Chapter 119: The Arrest

September 28, 2023

Author: Zi Tao

""Wait a minute!"" Chu Xuan, carrying 1,600 yuan in cash, suddenly realized that if there were more people hiding in the woods, her money might not be safe. ""I'm afraid this isn't just a scam—they might actually be trying to rob us.""

Lin Yong was also carrying cash, not as much as Chu Xuan, but over 200 yuan—hard-earned money from long hours transporting goods. He couldn't risk it either.

""Then let's not get out of the truck.""

""Alright!""

Lin Yong quickly reversed, turned the wheel, and while the man on the ground was still struggling to get up, he changed direction and headed back toward the city.

In the rearview mirror, they saw five men with sticks rush out of the woods. The man who had been on the ground had also gotten up, and together they chased after the truck.

Lin Yong couldn't help but sigh in relief. ""That was close!""

Chu Xuan was also a bit shaken.

Before coming to the city, Qin Mahua had suggested that Mu Chenze accompany Chu Xuan, but Chu Xuan, thinking of how Mu Chenze had been staying up late roasting fish fillets, felt sorry for him and didn't let him come.

Liu Dapeng had also wanted to come, but Chu Xuan refused, saying it would cause gossip in the village.

Now, Chu Xuan was starting to regret it.

If the payment for the goods had been stolen, she would have let down Mu Chenze and everyone else who had been working overtime.

After shaking off the group, Lin Yong stopped at a place with a public phone.

He called the county security team.

At that moment, the group of men were discussing whether to continue lying in wait in the woods.

""Do you think the truck driver and Chu Xuan will call the security team?""

""Of course they will. The security team might come to check this area, so everyone clean up your footprints and any traces!""

""So are we still going to rob them?""

""Of course! We'll just change locations! I don't believe she won't go home tonight.""

""Where should we go?""

""Let's wait on the main road to Lai Town—there's a patch of woods there too.""

""Alright.""

The county security team immediately sent people to check the woods.

But the group had already left.

One of the staff sent happened to be Wei Qiang.

Chu Xuan had always wanted to thank him but hadn't found the chance—she hadn't expected to run into him tonight.

Wei Qiang had been temporarily assigned to the county security team for a while. For Chu Xuan and Lin Yong's safety, he suggested escorting them back.

His colleague agreed, putting his bicycle in the truck bed.

Now, there were four people in the truck instead of two.

As they passed the woods near Lai Town, the headlights illuminated a half-meter-high boulder in the middle of the road.

The country road was narrow, so Lin Yong had to stop.

All four people in the truck were on high alert.

The next moment, six masked men rushed out, wielding sticks and banging on the truck windows.

If they hit any harder, the windows would shatter—someone could get seriously hurt.

Wei Qiang and his colleague quickly opened the doors.

""We're from the security team! You all need to come with us!""

The leader of the masked men, upon hearing ""security team,"" immediately shouted, ""Retreat!""

He led the others as they all ran into the woods.

Wei Qiang and his colleague gave chase.

Chu Xuan opened the door, ready to join the chase.

Lin Yong stopped her. ""You won't catch them—stay in the truck! Help me look after the money!""

He took the cash from both his left and right pockets and handed it to Chu Xuan.

Before Chu Xuan could respond, he had already jumped out of the truck to chase after the criminals.

Chu Xuan glanced at the two rolls of cash in her hand—this was Brother Lin's hard-earned money; she had to keep it safe.

She put it in her pocket.

Then she got out and went to move the big rock.

A few minutes later, she had pushed the boulder to the side of the road where it wouldn't be in the way.

Afterwards, she sat in the driver's seat, just in case.

Actually, she knew how to drive—she'd learned from Mu Chenze in her previous life.

Not long after, two masked men ran out of the woods, waving sticks and heading straight for the truck, looking like they intended to steal it.

Chu Xuan quickly started the truck and drove toward the two men.

She didn't really intend to hit them—just to scare them.

But the two men thought she was serious and, terrified, ran off in opposite directions.

Seeing this, Chu Xuan decided to have a little fun with them.

She chased one, then reversed to scare the other.

After a couple of rounds, both men were so frightened they ran back into the woods.

Soon, two more masked men ran out of the woods, and Chu Xuan used the same tactic to scare them off.

They, too, fled back into the woods.

Ten minutes later, Wei Qiang, his colleague, and Lin Yong emerged from the woods, escorting six tied-up men.

Wei Qiang was glad he'd brought a long rope in advance.

By the truck's headlights, Chu Xuan saw that Lin Yong's left arm was hanging limply—it looked injured.

Of the six criminals, Chu Xuan only recognized one: Zhang Qiu, Zhang Dong's younger brother.

Chu Xuan jumped out of the truck and, without waiting for Wei Qiang to speak, opened the truck bed. ""Let's lock them in here for now! I'll drive you all to the county, and we can take Brother Lin to the county hospital to get his arm checked.""

Of the six criminals, the four who'd been scared by Chu Xuan looked especially shocked.

Especially Lin Yong. ""When did you learn to drive?""

Chu Xuan put on a proud face. ""I used to ride with you to the city every day, watching how you drove. I always wanted to try, but never dared ask to borrow your truck. Tonight, after being scared by those guys, I was forced to learn on the spot. They were coming at me with sticks, trying to steal the truck!""

Wei Qiang and Lin Yong both looked at her with admiration.

Wei Qiang's colleague, who didn't know Chu Xuan, muttered, ""It's normal for a girl to know how to drive a truck. What's the big deal? Let's focus on the matter at hand—everyone get in!""

Wei Qiang and his colleague escorted the six criminals into the truck bed.

Lin Yong sat in the passenger seat and gave Chu Xuan a quick rundown of the basics of driving, worried she might not handle it well.

Chu Xuan smiled. ""Don't worry, Brother Lin! I'm smart—I can learn anything, whether it's a tractor or a truck.""

She started the truck smoothly and headed for the county seat...

Twenty minutes later, the truck stopped in front of the security team's office.

Wei Qiang and his colleague escorted the six criminals out.

As they got out, Zhang Qiu suddenly shouted, ""I confess! I know I was wrong! I didn't want to rob Chu Xuan, but someone threatened me. If I didn't rob her, he said he'd kill my whole family. I still have the threatening letter at home! I had no choice!""

Chu Xuan's face turned serious. ""Who threatened you?""

""I don't know. Besides the letter, he sent me a severed finger. Later I found out it was my brother's.""

""Isn't your brother in prison?""

Before Zhang Qiu could answer, Wei Qiang explained, ""Zhang Dong developed a serious illness and was released on medical parole. While he was in the hospital, someone cut off his finger. The case hasn't been solved yet.""

Chu Xuan was shocked. Who had she offended to make someone go so far as to cut off Zhang Dong's finger to threaten Zhang Qiu?

How did that person know the Zhang family had a grudge against her?

""Did the letter only tell you to rob me?""

Zhang Qiu shook his head repeatedly. ""No, it also told me to find people to hurt you—the worse your fate, the better.""

""When did you get the letter?""

""On the last day of July."" Zhang Qiu looked at Wei Qiang. ""Officer, I'll fully cooperate. Please be lenient, and please catch the person who threatened me!""

Wei Qiang exchanged a glance with his colleague before looking at Zhang Qiu. ""I'll go to your house tonight to get the letter. Think carefully—are there any other details?""

Zhang Qiu racked his brains. ""That's all I know. Oh, and the five guys who helped me were just talked into it by me—I'll take all the blame myself."""