The two emerged from the Provincial Construction Bureau, Gu Xingye keeping his head low, lost in thought.
He realized then that from Foreman Li to this Li Guojun, these people were doing everything they could to extort benefits for themselves.
Although Li Guojun hadn't given a definite answer or promised when the money would be paid, it was likely similar to Foreman Li's situation. Once the benefits were received, it would be a matter of "brotherly" arrangements, and then everything would be negotiable.
"This situation is too common, the practice of extorting under threat. It's not just state-owned units; such people are unavoidable. A little benefit to get things done is fine, as long as they actually do it. The real trouble is when they take the benefit and don't deliver. You'll get used to encountering more people like this," Chen Lishu said softly, noticing his silence since they left.
"In a society where relationships matter, friendship is precious. It seems one really needs to build more connections!" Gu Xingye suddenly blurted out. Chen Lishu was taken aback for a moment, then smiled, thinking it did seem to be the case.
...
Lin Xiaohui led Lu Yang towards the place agreed upon with Qiu Peng. In her haste, her steps quickened unconsciously. Lu Yang's small body was almost dragged along by her.
"Mommy, Yangyang is tired." The child, not yet two years old, spoke unclearly. He raised his small face, looking at Lin Xiaohui with teary, wronged eyes.
Lu Yang was a little afraid of Lin Xiaohui, yet children inherently longed for their mothers. But he dared not ask Lin Xiaohui to carry him, fearing she would yell at him.
"You can't even walk this short distance." Holding the child's soft small hand and looking at his innocent gaze, Lin Xiaohui felt a sudden pang of reluctance. After all, she had raised him since he was only a few months old. Now, about to send him away, she felt a pang. But the moment she thought that her marriage to Lu Chengming had ended because of him, and that keeping him would only be a burden on her future life, Lin Xiaohui hardened her heart again.
"Remember to be obedient when you go to your new home." She had wanted to say a few more things, but then she felt Lu Yang was too young to understand. She decided against it.
"Forget it, let's go." Her steps, however, unconsciously slowed a little.
Not far from the meeting point, Qiu Peng was already waiting at the alley entrance. Seeing Lin Xiaohui's late arrival, he frowned, "Why are you only coming now?"
He had thought she might have changed her mind and not come.
"The buyer is already waiting, let's go." To get there faster, Qiu Peng bent down to pick up the child.
Lu Yang, seeing Qiu Peng approach, was terrified. His small body instantly shrank behind Lin Xiaohui, his little arms clutching her thighs tightly and refusing to let go.
"The child is a bit shy," Lin Xiaohui explained, forcing herself to pull him out from behind her. Lu Yang immediately started crying loudly in fright.
"Never mind, let's go quickly." To avoid any unnecessary trouble, Qiu Peng didn't insist. He turned and led Lin Xiaohui into the alley.
Chen Lishu and Gu Xingye were about to part ways when they heard a child crying. They instinctively looked towards the alley entrance across the way, and their eyes fell upon Lin Xiaohui talking to a man with the child.
At first, Chen Lishu didn't pay much attention. It was none of her business who Lin Xiaohui met. After walking for a while, her steps suddenly slowed. She had a nagging feeling that the man was not a good person. He was dressed poorly, and his face was so dirty that his features were unclear.
"Third Sister-in-law, what's wrong?" Gu Xingye had walked a few steps ahead and noticed Chen Lishu lagging behind with a thoughtful expression. He turned back to ask.
"I feel like I've seen that person before." She furrowed her brow, trying to recall where.
"Which person?" Gu Xingye glanced around the street. This wasn't the main street, and there were very few people around. He didn't see who Chen Lishu was referring to.
"It's nothing, let's go." It was probably just her imagination, Chen Lishu thought. As she turned to leave, she happened to spot several uniformed police officers rushing towards the alley they had just passed. She recognized one of them, Yang Shuang.
Thinking that Lin Xiaohui had entered that alley, and unsure if there was any connection, Chen Lishu unconsciously walked towards it.
Seeing her movement, Gu Xingye followed suit.
Lin Xiaohui and Qiu Peng walked deeper into the alley. The path grew narrower, and the low-slung houses on both sides were piled with garbage, the stench becoming more pungent.
Soon, the two entered a dilapidated wooden-door house with the child. The doorframe was so low that one had to bend to get inside.
A man and a woman stood in the room. They appeared to be in their thirties. Their expressions had been anxious, but when Lin Xiaohui and Qiu Peng entered, their gazes immediately fell upon Lu Yang. Seeing a healthy little boy, they became extremely joyful.
After paying the agreed-upon price, the couple came forward, ready to take the child.
Lu Yang, seeing the strangers approach to pick him up, opened his mouth and cried loudly again.
"Don't cry, my good boy. You're our son now. Mommy and Daddy love you," the woman coaxed in a somewhat unfamiliar tone. However, Lu Yang couldn't be appeased. He struggled, his small hands reaching out desperately towards Lin Xiaohui, who was busy counting the money and paid him no attention.
The child's crying guided the police officers, who quickly pinpointed their location. Yang Shuang and his colleagues exchanged glances, and the leading officer kicked the door open.
With a loud bang, everyone in the room jumped.
"Nobody move!" the police officer declared sternly, drawing out handcuffs to make arrests.
Lin Xiaohui, who had been counting money, saw the uniformed officers burst in. Her head spun, and she stood there dumbfounded.
When Qiu Peng realized the situation was going awry, he had already bolted towards the back window. The room was low, making it difficult for the police to make large movements, which gave him an opportunity to escape.
He climbed out the back window in a few swift moves and ran directly towards the low courtyard wall nearby.
Human potential unleashed in the face of danger is infinite. After regaining her senses, Lin Xiaohui followed suit, quickly chasing after Qiu Peng.
The couple also wanted to run, but having just paid the money, they were unwilling to abandon the child. Even after the police cuffed them, they still held onto Lu Yang tightly.
"The other two ran out the back window. Go after them quickly."
The low-slung house offered limited space, allowing only two officers inside. The remaining three guarded the outside. Hearing the commotion, they quickly gave chase.
Due to housing shortages and the increase in migrant workers, the alleys were almost entirely occupied by illegally built, low-lying structures. Navigating through these outer private dwellings to reach the inner main courtyards was impossible for anyone unfamiliar with the area.
By the time the three police officers entered the back courtyard, Qiu Peng and Lin Xiaohui had already vanished. They had no choice but to reluctantly withdraw.
Standing at the alley entrance, Chen Lishu saw Yang Shuang and his colleagues emerge with two strangers. When she clearly saw the crying Lu Yang in their arms, she was so shocked that she couldn't recover for a long time.