Chapter 47: Did I Defeat the Fierce Bandit?

What's this person doing? Acting so familiar?

Xu Yuexin turned his head and saw an elderly man in a Zhongshan suit, his hair white and aged, smiling at him.

For a moment, Xu Yuexin couldn't discern the components of that smile.

Seeing Xu Yuexin's guarded expression, the elder rose on his own, saying, "Just a reminder, you don't need to take it to heart."

"Young man, liking to take risks is a good thing."

"You seem quite knowledgeable…"

Xu Yuexin watched the elder walk away a short distance, then muttered softly.

Even though he didn't understand the elder's motive for speaking, what he said was indeed true.

Not to mention now, even ten years later the price for novel film‑and‑TV adaptation rights would still be heavily suppressed.

When Lu Yao's "Ordinary World" was sold to CCTV for a TV series, the royalty was only 680 yuan.

That means, if he wanted to monetize the copyright value of his novel through conventional channels, he'd have to wait at least twenty to thirty years.

That absolutely contradicts Xu Yuexin's principle of getting rich early.

Novel copyrights aren't antiques; keeping them hidden for decades is just a trivial matter.

It would be great if there were a fast way to cash them out at a high price.

Xu Yuexin thought wistfully.

"The dishes are here."

At that moment, a reminder from Chen Qiaoqiao pulled Xu Yuexin back to reality.

The waiter placed steamed grouper and French wine on the table, left a "Enjoy your meal" remark, and then left.

On the plate, the grouper was split into two halves, topped with seasoned ginger strips, its flavor fresh and fragrant, color pale.

Xu Yuexin and Chen Qiaoqiao each took a bite and found it delicious.

"Here, the fish belly meat for you."

Chen Qiaoqiao poured half a dish of vinegar, picked several pieces of fish meat into it, handed them to Xu Yuexin and said, "You strain your brain writing every day; eating more fish can replenish your mental energy."

The fish belly meat was indeed tender and succulent; Xu Yuexin ate the contents of the Recording Disc, yet still felt the aftertaste linger in his throat.

At that moment, garlic‑clawed crab and steamed small yellow croaker were brought out together, giving the table a sumptuous scene.

Xu Yuexin took the corkscrew, popped the wine bottle's cork, poured it into a decanter, waited a moment, then poured wine for himself and Chen Qiaoqiao.

"May my College Entrance Exam be over, and may our wedding be imminent."

【7】 Xu Yuexin raised his glass high and toasted Chen Qiaoqiao across the table.

Xu Yuexin raised his wine cup high, toasting Chen Qiaoqiao across the table.

"Hmm, I hope you achieve satisfactory results."

Chen Qiaoqiao, slightly shy, lifted her stemmed glass and said, "And I hope our marriage proceeds smoothly."

"Deng—…"

After the pleasant clink of glasses, each took a small sip from the rim.

"You opened the bottle just now; why didn't you pour directly and waited instead?"

Having experienced the wine's intoxicating aroma, Chen Qiaoqiao asked Xu Yuexin.

"This is called decanting; its purpose is to let the wine fully contact oxygen, bringing out its multi‑layered aroma and palate."

"Some wines can't be poured straight into a decanter; their decanting process is more complex. Of course, the one we're drinking today can be poured directly."

Xu Yuexin explained at an unhurried pace.

Chen Qiaoqiao felt she had gained knowledge upon hearing his explanation.

"You still know more."

Chen Qiaoqiao said, and took another small sip of wine.

The garlic‑clawed crab meat was rich and tender, the steamed small yellow croaker smooth and tasty, and even the stir‑fried broccoli had a distinct flavor.

During the meal, Xu Yuexin and Chen Qiaoqiao agreed to have both sets of parents meet at Donglaishun the day after tomorrow to set the exact wedding date.

After finishing the four dishes and the wine, Xu Yuexin took Chen Qiaoqiao to the front desk to settle the bill.

The total was 85.5 yuan; Xu Yuexin stylishly took out his wallet and laid nine Great Unity notes on the counter.

After getting change, Xu Yuexin hopped on his bicycle and took Chen Qiaoqiao home.

