Chapter 108

Just as Liu Long was about to take Wu An away, the young police officer tugged his sleeve and whispered, "Master, I just asked."

The victim's family said they were willing to settle privately, but they demanded the other side compensate 50,000 yuan.

Liu Long frowned: "This is no longer something that can be settled privately."

"Grade‑2 serious injury, which already violates criminal law."

The young police officer lowered his voice: "That's true, but look at this guy—he's barely twenty, young and hot‑headed."

"I also looked into it just now; this person has genuinely repented recently."

"I think we should give him a chance."

Liu Long shook his head: "Kai Lang, you mean well, but others may not appreciate it."

"Wu An reported it himself, which shows he doesn't want to pay compensation."

"50,000 yuan is no small sum."

The young police officer, namely Kai Lang, said: "I still want to try."

Liu Long nodded.

Here, human sentiment outweighs the law, especially in their locality where the folkways are tough; turning a blind eye is something they're happy to do.

Otherwise.

If they take Wu An away, the two families will surely become bitter enemies, and if it sparks a feud between the two clans, it could easily escalate.

It's not that he's overthinking; he's not just alarmist talk.

In fact, such incidents have happened before—not just once or twice. Even a quarrel between two villagers has previously blown up into a massive brawl involving thousands from two villages.

Kai Lang walked over and said, "Brother, let me give you the straight scoop: based on the evidence we have, you're looking at at least three years inside."

"It could even be longer."

"Although you're still young, doing time will have a big impact on you…"

Wu An was somewhat surprised; he hadn't expected this stranger, whom he'd never met, to be willing to say these things to advise him. He thought the guy was decent and replied, "I know."

"I hit him, but there's actually another side to the story."

Kai Lang snapped, "What hidden motive? Could it possibly be that you were acting bravely for justice?"

Wu An blinked: "Officer, you're really perceptive."

"……" Kai Lang fell silent for a moment, then said, "Based on what we know, you… acted out of love turned to hate."

He chose his words carefully, avoiding anything harsher.

Wu An shook his head: "Outsiders don't understand the situation."

Seeing that Wu An was unmoved, Kai Lang gave up trying to persuade him, glanced at Wu Yingwei not far away—whom he'd already learned during the investigation was Wu An's father, with his older brother and sister‑in‑law standing beside him.

He went over and explained the pros and cons.

In short, they can still settle privately now; otherwise, if they take Wu An to the police station, it'll have to go through official channels, and he'll definitely end up sentenced to prison.

Hearing this, Mei Yueqin anxiously grabbed Wu Ping's arm and said, "We're willing to settle privately."

Wu Ping nodded as well.

Wu Yingwei smoked in silence, head down.

Lao Meng asked, "How much money do they want?"

Kai Lang: "Fifty thousand."

Lao Meng nodded; he knew Wu An had just made a lot of money, so coming up with fifty thousand yuan was certainly possible.

Wu An stepped forward: "I won't take a single cent."

Mei Yueqin hammered him in frustration: "What's wrong with you, kid? Why are you suddenly acting so stupid?"

"I'm going to call my brother and Xiao Wu right now."

Wu An hurried to stop her.

He said, "I really was acting bravely for justice."

Who would believe that?

Not to mention family; even outsiders know Wu An originally hit Chen Long because he saw Shen Fang and Chen Long pulling and tugging at the dock.

The situation is crystal clear; to claim now that you were acting bravely for justice isn't fooling others—it's fooling yourself.

He pointed at Shen Fang: "If you don't believe me, let the parties involved speak."

Everyone turned to look at Shen Fang.

Shen Fang had been hiding in the crowd, but with everyone's eyes on her she felt ill at ease and instinctively lowered her head; Kai Lang and Liu Long walked over.

One asked questions, the other took notes.

Shen Fang whispered: "Back then… Chen Long was harassing and pestering me at the dock, and Wu An helped me by hitting him."

Kai Lang and Liu Long stared in shock.

Wei Zhen exploded on hearing this: "You slut, what nonsense are you spouting? My son said it was you who first hooked him and threw yourself at him."

Wei Zhen, hearing that, instantly snapped: "You damn flirt, what nonsense are you talking about? My son already said it was you who first made a move, who pounced on him."

Shen Fang clenched her fists; Chen Long hadn't contacted her all this time, and seeing Wei Zhen's attitude, she knew there was no chance with him.

Shen Fang clenched her fist; during this time Chen Long had not contacted her, and seeing Wei Zhen's attitude, she realized that a relationship with Chen Long was impossible.

She had to think of herself.

Liu Long asked, "Then why didn't you say anything at first?"

Embarrassed by her status, she immediately repeated the words Wu An had taught her, embellishing them—she was the victim, the Chen family threatened her, so she dared not speak up at first.

Now that Wu An is about to be arrested, she must step forward.

Now Wu An is about to be arrested, she must step forward.

Wu An said: "Before I fought Chen Long, I and Shen Fang had already broken up; it was a peaceful breakup, so any notion of love turning to hatred is utterly baseless."

Everyone gasped.

So that's how it is.

Is Wu An still Seeing Justice and Courage?

We had misunderstood him before.

It was the Chen Family that was too wicked; it was clearly Chen Long harassing our village girls, yet they turned the tables. Last time they came to the Wu family to cause trouble and demanded compensation, even stealing the chickens raised by Mei Yueqin.

He's really no good.

Exactly…

Liu Long and Yu Kai Lang exchanged a glance, both seeing the other's astonishment; then they both quickly turned to look at Wu An. In their gaze, Wu An wore a smile, showing no surprise at all, as if saying, "It should have been this way."

He's still too young, got exposed, huh.

Liu Long, being an old police officer, immediately sensed something was off; Wu An's injustice had finally been cleared, but he felt no joy whatsoever.

There's a ghost in here.

But he has no evidence.

Wei Zhen, angry, cursed and lunged to tear Shen Fang.

Shen Fang fled backward in panic, the villagers quickly protected her; if the Chen Family beat Shen Fang, they'd lose face.

Wei Zhen stamped her foot and cursed, "She lies; they conspired to slander my son."

"That's too bullying."

"My son is still in the hospital, beaten so badly; you must stand up for my son!"

Liu Long and Yu Kai Lang felt a tingling on their scalps.

They realized the matter was troublesome; since the parties each gave their own account, they must question the other "victim" and combine testimonies and evidence.

This can't be resolved in a short time.

Villagers also debated, whispering, "Yuan Fang, what do you think?"

"I think Shen Fang didn't lie."

"Exactly, Shen Fang is a quite beautiful village girl, how could she be the one giving?"

"I know Chen Long; that kid looks like a twisted melon and broken jujube."

"Our village girls aren't that shameless."

"The Chen Family came today just to cause trouble; they're definitely not good people."

"Makes sense."

Wei Zhen, seeing everyone side with Wu An and Shen Fang, bullying and rolling around, cursed, "Dammit, damn it!"

"Fuck your mother."

"Do you know how good our family's conditions are? How many girls follow my son?"

"My son has several girlfriends; how could he harass a stray girl?"

Everyone, hearing that, joined the uproar, shouting loudly.

"Sure enough not a good person, and he has several girlfriends."

"What kind of person, what kind of family."

"Even the big families come to cause trouble, I spit, truly shameless."

Some cursed, some laughed, and the scene grew even livelier.