Electronic Nezha

Chapter 40 Lotus Lotus Lotus

The third-level superintendent said with a headache, "Don't keep bringing up the issue of being extorted. Whether or not someone is extorted is up to the law. We haven't even taken any action yet, have we?"

"Then I'll tell you a story without any emotional bias: 'Caution for those with high blood pressure: A scene from the fruit market on [Month] [Day]'."

At this point, the market manager spoke up: "I think it's better not to post this video online. It makes people think our fruit market is a mess. Lao Liu, you're one of us, what do you think?"

I said, "I don't want to either, but it's up to the reporter to decide."

Ma Chaoran said, "I'm fine with anything, it depends on what the police officer thinks."

A third-level police superintendent looked at Zhang Biao and said, "I'll ask you one more time, are you willing to accept mediation?"

Zhang Biao remained arrogant, and the market manager slapped him on the shoulder, saying, "Take a step back. Do you think you're in the right to post the video online?"

Zhang Biao realized that no one here was on his side, and he couldn't help but shout, "You're all ganging up on me! I'm going to tell my uncle! My uncle is a leader in the Market Supervision Bureau!"

Ma Chaoran also lost her patience and shouted, "Give me your uncle's phone number, I'll ask him if he'll get involved in this!"

Zhang Biao shrank back, ultimately not daring to say anything more.

The third-level police superintendent said, "We don't care who your uncle is, but you and Wang Zili are fighting each other."

The word "mutual fighting" has essentially defined the nature of the incident.

Zhang Biao said angrily, "Mediation is fine, but that guy surnamed Wang has to pay my medical expenses. Look at my face!"

I kicked Old Wang, and Old Wang's intelligence kicked in. He suddenly bent over with a pained expression and said, "Your kick hurts my back. I suspect my kidneys have atrophied. I need to go to the hospital for an X-ray."

The two policemen exchanged a glance, unfazed by the sight, realizing they had entered the green channel area.

"You can each see a doctor for your own illness and pay for your own medical expenses. If you have no objections, please sign here."

Zhang Biao seemed to have a lot of similar experience, knowing that there was no turning back at this point. He and Lao Wang each signed the mediation registration form, and he said fiercely, "You give me—"

I was hoping he would say what he was going to say next, but Zhang Biao wasn't stupid; he shut his mouth in the face of the policeman's gaze.

"Can we go now?" I asked.

The third-level police superintendent said to the market manager, "This matter ends here at our level. The market management also needs to show some attitude."

The market management stated, "We will definitely handle this seriously and issue a public reprimand!"

The auxiliary police officer said to Ma Chaoran, "Reporter Ma, could you please give us a copy of your video? We'd like to watch it again—"

The third-level superintendent said, "It's mainly for preserving evidence."

Ma Chaoran readily agreed.

After receiving the video, the third-level superintendent said to the auxiliary police officer with a serious expression, "Watch it again and see if there is anything you have missed."

"Yes." The auxiliary police officer nodded.

As we walked out of the mediation room, we heard a burst of laughter from inside.

If I had walked in at that moment, I would have seen two police officers working diligently, but I didn't. Police officers face a lot of work pressure, and it's only right that they relax a little...

When we arrived at the police station, Zhang Biao walked away with a gloomy face. The market management gave us a meaningful look but didn't say anything. We weren't the first to fight between patrolmen and vendors, and we certainly wouldn't be the last. The so-called public reprimand was just a matter of giving each side equal blame, and Lao Wang and I didn't care.

Ma Chaoran stood on the sunny ground, hung her sunglasses on her collar, and stretched.

"Thank you, Reporter Ma," I said to her. I felt there was no need to be coy; from the moment the close-up shot of the mop started, the girl clearly had our side.

"No big deal. I'd like to kick Zhang Biao if he's old and stupid.

Old Wang was deeply moved by these words: "Reporter Ma, let me treat you to a meal."

I thought to myself, "You're really being presumptuous. A reporter who can accompany the deputy mayor on an inspection trip would just casually eat your food?"

I changed the subject by asking, "Where did you park your car?" This gave both of us a way out.

Ma Chaoran glanced around and muttered, "That's the problem..."

"Huh?" I didn't understand.

"I forgot where I parked the car." Old Wang and I exchanged a glance. This girl looks confused, but she's actually not shrewd at all.

I reminded her, "Didn't you just stop before you came to the police station?"

Ma Chaoran said, "I originally wanted to park the car at the police station—but I couldn't find it earlier, so I wandered around the area for a while and that's why I'm late."

Old Wang and I exchanged another glance; it's rare to see someone so confused.

