“Boss Dong, heading out to get busy?”
“That’s right, Aunt Wang. I was doing some pest control in the East District yesterday, and the client gave me some Bafangzhai pastries. I picked out a few varieties for you, but I saw no one was home, so I left them on the shelf outside for you.”
“Oh, look at that! Look at that! Only Boss Dong would still remember an old woman like me.”
“Don't say that. I’m new here and don’t know anyone; you’ve looked after me quite a bit.”
Yin Yang smiled and waved to her before riding away on his bike.
After he left, a woman standing next to her asked curiously.
“Sister Wang, who was that?”
Hearing this, Aunt Wang couldn't help but say proudly.
“The owner of the Gold Medal Pest Control Company. He’s a wonderful person.”
“Some big shots from the East District gave him those things, and he gives them away to the neighbors.”
“Huh? A rat catcher?”
“What’s wrong with a rat catcher?”
Hearing her old friend’s slightly disdainful tone, Aunt Wang immediately became displeased.
“Do you know how much he makes for catching rats once?”
“Two hundred?”
“Two hundred? Two gold notes!”
“What? That’s highway robbery! Are you for real?”
“How could it be fake? I saw it with my own eyes. Those gold notes were reflecting the sunlight.”
As she spoke, she became even more proud.
“Did you see the cat in the backpack behind him just now?”
“I saw it.”
“Do you know what kind of cat food that cat eats?”
“What kind of food could a cat eat? Don't they just catch rats?”
Aunt Wang looked at her as if she were a country bumpkin.
“Those are ordinary cats. Little Dong’s cat can understand human speech and helps him earn gold notes. Can it be the same?”
“I’m telling you, the cat food he buys is a big brand produced in Central City. One can costs over thirty.”
“How much? Over thirty? How many does it eat a day?”
“One per meal.”
“My goodness, my daily wage isn't even enough to feed a cat!”
The woman exclaimed in shock. After thinking for a moment, she suddenly asked.
“Sister Wang, does Little Dong have a girlfriend?”
“I haven't heard anything about that.”
“Hey, Sister Wang, you’ve seen my niece, right?”
Upon hearing this, Aunt Wang immediately turned to stare at her.
“I advise you not to have such thoughts. Little Dong is a proper young man.”
“Hey, Sister Wang, I don’t like the sound of that. Whose child isn't proper? If the match is made, the matchmaker's fee will definitely satisfy you.”
Aunt Wang gave a contemptuous smile and turned to walk away.
What a joke. If it were anyone else, she might help out.
But Little Dong?
That wouldn't do.
He was one of her own!
...
“You don't mind sharing a table, do you?”
Yin Yang was eating noodles when a man sat down across from him, holding a bowl and chopsticks.
“How is it? Any news today?”
Yin Yang wiped his mouth and looked up to see that the newcomer was indeed Zheng Guang.
“Of course I don't mind.”
Yin Yang’s smile remained unchanged, but he had already grown wary internally.
The first time was a coincidence.
Was the second time one too?
Just as this thought occurred to him, he heard Zheng Guang turn around and call out.
“Mom, my friend’s bowl of noodles is on me.”
“Okay.”
A woman serving dishes to other customers replied.
“...”
Yin Yang felt he might have been a bit too judgmental before; it really could just be a coincidence!
“No, no, just charge mine separately. I still have enough for a bowl of noodles.”
Yin Yang smiled and waved his hand, lowering his head to continue eating.
Zheng Guang watched Yin Yang eat a mouthful of noodles followed by a bite of garlic, looking a bit envious.
“You like eating garlic too?”
Yin Yang hummed in affirmation, then took a napkin to wipe his mouth.
“A very good friend of mine once said that eating noodles without garlic takes away half the flavor.”
Hearing this, Zheng Guang couldn't help but give a thumbs-up.
“A true foodie!”
“Yes, that friend of mine is indeed very knowledgeable about gourmet food.”
As Yin Yang spoke, the image of Xiao Zhe subconsciously flickered in his mind.
“I love eating garlic too, but unfortunately, I still have to patrol this afternoon. It would affect my breath.”
Zheng Guang sighed, then added two large spoonfuls of chili to his bowl.
“So? Any leads over the past couple of days?”
“What kind of leads are you looking for?”
“Any kind will do.”
Zheng Guang asked while eating.
“Uh, I’ve only heard some rumors, but they don’t really count as intelligence. You’ll have to judge for yourself whether they’re true or false.”
“Don't worry, I understand.”
Zheng Guang’s eyes lit up, filled with a desire to earn merit.
“I was doing some pest control in the East District earlier and heard them mention a bar at 177 Ren Street. All sorts of shady characters frequent that place.”
“Just a few days ago, several people died inside that bar.”
“What!”
Zheng Guang looked shocked.
As a security officer, how could he not know about a case involving deaths?
“Shh!”
Yin Yang made a silencing gesture, looked around, and then continued.
“I heard that the bar has a painting of a burning demon’s head on it.”
“Of course, I only heard this. I have no idea if it’s true or not.”
“Boss, the bill please.”
Yin Yang wiped his mouth and stood up. Zheng Guang hurriedly said.
“Mom, my friend’s bowl is on me.”
Yin Yang smiled and placed thirty yuan on the table.
“I can afford a bowl of noodles. Wait until we’re having a feast, then you can settle the bill for me.”
Without waiting for Zheng Guang’s response, he walked out of the restaurant on his own.
Zheng Guang finished his noodles in a few bites and stood up.
“Mom, I’m heading back to the bureau!”
...
At the Security Bureau.
“Master, that’s exactly what he said.”
“Your informant?”
“Yes!”
“Is he trustworthy?”
“He is!”
“Zheng Guang, that’s the East District. You’re a local; you can’t possibly not understand what the East District represents, can you?”
“But Master, those are human lives!”
“Well said!”
Before his mentor could answer, a somewhat authoritative voice rang out from behind them.
The two immediately turned around and saluted.
“Bureau Chief!”
“Bureau Chief!”
“Mhm. You’re Zheng Guang, right? Repeat what you just said.”
Zheng Guang was a bit excited that the Bureau Chief actually remembered his name, but he still turned to look at his mentor first. Only after his mentor nodded did he repeat the information.
Wang Gen narrowed his eyes slightly.
“This is indeed a lead. I’ll send someone over this afternoon to check it out. Don’t act rashly.”
“Rest assured, if this is true, I’ll credit you with the top merit!”
Wang Gen was about to leave when Zheng Guang’s mentor hurriedly spoke up.
“Bureau Chief!”
“Mhm?”
“Could we say that you were the one who discovered this? Xiao Guang is still young...”
“Oh? What? Afraid I’ll steal your disciple’s credit?”
Wang Gen looked at him with a half-smile, but the mentor replied with a bitter smile.
“Bureau Chief, the waters in the East District are too deep. Xiao Guang’s family just runs a noodle shop. They have a bit of money, but they can’t afford to offend those people.”
“If you want to reward him, you can certainly do so under a different name.”
Hearing this, Wang Gen’s expression darkened slightly. He gave the man a deep look before turning and walking away.
From an official perspective, this was clearly a lack of trust in the Security Bureau!
From a personal perspective, he was indeed looking out for his disciple.
Officially, Wang Gen looked down on him!
Personally, Wang Gen admired him.
Rate on N.U.
