Chapter 1706: One must not resort to lynching

Lu Chuan had never lacked patience.

Since he was a child, he had been very good at waiting.

Song Tan, on the other hand, was the opposite; she was an impatient person when she first started doing things. Later, she became increasingly calm, but her true nature would still surface at times.

However, now that she was farming in the village, no matter how well she could use spiritual energy, she couldn't force the crops to grow batch after batch. More often than not, she still let them follow the natural seasons.

And the natural seasons, too, required waiting.

Because of this, the two of them put the thieves to the back of their minds and left them hanging until five o'clock.

Lu Chuan got up unhurriedly to change his clothes, asking her as he did so:

"The fishing group hasn't returned all night. Should we call them?"

Song Tan wouldn't dream of it.

When Song San was fishing, he wouldn't even want to come back for meals; Song Qiao Song Qiao had even delivered food to him twice before.

Although there were no results to speak of, being able to kill time there meant he had the drive for it.

Moreover, if she called him at this hour, he would keep his voice very low, being extremely cautious.

Although everyone complained about it, they were actually quite tolerant of his hobby.

"Let's not disturb them. If they haven't returned by this hour, they must have had some success and are hooked on fishing."

However, even if Song Tan didn't say anything, Qin Yun's family would probably be notified anyway; it just depended on whether they wanted to fish or watch the commotion.

Song Tan then opened her phone and, familiar with the process, reported the incident to the town police station.

Police Station:...

Oh.

Increasingly numb.

After confirming repeatedly that they were just two ordinary thieves, that the theft of the fish had been unsuccessful, and that they hadn't been caught after netting three or five thousand catties of fish for their family, the station finally put down the phone cautiously and dispatched officers.

But at this moment, the homestay was still quiet, while the Song family had already received the news.

Song Song Youde, whose spirit was increasingly vigorous, was even able to curse and swear all the way while riding his tricycle with the old lady, speeding toward the riverbank!

When passing the homestay and seeing Song Tan and Lu Chuan by the roadside, he even comforted them:

"Tan Tan, don't talk about human kindness for no reason. When they act like scoundrels and thieves, they don't talk about kindness with us. If they have elders in their family, don't you say a word; I'll be the one to scold them!"

The implication was that although they wouldn't talk about kindness, the old had to deal with the old.

This way, both sides could lie down, and neither would fear the other.

Song Tan accepted this good intention. Seeing his battle-ready appearance, she didn't mention her plan with Lu Chuan, only instructing:

"Grandpa, you are older. When you get there, see if you recognize this person, and then ask around about his family and children."

The grandmother, wearing a purple floral silk summer suit, sat calmly in the passenger seat of the tricycle and nodded steadily, inexplicably showing a bit of the demeanor Teacher Tang had last year:

"Don't worry. If these two don't learn their lesson, I'll go to their children's school and workplace to scold them. I'll definitely find out for you!"

Whoa!

Song Tan couldn't help but look at Lu Chuan again: Don't say, this style was very much like one of their own.

Song Song Youde was also angry: "Anyone dares to steal? Do they think our fish grew up drinking dew? We must teach them a lesson!"

With so many dogs raised on the riverbank, they still dared to go; it was clear they were determined to make money. How could this be tolerated?

The old couple sped away, twisting the handlebars and roaring forward.

Behind them, Wu Lan and the others, who were a step slower, looked at the direction of the homestay again—

"Don't your friends like watching the commotion?"

They're catching a thief; that's not a common sight in the countryside! Shouldn't you come and take a look at something like this?

Lu Chuan suppressed a laugh: "They haven't woken up yet."

Eating and drinking well during the day, wouldn't they sleep soundly at night?

Although they could get up a bit earlier, it was only five o'clock, which was truly too difficult for them.

On the riverbank, the two fish thieves had swollen faces and cheeks, hoarse throats, and were filled with despair.

Not far away, Chen Chi was holding a mug in one hand and a toothbrush in the other, brushing with a mouthful of foam, his eyes watching them with curiosity and surprise.

That kind of feeling...

However, the brothers no longer even had the mood to be angry.

Anyone who wore a tank top and shorts in the middle of summer and was left on an open grassy field for two hours would feel that life was just like that.

At this moment, with their swollen faces and cheeks, they had not only waited for the Song family but finally also for the auspicious siren of the police.

The police car drove over with a roar, stirring up the morning of Yunqiao Village.

"Oh my! Is there something happening at the Song family's again?"

"The mugwort from catching that thief last time was given to Dr. Guo, and we've also had moxibustion a few times; our bodies really feel different. Can we share anything this time?"

"Dream on! Even if the thief picked fruits and vegetables, couldn't they still be sold?"

"What a pity, why didn't they come back next Dragon Boat Festival?"

"How are you so sure they are thieves?"

"If they aren't thieves, why would the police come? Our village doesn't have any gambling to bust."

It was true, they were busy!