Ma Chaoran waved her hand and said, "Okay, we'll talk about it later. Let's eat first."

Old Wang readily agreed, "I'll treat you, I'll treat you. Let's find a nice restaurant."

I patted him on the shoulder and said, "Why look for a fancy restaurant? Let's just find somewhere nearby. Maybe you'll remember it after we eat." I know Old Wang's personality well. Because of his disability, he's particularly concerned about his image and likes to say nice things to impress others. If he says he wants to find a fancy restaurant, then he's prepared to spend a lot of money.

Ma Chaoran said earnestly, "Yes, we shouldn't go to fancy restaurants. Old Liu is absolutely right. He might remember this in a little while."

Old Wang wanted to insist, but I glared at him.

If we're talking about places to eat nearby, we've lived here for most of our lives, so of course we have places to go.

The place we came to had a very down-to-earth name, simply called "Auntie's Stir-Fry." It was a hole-in-the-wall restaurant in an old residential area behind a cold storage facility, where vendors usually gathered in small groups of three to five.

It was lunchtime, and the restaurant was packed. When the three of us arrived, one table had just left, so we arrived at the perfect time—the restaurant only had five tables in total.

Once in this kind of place, Old Wang's energy really kicked in. He ordered everything from cold dishes to stir-fries, displaying an extravagant and wasteful spirit. Ma Chaoran took off her down jacket, revealing a hoodie underneath. The hoodie had four large characters printed on the front: "Reflect on Yourself."

I laughed and said, "Reporter Ma, what mistake did you make that you have to wear a prison uniform?"

Ma Chaoran silently turned around, and on the back of her hoodie were four large characters: "Criticize others".

I laughed out loud, and Old Wang came over with a plate of fried river shrimp and asked, "Want some drinks?"

Ma Chaoran said, "I can't drink anymore, I still need to find a car later."

I grabbed three bottles of soda from the freezer and invited Lao Wang to sit down with me.

Although Ma Chaoran was wearing an unconventional hoodie, her good looks and temperament were undeniable, drawing attention from onlookers. Old Wang poured soda into a glass, raised it to Ma Chaoran, and said, "Reporter Ma, I've taken up your morning, this is a toast to you."

Ma Chaoran picked up her bottle and clinked it against his. Seeing that I also extended my bottle, she clinked it against mine as well. She took a sip of soda, lost in thought, as if she had something on her mind.

I said, "You'll be criticized for messing up the vice mayor's inspection tour." I think that's why she made such a big mistake at work; anyone would be upset.

Ma Chaoran said, "These are all minor matters. What I'm really wondering is—how can you not find your car after parking it?" So that's what's bothering her.

Old Wang said, "Think carefully about where you stopped."

See, this is a typical conversation that happens in real life. If you lose something, someone will immediately ask you where you lost it; if you say you forgot what you wanted to say, someone will immediately ask you what you wanted to say.

I said to Lao Wang, "There's something wrong with what you're saying. Does she not remember because she wasn't paying attention?"

Ma Chaoran was taken aback, then suddenly burst into laughter: "Hehehehehe." The laughter was certainly not pleasant to listen to, but it was incredibly infectious, making others want to laugh along.

Then, my memory went back to the day my dad was discharged from the hospital. I heard a burst of laughter in the hospital lobby... but I didn't do anything about it. Partly because I didn't want her to think I was trying to win her over, and besides, how should I put it, I've heard of you before?

Ma Chaoran's laughter seemed to be contagious, and the girl rolled up her sleeves and said, "I don't want to think about it anymore, let's eat properly."

Since I had Yuanyuan, I've seen a lot of different foods. Of course, the dishes here can't compare to my family's home cooking, but they have a kind of homey charm that Yuanyuan can't replicate. Specifically, you can taste the shredded radish in the stir-fried pork with chili peppers, which is the same as the shredded pork with fish-fragrant sauce—we didn't even order the shredded pork with fish-fragrant sauce.

Old Wang picked up the shredded radish and called out, "Auntie Pang!" Auntie Pang is the owner of this shop.

Aunt Pang only had one handyman helping her carry plates, and he was extremely busy. When Old Wang called her, she spun around like a top and came to us.

"We found this in the stir-fried pork, how do we calculate it?" Old Wang and Aunt Pang were very familiar with each other, but they had a coughing fit.

"No need to calculate, it's a gift." Aunt Pang said this and then turned to go somewhere else.

Ma Chaoran: "Hehehehehe."

　Thank you "Agashark" for becoming the patron of this book. Thank you for your support over the past ten years.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)