Chapter 275: Big Tiger, Meow!

Wang Yajuan really couldn't describe how she felt about Li Xuewu.

In the bloom of youth, there are always some unique emotions that ferment in that period of life; the wine brewed from them is something one reflects upon after reaching adulthood.

Sour, sweet, bitter, spicy—all sorts of flavors surfaced in her heart from time to time.

Looking at Li Xuewu before her, Wang Yajuan had been sizing him up ever since she entered the gate.

A few days ago, she had learned of Li Xuewu's recent situation from her younger sister. She didn't know what had happened, but after being discharged from the military, he hadn't found a job and was instead hanging around with those street hoodlums from before.

Although she didn't look down on collecting scrap, Wang Yajuan felt that for a grown man to do this kind of work was truly hard to speak of.

Especially for someone who used to be so proud and upright.

There is a saying: only pride is worthy of a proud person.

Wang Yajuan was a proud girl; her mother was a dancer, and her father was a cadre at a textile mill.

When she first met Li Xuewu, Wang Yajuan hadn't liked his little followers.

Later, after they started dating, she was even less willing to see Li Xuewu hanging around with those little punks.

Being the child of a cadre and having an artistic family atmosphere, Wang Yajuan felt she should have a boyfriend who was positive, motivated, and enthusiastic about progress.

Her meeting and dating Li Xuewu was a matter of serendipity; the trope of a hero saving a beauty is always the winning formula for opening a young girl's heart.

Coupled with Li Xuewu's face, which everyone loved, "Tanya" fell for him.

Love always comes so suddenly, yet leaves so abruptly, just like a rainstorm.

The two of them had different personalities to begin with; how could the unrestrained Li Xuewu be captured by Wang Yajuan, who pursued art and progress?

On the contrary, Wang Yajuan's younger sister, Wang Yamei, liked the "brother-in-law's" personality more and was willing to play along behind Li Xuewu.

Isn't young love just that sort of thing? Even biological sisters can become romantic rivals.

After discovering the change in her sister's feelings, Wang Yajuan began to go from cold war to quarreling, and finally to breaking up with Li Xuewu.

The neighborhood was so big; if Wang Yajuan hadn't gone looking for Li Xuewu or if they hadn't made an appointment to meet, their life paths basically wouldn't have overlapped.

Wang Yajuan's life was at home, at school, and in the dance studio.

Li Xuewu's life was on the ice, in the river, and in jokes with his little buddies.

Since the breakup, she had rarely heard news about Li Xuewu. The sporadic times she did, it was all from her sister: that prodigal son had graduated high school, joined the army, been discharged, and was collecting scrap...

It wasn't that there were any emotional waves or changes, but having met an old acquaintance, one always had to offer a greeting.

But the two were too familiar with each other's personalities, and when they broke up, they did so too thoroughly, so the greeting also took on a somewhat aggressive flavor.

"How did you know? Are you still hanging around the streets with these little punks?"

Wang Yajuan frowned as she looked at Li Xuewu's attire; it seemed to be the same as before, where he wanted to save face in everything he did.

Even when collecting scrap, he dressed so well; it seemed he was still hanging around with those people.

"Yamei said you were back, and that you were collecting scrap with Biaozi and the others..."

Wang Yajuan had wanted to say a few words, but thinking that Li Xuewu was no longer the wind-chasing youth of the past, and that time and experience had left their marks on his face, saying too much felt a bit like "deep words from a shallow acquaintance."

"If you have a livelihood, do it well; don't hang around with these young people anymore."

Li Xuewu was stunned by Wang Yajuan's words, then nodded indifferently and said, "Okay."

Thinking that Wang Yajuan had come to pick up Wang Yamei, he also advised, "You should really manage Wang Yamei well; always hanging around the streets with these boys isn't a good thing, and it doesn't sound good if people talk."

Li Xuewu hadn't mentioned Wang Yamei, and Wang Yajuan hadn't had much of a reaction.

As soon as her sister was mentioned, Wang Yajuan raised her eyebrows and said coldly, "Manage yourself first. If you hadn't always been taking her out to play back then, would her grades have been too low for middle school?"

Thinking of the past between her sister and Li Xuewu, Wang Yajuan's anger flared up again; she even took Li Xuewu's advice as having ulterior motives.

Especially when Li Xuewu mentioned the word "reputation"—because of her sister, her mother had been so angry and had blamed her so many times.

