Chapter 468

I warned them too, saying if they steal again we'll call the police—do you know what they said? They said you cops are useless, you can't catch them at all.

The Zhu brothers' faces darkened at those words; Ye Cheng was simply talking nonsense.

They only said the police had no evidence, not that the police were useless.

"Alright, we'll investigate this later. Besides family members, the rest of you disperse quickly—go about your business."

As for what Ye Cheng said, Chief Liu half-believed it, half-doubted it; the facts were probably just as he described, and whether they insulted the police was just an offhand remark.

After the crowd was dispersed, the ambulance arrived quickly—two vehicles, each group boarding one.

Although Ye Cheng repeatedly insisted he was fine, the doctors still put him on a stretcher, and Ye Guowei accompanied him into the vehicle.

At the hospital, they examined both sides separately; Ye Cheng had only superficial wounds, the broken eye socket was stitched with one stitch, and then his head was bandaged.

The wound on his abdomen wasn't deep, but to protect it the little nurse quickly wrapped a layer of gauze around it.

When Ye Cheng came out, Ye Guowei stared blankly.

"A Cheng, are you really that badly hurt?"

Ye Cheng gave a bitter smile: "Brother, they're just superficial injuries; the hospital insists on doing this, I can't help it."

After Chief Liu learned about Ye Cheng's injuries, he walked over.

"Ye Cheng, we've also examined the condition of the Zhu four; Zhu Liwen has a hairline fracture in his left upper arm, classified as a minor injury."

Hearing the words "minor injury," Ye Cheng immediately frowned.

Minor injuries count as criminal offenses; if mine were counted as such, it would be troublesome.

But fortunately, Chief Liu then continued,

"We've also investigated; the main responsibility for the dock conflict lies with the Zhu four brothers, so we will impose a five-day public-security detention on the Zhu brothers."

"What about the fish they stole from us—how does that work?" Duan Chunsheng interjected.

"As for the fish," Chief Liu paused,

"We still need to investigate the scene, but if there's no evidence, unless they confess themselves, it's hard to convict them; of course you have the right to ask us to continue investigating, though I think it would be of little use."

Ye Cheng also understood what Chief Liu said; there were no witnesses at the scene, and as for physical evidence, their boat had sunk, making it even harder to find.

Really, they'd have to admit it themselves, but they're not fools—how could they possibly confess?

"Let's talk about that later—should they bear our medical expenses?" Ye Cheng asked.

All three of us on our side are injured; those brothers were ruthless, they even stole our fish, and I can't bear not making them pay some price.

"Right, right, Chief Liu, I've heard there are also lost-wages fees, mental damages, and later nutrition costs—altogether that could be hundreds of thousands." Ye Guowei had been relatively free lately, watched a lot of TV, and finally had a chance to use those TV drama tropes.

Chief Liu heard that and quickly waved his hands,

"Guowei, there isn't that much; those are just TV drama stuff—lost-wages and nutrition fees exist, but mental damages are hard to obtain; you'd have to sue, which takes a long time."

"Then let's sue! What's there to fear? It's just lawyer fees—I'll pay!" Ye Guowei flushed with indignation; his younger brother had been beaten like this, spending a little money was nothing.

Ye Cheng looked at his older brother in surprise, "Wow, big brother, you feel like a big spender now."

"Well..." Chief Liu's expression suddenly turned awkward as he looked at Ye Cheng, wanting to speak but hesitating.

Seeing that, Ye Cheng realized he wanted to say something inconvenient, so he pointed to the people present and said,

"It's fine, Chief Liu; we're all family—go ahead and speak."

Chief Liu nodded, looked at Ye Cheng with difficulty, then said,

"Lao Er, my personal suggestion is to just detain them and drop compensation—including medical fees—you don't need that money."

Everyone hearing this was stunned—Chief Liu seemed to be playing favorites, right?

Ye Guowei was the first to object; he was about to speak when Ye Cheng reached out to stop him.

Although Chief Liu's work ability isn't strong, he's still a normal person; seeing him like this, there must be some hidden circumstance.

"Chief Liu, just say what you have to say all at once."

"That's how it is." Chief Liu was about to speak when he saw an elderly woman with unsteady steps rush out of the hospital entrance, wearing a mismatched cloth outfit, her white hair a messy tangle, and as soon as she entered she began looking around wildly.

"Chief Liu, Chief Liu!" the old woman shouted as soon as she saw Chief Liu, then hurried over.

Ye Cheng was still wondering if she had come to file a report with Chief Liu, when the old woman plopped down on her knees before him.

Holy shit!

That startled Ye Cheng.

He quickly stepped back two paces—he couldn't bear that.

He couldn't accept it, and Chief Liu didn't dare either; he quickly squatted down, trying to pull the old woman up,

"Mrs. Li, get up quickly—why are you kneeling? There are so many people in the hospital."

Mrs. Li refused to get up no matter what, staying kneeling there as she pleaded with Chief Liu,

"Chief Liu, my several sons are good-for-nothings who got into another fight; I know, please show mercy, let them off, don't arrest them and send them to jail—if they go to prison again, their lives are over."

Saying that, the old woman shoved Chief Liu aside and began kowtowing on the ground heedlessly.

Thud, thud, thud—several times.

Hearing it, Ye Cheng's heart trembled.

Goodness, an elderly woman her age kneeling before you is bad enough, but now she's actually kowtowing, and doing it so loudly that everyone in the hospital turned to look.

Several big men instantly couldn't stand; Ye Cheng didn't even care about his appearance, he and Chief Liu hurriedly squatted down to at least pull the old woman up.

When they pulled her up, Ye Cheng felt a jolt—Mrs. Li's forehead was actually bleeding from the kowtow; this old lady really went all out.

"Mrs. Li, why are you doing this to yourself?" Chief Liu was anxious, couldn't scold her, so he could only slap his thigh in frustration.

Before Ye Cheng could ask what was happening, he heard several surprised cries from afar,

"Mom, how did you come here?"

Ye Cheng turned his head and saw the Zhu four brothers being led out by several police officers; they had finished their examination and, according to procedure, were now being taken back for detention.

Is this Mrs. Li the mother of the Zhu brothers?

Ye Cheng looked at Liu Jin, and Liu Jin helplessly nodded.

"Mom, why is your head bleeding?" Zhu Liwen dragged the police officer over, and as soon as he arrived he saw the bloodstain on his mother's forehead, instantly erupting in anger.

He looked at Ye Cheng, pointing at Ye Cheng and shouted,

"Ye Cheng, you dare hurt my mother, I'll fight you to the bitter end."