After the injection, Old Ma's spirits improved slightly. Yang Jian took him back to the rented room and had him take a shower before letting him lie down.
He himself went to the small restaurant at the village entrance, ordered three dishes, and bought two bottles of wine, as Old Ma hadn't had lunch yet.
But by the time he returned, Old Ma had already fallen asleep.
There was nothing he could do but wait for him in the room.
It wasn't until past six o'clock that Old Ma woke up. Yang Jian quickly heated the dishes, and the two started drinking with the food.
Seeing that Old Ma still wouldn't speak, just drinking in silence, Yang Jian had to try to counsel him again. "Uncle Ma, are you still sulking? It's just about wanting to open a barbecue stall for Xiao Ma. I'll help you with this. We can aim for six thousand a month, and in two or three months, we should be able to rent a shop to open a business."
Old Ma finally spoke. "Alas, Xiao Yang, all my life I've earned hard-earned money. I thought this time I could turn things around, but I didn't expect to be so unlucky. I understand now, this is fate. My life is destined to be one of hardship, and I can't change it."
"Uncle Ma, you can't say that. In fact, your situation has already started to improve. Your daughter is about to graduate and start working, so you don't have to worry about her. If your son opens a shop, he'll earn money to build his own house and get married. You'll be able to retire soon."
"Xiao Yang, you're right. My current job is quite good. With your care, my salary is already very high. My son and daughter are grown up, and my burden is indeed not heavy. I should work steadily and not think about winning the lottery and getting something for nothing. I'm not destined for wealth; I can only hope that the next generation lives a better life."
"Yes, that's the right way to think."
Seeing that Old Ma had resolved his inner turmoil, Yang Jian was finally relieved. He was afraid that he would get stuck in a rut and wouldn't be able to move past the lottery ticket incident.
The two drank and chatted, and it was past eight o'clock before they knew it. The two bottles of wine were finished. Old Ma got up to clear the dishes, and Yang Jian prepared to take a shower.
Old Xie suddenly knocked and entered. He looked around the toilet and kitchen, then asked Old Ma, "Where's your Xiao Yuan?"
Old Ma was bewildered. "Xiao Yuan hasn't come back. He doesn't live here. He should be at the barbecue shop at this time. Why are you looking for him?"
"Old Ma, something big has happened. Just now, the owner of the convenience store was hacked more than ten times by five masked men. He's been sent to the hospital, and his life is unknown. The police are investigating the scene. I'm worried that your Xiao Yuan brought people to do it."
As soon as Old Xie said this, Old Ma's face changed drastically. He quickly took out his phone to make a call.
Yang Jian was also stunned. Combining Xiao Ma's behavior in the afternoon, it was highly likely that he was the one who did it. This kid really had some spirit, but he was too reckless.
"What should we do, Xiao Yang? Xiao Yuan's phone is unreachable."
Old Ma made several calls, but Xiao Ma's phone was turned off.
Yang Jian pondered for a moment and said, "Uncle Ma, Uncle Xie, calm down. I'll go to the barbecue shop to check now. If Xiao Yuan is there, I'll tell him to lay low or go back to his hometown directly. If he's not there, I'll call you. You'll have to present a united front and say that Xiao Yuan was sent back to your hometown by you this afternoon. I estimate the police will come to investigate soon."
Old Ma nodded. "Okay, I know what to say. Hurry up and go see if that kid is there."
Yang Jian put his clothes into his backpack and slung it over his shoulder, preparing to leave.
Old Ma asked curiously, "Xiao Yang, why are you bringing a bag? Aren't you coming back tonight?"
Yang Jian nodded. "Uncle Ma, Boss Dan said this afternoon that I should go to the shop to keep watch for a few days. During this time, I might have to pick up goods at night. When the police come later, you can say that this bed belongs to Xiao Yuan, and he has already gone back."
With the convenience store owner being hacked, the police's first suspect was Ma Yuan, because he had a conflict with the convenience store owner in the afternoon and had made threats.
The police were bound to come to this rented room to investigate. The first thing Yang Jian thought of was that if the police came, they would definitely question him and ask for his ID. Then his identity as a wanted criminal would be exposed.
Therefore, he had to leave this rented room immediately, and he couldn't arouse Old Ma's suspicion.
Just as Yang Jian had expected, he had barely walked a few steps downstairs when a police car drove over and stopped below their building.
Two police officers in uniform knocked on Old Ma's door. They first showed their police badges. One was named Huang, and the other was named Huo.
Officer Huang surveyed the layout of the room, checked the toilet and kitchen, and then began to question Old Ma. Officer Huo asked for Old Ma's ID for registration and took notes on the side.
"Ma Dashan, right? Is your son Ma Yuan here?"
"My son has gone back to our hometown. Why are you looking for him?"
Old Ma remembered Yang Jian's words and tried to remain calm.
Officer Huang seemed a bit surprised. "Gone home? When did he leave?"
"Around one o'clock this afternoon. We had a bit of a conflict with someone at lunch, and I was worried about retaliation, so I sent him back to our hometown. He's my only son, and he's still young. This place is too complicated, and I don't dare let him stay here any longer."
"Are you sure he went back?"
"Certain. I personally saw him onto the long-distance bus. My son is very honest and obedient. You can ask Old Xie if you don't believe me. Officer, why are you looking for him? He wouldn't do anything illegal."
"Tell us about the conflict at noon."
Officer Huang couldn't find any flaws in Old Ma. The convenience store owner was hacked only ten minutes ago. Old Ma seemed to be unaware of the incident. The dishes on the table hadn't been cleared yet, and there were two empty wine bottles. Both Old Ma and Old Xie smelled of alcohol, indicating they hadn't left for a while and had been drinking here.
Old Ma didn't hide anything and recounted the events that happened at the convenience store entrance at noon in detail. Old Xie could also testify.
"Old Ma, it's like this. Just ten minutes ago, the owner of the convenience store you had a conflict with at noon was hacked more than ten times. He's now in emergency treatment at the hospital. Witnesses claim it was five masked young men.
After our investigation, not only did you and your son have a conflict with the convenience store owner, but your son also threatened to kill him. Therefore, your son is highly suspected."
Before Officer Huang could finish speaking, Old Ma became agitated. "Impossible! Firstly, my son has already returned to our hometown in Xichuan. He couldn't possibly still be here.
Secondly, my son is sixteen years old and has always been timid and easily frightened. He couldn't possibly kill someone with a knife. Today at noon, it was because both my son and I were beaten, and in a moment of desperation, he spoke out of anger.
At that time, the owner was still trying to hit us, and it was Old Xie and the others who stopped him. Afterwards, my son and I were both scared, so I sent him away. Old Xie can testify to this.
You can't conclude that he committed murder based on a child's angry words. We are farmers from the mountains and have never seen the world. We don't have many fellow villagers here, and we can barely avoid those people from Yunan. How could we dare to kill them?"
Old Xie also nodded repeatedly. The convenience store owner being hacked, everyone who bought lottery tickets would secretly applaud and help Old Ma and his son cover up.