Now, seeing this bastard actually "crying thief while being the thief," he himself had become an old punk, yet he was still "hypocritically" advising her to tell her sister to learn to be good.

You were the one who taught her to be bad, and now you're the one telling her to be good; you're making things too difficult for us.

"Mm, mm, mm."

Li Xuewu nodded in agreement; he truly understood Wang Yajuan's personality too well. Arguing would only make the quarrel fiercer; it was better to just go along with what she said.

Looking at Wang Yajuan, who was still glaring at him, Li Xuewu smiled awkwardly and asked, "You're doing quite well, right? I heard from Biaozi that you're a performing arts worker now."

Wang Yajuan looked at the old acquaintance before her; he had already detached from the boy in her memory. There was no longer any affection between them, but there was a sense of strangeness.

Mature, steady, no longer the unrestrained, rebellious youth of the past; now, there was more of the feeling of an adult.

Wang Yajuan also felt that she was being quite petty; why get so angry at this stranger?

Perhaps it was the anger she had felt when her mother called her to come get her sister; she had just vented it on this person as soon as she entered the gate.

"Yes, in the song and dance troupe."

Calming her mood, Wang Yajuan explained simply to Li Xuewu, not even mentioning her workplace, as if she were very afraid that Li Xuewu would go looking for her there.

"You stay here; I'm going to pick up Yamei."

Simply ending the topic and offering a greeting, Wang Yajuan propped her bicycle in the courtyard and headed toward the crowd in the middle courtyard.

She had already seen her sister squatting there, looking over this way.

Li Xuewu looked at the back heading hurriedly inside and smiled wryly. He turned around and asked the gatekeeper, Old Man Zhang, who was watching the excitement, "Old Man Zhang, do you still recognize this girl?"

Old Man Zhang stroked the cat in his hands and curled his lips at Li Xuewu in disdain, scolding, "You're just being mean!"

"Hey! Don't you remember her? Among all my good friends, she was the most spirited-looking one."

Seeing this plaster coming over, Old Man Zhang hurriedly hugged the cat in his arms tightly.

Yet he wouldn't let it go, saying, "How could I not remember? When you were standing here in punishment, looking all pitiful, wasn't it her who secretly fed you popsicles?"

"Hey, Old Man, don't hit a person in the face; don't expose a person's shortcomings. You can't talk about me being punished here in front of my colleagues!"

Old Man Zhang glanced at Li Xuewu and said, "As if I care to talk about you. Stop getting into so many romantic debts; don't end up unable to pay them back."

Li Xuewu said with dissatisfaction, "I've already learned to be good now. Didn't you see I didn't provoke her? Now, I am a good cadre with a red heart only for the people."

"Pfft~"

Old Man Zhang raised his head and sneered in disdain, "A dog can't change its habit of eating excrement."

"Hey! Old Man, your cat is really good-looking; lend it to me to play with."

"Meow?!!!"

Seeing the cat in his hands with a terrified expression, its tail even standing up, Old Man Zhang waved his hand at Li Xuewu with great dissatisfaction and said, "Get lost, get lost, get lost. You're rotten to the core."

Seeing Li Xuewu coming over to snatch the cat, Old Man Zhang hurriedly said, "Why are you deliberately teasing that girl without telling her your identity?"

Seeing Li Xuewu's evil hand stop in front of him, looking at him with an awkward expression.

Old Man Zhang said with the expression of an expert, "I watched you grow up; do you think I don't know what kind of evil you're plotting?"

"Don't wrong a good person. Let me tell you, slander is also against the law."

Seeing Li Xuewu bring out his old rogue attitude because he couldn't win the argument, Old Man Zhang narrowed his eyes and tilted his chin, saying, "Forget it, don't try that stuff on me. Slander? You were that kind of thing to begin with."

After mocking Li Xuewu, and very afraid of being retaliated against, Old Man Zhang lifted his hand and threw the cat in his hands onto the roof of the guard room.

Like a victorious general, with an expression of 'what can you do to me now,' Old Man Zhang stood with his hands on his hips, staring at Li Xuewu.

That cat, suddenly thrown onto the roof, screamed and stood firmly on the tiles, meowing at Li Xuewu in dissatisfaction, as if provoking him.

Li Xuewu looked at Old Man Zhang's triumphant spirit and then at the cat on the roof, which was acting like a dog relying on its master's power.

He smiled evilly and unzipped his leather jacket, revealing the handle of the gun inside.

"Old Man Zhang, look, why is there a big tiger on the roof of the guard room?"