Passing Dong Chang'an Street, the bright streetlights on both sides still gave a sense of safety. As they moved away from the bustling area, the situation changed. Near the unfinished Three Ring, the number of lamps along the road noticeably thinned, the light grew dim, and the road ahead turned gloomy.

Seeing the deserted street, Xu Yuexin heightened his alertness, watching every subtle movement around.

At that moment, two swaying silhouettes stepped into his view from ahead.

Xu Yuexin subconsciously glanced at the ground, searching for a weapon he could use if needed.

Indeed, a pile of broken bricks lay by the road, suitable for smashing.

Xu Yuexin stopped beside the brick pile, his gaze fixed on the approaching figures.

Chen Qiaoqiao also noticed them at that moment, clutching Xu Yuexin in fear: "I'm a little scared…"

"It's fine."

Xu Yuexin, one hand holding her small hand, said.

Now, using the dim light, he finally saw the two people ahead clearly.

One of them was taller, the Horse-faced Man, thin and lanky, with a pair of narrow, slanted eyes, gripping a hammer, looking ferocious.

Beside him followed a short, stocky man with no weapon, looking like the Horse-faced Man's henchman.

"You scrawny kid, hand over the watch and bicycle!"

The short man shouted at Xu Yuexin and Chen Qiaoqiao, pulled a dagger from his pocket, and lunged toward them.

The Horse-faced Man laughed arrogantly, his steps faster than the short man's, and shouted, "The girl's pretty enough, keep her too!"

In the blink of an eye, the distance between the two and Xu Yuexin shrank to less than twenty meters.

Xu Yuexin, without a word, stepped off his bicycle, leapt in a darting step toward the pile of bricks, grabbed two bricks, drew them apart like a bow, and smashed them into the heads of the Horse-faced Man and the short man.

Oh my!

Ouch!

The Horse-faced Man and the short man screamed miserably as they fell to the ground, dark red blood gushing from their heads, and soon staining a large area of the floor.

"Let's go, file a report."

After finishing his attack, Xu Yuexin calmly and decisively said to Qiao Qiao.

Qiao Qiao, who had long been frightened into a pallid complexion, nervously nodded, unable to utter a word.

On the way to the Police Station, she gradually regained her composure and felt a surge of relief.

Thanks to Xu Yuexin's skillful hands, the criminals were taken care of.

Qiao Qiao thought with lingering fear.

The Police Station was five kilometers from the crime scene. After the police officers received Xu Yuexin's report, they immediately called for colleagues, rode sidecar motorcycles to the scene, and Xu Yuexin gave them directions from the vehicle.

The Horse-faced Man and the short man's positions did not change; they still lay on the ground convulsing, only the blood flowing out was greater.

The officers, seeing the weapons in the two men's hands and combined with Xu Yuexin's statement, could already largely determine the case.

"Young fellow, good skills."

An older officer said to Xu Yuexin, then instructed the young officers who had arrived, "Bring these two criminals back to the station!"

The young officers surged forward, lifted the two severely wounded criminals, covered their head wounds with white cloth, and loaded them onto the sidecar, no one considering whether Xu Yuexin's actions constituted excessive defense.

These days, severely injuring a criminal is hardly considered a matter, and sometimes even earns a reward.

Not to mention armed robbery; even stealing something and being beaten to death draws no questions, as everyone's belief is that every criminal deserves execution.

The practice of sending criminals to a hospital is completely absent. From officials to the public, a simple sense of justice prevails, deeming them unworthy of treatment.

As for the white cloth on the criminals' heads... it is to prevent fresh blood from staining the motorcycle.

Back at the Police Station, the officers, based on the two criminals' appearances, retrieved photos and corresponding information from the case database.

The short one is named Ma Cheng, a released convict, previously sentenced to three years for theft, just out of prison, unemployed.

The tall one is named Bai Baoshan, a loader by profession, who has been administratively detained multiple times for fighting.

Under the glaring incandescent lamp, the officer in charge of the search shouted to his colleagues.

Hearing the name, Xu Yuexin's emotions jolted.

(End of chapter)