Chapter 283: Girls really are the more thoughtful ones, after all

After thanking the leadership, Yu Dazhang immediately found Captain Xu to hand over the work.

He had already sorted out the case beforehand, so the handover went smoothly, and Captain Xu took over the follow-up work with ease.

He left the provincial bureau.

Yu Dazhang didn't even look back, drove straight back to the hotel, picked up Ma Jian and the others, and headed straight for Songhai.

On the road.

Ye Zhiyu sat in the back seat and asked curiously:

"Didn't you even ask whether the travel expenses can be reimbursed here too?"

"You go ask then." Yu Dazhang shot back at him:

"What time do you think it is, still thinking about this stuff."

Ma Jian picked up the thread:

"Wan Bo only just got out of danger last night. He's not just crazy— all ten of his fingers were cut off, his eyes were stabbed out, his tongue was clipped off, and his ears are deaf too."

"And he has multiple fractures all over his body, barely any teeth left, but no fatal wounds."

"I'm guessing Han Lianwu finally vented all his fury on him. Should we go check on him before heading back to Songhai?"

While listening to all this, Yu Dazhang kept his eyes on the road ahead, not even lifting an eyebrow.

After Ma Jian finished, he replied coldly:

"If you want to go, go. I'm not interested in him."

Back in Songhai.

Yu Dazhang first dropped Ye Zhiyu off at home, then drove to the Hongkou sub-bureau. After getting out of the car, he took a deep breath.

Finally back.

This past month-plus had felt to him like almost a whole year.

Being in a strange place, with a taut string pulled tight every single day— days like that were truly hard to endure.

The worst part was, the fatigue never got any relief.

The three of them then went to the detachment commander's office, and Yu Dazhang gave Li Jun a face-to-face account of the case.

"This case is actually this complicated?"

Li Jun looked at Yu Dazhang with a face full of surprise:

"In the end, a total of twelve wrongful cases were dug up. That's going to keep them plenty busy over there. But still, at least the case is finally wrapped up."

The implication behind his words pointed somewhere else.

Where there are wrongful cases, there must be public officials guilty of dereliction of duty or abuse of power.

And once these people are identified, they have to be taken down immediately.

In reality, with this case, the number of officials who fell from grace in Province S was beyond counting— just the retirees alone filled a whole truckload of arrests.

Reaching the shore safely?

That saying hasn't existed for a long time.

What Li Jun called "plenty busy" wasn't exaggerated in the slightest.

When one official falls, it usually drags out a whole string of others.

Then, with further interrogation and investigation, plus mutual reporting, the total number of people ultimately dealt with was simply too grim to look at straight on.

"What arrangements does the bureau have for our next steps?" Yu Dazhang asked.

That was what he cared about most.

Their three-person cold-case unit had only solved one case before stalling for a month. If he had to guess, this time there should be new arrangements for the group's work.

"I'll give you three days off first. Go home, rest well, and get yourselves back in shape."

Li Jun said with a smile:

"The cold-case group will continue as before. Maybe after this field assignment, you'll have some new ideas."

Three days off!

Hearing this, Yu Dazhang and the others couldn't hide the joy on their faces.

"Thank you, Captain Li." The three said in unison.

Back home, Yu Dazhang took a shower first, then slept a beautiful sleep.

When he woke up, it was already three in the afternoon.

He called Qu Tuotuo, and the two went to the market to buy groceries. He planned to give his mom and dad a surprise that evening.

That's just how people are— eating meals made by family every day at home feels like the most natural thing in the world.

But once you've been away for a while and come back, you always find yourself wanting to cook a meal for your family.

"How about I book a restaurant instead."

Qu Tuotuo didn't want Yu Dazhang to be too busy. He'd already been running around out there, so of course he should rest properly now that he was back.

"A restaurant doesn't have the same atmosphere as home." Yu Dazhang held her hand as they walked past stall after stall, making several of the young folks grit their teeth in envy. After buying the groceries, the two headed home.