The old men and women were all diligently practicing their skills, learning to weave baskets and mats.

Grandma Lianhua, as a disabled person, earned eight thousand a month last summer—Good heavens! The old men and women from all around were stirred up, weren't they?

Envious to death!

After all, raising children for old age, how could it be as reliable as having money?

Besides, sitting there weaving straw mats and such wasn't tiring either.

As for those who caused destruction or trouble...

Oh my, that team of security guards ran from here to there every day; their physiques were so sturdy!

Many aunties in the village were sizing up the eligible people they knew, wanting to set them up with a partner.

Heard they were all disabled?

That couldn't be seen; they ran with more vigor than the able-bodied young people in their village.

Of course, this project was handled by Aunt Zhang Hong, and they would call relatives and friends one by one to communicate and sign up.

It was just that the Song family couldn't spare the time to organize it right now, otherwise, it could have been lively for several days!

Leaving these security guards aside, there were so many dogs.

If a person hit someone, they had to pay money; if a dog bit someone... that couldn't happen! Heard many of them were meritorious service dogs.

Furthermore, the police station had come several times, and rumors about helping to catch serious criminals had spread several times; after all, it was just rumors without official denial.

Or even if it was denied, people didn't believe it, thinking it was the authorities trying to cover things up... they understood!

In short!

Apart from thieves, they really couldn't think of anything else.

What a pity.

Everyone thought about their own work today; watching the commotion was important, but earning a salary was also quite important, so they could only miss it.

The two fish-stealing brothers were thus able to save face in front of everyone.

Compared to the Dragon Boat Festival, there really weren't many people who came this time.

Even the police were a bit speechless.

Really, stealing from ordinary people, they might not even be easy to catch.

But they insisted on walking into the tiger's den knowing it was there; now it was good—Oh my!

The two who walked over first were startled:

"This must not be lynching!"

From far away, they saw the two lying on the ground with swollen faces and cheeks, their bodies marked with diamond-shaped patterns from the fishing net!

Chen Xi quickly ran up and said righteously: "I'm sorry, I was too nervous after catching the thieves last night and forgot to untie the fishing net. But we absolutely did not hit anyone!"

"How is that possible?!" the other person exclaimed: "If you didn't hit them, how did they get swollen like this?"

Chen Xi smiled sheepishly:

"Well... they came to steal fish in the middle of the night. I was too sleepy, after all, it's physical labor during the day, so I left them here and forgot."

As he spoke, he walked over and untied the fishing net.

The fishing net was opened, but the two brothers lying there still had dull expressions and lifeless eyes.

Look at their bodies and faces again—

Their slippers had long been lost in the water, and they were barefoot when they came ashore.

And now, the grass in front of them was a mess, as if two men had been twisting, rolling, wriggling, and rubbing here.

Looking at the soles of their feet again—

Whoa!

Looking at the swollen eyelids, the pouting lips, the mud between their toes, and the bloody scratches on their arms and palms...

In short, there wasn't a single piece of good flesh exposed on their entire bodies, and as for what wasn't exposed, looking at the state of their clothes being scratched and rubbed, there probably wasn't any good flesh underneath either.

But this matter...

The police officer said seriously:

"How could you be so careless? The mosquitoes in this season can kill a person if left outside for too long!"

"Don't let this happen again!"

Chen Xi's attitude was truly good, nodding and agreeing repeatedly.

"Next time for sure, next time I'll definitely bring them inside and light a mosquito coil!"

While speaking, the police officer "slapped" and killed a mosquito on his arm.

Seeing this, Song Song Youde's thought of interrogating the other party's ancestors for eighteen generations vanished, and he quickly took out a box of mosquito repellent ointment from his pocket:

"Come, come, let me apply some for you. Once applied, there will be no more mosquitoes."

This box of mosquito repellent ointment looked quite plain, just like an enlarged version of cooling oil. The two police officers knew this thing was useless and were just about to decline when their arms were grabbed by Song Song Youde, and a streak was applied.

There was no cooling sensation like that of cooling oil. The two looked and looked, but suddenly discovered a peace around their ears and eyes—sure enough, there were no more mosquitoes flying around.

The two looked over in surprise, only to see Song Song Youde acting as if it were commonplace. Looking at the Song family again, there were indeed no mosquitoes around them.

This was a grassy field by the river!

How could it be so quiet?

"You this..."

The police officer was about to ask, but was nudged by the person beside him, and quickly gathered his focus, remembering he was still on duty.

Looking at the two lying on the ground again, he thought to himself, compared to the three who stole mugwort and worked hard all night last time, who was more pitiful?

Wait, why weren't they talking!

Chen Xi took a look and said innocently: "Maybe their throats are hoarse? Should I brew some fat sea nut for them?"

How could their throats be hoarse from stealing fish? Wouldn't this group have poured—

Before this thought could turn, he heard Chen Chi already saying: "Their voices were so loud, they kept shouting here, but I fell asleep later, so I couldn't hear clearly."