As he spoke, Li Xuewu had already prepared his hand to reach into his chest, his face showing surprise, and he even said, "This thing is a fierce beast, the kind that hurts and eats people. As a defender of the people, I have an obligation to eliminate harm for the people. I'll help you shoot it down."

"You little brat, you...!"

Old Man Zhang's triumphant expression froze, and after hearing Li Xuewu's words, he was almost so angry his nose went crooked.

This little bastard had been full of bad water since he was a child, always using a slingshot to hit his cat.

He didn't expect that even though he was working now, and even a station chief, he was still not a decent thing.

"Old Man Zhang, don't be afraid. With me here, one shot will shatter that big tiger's head."

The cat stared dumbfounded at the villain under the roof. Was this "big tiger" talking about him?

He looked at his fur color in disbelief, and then at his tail, which was standing up like a flagpole.

The cat wanted to curse, but all that came out was a "Meow?!!!"

"Get lost, get lost, get lost. Bullying an old man like me makes you feel superior, right? If you dare to hit the cat, I'll go settle the score with your dad tonight."

"Hey, hey, hey, why can't you take a joke? You're even bringing in parents."

Li Xuewu had been fighting wits and courage with this old man since he was a child. This old man was also incredibly proud; usually, he couldn't say two sentences to anyone, but he could bicker with Li Xuewu for half a day.

Back then, Li Xuewu would stand outside the guard room window blabbering, and Old Man Zhang would sit inside the guard room window chattering.

From the moment Li Xuewu started his punishment, the two could fight until Li Xuewu's punishment ended.

When he couldn't win the fight, Li Xuewu would use a slingshot to retaliate against Old Man Zhang's cat.

He had been this eloquent and vengeful since he was a child.

Old Man Zhang used his chin to signal behind Li Xuewu and said, "Stop teasing me here; your fish has taken the bait."

Li Xuewu looked back and saw that it was Wu Zi leading the Wang Yajuan sisters, and the Yan Jiecheng brothers, returning again.

It turned out that Wang Yajuan had hurriedly entered the middle courtyard and saw her sister squatting in the crowd, pouting at her. She glared at her sister in dissatisfaction, then found Wu Zi, who was registering Yan Jiefang.

Wu Zi already knew how to handle these people, so he put paper and pen on the table brought out by the neighborhood committee.

Those who wanted to leave had to have their parents come pick them up, write a letter of guarantee, and have the parents sign it before they could be taken home.

Seeing a beautiful young woman come to pick someone up, Wu Zi specifically asked, and it turned out she was picking up the little girl over there.

These young girls hadn't followed them to fight, but they were the source of the "evil."

According to the four workers over there, when the fight started, these girls were the ones shouting the loudest.

Shen Fang knew Li Xuewu's way of handling these punks who fought, but he didn't know what to do with these girls.

He had Wu Zi take a statement from the girl first, then write a letter of guarantee, and bring the statement and the letter of guarantee to find Li Xuewu.

Wang Yajuan hadn't heard Wu Zi go to ask Shen Fang for instructions, but she found out that Li Xuewu had lied to her again when she called her sister to the table to write the letter of guarantee.

Wang Yamei was called to the table to write the letter of guarantee. Seeing that Wu Zi wasn't watching, she quietly raised her head and asked her sister, who was standing in front of her table, "What did you say to Wu Ge just now?"

"What Wu Ge? Write your letter of guarantee properly."

Wang Yamei pouted, muttering as she wrote, "I saw it all; you went straight for him as soon as you entered the courtyard."

Wang Yajuan said indifferently, "I just saw him and said hello. How did you run into him again? Was he fighting with you guys too? You're becoming more and more useless."

"What are you talking about!"

Wang Yamei glanced at her sister in dissatisfaction, then said, "But Wu Ge's fighting is still so ruthless, so overbearing."

As she spoke, she even used her pencil to point at the workers squatting over there, saying, "See that? That big palm print was made by Wu Ge."

Wang Yajuan frowned as she looked, then lectured her sister, "Why don't you learn something good as a girl, instead of just watching people fight?"

Wang Yamei curled her lips, "Didn't you like watching it before too?"

Seeing her sister glaring at her, Wang Yamei knew that her status at home wasn't as high as her sister's now, so she didn't dare say much more.

Wang Yajuan looked at the police in the courtyard, then at Li Xuewu at the gate, and asked with a frown, "He hit people too; why doesn't he have to squat here?"

"Pfft!"

