Chapter Fourteen: Starving to Death in the Police Station

  "Daiyu, take her statement."

  At the police station, Li Nanfang handed Xing Ye over to a slightly chubby young policeman and then busied himself with reporting for duty.

  In the middle of the night, I was taken to a small conference room, fortunately it wasn't an interrogation room.

  "Don't be nervous, just recount what happened earlier, tell it as it is." The officer comforted Xing Ye.

  Staring at him in the starry night, it seems like this little fatty was also one of the plainclothes on the upper floor just now.

  "What's your name?"

  ……

  The smooth completion of the record under the starry night, sitting on a chair in the hall, watching the police coming and going.

  It's already past working hours, but there are still many people busy at work, it seems like they will have to work overtime tonight.

  Many police officers passing by would point at her and introduce her to their colleagues, "That's the little girl who cut off Poison King's dagger with one knife." "Can't tell what's special about me, just looking like a country bumpkin, probably still underage?"

  She ignored people's attention on herself at night, waiting for Li Nanfang, or more accurately, waiting for the short knife taken by Li Nanfang.

  That knife was forged by Kaguya's grandfather, and the Luo family had been making knives for generations. The village of Luo Family was surrounded by mountains, where people used to make a living by hunting, and the hunted animals would be gathered in the village to exchange for daily necessities, thus forming a small town over time. In the mountains, boys were considered adults at the age of fifteen, and their elders would give them a short knife as a symbol that they were no longer children and could go into the mountains to hunt. This knife was a symbol of identity, and unless something unexpected happened, it would follow its owner for life.

  At first, the Luo family's knife was famous far and near, but after liberation, there were fewer and fewer hunting objects in the mountains, and people gradually walked out of the big mountains. This tradition also disappeared with it. This knife is the last one made by Grandpa, prepared as a gift for his grandson's coming-of-age ceremony, using high-quality steel materials and pure handmade craftsmanship, after thousands of hammering and refining, consuming the old man's heart and soul, exceptionally sharp, not comparable to the stainless steel knives bought in supermarkets. Otherwise, how could it cut off that dagger with just a slight force?

  The old man passed away before his grandson grew up, but this knife became the treasure of his brother Huiye. This time, he came out at night and couldn't bear to leave it at home, so he brought it along with Huiye's university admission letter, which must be kept safe by Brother Huiye.

  Looked at the clock on the wall, it's almost eight o'clock, I've been waiting for nearly two hours, my stomach is growling with hunger, didn't eat lunch on the train, and now even dinner time has passed, so hungry!

  The aroma of instant noodles wafted over from the other side, and I didn't know which police officer was having dinner, but the aroma of instant noodles made my mouth water.

  No way, in the middle of the night, a small fat police officer Da Yong was pulled over by someone using what they thought was their most pitiful gaze, "Police brother, why hasn't Captain Li come out yet? Can you help me find him? Please?"

  "But our team leader scratched his head when reporting work to Director Fen"

  Staring with big eyes in the starry night, she continued to gaze at him with pleading eyes.

  "Alright, alright, I'll go take a look for you, just wait a bit." Officer Dayong fled in disarray under her gaze.

  Another hour has passed in the starry night, and all I can do is continue waiting. Oh heavens, my stomach is growling loudly, am I going to starve to death at the police station? That damned little fatty said he'd help me find someone, but who knows where he's run off to now.

  Actually she wronged the brave police officer, he came to see her several times, but unfortunately his captain and director were talking, that was his superior, he didn't dare disturb them!

  Li Nanfang had already noticed him and thought: This Yang Dayong has been poking his head in several times, I don't know what he wants, but he doesn't come in to say anything.

  When Da Yong poked his head out again, he was caught red-handed by Li Nanfang and was called to the director's office.

  "What's there to say? Are you suggesting that I, as the director of this bureau, shouldn't know?" Liu asked sternly.

  "Speak up if you have something to say." Li Nanfang looked at him mumbling and felt displeased. How could his own subordinate be so incompetent, losing face in front of the director? He would deal with this kid later.

