What? You're a notorious bandit? What a coincidence, me too!

"Starting today, this place will be temporarily closed and all sales will be suspended. You need to clean the place thoroughly, leaving no trace."

Ming said in a deep voice, "Do you know anything about that student's background?" Ming asked Xiao Bao.

"I know, his name is Lin Hongbin, he's a student at Honggang Middle School, and we've played games together before," Xiao Bao quickly replied.

Ming's eyes were icy: "You've caused this mess. I'm giving you two days to find that student and that guy!"

Especially that man, I found out his name, where he lived, what he did, everything!

"Okay." Xiao Bao nodded repeatedly.

"Where's that package?" Ming asked again.

Xiao Bao shakily took the packet of "rock candy" out of his pocket and handed it over.

Ming opened the bag, carefully took out a piece, and examined it under the light.

"Ming-ge, there's something else," Xiao Bao suddenly said.

Ming glanced at him and said, "Speak."

"That man took the money the student gave me, and... he also found this bag of 'ice'. Judging from his expression, he seemed to recognize it..."

Ming paused, put the ice back in its place, his brows furrowed deeply, and he looked at Xiao Bao with murderous intent.

……

Lin Jianguo rode his motorcycle and searched all the internet cafes, big and small, around the area again, but he still couldn't find Lin Hongbin.

Just then, Lin Chang'an called.

"Found him? Great, I'm going home now."

Lin Jianguo had barely sat down when Lin Chang'an's motorcycle pulled into the yard.

Lin Chang'an stopped the car, and Lin Hongbin got out reluctantly, his eyes full of resistance and fear. He wanted to run away, but Lin Chang'an carried him like a puppy.

Lin Jianguo's face was gloomy. Without saying a word, he began to unbuckle his belt.

Lin Hongbin knelt down with a thud, crying and shouting, "Dad, I was wrong!"

"Now you know you were wrong!"

Lin Jianguo was so angry he was panting heavily. "At such a young age, you dare to steal money! I sent you to school to learn, and what the hell have you learned? Tell me, what did you do with the money?"

The third aunt quickly stopped her, saying, "Talk to the child nicely, don't hit him."

Lin Hongbin glanced at Lin Chang'an, dared not hide anything, and tremblingly recounted the whole story.

From the moment he met Brother Bao at the internet cafe, to his addiction to "energy drinks," and then to stealing money to buy "drinks" at the bar, he told every single word without any concealment.

After hearing Lin Hongbin's words, Lin Jianguo's face turned red, and he trembled with anger. He grabbed his belt and lashed it at Lin Hongbin.

"Snapped!"

The sound of the belt striking his body was crisp and loud. Lin Hongbin screamed in pain and curled up on the ground.

"You little brat! I'll beat you to death!"

As Lin Jianguo cursed, he repeatedly whipped Lin Hongbin with a belt. "I paid for your schooling, and you went and got involved with those deadly things! Do you want to ruin yourself, or do you want to ruin this family?!"

The third aunt initially wanted to protect her son, but after hearing the whole story, she cried out, "Beat him! Jianguo! Beat him to death!"

Lin Jianguo grew angrier with each beating, the belt becoming heavier and heavier. Lin Hongbin's cries grew fainter and fainter until he could only lie on the ground, his back covered with red and swollen whip marks.

Lin Chang'an leaned against the courtyard wall, lit a cigarette, and watched the scene indifferently, without any intention of stopping it.

He knew in his heart that he had to teach the lesson a lesson thoroughly, otherwise a few light words of admonition would have no effect at all.

After beating for half an hour, Lin Jianguo threw away the belt and gasped for breath.

Auntie felt sorry for him and rushed over to help Lin Hongbin up. She held him in her arms, crying as she checked his wounds.

Although Lin Jianguo's blows looked severe, they were all external injuries that would heal in a couple of days.

Third Aunt turned to look at Lin Chang'an, her eyes filled with worry and anxiety: "Chang'an, do you think Hongbin might have become addicted to drugs? What will we do if he has?"

Lin Chang'an comforted her, "Third Aunt, don't worry. Keep him at home for a few days, keep a close eye on him, and observe the situation."

If he's telling the truth, the addiction isn't too serious yet; it's new. With proper guidance, it can be broken.

"Can you really quit?" Auntie was still worried, and tears kept falling.

"Yes, you can."

Lin Chang'an said, "The things he drinks aren't very addictive. As long as you keep him in check, quitting won't be a big problem."

"Those bastards should all be dragged out and shot!"

Auntie San gritted her teeth in hatred at the thought of those who had seduced Lin Hongbin, and cried out in curses, "Let's call the police and have them arrest all those bad guys!"

Lin Jianguo calmed down and sat on a stool smoking. "Yes, call the police! We can't let them harm other kids."

Lin Chang'an shook his head: "We can't call the police."

Lin Jianguo and his third aunt were both stunned and turned to look at him.

"Chang'an, what did you say? Why can't we call the police?"

Lin Jianguo frowned: "Those people did something heinous; the police should arrest them!"

Lin Chang'an took a deep drag of his cigarette. If it was just a small-time drug dealer, then he would call the police.

However, judging from the bag of high-purity "ice" he found on "Brother Bao" today, these people don't seem to be small fry.

Or rather, the people behind "Brother Bao" are no small fry.

If the police are called and these people are caught, that's fine. But if they aren't caught, they will inevitably retaliate.

Judging from what Lin Hongbin said, he had dealt with that "Brother Bao" more than once.

Brother Bao probably knows some of his background.

Lin Chang'an shared his analysis of the matter with Lin Jianguo.

Lin Jianguo's expression changed instantly. He slapped his thigh and nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes, yes! Chang'an, you're right! I was confused and didn't consider this!"

These people are capable of any despicable thing; we can't push them too far, or our whole family will suffer!

Auntie San said angrily and unwillingly, "Then... then are we just going to let these bastards get away with it?"

Lin Chang'an didn't speak, but his eyes darkened.

Lin Jianguo finished his last puff of cigarette, stubbed it out on the stool, and sighed.

"Forget it, it's better to avoid trouble. In the end, it's all Hongbin's fault for being so useless. If he hadn't hung out with those shady characters, would this have happened?"

"How can you blame the child entirely!"

Auntie San was displeased upon hearing this and hugged Lin Hongbin, her eyes red as she retorted.

"It's all your fault! You insisted on finding him a boarding school. He only comes back once a week and lives at school every day."

That's great! He sneaks out to go online every day, and the school doesn't care at all. What a terrible school!

"If he were studying near me, with me watching him every day, would this have happened?"

"How was I supposed to know this school was so unreliable?"

Lin Jianguo frowned and retorted, "When we were looking for a school, everyone said it was strictly managed and had excellent teaching, which is why I spent a lot of money to get him in. Who would have thought it would turn out like this!"

"What's the point of saying all this now?"

Auntie wiped away her tears: "He can't continue his studies! Let him take a leave of absence first, and then find him a school nearby in the second half of the year so he can repeat the third year of junior high."

Lin Jianguo was silent for a moment, then nodded: "That's the only way."