Wang Yamei couldn't help laughing when she heard her sister's words, but seeing the police officer who had been fierce with her glaring at her, she hurriedly stopped laughing.

After the police officer went back to work, she explained to her sister, "What are you talking about? Who would dare make him squat after he hit someone? It's actually him making the person who got hit squat."

Seeing her sister frowning and looking confused, Wang Yamei explained proudly, "It was Wu Ge who brought these police here; he seems to be their leader. As soon as he entered the courtyard, he gave that person a slap, and then started interrogating people with his men. He was so impressive."

Wang Yajuan was also surprised. No wonder she heard her sister say he hit people again, yet she saw him standing at the gate smoking leisurely.

He was crazy like this before, but not as crazy as he was now.

"Didn't you say he was collecting scrap? How did he come out as this... this..."

Wang Yamei didn't make Li Xuewu's identity clear, and Wang Yajuan couldn't describe what Li Xuewu was doing now either.

If he were a police officer, why were the police in the courtyard wearing uniforms while he wasn't?

But if he were some kind of leader, he was so young; how could he lead these police?

"Damn him, Li Wenbiao, that piece of trash, lied to me."

Seeing her sister glaring at her because she used foul language, Wang Yamei stuck out her tongue and shrank her neck.

But she still complained with dissatisfaction in her heart, "Last time he said Wu Ge was collecting scrap, I felt something wasn't right. What kind of scrap collecting? I walked around the street for a long time and didn't see him, and I went to the recycling station next to his house and didn't see him either."

Wang Yamei said stubbornly, "It must be that bastard Li Wenbiao who was angry that I didn't call him Brother Biao, so he was playing with me, deliberately not telling me Wu Ge's situation."

"I just said it, how could someone discharged from the military have no job? Even if work is tight now, he couldn't be collecting scrap."

Seeing her sister muttering, Wang Yajuan frowned and pointed at the paper on the table, "Write quickly. Aren't you cold?"

Seeing her sister unhappy, Wang Yamei asked hesitantly, "Didn't you talk about this just now? Didn't you think about rekindling the old flame?"

Wang Yajuan thought of her attitude just now, and her pride, and said uncomfortably, "Didn't I tell you it was just saying hello? Write your letter; why so much nonsense? Do you want to go home or not?"

"I believe you..."

Wang Yamei hurriedly lowered her head to write her letter of guarantee.

Wang Yamei frowned as she looked at her sister's spider-crawling handwriting, then looked at Li Xuewu, who was chatting harmoniously, naturally, and happily with Old Man Zhang at the gate.

After Yan Jiefang and Wang Yamei both wrote their letters of guarantee, Wu Zi criticized and educated the two again, then reported their mistakes to Yan Jiecheng and Wang Yajuan, demanding that the parents take responsibility and manage these young people well.

After obtaining the guarantees from Yan Jiecheng and Wang Yajuan, Wu Zi took the four of them to the front courtyard to find Li Xuewu to sign.

Looking at Wang Yajuan, who was walking over with a complex expression from the middle courtyard, Li Xuewu turned to Old Man Zhang and said, "Stop it, what fish, what bait? What kind of person do you think I am?"

Not waiting for Old Man Zhang to mock him again, Li Xuewu pointed at the cat on the roof, which was baring its teeth at him, and said, "Keep an eye on it; it would be a pity if this big tiger were gone."

After teasing Old Man Zhang, Li Xuewu turned around and asked Wu Zi, who had walked to his side, "What's wrong?"

Wu Zi handed the interrogation notebook to Li Xuewu and said, "Li Suo Kezhang, Station Chief Shen said to ask for your opinion and have you sign."

Li Xuewu frowned as he took the interrogation record and read it, then took the pen Wu Zi handed him and signed at the end.

"Old Shen is really cunning."

Wu Zi heard Li Xuewu mocking Shen Fang and said with a smile, "After all, you are the leader of both sides, and you can manage people on both sides, so it's appropriate for you to sign."

Li Xuewu handed the signed notebook back to Wu Zi and teased with a smile, "Not bad, you're getting better at talking; you're making progress fast."

Wu Zi put away the notebook and pen and replied with a smile, "Isn't this all learned from you?"

Li Xuewu patted Wu Zi on the shoulder and said, "Alright, stop the nonsense, hurry back and get busy. Let's not mooch a meal at the neighborhood committee today."

"Yes."

Wu Zi agreed and went back to the middle courtyard.