  Dà yǒng kě bù zhī dào zì jǐ zài duì zhǎng xīn zhōng yǐ jīng bèi jì shàng hào le, náo náo tóu shuō: "shì nǐ dài huí lái de nà ge nǚ háizi, yì zhí zài děng nǐ ne"

  Translation:

  Daiyu didn't know that he had already been marked by the captain, scratched his head and said: "It's the girl you brought back, she has been waiting for you all along."

  "What girl?" This sentence piqued Liu's interest, as Li Nanfang was the son of his former superior, but he had never heard that he had a girlfriend. His old leader was still worried about this.

  Li Nanfang was so angry that he wanted to kick Yang Dayong, but he couldn't even get a word out. He hastily explained to Liu Ju: "It's the girl who was just kidnapped and brought back for questioning."

  "Is that the girl who knocked Poison King down? Alright, let's call it a day today. We'll go take a look at her together, she has made a great contribution." Director Liu stood up and led the way out, Li Nanfang followed closely behind him, and when he passed by Yang Dayong, he gave him a fierce stare.

  Yang Dàyǒng felt a chill run down his spine, oh dear, how did he offend the old man? Don't be fooled by Captain Li's young age, he has real skills, and although he seems to have a good temper normally, once he gets angry, even the king of heaven wouldn't be spared.

  A few people came into the large office and saw Xing Ye hugging his small travel bag, leaning on a chair and already asleep, with a slight movement at the corner of his mouth, as if he was dreaming.

  "It's really a little girl, and she can fall asleep like this." Liu Ju looked at Xing Ye, who seemed to be about to fall to the ground at any moment, with a smile.

  In the daze of a sleepless night, I was pushed forward by someone and opened my eyes to see Li Nanfang right in front of me. I reached out and grabbed his arm, "Where's my knife? You promised to return it to me."

  "Is that so?" Li Nanfang slowly drew back his arm and said.

  "What can't be done with a knife, what else can be done? Are you going to do it?" In the middle of the night, feeling both tired and hungry, he was just about to take a bite of chicken leg in his dream when someone pushed him awake. The anger didn't come from one place, and the harsh words came out of his mouth.

  "Hello, I'm their director. What did he promise you just now? Tell me and see if I can help you solve it." Deputy Director Liu hurried to mediate when he saw Li Nanfang's unpleasant expression.

  "Uncle, are you the director? That's great. I'm a poor good kid who was kidnapped by bad people for no reason today and almost got scared to death. He even took away my knife, which is a keepsake left by my grandfather and can't be lost. Director Uncle, please ask him to return my knife, and I'll leave as soon as I get it back." Xing Ye blinked her eyes rapidly at Director Liu, as if she would burst into tears if he didn't agree.

  If there's anyone familiar with Luo Xingye present, they'd definitely be shocked. When did the usually sensible Xingye become like a child who loves to throw tantrums? Xingye was impressed by how smoothly she could say such sour words. If not for fear of getting goosebumps all over her body, she even wanted to grab Director Liu's arm and shake it, which would have an even better effect.

  "What's going on?" Liu Ju asked Li Nanfang, turning her head.

  "The short knife she used to cut off Du Yufeng's dagger has been taken away by the evidence team, I'm preparing to apply for it to be returned to her." Li Nanfang explained.

  "Alright, it's too late today, the evidence team has left, I'll approve a note for you, and you can pick it up tomorrow." Director Liu turned to Xing Ye and said: "Little girl, it's too late today, let's do it tomorrow. Tomorrow morning when we start work, I'll have it ready for you first thing, okay?"

  It's all been said, what more can be said on a sleepless night, so I just nodded in agreement.

  Just then, Xīng Yè's stomach made an uncooperative growling sound, and she covered her stomach with her hand, her face flushing red.

  "Haven't had dinner yet?" Liu Ju Zhang asked.

  "We haven't even had lunch yet, let alone dinner. If you guys don't come soon, I'll probably starve to death at the police station." Xing Ye said exaggeratedly.

  "Didn't you eat yet, Southern? Let's take her to get something to eat." After glancing at Xing Ye's travel bag, he continued, "Also arrange for her accommodation. Safety is very important for a young girl like her. As for the expenses, the organization will reimburse us. After all, this little girl has helped us out greatly."

  Director Liu waved his hand and made a decision. Luo Xingye didn't have to spend his own money, so he happily followed Captain Li to eat.