"

"No, I’m troubled about what to say to the leaders."

Thinking of the temper of his leaders, Tan Wenbin wished he could call for help.

"Old He, Old Wen, why don’t you two do the report, and I’ll be mute, is that okay?"

"Keep dreaming your daydreams."

What are good brothers for?

Sharing hardships and thinking for oneself during blessings.

Want to stay out of it, wishful thinking.

"Alright, let’s go together then."

Thus, the three of them headed towards the leaders’ office, joking and chatting along the way.

Meanwhile, Yi Chichi and the others were sitting in the back of the open liberation truck, almost blown silly by the wind.

"So cold!"

Zhou Qiuyu didn’t have a thick winter coat, only a thin cotton jacket, with no mention of its warmth.

She could barely handle it indoors; outdoors was truly unbearable.

Now the cold wind hit, and she shivered violently.

Her face turned blue, clearly chilled to the bone!

Yi Chichi couldn’t stand it, unpacking the bundle and handing over Yi Ling’s cotton jacket, "Put it on!"

The cotton jacket, worn for two winters, wasn’t new, with a patched overcoat outside, yet it was fortunately thoroughly cleaned under Zhang Lanxiang’s supervision.

When drying, they even used a stick to beat it, making the cotton inside extremely fluffy, providing excellent warmth.

Zhou Qiuyu wanted to refuse, but being poor doesn’t grant the luxury of pride.

Between catching a cold and owing a favor, she decisively chose the latter.