Here, Yan Jiecheng saw Wu Zi leave and spoke first, "Li Kezhang, Officer Wu didn't make things difficult; do I need to..."

Li Xuewu waved his hand and said to Yan Jiecheng, "Just maintain a good relationship; you'll have plenty of opportunities to interact with him in the future."

After saying this to Yan Jiecheng, Li Xuewu turned his head and said seriously to Yan Jiefang, "This is the last time I'll catch you. If I see you hanging around with this group of kids again, I'll catch you and send you to dig coal, even if your brother is here, it won't work."

Yan Jiecheng patted his younger brother on the back to remind him, "Did you hear that? Are you mute?"

Seeing Li Xuewu's stern face, Yan Jiefang said timidly, "I know, I won't dare to do it again."

"Hurry home, have your dad find you a livelihood. Stop hanging around here; you're so big and you're still gnawing on your parents' old capital. Isn't it shameful?"

Yan Jiefang nodded in agreement. Seeing Li Xuewu stop talking and his brother pushing him, he hurriedly greeted him and ran home, very afraid of being caught back.

Looking at his younger brother's cowardly appearance, Yan Jiecheng smiled bitterly and said to Li Xuewu, "Thank you, Li Kezhang."

Li Xuewu waved his hand and said, "We're all brothers; don't be polite."

Yan Jiecheng saw that the pair of sisters who had returned with him were still waiting here, so he pointed to the car and said, "Then Li Kezhang, I'll wait for you in the car."

"Mm, mm."

Li Xuewu nodded to Yan Jiecheng, then turned to look at the pair of sisters glaring at him.

Wang Yamei was looking at Li Xuewu with joy and admiration, while Wang Yajuan had a complex expression, and also a resentful look after being deceived.

Seeing that Li Xuewu's driver had left, Wang Yamei couldn't wait to say, "Wu Ge, I recognized you as soon as you entered the courtyard, but you didn't answer when I called you."

Looking at the little sister-in-law who was both excited and complaining, Li Xuewu smiled and said, "Public occasion, work requirements."

Seeing Li Xuewu say this, Wang Yamei asked curiously, "Wu Ge, what kind of official are you now? How come you're both a station chief and a section chief?"

As she spoke, Wang Yamei complained, "Brother Biao lied to me! He said you were collecting scrap. He's really not a decent thing. When I see him again, I'll definitely flip his tricycle."

Li Xuewu didn't answer Wang Yamei's question, but asked instead, "How come you're hanging around with this group of people? You're not going to school or work?"

Wang Yamei answered carelessly, "Hi, just teasing the silly boys. The people I knew when I played with you before have all gone to work or moved away. I couldn't find anyone to play with, so I just tease these young ones."

Li Xuewu frowned and said, "How old are you? Still acting like a boy. Aren't you afraid you won't be able to get married if you hang around the streets for too long?"

"What can I do?"

Wang Yamei complained, "My dad keeps saying he'll find me a job, but he's been busy for over a year and still hasn't found one. I can't just stay at home every day, can I?"

After saying this, Wang Yamei said happily, "It's fine now. I won't play with them anymore. I'll go find you to play, Wu Ge. You still haven't answered me where you work."

Li Xuewu looked at the chattering Wang Yamei, crying and laughing; she still had such a jumpy personality.

Wang Yajuan watched her sister talking to Li Xuewu without any barriers, and Li Xuewu was treating her sister with the same kindness as before, but he was so strange to her.

Seeing her sister chasing after Li Xuewu to ask about his work, and almost sticking to him, she pulled her sister and said, "Stop fooling around. Mom called and said to take you home. Wait for Mom to deal with you tonight."

Wang Yamei continued to pull on Li Xuewu's clothes regardless, "I'm not fooling around. Didn't you also ask Wu Ge what work he was doing just now?"

Having her curiosity exposed by her sister, Wang Yajuan's face turned red, and she pinched her sister, saying, "When did I ask?"

"You did ask. You asked just now when I was writing the letter of guarantee."

Wang Yamei hid beside Li Xuewu, glaring at her sister and emphasizing what she had just heard.

Li Xuewu looked at Wang Yajuan's embarrassment and said with a smile, "What's the big deal? Alright."

He reached out and gently shook off Wang Yamei's hand that was grabbing his clothes, then smiled, "Hurry home, don't hang around blindly in the future."

Seeing that she couldn't get a straight answer, Wang Yamei didn't dare ask again, but said coquettishly, "Then can I go find you to play?"