The two brothers lying there were truly crying without tears.

They opened their mouths, but their dry, hoarse throats really couldn't make a sound anymore.

At first, they were shouting for the police.

But that was just shouting; their voices were bright, but they were using their inner energy, so they wouldn't become mute.

Later, there were too many mosquitoes, and their murderous intent arose; they shouted messily, wishing they could scream their throats out.

But these two brothers on the riverbank—they looked over resentfully: How could people sleep so soundly?

They shouted so loudly that it felt like it was echoing on the other side of the canyon, yet there was no movement here.

Chen Xi didn't know what they were thinking, but if he did, he would also mutter:

This riverbank had pigs, cows, sheep, ducks, and chickens all together; when they made noise, wasn't it more powerful than just howling a few times?

He had long been immune.

So how should the police officers put it?

If they called it assault, there were no beatings on their bodies except for one mosquito bite after another, and as for some blue and purple marks, the other party explained—

"They came in a small boat. I didn't notice, but our geese took the ducks to play on the water, and when they found strangers, they went up and pecked and hit them..."

As for why the geese were playing on the water with the ducks in the middle of the night—that was the geese's business; could people explain that? Geese and ducks already had decent night vision.

They just wanted to play.

Chen Xi was very ashamed: "I was far away and didn't know. Anyway, when I found out, I quickly scooped them up with a net."

Really?

The police didn't believe it.

Song Tan listened for a long time while suppressing a laugh, then looked at Lu Chuan; he was also listening with a strange expression, but his focus was intense, clearly another beautiful piece of material.

At this moment, Song Tan finally had the opportunity to show her strength:

"Song Qiao Song Qiao, call Da Bai over."

She added: "And its duck team."

Song Qiao Song Qiao responded, rushed to the riverbank, and waved his hands while shouting loudly: ""

"Da Bai! Da Bai, hurry over! The police uncle wants to see you; you're going to be praised!"

In the child's philosophy, doing good deeds and catching thieves meant being praised.

The police officers widened their eyes: Don't talk nonsense!

We didn't say we wanted to see them! And we didn't say we were going to praise them!

However, looking further back, they saw a huge white shadow stepping on the green waves, swimming gracefully.

Behind it, the ducks gathered in a fan shape and also swam neatly toward the riverbank.

Before long, they elegantly climbed ashore one by one.

Look at Da Bai's confident figure, its world-disdaining bean eyes, its thick and smooth neck, and its strong, majestic, and high chest!

Flapping its wings, making the grass leaves fly, its heavy weight would make people sway for a long time if it patted them once.

This...

The two looked at Da Bai, then at the two thieves.

How should they put it, they were still conscious, just bitten a few times; this goose was quite measured!

Otherwise, a flurry of flapping, and after knocking people unconscious, wouldn't they be unaware of anything in the river?

Song Qiao Song Qiao led Da Bai, looking at the police expectantly.

And the police officers looked at Da Bai blankly, not knowing what to say.

After a long while, he could only grunt: "This goose, this goose is a bit sturdy..."

Song Qiao Song Qiao took this as a compliment!

At this moment, he squatted down and became brothers with Da Bai, hugging its back, with his wings resting on his shoulders.

"Police uncle praised you for doing a good job, Da Bai! The food you ate wasn't in vain; you've grown so sturdy!"

"What do you want to eat today? I'm going up the mountain to pick peaches; shall I cut some up for you and Goose Sister later?"

"Goose, goose, goose—"

Da Bai was extremely satisfied and raised its voice to call out loudly.

Song Qiao Song Qiao already understood: "Alright then. I'll bring a few more; Da Wang, you get one, you get one, Goose Sister gets half, and the rest of the ducks can share; everyone worked hard..."

The two talked to themselves, and the scene was silent.

Fortunately, the grandmother still remembered the task of coming, and at this moment, she carefully identified the faces among the thick lips, swollen eyes, and flat bumps:

"Isn't this so-and-so? I remember his child has a relationship with the two people from our village who married into the neighboring village..."

"This is his brother, his brother's child seems to have just started working..."

The grandmother was indeed knowledgeable, grasping everything within ten miles.

Now, just by the vague outline, she had already figured out the roots.

At this moment, she smiled meaningfully, just as Lu Chuan said, there was no need to say any harsh words; these two were already cowed.

But they were anxious in their hearts, opened their mouths, but apart from the dry, hoarse air, nothing came out.

What else could they say when it had come to this?

The police officers said: "Then I'll take them back first. Someone from your family should come along to make a record."

If they didn't take them now, they might feel uncomfortable somewhere else later.

Like the two main thieves who stole mugwort last time, they didn't feel tired in the field and worked hard all night.

And the result? After squatting for another morning, their back pain flared up at the police station, and they couldn't stand straight.

Sigh!

Why did they think of coming to the Song family!

What a sin!

?? Here.