Chapter 395: Taking a Desperate Gamble

Just like that, the group of three was taken back to the Police Station by Public Security, and after Guan Daye comforted Han Chunyan, he went to make a call to Zhang Ping'an.

"Alright, Uncle Guan, I understand. Don't you worry, A Tai will be fine."

In Zhang Ping'an's view, this matter was just a family dispute, and furthermore, Guan Tai hadn't used excessive force; they were all just superficial injuries, and at most, he would just have to pay a bit for medical expenses later.

However, Zhang Ping'an still made a call to Li Baoguo; the Zhengyangmen area belonged to the Dongcheng District, and the Police Station there was also under the jurisdiction of the Sub-bureau.

Zhang Ping'an then communicated the ins and outs of the matter to Li Baoguo.

"Fine, I understand what you mean."

Consequently, it wasn't long before the Police Station received a call from Li Baoguo.

"Understood, Bureau Chief Li. We have also investigated this matter clearly; it is just a simple family dispute, and we will just mediate it."

"Mm, thank you for your hard work."

The station chief, who had hung up the phone, had already heard the full story from the two Public Security officers who returned earlier and had intended to detain Guan Tai for two days to appease the anger of the Overseas Chinese, but now it seemed that wouldn't work.

"Go and mediate it as a family dispute; let Guan Tai pay some medical expenses and let the matter rest."

"Very well, Chief."

Guan Cunxiao and his wife, who had been feeling smug after giving their statements and thinking they could get Guan Tai locked up for a few days so they could go home and ransack the place, were left dumbfounded by the current result.

"How are you people doing your jobs? Look at what you've done to us! Just pay medical expenses? He has to be locked up for a few days at the very least; you are bullying Overseas Chinese!" Mother Guan jumped up and clamored again.

The Public Security officers patiently explained to her, but the more they did, the more arrogant Mother Guan became, and her mouth had no filter:

"You are simply snakes and rats... sob sob sob."

"Comrade Public Security, my wife was beaten until she's confused, which is why she's speaking without thinking. Please don't take it to heart."

The faces of the two Public Security officers had long since turned dark; they directly handed over the agreement Guan Tai had signed, and without caring whether they signed it or not, they released Guan Tai immediately.

"You can go back now. Don't be impulsive and hit people in the future."

"Alright, sorry to trouble you, Comrade Public Security."

"Mm, go on. Just go back and give them the medical expenses."

"Alright."

Once Guan Tai returned home, he told Guan Daye to quickly pack up the valuable items.

"A Tai, you... did you break out of prison?"

"..."

"Grandpa, the matter has already been resolved. I just want to avoid my second uncle and the others. Now that Chun Yan is pregnant, I don't want to be disturbed by people every day."

"That is also fine."

This son was currently like a dog-skin plaster, constantly eyeing his antiques; things couldn't go on like this, so avoiding the limelight was for the best.

Guan Daye brought along the box of gold bars that contained the land deeds, and Guan Tai also helped Han Chunyan into the car.

"Liu Yeye, here is two hundred yuan. If my second uncle comes over, please pass this on to him."

"Alright."

"Also, this is one hundred yuan. Please help look after this house during this time. If anyone tries to force their way in, please report it to Public Security."

"This..."

He wasn't afraid of Guan Cunxiao, but he hesitated about whether to accept the one hundred yuan; this was not a small sum, it was more than two months' wages.

"Liu Yeye, please feel free to accept it. Look at this household register; now it only has me, Grandpa, and Chun Yan, so you don't need to worry."

Guan Tai thought he didn't want to get involved, so he took out the household register to prove their relationship.

"Fine, then Liu Yeye will accept it."

"Good, thank you for your trouble. If my second uncle and the others ask, just say we have returned to Jinghai."

"Yes, yes, yes."

After Guan Tai went back and locked the door, he headed straight for the two-courtyard house he had bought previously. He had never intended to get married at Guan Daye's place; it was Guan Daye who had insisted, saying that the large house was too lonely with only one old man, so he had agreed.

The house Guan Tai bought was not close to here, taking about twenty minutes to drive to. Because it was along the street, he had even built a garage; once he parked in the garage, it would effectively cut off any thoughts Guan Cunxiao had of finding them.

Guan Tai sent the two into the house and went out to buy ingredients; everything was available here, except for food.

Guan Tai filled the trunk in one go, enough for the three of them to eat for over half a month, and Guan Cunxiao indeed came to Guan Daye's house again.

"Guan the Second, this is what A Tai asked me to give to you."

Guan Cunxiao looked at the tightly locked gate, took the two hundred yuan, and couldn't help but ask:

"Where are they?"

"Scared away by you, obviously. What kind of decent person would torture their own father in every way possible? You people, you pushed them too far, they've gone back to Jinghai."

"What? How can this be allowed?"

"What? Do they have to report to you wherever they go? Your name has already been removed from the household register, and you're still dreaming of good things?"

"Only Old Guan still thinks of the father-son bond. If you were my son, I would have beaten you to death long ago, damn it."

"I reckon Old Guan regrets giving birth to you too. If he had known you were this kind of person, he should have just wiped you on the wall."

"And don't you think about picking the locks or prying the door; I'll be watching right here. If you dare to pry, I'll dare to report you to Public Security."

"You..."

Guan Cunxiao still wanted to make a move, but looking at the still-sturdy Lao Liu, he lost his nerve again.

Don't look at Lao Liu as an old man; he had just retired, and when he was young, he was a laborer at the grain station, so dealing with him was a piece of cake, not to mention he had three big, burly sons.

"Old Guan, what did he mean just now? What does it mean that the household register was removed?"

Even if Guan Cunxiao were stupid, he knew by now that he had completely angered his father; this was a move to sever the father-son relationship with him.

"No way. Since you are heartless, don't blame me for being unrighteous. We haven't gotten the antiques yet, we can't go back like this. We'll come back tonight and pry the door open."

"Alright."

At nine o'clock in the evening, two sneaky figures appeared in front of Guan Daye's door; they fiddled with wire for a long time but still couldn't open the lock.

This is an old-fashioned copper lock, with a key as long as a ring finger; it's not like those modern locks that pop open with a single poke.

"Shall we smash it?"

Mother Guan was shivering from the cold; she had only brought two cotton-padded coats back this time, which, for the harsh winter of Sijiucheng, was about the same as wearing long johns outdoors.

"No, that would make too much noise."

"Then what should we do?"

"Let's go back first and talk about it."

They were staying at the Yuchufang Jiudian opened by Zhang Ping'an, which wasn't too far from here, and only after returning to their room did they warm up a bit.

"How about we just contact Bob? Let them go look for it."

"No, wouldn't it be up to them then? Tomorrow night, I'll try to see if I can climb in."

"Alright then."

The next night at ten o'clock, this time the two were well-prepared and climbed up using the lower sections.

"You hide outside and keep watch for me."

"Okay."

Guan Cunxiao, familiar with the layout, felt his way to the study, packed up everything that looked valuable inside, and performed the same operation after reaching the main hall.

Afterwards, he searched Guan Daye's bedroom thoroughly, but unfortunately, he didn't find a single thing; he searched the other rooms one after another, but likewise came up empty-handed.

"This old thing, could those antiques have really been sold by him for food?" Guan Cunxiao said angrily after his search yielded nothing.

However, it was clear that he didn't have time to dwell on it, so he grabbed the bag of items and reached the base of the wall.

He tied the sack securely, fastened the rope to his waist, climbed the wall quickly, and carefully pulled the sack up.

"Be careful and catch it."

"Okay."

Just like that, the two quickly returned to the hotel and began to take inventory of their haul in the room.