Li Xuewu nodded helplessly and said, "I still live in that courtyard at home, but I've moved into my own room. Brother Biao and the others are in the inverted room. If you have time, go find him to play."

"Brother Biao just likes to lie; he's a person whose mouth runs like a train! Hmph, goodbye Wu Ge."

After complaining about Old Biao, Wang Yamei twisted her body, greeted Li Xuewu, and walked outside the gate.

Seeing her sister leave, Wang Yajuan glared at Li Xuewu and asked, "You did that on purpose, right?"

"What on purpose?"

Seeing Wang Yajuan frowning and about to get angry, Li Xuewu asked "Oh, oh, oh," "You mean what happened when you entered the courtyard just now?"

"Don't play dumb."

Li Xuewu waved his hand and said, "It was just a misunderstanding. Old Biao likes to joke; I didn't expect your sister to take it seriously."

Wang Yajuan glared and asked, "Then why didn't you explain just now?"

"Explain what?"

Li Xuewu asked back, "Explain that I'm not collecting scrap? Actually, that's not true; I am collecting scrap."

Wang Yajuan said angrily, "Is it fun to play with us?"

Li Xuewu looked at the beautiful face before him and explained, "I'm not playing with you. My work is work, but I'm also doing the job of collecting scrap. Old Biao didn't lie to you."

"Hmph, there's no truth in your mouth."

Seeing that Li Xuewu was explaining with a serious expression, Wang Yajuan thought Li Xuewu was complaining about her attitude just now.

He's already a section chief and a station chief; how could he be collecting scrap?

Regardless of whether she believed it or not, she still complained to Li Xuewu.

"Why didn't you tell me you were a police officer when you came in just now? And let me..."

"It's fine, we're all acquaintances."

Li Xuewu knew what Wang Yajuan meant; it was nothing more than her suggestion being rejected by him just now, and her blaming him for leading Wang Yamei astray.

Because of the alienation and contempt in her words, the change in identity now made this proud dancer lose face.

"Hehe, whether I say my identity or not, I'm still the same me. What's the difference?"

The meaning of the second half of Li Xuewu's sentence was also very clear: I am still the same me; the unsaid second half was that whether you are still you or not is no longer important to me.

Because he didn't care, there was no resentment for being misunderstood.

Li Xuewu couldn't learn from Su Qin and couldn't ask, "Why were you arrogant before and respectful later?"

"You've changed."

Wang Yajuan sized up Li Xuewu, looking at the scar on Li Xuewu's face, feeling the strange and mysterious temperament on Li Xuewu's body.

"You've become mature, steady, and you've become someone I don't recognize, someone I don't know anymore."

Seeing Wang Yajuan say this, Li Xuewu hurriedly said, "Performing arts workers really speak with an artistic flair."

Wang Yajuan, who was originally being sentimental, had her mood ruined by Li Xuewu's teasing. She glared at Li Xuewu and said, "You're still as unreliable as ever."

"Haven't I always been like this?"

Seeing Shen Fang standing at the gate of the middle courtyard waving at him, Li Xuewu waved back, then said to Wang Yajuan, "Alright, you're busy too, hurry back. I still have to deal with the rest of these people here."

After finishing his words, Li Xuewu brushed past Wang Yajuan and walked toward the middle courtyard.

"Hey!"

Seeing Li Xuewu walk into the courtyard without hesitation, Wang Yajuan couldn't help calling out.

Li Xuewu looked back and asked, "What's wrong?"

"I'm not at the textile mill anymore."

"Mm???"

Li Xuewu's face was full of question marks.

"I passed the exam for the song and dance troupe. The unit is on Guang'anmen South Street."

"Good, keep it up."

Li Xuewu nodded to show he knew, waved his hand, and went to the middle courtyard again.

"Dummy!"

Wang Yajuan muttered at Li Xuewu's back, then went to get her bicycle and walked outside the gate.

When passing Old Man Zhang, she nodded politely, went out the gate, and got on her bicycle to chase after her sister.

Old Man Zhang looked at Wang Yajuan's back with an expressionless face, muttering, "A youth riding a horse on the road of red dust..."

When Li Xuewu entered the courtyard, Shen Fang was discussing things with Director Liu. Seeing Li Xuewu enter, Shen Fang waved to signal Li Xuewu to come over.

"The matter is clear. Let's discuss it and see what to do."

Li Xuewu knew that this discussion was about some civil disputes.

He looked at the notebook Shen Fang handed over and carefully read the case conclusion.

"Isn't this very clear?"