Qu Tuotuo washed the vegetables, Yu Dazhang cut them. Amid the bustle, dish after steaming-hot dish came to the table— a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate alike.

Throughout the process, neither of them spoke. Only when their gazes occasionally met did a hint of sweetness and contentment show.

Yu Dazhang really enjoyed this kind of way of being together.

And he also knew that days of ease and warmth like these were precious for him.

After a month of being out busy, he'd only earned three days off, so of course he had to have a proper reunion with his family.

Overjoyed, he couldn't help but start humming a song.

"I want to plant so many seeds, da la di da la~"

"Shut up!"

A little past five in the evening, Li Xuehe arrived home first. When she saw the table full of dishes in the living room and the two people busy at work, she froze on the spot for a moment.

!

Just then, Qu Tuotuo happened to come out of the kitchen carrying a plate of freshly made sweet-and-sour spare ribs.

"Auntie, you're back."

Hearing this, Li Xuehe felt a little dazed. She quickly answered, then turned her head toward the kitchen.

When she saw her son's back, her eyes stung sharply, and her heart felt blocked by something, aching unbearably.

At that moment, Yu Dazhang was holding a wok ladle in one hand and a spatula in the other, stir-frying away with a clatter and clang, and hadn't noticed his mother coming home.

"Sit, sit—how could we let you do the work?" Li Xuehe forced a smile and tried to take the plate from Qu Tuotuo's hands.

"Auntie, you're treating me like an outsider."

Qu Tuotuo was a step quicker, setting the dish on the table, then pulling Li Xuehe to sit down in front of the dining table:

"Today you don't need to worry about anything—just leave it all to us."

Saying that, she walked back into the kitchen.

In no time at all, Yu Guangyuan also came in from outside. Seeing the situation in the living room, he was similarly stunned for a moment, but quickly caught on.

After changing his shoes and taking off his coat, he sat down beside his wife, and the old couple exchanged a smile.

If children want to show their filial piety, the best response from parents is not to dampen their spirits.

Clearly, this old couple understood that principle.

"My timing is just right." Yu Dazhang walked out of the kitchen carrying a pot of soup and set it on the table:

"Wash your hands and let's eat."

That last line was something his mother often said to him. Today, for some reason, it came especially naturally to his lips.

While Dad and Mom went to wash their hands, Yu Dazhang opened a bottle of beer.

"Let's open a bottle of baijiu instead," Qu Tuotuo suggested:

"I'll keep Uncle company for a drink."

But Yu Dazhang flatly refused:

"Forget it—last time Dad couldn't even get out of bed the next day, took him several days to recover at home."

The past was too painful to recall.

Whether as father or as son, both had been drunk into oblivion by Qu Tuotuo.

That counted as a chapter of shame in the Yu family's history.

The meal was a very pleasant one, and the atmosphere at the table was quite harmonious.

Father and son Yu kept raising their glasses, but never drained them in one go—clearly these two had learned their lesson.

During the three-day holiday, Yu Dazhang could naturally drink at home too, he just didn't dare drink too much.

During the meal, the conversation between Qu Tuotuo and his parents caught Yu Dazhang's attention.

"Auntie, the medicine I brought you last time is for increasing bone density and promoting bone formation—you must take it on time. The doctor said your osteoporosis has already reached grade two, and if it progresses further, it'll be trouble."

"Uncle, your digestion isn't great, so you should eat more vegetables and fruits—oranges, bananas, pineapple are best—eat a variety."

She had come to the house during the time I was away from home… Hearing the content of her words, Yu Dazhang immediately thought of a certain possibility.

Not only had she come, she'd taken Dad and Mom for a physical exam too.

Yu Dazhang suddenly felt a warmth in his heart, and the look he gave Qu Tuotuo softened as well.

Girls really are the more thoughtful ones~

Compared to her, he came across as far more indifferent.

Better late than never—it's not too late to show it now, especially since he's on vacation these few days.

How about…

Tomorrow, drag Qu Wannian to the hospital?

(End of Chapter)