"It is very clear, but the person who was beaten..."

Li Xuewu knew that Shen Fang was asking if he had any intention of favoring the steel mill workers.

Obviously, Li Xuewu's identity and work naturally represented the interests of these workers, so Shen Fang and Director Liu would both listen to Li Xuewu's opinion.

"What does the other side mean?"

Shen Fang shifted his body and whispered, "They want medical expenses and compensation."

"Hehe."

Li Xuewu sneered twice, then said to Director Liu, "This matter still shouldn't be dragged out. Try to settle it quickly. If it drags on, it's easy for problems to arise."

Director Liu nodded and said, "That's what I think too. Tell me what to do."

Li Xuewu pointed at the notebook and said, "There are sixteen people involved in the fight: four from the steel mill, and twelve from the neighborhood."

"For those who took action, punish each with five yuan; for those who used sticks, punish each with ten yuan."

Director Liu and Shen Fang were dumbfounded. Weren't they just talking about calming the matter down? Why start discussing fines?

Not waiting for the two to ask, Li Xuewu continued, "The total fine is one hundred yuan. The three families will give sixty yuan in medical expenses to the one whose arm was broken, and eight yuan in medical expenses to those who were injured. That should settle it."

Shen Fang said in surprise, "Your brain is really good. Saying it like that, the one whose arm was broken gets fifty-five, and the injured get three?"

Li Xuewu said with a smile, "Right. We are police for the people. Fines aren't the goal; the goal is to use the fines to settle their disputes."

"Good, good, good. This method is good."

Director Liu nodded, "Young people's brains are really good. Shall we go talk?"

Shen Fang nodded, "Let's act separately. Li Suo Kezhang will do the work for the four workers, I'll do the work for those young people, and Director Liu will do the work for the families of the injured."

"Good, good, good."

After agreeing, the few of them acted separately.

Li Xuewu walked to the four workers squatting with their heads in their hands and squatted down, then said, "Look up at me."

These four people all looked up at Li Xuewu before them. Seeing Li Xuewu's bad complexion, they were all a bit timid, afraid that if they said one wrong word, Li Xuewu would take action.

"Let me tell you something."

Li Xuewu squatted in front of the four and said, "No matter what reason you have, it can't change the nature of your fighting. It has nothing to do with robbery or looking for trouble. I don't need to say this; you know it in your hearts."

"Now let me tell you how to handle it. The other side wants to pursue your criminal responsibility."

Hearing Li Xuewu say he wanted to pursue criminal responsibility, all four were a bit panicked. The one with the fast mouth complained, "Li Ke, we were also..."

Li Xuewu waved his hand to interrupt the person's complaint.

"Listen to me finish."

Li Xuewu stretched out two fingers and said, "Of course I don't want you to be sentenced, nor do I want you to delay going to work and earning wages because of being locked up. You all have families to support, so I and the neighborhood and the station are also fighting for you."

"You say it, we're listening."

Li Xuewu pressed down one finger and said, "The first path is for you to accept being locked up, and be sentenced however you're sentenced. Anyway, you won the fight, but I know you don't want to choose this path."

"Yes, yes, yes, who wants to be locked up?"

Li Xuewu pressed down another finger and said, "The second path is for the station to impose administrative penalties on you. Because you used weapons, you'll be fined ten yuan, and they'll be fined five yuan."

"This..."

Hearing that they had to be fined, all four hesitated. This fine wasn't a small amount; it was almost a month's worth of rations.

Hearing this, Han Yating also squatted down and advised, "Li Ke being able to speak to this extent is already enough. Think about how ruthlessly you beat the other side: one arm broken, five heads opened. Just fining you ten yuan, think about it; the other side is also being fined five yuan."

The young man who had been slapped by Li Xuewu hesitated and asked, "Is this money to compensate the injured?"

"You don't need to worry about that."

Li Xuewu said impatiently, "Beating people like this, and not having to be locked up, just being fined a little money is enough for you to go back and brag."

"Hehehe."

Hearing Li Xuewu say this, the four didn't think ten yuan was much anymore. At the very least, the other side was also being fined five yuan.

With this hook, they had won the fight and taken advantage, only taking forty yuan, while the other side had lost the fight, been beaten miserably, and taken sixty yuan.

"Not a loss, not a loss."

"Yes, we can't make things difficult for Li Ke. We'll pay this money."

Seeing that these four had all expressed their stance, Li Xuewu stood up and said, "Get moving."

Seeing Li Xuewu's attitude improve, and even letting them stand up, these four felt the money was worth it.

"Be polite when you speak in the future, don't be unreliable, and don't say just anything."

Li Xuewu pointed at the young man with a palm print on his face.

"Not just to me, think about it. If you had spoken politely today, bumped into each other and understood each other, would you have to freeze here? Even if you won the fight, it's not as comfortable as going home to sleep, right?"

"Yes, you're right. I'll definitely pay attention in the future."

Li Xuewu nodded, then said to Han Yating, "Write them a receipt and put it with their statements."

After instructing Han Yating, Li Xuewu said again, "In view of the performance of the four of them, don't record it in their files this time, and don't report it to their workshop."

"It's not easy for anyone. It's not worth it to affect their year-end evaluation and awards because of such a small matter."

"Yes."

Han Yating agreed and went to write the receipt.

These four were endlessly grateful to Li Xuewu.

"Li Ke, you are truly a good cadre of our steel mill."

"Yes, yes, yes, I misunderstood you before. I didn't expect you to be so generous."

The one with the palm print on his face even smiled and said, "Just now I misunderstood you too. It was all those women in the workshop gossiping, which made me misunderstand you. I apologize to you."

"No need, no need."

Li Xuewu waved his hand and said, "We are here to serve the people. It's normal for the masses to have misunderstandings about us. That's because our work wasn't done well. Please continue to support my work in the future."

"Easy to say, easy to say..."

"Should be, should be..."

"No problem..."

Seeing that Shen Fang had finished talking, and Director Liu was still talking, Li Xuewu said to the few, "Go find Li Kezhang Han to pay the fine and sign, then go home."

After arranging for these four, Li Xuewu turned and went to Director Liu's side.

Obviously, these parents were not satisfied with the plan Li Xuewu proposed.

The standard for dissatisfaction was nothing more than the money not being enough.

"Why should their family get sixty, and we only get three yuan..."

"Exactly, it's not even enough for medical treatment..."

"It's not that we're jealous that he got sixty yuan, I just feel sorry for my son..."

Li Xuewu understood as soon as he walked over. It wasn't about the scarcity, but about the inequality.

"Who said they get sixty? What do you mean you only get three yuan?"

Ignoring Director Liu's surprised look, Li Xuewu frowned and said, "Just count them as the ringleaders. The one who broke his arm gets twenty, and each of them is fined ten yuan. Have them pay another two yuan."

Director Liu asked in surprise, "Weren't they fined five yuan each?"

Hearing Li Xuewu say they were fined ten yuan, and they couldn't even get three yuan, and had to pay another two yuan, these parents were not happy either.

They shouted, "Exactly, didn't you say they were fined five yuan? Does the neighborhood director's word not count?"

"Who said they were fined five? The ringleaders are fined ten, and those squatting over there are fined five. You heard wrong."

Seeing Li Xuewu say this, Director Liu also asked hesitantly, "Did I hear wrong?"

Seeing that the situation had changed, these parents shouted, "No, Director Liu definitely said they were fined five yuan, and also said to compensate us three yuan."

"Exactly, the neighborhood director said it, so it must count."

"Compensate us three yuan, I still have to go to the hospital to see my son."

"This..."

Director Liu looked at Li Xuewu hesitantly and asked, "How about we just calculate it according to what I just said?"

Li Xuewu frowned and said, "Isn't this making things difficult for us? Causing such a big mess, and not even having a fine, but compensation instead. Won't there be even more fighting in the future?"

"No, no, no."

"Yes, we will definitely manage them well when we go back, and we won't let the police comrades worry."

Seeing these parents express their stance one after another, Li Xuewu looked at Director Liu helplessly and complained, "You can keep your ears or not, you're just causing us trouble."

Director Liu also understood Li Xuewu's meaning and pretended to apologize, "It's my fault, it's my fault. Just treat these parents with good attitudes with some care."

Li Xuewu looked at the few parents who were just looking at him with resentment, and now were looking at him with full expectation.

"Forget it, for Director Liu's sake, and for your attitudes, let's do it this way. Hurry up and sign to collect the money."

"Good, good, good."

These parents nodded one after another and ran to Wu Zi's side to sign and collect the money.

Shen Fang stood behind Li Xuewu, poked Li Xuewu, and then quietly gave Li Xuewu a thumbs up.

Director Liu also whispered his thanks to Li Xuewu.

Li Xuewu shook his head to show it was nothing. ===== CHAPTER 276 =====